OR CHRIST’S RE-BORN DISCIPLES?”

Examine our vast world of population explosion on every continent and every nation of the vast world and their divided allegiances between the ‘kingdom of darkness’ and Christ’s “Kingdom of Light”! There ARE those deceived who believe in the reality of “mixed blessings”, assuming: “I’m devoted to Christ, but I enjoy and am excited by, at times, my ‘fleshly indulgences’. You see, I think God understands that one can have the best of both worlds.” Really?

It’s so illuminating and convicting and convincing about one’s choosing to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His passions OR, though ‘believing’, to find one’s self “deceived by the powers of darkness”!

In Joshua 24:14-15 we read of Joshua challenging his people, Israel, who’d been in bondage but by the grace of God had been freed. Joshua said: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and ‘put away the gods which your fathers served’ on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seeks evil to you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

But, you are aware that there are some ‘religious zealots’ who serve Satan thinking they’re servants of Christ! In 2 Peter 2:12-22 Peter enlightens servants of Christ, if they want to be, exposing the “pretenders” who are “presumptuous, and self-willed”! He said of them: “But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed (which they will be before the judgment seat of Christ!), speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will UTTERLY PERISH IN THEIR OWN CORRUPTION, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. (Of course, some prefer the “darkness”!). They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions WHILE THEY FEAST WITH YOU (the true believers!), having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and ARE ACCURSED CHILDREN. They HAVE FORSAKEN THE RIGHT WAY AND GONE ASTRAY, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. (That’s a shocker isn’t it? Peter mentions “the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error”, becoming prime targets of Satan and the powers of darkness!). While they promise them liberty, they themselves are SLAVES OF CORRUPTION; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (Do you understand that? Satan has deceived, blinded, equipped and trained those who, yes, were given liberty, but he makes them slaves of corruption!).

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and ‘a sow having washed, to her wallowing in the mire’.” WOW!

Do you remember what Paul wrote to Titus? In Titus 3:3-7 lay hold of both ‘fleshly deceit’ OR “the kindness and the love of God”! Paul said: “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived,( by whom? Satan and his equipped ‘deceivers’?), serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. BUT when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Once known sinners were ‘foolish’, once they walked in disobedience, deceived by Satan, indulging in various lusts and pleasures, easily angered, easily hateful, but then, “I got saved and baptized, joined the church, enjoying the ‘fellowship’, as I do as I please spiritually or fleshly,” strongly suggesting they are under the influence of the powers of darkness!

The saddest thing I could ever imagine is a man who is born a sinner and continues under the Hell-inspired head of darkness, Satan, but “believes in Jesus” in the best of ‘head knowledge’, and not understanding Christ Jesus is his Savior, his Healer, and Emancipator from the rule and darkness of Satan! How many have you encountered who just ‘sit and watch’ as the world Christ died for becomes consigned to Hell because they “played the game of both worlds,” the kingdom of Satan and The Eternal Kingdom of the Resurrected, Reigning Christ?

The Holy Word is fully aware of how Satan sought to influence Job adversely saying to God, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?…but You, God, stretch out Your hand and touch all that Job has, and he’ll surely curse You to Your face!” And God allowed Satan to take on all Job had but not to lay a hand on his person! Satan stripped Job, and Job’s wife wanted him to “Curse God and die! But Job responded, to her, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” And the Holy Word then says: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Thank God for men like Paul who stood strong against ‘disciples of Christ’ with tendencies of walking both sides of the street of faith And disobedience! I don’t think Colossians 1 is an encouragement in one’s accepting Christ that what your old life was without Him is acceptable as you walk with Him in the Spirit-realm now! Colossians 1:18-23, and Verses 26-28, IS a powerful Word about “Striving according to His (God in Christ!) working which works in me mightily” so Paul wouldn’t be a “split-personality servant” of Christ and Satan! He said: Colossians 1:18-23 first: “And He (Christ Jesus) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Get ready!!).

And YOU, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight – IF INDEED you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached (Is that message “Christ in you the HOPE OF GLORY”? You’ll see it in a few seconds!) to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” [Did Paul mention those who were “alienated and enemies in their minds by wicked works” – but you don’t, won’t, or can’t see Satan as the author of the “Book of revolt against God’s plan” with his desire to use slaves of darkness to build his kingdom of darkness with his darkened help?].

Now: Verses 26-28 of Colossians 1! “…the mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

And Satan’s realm, not only in Hell, in the world at large, but even in some churches or denominations that flourish on “Christian activities” but fail miserably in revealing “The Indwelling Christ”, because they don’t like: “dying daily that Christ may be exalted through us; it just doesn’t measure up to OUR ‘religious understanding’!”

I love what Dr. Charles Stanley wrote in his book entitled, “When The Enemy Strikes”. There was a section in his book, (p.200), entitled “Be Bold In Your Testimony About Jesus”. He said: “Your testimony is not based upon what you believe, what you have done, or what you are doing. Your testimony is based upon who Jesus is in your life, what He has done on your behalf, and what He desires to do in you, in your family, and through you and your family to others in your community.

When you hear a lie being told by a family member, speak the truth of God’s Word. When you hear statements of doubt about God’s love or about God’s provision, speak the truth of God’s Word.

When you hear a family member take the Lord’s name in vain, speak the truth about who Jesus is, who God is, and who the Holy Spirit is. [And I say, JFF, be sure your identify Satan’s activities as, yes, he seeks to destroy your marriage, your family, and your witness!].

Don’t allow yourself to become comfortable with “just a little sin” in your family. A little arsenic spoils a plate of food – a little cyanide poisons a large body of water. (And I,JFF, say: “Be careful when Satan seeks to poison the waters of your family’s faith by denying Biblical Truth, even truth about the devil and demons!). Sin is deadly. It pollutes and infects and destroys. (So does Satan’s lies!). Don’t develop a tolerance for any amount of it in your life or the lives of loved ones.

If you allow yourself to be comfortable with sin (Or Satanic deception!), you soon will begin to defend the presence of sin (and you’ll even find yourself defending Satanic demonology!) – to justify it and to give place to it. Deal with those issues that underlie a person’s willingness to commit sin or to act in rebellion.” [Or to “give place to the devil through YOU!”].

There is SATANIC ACTIVISM, Satanic temptations, Satanic enticements, Satanic traps, like for animals, hoping you’re open to his “hook and lure”, Satanic horns that blow loud verses of fleshly pleasures with “death” as its final verse or chorus, there is Satanic invitations out to get one voluntarily rejecting “Holy Truth” because it lies “about what your flesh should enjoy”, there is Satanic deception about you, about self-interest, about ‘self-preservation and self’s indulgences, about the validity of ‘human nature’ as the center of its own universe ruled by “what my flesh tells me – I’m my own man”, with no consideration at all why God made you!

It was Martin Luther, in his writing “Table Talk,” who wrote: “The Devil has two manner of shapes or forms, wherein he disguises himself; he either appears in the shape of a serpent, to affright and kill; or else in the form of a silly sheep, to lie and deceive; these are his two court colors.”

And, consider: “Where does ‘not according to Christ’ come from?” If one reads Paul in Colossians 2:8 saying, “BEWARE lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ,” but I add, “The traditions of men in their personal philosophies and empty deceits and principles of the world were and are authored by Satan himself – from Satan himself: ‘Anything goes, but not God’s Truth, and it’s OK to “exchange the truth of God for the LIE because you can sin and not die!”

Satan will not speak the TRUTH either, and if, as he has, convinced ALL they can sin and not die, exchanging the truth of God for Satan’s lie, Paul says in Romans 1, Verse 21b, men become futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts are darkened, or Verse 22-23, men profess to be wise, but become fools, substituting the glory of the incorruptible God into images made like corruptible man, or Verse 24, God gives them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves, exchanging the truth of God for the “Lie”, or, Verse 26, receiving Satan’s lies, “God gives them up to vile passions,” or Verse 28, “God gives them over to (Satan’s version) – a debased mind, to do those things WHICH ARE NOT FITTING;

Verses 29-32, “being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving (except still ‘loving their flesh & old sin natures’!), unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

BUT, don’t ever forget, overlook, or take lightly Colossians 1:19-20, which I’ve already highlighted for you, but I sense after shocking you with Satan’s premier practices, you need to be reminded of Colossians 1:19-20!! Paul wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit, “For it pleased the Father that in Christ Jesus all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to RECONCILE all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST’S CROSS.” Have you ever been to Calvary’s mountain? It was there Christ Jesus “put to death the body of the sins of your flesh,” and according to Colossians 2:13-15, (Get ready to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus”!), “And YOU, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh (or old sin nature!), He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers (including Satan’s chains binding your Christless life?), He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

And, if that is true, and it is Eternally True, “if YOU died with Christ” and “died with Him from the basic principles of the world, including Satan’s kingdom of darkness”, why, as though living in the world to the glory of God, do you give Satan inches, feet, yards, or miles on the property of your life “blood bought” by the very blood of the Lamb of God?

This is why in Colossians 3:1-4 Paul exposes some and encourages others who live by His enlightment: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died (Did YOU?), and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears (or is unveiled in us!), then you also will appear with Him,( unveiling ) in glory!” AMEN?

OR CHRIST’S RE-BORN DISCIPLES?”

Examine our vast world of population explosion on every continent and every nation of the vast world and their divided allegiances between the ‘kingdom of darkness’ and Christ’s “Kingdom of Light”! There ARE those deceived who believe in the reality of “mixed blessings”, assuming: “I’m devoted to Christ, but I enjoy and am excited by, at times, my ‘fleshly indulgences’. You see, I think God understands that one can have the best of both worlds.” Really?

It’s so illuminating and convicting and convincing about one’s choosing to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His passions OR, though ‘believing’, to find one’s self “deceived by the powers of darkness”!

In Joshua 24:14-15 we read of Joshua challenging his people, Israel, who’d been in bondage but by the grace of God had been freed. Joshua said: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and ‘put away the gods which your fathers served’ on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seeks evil to you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

But, you are aware that there are some ‘religious zealots’ who serve Satan thinking they’re servants of Christ! In 2 Peter 2:12-22 Peter enlightens servants of Christ, if they want to be, exposing the “pretenders” who are “presumptuous, and self-willed”! He said of them: “But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed (which they will be before the judgment seat of Christ!), speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will UTTERLY PERISH IN THEIR OWN CORRUPTION, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. (Of course, some prefer the “darkness”!). They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions WHILE THEY FEAST WITH YOU (the true believers!), having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and ARE ACCURSED CHILDREN. They HAVE FORSAKEN THE RIGHT WAY AND GONE ASTRAY, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. (That’s a shocker isn’t it? Peter mentions “the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error”, becoming prime targets of Satan and the powers of darkness!). While they promise them liberty, they themselves are SLAVES OF CORRUPTION; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (Do you understand that? Satan has deceived, blinded, equipped and trained those who, yes, were given liberty, but he makes them slaves of corruption!).

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and ‘a sow having washed, to her wallowing in the mire’.” WOW!

Do you remember what Paul wrote to Titus? In Titus 3:3-7 lay hold of both ‘fleshly deceit’ OR “the kindness and the love of God”! Paul said: “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived,( by whom? Satan and his equipped ‘deceivers’?), serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. BUT when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Once known sinners were ‘foolish’, once they walked in disobedience, deceived by Satan, indulging in various lusts and pleasures, easily angered, easily hateful, but then, “I got saved and baptized, joined the church, enjoying the ‘fellowship’, as I do as I please spiritually or fleshly,” strongly suggesting they are under the influence of the powers of darkness!

The saddest thing I could ever imagine is a man who is born a sinner and continues under the Hell-inspired head of darkness, Satan, but “believes in Jesus” in the best of ‘head knowledge’, and not understanding Christ Jesus is his Savior, his Healer, and Emancipator from the rule and darkness of Satan! How many have you encountered who just ‘sit and watch’ as the world Christ died for becomes consigned to Hell because they “played the game of both worlds,” the kingdom of Satan and The Eternal Kingdom of the Resurrected, Reigning Christ?

The Holy Word is fully aware of how Satan sought to influence Job adversely saying to God, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?…but You, God, stretch out Your hand and touch all that Job has, and he’ll surely curse You to Your face!” And God allowed Satan to take on all Job had but not to lay a hand on his person! Satan stripped Job, and Job’s wife wanted him to “Curse God and die! But Job responded, to her, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” And the Holy Word then says: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Thank God for men like Paul who stood strong against ‘disciples of Christ’ with tendencies of walking both sides of the street of faith And disobedience! I don’t think Colossians 1 is an encouragement in one’s accepting Christ that what your old life was without Him is acceptable as you walk with Him in the Spirit-realm now! Colossians 1:18-23, and Verses 26-28, IS a powerful Word about “Striving according to His (God in Christ!) working which works in me mightily” so Paul wouldn’t be a “split-personality servant” of Christ and Satan! He said: Colossians 1:18-23 first: “And He (Christ Jesus) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Get ready!!).

And YOU, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight – IF INDEED you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached (Is that message “Christ in you the HOPE OF GLORY”? You’ll see it in a few seconds!) to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” [Did Paul mention those who were “alienated and enemies in their minds by wicked works” – but you don’t, won’t, or can’t see Satan as the author of the “Book of revolt against God’s plan” with his desire to use slaves of darkness to build his kingdom of darkness with his darkened help?].

Now: Verses 26-28 of Colossians 1! “…the mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

And Satan’s realm, not only in Hell, in the world at large, but even in some churches or denominations that flourish on “Christian activities” but fail miserably in revealing “The Indwelling Christ”, because they don’t like: “dying daily that Christ may be exalted through us; it just doesn’t measure up to OUR ‘religious understanding’!”

I love what Dr. Charles Stanley wrote in his book entitled, “When The Enemy Strikes”. There was a section in his book, (p.200), entitled “Be Bold In Your Testimony About Jesus”. He said: “Your testimony is not based upon what you believe, what you have done, or what you are doing. Your testimony is based upon who Jesus is in your life, what He has done on your behalf, and what He desires to do in you, in your family, and through you and your family to others in your community.

When you hear a lie being told by a family member, speak the truth of God’s Word. When you hear statements of doubt about God’s love or about God’s provision, speak the truth of God’s Word.

When you hear a family member take the Lord’s name in vain, speak the truth about who Jesus is, who God is, and who the Holy Spirit is. [And I say, JFF, be sure your identify Satan’s activities as, yes, he seeks to destroy your marriage, your family, and your witness!].

Don’t allow yourself to become comfortable with “just a little sin” in your family. A little arsenic spoils a plate of food – a little cyanide poisons a large body of water. (And I,JFF, say: “Be careful when Satan seeks to poison the waters of your family’s faith by denying Biblical Truth, even truth about the devil and demons!). Sin is deadly. It pollutes and infects and destroys. (So does Satan’s lies!). Don’t develop a tolerance for any amount of it in your life or the lives of loved ones.

If you allow yourself to be comfortable with sin (Or Satanic deception!), you soon will begin to defend the presence of sin (and you’ll even find yourself defending Satanic demonology!) – to justify it and to give place to it. Deal with those issues that underlie a person’s willingness to commit sin or to act in rebellion.” [Or to “give place to the devil through YOU!”].

There is SATANIC ACTIVISM, Satanic temptations, Satanic enticements, Satanic traps, like for animals, hoping you’re open to his “hook and lure”, Satanic horns that blow loud verses of fleshly pleasures with “death” as its final verse or chorus, there is Satanic invitations out to get one voluntarily rejecting “Holy Truth” because it lies “about what your flesh should enjoy”, there is Satanic deception about you, about self-interest, about ‘self-preservation and self’s indulgences, about the validity of ‘human nature’ as the center of its own universe ruled by “what my flesh tells me – I’m my own man”, with no consideration at all why God made you!

It was Martin Luther, in his writing “Table Talk,” who wrote: “The Devil has two manner of shapes or forms, wherein he disguises himself; he either appears in the shape of a serpent, to affright and kill; or else in the form of a silly sheep, to lie and deceive; these are his two court colors.”

And, consider: “Where does ‘not according to Christ’ come from?” If one reads Paul in Colossians 2:8 saying, “BEWARE lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ,” but I add, “The traditions of men in their personal philosophies and empty deceits and principles of the world were and are authored by Satan himself – from Satan himself: ‘Anything goes, but not God’s Truth, and it’s OK to “exchange the truth of God for the LIE because you can sin and not die!”

Satan will not speak the TRUTH either, and if, as he has, convinced ALL they can sin and not die, exchanging the truth of God for Satan’s lie, Paul says in Romans 1, Verse 21b, men become futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts are darkened, or Verse 22-23, men profess to be wise, but become fools, substituting the glory of the incorruptible God into images made like corruptible man, or Verse 24, God gives them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves, exchanging the truth of God for the “Lie”, or, Verse 26, receiving Satan’s lies, “God gives them up to vile passions,” or Verse 28, “God gives them over to (Satan’s version) – a debased mind, to do those things WHICH ARE NOT FITTING;

Verses 29-32, “being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving (except still ‘loving their flesh & old sin natures’!), unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

BUT, don’t ever forget, overlook, or take lightly Colossians 1:19-20, which I’ve already highlighted for you, but I sense after shocking you with Satan’s premier practices, you need to be reminded of Colossians 1:19-20!! Paul wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit, “For it pleased the Father that in Christ Jesus all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to RECONCILE all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST’S CROSS.” Have you ever been to Calvary’s mountain? It was there Christ Jesus “put to death the body of the sins of your flesh,” and according to Colossians 2:13-15, (Get ready to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus”!), “And YOU, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh (or old sin nature!), He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers (including Satan’s chains binding your Christless life?), He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

And, if that is true, and it is Eternally True, “if YOU died with Christ” and “died with Him from the basic principles of the world, including Satan’s kingdom of darkness”, why, as though living in the world to the glory of God, do you give Satan inches, feet, yards, or miles on the property of your life “blood bought” by the very blood of the Lamb of God?

This is why in Colossians 3:1-4 Paul exposes some and encourages others who live by His enlightment: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died (Did YOU?), and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears (or is unveiled in us!), then you also will appear with Him,( unveiling ) in glory!” AMEN?

SEPT.11-SEPT. 12, 2017, by J.FARRELL FISHER

In Genesis 1:26 the God-head had a sovereign meeting , God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and the Father said in Genesis 1:26, God speaking, “Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness…”, but the Father was not interested in ‘spiritual robots’ that had no will to respond positively or negatively – God wanted the human race to be His by choice in the mind and heart of men, not a ‘push-button’ philosophy void of man’s free will!

But it didn’t take long for ‘trouble’ to brew because in Genesis 3 the “serpent” appeared! (That’s Satan!), and how did he address Eve who’d been told by God, “You may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.” And Satan’s response? “You surely will not die”, they ate of the forbidden fruit – AND SURELY DIED the spiritual death that we all have inherited through “flesh”!

Be assured! Satan casts doubt on the Word of God! Satan twists the truth! Satan spawns doubt, confusion, and unbelief! Satan spouts “the Lie” – “You surely shall not die”, but they did and so does modern man today!

In Romans 1:20-23 Paul said: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, SO THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into ‘images’ made like corruptible man -“!

Oh! And then Paul unveiled what God DID to expose their fallen nature saying: Romans 1:24, “God..gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

Romans 1:25, who exchanged the truth of God for THE LIE (one can sin and not die!), worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Romans 1:26, “God…gave them up to vile passions.” Romans 1:28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind…”

Romans 1:32, “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Oh, but then in Colossians 1:12-18 the Apostle Paul magnifies the “preeminence of Christ and His precious promises”, saying: “giving thanks to the Father who has ‘qualified’ us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS and CONVEYED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE SON OF HIS LOVE, in whom we HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins. He (Christ Jesus) is the image (exact, perfect likeness) of the invisible God, the firstborn over all (the old or “new”) creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him AND for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (or are “held together”). And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

Question! “Are YOU loyal to Christ Jesus in all things, or, have you reserved a segment of your life under your own administration?” “Do YOU declare allegiance to Christ Jesus, yet sense, in yourself, ‘There are some things He may ask me to do, but He must be mistaken because that’s not in my reasonable ‘notions’ for a sane man to do?’” Or, “Isn’t obedience my option in the days of grace and mercy? Don’t I have the right to say, ‘Yes, Lord, that may be true for others, but not for me?’” How ‘fool-ish’ some ‘believers’ become!

In Psalm 102:12-13, 18-22 are uplifting verses when one faces a ‘down-grading’ world, religious gatherings, or, yes, a demonic system! It says: Verses 12-13, “But You, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion (Your chosen people!); for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. (Is THIS your set time?).

Verses 18-22, This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the Lord viewed the earth (Is His eye still on you?), To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death, To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.”

Please come with me to Hebrews 11:8-10 and ask: “As Christ has called me to come and follow Him, where does He lead me?” The Hebrew passage? “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

And, DO YOU, as a professor of faith in Christ, do you know of the “new Jerusalem” which is, yes, a part of the present then, now, and forever abiding place for the true disciples of Christ IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD? We come into this “capital city” of the Kingdom of God because our forever residence is assured in and through Christ alone – we repented, put our faith and trust in Him alone, and Holy God declared us citizens of Christ’s Kingdom!

“Calvary the Cross”! Are YOU identified with Christ in His death on the cruel Cross over 2000 years ago? What does Galatians 2:20-21 tell us? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the “life” which I now live in the flesh I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God…”

I tell you, there are many, many men and women who ignore the crucifixion of Christ to their present loss and ignore their destiny without Him in a dark world of devilish, demonic, and unbeliever-rage, not knowing or appreciating the horrible scourging, suffering, and dying by Christ Jesus for them, as if they were the only humans ever to live! The Cross of Christ was dreadfully real because He dreadfully took your sin nature and mine, dying, to put an end to those who had no way of being reconciled to God the Father unless the Son paid the price Himself for our sin, our death, and our separation from the God who loves us more than we love ourselves – He WAS the “sinless One”, yet He took our sins unto Himself, and shed His own blood, and died, that we might have the opportunity of being reconciled to God, God’s Way – through “Jesus Only”!

Do you think this just might be why Paul said in Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”? Oh, and how does ‘worldly wisdom’ compare to divine wisdom or do I not even go there? Don’t believe I will – why waste my time and yours when even the worldly know their limited wisdom can’t even compare to His, so even though they may deny His wisdom, they latch their ‘star’ to it and soar to the moon! Right?

It was William Cowper, in his writing, “The Task”, (Bk.111, l.221), who wrote: “God never meant that man should scale the heavens by strides of human wisdom,” but I’ll guarantee you that man aligning himself with God’s wisdom, as yet, we haven’t seen how high and how far a man can really go as he, they, we ‘lean not to our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge Him’, or give Him His rightful place in our lives, minds, and hearts as “Lord, Savior, and Master” of our lives!

For the man who intellectualizes the world for his own purposes and plans apart from being yielded to the eternal, divine, ‘mind-of-God’ intention, is a secularist intent on shutting out God in Christ from His redemptive, blood-bought purpose! The ‘man of the world’, with no paramount love, faith, and trust in Holy God, is a ‘substitute’, ‘bench-warmer’ that never really plays God’s intended ‘game of life and faith’, but sits, missing out on the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ! It was, yes, Robert E. Lee, in a “Letter to his Wife”, who wrote: “What a glorious world Almighty God has given us! How thankless and ungrateful we are, and how we labor to mar His gifts.”

Marred gifts? Does that ring a bell in your mind and heart? In Jeremiah 18:1-10, rather than simply a kingdom like Israel, think of the kingdom of YOUR own heart, family, your nation, your world! It says: The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into ANOTHER VESSEL, as it seemed good to the potter to make. THEN the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, (O house of the Fishers, O house of Ft.Worth, Bedford, Dallas, Texas, or my growing up city of Cleveland, Tennessee), can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it, if it does evil in My sight so that IT DOES NOT OBEY MY VOICE, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.”

Benefitted or blasted by the, yes, judgment of God? Blessed or ‘pulled down further’ to the reaches of Hell itself? Built up in faith by God’s glory, power, and mercy or assigned your self-willed bondage under Satan’s domination? Truly, I do not believe or even think that the majority of unbelievers knows what awaits a godless existence in eternity – if they did, there would be an about-face from Hell’s gates to outstretched arms and hands reaching out for God’s mercy, but even then, it could be too late!

In Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest”, (p.56), Chambers wrote so wisely: “I have to cleanse myself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (And he’s already taught that cleansing is through the Lamb’s Blood alone!) until both are in agreement with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I insubordinate in intellect? Am I forming the mind of Christ, Who never spoke from His right to Himself, but maintained an inner watchfulness whereby He continually submitted His spirit to His Father? I have the responsibility of keeping my spirit in agreement with His Spirit, and by degrees Jesus lifts me up to where He lived – in perfect consecration to His Father’s will, paying no attention to any other thing. Am I perfecting this type of holiness in the fear of God? Is God getting His way with me, and are other people beginning to see God in my life more and more?” What a challenge to every ‘professing believer’!

“Calvary the Cross – Calvary the Call!” Do you know what Jeremiah 7:13 says? God spoke then, He speaks now! “I called, but you did not answer.” In fact, the content is, “I called over and over and over, but you refused to answer My calling to YOU!” But “Calvary the Call”? In 1 Corinthians 9:16 Paul said: ‘For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” Necessity laid, yes, upon every believer? Without a doubt! In the old “Broadman Hymnal” is a song, I’m afraid, many of my Baptist friends never really understood or sang. It’s entitled, “The Kingdom Is Coming.” (of course, if any believed it, to them it was a future event in the “last days”, not in the “here and now”! It says:

“From all the dark places Of earth’s heathen races, O see how the thick shadows fly! The voice of salvation Awakes every nation, Come over and help us, they cry.

The sunlight is glancing Over armies advancing, To conquer the kingdoms of sin; Our Lord shall possess them, His presence shall bless them, His beauty shall enter them in.

With shouting and singing, And jubilant ringing, Their arms of rebellion cast down; At last every nation The Lord of salvation Their King and Redeemer shall crown!

The kingdom is coming, [jff: And IT CAME!! King Jesus Reigns NOW!], O tell you the story, God’s banner exalted shall be! The earth shall be full of His knowledge and glory, As waters that cover the sea.” AND IT DOES, CONTINUES TO BE, AND FOREVER WILL BE!!! Amen?

By: J.Farrell Fisher, August 20-21, 2017

Don’t you find it strange AND alarming that many folks who cross your paths in our known world will “die” without one grain of understanding about why they were on Holy God’s beautiful world, no understanding of ‘the meaning of life’ or ‘the meaning of death’? Sadly, for many of humanity’s world populace there is no thought about “Why am I here?”, they just exist, tolerating whatever comes down their lane!

It was Anna Letitia Barbauld, in her writing “Ode to Life”, who wrote: “Life! We’ve been long together Through pleasant and through cloudy weather; It’s hard to part when friends are dear – Perhaps it will cost a sigh, a tear; Then steal away, give little warning, Choose your own time; Say not good-night – but in some brighter clime Bid me good morning.” I’m not sure where she was going to awaken, but be sure, she knew she would – and you should know that YOU CHOOSE through God’s graciousness and kindness and amazing love your destiny of eternal life in Hell or Heaven!

And be assured: Our lives in our known world are of a limited time frame! But, at the same time and in the same vein, you are personally involved in where you spend eternity’s destination! Horatius Bonar wrote: “Beyond the shining and the shading I shall be soon. Beyond the hoping and the dreading I shall be soon…”, but Where and With Whom rests in your own involvement of settling your eternal destiny.

Joshua gave his people and us a necessary warning and needed wisdom in Joshua 24:14-15 when he said: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt! And if it seems evil to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

IF the anointed Word of God says, “Choose YOU this day whom you will serve,” are you, yes, at least fully aware of the ‘fleshly kingdoms of man’ OR yielded to, in, and for the God-honoring, Christ-glorifying “Kingdom of God”?

Dare I tell you that since ‘fallen man’s beginning’ Holy God has sought to alert in the inward heart of all men the reality of His desire to reconcile every fallen man to the reality of His Rule, His reigning, their Redemption, and their “co-reign” in and through His Son, Christ Jesus?

In Proverbs 1:20-33 the ‘wise man’ of Proverbs wrote: “Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.

Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make known my words to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then you will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.

For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.”

“Facing death or Facing Life?” When it comes to all of fallen men’s considerations of why he/she is here in this world, it is certain that in most men it is their own interpretations about what their lives are all about from fleshly ambitions, fleshly aims, even fleshly desires, ‘eating the fruit of their own way’ without any consideration of eternal, divine, loving intention from the Throne of God, His mind, His heart, His desires for men – the source of men’s inspiration for his/her earthly existence must be: “Lord, what would You have me to do?” The astute mind behind the truly blessed man IS the very Mind, Will, Purpose, and Provision of each of us through Christ Jesus, unveiled for us in Romans 5:6-11 when Paul enlightened us, saying,

“For when we were still WITHOUT STRENGTH (or “helpless” concerning “the God-life”), in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having NOW BEEN JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be (“being”) saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” Have YOU received “the reconciliation”?

W.H.McDonald and William G. Fisher wrote the hymn: “I Am Coming To The Cross”. It says: “I am coming to the cross; I am poor and weak and blind; I am counting all but dross; I shall full salvation find.

Long has my heart sighed for You; Long has evil dwelt within; Jesus sweetly speaks to me, “I will cleanse you from all sin.”

Here I give myself to You – Friends and time and earthly store, Soul and body Yours to be – Wholly Yours forevermore.

In the promises I trust; Now I feel the blood applied; I am prostrate in the dust; I with Christ am crucified.

I am trusting, Lord, in You, Dear Lamb of Calvary, Humbly at Your cross I bow, Save me, Jesus, save me now.”

Has Christ Jesus saved YOU, redeemed YOU by His blood, resurrected YOU from sin and death, and called to YOU, “Son, daughter, come to Me and I’ll give you rest”? Do you KNOW that you’ve come out of the bondage of sin and death and Satan’s control, assured in your heart and mind by the Holy Spirit, and by the Holy Spirit are YOU honoring and glorifying Christ in and through your bodily Temple?

Have you “Faced your deathly state without Christ” and are you daily, yes, day by day, “Faith-ing Life in Him”? Are you NOW “being saved by His life?” Remember, Romans 5:10! “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be (“being”) saved by His life.”

Thank God for the Cross of Christ, but if that totals your believing faith, what do you do about His empty tomb and His desire for your redeemed life and body to be the place of His resurrected, abiding presence on earth through YOU? He was made sin for us that through His shed blood, death, and resurrection we might be made “the righteousness of God” in us to be unveiled to the world around us. Loving God made Jesus to be sin for us, yes, the Jesus who knew no sin, but willingly He took our sin and sin nature unto Himself, becoming ‘sin for us’, and by repentance and faith you and I are “made the righteousness of God in Him, in Christ”! Oswald Chambers rightfully stated: “It is not “Christ” FOR me unless I am determined to have Christ formed “in” me.” So true and so aligning to the very heart and mind of God Himself!

“FACING DEATH?” Spiritual death, which is what every human is birthed into, is the reality of the absence of God in the new-birthed, inner heart, because willfully God had no desire to see children birthed with no choice but servitude to the Almighty – He desired and desires the human races of individuals recognizing the empty life, yes, empty meaning, without Christ willfully residing and reigning, but, because of one’s repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s “finished” work at the Cross – one knows, “Yes, it was for ME Christ died because I was a non-possessor of Divine Presence!”

There is a “soul-awakening” sequence of verses in John 2:23-25 that should truly be ‘words of true awakening’ for one in examining his/her own heart and mind! It says: “Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. BUT Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.”

There’s an interesting Verse in Ezekiel 44:25 that says, God speaking about “true priests”, “And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Oh, and then in Ezekiel 44:28 the Lord truly exposes the ‘false’ or true men of Faith saying, “It shall be, in regard to their inheritance, that I am their inheritance.” Are there ‘professing disciples’ intoxicated with a “mixed drink” of the ‘holy and the unholy’ or of ‘the unclean and the clean’? That’s “death” in, yes, disillusioned minds and hearts!

“Fallen mankind” is consumed with nonchalant and/or unconcerned indifference when it comes to a “holy relationship to your God – who needs it?” Many live with a cool indifference, even a mindless consideration of the need of Holy God’s mercy and grace!

It was J.B.Phillips, in his writing, “New Testament Christianity”, who said: “The modern intelligent mind, which has had its horizons widened in dozens of different ways, has got to be shocked afresh by the audacious fact that as a sober matter of history, GOD BECAME ONE OF US.” And becoming one of us, He came with the sacred, eternal intent of reconciling us to Himself – but that could never happen apart from “crucified with Christ” and “raised to new life” in Him and through Him!

“Fallen mankind” is fleshly oriented, ruled by the accumulation of the thoughts, ideas, remedies that never satisfies or heals the absence of God but widens the gap further unless bridged, blessed, and beautified by His amazing grace! And it’s only God’s Mind and God’s Heart that can raise “fallen mankind” out of spiritual death and separation from Him only by the shedding of the innocent blood of His Son for us on Calvary’s Cross, then raising Him up by the supernatural power and love of God, taking Him in His arms, then loosing Him to touch us with God’s amazing love and grace!

When it comes to “fallen mankind”, he/she never experiences the sacredness of a holy relationship with God apart from God’s Word, like when He said to Nicodemus, a religious ruler of the Jews, “Except you be born again you’ll never know My kingdom rule!” Of course, fallen men, rebellious to the core and beyond, have no desire to be “ruled” except by their own warped will! Tell me: Do YOU rule in your own kingdom as ‘lord unto myself’, or is it truly in your mind, heart, and walk to be ruled by Another, even King Jesus?

In Isaiah 63:14b, we read the passionate plea of one who recognized the need of Sovereign God ruling in the nation. He cried out, “So You lead Your people to make Yourself a glorious name,” saying in Verse 19, “We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled, those who were never called by Your name.” James had a ‘perfecting word’ for all believers when he wrote in James 1:4, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

If our goal “in Christ” IS “the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ”, is it possible that some become “sidetracked” or “detoured” away from, rather than “pressing in to His fullness”? In James 1:14 James mentions about “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed,” followed by Verse 15, “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” [Don’t you find it alarming when ‘professing believers in Christ’ live as if He’s not around, indulging their sin natures while Christ weeps, but it doesn’t bother them because they’re ‘free’? Really?].

Follow James 1:21-25 the brother of Jesus warns us: “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the IMPLANTED WORD, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. BUT he who looks into the perfect law of liberty AND continues in it, and IS NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, this one will be blessed in what he does.” Blessed is the evidence of Christ as the source of your walk of faith! Are you “facing death” or are you “FAITHING LIFE”?

“Faithing Life”? I love Moffatt’s translation of James 1:4 when he translated it, saying, “Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect.” IF ‘Christ in you is the hope of glory’, does Christ Jesus have defects, or is it YOUR defects exposed as you try the best you can to be faithful, when your best and your worst, again, I say to you: It was crucified with Christ thousands of years ago, and you are not to lean on your “best”, but to trust His presence to be Himself THROUGH YOU! Amen?

The “Faithing Life” is not your best in ‘independent individuality’ but dependent trust in Christ Jesus being Himself in us and through us! We read in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

To finish the “Faith Life” are YOU looking unto Jesus, are you presently walking in His joy, are you taking His endurance of His cross daily in your walk, hating the shame, and ARE YOU SEATED WITH CHRIST, RIGHT NOW, IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES WITH CHRIST VICTORIOUS OVER SIN AND DEATH, and celebrating with the angelic chorus and the armies of redeemed saints?

Psalm 66:10-12 says, “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” How glorious does that sound to you?!? An old hymn entitled “Glory to His Name” has a verse that says: “Down at the cross where my Savior died, Down where for cleansing from sin I cried, There to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to His name. Glory to His name, Glory to His name; There to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to His name.” Amen?

BY J.FARRELL FISHER, September 29, 2014

I found it so interesting as I was reading in Proverbs recently, chapter 15 and verse 9, when the wise man wrote: “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who follows righteousness.” The absence of Biblical faith is the way of the wicked, yes, even an abomination to God, but the present walk of the man of redemptive faith is a delight to God because He sees a man following divine righteousness – “self-righteousness” is as filthy rags! And then I came to Proverbs 15:11 that tells us: “Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; so much more the hearts of the sons of men.”

In Job 26:6 Job told his friends, “Sheol is naked before Him, and Destruction has no covering.” No doubt this is why the author of Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 13, wrote: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but ALL THINGS ARE NAKED AND OPEN TO THE EYES OF HIM to whom we must give account.” David made it even plainer when in Psalm 33:13-14 he wrote: “The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth.” God knows us all by name!

If “Hell and Destruction” are before God’s eyes and He reads the heart of every man, does He sense in you a heart for “My Way” or a heart for “God’s Way”? It is so vital that you examine your own heart in Light of God’s mercy or in Light of God’s wrath because a Day is coming in which EVERY MAN will stand before Holy God at the judgment seat as He renders to you “Hell” or “Heaven”, determining whether you chose your way or God’s way!

Oswald Chambers, in his “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.131], quoted Matthew 5:30. It says: “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Chambers then said, “There never has been a saint yet who did not have to live a maimed life to start with. But it is better to enter into life maimed and lovely in God’s sight than to be lovely in man’s sight and lame in God’s.” If you didn’t know, “self-righteousness” is the picture of a “maimed life” needing the eternal redemption only God can give. But, it’s true, some men choose a “hellish” life apart from the Blood Atonement!

Three times in Mark 9:42-48 Jesus spoke of those who offended God by their refusing to accept His healing grace with the result that God, yes, casts them into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched – where “Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” It burns and burns and burns, and never dies out, with the recipients of hell forever experiencing the fire! Spurgeon made an eye-opening statement when he preached long ago: “Many of you are hanging over the mouth of hell by a solitary plank, and that plank is rotten!” If I were you I’d consider WHO I’m standing on, examining whether Jesus is your Solid plank or you’ve wandered to rotten planks!

Do you think John Milton in his “Paradise Lost”, [Bk.1,1.61], was writing about Hell? “A dungeon horrible on all side round As one great furnace flamed yet from those flames…

No light, but rather darkness visible, Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace

And rest can never dwell, hope never comes That comes to all, but torture without end.”

If you deny God, refuse His saving grace through the blood of the Lamb, and go your own crippled and cursed way, void of the Savior and Lord of life, Jonathan Edwards wrote about you in his “Men Naturally God’s Enemies,” [Works,VII,168], “The devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them…When you come to be a firebrand of hell…you will appear as you are, a viper indeed…Then will you as a serpent spit poison at God and vent your rage and malice in fearful blasphemies.”

Let me point you to “TRUTH MANIFESTED”! There are two passages from Revelation I want to share with you. In Revelation 21:8 John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives ALL a warning: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” [And the “second death” is the death that will not die!!].

In Revelation 20:15 we read, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Oh, but then Revelation 21:27 informs us that this Book of Life is “the Lamb’s Book of Life”! “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, [can a person ‘defile’ Truth because they don’t accept God’s revelation?], or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Are you unaware that every single person on earth has their own “book of life” as they see it with some personally rejecting God’s Word of Truth? Truth defiled, but also there are those who see Biblical Truth as ‘abominable’ – The Random House Collegiate Dictionary defines ‘abominable’ as that which is “repugnantly hateful; detestable; loathsome; very unpleasant, disagreeable” – oh, and then Revelation 21:27 tells us there an those interpreting “TRUTH” as a lie! AND, THEY HAVE NO PART IN THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF GOD EVEN IF THEY’RE CHURCH ATTENDERS!

My heart is absolutely broken, shattered, and I find myself in a grieving state for a long time when I hear those who, yes, denounce the God-inspired Holy Word! But I grieve also because Jesus speaks in Matthew 10:28 and tells us: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Greek word for ‘hell’ is Gehenna – I’d define that as ‘good intentions,’ or ‘gross’, ‘godless’, ‘guilt-ridden’, a ‘gad-a-bout’ who wanders away from the God of Truth aimlessly with no God-given purpose, plan, or life in the Spirit!

“Truth-Manifested”? Do you have any idea at all about “eternal remorse”? Again, the Collegiate Dictionary defines “remorse” as “deep and painful regret for wrong-doing…regretful, pitiful, sad”, because one has ignored God’s calling to him/her, His personal calling, through His Word to YOU!!

Follow carefully Jesus’ words in Luke 16:19-31! “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at the gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores…

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man died also and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’

But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’

And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

“TRUTH MANIFESTED?” What did Jesus say in Matthew 16:25? But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember…” Can you even begin to comprehend the thoughts of a man who thought by his earthly prominence he was assured of a place in heaven but all he ‘inherited’ was “pictures of the past” with no film of saving grace and mercy?

Memory? Thoughts of his past existence because it certainly was not heavenly living on earth – a life that never gave Jesus a silly inch of consideration but only miles of “fleshly, sinful, shameful” unbelief, rebellion, and denial as he wasted his living on indulging himself in Christ-less living!

Thoughts? Do you comprehend “torment” when the purity of Christ could have been yours through His shed blood, broken body, and eternal sacrifice, but you stood on your “intellectually prowess”, never understanding “raised with Christ, seeking the things above” settling in where Christ IS, seated at the right hand of God! So, you become a part of those who “set their minds on things above, not on the things of the earth,” because you “died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God!”

Horrifying considerations of ‘torment in the flames’? Do you ever read Holy Scripture and sense the depth, breadth and height of God’s love for you as He alerts you to an eternity of an absence of His love, grace, and mercy, and experiencing only the Devil’s hell with all his demons and, yes, the godless who deny Christ as the Savior and Lord of all of life?

Can you even begin to comprehend every man, woman, boy, or girl, who heard of the saving grace of God, of Calvary’s great love, of the suffering and death on innocent Jesus who knew no sin, but took their sin upon Himself and died a cruel death, hearing Him say, “I never knew you. Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity!” What tormenting shame for the rejecters of Christ!

Eternity in Hell with unbelievers, sordid companions, sick sinners of body, mind, heart, and soul? Revelation 22:15 Jesus Himself testified of those who weren’t allowed to enter the Holy City! “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and WHOEVER LOVES AND PRACTICES A LIE!” Loves a lie, practices a lie? “Jesus isn’t divine, Jesus wasn’t born of a virgin, Jesus was not Emmanuel, Jesus wasn’t the Sinless Son of God, Jesus doesn’t save, Jesus doesn’t give us Resurrection Life, Power, and Hope for Eternity – he was just a man!” So they GO TO HELL!!

Oh, hear the Word of God!! John 3:36!! “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Wrath? Hell? Punishment? From God? You do understand that there are some who believe it to be impolite to even speak of Hell and who goes there, but if Jesus does, so should all born-again believers! There are those without grace and mercy in their hearts, living hopeless of hope and heaven without Jesus as Master, Savior, and Lord of their lives.

Have you read 2 Thessalonians lately? Verses 7-10 “…the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe [trust in, rely upon, rest in], because our testimony among you was believed.” Tell me what YOU believe?

Would you be surprised if you discovered that Jesus had more to say about Hell than He did Heaven? Why don’t you “use” the Word and see the difference between Hell and Heaven! I don’t know what you’ve discerned about Hell in God’s Word, but more importantly you need to truly know the heart of God! 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” [And especially related to the “church”, how does the last verse apply when “repentance” is a word missing from the church’s daily dictionary? Too many pastors have no desire to “offend” regular attenders and especially those who are big tithers!]

Let’s examine “Truth Manifested” as it relates to Heaven! In John 14:1-4 Jesus speaks to our hearts today: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Jesus talked clearly, plainly, passionately about those who believed in, trusted fully, and followed Him faithfully, that He had gone after His death and resurrection to “prepare a place for you”! But one doesn’t merit Heaven as he/she mixes, messes, or mangles the profession of faith in Christ while daily dancing the devil’s or fallen flesh’s tunes! It’s “I surrender all” or one is not His “at all”!

But in 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9 Paul encourages true believers with the hope of our eternal Heaven: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day…

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal…

5:1-9, For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked…

For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee…

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” Heaven? Paul said later in 2 Corinthians 5:18 that “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ…” If you’re not experiencing Heaven now, in Christ, what do you think will make His Presence more pleasing when you’re with Him there?

Do you understand “joy in Heaven”? Luke 15:7,10 says, Verse 7, Jesus speaking, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Then Verse 10 says, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Heaven? The Holy Presence of God, the Presence of Jesus who is King of kings and Lord of lords, and the Holy Spirit bathing the redeemed in eternal, heavenly fruit of the Spirit, and multitudes after multitudes of Heaven’s angels singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” along with the born-again Family of God!

R.A. Torrey wrote the book entitled “Heaven or Hell?” In it, [p.72] he wrote: “There will be no unpleasant or degrading companions in heaven. The devil will not be there. The lewd, the vulgar, and the obscene will not be there. The greedy and the scheming and selfish will not be there. The liar, the slanderer, the backbiter, the meddler, and the gossip will not be there. The mean, the contemptible, and the hypocrite will not be there. The profane, the blasphemer, and the scoffer will not be there. No money, influence, or cunning will get them in. ‘And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie. [Revelation 21:27]”

And YOU don’t know, refuse to believe, yes, doubt and try to refute daily that you have a great High Priest in Heaven whose name is Jesus? Hebrews 4:14 tells me, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Beyond this eternal truth the author then tells us in verses 15-16, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

[But how many do you know who deny Jesus as our great High Priest, have no confession, certainly recognize in themselves no weaknesses, void of temptation and sin, and vow they don’t need mercy or grace because their “flesh” and “sin” is of no consequence to God!]

“Heaven”? Can you even begin to fathom the fullness of perfect love, perfect peace, perfect identity, as the son/daughter of God Almighty? What did John write? I John 3:1-3 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” [Would you call that “preparation for Heaven”? But there is no purity of heart and mind apart from “the blood of the Lamb of God” WHO IS JESUS ONLY!]

“Heaven”? You just read R.A. Torrey’s summation of “absence”, but consider the absence of all of God’s enemies of true faith, your enemies of saving grace! Can you rejoice because you understand there’s the eternal absence of that which sought to mar your life and journey of faith? Life’s pains become His perfect peace, life’s troubles become His triumphant spirit, life’s poverties become His eternal riches, life’s laborious conflicts become His eternal “rest” of faith, life’s fleshly questions become His heavenly answers, life’s “sleepless nights” become the dawn of His bright days, life’s baffling questions become our Lord’s clear answers, life’s tears will be transformed into His rivers of sweet memories, life’s bitter and hateful seconds will become His eternal moments of blessed peace that passes all understanding!

I’m telling you: As true children of redemptive faith, we inherit an eternity of perfect praise, perfect love, and perfect “on key” rejoicing! What does Revelation 7:9-12 tell us? “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,…

And crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying:…

‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. AMEN!!”

“WHAT ABOUT HEAVEN’S DOOR”? I know you’re not unfamiliar with what Jesus said about Himself – reject Him if you choose, but Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Promised Messiah, Emmanuel, King of kings and Lord of lords, IS HEAVEN’S DOOR, and there is no other way to enter! In John 10:9 Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture.”

“WHAT ABOUT HEAVEN’S HOUSE”? In Hebrews 3:1-6 we read: “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house…

For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God…

And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, BUT CHRIST AS A SON OVER HIS OWN HOUSE, whose house WE ARE “IF” we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end!!”

Once more, consider R.A. Torrey’s comments in his book, “Heaven or Hell?”, [p.86], “Do you know the difference between a hog and a sheep? A hog will fall into the mud, and he will stay there. A sheep may fall into the mud, but he gets up as quickly as he can. Many people that we think are Christ’s sheep are only washed hogs. A hog that is washed will return to the mire, but a sheep will not stay in the mud.” [2 Peter 2:22 says, “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”

And also if a “Heaven-bound saint”, one truly ‘set apart’ for the glory of God alone, what gives with the man as an unbeliever whose goal is self-actualization?

Read Oswald Chambers’ comments on Philippians 3:10 where Paul said, “That I may know Him..,” [Jesus Christ!!]. [“My Utmost For His Highest,” pps.140-141], “The initiative of the saint is not towards self-realization, but towards knowing Jesus Christ. The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular and sacred; he sees everything as dumped down in as the means of securing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is a reckless abandonment about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life, and He will bring us back to the same point again and again until we do. Self-realization leads to enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work. Whether it be eating or drinking or washing disciples’ feet, whatever it is, we have to take the initiative of realizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our actual life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father in the most menial work. “JESUS KNOWING…that He was come from God, and went to God…took a towel…and began to wash the disciples’ feet.”

If you didn’t know it, Jesus was ‘Heaven’ come to earth, and ‘Heaven’ for the true saint is, “that I may know Him’!! And Heaven’s goal in each true believer? Ephesians 4:13, “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” The “FRIEND OF HEAVEN” is Jesus – the “friends of earth” are those, yes, who bring “heaven” to earth! What did John say in I John 3:14? “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren,” and our Lord even tells us, “Love your enemies”! THAT’S HEAVEN!

No doubt this is why Peter wrote: I Peter 1:8, “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory..”

What did Jesus tell us in John 15:13? “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” AWESOME!! I love what Jeremy Taylor said long ago: “By friendship you mean the greatest love, the greatest usefulness, the most open communication, the noblest sufferings, the severest truth, the heartiest counsel, and the greatest union of minds of which brave men and women are capable.” JUST HOW BRAVE WAS JESUS? HOW BRAVE ARE YOU? DO YOU STAND FOR THE ETERNAL TRUTH OF HEAVEN AND, YES, HELL?

BY: J.FARRELL FISHER, SEPTEMBER 6-7, 2018

There was a quite-shocking news’ release on my computer recently from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association saying, “Nearly 20 million Americans struggle with depression. Over 42,000 commit suicide each year.” It also highlighted Psalm 34:18 (ESV), “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Have you witnessed the brokenhearted and the crushed in spirit without any concern, compassion, or care for, yes, the “needy” right in front of you, or next door?

It was a heart-breaking news’ release, but then I read a Sarah Palin statement on, what at the time under ‘Obamacare’, she quoted that 21,904 people had DIED on waiting lists! And you’re certainly challenged by ‘life desperation’ in many – most unaware of God’s presence, God’s help, God’s ministry, God’s Son, yes, sent by the Father as life’s Savior and Lord, a life’s needy ‘the GREAT PHYSICIAN’, and life’s conqueror over sin, over sickness, over death, over world domination, that is godless and heavily injures body, soul, and spirit, by blindness to Satanic interference!!

“Living by pathetic decisions”? Just consider the ‘atheistic community’ world-wide or even locally around you! “There is no god!”, and so they “choose” to willfully live in the choice of ‘the suicide of the soul’, closing the door of heart and mind on the Truth of Biblical Hope in Christ!

It was Sir Francis Bacon, in his writing, “Essays: Of Atheism” XVI, who wrote, “A little philosophy inclines a man’s mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy brings men’s minds to religion”, but, sadly, religions as well as man’s philosophies, often are blinding men rather than opening their eyes, minds, and hearts to Christ Jesus’ KNOCK on their hearts’ door!

O.A. Battista, in his writing, “Power To Influence People”, (copyrighted in 1959 by him), says: “An atheist is a man who looks through a telescope and tries to explain what he can’t see.” So true! Spiritual blindness in atheism is a deadly disease, AND a deadly ‘dis-ease’ living one stranded on a ‘sinking ship’!

In my early days, I lived with my grandparents because my mother divorced my father then took me to live with them while, for a number of years she lived a care-free, Christ-less life, strapped in her ‘flesh nature’! I still praise God at 82 years of age because my grandparents and my mother’s two sisters ‘blessed me spiritually’ from my three years of age until at about twelve years of age when my mother married Frank Callaway who became my step-dad! (In all my years of life my dad never came to see me, never –but I’d travel 30 miles to his parents’ home, and he’d drop by or I’d go to his office.) But my mother’s parents, my grandparents and my two aunts, one just two years older than me and the other about six years older, basically, ‘discipled’ me faithfully! Some, in a situation like mine, often ‘choose’ to “turn away from God” because, how could He allow such irreverence and shunning of His eternal purpose in every life? But, thank God, though without mother and father, I WAS BLESSED! I didn’t turn to ‘atheism’ because I heard, saw, witnessed, believed in, and trusted the “Lived-Out-Trust-in The Loving Lord and Savior” through the family and our local church blessed with a large number of true disciples who, yes, also nurtured me in the faith!!

In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Fears in Solitude”, he wrote: “Forth from his dark and lonely hiding place, (Portentious sight!) the ‘owlet’ Atheism, Sailing on obscene wings athwart the noon, Drops his blue-fringed lids, and holds them close, And hooting at the glorious sun in Heaven, Cries out, “Where is it?”

I love what Alexander Pope once said! “Atheists put on a false courage in the midst of their darkness and misapprehensions, like children who, when they fear to go in the dark, will sing or whistle to keep up their courage.”

Worldly intelligence often so deceives ‘unbelievers’, and at times ‘intelligent mind-believers’, that, all of a sudden, they think, “There is no God!’, opening the false door to one’s ‘self’ as the “best god I know”, and willfully ‘lie’ to themselves, “There is no god!”, choosing, yes, a godless life or a godless pretense! Others catch the “dis-ease” of recognizing their need of God, but unwilling to submit to His commands, they find it easier, though deathly, to determine for themselves, “I don’t need YOUR GOD!”

There is a spiritual disease called ‘atheism’ that is a repressed ‘religion’ that captures some hearts and minds, but has not, cannot, will not ever produce the miracle of new lives, new hearts, new minds, recognizing only ‘human intent of honoring ‘any god’ by, at least, being ‘honest’(?) with themselves’, but opening the ‘door’ to eternal death! It was Mary Ann Vincent who once said: “An atheist’s most embarrassing moment is when he/she feels profoundly thankful for ‘something’, but can’t think of anybody (or anything) to thank for it.” So true!

And, guaranteed, there ARE, for some atheists, dark, dark, tragic, tough moments when they stop and think, “If God is real, would He be willing to help me when I need Him the most?”

Oh, and then there are the “agnostics”. The Random House Collegiate Dictionary of 1975, published in a Revised Edition, says of an ‘agnostic’, “a person who holds that the ultimate cause (God) and the essential nature of things (though real) are unknown and unknowable.” So, of course, the agnostic refuses to trust, relate to, submit to, or obey the One he/she has no desire to know, though He exists!

And, though, at times, many ‘agnostics’ are ‘intellectually wise’ in their worldly philosophies, their arrogance deceives them in thinking, “Though ‘God’ exists, He has no ‘genius’ about ‘fleshly creation in the human heart and mind’ but certainly His world, created by His Word, is sure beautiful! I can accept that!” ,but will deny “Amazing Grace, Love, Truth, and Mercy”, and especially ‘God in Christ’!”

Then, beyond what we’ve seen so far, there are still, yes, many, many people who are not atheists or agnostics, but individuals who have a ‘mental awareness of the reality of God’ but no desire to be reconciled to Him, be transformed by Him, or even consider that He could and would, having “birthed them into an eternal spiritual relationship”, be used by Him to extend His Kingdom, express His love through them, and demonstrate through them His Power! But…they willfully say, ‘no; there is no God’, He ‘knocks’, but they refuse to open the door of their minds and hearts because they are content with their worldly wisdom, their fleshly ambitions, and their own entertainment, yes, without any need of Calvary’s Savior, Lord, and Master of eternal life and blessing!

Also there are many in our highly educated, self-centered world, bound by that ‘world philosophy’, by ‘Satanic deceit’, and by the “I do it ‘my way’,” godless, brain-dead and heart-diseased, state of only inward allegiance and ‘self-fulfillment’, that they have no time to even consider a relationship with a loving, merciful and caring God! That’s like Napoleon Bonaparte who once said, “You think you are too intelligent to believe in God. –I am not like you.- Not every one who wishes to be is an atheist,” denying His desire to be Lord over your life as you ‘fend’ for yourself, denying Him His eternal desire to be Lord, Savior, Master, or Ruler in and over your life, turning ‘existence’ into Holy Presence!

Are YOU “living under” the pretense of your thoughts, your turning, and your ‘self-inflicted’ torture of “Godless living”? Thomas Carlyle once said, “There is but one thing without honor, smitten with eternal barrenness, inability to do or to be, and that is unbelief. He who believes nothing, who believes only the show of things, is not in relation with nature and fact at all”, like, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’!” So true!

Oh, and then there is the “later-crowd”, the “sometime, but, ‘not-now-crowd’” who ‘believe’ but not to the point of trust or surrender or allegiance to His “Amazing Grace”!!

Oh, and also, there IS the “wilted-flower-‘fan’” that Alfred Lord Tennyson described in his writing, “Flower in the Crannied Wall” theme: “Flower in the crannied wall, I pluck you out of the crannies, I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,

Little flower – but if I could understand What you are, root and all, and all in all, I should know what God and man is.” Also, so true!

BUT, also, there IS the spiritual tragedy of the fallen man easily distracted by the worldly influences, by the, yes, demonic distractions and devilish influences, AND by that ‘all-out-allegiance to satisfy one’s sin-nature and self-centered allegiances’! THEY ALL ARE EXTREMELY POWERFUL, BLINDING, AND EFFICIENT IN THEIR FRAMES OF REFERENCE!! In 1 Corinthians 13:11 Paul wrote, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” That was Paul, but certainly there are young children who latch on to Holy God, and they won’t let go! Not all, but some!

I read a small article by Eric Metaxes and Stan Guthrie on my computer this morning entitled, “Beware of Apatheism” that I found so appropriate for this message. It said: “With apologies to Richard Dawkins, the New Atheists are old news. But we’ve got a bigger problem. You remember them, don’t you? Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Bennett, and Sam Harris?

These so-called “New Atheists” drew crowds with their bombastic and occasionally clever attacks on God and theism. For a while their books were best sellers, “The God Delusion,” “God Is Not Great,” for example. But as atheist and evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson recently wrote, “The world appears to be tiring of the New Atheism movement…

However, that’s not necessarily good news. Writing in The Public Discourse, Paul Rowan Brian and Ben Sixsmith warn of something even more insidious than atheism. APATHEISM – that is, answering the “God question” with a shoulder shrug and a calm, “Whatever.” Again, “Whatever,” Brian and Sixsmith write, “With roots in the practical atheism and deism of the Enlightment, ‘apatheism’ is embodied in French philosopher Denis Diderot’s famous remark that ‘it is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not believe in God is not important at all.”

They cite K. Robert Beshears of Southern Baptist Seminary, who says the West suffers from an “unholy trinity of apatheism”: a lack of ‘reason’ to believe, supposedly because of science; a lack of ‘motivation’ to believe, because someone else will worry about it, and a lack of ‘will’ to believe, because religion “is just too much drama.”

And one WONDERS: “How stupid, blind, and spiritually ignorant has ‘fallen mankind’ stooped to?” BUT…THERE IS HOPE!! In Hebrews 12:1-9 God’s Holy Word challenges us all! It says: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which SO EASILY BESETS US, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him, that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him.

For WHOM the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. IF you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father never chastens?

But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then you are bastards (illegitimate), and not sons. Furthermore we have had our fathers of our ‘flesh’ who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” GOOD QUESTION!

I recently went back to re-examine Edwin Louis Cole’s book, “Maximized Manhood”, and I had to wonder, once again, “is that theme the opposite of “death to self in exchange for Christ’s Resurrection Presence after true repentance and faith in His finished work at the Cross and the empty tomb”, encouraging ‘best effort’ in place of “crucified with Christ, buried, then raised in the “newness of His Presence”?

ARE YOU: “Living by pathetic decisions”? Examine Luke 8:4-18!! And when much people were gathered together, and were come to Him out of every city, He spoke by a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

And some fell down upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. (Moisture of the Holy Spirit?). And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

And others fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. When He had said these things, He cried out, ‘Hear that has ears to hear, let him hear.’ His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘What might this parable be?’ He said, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he has lighted a candle, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but sets it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how YOU hear; for whosoever has, to him shall be given; and whosoever has not, from him shall be taken that which he seems to have.”

What’s the Question of this very moment? Are YOU “Living by Pathetic Decisions OR Are YOU Overcoming by Divine Promises?" A few words I recently wrote that states this: “I once was lost, but now I’m found; I once was blind, but now I see; I once was dirty in the garment of sin, but now I’ve been cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb.

Darkness prevailed, and then came the Light; darkness distressed, and the Light offered “Rest”; darkness ‘tired’, but the Spirit “inspired” LIFE IN THE LORD that never retires!

Darkness’ ease is a deadly disease, but, the Great Physician brings “Heaven’s Release”! Darkness’ author is the Satanic Liar, offering release to a ‘lesser lair’.

Darkness’ song is an off-key chord, eventually bringing a life that is bored; but Jesus comes to offer His Light to free you from ‘the cellar of devilish might’!”

The question now is: Are YOU still living by ‘pathetic decisions’ OR are YOU overcoming by Christ’s and the Word’s Divine Promises? I TELL YOU:

Darkness shakes like a massive hurricane at Jesus’ Presence, darkness moves deeper under the Devil’s own fear of the Light, darkness trembles at even the mention of Jesus’ Name, and darkness looks to its ‘author’ and ‘inventor’ of all its own fears, faults, and feelings! Oh, but then comes King Jesus, the Light that dispels darkness’ soiled agendas and then King Jesus turns on the “Eternal Light” of His ever abiding Presence.

Where is YOUR life planted? In Satan’s darkness or the Savior’s Light? P.P.Bliss wrote a hymn published in the old “Broadman Hymnal” in 1940 entitled: “The Light of the World Is Jesus”, saying: “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin, The Light of the world is Jesus; Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in, The Light of the world is Jesus.

No darkness have we who in Jesus abide, The Light of the world is Jesus; We walk in the Light when we follow our Guide, the Light of the world is Jesus.

You dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes, The Light of the World is Jesus; Go, wash, at His bidding, and light will arise, The Light of the world is Jesus.

No need of the sunlight in Heaven we’re told, The Light of the world is Jesus; The Lamb is the Light in the city of Gold, The Light of the world is Jesus.”

Tell me! Your “residence” NOW and Eternally? In the ‘darkness’ of fallen humanity under the domination of Satan and his demons? OR, is it “residence” NOW and Eternally in “The Light of the Very Present, Presiding, Perfecting Light Of Christ Jesus”?

By: J.Farrell Fisher, August 24-26, 2017

Does humanity change much when it comes to earthly existence but void of the reality of divine truth, God’s purpose, and Christ’s remedy for their problems? I don’t think so! In fact, I’m not sure there are many who ‘tire out’ in their fleshly pursuits, never looking to Holy God as He relates to His Eternal intent in truly available lives, but being unavailable to God and His purpose for their lives, they still, and in spite of an attitude of unbelief in redemptive faith through Another, “feel” they are being fulfilled but are “starved” in their fleshly imaginations concerning what it means to be living a “successful” life, because to live in the “best” of “flesh-will” is to cancel the perfect will of God for their lives, futures, or destinies!

Spiritual unbelief in divine intent is to ‘live’ (?) in a state of exhaustion though active day by day intending to prove their ‘self-lives’ can and are meaningful to them but “starving” God’s eternal plan for their available lives to His Throne-Room designation. Self-will rather than divine will produces a “tiring” that drains one more and more of eternal meaning and eternal purpose being fulfilled through available vessels because they “shut God out”, sure they know best how to be successful in their known, warped, ‘self-created’ world.

A powerful inspired Verse of the Holy Word is found in Isaiah 26:3 that says: “You (God) will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You.”

I pray the title doesn’t offend you – I’d rather it spurs divine conviction in every listener or reader to “Examine yourself whether you be in the true faith or not!” (2 Corinthians 13:5!). Some get ‘drained’ and quit rather than quickened by the Word and the Spirit. Some choose to forget Christ’s purpose in them and through them rather than, day by day, remembering His eternal calling. Some are zeroed in His designation for their journey of faith rather than “zoned in” to Holy Spirit leadership, guidance, instruction, and inspiration!

Do you remember Moses as he met with the Lord before entering the Promised Land? In Exodus 33:13-18 we read, Moses saying first to the Lord, “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And God said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you “REST”.” Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”

So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken for; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” And Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Dare I ask if YOU are walking under, in, and through the glory cloud of God’s Presence?

Let me ask you about, yes, God’s unveiling of ‘who’ and ‘what you are about’ as an “unbeliever in anything related to the “God-crowd”, or a “professing disciple”, ‘active church member’, ‘paralyzed ‘disciple’ (?)”, OR A TRUE “BEING-PERFECTED-SON OR DAUGHTER OF THE TRUE FAITH”! And, dare I tell you that the Word says, “By their fruits you shall know them”? Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”, says the Lord of hosts! Yet the “crowd” mentioned in the title could care less about Holy God’s “Spirit-provision” of victorious living!

Do you remember Moses and Aaron confronting Pharoah of Egypt about “letting God’s people go”, and he responded in Exodus 5:2, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, now will I let Israel go.”?

In Psalm 101:1-3 David sang! (I often wonder how many “professing believers” live day by day with a song in their hearts!). He said: “I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O Lord, I will sing praises. I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; (Does that mean less TV time in this modern-day?). I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”

“Falling away”? Is that “the work” of ‘pompous preachers, paralyzed disciples, or poverty-stricken churches’? Or is there in YOUR heart, mind, and will the “resting” in the finished work of Christ as “being perfected sons and daughters of the True Faith”?

Having been both a high school and collegiate athlete – high school for me was football, basketball, and baseball in Bradley High School, Cleveland, Tennessee, but in college only football on scholarship at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. One thing I knew early on: Holy God Himself gifted me as an athlete and He called me, set me aside, anointed me to be His earthly vessel for Christ’s Heavenly Presence – and I’ve never doubted His “perfecting”, “equipping”, and “pouring out more and more of my ‘old man’ in exchange for the fullness of the blessing of the gospel in and through and for the glory of “Jesus Only” in the “new man” of Christ’s blood redemption!!

Whether preachers, churches, or an individual, paralyzed disciple trying his/her best, the lesson, the truth, the only hope, must be learned: It’s “Christ in you the hope of glory.” And, beyond the victory Christ Jesus won over sin, Satan, fallen flesh and their ‘best efforts’, Christ Jesus promised every son and daughter of redemptive faith, saying in John 14:25-27, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”

Yet, how many do you know who are “professing disciples, “church related”, and “who sincerely try their best”, but sense something is sadly wrong in their spiritual journeys , good folks, sincere folks, ‘failing’, ‘falling short’, ‘feeble in the journey’, because no one EVER taught them about “taking the sentence of death daily to the old man separated from Christ in order that His Resurrection Presence would be manifested in and through their mortal bodies”! And you’ll hear some say, “You mean my faith in Christ has nothing to do with my ‘trying’, my ‘best efforts’, or my determined mind-set to BE a “successful disciple”?

“Crucified with Christ” doesn’t mean He overlooks your “best” fleshly nature! No! He didn’t overlook it – He crucified it on the Cross several thousand years ago so you, being convicted because of your sin and sin nature, then repenting before Holy God, and willfully putting your “redemptive faith” in Christ alone, can take that sentence of death daily to the old man, and CHOOSE to live “by the Life of Another, even live in, by, and for His Resurrection Life, Resurrection Glory, Resurrection Honor, and Resurrection Ministry and Service in and through Him!

In James 4 the brother of Jesus said, Verses 4-10, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scriptures says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealousy?”

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit TO God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you DOUBLE-MINDED. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Christ’s Presence in you is God’s will, God’s Way, and God’s Wisdom in directing your life in Christ as a testimony of His great, abiding, and transforming Life as Jesus brings glory to the Father through you as you yield yourself to His awesome Presence!

How many “successful people” do you know who would willfully look to their ‘old, sin-natured life’, crucified with Christ, and buried in the ‘sea of God’s forgetfulness’, understanding that God rejoices over them, IF, as they lean not to their own understanding, but accept His judgment about their sin nature and its crucifixion, then thank God for His grace, mercy, and love, even praising Him for exposing what they tried to hide for a long time, but now Rejoice over God the Father’s sacrifice of His only Son to reconcile them to Him? Sadly, many worldly, self-centered men could care less about the crucifixion of Christ – they don’t see He shed His own blood for them!

Do I need to remind you of John 14:26? “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Nowhere in the Word do you find mankind are instructed to “try your best” but “Give the Spirit His rightful place as your guide, your equipper, your trainer, and, yes, your convincer, ministering deep conviction when you choose a wrong path!

The Holy Spirit is “the spiritual parent” training, equipping, disciplining, inspiring every true “child of the King.” He’s YOUR “tutor”! In fact, in Galatians 5:16, Paul said: I say then, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh,” then contrasting the “works of the flesh” and the “works of the Spirit”! In Galatians 5:19-25 the anointed Apostle instructs us:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. BUT the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. AND those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

The question of the day is: “As a disciple of Christ do you walk day by day under the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, promised by Christ, to be YOUR equipper in the “Overcoming Life of Christ”, yes, overcoming sin, Satan, the flesh or old sin-nature, and, overcoming the temptations, by the Spirit, of the world, the flesh, and the devil”? Let’s resolve the question right now! “Will YOU receive Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit to be your guardian of faith and your guide into all Truth”?

JUNE 24-25, 2018, by J.Farrell Fisher

In Kurt Bruner’s book entitled “Inklings of God”, between his introduction and Chapter One, he recorded a statement of H.W. Webb-Peploe; it was: “Joy is not gush; joy is not jolliness. Joy is perfect acquiescence in God’s will because the soul delights itself in God Himself.”

And I certainly agree, but must add: “Joy is a fruit of the Spirit as the Holy Spirit unveils Christ fully to us, blessing us with our Lord and Savior’s gracious giftings, for those who desire to BE “the Potter’s House”!” Yet, I am afraid that there are those ‘believers’ (?) who are naïve to the spiritual dynamics of a Spirit-birthed, Spirit-presence, Spirit-guidance, AND Spirit-empowerment of a disciple’s pilgrimage! For many ‘Christian believers’ it’s as if the Holy Spirit doesn’t exist and isn’t necessary for the “illumination of true salvation ‘in Christ’!”

Plus, are there options ‘professing believers’ hold, or dismiss, related to Holy Spirit giftings, since ‘in and of themselves’ they sense no need of a ‘higher power’ to guide their spiritual pilgrimage: “We’re capable without the Spirit’s oversight”? Isn’t there in many ‘disciples’ a spiritual state of faith in living with a ‘spirit’ of ‘naivety’, void of Holy Spirit instruction, and unveiling of the ‘spirit-life’, a ‘journey’, a spiritual pilgrimage, apart from THE indwelling Holy Spirit who IS called our “Guide”, our “Tutor”, our “Equipper”, who is able to do, in us, exceedingly abundant and beyond what we dream or think to be possible in the spiritual journey of faith, obedience, and “Christ-revealing discipleship”!

Please understand! The Holy Spirit even begins the opening of our understanding of, yes, the “need” of trusting Christ’s saving grace, convicting us, appropriating for us and awareness of His eternal forgiveness of our sin and sin nature within us, and desiring to “open” the doors of our hearts to Christ so He may establish the Holy Temple in a repentant heart in eternal partnership with the Holy Spirit! Has He: “knocked”, but you didn’t truly “open the door” for His entrance IN YOU as His earthly dwelling, you “Choosing God In Christ”?!? Didn’t Jesus say, “I and My Father are one”? And dare I tell you? Believe I will! There IS NO choosing God in Christ for His graciousness and kindness and mercy apart from the Holy Spirit “guiding us into all Truth” under Father-God’s anointing of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s “conviction”, “converting”, “transforming”, “INDWELLING”, and “divine-fruit-bearing”!!

Highly interesting words from King Jesus when in Matthew 7:13-14 He said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Later, in Verses 21-23, the Lord Jesus said:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven (on earth!!!!), but he who DOES THE WILL of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And THEN I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Have you ever heard ‘professing believers’ say to you: “It’s OK, I’m OK, even though as a ‘believer’ (?) I still live with a bent toward and an appreciation for my old sin nature and sin often, but I thank God He doesn’t see or hold me accountable any longer, because ‘I believe in Jesus’ mercy’.” Really? It’s in John 8:11 where Christ Jesus said to the former, but redeemed adulteress woman, “Go, and sin no more.” A suggestion or a biblical command?

Jesus says: “Sin no more”! – And that’s because the Lord Jesus says, “Sin no more!” “Sin no more” because Christ Jesus KNOWS what willful sin does in the human soul, human life, AND to the human body! “Sin no more” because willful sin ‘promotes’ and honors ‘fleshliness’ and the old sin nature, AND “IS NOT” THE “NEW LIFE OF LIBERTY AND FREEDOM AND UNVEILING OF THE SPIRITUAL NATURE OF DIVINE, HOLY LIVING”, honoring God alone, without a silly ounce of ‘sinful-self-acceptance and sinful -self-appreciation’! THAT WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST AT THE CROSS!

In John 8:12 the Lord Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.” Darkness? “Falling short of the glory of God”! Darkness? “Choosing sin in place of the Light of heavenly glory”! Darkness? Leaning on Lucifer’s lie rather than TRUSTING in the Lord’s Truth! Darkness? Settling to co-mingle spiritual death with spiritual life, hoping, in time, maybe, the “Life” will crowd out the “spiritual death”! Darkness? Flawed, scarred, dis-eased nature, a world-spirit of rebellion against God, but convinced the Holy Spirit world overlooks one’s own rebellion because “he, she, at least tries to overcome it, as he, she does her ‘best’ in both worlds he/she has chosen to “live” in”! Really?

Dare I tell you? “There is no ‘broad-mindedness’ in the true disciple’s eternal world that allows his indulgence in ‘flesh’ or one’s ‘crucified sin-nature’ while he/she professes devotion to the Spirit-world of King Jesus!” That’s like the “fallen humanity’s belief” that marriage to one wife or one husband doesn’t exclude sexual indulgence with another woman or man at the same time. But, yes, we live in the time period of the ‘modern-day’ Christian world where “anything goes”, even contradiction to the revealed will, way, and Word of faith! Do you understand? If you accept, “anything goes in my Christian world if it gives me pleasure and satisfaction”, unaware that is ‘professing’ allegiance to death’s ways, not to Jesus, “the Way” – which means, the world of one’s compromising ‘old man’ or ‘sinful self’ opens the door to God’s condemnation!

IF THERE IS ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, what happens if I devote myself to a religious world which is nothing more than man’s creation, fallen man’s creation, of a great, enlarged spiritual smorgasbord, that gives me options in ‘legitimate faiths’ to choose from? Dare I tell you? Believe I will: There are ‘religious choices of pickles’- (Sour pickles at best!), while God unveils “THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE”, whose name is the Lord Jesus Christ! There is no other redeeming faith – it’s Jesus Only!! “Pickles or The Pearl of Great Price”?

Most ‘religious activities’, non-inclusive of the Resurrected, Reigning, Royal Christ Jesus, are mythical ‘ideas’ (man-birthed) in order to better align his/her life with his/her ‘best’ of fleshly hopes, sensual dreams, and ‘self-motivated ‘religious’ ideals and tendencies, leaving God in Christ Jesus still ‘up’ on His Throne, not reigning in their hearts! (Doesn’t it ‘shock’ you when you hear some people or read about them in their ‘informative writings’ or newspaper articles asserting their ‘religious activity’, void of even the mention of Christ’s Name and purpose through the Cross and Empty tomb because, “our best at being ‘religious’ is all a true, living God expects”, like those who assert that “Your ‘holy God’ is (as Kurt Bruner wrote about), exposing ‘fleshly, religious ideals’, that “God is not a personal, loving father. He/She/It is the cosmic oneness we all inhabit, not God in flesh – ‘He is one of many enlightened ones who invite us to discover our higher selves.” (Bruner’s book, “Inklings of God”, p.167). He said also, indicting the religious, care-free world void of God’s love:

“Ours is not a world of fallen, sinful men and women. Ours is a world of men and women who have forgotten their true goodness – and their true goodness, learning to lean on our higher consciousness.” The ‘god’ or ‘gods’ of fallen man’s religious activities reveal the depths of their “fallen-away-faith”, being more and more of “satanic lies” and “warped, fleshly, religious ‘best’”, and a “spiritually dead world’s ‘higher concepts’ of ‘a true god’,” but sadly void of “saving grace, the Master’s mercy, and the height and extent of God’s Calvary Love, Grace, and Meaningful Power in Resurrection Life and Resurrection – Never-Fading Hope”!!

Do you remember Joshua gathering “all the tribes of Israel together with their leaders, their judges, and their officers”, exposing their religious indifference to the purpose of God? In Joshua 24:14-15 he said: (The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, Copyright,1964, B.B. Kirkbridge Com., Inc.), “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served…;and serve the Lord. And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your (worldly) fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites (or the Americans) in whose land you dwell; BUT as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

I think it’s absolutely essential that I have you to read also Deuteronomy 29:14-20! It says: “Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; But with him that stands here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day: (For you know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which passed you by; And you have seen their abominations and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)

Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood; and it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst; The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord, and His jealousy shall smoke against that man,,. And all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.” Does that sound serious to you? At the same time, IS THERE HOPE?

In Psalm 1:1-3 the psalmist wrote: “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.” HEAR ME!!

“CHOOSE GOD ‘IN CHRIST” BECAUSE “IN HIM” WE ARE “GRACED”!! Notice, rejoice in, rest in, Romans 5:18-6:1-3, 5-12, and Verse 14!

Romans 5:18-21! “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the FREE GIFT CAME TO ALL MEN, resulting in justification of life. (So, all men then are “saved, born again, guaranteed eternal life”! “NO! Ten thousand times ‘NO!”).

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, GRACE abounded MUCH MORE, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:1-3, 5-12, and Verse 14! “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Verses 5-12, “For IF we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, KNOWING THIS, that our old (sin-natured) man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he WHO HAS DIED has been freed from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin ONCE FOR ALL; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Are YOU “graced” in Christ?

“CHOOSE GOD ‘IN CHRIST’ BECAUSE “IN HIM” WE ARE SOVEREIGNLY GUARDED! I want you to come with me to 2 Corinthians 1:18-22!! Paul wrote: “But as God is true, our word toward you was not yes and no. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but in Him was YES! For all the promises of God in Christ are yes, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now He which establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us is God; Who has also SEALED US and GIVEN US THE EARNEST (or guarantee) of the Spirit in our hearts.” Are YOU GUARDED?

“CHOOSE GOD ‘IN CHRIST’ BECAUSE “IN HIM” WE ARE SUPERBLY AND FAITHFULLY “GUIDED”!! In “A song and psalm of the sons of Korah”, Psalm 48:14, we read: “For this is God; our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.”

How encouraged are you when in Hebrews 13:5b you read: “For He Himself (Holy God!) has said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Glory!

The old hymn by William Williams and Thomas Hastings, in the very old “The Broadman Hymnal” (pps 181-182) says: “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim thro’ this barren land; I am weak, but You are mighty, Hold me with Your powerful hand: Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more; Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain Where the healing waters flow; Let the fiery, cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through; Strong Deliverer, You BE still my Strength and Shield; Strong Deliverer, You BE still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan (that’s “facing my death”!), Bid my anxious fears subside; Bear me through the swelling current, Land me safe on Canaan’s side; Songs of praises I will ever give to You; Songs of praises I will ever give to You.”

“CHOOSE GOD ‘IN CHRIST’ BECAUSE “IN HIM” WE ARE SACREDLY AND SOLEMNLY AND SONGFULLY GIFTED!! In Psalm 68:19-20, 32-35, we read: “Blessed be the Lord, who DAILY loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Our God is the God of (true) salvation; AND to God the Lord belong escapes from death.

Verses 32-35 says, “Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord, To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed He sends out His voice, a mighty voice. Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!”

Are YOU rejoicing in “the gift of gladness”? How about “the gift of amazing grit”? And do you live by “the gift of the amazing grasp of holy understanding of His will, His Word, and His ways”?

Maybe you need to sing day by day, “Jesus, be Jesus in me, No longer me, but Thee, Resurrection power, Fill me this hour, Jesus, be Jesus in me”! HAVE YOU “CHOSEN” THIS HOUR FOR JESUS TO BE JESUS IN YOU?

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER,APRIL 28-29

THE AMAZING “CREATION OF GOD” OF BOTH THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD,PLANETS,STARS,PLUS BIRTHING OF FLESHLY HUMANITY WITH “FREE WILL” TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO SERVE GOD OR NOT, IS TRULY, BOTH SAD AND GLAD – SAD, BECAUSE SOME “FREE-WILL MEN AND WOMEN” CHOSE THE PATH OF “ME, MY, AND MIND” RATHER THAN THE PERFECT, PERFECTING, PRECIOUS PRIVILEGE OF THE WINSOMENESS, THE WILL, THE “WORD”, AND THE WAYS OF HOLY GOD!

FALLEN HUMANITY’S FAILURE, IN CHOOSING SELF-WILL FOR SELF-PLEASURE, (FROM A NATURAL MIND AND NATURAL HEART!), WERE “BIRTHED”- ‘BRAIN-DEAD’, ‘FLESH-DEFILED’,‘HEART-DARKENED’,AND WILLFULLY ‘DELIRIOUS’, WITH THE ENEMY OF MANKIND, SATAN, ‘DEMONSTRABLY ACTIVE’ IN ‘DECEIVING MANKIND’, SAYING, “IF YOU SIN, DISOBEY, OR DEFY GOD, YOU WON’T DIE”, WHILE THE SPIRIT OF HOLY GOD SPEAKS TO YOU, CONVICTS YOU, SAYING, IN JOSHUA 24:15,“AND IF IT SEEMS EVIL UNTO YOU TO SERVE THE LORD,CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE; WHETHER THE ‘gods’ WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED,OR THE ‘gods of self-willed peoples’, IN WHOSE LAND YOU DWELL;BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.” (AND THE REWARD ‘of self-willed peoples’? ROMANS 6:23, “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH” –NATURALLY & ETERNALLY, IF THERE’S NO REPENTANCE, BELIEF, TRUST, & YIELDEDNESS TO THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS!).

NATURAL MANKIND BIRTHS NATURAL CHILDREN, AND WHETHER NATURAL MANKIND OR NATURAL CHILDREN, BOTH MUST KNOW TRUE REPENTANCE BEFORE HOLY GOD, AND FULLY AWARE THAT REPENTANCE WITH TRUE BIBLICAL FAITH, GIVES BIRTH WITHIN TO PURE HEARTS WASHED CLEAN BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, AND THEN THE ETERNAL BLESSING OF HIS PRESENCE, (CHRIST JESUS!), ENTERING THEIR HEARTS, MAKING THE HEART THE TABERNACLE OF HIS ETERNAL DWELLING, HIS ABIDING,EARTHLY RESIDENCE,AND,YES,THE “THRONE” BEING YOUR HEART AND LIFE THROUGH WHICH YOU ALLOW KING JESUS TO AGAIN GRANT EARTHLY PRESENCE, SOVEREIGN RULE, AND MERCIFUL OUTREACH TO YOU & THROUGH YOU TO OTHERS WHO NEED “BLOOD REDEMPTION” & “RECONCILIATION” WITH HOLY GOD, THEIR, YES, LOVING FATHER! AND UPON CONVERSION, FROM THAT DEATH FORWARD, ALL BELIEVERS ARE TO BE HIS “WITNESSING ARMY” TO SHARE “HIS TRUTH OF THE REALITY OF NEW BIRTH” TO ANY EARTHLY RESIDENT AROUND YOU!

(BUT THE SAD TRUTH? MOST CHURCHES AND PREACHERS AROUND YOU ARE ‘DEVOTED TO GOOD SUNDAY MORNING CLASSES & MESSAGES’ WITHOUT A PENNY’S WORTH OF CONCERN OR COMPASSION FOR THE LOST CITIZENS LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY OR NATIONS THAT SURROUND THEIR BORDERS, OR NATIONS OVERSEAS!)

MY GREATEST CONCERN TODAY, JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE MY 83^RD BIRTHDAY ON JUNE 12, 2019? THAT TOO MANY CHURCHES, TOO MANY PASTORS, TOO MANY MEMBERS, TOO MANY DENOMINATIONAL LEADERS, ARE GROWING “SO FAT” ON CHRISTIAN NEWS OF SATISFIED ‘TO BE CHURCH MEMBERS’, THAT THEY WILLFULLY BLIND THEMSELVES OF BEING TOOLS IN GOD’S HANDS TO EXTEND HIS KINGDOM, EXPRESS HIS LOVE, OR PROVE HIS POWER!

THE PSALMIST,KING DAVID, IN PSALM 8:4-9, WROTE: “WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU, GOD, ARE MINDFUL OF HIM?AND THE SON OF MAN,(KING JESUS), THAT YOU VISIT HIM? BUT YOU BIRTHED “HIM” A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, AND HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR.YOU,GOD, MADE HIM (CHRIST JESUS!) TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; YOU PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET:ALL SHEEP AND OXEN,YES,AND THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD; THE FOWL OF THE AIR, AND THE FISH OF THE SEA, AND WHATSOEVER PASSES THROUGH THE PATHS OF THE SEAS. O LORD OUR LORD, HOW EXCELLENT IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH.”

‘FALLEN HUMANITY’S FAILURE?’ ‘FALLEN HUMANITY’S SIRITUAL BLINDNESS? FALLEN HUMANITY’S SHAME OF SELF-WILL OR SELF-GOVERNMENT? FALLEN HUMANITY’S HARDNESS OF HEART BECAUSE OF THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN?FALLEN HUMANITY’S STUPIDITY IN BOWING TO THE FOREFATHERS WHO SOUGHT ONLY TO BE SELF-RELIANT AS THEIR OWN SELF-INSTITUED ‘master’, ‘ruler,’ and ‘savior’ lifestyle and explanation of ‘good living’ rather than “GOD-BIRTHED, GOD-BLESSED, GOD-ANOINTED LIFE-IN-CHRIST JESUS”?

ACROSS THE ‘CHRISTIAN WORLD’,YES, WORLDWIDE, MY GREATEST CONCERN TODAY FOR THE DAYS BEFORE US? DAYS THAT SHOULD BE DAYS THROUGH US WHICH GOD THE FATHER USES TO EXTEND HIS KINGDOM, EXPRESS HIS LOVE, AND PROVE HIS POWER, BUT,”SADLY” MUCH OF ‘PROFESSING CHRISTIANITY, PROFESSING CHURCHES, PROFESSING LEADERS’, LIVE UNDER, SERVE UNDER, PLAN UNDER, PROVIDE UNDER, PERFORM UNDER, ‘RELIGIOUS PLANS’ RATHER THAN “HOLY-SPIRIT-POWER AND ANOINTING AND INSPIRING” THE, YES, SPIRITUAL PLANTING, TENDING, AND HARVESTING OF THE FRUIT OF MEN’S LOST, SEPARATED SOULS, TO BECOME SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF TRUE FAITH EXPERIENCING DIVINE, DRAMATIC CONVERSIONS THAT SIT TO EAT AROUND HIS TABLE (HIS HOLY WORD!), AND SERVE IN HIS FIELDS FOR NEEDY, SIN-SICK, SATAN-DELUDED SOULS”!

FALLEN HUMANITY’S FAILURES? LOOKING IN, THEY ONLY SEE THE NATURAL, THE EARTHLY, THE FLESHLY, THE ‘LESS OF WHAT THEY ‘WANT’ AND NOT WHAT LOVING GOD PLANNED’, THE SHALLOWNESS OF WHAT ‘SIN-NATURE’ WANTS AND NOT THE “DEEP WATERS” OF GOD’S GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE, THE ‘SOULISH’ SATISFACTION OF ‘SELF-INDULGENCE’ THAT DROWNS THEM IN THE SHALLOW WATERS OF FLESHLY INDULGENCES, WORLDLY,WILD PLEASURES, AND SATANIC & DEMONIC, HELL-BOUND SCHEMES AND ‘WILD DREAMS’!

FALLEN HUMANITY’S FAILURES? “CROWN ‘YOU’ (ME,US- THE ONLY ONES WHO NEED TO REIGN!” “BE ‘FALLEN WORLD’S PARTNER’ UNITING WITH WHATEVER BLINDS YOU SPIRITUALLY WHEN YOU WALK ‘HERE’! BE ‘NOBLE’ IN THE WORLD “YOU” CHOOSE; AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNEEL BEFORE A ‘god’ TO SUCCEED–you’re your own man!”

FALLEN HUMANITY’S FAILURES? “SATISFIED WITH SOULISH LIVING, SATISFIED WITH SELF-WILL, SATISFIED WITH EARTHLY,MAN-INSPIRED EDUCATION APART FROM HOLY GOD’S INSPIRATION,SATISFIED IN THIS FLESH-LIFE AND MY SELF-INDEPENDENT-DETERMINATION TO MAKE IT HERE WITHOUT ‘YOUR GOD’S HELP’; ‘I, MY PERSONAL, MY ‘GLORIFED’,STOIC SELF, DO NOT NEED YOUR SAVIOR!”THAT’S LIKE A STATEMENT I READ SIMILAR OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN “THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIOUS QUOTATIONS”,(P.396, PUBLISHED BY FLEMING H.REVELL COMPANY, WESTWOOD,NJ),THAT SAID: “GOD HELPS THOSE THAT HELP THEMSELVES.” A THOUSAND TIMES, “NO!” GOD HELPS THOSE FINISHED WITH THEMSELVES, BECAUSE THE “OLD MAN” CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST ON THE CROSS, IS NOT TO HAVE EVEN A FRACTION OF AN INCH IN THEM OF “TRYING” TO BE SAVED, BUT, YES, “RESTING IN CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK ON THE TOMB OF THE HISTORIC CROSS, AND THOUGH DEAD IN A TOMB THREE DAYS, GOD RAISED HIM!”

AND GOD “RAISES YOU” IF YOU REPENT! GOD “RAISES YOU” IF YOU ‘REST’! GOD “RAISES” YOU WHEN YOU’RE FINISHED WITH YOUR OLD MAN AND OLD NATURE AND SATANIC DECEPTION! FINISHED IF YOU’RE “FINISHED” WITH MAN-INSPIRED DREAMS AND VISIONS, AND “READY” FOR THE CHRIST IN YOU TO CONTINUE HIS ETERNAL EARTH-JOURNEY TO TOUCH OTHERS WITH HIS PROMISES AND HIS ETERNAL WORK BY HIS PRESENCE IN YOUR HEART & LIFE LITERALLY!! “CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY”!!!!****

HAVE “YOU” CLOSED THE DOOR ON FALLEN HUMANITY’S FLESHLY DREAMS AND “RESTED” IN “THE FAITHFULNESS OF COMPASSIONATE GOD?”

I CHALLENGE YOU THIS VERY MOMENT AS YOU READ: “REST IN”, “WILLFULLY RELAX”, “WISELY REPENT”, AND IN “HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTED HEART, MIND, AND WILL OF GOD”, WHY NOT, YES, SIMPLY “TRUST AND OBEY”? IN JAMES 1 THE BROTHER OF JESUS WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, VERSE 18, (GET READY! DON’T BE DECEIVED!!), “OF HIS OWN WILL GOD BIRTHED US WITH THE WORD OF TRUTH…”, WITH SIMON PETER TELLING US IN 1 PETER 1:2-5, “ELECT ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER, ( PAUSE! DID IT SAY: “FOREKNOWLEDGE”? YOU MEAN BEFORE HUMANITY EVER EXISTED, GOD KNEW WHO, HOW MANY, HE THEN “YES”, SOVEREIGNLY CHOSE THEM TO BE HIS HEAVENLY FAMILY OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS THROUGH THEIR GIFT OF FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST AT CALVARY AND THROUGH HIS EMPTY-TOMB RESURRECTION, HIS ASCENSION, AND HIS HEAVENLY REIGN! BEFORE CREATION GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT CHOSE THE “FAMILY OF FAITH” AND SAW TO IT THAT THEY WERE, ARE, AND WILL BE “BORN AGAIN”, ADOPTED INTO THE HOLY FAMILY, HAVING BEEN “RECONCILED THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE CROSS AND HIS RESURRECTION, ASCENDING TO THE RIGHT HAND THRONE OF GOD TO WATCH AFTER GOD’S PRE-ORDAINED, ETERNALLY PROGRAMED SPIRITUAL BIRTHS, AND AFTER A LIFE OF EARTHLY SERVICE, UPON THEIR SPIRITUAL DEATHS, HE “CALLS THEM HOME” TO THE THRONE-ROOM, WHERE AT THE THRONE THEY’RE WELCOMED BY KING JESUS, AND, YES, GIVES ALL SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF “BORN-AGAIN FAITH” TO BE HIS FOOTWASHERS, SERVANTS, TABERNACLE-TENDERS, CHOIR SINGERS – A BLESSED, ETERNAL, THRILLED FAMILY OF NEVER-DYING, NEVER-ENDING MINISTRY TO THE “LORD OF GLORY”!

OH, BACK TO 1 PETER 1, VERSE 2A, “ELECT…”, BUT NOTICE ALSO 2B, THERE’S “SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT (THE HOLY SPIRIT) UNTO OBEDIENCE, AND SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST”..FOR GRACE THROUGH YOU TO BE MULTIPLIED!!”

Verse 3 EXPLAINS: “BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH ACCORDING TO HIS ABUNDANT MERCY HAS BEGOTTEN US AGAIN UNTO A LIVING HOPE BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, VERSE 4, TO AN INHERITANCE, INCORRUPTIBLE, AND UNDEFILED, AND THAT FADES NOT AWAY, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU, VERSE 5,‘WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH (OR TRUST) UNTO SALVATION, READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST DAYS.”

IF CHRIST JESUS SAID ON THE CROSS RIGHT BEFORE HE DIED: “IT IS FINISHED!”, I TELL YOU, SUMMED UP IN THE STATEMENT OF JESUS IS THE DETERMINATION OF THE ‘WHO’ WILL BE SAVED, AND THE GUARANTEE THAT HIS WORK “FOR THEM” IS OVER! ON THE CROSS, BEFORE, IN HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY, BEFORE MANKIND WAS EVER CREATED, JESUS KNEW WHO, WHERE, AND WHEN THEY’D BE BORN, THEN RE-BIRTHED SPIRITUALLY THROUGH HIS MERCY AND LOVE, SERVED HIM FAITHFULLY, AND THEN, UPON EARTHLY DEATH, READY TO BE RAISED CELEBRATING HIM AND HIS ETERNAL “KINGDOM OF GOD REIGN” IN HEAVEN AS HE DID ON EARTH!

“THE FAITHFULNESS OF COMPASSIONATE GOD?” THAT’S WHO GOD IS;THAT’S WHAT FLOWS IN YOU AND AROUND YOU; IT’S WHAT “HE DOES” IN CHOOSING YOU, AND IN CALLING YOU, AND IN CONVERTING YOU, AND COMPASSIONATELY INDWELLING YOU; AND BECAUSE YOU RESPOND TO HIS PRESENCE, YOU CHOOSE DAILY TO YOUR ‘OLD MAN’, YOUR ‘OLD SIN-NATURE’, DEATH TO IT & YOURSELF, THAT THE RESURRECTION LIFE AND SPIRIT OF CHRIST MAY HIMSELF FLOW FREELY, FULLY, AND FAITHFULLY THROUGH YOU DAILY! & YOU LIVE SINGING:

“EVERY DAY I LIVE IN HIS GLORY, EVERY DAY I SHARE HIS STORY: ‘GOD REDEEMS BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB’, NEW CREATIONS REJOICE AS A CHOIR, LOUDLY SINGING: ‘IT’S IN ME CHRIST JESUS’ HOUR; PURCHASED BY HIS BLOOD, RE-BORN IN HIS FLOOD, A REPENTANT MEN NOW SHARES HIS LIFE & HIS MISSION, FULLY FORGIVEN, AMAZINGLY ASSURED: CHRIST MY SAVIOR IS NOW MY LORD”.

WALK IN OBEDIENCE YOUR LORD TO PLEASE, KNOWING LIFE IN HIM IS NO LONGER YOUR DISEASE, BUT A LIFE OF PEACE FREED FROM DISTRESS, BECAUSE IN JESUS YOU SHARE IN HIS ETERNAL REST; NO LONGER SHAMED IN SIN AND UNBELIEF, BY FAITH IN CHRIST’S SACRIFICE, I’VE BECOME HIS DELIGHT! “CHRIST IN ME MY HOPE OF GLORY, CHRIST THROUGH ME MY WORLD’S REDEMPTION STORY. POWERED BY THE SPIRIT AND AWAKENED TO MEN’S “LOST”, I GLADLY SHARE JESUS AT ANY COST.

IN CHRIST OUR “NEW LIFE” GLOWS, AND FREED IN THE SPIRIT GOD’S WORD NOW FLOWS! IT’S THE SEED OF HIS WORD PRODUCING FRUIT, EVEN “NEW-BORN LIVES” AS HIS GREAT DELIGHT! FROM THE GRAVE OF SIN AND DEATH, FROM THE LIES OF RICHES IN ‘FLESH’S WEALTH’, THE TRUTH OF GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE FULLY ABIDE, AS A REPENTANT HEART FAITHS ONLY: “I WANT TO BE ON GOD’S SIDE!”

SO I DIE TO MY SIN, I REST IN HIS GRACE, AND AMAZINGLY SEE, “I’M NOW PART OF HEAVEN’S RACE, EXTENDING HIS LIFE, EXPRESSING HIS LOVE, UNVEILING HIS PRESENCE, I’M LIKE A HEAVENLY DOVE!” I REJOICE IN MY SAVIOR, I REST IN HIS LOVE; I’VE BEEN RAISED UP, SEATED ABOVE! ABOVE SIN AND DEATH, I GLOW IN HIS GLORY, AS LOVINGLY I SHARE REDEMPTION’S STORY; “I AM HIS, AND HE IS MINE, AND IN HIS ABIDING I SHINE.”

IN MATTHEW 16:24 JESUS SAID: “IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME!” ARE “YOU” FOLLOWING? ARE “YOU” SHARING REDEMPTION’S STORY? DOES YOUR LIFE “GLOW” WITH HEAVEN’S GLORY? I TELL YOU: “SELF-DENIAL” TO SHARE GOD’S GLORY IS NOT AN INCLINATION BUT THE “REVELATION” AND INSPIRATION OF DISCIPLESHIP DUTY, OVERFLOWING FROM THE REALITY OF CRUCIFIXION WITH CHRIST TO THE REVELATION OF RESURRECTION LIFE IN CHRIST, RAISED UP, IN-FILLED, AND OVERFLOWING WITH HIS HOLY PRESENCE TO BE HIMSELF, TOUCHING MEN AROUND YOU WITH HIS “GREATER LOVE”, HIS “HEAVENLY GLORY”, AND A “NEW LIFE” WILLING TO SHARE HIS STORY! ARE YOU “NEW IN CHRIST WITH THE GREATER LOVE WHICH SHARES HIS STORY”? THAT’S HEAVEN’S LOVE FOR LOST MEN’S EARTHLY NOTHINGNESS THAT HONORS GOD IN THEM, EXCEPT “CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, BURIED IN HIS TOMB, BUT RAISED IN 3 DAYS IN ETERNAL GLORY”! IS THAT “YOUR STORY”?

FALLEN HUMANITY’S FAILURE OR “THE FAITHFULNESS OF COMPASSIONATE GOD?”

By J.Farrell Fisher, March 20-22, 2017

It’s amazing to me that some interpret the Word of God as a possibility, not a reality! It’s amazing to me that some hear Jesus say, “Come to Me and I will give you rest”, but doubt that that is a Word of eternal Assurance!

In Colossians 2:13-14 Paul wrote under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has MADE ALIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Paul went further in Colossians 4:12 saying, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

Extremely interesting and powerful verses in John 17:1-4 when Jesus said to Father-God, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son, also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO AS MANY AS YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM. And this IS ETERNAL LIFE, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” FINISHED? OR YOU JUST HOPE, MAYBE, SO?

It’s so interesting that some ‘profess’ a walk of faith but never enter the “fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ”! In Hebrews 4: 6-10 the author is blessed with the spiritual awareness of some “pretenders” to the true faith rather than legitimate sons and daughters of the royal family of God. It says: “Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today,’ after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Christ Jesus’ work on Calvary’s Cross WAS and IS God’s finished work providing redemption and release of ‘trusting, repentant, believing hearts’ who “rest” because their sin and old sin nature was crucified with Christ, and they’ve been raised out of spiritual death TO eternal LIFE in and through the shed blood of the Lamb of God!

Redeemed hearts are not to be hardened hearts but “living sacrifices”! In Romans 12: 1-2 the Apostle challenges all believers, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that YOU present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be (being) transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

“Transformed”? That’s ‘squeezed, pressed into a mold, divinely made over or birthed, re-born, renewed, miraculously changed’ from the flesh nature to a divine nature, holy character, and from an earthly appearance to a heavenly man or woman by supernatural resurrection through Jesus’ shed blood and by the Holy Spirit’s gift of resurrection power into a “new creation”!

It’s really, really interesting that we find Paul saying in Philippians 1:15-18, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former (“pretenders”) preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”

Even the Lord Jesus, in Matthew 24:11-13, said: “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Dare I ask you? I will! How often have you heard preaching today about “the gospel of the kingdom” that is “preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations”? Are you aware that there ARE “gospels of ‘denominations’”, gospels of pretenders, gospels of ‘false prophets’ and some ‘fleshly pastors’, gospels of some people who sincerely desire to be ‘religious’ apart from “born again”?

The “wise man” in Proverbs 3:5-6 declared, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on (or unto) your own understanding (or self-interpretation); in all your ways acknowledge Him (give Christ His rightful place as Lord, Savior, Master of your life), and He shall direct your paths.”

But how many ‘religious people do you know who “call my own shots, determine what I religiously believe to be the right path, settling in to religious, self-will”? It was St. Augustine who once wrote: “Beware of despairing about yourself; you are commanded to put your trust in God, and not in yourself.”

What is Deuteronomy 28:52 speaking about when it says, “the walls in which you trusted”, unaware the walls of self-trust, religious affiliations, ‘best effort’ WILL COME TUMBLING DOWN? Isaiah 50:10 gets clearer to the true, God-desiring man. It says: “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him TRUST in the name of the Lord and RELY upon his God.” Hoping to be saved or fully aware you have been saved, born again, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, reconciled to God, established as a true son or daughter of the royal family of Father-God in and through Christ alone?

FIRST, FOR THE TRULY GOD-FEARING MAN, WOMAN, BOY OR GIRL, IT’S NOT ‘HOPING TO BE SAVED’ BUT FULLY AWARE I HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH THE BLOOD-ATONEMENT OF CHRIST MY LORD, THE RESURRECTED, REIGNING, ROYALLY-BLESSED KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS REVEALED OR UNVEILED IN GOD’S HOLY WORD!

In Ephesians 1:7 we read, “In Him (in Christ alone) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace.”

As the Apostle extended the Gospel Truth, there were many responders along with the ‘pretenders’, like many ‘religious’ Jewish imitators but not possessors of the Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope – they made ‘war’ against the True Remnant, killing the majority of true believers across Israel!

It’s interesting to read 2 Corinthians 7:9-10! Paul said: “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

There IS ‘fleshly sorrow’ for some, but godly sorrow erupts in repentance ‘leading to salvation, not to be regretted’ for the truly God-fearing man, woman, boy or girl! In 2 Corinthians 6:1 Paul challenges you and me about receiving, as we rest in, the true grace of God! He said: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” How is that a possibility? Because ‘fleshly grace’ is an attempt at making one’s self ‘better’, but Godly conviction and the gift of repentance leads to ‘bitterness’ about one’s godless life but “blessing after blessing” because His conviction of our sin and sin nature and Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection leads the repentant heart to “the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ”!

Are YOU aware of the reality of ‘triumphant poverty’ in the Spirit-realm because some sincere but uninformed ‘believers’ “rest” in their “spiritual best performances” apart from blood redemption, Holy Spirit conviction, God’s gift of true faith, redeemed lives testifying of the Amazing Grace of God, And Holy Spirit witness and power raising true sons and daughters UP in the family “Tree of Faith”!

Hear me! True sons and daughters of “blood redemption faith” lean not to their own understanding, but in all their ways they give Christ His rightful place as Lord, Savior, and Master of their lives!

True sons and daughters of blood redemption faith, yes, bow daily before Christ Jesus who is our “Priest-Intercessor”, Holy Prophet, feeding us daily manna from Heaven, and King of kings over us, subduing faithfully, yes, fleshly rebellion and disobedience from our ‘old man-nature’!

True sons and daughters of redemptive faith comprehend, understand, and yield to His Presence within them, even as the world, the flesh, and the devil would lead them astray!

True sons and daughters of redemptive faith live unashamed of their allegiance to their Lord and Savior, yes, openly unveiling that faith to family, friends, classmates, employers and employees, even strangers on their streets! They “follow the Lamb” wherever He leads and directs!

True sons and daughters of redemptive faith understand “their charge to keep”! Charles Wesley wrote an old hymn entitled “A Charge to Keep.” It says: “A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify; Who gave His Son my soul to save, And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill, – O may it all my powers engage To do my Master’s will.

Arm me with jealous care, As in Your sight to live; And O, Your servant, Lord, prepare a strict account to give!”

True sons and daughters of redemptive faith live in the “blessed assurance” of eternal hope as Hebrews 6:19 declares: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil.”

SECOND, FOR THE TRULY GOD-FEARING MAN, WOMAN, BOY OR GIRL, I’D BE AMISS NOT TO TELL YOU OF GOD’S GIFT IN THE RESURRECTED, REIGNING CHRIST OF THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMES YOUR WORLD! Receive 1 John 5:4! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”

Oh, but then 1 John 5:5 strengthens one’s understanding when John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes (trusts in, relies upon, adheres to) that Jesus IS the Son of God.” In John 1:14 the beloved John wrote: “And the Word (Christ Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

If “Christ in you is the hope of glory,” is there IN YOU the reality of ‘overcoming, conquering, victorious trust’ regardless of what the world, the flesh, or the devil throws at you? Psalm 22:3-5 is an amazing unveiling of, yes, Old Testament ‘saints’ who looked to the coming of the Promised Messiah! “But You (Christ Jesus, Promised Messiah) are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed.”

And regardless of what the world, the flesh, or the devil throws at you, “in Christ” Paul said in Romans 8:37-39, “Yet in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST WHO LOVED US. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

THIRD, FOR THE SANE, SANCTIFIED, SAINTED, SENT TRUE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST THERE IS BIBLICAL WISDOM ABOUT HIS/HER JOURNEY WITH ONE’S LORD, SAVIOR, AND MASTER OF A REDEEMED LIFE! In Psalm 46:1-5 we read: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth re removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.”

Dare I shall a word of personal testimony? Believe I will! I came out of a broken marriage and ‘family’ (?) – my father and mother divorcing when I was three years of age. I had been taken by my mother to live with her parents from age three to about twelve. Both grandparents were active Christians, but also, my mother’s two younger sisters were still at home, one sister about four years older than me and the other about six years older – both heavily involved in the First Baptist Church of Cleveland, Tennessee. The younger sister was pianist for the church there for many years. Grandparents, two aunts, and godly men in our home church settled in on me to be intercessors, witnesses, and ‘cross-bearers’ in my behalf! I was challenged early not to lean to my own understanding but to trust in, rely upon, and adhere my walk in obedience and submission to the King of kings and Lord of Lords. I’ve been the recipient of a blessed, fulfilling, miraculous life, not only in ministry service as a pastor and missionary, but superbly blessed with an awesome wife and three Godly sons and a daughter. I’m not sure if there is any man anywhere more blessed than I have been!

FOURTH, THE SEPARATED SON AND DAUGHTER OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH IS BLESSED WITH AN AWESOME OUTPOURING OF UNENDING LOVE AND FAITHFUL HELP FROM CARING, MERCIFUL, INTERCEDING GOD IN AND THROUGH CHRIST! In Jeremiah 31:2-3 the prophet assures us of God’s CONTINUING OUTPOURING of intercessory help! He said: Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword FOUND GRACE in the wilderness – Israel, when I went to give him rest.” The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

Sadly, of course, there are some “drawn” by Father-God who do not respond in repentance and obedience but unbelief and defiance! There are those who “gad about”, but then there are those who “give in” in full surrender to the King of kings and Lord of lords – and you’ll know them by “the fruit of the Spirit” that radiates Christ in them and through them.”

Receive 2 Corinthians 5:14-15! “For the love of Christ compels us, because we thus judge: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” If He died for all, and He did, then why are some saved and others lost, separated, alienated forever from Father-God? Because, though forgiven, they choose to be ‘masters’ of their own destinies – and what lies ahead for an unrepentant, self-motivated, manly achiever in ‘self-righteousness’ is “eternal death and separation from Holy God!

Never forget: “God so loved the world…AND YOU IN PARTICULAR! “ He loves you and drawn you to Himself – will you repent, receive, and rest in Christ’s finished work or do you continue on your own? I John 4:9 declares: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” If we say ‘yes’, then it leads us to:

FIFTH, THERE IS IN THE ETERNAL REALITY OF THE “NEW-BORN” IN CHRIST WHO ARE BATHED IN HIS ETERNAL RIVER OF EVERLASTING PEACE, STRENGTH, AND HOPE! Isaiah 26:2-4 says clearly: “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” And, “in Christ” does His everlasting strength sustain us and empower us to live the overcoming life of the world, the flesh, and the devil? ABSOLUTELY!

Psalm 5:11-12 says: “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You (Holy God) defend them, (protect or cover); let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”

SIXTH, THERE IS THE ETERNAL EVIDENCE IN THE “CHRIST-CHILD” OF THE TESTIMONY OF A THANKFUL HEART! How clear is Romans 8:28 where Paul wrote the following words? “And WE KNOW that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

But that’s not all! Receive Romans 8:29! “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.”

And if you are His, what does 2 Corinthians 3:18 tell us? “But we all, with unveiled face (no fleshly ‘mask’ anymore!), beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Glory!

Psalm 91:11-16 the Holy Word declares: “For He (God the Father) shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, (demons!) the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

Because he(JFF) has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known (and keeps on knowing!) My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” What is He unveiling to YOU?

Tell me about YOUR daily entrance “into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with your never-ending praise”!

I close with a statement from Ravi Zacharias who wrote in his “A Life Out of Nothing,” “I come away with the absolute certainty that God has ordered my steps and that God was there, even in the darkest moments of my life. I know this as surely as I know I exist. This is the most certain truth I possess, and it is truly liberating.” Liberated in the Spirit of Christ or bound in the chains of one’s own fleshliness?

By J.FARRELL FISHER, JULY 26-27, 2017

I was birthed June 12, 1936. My father and mother divorced when I was three years of age. I was taken by my mother to her parents where I was raised for nine years by my grandparents who still had two daughters at home, one just two years older than me and the other five years older than me, both strong students, pianists, and choir members of the First Baptist Church, Cleveland, Tennessee. In fact, the younger daughter later became pianist for their church for ten to twelve years, an outstanding church pianist there and later, after her marriage, pianist at First Baptist, Harriman, Tennessee. They were central to a ‘lonely child’ finding or being found by the loving, merciful, faithful, “son-seeking Father-God”!

If I saw my father it was because my grandparents in Cleveland would put me on a bus and my Dad’s father would pick me up in Athens where I would stay three or four days, and in all those years I spent one night in the home of my father. If I saw him while in Athens, I usually walked about a mile to his office. There were a few times he came to his parents to see me.

I played all three sports our high school offered: football, basketball, and baseball. When we played his high school in basketball and baseball, I saw him a few times for short minutes viewing baseball and basketball, but never a word of encouragement. My senior year in high school, in football, we were playing Knoxville Central in Knoxville, both teams 7-0; after the first quarter we were leading by a score of 7 to 0, but early in the second quarter I tackled their 230 pound tailback knee high and was knocked unconscious.( Our school lost by about twenty points.) I was taken by ambulance to the Catholic Hospital in Knoxville where eight-nine hours later I awoke, surrounded by all the family, and my Dad and his wife were there. The hospital staff was not sure I was going to survive. I ended up in college at Baylor University where I played offense and defense the sophomore through senior years.

After I married my wife, Sue McNabb, and we were blessed with four children, my father was never in our home – if my children met him or saw him, I had to take them to his office. He was never in my home after I married! To say I was a lonely child, in and of that fact, would not be understood except by those who’ve never known the biblical care and love a father ought to give for his children – oh, some do, and I was blessed by many men in my grand-parents home church who over the years, yes, did their Christ-loving best to nurture me as substitute fathers!

“Loneliness” – especially related to parent-child relationships, is described in Random House Collegiate Dictionary of 1975 as “lone, solitary, without company, companionless, destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship; unfrequented, or ‘standing apart, isolated”! And, I say, without hesitation, “NO CHILD BIRTHED IN THIS WORLD OUGHT TO HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT HIS/HER FATHER OR MOTHER, OR BOTH!” It IS one of America’s greatest tragedies that has impacted untold millions and millions of children adversely!

It is true that today the marriage-divorce rate is not as high as it once was in the U.S.A., but many who study marriage-divorce rates are saying it’s still near half of all marriages ending in divorce, including some folks with multiple marriages and multiple divorces, while many in marriages live in what some have called as nothing more than “quiet desperation”! And, is that because some have no perception at all of “Christ-centered marriages”? Without a doubt!

Even as God held on to a “very small remnant” in Israel as most there rebelled, becoming corrupt evil-doers, the small remnant eventually birthed the Messiah! And, there is today, a “true remnant” of faithful mates in marriage and a few “faithful partners” who carry, yes, a heavy, burdensome load of frustration, pain, sorrow, and loneliness because the mate forsook the “holy vows”!

When Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:9 that a “great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries,” I know he was speaking about ‘adversaries’ against Christ and the Holy Word, but, at the same time, today, there are many “adversaries” opposed to Christ-centered marriages, living with their attitude they have a ‘fleshly right’ to take marriage or leave it!

If the writer of Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life,” could we not also say, “Keep your marriage, for in it there springs the very issues of marital blessing and the God-blessed ministry of child-birthing and child-rearing”?

Do YOU ever consider “pleasant marriages”? In Psalm 16:5-6, as King David reflected upon his blessed position in God’s kingdom-reign, have you ever reflected and rested your marriage under the watchful eye and care of Loving God the Father? “O Lord, You are the portion of my ‘inheritance’ in marriage and my cup of blessing; You maintain my ‘position’ in the marriage. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.” Do YOU in your marriage? And also related, from my point of view, as helping marriages, what did David say in Psalm 16:7-11?

“I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons (maybe a dark season of the marriage relationship?). I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Does that include “pleasures in your marriage”?).

There is the reality of the need for “caring for your soul – its destiny now and for eternity”, but in life’s journey, including marriage, there must be by both parties a commitment in receiving Christ’s care for marriage maintenance! I read one comment an unknown writer made: “If a child of God marries a child of the devil, said child of God is sure to have some trouble with his father-in-law.”

It was Edmund Burke, in “The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations” (p.196), who said: “The Christian religion, by confining marriages to pairs, and rendering the relationship indissoluble, has by these two things done more toward the peace, happiness, settlement, and civilization of the world, than by any other part in this whole scheme of divine wisdom.”

There are no doubts about it at all! Holy, sacred, anointed, God-blessed marriages don’t ‘hang on threads’ – they are constructed on the solid foundation of His abiding Presence and faithful intercession! Yet, whether spring or summer storms of heavy winds in the natural world, even so in marriages there can be the ‘upsweep’ of the ‘flesh’ intent on its way or the highway as the ‘storm-clouds of Satan’ seek to destroy God-blessed marriages!

I love what Donald T. Kauffman wrote in “Gist of the Lesson”, speaking about marriage: “A good marriage is not a contract between two persons but a sacred covenant between three. Too often Christ is never invited to the wedding and finds no room in the home. Why? Is it because we have misrepresented Him and forgotten His joyful outlook on life?”

Holy God “created” our world with planet Earth and literally thousands upon thousands upon thousands of stars roaming in the galaxies of His grace, never colliding, but soaring under His sacred supervision! But the Creator doesn’t know or provide sacred supervision for lives, marriages, businesses, callings, ministries, or oversight for sons and daughters of faith in their journeys?

It was William Wordsworth, in his writing “Excursion”, (Bk.VI), who wrote: “Why do not words and kiss, and solemn pledge, and nature that is kind in woman’s breast, And reason that in man is wise and good, And fear of Him who is a righteous Judge – Why do not these prevail for human life, To keep two hearts together, that began their spring-time with one love.”

Dare I tell you ‘why’ some choose divorce over honoring Holy God in sacred marriage? Because too many, whether guilty or not in even considering divorce or not, do not see ‘marriage’ as under the Sovereignty of God – for them, “It’s our business what we choose to do!” Even within a ‘so-called’ “Christian marriage there ARE two individuals with an inclination, a disposition, yes, an ‘attitude’ toward the sin-nature they leave ‘alive in them’ though Christ Jesus crucified it on Calvary’s Cross! There is little, if any, of divine discernment in husband-wife relations. Disillusionment becomes the ‘discipline’ and “mutual trust and reverence” goes out the front door of many hearts and homes!

Disillusionment WILL birth cynicism while trust breeds confidence and assurance in one another’s promises and vows! James 1:4 really nails it for a believer’s marriage relationship as well as one’s individual journey of the faith-pilgrimage. James said: “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Yet many enter the marriage relationship without a single ‘ounce’ of patience, indicating a more upsetting concept in themselves than in a chosen mate! At the same time, one can, should, and WILL fight for the marriage ‘healing’ if needed, while some are determined to show their ‘mate’ the door because they will no longer “put up” with her or him.

Maimed marriages usually have one or both with no solid foundation of faith. Maimed marriages are often ‘bankrupt’ of any spiritual understanding related to “what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:21, speaking, I believe of both “body life in the church” AND “body life in the marriage,” with Paul saying, “submitting to one another in the fear of God.” [Tell me, how many times in your inner personal relationships with friends, family, or church members, have you heard a discussion about “mutual submission to one another in the fear of God”?

Follow carefully Ephesians 5:22-33!! “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; AND He is the savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, JUST AS Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her with the washing of water by the word, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

So, the husband is ‘head’ over the wife? Does that mean the husband rules and reigns with a big stick? Is it “Shut up, woman, and do what I tell you to do?” That’s nowhere in the Word of God or the intent of demeaning wives to a “slave status”? Absolutely not! Come to Matthew 20:25-28!! Jesus had just called His disciples to Himself for a vital reason as in the infancy of their faith they were willing to fight for key positions and placements in Christ’s administration. But notice what the Lord Jesus Christ said!

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them (the people), and those who are great exercise authority over them. YET IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU; but whoever desires to become great among you, LET HIM BE YOUR SERVANT. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave (or servant) – JUST AS the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Discipleship “in Christ” is not a “lording one’s self over others in the church”, but a laying down of one’s life of faith in Christ of ‘serving, blessing, and meeting one another’s needs’! Is that the picture you see in modern churches today? Examine what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:5-6! Paul said: “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your BONDSERVANTS for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Consider this statement in the marriage relationship and awesome ministry of ‘child-rearing’! “And ourselves (husbands, wives, moms, dads) your BONDSERVANTS for Jesus’ sake.” So, quarreling in marriages honors Christ? Looking out for one’s self with no concern about examples to the birthed children of “laid-down lives” that want them to witness Christ Jesus in their parents? Have you heard it: “Christ Jesus may be Lord in your marriage, but I have a right to feel and do as I please; that wife (or husband) has no right to treat me as he (she) does – if I want to ‘play around’, I will,” revealing the ‘I will’ as the destructive enemy of all marriage relationships!

How many, in counseling situations, have you witnessed who only consider their love for and honoring of Christ Jesus as the foundation stone of holding on to and blessing their marriage relationship? It’s time, when marriage disagreements erupt, to consider: “Who is in control? Him, me, or Christ Jesus?” “ Me, her, or Christ Jesus?” Is it right, honorable, justifiable, sacred, redemptive to examine in ourselves as a marriage partner: “How far did Christ Jesus go to save me from Hell and meaninglessness and godlessness as I served myself, my selfishness, my sin, as I shut Him out as a wife/husband?” If so, and sacred sincerity reigns, then all our ‘fleshliness’ trying to ruin our marriage will not rule our minds and hearts, but we will turn from our self-centeredness to God’s Sovereign reign for the honor of Christ alone and the “rescue” of the love-relationship in my marriage! Amen?

Matthew 19:6 says, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” In my New King James Version of the Bible, the comment below this verse is vital! “Since God ordained marriage, human efforts to dissolve it constitute an attack on God’s own work.” True? Holy matrimony must pass away but find renewal day by day as men and women lean not to their own understanding but give God His rightful place as Sovereign in their marriage, life, and business and ministry relationships!

BY: J.FARRELL FISHER, August 28-29, 2018

It’s so very, very obvious that there are “positive enemies” of the Living God, hostile to Him and to His Son, the Lord Jesus, and ‘closing the doors of both heart and mind’ to the Holy Spirit, choosing to ‘self-destruct’ in unbelief, rejection of Truth, and ‘content’ in their, yes, warring rejection, continuous assault, and stupid denial of His eternal Presence!

Very, very interesting, eye-opening, and, I hope, shocking is the revelation of the “positive enemies” but also the “perplexed pretenders”, and then, about the “Prince of Peace’s” unveiling, exposing, and convicting truth found in Galatians 3:10-14, 16-22!!

Galatians 3:10-14 first says: “For as many as are of the works of the law are UNDER THE CURSE, for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that continues not in ALL Things which are written in the book of the Law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

And the law is not of faith (redemptive faith!): but ‘The man that does them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made ‘A Curse For Us’; for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree; That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Oh, and then Paul wrote in Verses 16-22, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He says not, ‘And to seeds, as of many’; ‘but as of one, and to your seed, which is Christ.

And this I say, that the COVENANT, that was confirmed before of GOD IN CHRIST, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise; BUT God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serves the law?

It was ADDED because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a ‘mediator’ of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

BUT the Scripture has concluded ALL UNDER SIN, that the Promise by faith of Jesus Christ (or in The “Finished Work at Calvary”) might be given to them that believe (or ‘trust in, rely upon, adhere to’).”

Aren’t you awed, alerted, and inspired, when you read Hebrews 4:1-2, plus Verses 7-12 and Verses 14-16? The Holy Word declares: Hebrews 4:1-2, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (Isn’t that interesting? We don’t have to be concerned today about any “falling short”, do we?). For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: BUT the Word preached did not profit them, NOT BEING MIXED WITH ‘REDEMPTIVE FAITH’ IN THEM THAT HEARD IT.” (Intellectually adherent without inspirational obedience?).

Verses 7-12, “ Again, He limited a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.’ For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward spoken of another day? There remains, there is, there always has been, ‘a rest to the people of God’. (“COME TO ME, I WILL GIVE YOU REST!” But YOU don’t receive it?).

For he that is entered into His ‘rest’, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore to enter (or accept, receive) that ‘rest’, ceasing from ‘trying to prove a ‘work’ already completed by Christ Himself’, as God did from His! Let us labor (ceasing from “best effort”!) therefore, TO ENTER THAT REST, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. FOR the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Verses 14-16 follows, saying, “Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest (Christ Jesus!), that has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of infirmities; but WAS in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let US therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, AND find GRACE TO HELP in time of need.” WHAT AN AWESOME REVELATION!!

BUT, “Positive Enemies” then and now still live in the sad state of unbelief, of denial, of strong release of ‘self-determination’, ignoring God’s Call with ‘clogged ears, cold hearts, and corrupted minds’, powerfully influenced by the ‘lost’ world around them, the demonically-controlled mind in them, and, yes, by Satan himself, who provokes, who ‘lies’, who ‘twists’, and, as Peter said in Acts 5:3, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to ‘pretend’ that you did what He said, when you choose not to!!!!”

Either “Christ in YOU” IS ‘your hope of glory’ OR, rather than a ‘positive enemy’, you live religiously as a “perplexed pretender”!!

Whether a ‘positive enemy’, or a ‘perplexed pretender’, both CAN BE described as ‘heinous and heartless and, yes, mind-corrupted’, willfully, ignorantly, consistently, living a heinous, heartless, cold, iced, corrupt, Satan-inspired and deceived- birthing, but ‘trying to live a religious life overshadowed by a willfully chosen, a worldwide common acceptance of the fallen nature’, able to live acceptably in the ‘flesh-nature’ a sinful, religious life that IS devoted to ‘best effort’, even though falling short of what God offers, never fearing awakening to Hell’s unveiling of your Christ-rejecting, self-accepting sin nature that produced “death’ and ‘separation from God’, and, as one now sees himself as a true ‘self-pretender’, and then one says, after learning of their ‘pretense’, though unveiled by the convicting Holy Spirit, “God should be ashamed” as He turns from their ‘closed door of the heart and mind’, thankful, not for “pretense”, but thankful for the gift of repentance, relaxed, ‘resting’, rejoicing, released, and NOW bearing witness of, yes, eternal joy in and through Christ alone, so thankful, so appreciative, so rejoicing, that He’s able to exceedingly accomplish above all we think, consider, or try to instill ourselves, but a consistent heart-cry and mind-set: “Jesus, BE Jesus in me, no longer me but Thee, Resurrection Power, fill ME this hour, JESUS, BE JESUS IN ME!!” The question of the hour?

Are You a ‘positive enemy’, a perplexed pretender, or, yes, truly, a “Prince of Peace Disciple, follower, witness, royal ambassador, who understands “redeemed container”, where in and through, King Jesus reigns!”

Positive enemies, perplexed pretenders are, as Spurgeon used to say, “Sorry arguments in one’s pretense – ‘to be damned in a crowd is no more comfortable than to be damned alone.” And, yes, ‘positive enemies, perplexed pretenders’, are both under the eternal condemnation of King Jesus! That’s Galatians 3:10! In his book of “Spurgeon’s Sermons”, (Volume Four, p.229), Spurgeon said: “But,” says another, “there are many things I have not done, but still I have been very virtuous”, Spurgeon continuing, “Poor excuse that is, also. Suppose you have been virtuous; suppose you have avoided many vices: TURN TO MY TEXT. It is not my word, but God’s – turn to it – “all things.” It does not say “some things.” – “Cursed is every one that continues not in ALL Things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Now,

Have you performed all virtues? Have you shunned all vices? Do you stand up and plead, “I never was a drunkard?” – Yet you shall be damned if you’ve been a fornicator. Do you reply, “I never was unclean?” Yet you HAVE broken the Sabbath. Do you plead guiltless of that charge? Do you declare that you have never broken the Sabbath? You HAVE taken God’s name in vain, have you not? Somewhere or other God’s law can smite you. IT IS CERTAIN (let your conscience now speak and assert what I assert) – it is certain you HAVE NOT CONTINUED “in all things which are written in the book of the law.” No, more, I do not believe you have continued in any one commandment of God to the full, for the commandment is exceeding broad.” (Does James 2:10 tell us: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all”?). Spurgeon continued:

It is not the overt act, merely, that will damn a man; it IS THE THOUGHT, the imagination, the conception of sin, that is sufficient to RUIN A SOUL. Remember, my dear hearers, I am speaking now God’s own word, not a harsh doctrine of my own. If you had never committed one single act of sin, yet the thought of sin, the imagination of it would be enough to sweep your soul into Hell for ever.

If you had been born in a cell, and had never been able to come out into the world, either to commit acts of lasciviousness, murder, or robbery, yet the thought of evil in that lone cell might be enough to cast your soul forever from the face of God. Oh! There is no man here that can hope to escape. We must every one of us bow our heads before God, and cry, “Guilty, Lord, guilty – every one of us is guilty – ‘cursed is “every one” that continues not in “all things” which are written in the book of the law to do them’.” AGAIN, James 2:10! “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.” Hear me! Merciful God warns you!

IF YOU ARE NOT COVERED IN THE BLOOD OF THE HOLY LAMB OF GOD, SATURATED IN IT FROM THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD TO THE TIP OF YOUR TOES, 99.9% covered, but a tenth uncovered, you’ll never enter the “Glory- land”! James 2:10! “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one little point, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.”

For you and me? There’s no hope but to, yes, be crucified with Christ, the old man and his/her sin nature, crucified with Christ, no more enamored in sinful pleasure like a ‘hair’, but, yes, daily taking the sentence of death unto your old sin-nature that the Resurrection of the Indwelling Christ finds His home in the crucified life, but “new-born” into the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ!!!

Are YOU not even aware of impenitent and, yes, unbelieving hearts and minds? But, if convicted by the Holy Spirit, convinced to ‘rest alone’ in Him, “washed in the blood of the Lamb, one is raised up , by grace and mercy, to be the tabernacle, the temple of Christ’s abiding Presence!” It’s why Paul said, “I DIE DAILY”, so the Resurrection Life of Christ may be manifested IN my mortal flesh!”

And Christ Jesus PROMISED: Don’t miss this! Luke 13:1-9, but also Verses 23-30!! FIRST, Luke 13:1-9, There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, “Suppose you, that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, No; but except YOU REPENT, you shall ALL likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise PERISH.” He spoke also this parable, Verses 6-9, “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit from the tree, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of the vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none; CUT IT DOWN; why comber the ground?

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig it, and dung it. And if it bear fruit, well; if not, then after (the test!!!) you shall cut it down.”

OH!! And then Verses 23-30!!! And again Jesus said, “Whereunto shall I liken (or enlighten, inform, or unveil) THE KINGDOM-RULE OF GOD? It is like ‘leaven’, which a woman took and hid it in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto Him, ‘Lord, are there few that be saved?’ And Jesus said unto them (ALL!!), “Strive to enter in at the ‘strait gate’ (OR “The DOOR”!): for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able…

When once the master of the house is risen up, and has SHUT THE DOOR, and you begin to ‘stand outside’, and to knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us’; and he shall answer and say unto you, I KNOW YOU NOT…; Then shall you begin to say, ‘We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.” But he shall say,

“I tell you, I know not from whence you came; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and you yourselves shut out!

And they shall come from the east and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down IN the KINGDOM OF GOD. And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”

“Positive Enemies, Perplexed Pretenders, OR Prince of Peace “New-Birthed Disciples of Christ Jesus”?

Again, “Choose YOU this day whom YOU will serve, but as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!” Servant or ‘pretender’? A son/daughter of Holy God or a ‘slave’ of Satan? A “citizen of God’s eternal Kingdom under the reign of Christ or a ‘captive’ of the ‘dark kingdom’ of Satanic rule”?

GET READY!! Romans 7: 4-18, 20-25, followed by Romans 8:1-18, 24-30, and Verses 35-39, plus, Romans 9:6-8, and Verses 32-10:4, followed by Verses 8-13!!

CONFRONTED BY CHRIST AND HIS SPIRIT AND HOLY WORD, CONVICTED, CONVINCED, CONFESSED, CONVERTED, AND CROWNED WITH HIS “ABIDING PRESENCE” WITH HIM SAYING, “FOLLOW ME, AND I’LL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN, MY FAITHFUL WITNESS, FOLLOW ME, AND I’LL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU, FOLLOW ME, AND I, KING JESUS, WILL “BLESS YOU”! Psalm 103:1-12, and Verses 17-22 says:

Psalm 103:1-12, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, BLESS His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your disease; Who redeems the life from destruction; AND BEHOLD, crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel.

The Lord IS merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Verses 17-22, But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. The Lord has prepared His throne in the heavens; and His Kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels (or His messengers!), that excel in strength, do His commandments, hearkens unto the voice of His Word. Bless YOU the Lord, all your hosts; you ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion: BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL.” IS THAT YOUR TESTIMONY?

Do YOU “TESTIFY” that loving, merciful, gracious, caring God, CLAIMED YOU, EVEN AS HE “KNOCKED ON THE DOOR< AND INVITED HIM IN?”

Having “claimed me”, birthed me in His Spirit, then, DOES HE TELL US TO “TRY YOUR BEST”, OR “BE LED BY THE WORD, BY THE SPIRIT, AND BY HIS PROMISE: “I’LL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU”?, and knowing His “blessed assurance”, how could any ‘child of faith’ walk away from the “LOVER OF HIS SOUL?” How could a “born-again disciple of Christ” entertain a “tempting, untruthful, treacherous Satan or His demons”? Or, How could, yes, a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ “fall away” as a ‘victim’ of, yes, ‘worldly deceptions’?

It’s time to “Rise Up, O Men of God, Be Done With ‘lesser things’, Give heart and mind and soul and strength (and time!) To serve the King of kings!

Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where His feet trod; As brothers of the Son of man, Rise up, O men of God!” AMEN?

Don’t we sing sometimes, at least we used to,: “Glory, glory, Hallelujah, glory, glory, Hallelujah, glory, glory, Hallelujah, HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON!!” And it never dies! But do you die, turning deaf ears and cold hearts to God?

By J. Farrell Fisher, August 25, 2014

Have you ever heard the term or word called “self-aggrandisement”? Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines ‘aggrandisement’ as: “One exalting self in power, rank, or honor – exalting one’s self as greater – (should I dare insert ‘even greater than God Himself’?), or enlarged in one’s own opinion of self…”

It was Paul, in Romans 12:3, who said: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

And contextually, it’s clear that every birthed human being has ‘a measure of faith,’ but that ‘measure’ can turn inward rather than upward, me rather than what God has willed, my becoming rather than a “new birth” reality!

No doubt this is why the author of Proverbs gave us the strong word in Proverbs 25:27! “It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek one’s own glory is not glory.” How clear is that revelation- word?

Contented with self- people are more than likely people who have no control over themselves, though they want you to think that they do! Contented with self -people want you to think they have control in ‘all things,’ but, really, they have no control even over themselves! You’ll usually find that ‘self-contented’ people are usually those with ‘the city of their lives broken down without walls,’ because they have no rule over their own spirits though they want to rule over you!

You do see that ‘self-pride’ people, content with who they are and what they do, never can come up with a truthful answer of what it is he/she is really proud of. And, of course, pride goes before a fall. Sheared Samson is a prime example of one who allows self-promotion to take precedence over God Himself being number One in one’s life.

Contented with self-people are symbolized, yes, by many pastors who ‘tone down truth’ because they might lose financial support for the local church they pastor! Sadly, Samson was shorn, and so are many pastors because, ‘contented with self,’ they will compromise Divine Truth!

Can you even begin to imagine Jesus, confronted by the scribes and Pharisees, and those “religious freaks” threaten Him with a closed-door to the Temple if He doesn’t tone down His preaching or rhetoric toward them? “Why, you brood of vipers and snakes”!! And Jesus didn’t back off!

Don’t ever forget Queen Esther! She was wife to the strong ruler, Ahasuerus. Haman is determined to destroy her nation and he gets a decree to do just that! Here comes Mordecai! He confronts Esther that she must speak to the king. If she does, she knows she’ll possibly die! And Esther? “If I die, I die; but I must speak deliverance for my people, because who knows if I didn’t come to my ‘Queen’ position for such a time as this?” Was the Queen guided by convenience or conviction? And what guides your life as a believer, a follower, a disciple, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ?

In I John 2:18-20 John tells us: “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know it is the last hour…

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us…

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.”

Paul put it like this in I Corinthians 11:19, “For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”

Have you ever faced the dilemma in your faith-walk of those who ‘shout’ convenience over commitment to need, or ‘greater blessing’ over the ‘laid-down life’ at the point of the truly greatest need?

Contented with self or converted to new life? Don’t you find it so amazing and, yes, so disturbing, as we read in 2 Timothy 4:10, where Paul told Timothy, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world”?

Do you remember Paul’s word to the church at Colossae? [Colossians 4:17], “And say to Archippus, ‘Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Every single disciple IS a minister while some are pastoral ministers, but all followers of Christ are commissioned as “ambassadors” ushering in His Kingdom-rule!

The Apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:22-24, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME; NOR DO I COUNT MY LIFE DEAR TO MYSELF, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” But ‘your calling’ is different?

He understood who he was ‘in Christ’! In Galatians 1:1 he wrote: “Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man), but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead.” He saw “converted to new life” – not devoted to religious activities! In Galatians 1:15-16 he wrote, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to REVEAL HIS SON IN ME…!” And if you hadn’t seen it yet in your own pilgrimage, Galatians is God’s call to each and every disciple in FAITH, FREEDOM, FULLNESS, FRUIT, AND THE FIGHT!

Do you remember the disciples coming to Jesus and saying to Him, (Matthew 18:1), “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He answered in verses 3-4, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are CONVERTED and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

But you choose “senior, adult, manly pride in yourself” while Jesus says the greatest is the one dependent as a little child? You choose “fleshly wit” over divine wisdom? You choose what your fallen flesh dictates over the Holy Revelation of divine truth? You choose reason, your reason, over the divine mind and revealed will of God?

Contented with self or converted to new life? Oh, I tell you, Paul hit a ‘world series home run’ when in 2 Corinthians 10:5 he said: “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, [thus] bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Contentment with self is blind allegiance to ‘fallen flesh’ alleging even higher, greater thoughts and deeds than God Himself in Christ!

And only when one brings a captive mind to Christ will the enslaving chains be broken and shattered. In fact, in 2 Corinthians 10:4 Paul said: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (fleshly) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” But, sadly, too many don’t, can’t, or won’t see the “strongholds” in their own minds and hearts!

A ‘contented self’ is a powerful stronghold in defiance of Holy God and the Servant Spirit of Christ, because contented selves are those who want to be served rather than to serve. But sometimes even new immature believers impulsively begin to act on their own and spiritual problems occur! In “My Utmost For His Highest” Oswald Chambers said: [p.186], “Then take ourselves – a vivid religious experience, and every project born of impulse put into action immediately, instead of being imprisoned and disciplined to obey Christ.” I have no hesitation in admitting to you, that in my early and mid-years of service, I made impulsive, yes, stupid decisions!

There are those who do say, “I’m saved from my sin, but I believe I’m smart enough to make decisions on my own and even fight my own battles!” Well, just how childish and immature and irrational is that when the Resurrected King of kings is living within us!?!

This is why Chambers said on the same page: “We are apt to forget that a man is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation; he is committed to Jesus Christ’s view of God, of the world, of sin and of the devil, and this will mean that he must recognize the responsibility of being transformed by the renewing of his Mind.” And, of course, yielding to the Indwelling Christ and leadership of the Holy Spirit!

Contented with self or converted to new life? And contented with self is the testimony of an unregenerated life of pretense while converted to new life is the eternal truth of “Christ in you the hope of glory.” It’s not in an unregenerate man to bring about in himself eternal salvation. Even a regenerate man has no testimony in himself of a saving ability but he HAS fully repented, trusted in the finished work of Christ at the Cross, and experienced the “new birth” and infilling of the Holy Spirit! Doesn’t the word of God tell us, “For it is God who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure”?

Contented with self? Oh, sadly, there is a world filled with people who don’t even know they are spiritually deprived and spiritually dead before Holy God, and don’t know of His desire to give them Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope that is eternal in and through Christ Jesus! Do you remember Ezekial 37:3 where God asked Ezekial, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekial said, “O Lord God, you know,” as if to say in that given moment he wasn’t sure. But he did as God commanded him, and in verse 10, Ezekial tells us, “So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came upon them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” Oh, there IS conversion to new life!

And for all those who’ve gone on through death to await God’s final rendering, in John 5:25-29, Jesus speaks: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live…

For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself…

And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth –

Those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.”

Every individual will stand personally before Holy God to receive either his sentencing or his blessing. That means that professors who know nothing of being possessed by Him will give an account of their empty faith or rebellious reasoning. Historical ‘verifiers’ who stand before the Author of His-story but no testimony of their re-birth will hear His verdict of aliens and strangers. Devoted legalists will hear the Savior say, “I never knew you – depart.”

Daniel 12:2-3 tells us, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt…

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”

William Wordsworth, in “Intimations of Immortality”, wrote:

“Not in utter nakedness, but trailing clouds of glory do come.”

Paul said in I Corinthians 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” That sounds like a person converted to new life, not one contented with self!

Someone anonymously wrote “Out in the Fields” – and I pray as you read it that you stand before God’s fields of faith and service and spiritually sense what God would have you do from this day forward in His “fields” of service and blessing!

“The little cares that fretted me, I lost them yesterday;

Among the fields above the sea, among the winds at play…

Among the hushing of the corn, where drowsy poppies nod,

Where ill thoughts die and good are born – Out in the fields of God.”

Tell me about your thoughts, your words, your deeds – all to the glory of God in the ‘fields of God’!

Remember Jesus tells us: “Behold, I make all things new!!”

Psalm 88:12, “Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?”

INTRODUCTION

This summer has been such an interesting, exciting, perplexing journey! I have no doubts at all that our Lord wanted me writing “Fatal Forgetfulness”! He put it on my heart and began to birth it day by day. I have to say to you that I was being challenged by our Lord to face up to challenges, crossroads, doubts, fears, possibilities, new horizons, even new sorrows, heartaches, deep, deep valleys and high, high mountains that had to be crossed.

For well over ten years I’ve had some physical problems that have really been a challenge but September 17, 2010 to October 21, 2010, I had to have four left shoulder replacements in five weeks because the new “reverse joint” just would not stay in place. It took a major toll body, soul, and spirit. Then February, 2011, my wife Sue had to have both knees replaced. March 3, 2011, I had to have right shoulder surgery because of a rotator-cuff tear. And as I entered this summer of 2012, I knew I had more physical problems with two bad knees and two bad hips.

And I began to ask, “Lord, have I forgotten You? Have I slipped physically because I have slipped spiritually?” Gracious God was so clear, so kind, so gentle: “No, son; it’s our opportunity together to challenge our friends, nationally and internationally, that I haven’t forgotten them and I don’t want them forgetting Me. I want you to write about “Fatal Forgetfulness”! Let’s walk through it together, My son, as I help you, heal you, and happily bestow upon you new wisdom and understanding. Write the book.”

It’s almost September 1, 2012 – and “Fatal Forgetfulness” has been completed! And one thing I know: “This man, Farrell Fisher, will not forget Him!” AMEN?

I will have both knees replaced September 24, 2012. After a healing period I will then have surgery on both hips, December 3, 2012. Keep Farrell Fisher in your prayers! At this point I have no direction for a new book, but I do know that through tough times He births amazing revelations and insights. Let’s pray together about the next book our Lord would have me write! Beyond that? How about a major heart attack in April, 2013, when they gave me an hour to live, but, praise God, my heart surgeon was in the hospital on a Saturday night at 8pm, and I was in surgery within 22 minutes! Successful to say the least – he told my wife, Sue, later that I ought to live to a hundred at least!

It’s for certain I do not possess an ounce of fatal forgetfulness about my God of divine healing grace and mercy. But, sadly, we must, for the sake of others, look to the matter of “Fatal Forgetfulness”!

I pray you find glorious reminders of “pressing in” to Christ alone in your walk of faith, or the lack of it. Know for sure, God knocks on your heart’s door regularly. Beyond that, He’s the Healer of your forgetfulness – just look at His Holy Word! It was written specifically for you and for me!

Our Lord loves you with an everlasting love, and has no desire to be separated from you eternally because you allow fatal forgetfulness to grow in its deathly power! “Lean not to your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge, bow before, repent, and rest in His finished work at the Cross of Calvary in your behalf!”

OUTLINE

CHAPTER ONE: WHY NATIONS FORGET GOD

CHAPTER TWO: WHEN MERCY IS MEANINGLESS – FATAL FORGETFULNESS

CHAPTER THREE: WHEN GRACE IS GODLESS – FUTILE FORGETFULNESS

CHAPTER: FORGOTTEN? GOD WITH US?

CHAPTER FIVE: FORGOTTEN? BODY LIFE – BODY MINISTRY?

CHAPTER SIX: FORGOTTEN? THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES?

CHAPTER SEVEN:FORGOTTEN? A PASTOR’S PRIZE AND PRIVILEGE OF PREACHING?

CHAPTER EIGHT: FORGOTTEN? FIG-LEAF RELIGION IS NOT A FAITH RELATIONSHIP?

CHAPTER NINE: FORGOTTEN? WE ALL HAVE AN ENEMY?

CHAPTER TEN: FORGOTTEN? CHILDREN OF FAITH ARE DISCIPLINED BY THE LORD?

CHAPTER ELEVEN: FORGOTTEN? MARRIAGE: A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND BLESSING?

CHAPTER TWELVE: FORGOTTEN? CHILDREN A BLESSING – NOT A BURDEN?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: FORGOTTEN? GOD’S BLESSING OF VISIONS, VOICES, AND DREAMS?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: FORGOTTEN? HOLY FIRE OR SMOKY FEELINGS?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: FORGOTTEN? JOY COMES IN THE MORNING?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN? FORGOTTEN? PROFIT THAT BECOMES LOSS?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: FORGOTTEN? THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PERSONAL WATCH-CARE?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: FORGOTTEN? THE SPIRITUAL ALERTNESS OF “TODAY”?

CHAPTER NINETEEN: FORGOTTEN? THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE IN ME?

CHAPTER TWENTY: EVANGELISM: HEARTBEAT OF CHRISTIANS & CHURCHES?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: FORGOTTEN? ‘DEAF TO,’ ‘COLD TO’ THE WARMTH OF HIS WORD AND VOICE? [LISTENING TO THE REDEMPTIVE VOICES]

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: FORGOTTEN? THE CONSEQUENCES OF ‘SINKING SANDS’ OR THE BLESSING OF THE SOLID ROCK?

CHAPTER ONE

WHY NATIONS FORGET GOD

There is a stark, shocking verse in Psalm 9:17. It says: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” …In Psalm 50:22 God says: “Now consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” “Forgetting God?”

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says of forgetfulness: “The quality of losing the remembrance or recollection of a thing; or rather, the quality of being apt to let anything slip from the mind…loss of remembrance or recollection; a ceasing to remember; oblivion…neglect, negligence; careless omission; inattention; as forgetfulness of duty.”

Do you remember Daniel confronting Belshazzar in Daniel 5:22-23? [NAS], “Yet you Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzer, have not humbled your heart even though you knew this, but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear, or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and your ways, you have not glorified.”

Did Daniel say of some, “There are those who have not, do not, will not GLORIFY GOD”? What did he say? “But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and your ways, you have not glorified.” But a Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:14, “Now thanks be to God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ.” Is your walk of faith a testimony of ‘triumph in Christ’ or an unveiling of negligence toward Him, ‘careless omission, inattention; as forgetfulness of duty?’

Romans 1:18-32 are earth-shattering, heart-breaking verses about people and nations who forget God! [Please read before continuing!]

In Hosea 13:4-9 there are sad, prophetic words that ought to grip, convict, and convert every human soul: “Yet I am the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but Me; For there is no Savior besides Me. I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. When they had pasture, they were filled; they were filled and their heart was exalted; therefore they forgot Me. So I will be to them like a lion; like a leopard by the road I will lurk; I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, and there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them. O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is from me.”

How easy for some to forget Proverbs 14:34!! “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Righteousness is ‘salt’ that preserves while ‘sin’ is poison that destroys. Righteousness is God’s divine preservative for nations while sin is self-inflicted destruction. Psalm 2:11-12 tells us: “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are those who put their trust in Him.”Do you understand “perishing in the way”? Let’s see if we can discern some of the ways “Why Nations Forget God”!

FIRST, NATIONS FORGET GOD BY OMITTING RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD. In Psalms 37:23 we read: “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.” God is to be in control of every man’s life, yes, his every step. The New American Standard translates it: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He [God] delights in his way.”

I was reading in Marketplace Ministries magazine a statement by Jay Badry. He wrote: “Many people hold fast to the idea that ‘God can do anything,’ but I shrink from that for there is one thing God is incapable of doing: violating His own perfections and attributes. What this means to me is that in a constantly changing world, sinking ever deeper into the mire of depravity, the perfect God is both timeless and changeless. As a kite must be tethered to a fixed point for stability, so my soul, indeed all that I am must be tethered to Him at all times.” That’s a person, a people, and a nation!

If a nation, a life, a family, a business, a ministry, is not ‘tethered’ to God, there is no line, strong line, holding it up soaring in the air where God wants it to soar, but releasing itself from God’s control, it crashes!!

Do you understand that when a government omits responsibility to God it shuts the door on a nation ‘blessed by God’? If you’ve studied American History at all you know that Thomas Jefferson was one of our founding fathers. He is reported to have said: “The God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that those liberties are the gift of God?”

WHEN GOVERNMENT IGNORES, DENIES, SEEKS TO REFUTE THE DIGNITY OF DIVINE INITIATIVE IN ESTABLISHING, YES, A ‘HOLY NATION,’ IT VIOLATES EVERYTHING God intended for the human society He created. When government assumes the Jehovah-Jireh spirit, it has stolen and betrayed the ministry only God can fulfill.

It was D.A. Carson in his book “For The Love Of God” who wrote: “People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.”

A nation is not liberated if it omits, yes, legislatively that God has no place in our nation – “We’re Free”!! No, that nation that denies God’s right to rule is bound by the chains of darkness and the devil himself!

Is America today being ‘governed’ by “LIBERALS”? Are far too many churches being ‘governed’ by “LIBERALS”? Are far too many academic institutions today being ‘governed’ by “LIBERALS”?

Liberals foul the mind and fool the conscience. Liberals promote their ‘truth’ and crucify “The Truth.”

Liberals bow at the throne of its own deceptive governments and denounce the government of God. Liberals preach tolerance, interpreted by its own actions as intolerant, especially of God and men and women of saving faith.

Liberals spout freedom while subjecting its students to their bondage, spouting individual determination of one’s own destiny void of the true, lasting, eternal foundation of faith in the God who made them, lost them, and then bought them with the price of the shed blood of the Lamb of God.

Liberals bow before the idol of education leaving its devotees anchored to emptiness, impotence, and shallowness, while it celebrates its poverty and bankruptcy and avoids the true riches of grace.

Liberals and their liberalism, having become one of the largest religious systems in the world, builds its ‘foundations of faith’ on the doctrines of death, seen in the philosophy, ’you can make it without God,’ ‘Christians are kooks, the truly uneducated of our society,’ or, ‘the Bible is the fool’s book.’

Liberals major on mental imaginations of men who see themselves as men of superior intellects, when in reality they are the spiritual midgets and dwarfs void of REALITY. Liberalism masks itself in the assertions of “superior knowledge and intellect,” validated by their degrees, failing to see their unmasking because of their denial that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Liberalism promotes a Godless society, not understanding “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God!’” Liberalism is the cloud of “political correctness” that darkens the sky of constitutional and scriptural freedoms, constitutional intent and scriptural ideals, a nation built on the foundation of faith and submission and obedience and worship and devotion to the one True and Living God as revealed in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Liberalism is the noose around the neck of nations and peoples, strangling the very life of divine intent out of institutions, families, and individuals, captured by the deceptions of foolish men intent on enslaving the wills and minds of those under their diabolical influences.

Liberalism is the release of scriptural restraints upon a society unleashing the release of rebellion, ungodliness, “my way,” my thoughts, ‘god’ unto myself, releasing the supposed higher thoughts of men in total opposition to the holy truths of God.

Do you grasp what I’m speaking about? It’s that shallow grasp for a mystical, meaningless nothing; a deception of diabolical, evil, devilish proportions – no God, no truth, no sin, no wrong, no shame, a reckless abandonment of decency and honor for a moment of soul, sensual, sinful, satanic satisfaction that never satisfies.

For many, their better is better than God’s best, satisfied with the philosophy and religion of personal achievement; for many, educational achievement rules and reigns as supremacy over God’s best, intellectually superior to even the knowledge and wisdom of God Himself.

What did I say ‘FIRST’? “NATIONS FORGET GOD BY OMITTING RESPONSIBILTY TO GOD!” That’s not freedom ‘in Christ’ but freedom from responsibility in doing what God says. Didn’t Jesus say, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ – but you do not do what I say.”

Oh, I pray you don’t miss what’s going on across our nation today! They say, “We’re free!!”, and by that there are those who mean “Freedom of release of responsibility in relationships that includes not only God but free from the spiritual care of others! False freedom is the freedom to do your own thing without any consideration of the consequences to the covenant Body of Christ, yes, your local assembly!”

False freedom is the freedom to go your own way and do your own thing without one serious thought of leaving voids and vacuums in others! False freedom is the freedom to exercise self-initiative without any submission to Holy Spirit-direction and leadership!

False freedom is the freedom to believe the Gospel without the insight to walk it out where God places you! False freedom is the freedom to see your wisdom as valid that invalidates the wisdom of God for you.

False freedom is the freedom to believe one can preach the Gospel without the nature of Christ leading and to believe one can do that without imparting one’s own life as well. False freedom is to say you’re a friend without the “greater love” of laying down your life for your “friends”.

False freedom is to receive but not to give, the freedom to take and not to share, the freedom to be blessed and ignore the Blessers.

False freedom is to move in an apparent spirituality in order to steal and take from others who accept you blindly because of their loyalty to the Spirit of Christ in them.

False freedom is to abdicate the calling of ministry “helps” with no feeling of guilt or regrets. False freedom is to ignore ‘brotherhood’ because of a greater allegiance to “me-hood”!

False freedom is to reduce others to ‘less-ness’, unimportant to you because of one’s prideful ‘more-ness.’ False freedom is the phony freedom of virtuousness that is a vacuum as one victimizes the greater victors, yes, victimizing the true disciples of Christ with no regrets!

SECOND, NATIONS FORGET GOD AS THEY IGNORE, DENY, SUPPRESS THE MANDATES OF GOD! Deuteronomy 8 is one of God’s most powerful words for any nation anywhere. Please follow me in your own Bible with a marking pen in hand!!

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says: “And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”

I’m convinced without a doubt that God wants to put His own fingerprint, His own palm-print, His own signature on our lives! Look at verses 11-14!! “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest – when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage…”

What is a ‘lifted-up heart’? That’s pride, that’s self-sufficiency, that’s pumped up flesh! Look at verses 17-19! Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.”

In Matthew 4:4 we read of Jesus saying the same thing we read in Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”….Do you remember what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy? 2 Timothy 3:14-17, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

I pray that you have not failed to grasp the authority, the power, the true freedom that comes for nations through the Word of God. Psalm 119 is so powerful, so liberating, so redemptive in its truth!! Are you ready? Come to Psalm 119!!

Psalm 119:9, 11…Verse 9, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” Verse 11, Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Psalm 119: 24-25, “Your testimonies also are my delight, and my counselors. My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:37, “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.” Verse 18, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”

Psalm 119: 49, “Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope.” Verse 54, “Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”

Psalm 119: 67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” Verse 72, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”

Psalm 119: 89, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” Verse 92, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.”

Psalm 119: 101, “I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.” Verses 103-104, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Verse 111, “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.”

Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Verse 133, “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.”

Psalm 119:140, “Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.” Verse 160, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”

Psalm 119:162, “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.” Verse 165, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.”

Do you remember Jeremiah’s testimony in Jeremiah 15:16? He said, “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”

This is why Peter wrote in I Peter 2:2, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow [up into your salvation.]”

What did Jesus tell us in Matthew 7:24-29? Listen carefully!! “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

Have you ignored, denied, suppressed the Living Word of God?

THIRD, NATIONS FORGET GOD BY THE SUPPRESSION OF THE CELEBRATION AND WORSHIP OF GOD. Come to John 4:7-26!

All around you there is FAMILY DISINTEGRATION but no celebration and worship of the one true and living God. All around you there is pulpit and church quietness but no celebration and worship of the one true and living God. All around you there is national moral decay but no celebration and worship of the one true and living God. All around you there is ‘false religion domination’ but no celebration and worship of the one true and living God!

Nations forget God by the suppression of the celebration and worship of God.

FOURTH AND LAST, NATIONS FORGET GOD BY FORGETTING INTENTIONALLY AND SEEKING TO OBLITERATE THE GREATEST SACRIFICE OF GOD HIMSELF – THE VERY SHED BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD, JESUS, TO COVER A NATION’S SIN!! Obliterate? Listen to Noah Webster’s definition in his 1828 Dictionary: “To efface, to erase or blot out…to wear out, to destroy by time or means…to reduce to a very low or imperceptible state…to obliterate the monuments of antiquity…”

Well, what about obliterating the truth of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world? That’s Revelation 13:8!! “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.” Before nations existed God knew what fallen nations would do and He decided before the world came into existence that the Son would be the Savior as the Lamb of God slain on the Cross!

Come to Revelation 19:5-10, “Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write” ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!!” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

In your history studies did you ever come across the French Statesman Alexis Compte de Tocqueville? In early American history Tocqueville said: “I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rivers, lands, and prairies, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.”

GOD, HELP US! GOD, SAVE OUR NATION! GOD, LIGHT THE FLAME AGAIN OF CELEBRATION AND WORSHIP OF THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD! GOD, HELP US AGAIN BE A NATION OF DIVINE RIGHTEOUSNESS!”

H. Ernest Nichol wrote this old, old hymn that ought to be resurrected: “We’ve a story to tell to the nations, That shall turn their hearts to the right, A story of truth and mercy, A story of peace and light…

For the darkness shall turn to the dawning, and the dawning to noonday bright; And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth, The kingdom of love and light.

We’ve a song to be sung to the nations, That shall lift their hearts to the Lord, A song that shall conquer evil and shatter the spear and sword.

We’ve a message to give to the nations, That the Lord who reigns up above, Has sent His Son to save us, And show us that God is live.

We’ve a Savior to show to the nations, Who the path of sorrow has trod, That all of the world’s great peoples, Might come to the truth of God.

For the darkness shall turn to the dawning, And the dawning to noonday bright; And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth, The kingdom of love and light.”

CHAPTER TWO

WHEN MERCY IS MEANINGLESS – FATAL FORGETFULNESS

I don’t know how you respond when you read a verse like Isaiah 27:11, but it does tell us our Lord is speaking of people who have “no understanding.” It then says, “Therefore He who made them WILL NOT HAVE MERCY ON THEM, and He who formed them will show them no favor.”

I love what Peter wrote about “mercy” as a heavenly inheritance when in I Peter 1:3 he said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” What did Peter call God’s mercy? ABUNDANT MERCY! But there are those upon whom He will have no mercy!

Why is that? It’s ‘fatal forgetfulness’ – mercy is not a ministry of God, an event of epoch proportions, they are interested in. Oh, they may at least on the surface be aware of the mercy of God, but it’s not a road they need to walk down – about like Solomon who said in I Kings 3:6, “You [God] have shown great mercy [Underline that! At least Solomon knew God’s mercy was great!] to Your servant David my father, because He walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.”

Solomon was saying what? “God, You’ve shown great mercy to my dad, and you were merciful giving me his throne, but as for me mercy is meaningless – merit is my ambition and I’ll earn whatever I set my mind to!” Does Solomon reflect at all on modern man today who find mercy meaningless to their existence? Look with me at Psalm 103:17-18,

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.” The mercy of God is for WHO? Those who “fear Him,” to those who understand blood covenant relationship and keep it, to those who sense His commandments are to be kept! [Why do some miss ‘mercy’? “That’s salvation by works”!!]

But, sadly, many are blinded to the misery of fallen sin natures and sense no need to cry out to God for “mercy”! You’ll remember Jesus making that visit to His hometown in Mark 6:5-6 that says: “Now HE could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief…” Does that explain “mercy” as “meaningless” to some people?

Have you forgotten the Galatian dilemma? It explains tons of understanding about “when mercy is meaningless”! In Galatians 3:3 Paul asked: “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

And do you understand that meaningless mercy is not only for heathens or pagans or the self-assured – it’s for deceived masses in the borders of Christendom who substitute repentance for the rigors of personal disciplines and pats on the back of their self-sufficiency!

But…it’s not what YOU achieve but what you receive as a gift from God! It’s not what YOU earn but what you receive by His grace. It’s not a portrait you paint of yourself but the precious privileges God grants to you! It’s not “trying harder” – it’s trusting God more and more.

Deaf ears, blinded eyes, clouded senses to the nearness of God in a man’s life assign him to a meaningless existence weighed against the eternal purpose of God for one’s life. But put that up next to the story of Joseph! In Genesis 41:50-51 Joseph named his firstborn Manesseh and said: “It is because God has made me FORGET all my troubles and all my father’s household.”

But some men manufacture forgetfulness of God, establishing in their minds and hearts that “mercy is meaningless”, but God mercifully blots out our troubles, blessing us with the forgetfulness of man-made miseries and builds in us Heaven’s blessings!!

Men manufacture forgetfulness of God like a Pharoah who says in his mind and heart: Exodus 5:2, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.” Men easily obliterate the memory of God because they’re bound to the god of self-rule, self-adulation, self-importance, and are comfortable in their state of godlessness and their paralysis of self-analysis!!

But God remains the same! Acts 17:24-31 says: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His offspring.’ Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

In fact, in Matthew 5:45 Jesus said of Father-God: “…for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous…”

Listen to A.W. Pink in his “The Attributes of God – The Mercy of God”: “…let us note how vain is the presumptuous hope of the wicked, who, notwithstanding their continued defiance of God, nevertheless count upon His being merciful to them. How many there are who say, ‘I do not believe that God will ever cast me into Hell; He is too merciful.’ Such a hope is a viper, which if cherished in their bosoms will sting them to death. God is a God of justice as well as mercy, and He has expressly declared that He will “by no means clear the guilty,” [Exodus 34:7]. Yes, He has said, “The wicked shall be turned into Hell, all the nations that forget God.”

The willful pride of blindness to God’s mercy, the fleshly forgetfulness of God’s graciousness and kindness, the soulish settling on “me, my, or mine”, deludes one into darkened, defeated, devilish, disillusioned misery with eyes, ears, minds, and hearts off of mercy, God’s mercy, into a state of despair, in which one is comfortable because he’s in control!

There are those who even unashamedly seek to defame, deny, disgrace, and seek to delude the ‘infinite efficacy of the Savior’s atoning death.’ IT WASN’T FOR THEM JESUS SUFFERED, BLED, AND DIED ON THE CROSS! Yet II Corinthians 5:15 clearly tells us: “and He [Jesus] DIED FOR ALL, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”

I was reading Spurgeon recently when he told of a man who decided to keep a ‘tame’ leopard in his home. The man had nursed it from a cub and allowed free roam in the house. The man was sleeping soundly one day when the growing cub licked his hand and it licked a cut where the blood was still seeping…and all the jungle instincts kicked in and the beast began to feed…awakened, the man knew he was in trouble – a life or death situation was before him and he knew it was his life or the leopard’s life.

There was a loaded pistol beside the couch and without hesitation he aimed it at the hungry leopard and killed it!….Whether you believe it or not the leopard of sin, rebellion, disobedience, unbelief, is out to drain your blood – give up your precious leopard of lust, livid sin, furious fleshly instincts – leave them at the Cross where Jesus willingly and gladly took them and yourself upon Himself and willingly laid down His Life for you!! Jesus killed your leopard sin-nature!

I know it’s so hard for prideful men and women to admit the bankruptcy of their births; it is so hard for some and so easy for others to acknowledge high treason against Holy God. In fallen man there are no glamorous genes or heavenly glories or personal worthiness that merits the favor of God!

There’s an amazing confession of King David in 2 Samuel 7:18-22! Hear it:

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: ‘Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God? Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant. For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore, You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” I ask you: ARE YOU LISTENING TO GOD?

And before you came to faith in Christ, I’m sure you wondered like David: “Who am I, O Lord God, that You’ve shown me YOUR MERCY?” Without faith in God, mercy is meaningless to many. Without Holy Spirit conviction, mercy is a futile term. Without the historic crucifixion of Christ, mercy is an insignificant, unimportant eternal truth.

But for those who know “the narrow way that leads to life,” they understand deliverance from the pit of destruction; they are aware of God’s lifting them up out of the miry clay of sin and deceitfulness; they clearly grasp freedom from a prison of sin, selfishness, and self-importance apart from God; they rejoice that God’s mercy is His eternal heavenly light, leading them out of the darkness of Egyptian bondage of sin, separation from His “Holy Land,” and the silence of the lightning bolts of eternal revelation and purpose. They know God has shown them HIS MERCY!

But still, for me, there rages an ever-building question, repeated often: “Why, for some, is mercy so meaningless? Why does intentional forgetfulness of God’s mercy dominate so many lives?” WHY?

FIRST, BECAUSE SOME WILL ACCEPT MERCY IF THERE’S NO CALL UPON THEIR LIVES TO WALK MERCIFULLY WITH OTHERS! In Micah 6:8 there is an illuminating verse that reveals why some miss God’s mercy. It says: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

How does one ‘do justice’ when he/she could care less about others? How does one ‘love mercy’ when he/she is so merciless toward others? How does one ‘walk humbly with God’ when they’re so proud and so self-sufficient, void of the need of God to be God in and over their lives?

Come to Matthew 18:23-35 which is such an eye-opening, heart-convicting story that calls for examination of ourselves, yes, testing ourselves to see if we’re truly of the Faith and the faithful: “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. [Before inflation that was about $18 million dollars!!].But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had,, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave the debt. But [THEN] that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; [about $18] and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt [$18 million!!] because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry; and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

What does Luke 1:50 tell us? “And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.” It’s why in 2 Corinthians 5:11 Paul wrote: “Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men…” Proverbs 1:7 tells us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…”

Come to Proverbs 14:26-27. “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” Beside this passage I wrote in my Bible the following statement – I don’t remember if I wrote it or it was a quote, but the sentence says: “Even what one likes, that is not necessarily evil, can become an entrapment of death, like cheese in a mouse-trap.”

Here is Jesus’ amazing challenge to those who believe or border on mercy being meaningless for them and hold no fear of God – Matthew 11:25-28 – At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

SECOND, FOR SOME MERCY IS MEANINGLESS BECAUSE THEY DENY SIN, CONCEAL SIN, EXCUSE SIN, OR ACCEPTING THEIR SINFUL STATE BEFORE HOLY GOD AS NORMAL OR NATURAL! But look at Proverbs 28:13!! “He who conceals his sins [transgressions, wrongs, violations of God’s laws] does not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes and renounces his sin finds mercy.”

Do you remember John’s word in I John 1:7? “But if we walk in the light as He [Jesus] is in the light…the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” I love what Oswald Chambers said about the truly conscious awareness of sin in a person: “The evidence that I am delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me.”

Concealment is a covering and convincing of one’s self that sin may be a problem for others but not for the deceived mind. And because of that there are God-sent, God-mandated, even God-initiated consequences in one’s life – like an empty prosperity that never satisfies, like a barking, biting dog in the inner man that never quits or quiets down, like a rich man who loses all his monies because the bank within him is bankrupt, like a criminal who believes he’ll never be caught but lives every moment expecting arrest and final judgment!

I love the call of God on our lives as true believers as expressed by Paul in Galatians 6:1-2 [NIV], “Brothers, if a man is trapped in some sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself; you may also be tempted…Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.”

Listen to John Piper in his book, “A Godward Life,” [p.77], “Don’t be muzzled by the comment that you can’t force your religion or morality on others. You are not forcing it; you are commending it for serious consideration. Declaring and persuading are not forcing. Commending is not coercion. The fact is this: Everybody’s idea about what should be done is guided by some kind of prior commitment. Secularists as well as Christians have a world-view that governs their opinions. Every policy suggestion is rooted in view of how things should be.”

Exposing sin is merciful. Exposing sin is an act of grace. Challenging sinners with the claims of Christ builds foundations of possible super-structures in the new lives He can birth and bless!

THIRD, FOR SOME MERCY IS MEANINGLESS BECAUSE THEY’VE NEVER BEEN CONFRONTED WITH GOD’S CLAIMS OF JUDGMENT. I want you to come to Nahum 1:2-8. “God is jealous, and the Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him, the hills melt, and the earth heaves at His presence, Yes, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies.”

Two things that are easily discernible here: 1) God is ‘slow to anger,’ and 2) God “will not at all acquit the wicked.”

In Spurgeon’s Sermons, his “Memorial Library,” the great English preacher preached on the verses we just read. Hear Spurgeon: “God ‘will not acquit the wicked.’ Let me unfold this, first of all; and then let me, after that, endeavor to trace it also to its source: God ‘will not acquit the wicked.’ How do I prove this? I prove it by this. Never once has God pardoned our unpunished sin; not in all the years of the Most High, not in all the days of His right hand, has He once blotted out sin without punishment. What say you, were not those in heaven pardoned? Are there not many transgressors pardoned, and do they not escape without punishment? Has He not said, ‘I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and like a thick cloud your iniquities?’ Yes, true, most true, and yet my assertion is true also – not one of all those sins that have been pardoned were pardoned without punishment! Do you ask me why and how such a thing as that can be the truth? I point you to a dreadful sight on Calvary; the punishment which fell not on the forgiven sinner fell there. The cloud of justice was charged with fiery hell; the sinner deserved it; it fell on him; but, for all that, it fell, and spent its fury; it fell there, in that great reservoir of misery; it fell into the Savior’s heart…It is Jesus suffering all the plagues of sin. Sin is still punished, though the sinner is delivered.”

It was Orin Philip Gifford who said: “You may juggle human laws, you may fool with human courts, but there is a judgment to come, and from it there is no appeal.” I pray you find God’s court of mercy, because in His court of judgment, Daniel 5:27 says: “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting.”

I want you to be confronted with God’s claim of judgment. In Jeremiah 5:3 Jeremiah asked the Lord, “O Lord, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return.”

Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 6:10, “To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it.”

Do you see it? Do you hear it? Do you sense it right now for yourself? GOD DESIRES TO GIVE YOU “THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.” [Acts 13:34]. SURE MERCIES ARE REDEMPTIVE – God bought you out of slavery to sin that you might be servants of Christ.

SURE MERCIES ARE REGENERATIVE – God takes you out of spiritual death unto His ETERNAL LIFE.

SURE MERCIES ARE REFLECTIVE – we see no longer a man in his bondage and brokenness – we see Christ in His fullness.

SURE MERCIES ARE RESPONSIVE – in Jeremiah 29:11 God says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Hear me! Jeremiah 31:3 says: “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

And I say to you: Sense His tug, surrender to His Sovereignty, and side with our Savior and Lord!!

You may have denied it – but today is the day to side with Sovereign Mercy! It was Edwin Hubbell Chapin who wrote: “Mercy among the virtues is like the moon among the stars – not so sparkling and vivid as many, but dispensing a calm radiance that hallows the whole. It is the bow that rests upon the bosom of the cloud when the storm is past. It is the light that hovers above the judgment seat.”

This is why David came to say in Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

In the old Broadman Hymnal there is a song simply entitled “Calvary”. It says: “On Calvary’s brow my Savior died, It was there my Lord was crucified; it was on the cross He bled for me, and purchased there my pardon free…

‘Mid rending rocks and darkening skies My Savior bows His head and dies; The opening veil reveals the way To heaven’s joys and endless day…

O Jesus, Lord, how can it be That You should give Your life for me, To bear the cross and agony In that dread hour on Calvary!

O Calvary! Dark Calvary! Where Jesus shed His blood for me; O Calvary! Blest Calvary! It was there my Savior died for me!”

Do you grasp it when to you mercy has been meaningless? If you were the only person to have ever lived – past, present, future – what Jesus did 2000 years ago At Calvary, He did it just for you!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the never-ending care of God for each of us!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the measure of God’s forgiving, never-ending love!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the reality of God’s remedy of a godless life!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the explanation of God’s possession of the land of our souls and spirits!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is not man trying harder but hearing Christ say: “It is finished” as He died on Calvary’s cross!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the voice of God saying to a praying man: “Your prayer has been heard” [Luke 1:13].

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the stepping stone into the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the open door into Holy Presence!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is God’s remedy for a man paralyzed by his past!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the healing grace of spiritual amnesia, fleshly blindness, and a darkened heart!

Mercy is not meaningless – mercy is the divine healing of a hurtful, harmful, hideous past!

In closing this teaching, please come to Luke 18:9-14, And He []Jesus] spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

CHAPTER THREE

WHEN GRACE BECOMES GODLESS – FUTILE FORGETFULNESS

In your church life, in your own devotional life, in small group studies, have you ever found yourself shocked by those who interpret ‘grit’ as saving grace, or you hear those who grind on grace because their emphasis and allegiance is on self-motivation and they’d just as soon spit on biblical grace? At 77 years of age now, I am shocked by the subtle erosion of divine grace with more emphasis on human effort and human ability to be ‘god-like’.

I sense a cumulative effect of spiritual thievery among those who major on ‘the power of positive thinking’ concerning human initiative, genius genes, fleshly ability and energy that God could use if He’d only concede their superior ranks among lesser men and women, like those ‘grace-gifted disciples’.

John Eldredge in his book “Waking The Dead,” [p.13], made a very powerful statement. He said, “The world in which we live is a combat zone, a violent clash of kingdoms, a bitter struggle unto the death.”

That’s why there are those who look upon “Amazing Grace” as ‘alarming grace’ – for them, that’s too much emphasis on God and not enough on human potential! And what we see, hear, sense, and even taste at times is the souring essence on grace and the soaring of the glory of that human potential apart from God Himself.

Wasn’t it C.S. Lewis in his “The Weight of Glory” who talked about “the evil enchantment of worldliness”? And there’s a reason for that: Intellectual attainments in one’s mind of ‘their’ understanding of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness often become nothing more than crippling, cancerous, corrupt ideas void of God and saving grace.

Effort, apart from scriptural grace, becomes the creation of despair – not deliverance and divine healing. Oh, I know there are those who effect changes in their outward behavior and even mental stability but that is not the spiritual circumcision of the heart by the grace of God through the shed blood of the Lamb of God!

Reaching up, reaching high, is not the same thing as being raised from the dead by God’s power and His redeeming grace! Sinful natures are not to be cloaked or covered but by grace are to be crucified with Christ.

You’ve heard it, yes, in some churches where men are devoted to what they’ve paid for and built. “I’m a man so devoted to the bricks and mortar, the lights and stained glass, of our beautiful church building,” failing to understand by God’s grace, their bodies are His holy temple by His grace, mercy, and love.

In Zechariah 9:16-17 we read: “The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land – for how great is its goodness and how great its beauty!’

But what we see across a lot of the ‘church-world’ today are ‘band-aids’ rather than heart transplants by the Great Surgeon of grace. In Jeremiah 6:14 we read: “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace.”

Many grace-less souls today are nothing more than puppets of the powers of darkness, mouthpieces of a satanically controlled army of God’s enemy – even the devil himself. It’s why Eldredge said: [“Waking The Dead”,p.161], “they are not glaring opponents [of grace]; they are “IMPOSTERS”. But God does not stand idly by, unconcerned about ‘graceless individuals.’ He gives us a promise through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 49:24-26! Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of the righteous be delivered? But thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty army shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Putting it simply, understandably, importantly – those who manufacture spiritual ‘grease’ rather than stand on God’s grace are anarchists who devise a substitution for the Blood Atonement! Cornelius Platinga Jr. in his book “Beyond Doubt,” made a strong statement: [p.199], “Grace is not God’s applause for the comfortable. Grace is God’s long reach for sinners who are far away.” But the “grace-less” are defined by John in I John 1:8 when he said: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” That’s how law-breakers become anarchists and atheists bordering on criminality!

Paul assuredly knew “saving grace” when to Timothy he wrote: [I Timothy 1:15], “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” That’s not ‘godless grace’ but the God of all grace doing a work in a ‘lost man’s heart’! This is why George MacDonald said: “And then my soul, awaking with the morn Shall be a waking joy, eternally new-born.”

The ‘faith-less’ who are ‘grace-less’ are men and women of famished minds and famished hearts who’ve never fed on scriptural grace. In Ephesians 2:7-8 Paul wrote: “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

But some do not do well nor pay attention but build their home and heart-camps in darkness! In 2 Peter 1:16-19 Peter shared a vital word, no doubt having been accused of following ‘baseless fables’. He wrote: “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts..”

You’ve heard the saying, “None are so blind as those who will not see.” In Luke 18:35-43 is the story of Jesus coming near Jericho where a blind man was seated by the road begging. He heard the multitude and asked what the noise was all about. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd tried to silence him but he cried out more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Listen to Jesus’ response! Verse 42, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Then verse 43 says: And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.”

Are you aware that living apart from grace is like a blind-man comfortable in his blindness? Living apart from grace is a godless existence that was not God’s intention in Creation. When Jesus says, “Come to Me and I will give you rest,” those words fall on deaf ears to spiritual truth because there is no spiritual thirst and hunger for life beyond one’s self!

Grace is denied in many lives, even cultures, religions, and governments, because, as C.S. Lewis wrote: “mere decency passes for heroic virtue and utter corruption for pardonable imperfection.”

Grace is denied in many lives because grace in the heart of God calls for sacrifice, laying down one’s life in behalf of others, even dying so that others might live – the grace of God in God Himself was so great He gladly yet sorrowfully gave His Son as the sacrifice on the Cross – and to follow ‘grace’ means: “Deny yourself; take up your cross, and follow Jesus!”

Grace is denied because if God forgives my debt, then I must enter a living relationship with Him of forgiving others who violate me!

Grace is denied because the biblical mandate of I Timothy 4:7 is “exercise yourself toward godliness,” – and if I’m surrounded, indoctrinated, influenced, poisoned by a godless world, how would I ever fit in with grace and mercy and love?

Grace is denied because as Jesus was confronted with the question [Matthew 22:36], “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” And Jesus answered, verse 37, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

That’s surrender which many are not willing to do! That’s giving which many refuse to do! That’s obedience which many totally reject! That’s Godly-longing and Godly-pursuit of that which gives Him glory alone which the masses see no importance for! That’s taking fallen man’s hits, accusations, even libels, as honors unto Jesus which grace-less men refuse because of that pride and self-importance!

Grace becomes godless for some because the call to be “steadfast, immovable, abounding in the work of Jesus Christ” is more than they are willing to be or do! Do you remember when Jesus was at Bethany and the woman came with that jar of costly ointment and poured it on Jesus’ head? The people around her and Jesus scolded her, but Jesus said, “Let her alone…she has performed a good service for me…she has done what she could…!” [Mark 14:3-8]. Graceless lives are unwilling to be shaped in the nature and character of Christ or even this caring saint who loved Jesus!

Grace is denied when one realizes God’s call to “proclaim the praises of Him who calls you out of darkness into His marvelous light,” [I Peter 2:9], and the silent settle for Christ-less living “if I have to be vocal about Jesus!”

Grace is denied by some when they misunderstand and fail to realize God’s call to be “saints” – [Romans 1:7] – You’ve heard it: “I’m no saint” – but if you are ‘in Christ’, you are “set apart” [that’s a saint!!], set apart to the honor, glory, praise, and blessing of the Christ in you, God’s hope of glory for you!

Cornelius Platinga Jr. so ably and powerfully describes “the saints” like this: [“Beyond Doubt,” p.270], “The body of Christ, the temple of God, the bride of Christ, the people of God – these wonderful phrases tells that the church is all about belonging. Even the word “church” reflects this fact. The English word “church” (like the German ‘KIRCHE’) is derived from a Greek word that means “belonging to the Lord.” The church belongs to the Lord of the church…What follows from this? A great deal. The institutional church is not our club rigged up to suit ourselves and to meet our religious needs. The church is rather a living instrument of Jesus Christ, equipped to do His work in the world. It is set up to serve not only ourselves but also those outside our gathering. We do not form ourselves into a church by our voluntary cooperation. We are rather “called” as a people to praise God, to serve His children, and to give ourselves for others in the same way as Christ sacrificed Himself for us. In other words, the Christian church is an agent, witness, and model of the gospel itself…A church turned in on itself is like people who shut themselves in a closet and try to live by breathing their own carbon dioxide.”

Acts 2:42,44 tells us: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. All who believed were together…” But “grace” is denied because some don’t need, will not, and refuse to have a relationship with God’s people.

Grace is denied because there are those who assume church attendance, even membership is OK, but you’ve spoiled their “show” if you reveal Christ’s calling of men to be His disciples.

Grace is denied and becomes godless when some realize God’s plan for their lives to be the very base of operation for the Kingdom of God, experiencing His Life, expressing His love, proving His power, as we extend that Kingdom around us – and the grace-less say: “Not through me!”

It’s why grace is godless for some because of an unwillingness to “take My yoke upon you” – fearful of being yoked with Christ in the yoke of His calling! They don’t understand or comprehend that to be yoked with Christ is life on Heaven’s plain, not life under a dictator but life through a Liberator!

Grace is denied because false images have been formed that say “Christians are poverty-stricken, the intellectualy bankrupt society, the moral misfits, hostile individuals who want us imprisoned to their cold, cruel, callous life-styles” – when the truth is Christians are united as one in Christ ‘in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” according to Colossians 2:3.

Grace is godless when one is convinced “if I can’t earn my own way, I want no part of Kingdom living.” It’s godless when one is willing to profess allegiance but without the call to obedience even though Jesus said: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord! Lord!’ but you do not do what I say.”

Grace is denied when some want allegiance to His prominence but not allegiance to His preeminence. Grace is denied and is godless when some gather around ‘fleshly allegiance’ to a prominent pastor but deny gathering around those living in and through the power of His resurrected Life and Holy Spirit presence!

Grace is denied when social conformity to a certain Christian group is accepted but spiritual second-birth, singular submission to Christ’s Lordship is called for – spiritual transformation, spiritual formation, those are unacceptable terms!!

Grace becomes godless when some hear that following Jesus means radical devotion to His Word, His Spirit, His Vision, His intent, His mandates – oh, they’ll accept religious activity and especially what they will define as allowable and acceptable on their terms, but Jesus said in John 14:15-17, “:If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Grace becomes godless to some because when Paul says in Galatians 5:24, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” they say, “My passions and desires are who I am,” and they surrender themselves to their chains, their bondages, to the prison-cell of self because that’s WHO they love! But Jesus gives ‘grace-folks’ a promise: John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

Grace becomes godless because grace calls for unconditional surrender to Christ’s Lordship – and if He is to be Lord of all or not Lord at all, for them they choose ‘boss’ of their own defiled minds and hearts. Look with me at Isaiah 1:2-9!! “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; the ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.’ Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; strangers devour your land in your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

But there is a more encouraging word! Come to Psalm 16:8-9! “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” Which of these last two sections of scripture do you choose for you and your family?

I want you to hear words spoken by Thomas Watson in “All Things For Good,” spoken about the year of 1663! [Reprint, Banner of Truth Trust, 1986, p.74]. Thomas Watson said: “The first fruit of love is the musing of the mind upon God. He who is in love, his thoughts are ever upon the object. He who loves God is ravished and transported with the contemplation of God. ‘When I awake, I am still with You.” [Psalm 139:18]. The thoughts are as travelers in the mind. David’s thoughts kept heaven-road. “I am still with You.” God is the treasure, and where the treasure is, there is the heart. By this we may test our love to God. What are our thoughts most upon? Can we say we are ravished with delight when we think on God? Have our thoughts got wings? Are they fled aloft? Do we contemplate Christ and glory?…A sinner crowds God out of his thoughts. He never thinks of God, unless with horror, as the prisoner thinks of the judge.”

Grace is not a ‘fairy-tale’ but faith-truth! Grace is not even a mystery but a miracle of everlasting love! Grace is not fortune-telling but assurance of Christ-likeness!

It was H. Richard Niebuhr who said: “The great Christian revolutions come not by the discovery of something that was not known before. They happen when somebody takes radically something that was always there.”

I know and believe that you realize how easy it is even for some Christians all over the world to put a dark veil over the grace of God at times, but it’s time we unveil His expressive grace, His embracing grace, His extravagant grace, His extending grace, His empowering grace, His enlightening grace, and His ‘earth-quake-ness’ of grace! Hear the Word!!:

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Romans 3:24, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have received access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work.”

2 Corinthians 12:9, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Galatians 1:15-16, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me…”

Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace..”

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Titus 3:7, “that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

I Peter 1:13-15, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation [or the unveiling of Christ in His fullness!!]; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…”

II Peter 3:17-18 “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

I love what the great Methodist preacher said about grace, Dr. Charles L. Allen: “In the Bible there are three distinctive meanings of grace: it means the mercy and active love of God; it means the winsome attractiveness of God; it means the strength of God to overcome.”

Charles Wesley in “Refuge” wrote: “Plenteous grace with You is found, Grace to cover all my sin; Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.”

Grace for the godless is just as rich and full and free as grace for the God-filled who walk in the fullness of Christ!

CHAPTER FOUR

FORGOTTEN? GOD WITH US?

Isn’t it amazing to you that as you read Genesis 3 and find in verse 8 that Adam and Eve “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God”, newly created by Holy God but they want to hide from Him? But the sad truth is that there are many across the world of fallen mankind who never think about hiding from God because they don’t sense God is near or even if there is a God – and for sure, for some, there are those who have no desire for God to be with them. “God With Us?” “That’s a fairy tale, foolish talk, feeble-minded belief!”

Jeremiah, the prophet, heard God speak and recorded it! In Jeremiah 23:23-24 God said: “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.” And God speaks of His omnipresence!

In Genesis 11, as fallen mankind began to “make a name for ourselves,” they began to construct a “tower whose top is in the heavens.” They were intent on the reign, rule, regulation of their own lives with the high tower of “self-rule” that became known as the Tower of Babel – the word “babel” means ‘confusion,’ which is always true of those who don’t believe in God, don’t believe God is near, and certainly will not assert, stand on, or proclaim that “God is with us!”

Oh, there are those like Jonah who know God is real, know God has a purpose for each life, but Jonah ran from God’s direction as men today run from divine destiny! Jonah 1:3 is clear – “But Jonah arose to flee Tarshish from the presence of the Lord!” He was running from God’s call on his life as many still do today. [We’ll look at Jonah together a little later!].

We’re going to look at King David more fully later, just as we will Jonah, but I want you to know early on in this chapter even David, at a certain point in his life, wasn’t sure HE wanted God around! In Psalm 139:7-12 we read a part of David’s journey of faith on momentary faithlessness! He said: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to you.”

In the four gospels are we aware of the Crucifixion of Christ? Does it embarrass you that even Jesus, on the Cross, cried out: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” That’s Matthew 27:46! But that ought to give you comfort that even Jesus, in a fragment of a moment, wondered about “God With Me?”

There are dark clouds in all human circumstances at times and the “Son-Light” may be hidden for a time, but God Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you!”

Some who question “God With Us” have witnessed family, friends, faith-folk, in even, yes, horrendous circumstances, horrible pain, heavy, heavy burdens, and they can’t see His light, they don’t know His promises, and witnessing the hard times in those they know, love, and care about, their tears, their sorrow, their anger, their doubts, their fears, block the holy hand of God with healing grace reaching around those He loves more than they love themselves!

Others who doubt “God With Us” are handicapped when they view the Christian faith as ‘pie in the sky by and by,’ ‘a rosy world with no thorns,’ ‘marriages with no heartaches,’ ‘children with no calamities, deformities, or failures,’ ‘people with no pain, no suffering, no sorrows,’ ‘people with peace, people with the absence of disease, people with no sudden disagreements, disappointments, distresses – perfect people in a perfect world!’ I don’t think so!

You’ve heard it: “God with us?” Where was He when the Holocaust happened with six million Jews killed? Where was God when the towers were destroyed in New York and thousands killed? God with us? War after war after war after war! God with us? Broken marriages, broken hearts, broken children! God with us? The fires burn and burn and burn – they destroy home after home! God with us? Millions and millions imprisoned worldwide. God with us? Sickness, disease, death!

If you’ve read my books, you know I love the writings of John Piper! On-line on my computer I came across one of his messages entitled “The Supremacy of Christ in an Age of Terror – Desiring God.” Piper wrote: “So even in our own experience – in our own souls – believers or unbelievers, there is a kind of witness that the world of evil and pain and misery and death is not a meaningless place. It is not a place without a good and purposeful God. Some people – not all –have found in the greatest evil – the time of greatest sorrow – the greatest need for God and the greatest evidence of God…It happens like this. A great evil happens – say the holocaust with 6,000,000 murders. Or the Stalinist Soviet gulag with many more than that sent to their deaths. In the midst of these horrors, the human soul, that had been blithely pursuing its worldly pleasures with scarcely a thought about God and with no serious belief in any absolutes like evil and good, or right or wrong – happily living in a dream-world of relativism – suddenly is confronted an evil so horrible and so great as to make the soul scream out with ultimate moral indignation: No! This is wrong! This is evil! And for the first time in their life they hear themselves speaking with absolute conviction. They have a conviction of absolute reality. They know now beyond the shadow of a doubt that such a thing as evil exists. They admit that all their life up till then was a game. And now they are confronted with the stark question: If there is such a thing as evil – if there is a moral reality that is above and different from the mere physical processes of evolutionary energy plus matter – then where does it come from, and what is it based on?….”

And what does Romans 5:8 tell us? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

You’ve heard people say, “If God is truly real, why doesn’t He reveal Himself?” “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What did your friend say, what did your parent say, what did your professor say? “If God is with us, why doesn’t He speak to us?” “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

How many have you met on your path of life who’ve convinced themselves we’re here by chance – not by God’s choice of Sovereign will?” How many have sought to influence you into believing our world came from nothing or no one and has no divine purpose or plan? What did Paul write in Romans 1:20? “For since the creation of the world His [God’s] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” But…are there excuses why some have convinced themselves “God is NOT with us”?

FIRST, THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE CONVINCED THEMSELVES “GOD IS NOT WITH US” BECAUSE, LIKE JONAH, GOD’S PLAN IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT “I” DESIRE! Come to Jonah 1:1-3, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”

Notice: Jonah “arose to flee…from the presence of the Lord;” Notice: “Jonah went down..” It’s always a downward spiral when one ‘flees’ from the Lord! Notice: Jonah made a willful choice opposite of the will of God!

What was going on with Jonah? He was running from God’s call on his life! In Proverbs 1:20 the inspired Word of God says: “Wisdom calls aloud in the streets [right on your journey!!]…Verse 23, Surely I will pour out My spirit on you; I will make My words known to you. Verse 24, Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded.”

No regard for God’s Word is ‘running’ so you can fall on your own words, choices, decisions, plans, and fleshly purposes! There’s no regard for the reality of one’s need of God because he’d rather fall because of self-will, self-pleasure, self-plans apart from our Eternal Maker and Blesser and Redeemer.

It’s kind of like one of my grandsons, Zack; as he first began to walk and talk, Sue or I would call for him to come, and Zach would say, “I don’t want to!”, and then he’d run! That’s a picture of a little two-year old which many grown men and women, when hearing God call, like Jonah, they say: “I don’t want to!”, and run from God Himself!!

In Jeremiah 16:10-13 we read a sad prophetic word from the mouth of God! “And it shall be, when you show this people all these words, and they say to you, ‘Why has the Lord pronounced all this great disaster [Shipwreck?] against us? Or what is our iniquity?” Or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because your fathers have forsaken Me,’ says the Lord; ‘they have walked after other gods and have served them and worshipped them, and have forsaken Me and not kept My law. And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me. Therefore I will cast you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers; and there you shall serve other gods day and night, where I will not show you favor.”

Do you remember Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic”? “He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat, He is sifting out the hearts of men before His Judgment Seat.”

I don’t believe that men want to be weighed in the balances and found wanting but most have no clear understanding of God’s eternal purposes and they get caught up in “my way.” It was John Greenleaf Whittier, in “The Pressed Gentian,” who wrote: “Man judges from a partial view. None ever yet his brother knew; The Eternal Eye that sees the whole May better read the darkened soul, And found, to outward sense denied, The flower upon its inmost side!” Only God gives “eternal blossoms” – man births only ‘enhanced fleshliness’!

SECOND, SOME SEE “GOD NOT WITH US” BECAUSE, EVEN MOMENTARILY, THERE ARE SOME WHO WANT LESS THAN GOD DESIRES FOR THEM; THEY WANT ‘LOOSENESS FEELINGS’ BECAUSE GOD BINDS THEM, OR THEY’RE TEMPTED BY LEWDNESS – SO GOD MUST BE FAR AWAY.

Think about David for a period time in his life! There was a time in David’s pilgrimage that he ‘show-cased’ the fallen nature of us all without God’s saving grace! In Psalm 12:1-4 David wrote: Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, Who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; Who is Lord over us?’

In Romans 1:18-19 Paul nailed it so strongly! “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.”

Come to Psalm 139:5-12, 15-16….What did God do? Verses 5-12, “You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me.’ Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Verses 15-16, “My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Hear me, men’s fleshliness doesn’t stop God’s eternal ambition for any of us, even the atheists and agnostics and the ‘pretenders’! Verses 17-18 tells us: “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.” [I challenge you!! Look at the sands of all seashores across our world – and know: God’s thoughts ABOUT YOU are more than that number!]

Though Jonah ran from the presence of the Lord, though David ran from the presence of the Lord, though Adam and Eve sought to hide from God, “GOD WITH US” IS ETERNAL TRUTH THAT NEVER FADES AWAY!! And if Jonah needed a storm, God was willing to bring it on! Though David failed miserably in the flesh, God sent His Holy Spirit’s convicting power and Psalm 51 was birthed! And even though Adam and Eve trusted “fig leaves,” God’s “forever love” never failed them!

In Isaiah 46:9-13 there is such a powerful word of hope for those who think God is deterred by their choices! His Word says: “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness; I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory.” [You do know there is an eternity’s difference between physical Israel and spiritual Israel – right?]

THIRD, SOME SEE “GOD NOT WITH US” BECAUSE NATURAL MINDEDNESS CAN BE A BLINDER RATHER THAN A CALL FOR EYES TO SEE WHAT GOD HIMSELF WOULD HAVE ONE SEE; NATURALNESS, WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS BREEDING SPIRITUAL DEAFNESS TO THE VOICE OF GOD, AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS TO THE SOVEREIGN WORKS OF GOD.

In I Corinthians 2:4-16 we read, Paul speaking, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”

Are you aware that “persuasive words of human wisdom” do nothing in opening understanding in one’s mind and heart? Paul said redemptive words only come alive in a man’s mind and heart by the ‘demonstration of the Spirit and of the very power of God,’ because redemptive faith comes, not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God!

But minds apart from the Holy Spirit are not in tune to the voice of God or His Word! This is why in 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul talked about “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” I would then surmise: no faith – no fear!

I love how Oswald Chambers dealt with this in his book “My Utmost For His Highest,” [pps.55-56], “Having therefore these promises.” I claim the fulfillment of God’s promises, and rightly, but that is only the human side; the Divine side is that through the promises I recognize God’s claim on me. For instance, am I realizing that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, or have I a habit of body that plainly will not bear the light of God on it? By sanctification the Son of God is formed in me, then I have to transform my natural life into a spiritual life by obedience to Him. God educates us down to the scruple. When he begins to check, do not confer with flesh and blood, cleanse yourself at once. Keep yourself cleansed in your daily walk….I have to cleanse myself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit until both are in accord with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I insubordinate in intellect? Am I forming the mind of Christ, who never spoke from His right to Himself, but maintained an inner watchfulness whereby He continually submitted His spirit to His Father? I have the responsibility of keeping my spirit in agreement with His Spirit, and by degrees Jesus lifts me up to where He lived – in perfect consecration to His Father’s will, paying no attention to any other thing. Am I [are you?] perfecting this type of holiness in the fear of God? Is God getting His way with me, and are other people beginning to see God in my life more and more?”

FOURTH, SOME SEE “GOD NOT WITH US” BECAUSE NATURAL MEN PLACE NO VALUE ON KNOWING CHRIST WHO IS CALLED “EMMANUEL”, “GOD WITH US”!!

And you do understand that even “religious” men can be caught up with their belief, “God Isn’t With Us Either!” In John 8:13-20 we read about those who came against Emmanuel! It says: “The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself. Your witness is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have also known My Father also.” These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.”

And, no doubt, you remember that Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews who “came to Jesus by night.” Why the night? Was the reality of the Pharisaical view of Christ being torn down in him? Was the reality of “God with us” moving heavily on this man? Did he not want his world around him to know he wanted to know Truth? One’s ego CAN be the death-nail in one’s coffin of life as it is – or one, like Nicodemus, CAN risk the upward reach for truth beyond what he has learned or known.

There IS a world around you that has forgotten, forsaken, even fought against the knowledge of God. Examine your own schools, universities, networks, businesses, local or national governments that have departed from the awareness of God. And the one thing I pray that you learn in this very moment if you haven’t already is: Ezekial 33:11, “Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?”

I pray that by God’s Spirit you and yours have your eyes opened, ears opened, minds and hearts opened to the great truth of Emmanuel, “God With Us,” because in 2 Timothy 2:8-9 Paul told us: “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.”

In Acts 4 you’ll remember Peter and John let go by the ruling authorities in Jerusalem. Follow carefully verses 23-33: And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: “Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.” For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

How did that come to fruition? We read in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were yet sinners, while fallen men chose blindness to God and absence from God, He demonstrated His love! While His created world was filled with rebellious, disbelieving, sinful, godless men, He came and demonstrated His love for us. While His created world floundered in the broken ages of spiritually-blinded futility, He demonstrated His love! While alienated people, alienated from God, alienated from His divine plan and purpose, living sadly, living savagely, living ultimately unto themselves alone, GOD PROVED HIS LOVE FOR US!

Have you missed Jeremiah 32:40? “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.” What a promise! That everlasting covenant is the blood covenant between God the Father and God the Son as Jesus shed His blood on Calvary’s Cross for you and me! And there’s no turning to God apart from Emmanuel! In I Peter 3:18 we read: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He [Christ Jesus the Lord] might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”

The Cross of Christ is not only God’s proof of His love for us – it is the pulling power of His grace, mercy, and love, translating us out of our seas of forgetfulness into His heavenly grace and grip of lovingkindness! Jeremiah 31:3-4 says: “The Lord has appeared of old to me saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again, I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoiced.”

What amazing, anointed, life-altering verses in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15!! “For the love of Christ compels us, because we thus judge: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

You may not be familiar with the name, Charles Hodge. He was a 19^th Century Reformed theologian. He wrote: “A Christian is one who recognizes Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, as God manifested in the flesh, loving us and dying for our redemption; and who is so affected by a sense of the love of this incarnate God as to be constrained to make the will of Christ the rule of his obedience, and the glory of Christ the great end for which he lives.” [Charles Hodge, “Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians,” Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdman’s Publ. Co., p.133]

Oh, you need to hear it over and over and over: “Christ died for the ungodly…We are now justified by His blood.” [Romans 5:6,9].

I close this chapter of forgetfulness concerning those who hadn’t as yet discerned Christ but now have, with words Paul spoke in Colossians 3:1-2!! “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things on the earth.”

CHAPTER FIVE

FORGOTTEN? BODY LIFE – BODY MINISTRY?

In Dallas Willard’s “The Great Omission” a statement was made from “World Christian/U” magazine, [January 1989], a magazine printed for university and college students. The statement? [p.172 of Willard’s book], “Frequently in the evangelical church, we’ve been taught that to be a disciple only requires us to read a portion of scripture daily and to pray. But those two activities easily become meaningless.”

And I believe after more than 70 years of church life I’ve witnessed such a vast chasm between New Testament ‘church life’ and what far too many professing Christians settle for – “read the Bible, then pray” – when God’s Word paints a far different picture!

I’ll just go ahead and shock you just a little before we get fully into “Forgotten? Body Life – Body Ministry”! In Titus 2:14 Paul wrote Titus: “[Christ] who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us…and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

I’m not really sure how confident and assured most church folk are when they hear, having been redeemed, having been purified by the shed blood of the Lamb, that now they are “His own special people, zealous for good works.” I wondered if a lot of church folk are layered in a ‘religious familiarity’ rather than birthed into relational faith!

Sometimes I feel like Mary when she came to Jesus’ tomb and He wasn’t there. She said: [John 20:2], “They have taken away the Lord, my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid Him.” Has Jesus been “taken away” and been substituted for everything but what He died for?

In John 12:32 Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” I believe without a doubt Jesus was talking about His crucifixion and that as He was lifted up to die for all, it would draw men to Himself. But often rather than a spiritual magnet drawing men to Himself, the church, rather than exemplifying the crucified and resurrected Christ “forgets” who they are in Him and what they are to be about!

Church life was never to resemble children’s games, but at times you have to wonder: Where is Kingdom of Christ demonstration? Has the church of today, purchased by the Blood of the Lamb, been challenged to take the sentence of death unto itself, been “dispersed” or settled in to a quiet, separated unto itself, comfortable community, without the intent of Christ through them touching our world with grace, mercy, and love? In the early church ‘the Acts of the apostles’ became willing marching orders dispersed into a dying world that so needed the words of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and holy intent to reconcile that dying world into Resurrection Life, Resurrection Hope, and Resurrection Power!

Two verses out of I Peter 2 that I pray will prick your heart and turn you into our Lord’s earthly representative: 1) I Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” 2) I Peter 2:21, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…”

It was Cornelius Platinga Jr. in “Beyond Doubt,” [p.185], who made a very powerful and thought-provoking statement about the modern Church in these ‘last days’: “So often we are nature’s victims and culture’s captives,” when in reality, in Christ, we are new creation victors and Christ’s liberated servants!

In his book “A Godward Life” John Piper has a chapter entitled: “Matthew’s Amazing Warnings Not To Be A False Disciple,” [pps. 255-257]. Piper said, quoting Matthew 5:20, “I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” saying, “The righteousness called for here is not the imputed righteousness of Christ, as utterly crucial as that is at the bottom of the Christian life.” Then, commenting on Matthew 7:21-23, Piper wrote: “Prophesying, casting out demons, and doing mighty works in the name of Jesus do not prove that Jesus has known us. The evidence of being savingly known by Jesus is to be an evildoer no longer, that is, to have righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. Religious zeal and even miracle working do not prove a new heart of love.”

FORGOTTEN? FIRST, LET’S LOOK AT THE FORGETFULNESS OF BODY LIFE. It’s so interesting, so convicting, as you read Jesus’ words and seriously consider them! In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Then in Matthew 10:39 Our Lord and Savior draws the line in the sand. He said: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” I’m not so sure a lot of church folk really know about the Body Life that comes because of ‘self-denial’! In Matthew 16:24 Jesus told His disciples: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and FOLLOW ME.”

In the early days of Peter’s ‘follow-ship’ with Jesus, the Lord had a question, John 13:38, for him: Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.” The last part of Romans 4:17 speaks of “…God, who gives life to the dead (spiritual death) and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” You know that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Apart from our Lord death reigns in us all, sin abounding, but grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is why Paul told the church at Galatia, Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ [not only Paul but every sin-infested human being, past, present, or future!]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; [Why? TO EXTEND HIS LIFE, EXPRESS HIS LOVE, AND TO PROVE HIS POWER!!]; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

And this “Life In Christ” is not simply an earth-experience! In I Corinthians 15:19 Paul wrote: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitied.” Life in Christ? It is eternal life!! Hear me! Far too many ‘church folk’ are centered on their ‘flesh walk’ with no serious consideration of our ‘forever walk’! In Galatians 6:7-8 Paul wrote: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

The beloved John was so passionate about God’s people fully knowing and understanding in and appropriating the very fullness of our life in Christ. In I John 5:11-13 the beloved John shared with us: “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.:

This is why Jude challenges us in Jude 20-21! “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” No doubt, this is why George Herbert wrote: “And here in dust and dirt, O here the lilies of His love appear.” I believe it’s our calling in “Body Life” to truly be a part of spiritual revolution that brings resurrection hope into the very churches of our modern day. I believe this is why H. Richard Niebuhr has written: “The great Christian revolutions come not by the discovery of something that was not known before. They happen when somebody takes radically something that was always there.”

Life in Christ for true disciples is not trying to achieve what always seems so beyond “us” – but acceptance of divine gifts through God’s faithful promises and His amazing grace! In Acts 2:41-47 we see “Body Life”! “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Did you notice “continued steadfastly”? Did you notice “godly, holy fear” that guided their daily life? Did you notice “all who believed were together”? Did you notice they shared what God Himself had blessed them with? Did you notice the “daily walk”? Did you notice they had reason to continually “praise God,” they had “favor with all the people,” and they were daily being blessed with the birth of new disciples?

In “This Little Church Went To Market” by Gary E. Gilley, he has written a powerful convicting word: [pps.38-39], “One would hope that things would be different [today] among evangelical Christians, but such does not seem to be the case. It appears that the church is in lockstep with the world. The problem is this – Christians have been seduced and trained by the same forces that have enticed society as a whole. Too many Christians, just like their unsaved counterparts, are impressed by appearances rather than structure; are seeking thrills and excitement rather than substance; are more apt to respond to emotional manipulation than to rational discourse. How does a church compete in this rather crowded marketplace? If entertainment has become the primary value of the American way of life (as some are suggesting) then how can the church vie unless they become a bastion of entertainment? But if it gives way to this powerful temptation has not the church been transformed into something other than the church? [Quoting Neil Postman, author of “Amusing Ourselves To Death,”] Gilley wrote: Postman, who does not pretend to be a Christian, nevertheless recognizes, ‘Christianity is a demanding and serious religion. When it is delivered as easy and amusing, it is another kind of religion altogether…There is no doubt, in other words, that religion can be made entertaining. The question is, by doing so, do we destroy it?” Gilley then said: This is a question all serious Christians should contemplate. The problem is that the main business of entertainment is to please the crowd, but the main purpose of authentic Christianity is to please the Lord.”

I’m so sorry if “Body Life” is offensive to you and you desire the church to be that entertainment center of your life – but when I read I Corinthians 1:18-23 I see our Lord’s wisdom about “Body Life”, and I know that’s where I want to see churches today centering themselves. What did Paul write? “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness…”

I have a deep, deep thought that our modern religious world, yes, even Christian world, would like to muzzle the very voice of our Lord and Savior and neglect every word He and His Holy Word has to say about “Body Life.” You may have read about Leo Tolstoy who said: “I lived only during those times I believed in God.” Can the church today say, “We live only through the time Christ IS our “LIFE”, and He lives through us”?

If ever there is the death of hope in the church that Jesus alone is our “LIFE”, then we will become those who witness anew spiritual death all around us, leaving a church world in despair and so very empty!

You know what John said, but do you still believe it for the modern-day church? John 1:1-4, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” I pray you let the previous verses and the following verses seal in your minds and hearts the churches’ abundant LIFE IN CHRIST!

John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in [trusts, adheres to, relies upon] Him, should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 5:38-40, “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom God sent, Him you do not believe. You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me [Jesus]. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

John 6:51, 53, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world…Verse 53, Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.”

John 10:10, 27-28, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. Verses 27-28, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

John 11:25-26, Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 17:3, Jesus speaking, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You [God Himself], the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Romans 5:10, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.”

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me…”

Colossians 3:3-4, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

2 Timothy 1:8-12, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus, before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

I John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Revelation 21:27, “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination, or a lie, but only those who are written the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

Do you remember the words Shakespeare wrote in “Macbeth”? “Life…is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” But, a modern-day version? “Church life…is a tale told by the untaught, full of noise and fight, signifying denial of all Jesus offers.”

If “Body Life” is forgotten, you can be sure “Body Ministry” takes a back-seat in church planning! Oh, hear me! I’m not down on all churches, denominations, pastors, or leaders – in my over 50 years of “church life and relationships with pastors” I’ve been blessed to know some of our Lord’s gifted, graced pastors, and been blessed by Spirit-led, Spirit-anointed, Christ-honoring churches that so reflected fruitful ministries.

But, sadly, many churches are ‘vision-less’ as to “Body Ministry”! Dallas Willard, in his book “Renovation of the Heart,” [p.203], made a statement that I would like to change only one word. Willard said, “Where LIFE MEANING is lacking, performance is at a premium.” My sentence? “Where LIFE MINISTRY is lacking, performance is at a premium.”

One thing is sure though – the least gifted Body of Christ is stronger, more significant, and more beneficial than the “best” a fallen society has to offer! In his book, “Body Life: The Church Comes Alive,” [Regal, Glendale, Ca., 1972, p.13], Ray Stedman wrote: “God’s first concern is not what the church does, it is what the church IS. Being must always precede doing, for what we do will be according to what we are. To understand the moral character of God’s people is a primary essential in understanding the nature of the church. As Christians we are to be a moral example to the world, reflecting the character of Jesus Christ.” HOW HUGE IS THAT IN CHURCH MINISTRY! Is there a “Forgetfulness” Of BODY MINISTRY?

FIRST, BODY MINISTRY IS WITNESSING, SHARING, PROCLAIMING, UPHOLDING, DECLARING, AND, YES, PORTRAYING BY ONE’S DAILY WALK CHRIST JESUS, SAVIOR AND LORD!

In Acts 1:8 God’s inspired Word says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” You barely get into Acts 2 before Peter challenged Israel as the church OUGHT to be challenging every community! Those who heard Peter were challenged and convicted! Acts 2:37 says: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter followed Jesus’ ministry by saying, Acts 2:38, Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Look at what happened in Acts 2:41! Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” It doesn’t matter to me what you call it, but when a church loses its evangelistic impact on the world around it, it is signing its own death certificate! I find it so interesting, wondering if a church, because of its witnessing ministry is ready for a jail sentence! It happened in Acts as God’s people were determined to touch its world with grace.

SECOND, BODY MINISTRY IS THE DIVINE WORK OF EQUIPPING THE SAINTS TO DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY. Please come to Ephesians 4:11-16! “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Without hesitation, I am firmly convinced that modern Christianity has totally reversed roles, ministries, and callings, with an attitude, mind-set, delusional thinking: “That’s what we pay a pastor for!!” And many pastors succumb to the role of DOING what they were called to do in equipping the saints to DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY!! As you read these verses in Ephesians 4, did you notice, were you gripped by Ephesians 4:13? “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

Listen, feed on, incorporate what Oswald Chambers said in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.141], “The church ceases to be a spiritual society when it is on the look-out for the development of its own organization. The rehabilitation of the human race on Jesus Christ’s plan means the realization of Jesus Christ in corporate life as well as individual life. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this purpose – that the corporate PERSONALITY might be realized. We are not here to develop a spiritual life on our own, or to enjoy spiritual retirement; we are here so to realize Jesus Christ that the Body of Christ may be built up.”

As a disciple, as a church member, as a follower of Christ, are you sharing in the mission of growing people into the fullness of Christ? Chambers said earlier, “The initiative of the saint is not towards self-realization, but towards knowing Christ Jesus.” In Hebrews 10:24-25 the writer tells us: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Redemptive faith births community ‘followship’ and fellowship. God’s redemption, His redemptive work, is His blessed ministry of making the Body of Christ complete by the inclusion of every ‘body-part’ – nothing is to be missing, ignored, overlooked, denied – but inclusive to the honor of Christ!

Come to I Corinthians 12:11-31!! But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slave or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you;” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” [Then comes chapter 13!!!]

THIRD, BODY MINISTRY IS INVASIVE AT THE POINT OF HUMAN NEED AND INTROSPECTIVE OF ONE’S SELF TO THE HONOR AND GLORY OF CHRIST. Look at James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

I’ve been in Brazil to work for the honor of Christ alone and been shaken to the core to learn of child prostitution. I’ve been in the major cities across India to witness orphans and widows with cardboard over their heads on busy streets for shelter with millions of people passing them by! America is fast becoming ‘horror’ cities where children are abused and widows totally neglected!

True religion! How do YOU define it? How is “true religion” played out through your journey as a church community? Is your ‘church’ breaking out, moving out, planning ‘out’ or outside its four walls to touch its community with grace?

FOURTH, BODY MINISTRY IS THE BIBLICAL PATTERN OF “MAKING DISCIPLES”! I don’t know how churches so easily omit Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:19-20! “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

In my early days of pastoring in the Florida area, I always loved to hear Dr. Jess Moody preach at our pastors’ conferences, evangelism conferences, or local events in the area where I was pastoring. One of the things Dr. Moody always talked about was the problem, omission, failure of “undiscipled disciples”!

In Dallas Willard’s “The Great Omission,” he wrote: [p.9], “Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, nondiscipleship costs you exactly that abundance of life Jesus said He came to bring [John 10:10]. The Cross-shaped yoke of Christ is after all an instrument of liberation and power to those who live in it with Him and learn the meekness and lowliness of heart that brings rest to the soul.”

Do you really have a handle on discipleship? In Acts 10:38 we read what should be true of every equipped, trained church member! It says: “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Paul was so strong, as he should have been, as he addressed the Corinthians, 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

FIFTH, BODY MINISTRY IS ‘KINGDOM OF GOD’ LIVING. Do you remember what John the Baptist said as he began his public ministry? Matthew 3:1-3 tells us: “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight.’”

The young disciples had asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and in Matthew 6:9-10, Jesus said they were to pray in this manner: ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” and the end of verse 13 says, ‘For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Then in Matthew 6:33 Jesus said: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

We’re seeing the kingdom of God on earth that is a kingdom to be entered! But then in Matthew 7:21 Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My father in heaven.’” Willful surrender, willful submission to the will of Father God, willful sub-ordinance [or subject to control], willful sufficiency knowing God’s ample supply to meet any need we might have according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus! In ‘kingdom of God’ living, in 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul wrote: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

And how did the anointed Paul describe kingdom-ministry? Look at Romans 14:17!! “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Jesus Himself made such a profound, eye-opening, sobering, even shocking statement when in John 14:12 He defined kingdom ministry for all, yes, ALL of His disciples. He said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do because I go to My Father.” JESUS ANNOUNCED THAT HIS DISCIPLES, HIS SERVANTS, HIS ‘BODY OF CHRIST’ MINISTRY, would be DOING THE WORKS OF JESUS!

I would dare say that most ‘church disciples’ are shocked when they hear about ‘kingdom ministry’ or ‘doing the works of Jesus.’ Our personal inadequacy should open the door to Holy Spirit anointing and adequacy in every disciple! It was T.Z. Koo who said: “The kingdom of God does not exist because of your effort or mine. It exists because God reigns. Our part is to enter this kingdom and bring our life under His sovereign will.” Since my college days, over 55 years ago, I’ve been a fan of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He said: “If we let passion take the place of judgment, and self-will reign instead of Scriptural authority, we shall fight the Lord’s battles with the devil’s weapons, and if we cut our own fingers we must not be surprised.”

But that’s not our calling as we usher in Kingdom authority through “Body Ministry”! Listen to Peter in 2 Peter 1:3-4! “…as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

And Matthew 16:19 is our rock of assurance and hope in honoring Christ through our church’s “Body Ministry”: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” “Body Ministry” IS “KINGDOM OF GOD ALLEGIANCE” that is seen, interpreted, explained, witnessed, proven, by the ‘Servant’ spirit. Listen to Jesus in Matthew 20:25-28!! But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

“Body Ministry” is “KINGDOM OF GOD ALLEGIANCE” that is seen as the sacrificial spirit of lives, yes, laid down in touching others with His love, grace, and mercy! In Hebrews 13:12-16 we read: “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

You’ll remember Paul saying in Galatians 2:20, “…and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me…,” and that love and giving spirit of Christ should permeate the walk of every true disciple of Christ! In John 7:38 Jesus tells us: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Oswald Chambers put it like this: [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.181], “Our Lord’s teaching is always “anti”– self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a man; His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure.”

I close this chapter with a statement by Dallas Willard in his book, “The Spirit of the Disciplines.” He wrote: “The world can no longer be left to mere diplomats, politicians and business leaders. They have done the best they could, no doubt. But this is an age for spiritual heroes – a time for men and women to be heroic in their faith and in spiritual character and power.” AMEN?

CHAPTER SIX

FORGOTTEN? THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES?

In Psalm 88:12 a highly significant question is asked by the psalmist as he “cries out to God day and night”: “Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?” And it would be no surprise to me if some of us found ourselves at a place in life that we wondered if God had forgotten us, but we know that’s not true – the greater problem is when men forget Him, and especially forget “the Name above all names”!

The prophet Jeremiah heard the broken heart of God. In Jeremiah 2:32 he heard God say: “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.” In Jeremiah 3:21-22a the prophet wrote: “A voice was heard on the desolate heights, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel, for they have perverted their way; THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THE LORD THEIR GOD…’Return, you backsliding children, and I [God] will heal your backslidings.”

Through biblical prophets God will speak to bring warnings of disaster to those who find themselves “falling away” or forgetting the Name above all names. Jeremiah 18:12-18, And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.” Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Ask now among the Gentiles, Who has heard such things? The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing. Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters? Because My people have FORGOTTEN ME, they have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in pathways and not on a highway, to make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and shake his head. I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back and not the face in the day of their calamity.’ Then they said, ‘Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.”

In Deuteronomy 32 we find “The Song of Moses” as he sang out a convicting word about the dilemma of a people “encircled” by the Lord Himself but they found it easy to forsake God! Look at verses 9-12 followed by verses 15-20!! Beginning at verse 9, “For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him, and there was no foreign god with him.” Now verses 15-20!! “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, you are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear. Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten the God who fathered you. And when the Lord saw it, He spurned them, because of the provocation of His sons and His daughters. And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation.”

I know without hesitation that there are times, seasons, even circumstances of the soul when one feels, “Where is my Lord? Has He forsaken me, left me, forgotten all about me?” Have you ever been there? In Isaiah 49:14-16 the prophet Isaiah wrote: But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”

There is a promise God gave us all in Proverbs 3:1-2. It says: “My son, do not forget My law, but let your heart keep My commandments; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.” Then, please look carefully at Proverbs 3:5-6 and let the Holy Spirit guide you into “the way.” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

And that “way”? In John 14:6 Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus is the “way” that leads to Life, the “way” that opens LIFE to the fullness of God Himself, the “way” that leads to the fullness of blessing, the “way” that is the eternal foundation of Holy Living! But then our Lord has a word of warning: Matthew 7:21-23!! “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who DOES the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” “Forgotten? Forgotten the Name above all names? Forgotten the Master, forgotten the Message, forgotten the ministry of His Name, forgotten the might and power of the Name above all names?”

To the church at Philippi Paul wrote a powerful word about Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:9-11! “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” That’s God Almighty’s ministry of exaltation of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! And, thank God, there are those who never forget – Revelation 2:12-13 tells us of that body of believers in Pergamos who held fast to His Name and DID NOT DENY THE FAITH!

Why does Pergamos hold fast to Jesus’ Name but others deny Him? Do you remember the first few verses of Jesus teaching His disciples “The Model Prayer” in Matthew 6:9-10? “In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” “Hallowed be Your name?” Strong’s Concordance says the word ‘Hallowed’ comes from a Greek word HAGIAZO meaning ‘made holy’, ‘sacred’, ‘pure’, ‘blameless’, and I believe that’s holding the name of our Lord in the highest esteem, the holiest elevation, and heart-felt and held elevation above all ‘names’!!

I find it so interesting that John, in Revelation 2:12, saw the Lord Jesus with “the sharp two-edged sword” in His hand! It is serious business to know our Lord as ‘commander-in-chief’ who has been, who is, and forever will be defending Truth. Yes, our Lord judges, our Lord defends, our Lord follows up, sweeps up, and with the sharp sword will cut away what needs to be cut away. He says He sees into every church, every life, every family, with constant oversight, just as He saw Pergamos. Jesus ‘saw’ that they “dwell…where Satan’s throne is,” and Pergamos stood faithfully to honor His Name! But sadly many do not! Why is it that far too many people choose to ignore, deny, forsake, accuse, and abuse the “Name above all names”?

FIRST, I BELIEVE FORGETFULNESS OF THE NAME ABOVE ALL names IS BECAUSE OF OUT-AND-OUT DENIAL OF HIS PRECIOUS NAME. In Matthew 12:30 Jesus said: “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

You’ll remember Moses and Aaron going before Pharoah of Egypt saying to him: [Exodus 5:1-2], “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ And Pharoah said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

What goes on in the hearts and minds of people like Pharoah? If the very knowledge of God and the very awareness of Christ Himself was birthed in them by God Himself, what has gone on in them? In Paul’s letter to the Romans [Romans 1:18-25], the inspired Word reveals the deadly ‘self-introspection’ that crowds out the saving grace of God through the shed blood of the Lamb of God: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

In Matthew 10:38 Jesus clearly said: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” But rather than denial of Jesus as ‘the Name above all names,’ John said in I John 4:15, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” ‘Confesses’ is a present tense, continuous action word! Confesses and keeps on confessing, confesses and keeps on confessing, confesses and keeps on confessing, but God help the man that denies and keeps on denying!

It was Spurgeon who said: “A life in which we have shunned the cross of Christ will lead to a state in which we shall miss the crown of glory.”

SECOND, I BELIEVE FORGETFULNESS OF THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES IS BECAUSE OF ‘PEER PRESSURE’. The man born blind met Jesus and Jesus “anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,” and his eyes were opened! The Jews didn’t believe and they called the parents of the man who had his eyes opened and said to them: [John 9:19], “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” But then look at John 9:20-21! His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” And then verse 22? His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed that He [Jesus] was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

Earlier in John, John 7:10-13, we see that same ‘peer pressure’ that adversely affects redemptive faith! “but when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, ‘Where is He?’ And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, ‘He is good’; others said, ‘No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.’ However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.”

‘Peer pressure’ can be, sadly, parentally impacted; peer pressure can come from religious rulers who will protect their religious agenda void of the redemptive atonement of Christ’s shed blood! In John 12:42-43 we see a heart-breaking story: “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Jesus Himself warned us of the peer pressure that would come from some parents, some faithless religious leaders, even peer pressure from some godless governmental ‘leaders’, peer pressure from close friends, employers, university professors: In John 16:1-4 we read of the warning of our Lord and Savior because He knew as the faithless hated Him, they would also hate His followers or those on the edge ready to make a step toward ‘saving faith’: “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning because I was with you.”

David’s son, Absalom, was not in ‘lock-step’ with his father. In fact the time came when Absalom became treasonist toward his father.” 2 Samuel 15:6 says, “So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” There are also times when ‘peer pressure’ is active even in the area of ‘bribery’! Exodus 23:8 says, “And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.”

THIRD, I BELIEVE FORGETFULNESS OF THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES IS BECAUSE OF THE POISON OF PROCRASTINATION. It’s so amazing to me that the Apostle Paul, arrested for his faith, appeared before Felix and his wife Drusilla ‘concerning the faith in Christ.’ [Acts 24:24]. But then look at Felix’s response to Paul in verse 25! “Now as he [Paul] reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’” But there is no evidence Felix ever found ‘a convenient time’ – he procrastinated.

In Acts 25-26 Paul was brought before King Agrippa. He shared his testimony of conversion after Christ Jesus the Lord had appeared to Paul in that “light from heaven, brighter than the sun.” And Paul told the King he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

In Acts 26: 22-23 Paul challenges Agrippa: “Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing to both small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come – that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Gentiles and to the Jewish people.” Then in verses 27-28 we see the ‘bottom line’ and end result! “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” How many have you known who procrastinated and never yielded to our Lord’s saving grace?

FOURTH, I BELIEVE FORGETFULNESS OF THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES HAPPENS WHEN SOME ARE ‘BRAIN-WASHED’ AND HEART-HARDENED BY FALSE ‘PROPHETS’, FALSE TEACHING, AND A FUTILE, FLESHLY FAITH OF THEIR OWN.

Paul was so clear and convicting when he wrote to the church at Colossae, [Colossians 2:8], “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” You’ve heard from the godless, from the highly educated faithless professors and teachers who’ve decided they are smarter than God Himself, from those who believe ‘if’ there is a God He’s not interested in them, from evil men who wax worse and worse with a futile approach to life without meaning or purpose, from blackened hearts who’ve chosen the way of sin, the way of earthly, fleshly pleasures void of an ‘interfering God’ who doesn’t want them happy as they try to satisfy their depraved natures!

The ‘cheated’ don’t even know, understand, or comprehend the emptiness of deceit that has flooded their minds so fully, that for them, there is no spiritual hope, not knowing God’s faithful Word tells them that God is able to save the UTTERMOST, or the one the furtherest throw away from Him!

2 John 7 says: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh [Emmanuel]. This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ.” Frightening, sad verses come also from John in I John 2:18-19, “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”

What did John say in I John 4:1-3? “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”

In I Timothy 6:20-21 receive the passion of Paul for his spiritual son, Timothy! “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, AVOIDING THE PROFANE AND IDLE BABBLINGS AND CONTRADICTIONS OF WHAT IS FALSELY CALLED KNOWLEDGE – by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.” He told Titus in Titus 1:14, “not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men WHO TURN FROM THE TRUTH.”

If Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Emmanuel – the name God GAVE HIM – if He is Lord and Savior and the True Master of all of life, if Jesus is [and He is!!] the “faithful and true witness,” then how does one turn away, refuse to hear Him, and call Him ‘LIAR’? Please understand – it is an evil act, an evil mind, and evil intent to reject Jesus and live as ‘lord and savior and god’ of your own life! We all are His creation with eternal purpose and eternal designs that were given to honor, bless, exalt, please, magnify, and glorify the Living God who is the resurrected King of kings and Lord of lords but only through the New Birth, Second Birth that is ours because of the gift of redemptive faith through repentance toward God and the finished work of Christ at Calvary!

FIFTH, I BELIEVE FORGETFULNESS OF THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES BECOMES A LIFE CHOICE WHEN THE PLEASURES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS CAPTURE ONE’S HEART, MIND, AND SOUL. You’ll remember the parable of the sower that Jesus told us about in Luke 8:7 where some ‘seed’ fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it, explaining in verse 14: “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are CHOKED WITH CARES, RICHES, AND PLEASURES OF LIFE, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

One who refused that disastrous way of life was Moses. In Hebrews 11:23-26 we see, yes, a young boy who when confronted with the pathway of sin rather than the pathway of holiness chose to please God rather than satisfy his flesh or fallen sin nature! The Word says: “By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

Again, Paul was faithfully instructing his spiritual son, Titus, when in Titus 3:3-7 he wrote: “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

LIFE CHOICES? Heir of Christ or son of Satan? Citizen of Jesus’ Kingdom of Light or slave to Satan’s kingdom of darkness? Pleasing our Lord and Savior or indulging our fallen sin natures? In 2 Timothy 3:4 Paul spoke of those who are “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” And the one thing we all must be confronted with is the reality of only temporary satisfaction in earthly pleasures with eternally bad results!

What are “the wages of sin”? I believe the Holy Word is so very clear: THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH!! In 2 Peter 2:12-17 the Holy Spirit of God anointed Peter to “shock” some into spiritual reality and see birthed repentant hearts!! “But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity; a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”

There was a man who discovered God’s Holy Word, and out of that encounter a prophet was birthed, Jeremiah! In Jeremiah 15:16 he wrote: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” And notice what God Himself revealed to Jeremiah, sending him out to call God’s people to repentance, return, and restoration!!In Jeremiah 16:10-13 we read: “And it shall be, when you show this people all these words, and they say to you, ‘Why has the Lord pronounced all this great disaster against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because your fathers have forsaken Me,’ says the Lord; ‘they have walked after other gods and have served them and worshipped them, and have forsaken Me and not kept My law. And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me. Therefore I will cast you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers; and there you shall serve other gods day and night, WHERE I WILL NOT SHOW YOU FAVOR.”

THAT IS THE FUTURE OF EVERY LIFE THAT WILLFULLY, SINFULLY, REBELS AGAINST GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY!! “NO FAVOR FROM GOD”!!

SIXTH, I BELIEVE FORGETFULNESS OF THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES RESULTS IN A WILLFUL, DELIBERATE DETERMINATION TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT HOLY NAME – THEY WILLINGLY AND GLADLY FORSAKE HIS NAME. In Hebrews 3:8 the author of Hebrews quotes from an Old Testament passage about: “Do not harden your hearts AS IN THE REBELLION, in the day of trial in the wilderness.” Then in verses 9-10 the Holy Spirit spoke: “Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I [God] was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.”

Because they have not known God’s ways, they are blinded and even ignorant of the end result of a Christ-less life! Just listen to James 5:19-20 where the brother of Jesus is urging true believers to turn back the spiritually blinded, the wanderers, the faithless, who do not know or understand the end result of denial of the Name above all names. James wrote: “Brethren [of the true, saving faith], if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way WILL SAVE A SOUL FROM DEATH AND COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS.”

The danger in willingly and gladly forsaking the Name above all names? Once again Paul wrote the Romans, [Romans 1:21-25], “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God FOR THE LIE [“You can sin and not die!”], and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

In Romans 1:24, 26, 28, three times the inspired Word of God says, “God also gave them up,” “God gave them up,” “God gave them over.” Do you, do those you encounter, do those near you who deny our Lord’s saving grace, really know “the righteous judgment of God”?

Unbelief is sin! Faithlessness is sin! Denial of faith is sin! Willful rejection of Jesus is sin! In Romans 6:16 God’s Word says: “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness.” WHAT HAVE YOU CHOSEN?

As Paul told the Galatians, [Galatians 1:6-7], “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert [distort] the gospel of Christ.” Would it surprise you that even some of the early followers of Christ Jesus walked away from Him? John 6:66 says: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

This is why in Luke 9:62 Jesus said: “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom.” You’ve heard it: “No Jesus for me,” “No ‘churchianity’ for me,” “No spiritual tiddelly-winks for me,” “no ‘religious, holy-roller ‘ life for me,” “No relationship for me with all those church hypocrites,” “No cross, no washing feet for me, no servant activity for me,” and on-and-on and-on it goes with rebellious determination: “No faith-walk for me”! And they deny our Lord and Savior! “Blot His name from my memory!”

I can only pray that as you read this book YOU are convicted, convinced, and cemented as one with Christ willingly and gladly!! Oh, but, praise God, there ARE THOSE like Pergamos in Revelation 2:13, “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you HOLD FAST TO MY NAME, and did not deny My faith…”

Acts 3 is such a powerful passage, and certainly the preaching by Peter! The lame man had been healed, the people were leaping and praising God, and the men of Israel who put Christ on the Cross were not happy at all! Follow these verses, Acts 3:11-21!! Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of Life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

Not all deny, disbelieve, denounce the Name above all names! In John 1:11-12 we read: “He came to His own [domain], and His own [people] did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe [trust, adhere to, rely upon] in His name.”

Peter and John had been arrested and appeared before the Sanhedrin – [Acts 4:5-12]. In verse 7 they asked of these disciples: “By what power or by WHAT NAME have you done this?” Peter didn’t hesitate, wasn’t afraid, and had no doubts! In verses 10-12 we read, “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole. ‘This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

This is why Paul encouraged the church at Colossae, and us: [Colossians 3:17], “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all IN THE NAME of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” We’ve seen earlier in this book that His name is Immanuel or Emmanuel, or “God With Us”!! [Isaiah 7:14]. And Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

In Isaiah 12:4, because of the redemptive power of His Wonderful Name, a hymn of praise is birthed in Isaiah’s heart. Verse 4 says, And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is EXALTED.” What is your ‘desire’? In Isaiah 26:8 the prophet said: “Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You; THE DESIRE OF OUR SOUL IS FOR YOUR NAME and FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF YOU.” Let us who’ve not denied the faith intercede for those around us who need Jesus to be “the desire of our soul” and remember Him, not falling into fatal forgetfulness!

You’ll remember Holy God leading Moses and Israel “with His glorious arm, dividing the water before them to make for Himself an everlasting name.” Though you may fall into forgetfulness, in your eternal separation from the Name above all names, I believe you’ll witness a ‘flash-back’ to Almighty God dividing the waters! This is why Jeremiah said, in Jeremiah 3:17, “At that time Jerusalem shall be The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts.”

God’s true people “glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord.” Why is that? Because His Name is the Name of God Almighty; His Name is Jealous; in Jeremiah 10:6 the prophet said: “Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord [You are great, and Your name is great in might”]; His Name is MESSIAH! [Look at John 4:25-26!], The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” [who is called Christ]. When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” JESUS IS “SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!!” Do you really know about His Name?

JESUS IS: Our Atoning Savior, Our Advocate before the judicial bar of heaven, Our Abundant provider, Our Access to Father God, Our All in All, Our “I AM THAT I AM,” Our Apostle and High Priest, Our Author of Eternal Salvation, Our Author and Finisher of our Faith,”

JESUS IS: Our Balm of Gilead, Our Beautiful Savior, Joy of the Whole Earth, Our Begotten Son of God, Our Bishop of our Souls, Our Blesser, Our Bondage-Breaker, Our Bread of Life, Our Breadth and Length of God’s Love, Our Breaker of the Bands that Bound Us, Our Breastplate of Righteousness, Our Bridegroom, Our Brightness of God’s Glory, Our Substitutionary Broken Body and Shed Blood, Our Builder, Our Buried Yet Resurrected Lord and Savior, Our Buyer Who Bought Us Off the Auction Block of Sin and Death and Separation from God.”

JESUS IS: Our Calling Into One Hope, Our Cloud of Heavenly Glory That Rests In Us, Upon Us, and Around Us, Our Comfort for Troubled Hearts, Our Coming King of kings, Our Commander-in-Chief, Our Confidence Toward and In Our Lord Himself, Our Everlasting Consolation, Our Covenant Sacrifice and Provider, Our Creator and Co-Author of Our Salvation, Our Cross and Crown Victorious Warrior.

JESUS IS: Our Daystar, Our Defender, Our Delight, Our Deliverer, Our Departed But Soon Coming Lord and Savior, Our Desire In The Flooded Heart of Holy Presence, Our Declaration of a Ready Mind, Our Royal Diadem in the Oneness of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Our Director of Every Step, Our Discoverer of Deep things even in Darkness, Our Doer of the Will of God, Yes, Even the Cross, Our Door Into Holy Presence, Our Dove of Peace Constantly Present, Our Dresser of the Vineyard of Our Lives, Our Dwelling Place in All Generations.

JESUS IS: Our Eagle’s Eye of Holy Watch-care, Our Earnest Expectation and Hope, Our Everlasting Gospel To Preach, Our Escape From Earthly Meaninglessness And Our Entrance Into Eternal Joy.

JESUS IS: Our Favor Before God, Our Fellowship and Follow-ship of Holy Presence, Our Forgiveness of Sin Through His Shed Blood, Our Protective Fortress, Defender, and Deliverer, Our Foundation That Stands Sure, Our Fountain of Living Water.

JESUS IS: Our Gentleness and Goodness In The Very Fruit Of The Spirit, Our Girder With Enduring Strength, Our Oil of Gladness, Our Giver of Power and Great Glory, Our Guardian of Life and Faith, Our Guide on the Highway of Holiness.

JESUS IS: Our Habitation of God in the Spirit, Our Haven of Rest, Our Head of the Church, Our Healer and Helper, Our Hearkener, Our Heart, Our Heaven on Earth, Our Heritage To Be Honored, Our Hope of Glory, Our Hope That Doesn’t Fade Away, Our Hope That Is Living Hope, Our Husbandman Who Waits For Precious Fruit, Our Hyssop That Purges.

JESUS IS: Our Image of the Invisible God, Our Immortality Brought to Light Through the Gospel, Our Imputer of Righteousness Apart From Works, Our Increaser of Godly Likeness, Our Inheritance Incorruptible and Undefiled And That Does Not Fade Away, Reserved In Heaven For You.

JESUS IS: Our Jealous God, Our Joint-Heir, Our Joyous Journey of Faith, Our Judge of All, Our Justification.

JESUS IS: Our Keeper, Our Keeper of the Keys To The Kingdom of Heaven, Our Kindler of Heaven’s Earthly Spiritual Fires, Our King of kings, Our Kinsman-Redeemer.

JESUS IS: Our Lamb of God, Our Lord of lords, Our Lamp of God, Our Ancient Landmark of Heaven’s Boundary, Our Language of Godly Love, Our Leader To Eternal Liberty, Our Lifter of Our Heads, Our Light In The Darkest of Nights, Our Limitless Provider, Our Longsuffering Savior and Lord, Our True Lover of Our Souls.

JESUS IS: Our Majesty Enthroned in Heaven, Our Man among men, Our Manifested Name among Men, Our Marked and Bruised.

JESUS IS: Our Nail-Scarred Hands of Suffering Sacrifice, Our Name Above All Names, Our Narrow Way, Our Nazarene, Our Necessary Atoner, Our ‘Nevertheless’ of Life In Christ, Our Now and Always Present Lord.

JESUS IS: Our Obedient Son of God Even Unto Death, Our Obtainer of Our Eternal Inheritance, Our Offering of Himself For Us, Our Oil of Gladness, Our Omnipotent Lord Who Reigns.

JESUS IS: Our Passover, Our Prince of Peace, Our Peace-Maker, Our Perfect Love, Our Pillar of Strength and Stability, Our Plentiful Provider of Every Need, Our Possessor of Heaven and Earth, Our Poured-Out Drink Offering, Our Present Power of God, Our Praying Savior and Lord, Our Preacher of Repentance, Our Powerful Presence Presiding Over Life In Him, Our Preserver of All Things Eternal, Our Prophet, Priest, and King, Our Proclaimer of Liberty and Freedom, Our Promise-Keeper.

JESUS IS: OUR QUICKENER FROM SPIRITUAL DEATH TO SPIRITUAL LIFE.

JESUS IS: Our Ransom For All, Our Reconciler, Our Redeemer, Our Refresher, Our Reigning King of kings and Lord of lords, Our Reason of Rejoicing and Celebration, Our Crown of Rejoicing, Our Repairer of Breaches, Our Rest, Our Restorer of Life and Brokenness, Our Resurrection, Our Rewarder and Reward, Our Riches in Glory, Our Righteousness.

JESUS IS: Our Sabbath of Rest, Our Sacrifice of Praise to God, Our Safety and Peace, Our Salvation, Our Security, Our Sovereign Ruler and Helpmate, Our Same Savior – Yesterday, Today, and Forever, Our Sanctification, Our Satisfier, Our Sword of the Lord Defending the Faithful, Our Faithful and Humble Servant, Our Shepherd, Chief Shepherd of His Sheep, Our Sign and Wonder of Eternal Grace, Mercy, and Love, Our Solid Rock and Sure Foundation, Our Son of God, Our Souls’ Safeness and Soundness, Our Spoiler of Principalities and Powers, Our Storm-Stopper, Our Stream of Living Water, Our Strengthener and Our Song, Our Strong Defender, Our Surety of a Better Covenant.

JESUS IS: Our True Tabernacle, Our Teacher, Our Tender Mercy, Our Therefore, Wherefore, Here-For, Our Tidings of Great Joy, Our Tiller of Our Hearts, Our Touch of Healing Grace, Our Towel-Bearer Who Humbly Washes Our Feet, Our Transformer, Our Eternal Truth, Our Eternal Treasure, Our Tree of Life, Our Triumphant Hymn of Praise.

JESUS IS: Our Able-Savior To The Uttermost.

JESUS IS: Our Verily, Verily Teacher, Our Vine of Truth, Life, and Fruit, Our Vision of the Heavenly.

JESUS IS: Our Warrior For Truth and Faith, Our Watchman On The Wall of Our Hearts and Homes, Our Water-Well Springing up in Life, Our Way, Our Whenever, Wherever, Whatever, Whoever, Our True Wine, Eternal Wisdom, and Faithful Witness, Our Wonder of Wonders, Our Wonderful Work of God, Our Word of Eternal Life.

JESUS IS: Our Yoke of Yieldedness to the Father’s Will.

JESUS IS: Our Zealous Lord Intent on Fulfilling God’s Purpose.

YES!!?? Jesus’ Name IS the Name above every name! “Hallowed be Your Name!” We’ll hold it fast by the renewing of our minds. We’ll adhere to His Name and let unbelievers be the liars. We’ll proclaim His Name until the day we die. We’ll be “fools for Christ’s sake.” We’ll defend the priceless preciousness of His Name. We’ll faithfully bow before His throne. We’ll sing of the preeminence of His Name. We’ll orchestrate the masses to continually surrender to Alpha and Omega. We’ll uplift the unchanging Truth: JESUS, “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” We’ll let our world know that “there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

The old hymn says it strongly: “Jesus, the name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease; It’s music in the sinner’s ears, It’s life, and health, and peace.” AMEN?

CHAPTER SEVEN

FORGOTTEN?

A PASTOR’S PRIZE AND PRIVILEGE OF PREACHING?

I know the context of Isaiah 17 and “The burden against Damascus,” but as I read verse 10-11, I could not help but ask, “Lord, is this a prophetic word for pastors and preachers who’ve slid into negligence concerning their preaching ministries?” Isaiah 17:10-11 says: “Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold [or refuge], therefore you will plant pleasant plants and set out foreign seedlings; In the day you will make your plant to grow, and in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; but the harvest will be a heap of ruins in the day of grief and desperate sorrow.”

If you continue on in Isaiah, there is a word in Isaiah 46:2 that describes a lot of modern-day preachers: “They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but have themselves gone into captivity.” I believe that to be one of the saddest verses I’ve read of late! And our modern-day preaching problem? It’s, rather than remembering the high calling and ultimate privilege of preaching, some really do forget while others have no history of faithfulness in preaching! And it’s for sure, if a preacher has no history of biblical preaching, he has no meaning to his role as pastor-preacher!

Deuteronomy 8:10-20 needs to be read as if these verses were written to negligent pastors who’ve forgotten the weighty responsibility of ministering to their people faithfully in the Word of God: “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest – when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses [church buildings] and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks [church membership] multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied [tithes and offerings], and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions [demons?] and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end- Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ [I, I, I, Me, Me, Me]. And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth [ to prosper in preaching for His glory alone!!], that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you [preacher] by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, [other gods? Preachers preaching a false gospel and a false word?], I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.”

God never gives up on preachers standing behind the sacred desk! Through Jeremiah 3:15 God gave His people a promise: “And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” But then in Jeremiah 5:1-2 the prophet heard a word from God: “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem [Mumbai, Chennai]; see now and know; and seek in open places IF YOU CAN FIND A MAN, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth to preach God’s truth!], and I will pardon her. Though they say, As the Lord lives,’ surely they swear falsely.” And Jeremiah responded in verse 3: “O Lord, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return.”

I sincerely am afraid that Jeremiah, Old Testament prophet, is spurned and scorned by many preachers today who have forgotten “the prize and privilege of preaching.” I believe Jeremiah wetted the pages of his scroll as he wrote Jeremiah 6:10! “To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it.” Jeremiah 9 the prophet said, verse 3, “…[There are those who] are not valiant for the truth on the earth…”

Does God indict preachers in modern days who are not valiant for the truth? If ALL SCRIPTURE is God-breathed, including the book of Jeremiah, read carefully Jeremiah 18:11-12, God spoke: “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah [leaders, teachers, preachers!!] and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem [the holy city, the gathered assembly], saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one [of you straying preachers!] from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.’ And they said, ‘That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates [stubbornness, imagination] of his evil heart.’”

But in the midst of this modern-day madness among many ‘messengers’, there is a word of hope, of grace, and of a blessed future! Jeremiah 20:9 says: Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name,” but His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.”

Sadly, there are many commissioned by God to preach His Word who do not believe that He is interested in guiding, governing, and giving Holy Spirit anointing and leadership in how that pastor is to “feed” His people and faithfully proclaim that Word to the “lost”! The truth is there are those who’ve turned deaf ears toward what God wants to say through them in His Word! It’s also true that many are simply indifferent to the preaching of God’s Word and they paraphrase their preacher-friend’s insights but it’s not that birthed in them by God Himself!

I really want you to approach this chapter with Spirit-dependency, Word consciousness, and a love for preaching and preachers! How is a preacher’s prize and privilege of preaching lost over time and the freshness and faithfulness in preaching forgotten and set aside?

FIRST, FORGETFULNESS IS A CRIPPLING SPIRITUAL DISEASE CAUSED BY A LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE. And for the preacher-pastor this is deadly! Listen to what Paul wrote in I Corinthians 9:27! “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Do you believe the ‘castaway’ spirit produces passionate, Spirit-anointed, life-changing preaching? I don’t think so!

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5, talked about “this treasure” of Truth and truth that we possess in ‘earthen vessels’, and if our lives are going to be fulfilling rather than forgetful ministries in preaching, then, we need to understand [Verse 10] “always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body,” Yes, as we share the Word with those our Lord has put in our trust!

If spiritual discipline daily is not a part of a preacher’s walk, then be assured ‘forgetfulness’ of the prize and privilege flies out of the window of his mind and heart! Well, then, some might ask: “As Paul said, ‘I keep under my body,’ practically, what does that mean?” Again, in 2 Corinthians 5:11 Paul said, “For we who live [we who preach] are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” Yes, preachers are, or should be, daily delivered to death for Jesus’ sake that in their preaching His Voice is heard, His Word is declared, and His conviction finds a fertile heart!

It will never be His Word through us until it’s His Word in us! Preachers prepared to preach His Word faithfully and with fire? Andrew Murray, in “The Believer’s Absolute Surrender,” [Dare I say “The Preacher’s Absolute Surrender”?] [Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, Minn.: 1985, p.45]. “Please note that this is what man [preacher] was created for – to be a vessel into which God could pour His wisdom, goodness, beauty, and power. That is the heritage of the believer [the preacher]. It is God that makes the seraphim and cherubim flames of fire. The unrestricted glory of God passes through them. They are vessels prepared by God, come from God, that they might let God’s glory shine through them.”

SECOND, FORGETFULNESS OF THE PRIZE AND PRIVILEGE OF PREACHING OCCURS WHEN THE PREACHER IS NOT SPIRIT-FED AND SPIRIT-LED. In I Corinthians 2:3-5 Paul said: “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

See if your pulpit preacher can be recognizable in the Spirit-realm of Revelation 4:5 “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

The prophet Isaiah really had a word so vital for every preacher to hear: Isaiah 32:13-15 says, “On the land of My people will come up thorns and briers, Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city; Because the palaces will be forsaken, the bustling city will be deserted. The forts and towers will become lairs forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks – UNTIL THE SPIRIT IS POURED UPON US FROM ON HIGH, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.”

Here’s how Oswald Chambers put it in his book “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.251-252], “Never rely on the clearness of your exposition, but as you give your exposition see that YOU are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God’s redemptive power, and He will create His own life in souls.”

Preacher, preachers, you must be so aware that you are the vessel – Jesus and the Holy Spirit are to be the content and overflow of your life, your sermon preparation, and your preaching, always expecting heavenly results! Didn’t Paul say elsewhere, “as though God did beseech you by us?” [2 Corinthians 5:20]. What did Jesus say in John 12:32? “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

As Paul continued training and equipping the church in I Corinthians 2, you must not overlook I Corinthians 2:9-13! But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has REVEALED THEM TO US THROUGH HIS SPIRIT [HIS HOLY SPIRIT!] For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Do you not understand that a twelve year old boy, anointed, in-filled with the Holy Spirit, can speak more redemptive wisdom than the preacher with his PhD and no Holy Spirit? ‘Wise’ words apart from the Holy Spirit are just like the spring water you may physically drink, but in those waters there is no existence or experience of “the rivers of living water!!” Didn’t David say in Psalm 87:7, “All my fresh springs are in You”?

THIRD, FORGETFULNESS OF THE PRIZE AND PRIVILEGE IN PREACHING ERUPTS STEADILY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF OUR BATTLE FRONTS. In Isaiah 61:1-3 the prophet received from the Holy Spirit our preaching ministry agenda! “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified.”

Oh, contemplate the heart of God, the mission of God, the intent of God through the coming, the ministry, the death of the world’s only Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ of Nazareth! And consider also that to give allegiance and devotion to Christ Jesus as a preacher is to invite the opposition of Satan himself to come against you full-bore!! It was A.W. Tozer who said: “So, it becomes the devil’s business to keep the Christian’s [the pastors’] spirit imprisoned. He knows that the believing and justified Christian has been raised up out of the grave of his sins and trespasses. From that point on, Satan works [aggressively] that much harder to keep us bound and gagged, actually imprisoned in our own grave clothes. He knows that if we continue in this kind of bondage we are not much better off than when we were spiritually dead.” How frightening is that? It ought to scare the living hell away from you and from your intent to preach anointed in the Spirit the unsearchable riches of Christ!

Decide right now! NO TOE-HOLD BY SATAN! Decide right now! NO DAY IN WHICH I HAVE LEFT UNDONE DEATH TO SELF THAT THE SPIRIT MIGHT REIGN THROUGH ME IN MY CALLING TO PREACH! I will fulfill the ministry of the anointed Word in Isaiah 61!!

But if I or you or some preacher you know exhibits characteristics, signs, markings, trends, that are opposite Isaiah 61, what do you conclude? John Eldredge in his book “Waking The Dead” wrote: [p.161], “Religion and its defenders have always been the most insidious enemy of the true faith because they are not glaring opponents; they are IMPOSTERS.” You are aware that there are those ‘messengers’ with no redemptive ministry who are nothing more than puppets of the powers of darkness!

Preacher, are you truly converted [born again, born the second time?], have you truly been cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb body, soul, and spirit? Have you consecrated your preaching ministry on His altar of sacrifice? Have you chosen come hell or high waters to preach His Word passionately? Have you yielded to His constant cleansing as needed by His Blood? Do you live in a state of confession of all He is and desires to be through you?

FOURTH, FORGETFULNESS OF THE PRIZE AND PRIVILEGE OF PREACHING OFTEN COMES ABOUT BY A SPIRIT OF ARROGANCE AND CONDEMNATION THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. Job’s friends surely felt they were ‘superior’ in knowledge and understanding, and so, they came against Job unmercifully!

Read carefully Job 6:24-30. “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; cause me to understand wherein I have erred. How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove? Do you intend to rebuke my words, and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind? Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you undermine your friend. Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; for I would never lie to your face. Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands! Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?”

Have you ever been in on a preacher with ‘windy words’ foreign to the fruit of the Spirit? Have you ever been around that one so in love with himself, so proud of his manhood, so into himself he had no words of comfort for the troubled, so into himself no passion for the lost, so into himself no comprehension of ‘fleshly failures,’ horrible mistakes, ‘yes’, even some bordering on superstitions with no grace, mercy, or love! Sadly, for some preachers there is no fruit of the Spirit and, therefore, no love for the sinners as they are.

Far too many preachers are ‘self-confident’ rather than Holy Spirit dependent! Listen to Spurgeon, [Memorial Library, Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol. 19, pps. 215-216], “Certain persons are very proud because they are self-made men. I will do them credit to admit that they heartily worship their maker. Self made them, and they worship self. We have among us individuals who are self-sufficient, and almost all-sufficient; they sneer at those who do not succeed, for “they” can succeed anywhere at anything. The world to them is a football which they can kick where they like. If they do not rise to the very highest eminence it is simply out of pity to the rest of us, who ought to have a chance. A vat of sufficiency ferments within their ribs!…Self-confidence is the death of confidence in God; reliance upon talent, tact, experience, and things of that kind, kills faith. Oh that we may know what faith means, and so look out of ourselves and quit the evil confidence which looks within!”

You’ll remember Acts 5:19-20! “The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, ‘Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” Question! “Led by the fruit of the Spirit, do you stand strong and speak to the people all the words of this life?

FIFTH, FORGETFULNESS OF THE PRIZE AND PRIVILEGE OF PREACHING IS OFTEN HINDERED BECAUSE OF ZEALOUSNESS FOR EVERYTHING BUT PREACHING. In the Book of I Corinthians, chapter 14, verse 12, Paul wrote: “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.”

Preachers, what are you zealous for concerning your oversight of your churches? In Titus 2:14 Paul encouraged Titus and us, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Truly, how is your development of New Testament disciples? Think about your ‘equipping ministry’ of the people under your trust and watch-care. In your preaching ministry to the church, what about your zealousness, not your sluggishness, but a true imitation and reproduction, and building up of men, women, boys, and girls, who “through faith and patience, [learn] to inherit the promises?”

Beauchene said it: “You are never a great man when you have more mind than heart.” It could be said: “You are never a great preacher when you mentally approach your people but void of Calvary love!!” Does the Word explain that attitude or approach? Jeremiah 6:14 says: “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying “Peace, peace!” when there is no peace.” Another translation says: “They dress the wounds of My people as though it were not serious.”Zealousness! Fervency!

To the church at Galatia, Paul put it like this: Galatians 5:24, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Is that your spiritual frame of reference as a preacher? Oswald Chambers, in “My Utmost For His Highest” [p.256], spoke about this verse: “Very few of us debate with the sordid and evil and wrong, but we do debate with the good. It is the good that hates the best, and the higher up you get in the scale of the natural virtues, the more intense is the opposition to Jesus Christ. “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh” – it is going to cost the natural in you everything, not something. Jesus said, “If any man will be My disciple, let him deny HIMSELF,” i.e., his right to himself, and a man has to realize WHO JESUS CHRIST IS before he will do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.” Does that fit you, Preacher, in your pulpit ministry?

SIXTH, FORGETFULNESS OF THE PRIZE AND PRIVILEGE OF PREACHING IS OFTEN HAMPERED BY THE LOSS OF A TRAVAILING SPIRIT. I’m sure you know the verse in Isaiah 66:8! “For as soon as Zion was in labor, travailing, she gave birth to her children.”

I cannot help but wonder if this is not the problem of most all the preachers of faith wherever they preach in whatever nation they preach! Is there such a characteristic of ‘agony of spirit’ about the Word God that would have you preach out of concern for your hearers? Eruptions of revival fires? Not apart from the labor and travailing spirit of God’s intercessors! Major waves of spiritual growth in your people, Preacher? Not apart from the travailing spirit! Giant spiritual quakes tearing down strongholds in the lives of those around you, Preacher? Not apart from the agony of spirit!

Agony of spirit? Travailing in spirit? Brokenness over the future of those without Christ? Sorrow that pervades your every wakened moment because of the spiritual lost-ness of your citizenry? A weighted mind and heart because of Satan’s delusions capturing family, friends, and foes?

Inactivity in touching our world with grace, indifference to our world’s ultimate destiny apart from Christ, insensitivity to even the spiritual dilemma of our own children and grandchildren and their friends and classmates, blindness and deafness to their separation from God, cold heartedness to the condition and future of Men without Christ? Where have we come to as preachers, churches, or disciples of Christ? Oh, we’re good at the band-aid approach when what is needed are heart transplants!!

What did God say through Jeremiah concerning, yes, His preachers of Today? Jeremiah 2:12-13!! “Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the Lord. “For My people [preachers] have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns – broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

If God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” what are preachers doing today with their travailing spirits or lack of them? Do you even know, comprehend, understand the weight of pain God Himself has carried concerning the lostness of fallen humanity, the pain He has had to carry concerning those who are separated from Him, and what did God do? His Son, our Savior, came and willingly travailed and suffered AT THE CROSS for their salvation! Jesus came and “gave His life [on the Cross] as a ransom for many.” [Matthew 20:28].

I pray that you as a preacher of the Gospel are not captured by a ‘care-less’ attitude in your preaching ministry! I pray that you as a preacher of the Gospel are one who has laid down your life as Jesus did His! I pray that you, if you have to stand alone, WILL stand alone, preach His Word passionately and lay your life down for the salvation of your people! I pray, with Paul, “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” [Ephesians 1:18].

CHAPTER EIGHT

FORGOTTEN? FIG-LEAF RELIGION IS NOT A FAITH RELATIONSHIP?

Deceivableness is a major outbreak of spiritual sickness, blindness, unrighteousness, releasing all manners of man-made religious activity that carries men and women further away from God and they don’t even know they are hiding from true redemption. When you think about deception and its origin among men, only one look is explainable, and that is at the source of deception which is the devil himself!

How easy to lose track of the road of redemption, reconciliation, regeneration, or re-birth! And, of course, because our enemy is a step ahead plotting our demise concerning true redemption! I know that you haven’t forgotten what Jesus said in John 10:10! “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, and have it to the full.” Satan isn’t interested in your blessing – he wants you captured in your ‘curse’!

Our Lord and Savior faced the onslaught of Satanic opposition just as we all do. There even came a time when Satan backed away from our Lord for a more opportune time. He left Jesus “for a season.” Satan’s one desire is to frustrate, deny, cover over both Christ’s and your divine purpose, intention, and holy will. Yes, even substitutions of the real truth will do for your sinister opponent!

Can you translate Adam and Eve out of the garden and put yourself there for a moment? They were God’s creation! They WERE man and wife! They were both naked there, and not ashamed! In Genesis 3 the serpent who is Satan came to Eve first to say, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” Eve responded that what the serpent said contradicted what God told them, but his intent is to cast doubt in all our lives concerning the TRUTH of the Word of God!

Eve said, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of THE TREE which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.” And the devil’s response? “You surely shall not die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When Eve saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of that fruit and ate. She then gave some to her husband and he ate. Then what happened?

Please examine carefully Genesis 3:7-9! Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed FIG LEAVES together and MADE THEMSELVES COVERINGS. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

Think about what God just said to Adam! Do you really believe God didn’t know where Adam was or was God probing Adam to alert himself concerning his present spiritual condition? Was God’s question drawing two pictures?: 1) Genesis 2:25, “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” 2) Then, hiding from God’s presence, because now they were ashamed!! Satan, sin, sad choices left them in a spiritual dilemma, and they determined they had to take matters into their own hands!

You do realize that this picture drawn by Adam and Eve in the earliest days of their “Fall” away from God is given by the grace of God to alert us all about the danger of believing our “fig-leaves” are a true faith relationship! “Fig-Leaf Religions” are men’s inventions to take redemption into their own hands, their own way, determining for themselves how to be acceptable before Holy God! I’m sorry if it irritates you, but, Christianity, biblical Christianity, is not a ‘religion’ but a relationship! I look at Romans 5:8 and wonder, how deceived were Adam and Eve and the founders of world religions when the heart of God has always been out for a relationship – not religions founded by men? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

And then in Romans 5:9-11 we see ‘Relationship’ because of reconciliation! “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have NOW received the reconciliation.” Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, who has torn away our “fig leaves” and given us, by His grace, mercy, and love, a Living, Breathing Relationship!

Do you remember Jesus weeping over Jerusalem? Luke 19:41-44 tells us about this “religious city”! Now as He [Jesus] drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT KNOW THE TIME OF YOUR VISITATION.”

‘Hidden from your eyes?’ Has ‘Fig-Leaf Religion’ or religions, become the stumbling block to true redemptive faith? For the Jewish city of Jerusalem it was “the pride of Pharisaism” that shut the door to many hearts concerning saving faith – and that spirit still exists all over the world! Millions flock to their “religious cities”, holy places, sacred sights – and go away from, not toward, Holy God!

In reading Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost..”, I came across words of a verse of a hymn: “Since my eyes have looked on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit’s vision, Gazing on the Crucified.” I might ask: “How are you dressed? Fig-Leaves or Redemptive Faith?

Later, Chambers wrote: [p.69], “We can never fathom the agony in Gethsemane, but at least we need not misunderstand it. It is the agony of God and Man in one, face to face with sin. We know nothing about Gethsemane in personal experience. Gethsemane and Calvary stand for something unique [I could say, eternal!]; they are the gateway into Life for us.” Understand? Fig-leaves are statements about spiritual death, false religions, empty results – redemptive Faith is the shed blood of Christ Jesus on the Cross in our stead birthing Life, Faith, Hope, Relationship, Fulfillment – not emptiness and self-awareness of: “I’m empty, lost, separated from God; I better do something about my spiritual condition!”

“Fig-Leaf Religion” is the scheme of self-help, self-importance, self-abilities, self-enhancement, totally ignoring “saving grace”! It was Daniel Yankelovich, in his book, “New Rules: Searching for Self-fulfillment in a World Turned Upside Down,” [New York: Random House, 1981, p.237], who wrote: “the human self can be wholly autonomous, solitary, contained and ‘self-created.” Let me paraphrase it: “the religious self can be wholly autonomous [and is!], solitary [separated from God], contained [selfishly harbored and protected for what I believe to be religious faith], and ‘self-created’, [a religious work of art by my own hand!]”

“Fig-Leaf Religion” is the absence of God from spiritual life and the insertion of man’s own abilities to correct, enhance, and shine out his amazing spiritual skills to recover on his own!

“Fig-Leaf Religion” is man-centered – not God-centered, believing man is able, on his own, to do exceedingly abundantly above all he sets his mind to!

“Fig-Leaf Religion” is man loving himself so much that he doesn’t have to look beyond his own nose to help himself – he’s a true ‘self-lover’ so opposite of what Jesus said in John 12:25! “He who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.”

“Fig-Leaf Religion” is man serving himself with himself only in view, but Jesus Himself said in John 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me,” when self-serving religion is devotion to one’s self, not devotion to the claims of Christ!

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? That’s all-out total absorption in one’s self-awareness, fleshly abilities, yes, even worth and value wrapped up in the cheap tissues of religious activities when Jesus says to us through what Paul learned: Philippians 3:7-8, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? Haven’t you heard it? “If Christ died for the ungodly, then what relevance is that to me? I’m Okay, you’re okay, we’re all okay!” Across our modern world how rampant do you believe ‘self-importance’ has become, even to the point of ignoring God Himself to establish one’s own ‘religious identity’ apart from repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ?

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? Rules, regulations, rituals, reaching for What Cannot Be Obtained, opposite of ‘rest,’ ‘rejuvenation,’ regeneration, restoration of God’s eternal intent, standing on the record of our Lord’s ‘finished work,’ not our best efforts!

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? Bondage to the devil and the powers of darkness! Satan loves ‘religious’ people because he knows they are in his camp whether they know it or not! But true faith, true relationship with Holy God? Hebrews 2:14-15 says: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself [Jesus] likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Are you aware that ‘religious’ activity equals bondage and no freedom?

“Fig-Leaf Religion?” An earthly, fleshly, selfish attempt to ‘save’ one’s self by ‘doing better’ but never coming to the end of one’s self in the crucifixion with Christ at the Cross! “Crucified with Christ? That doesn’t compute with me! I can take care of myself – I’m a religious person!” Oh, really? It was Abraham Kuyper who once said: “There is not an inch of any sphere of life over which Jesus Christ does not say, ‘Mine.’” Are you His or are you ‘yours’?

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? “Slaves of sin, chained to slave masters, convinced ‘I am what I am, I am where I am, I do what I do’, because this appears to be a normal way of life for most folks,” when in reality Jesus came to totally set us free, then gladly and willingly chained to Christ, I “serve” out of a new heart of joy and gladness and divine fulfillment that honors my Lord and Savior!

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? “Earning! That’s what religious activity is all about! Self-discernment about what is right and good! That’s what a religious person is up to! Rightly taking care of number one, me, is truly beneficial activity [when on the Cross Jesus took our best and worst and put it all to death!].”

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? “Don’t concern yourself about my spiritual condition. It’s A-OK! I joined First Church last Sunday!” Really? Our ‘Christian’ world now defines the ‘Second Birth’ as joining the church, adding my name to the church rolls, showing up occasionally to verify I’m on board?”

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? ‘You really, Pastor, shouldn’t be down on people because they sin, but now that deacon of yours, Joe Blow, you may think he’s a holy, righteous, godly man, but I see him as an abomination to the Lord.” Oh, really? Proverbs 17:5 says: [RSV translation!] “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord,” but, remember, “Fig-Leaf Religion” is so valuable to some while the ‘Faith-Walk’ is abhorrent to them!

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? It is that drive that what matters is one’s devotion to make a better world around us without any consideration or motivation of the ‘eternal’ or our residency in heaven one day! The Christian faith is centered on the here and now as well as beyond the grave! “Fig-Leaf” people, sadly, are motivated by what goes on in their ‘flesh,’ in the ‘here and now,’ but bristle when a true believer suggests as great a devotion to eternity as their present reality! Could that fleshly, fig-leaf mind-set be “saving one’s life, but losing his soul”?

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? “Accumulation, accumulation, accumulation! A man’s life does consist in what he accumulates! It shows he’s favored by God “– when in reality Jesus said in Luke 12:15, “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions!” What did Paul write to the church at Rome and us in Romans 8:5-6? “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally [fleshly] minded is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? “I cannot believe that your pastor and church elders really believe that they need to deal with or discipline Brother So & So. That is so unlike Jesus or God on His throne!” Yet Hebrews 12:5-11 says: “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? “Those Christians, those fanatical preachers, those misinformed Bible teachers, are so off base when they talk about ‘fearing God’! Why, I believe I’m His best friend – and there is no fear in me!” Yet the Bible I read tells me that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” [Psalm 111:10]. I read in Psalm 34:7 that “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Was Jesus so unwise, untaught, off base about ‘fearing God’? I read in Matthew 10:28, Jesus speaking, teaching, enlightening, His disciples: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? Can’t you hear it? “Those Christians! They really believe that, because of this Jesus’ shed blood, that God calls on them to live pure, holy, clean, unstained lives. Well, I believe that I can’t do anything but sin until I get to heaven someday or find myself waking up in some paradise of purity and holiness – I know I’ll never be fully pure!” Yet, we’ve already seen in Titus 2:14 that God’s, YES, Holy Word says: “[Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem us…and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” I’m not sure that the one who says he can’t do anything but sin has ever read passionately God’s Holy Word! In Romans 6:1-14 we read one of the most liberating passages of God’s Holy Word that exposes the “Fig-Leaf Religion” concept you just read about! It says: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? “ Suffering? Trouble? Tribulation? Heartache? Tears? That may be what you sense is in your path as a religious man/woman, but religious faith that really means something in the life here and now is a life void of all pain and heartache – that’s what I sense!” But does that line up with the Lord of our salvation? In John 16:33 Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

I’m not sure that you know of Samuel Rutherford, but you should learn all you can by this brilliant minister and teacher of humanities at the University of Edinburgh in the 1600’s. He received a theology degree also and later pastored a church at Anworth in the year of 1627. From church history you may have read about the Episcopalians rising up to rule over the Scottish church. Rutherford was a nonconformist and, as a result of that, was imprisoned. He learned such strong, eternal, life-changing truths while in jail!! E.M. Bounds quoted him in “Heaven: A Place, a City, a Home,” [Grand Rapids: Baker House, 1975, p.13]. Don’t miss this!! Hear it!!:

“If God had told me some time ago that He was about to make me as happy as I could be in this world, and then had told me that He should begin by crippling me in all my limbs, and removing me from all my usual sources of enjoyment, I should have thought it a very strange mode of accomplishing His purpose. And yet, how is His wisdom manifest even in this! For if you should see a man shut up in a close room, idolizing a set of lamps and rejoicing in their light, and you wished to make him truly happy, you would begin by blowing out all his lamps, and then throw open the shutters to let in the light of heaven.” God’s ways ARE NOT the ways of “Fig-Leaf Religion”!!

How did Habakkuk respond about this, in agreement with Rutherford? Habakkuk 3:17-18 says: “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” WOW!!**!!

“Fig-Leaf Religion”? “This concept that God knows us all personally, intimately, and practically has a special plan for every life is so unnecessary, so unfounded! He’s a Big God with an overview of all – knowing us personally is so unfounded!” Really? In Romans 1:5-6 Paul wrote: “Through Him [Jesus}, we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom YOU ALSO are the called of Jesus Christ…”

In his book, “The Power of the Call,” [p.35], Henry Blackaby wrote: “God Himself CHOSE US, CALLED US IN HIS TIME, and separated us out FOR HIMSELF. As clearly as God separated from all other days and sanctified the seventh day [set it apart for Himself, Genesis 3:3] and commanded it to be “the Sabbath of the Lord your God” [Exodus 20:10], so God set you apart from all others – for Himself!!” Glory! Hallelujah! God be praised! God be Blessed and Exalted! He’s not the author of “Fig-Leaf Religion” but the author of “FAITH BLESSED RELATIONSHIPS”!! AMEN?

As I close this chapter, I would fail you miserably if I did not point out to you that in the wanderings of Adam and Eve in the “Fig-Leaves”, God showed up!! “Where are you, Adam?” God knew – but it was time for Adam to come to his spiritual senses and rest himself and his bride at the throne of God where grace, mercy, and love resides!

CHAPTER NINE

FORGOTTEN? WE ALL HAVE AN ENEMY?

I don’t know if you are familiar with Leif Enger – I wasn’t – but I saw a statement he wrote that spurred me on into this chapter. He said: “We and the world, my children, will always be at war. Retreat is impossible. Arm yourselves.” Certainly, mankind has had an enemy called the ‘devil,’ Satan, the serpent, since the day of Creation of man and woman in the Garden when he came to Eve calling God ‘a liar.’ And ‘the serpent’ hasn’t changed but fallen humanity has, yes, and bought into his ‘lie’ and still suffers from the consequences of a cruel spiritual war!

Have you ever heard this from blinded, deluded, captured by Satan individuals? “Evil isn’t real – it’s the result of mental illness!” “The demonic or demons aren’t real – it’s mental illness!” “The devil or Satan isn’t real – he’s a disjointed, convoluted figure of ‘Christian’ delusional thinking!” “The powers of darkness? That’s nothing more than ‘self-imposed,’ personal choices of ‘less-than-my-best’!” “Sin? That’s only personal failures that make us stronger over the long haul – nothing deadly about that!”

But let me hit this theme head-on: John 10:10, Jesus Himself said, “The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Savior and Lord] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full [maximum intensity God wants us all to have].” But there is a thief, a robber, a deceiver, a killer of God-ordained hopes and dreams in too many lives – mostly because they’ve never done battle, warfare, spiritual attacks against their enemy!

It’s really a bit of intellectual brain-deadness to say that demon-activity is reserved for ‘primitive people’ or ‘the educationally deprived’! Or, yes, to say ‘there is no devil’ or ‘Satan’ or that the armies of Hell are not real or surrounding us for attacks on us and our families! It doesn’t matter to me if you’re in the darkest area of Africa spiritually or the most modern, up-to-date city in the U.S.A – the old serpent is comfortable in any surroundings!

I will not forget being in a major mountain city up from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Mark and Colleen Handy were with me along with Billy Graham Paulose, son of Moses Paulose of Rameswaram, India. After the day’s seminar had finished, we’d had dinner, and were ready for bed; as we got our hotel room keys, the lady-manager, who was from England, said to me: “I know you are Christians and you minister spiritually to the needy. One of my hotel house-cleaners has a spiritual need. Could you help her?” I said, “When she comes to work in the morning make sure her husband is with her, and send them to my room.” The team met there early to pray before we started the day’s seminar. The worker came with her husband – she barely had gotten into the room before she “fell out”! We all knew it was demonic – that her enemy, the devil, wanted to disable or kill this woman. I began to pray, to take authority over the controlling demons of this troubled woman, and I gave the demons a command in the Name of Jesus to come out this lady! Immediately, though this lady knew no English, never spoken English, out of her mouth a strong male voice spoke in English saying, “We don’t have to come out and we’re not coming out!” The battle intensified, but those demons came out of the woman, she was healed, came to Christ, and left the hotel room rejoicing in Jesus.” Later, Billy Graham Paulose said to me, “Papa, that’s the first demon I’ve ever heard speak English here in India!!” For some, India may seem ‘primitive’, but I’ve witnessed demons coming out of highly educated Americans also.

It absolutely amazes me that here in America there are those who sadly believe that Jesus was only adapting Himself to the limited thought patterns of His day, and He went along to get along. GOD FORBID! There was no accommodation on Jesus’ part – only commitment to dethrone the ‘god’ of this fallen world – Satan! In I John 5:19 John wrote, “The whole world lies under the power of the evil one.” But the one thing you will learn right here is that the shed blood of our Lord and Savior has erased the sting or bite of the serpent who wants you dead – we’re, in Christ, recipients of resurrection life and hope – and our Lord has defanged our enemy!

There is a powerful word of instruction in Isaiah 52:1-2 for Jerusalem then and the people of Jesus NOW! It says: “Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you. Shake yourself from the dust, arise; sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion!” Notice: “Put on your strength [that’s Jesus!]; put on your beautiful garments [His robe of righteousness!]; Shake yourself from the dust [defeated demons because of Jesus’ shed blood!]; Loose yourself [Taking the authority Jesus has given you!]!!” In Christ, you ARE “more than conqueror!!”

From the Garden of Eden to the heartland of America, from the Garden of Eden to busy streets all over Europe, from the Garden of Eden to the over-populated streets of Asian cities, from the Garden of Eden to the dark corners of Africa, those armies of Hell itself are armed to capture, enslave, bind, suffocate, mar, maim, cripple, put to sleep, steal, blind, and, yes, claim you for the citizenry of darkness! Look at Revelation 12:7-9!! “And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

I pray that you please hear me, give heed to God’s Word, and also look across our known world to the devastation your Enemy leaves behind in his movements in lives, families, cities, and nations! Revelation 12:12b says: “For the devil has come down TO YOU, having great wrath [fury, anger], because he knows that he has a short time.” I so love and appreciate what John Eldredge had to say in his book “Waking The Dead,” [Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 2003, p.152], “To live in ignorance of spiritual warfare is the most naïve and dangerous thing a person can do.”

Eldredge then quoted William Gurnall: “The devil has more temptations than an actor has costumes for the stage. And one of his all-time favorite disguises is that of a lying spirit, to abuse your tender heart with the worst news he can deliver – that you do not really love Jesus Christ and that you are only pretending, you are only deceiving yourself.”

Disguises? It’s so amazing to me that Paul was used of our Lord and Savior in challenging us to be discerning on our spiritual journeys. He said in 2 Corinthians 11:14, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light,” requiring every earthly citizen to walk in spiritual discernment! There is a War going on for every human soul and especially believers as Satan wants us disarmed. This is why Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” That’s Satan’s kingdom of darkness – He hates the Light and those who dwell in the Light!

In I Peter 5:8-10 are encouraging words, at least for the one who knows he’s in a war for his soul! It says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour [swallow up]; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.” Peter said his intent is to :devour” you; but he’ll seek to deceive you, disillusion you, defeat you, disarm you, decay you, depress you, denounce your faith, detour you away from your only hope!

Adrian Rogers, before his death, wrote a book on “Kingdom Authority,” and in it he wrote: “Satan is a consummate liar, and he is spiritually wicked, brilliantly stupid, and hideously beautiful. He wants to pull the veil of darkness over his activities. For a while he may persuade sophisticates that he does not exist at all. They think of him as a mythological character or in the comic sense as a little guy in a red suit with a pitchfork trying to catch somebody bending over.” [B&H Publ Group, Nashville, Tn. 2002, p.6]. Do you understand? Do you sense it in what you see happening all around you with some family members, maybe your own parents, close friends, classmates, government leaders, business leaders, the movie industry, the nation? And you, they, society in general, are unaware that Satan thrives on darkness, destruction, disease, dying, death! What did we see about ‘the thief’ in John 10:10? “The thief comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

Satan was cast out of heaven because he chose to be his own boss! Have you? He would not be ruled over, led by, or even blessed by God! Cast out of heaven? Because he loved the indecent, the impure, the dirty, unclean, immoral! Your enemy thrives on spiritual sickness and sadness! He’s blessed by those who allow personal torment and paralyzing acts to guide their daily lives for a ‘bigger kick’ than they received yesterday from their own debauchery instigated by Satan! Oh, how he thrives on the breaking up of meaningful relationships, yes, especially where ‘church splits’ divide, separate, usually disillusioning some! Marriages and families are primary “fronts” of attacks! [I had lunch with our church’s Youth Minister recently, and sadly he told me, I believe, that eleven or twelve of the young boys in his youth group had no fathers around them!] Satan is filled with hatred of Christ and Christ’s children of faith! He despises it all!

And the one thing I want you to grasp, Frederick Buechner said it so well: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Concerning our Lord and Savior, concerning eternal purpose, concerning lives of blessing – so many are deprived, denied, yes, even enslaved in dark cells of demonic activity, because Satan is not interested in those around you, blinded by him, that there is another Way – where you are, with whom you relate, God has placed you there to let them know ‘freedom in Christ’, yes, from demonic activity!!

It was C.S Lewis who once said: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” And you see not only Christ’s finished work at the Cross – you see the prison cells of life where many ARE enslaved by the demon powers! But the sad thing is that many Christians ignore the ministry of caring that Jesus daily exemplified including “deliverance” of many from the clutches of Satan’s hold! Certainly George Bernard Shaw was not a believing disciple of Christ but he sadly nailed the church-at-large when he said: “The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that’s the essence of inhumanity.” But too many ‘believers’ are so fragile when it comes to outreach opportunities among the spiritually enslaved to the powers of darkness because their situation and circumstance is beyond the disciple’s ability to help – but the problem is not one’s inability but his availability to all Jesus IS!! And He’s the Deliverer!!

I found it so very, very interesting and convicting in reading what John Stott had to say in his book, “Human Rights and Human Wrongs [Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1999, pps.83-84]. He wrote: “Our Christian habit is to bewail the world’s deteriorating standards with an air of rather self-righteous dismay. We criticize its violence, dishonesty, immorality, disregard for human life, and materialistic greed. “The world is going down the drain,” we say with a shrug. But whose fault is it? Who is to blame? Let me put it like this. If the house is dark when nightfall comes, there is no sense in blaming the house; that is what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, “Where is the light?” Similarly, if the meat goes bad and becomes inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat; that is what happens when bacteria are left alone to breed. The question to ask is “Where is the salt?” Just so, if society deteriorates and its standards decline until it becomes dark night or stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming society; that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked. The question to ask is, “Where is the Church? Why are the salt and light of Jesus Christ not permeating and changing our society?” It is sheer hypocrisy on our part to raise our eyebrows, shrug our shoulders, or wring our hands. The Lord Jesus told us to be the world’s salt and light. If therefore darkness and rottenness abound, it is largely our fault and we must accept the blame.” And sadly I don’t see too many ‘church-folk’ invading a demonized society with Jesus’ promise of liberty and freedom!!

And I have no hesitation in reminding you of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s words: “Action springs not from thought, but a readiness for responsibility.”

Plus, C.S. Lewis really shared insightful words when he wrote: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because of it I see everything else.” And you’re unsure whether Christ and His Word has enlightened you as to the ministry of deliverance concerning the Satanic, demonic world you encounter just about every day? God’s Holy Word has shown us, revealed to us, opened the door to us, in understanding the “Distressing Disguises” the Devil himself tries to dress us with, but Jesus exposed and won the victory over “them” through His shed blood at Calvary’s Cross!

Luke 9:42 tells us: “And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.” WHAT A WORD OF HOPE!

In Revelation 12:11 never forget this Word as you step out and step on the battlefield against Christ’s and His enemy, Satan: “And they overcame him [the Devil and Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

“DISTRESSING DISGUISES?” Satan casts doubt on the Word of God, but we do know “All Scripture is God-breathed…!!!” Satan is a stickler for legalism apart from grace, mercy, and love. Satan confesses to ‘Lies’ – not to the Truth! Satan twists the Truth [ask Eve!] and misuses Scripture to what he believes is his advantage! Satan fights, wars, for what he “thinks” is his; Satan induces bitter souls to end sadness before they find “joy”, giving his approval to any and all who will take their own lives! Satan is the master of anxiety, worry, fear, discouragement, and sin! Satan majors on shifts of spiritual eye-contact – always away from God, from His Word, from Jesus, majoring on your ‘short-sightedness’ about our Lord’s eternal purpose for that person! Satan majors on thorns, briers, unplowed fields of the human heart and mind, unseeded fields void of the seeds of His Holy Word! But there is:

“DIVINE GRACE”!! I John 5:18 says: “We know that whosoever is born of God [Second Birth, John 3] sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not.” And that happens because as Paul said in Ephesians 4:26-27, Be angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil.” And didn’t James say that if we submit ourselves to God, RESIST the devil, that he will flee from us? James 4:7. Divine Grace CONQUERS !!

I want to close this chapter With Adrian Rogers’ conclusion to his book on “Kingdom Authority”!! He wrote:

*Rather than “Lord, be with us,” pray, “Father, we welcome Your presence.”

*Rather than “Lord, give us victory,” pray, “Lord, you are our victory. I thank you to cause us always to triumph.”

*Rather than “Lord, defeat Satan,” pray, “Lord, I thank you that Satan has been defeated by your shed blood.”

* Rather than “Lord, give me strength,” pray, “Lord, you are my strength, shield, and deliverer.”

*Rather than “Lord, help me to be a better servant,” pray, “Lord, I consciously yield myself to you. I report to duty.”

I encourage you, in spiritual warfare against Satan and his armed forces, RESIST him in the name of Jesus, resist him through Jesus’ shed blood, resist him, yes, because you love your life in Christ even to the point of death if necessary for the honor of your Savior and Lord alone!! To the devil, Satan himself, if he comes to you, speak the words of Jesus, the victory of Jesus at the Cross and empty tomb, and stand on His promises that in Him YOU are more than conqueror!

CHAPTER TEN

FORGOTTEN?CHILDREN OF FAITH ARE DISCIPLINED BY THE LORD?

I know for those who are intimately acquainted with New Testament discipleship that they are not unfamiliar with New Testament ‘discipline’ as they journey on in the pathway of faith and faithfulness, but ‘youngsters’ in the faith sometimes are those, yes, like little children learning the discipline of caring parents. Our ‘walk with God’ IS an intimate relationship like Parent to a growing child, and that does include spiritual disciplining just as much as true parental disciplining! Aren’t you aware of ‘friends’ in the faith whose walks fail to exemplify ‘trained disciple’ but picture tragically untrained pilgrimages, untrained hopes and dreams of usefulness to the glory of Christ, even possibly resenting even any mention that true faith is founded on true faithfulness birthed out of steady, scriptural disciplines?

To the young or immature disciple of the Lord Jesus, spiritual discipline seems to make no sense to them because they’ve fallen for the idea that “common sense” is their guide! They are smart enough to decipher for themselves what is good or bad, what is holy or unholy, what is right or wrong – but in John 16:12-14 Jesus said: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

Now, please notice, wrestle with, decipher what God is saying to YOU through Hebrews 12:5-13! “And have you FORGOTTEN the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.’”

Notice, ‘dislocation’. Have you ever known the pain ‘dislocation’ brings? In the Spirit-realm that’s to be without discipline! What about lameness? What about feeble knees? What about illegitimacy? What about weakness? No discipline means careless, fruitless, short-sighted living, apart from that God desires you to have! Our Lord and Savior is not interested in seeing anyone with hands hanging down, feeble knees, or crooked paths! He wants you strong in Him walking straight paths to His glory, honor, and praise! Undisciplined living spiritually for any man opens the door to drastic erosion like the physical erosion seen in Florida or California shorelines! It can be explosive ‘sinkings’ in the spirit-realm leaving some to ask, “Is there any hope?” For some there is no hope for them because they bought in to a “false gospel” producing deception, disillusionment, unrealized spiritual dreams, because that “false gospel” related to self-effort, self-assertiveness, self-fulfillment, and self-glory, and no biblical directive of “the way of salvation.” Sheep are willing to be led – sadly donkeys usually have to be driven!

The donkeys of undisciplined lifestyles are described in Psalm 147:10 where the psalmist wrote: “He [God] does not delight in the strength of the horse; He [God] takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.” That’s the one standing “on his own” in no need of saving grace or mercy! Then verse 11 says, “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” The undisciplined ‘donkey-style’ of life misses our Lord’s mercy and grace, but sheep have the Shepherd they’re willing to be led by! And God gives those a promise: Isaiah 45:2-3, “I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” Amen?

Have you FORGOTTEN His exhortation? Have you forgotten children of faith ARE disciplined by the Lord? How does that happen? Why does it happen?

I BELIEVE THE FORGETFULNESS OUR LORD SPOKE ABOUT IS BECAUSE OF AN ALLEGIANCE TO SELF, THE FLESH, THE ‘OLD MAN’ IN FALLEN ADAM BECAUSE OF A REFUSAL TO DENY SELF. In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

A lot of people across the world ‘follow Christ,’ but refuse the cross, and certainly have no plans at all in denying self! Our Lord and Savior said in Matthew 10:32-33, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Do you remember the passage where Jesus described those on “His right hand,” and also “those on His left hand”? It’s Matthew 25: 31-34, 41-46! May the Holy Spirit of God open all eyes who read this passage! Verses 31-36, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And he will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…Verses 41-46, Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The “Forgotten Exhortation” of Hebrews 12 starts with verse one which is your challenge right now! “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Oswald Chambers wrote in his “My Utmost For His Highest,”, [pps.257-258], “The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-assertiveness. It is the continual assertion of individuality that hinders our spiritual life more than anything else. If you say – “I cannot believe,” it is because individuality is in the road; individuality never can believe. Personality cannot help believing. Watch yourself when the Spirit of God is at work. He pushes you to the margins of your individuality, and you have either to shall – “I shall not,” or to surrender, to break the husk of individuality and let the personal life emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing [Matthew 5:23-24], “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” The thing in you that will not be reconciled to your brother is individuality. God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself He cannot. “Let him deny himself” – deny his independent right to himself, then the real life has a chance to grow.”

I BELIEVE THE FORGETFULNESS OUR LORD SPOKE ABOUT IS ALSO BECAUSE MOST WALK AWAY FROM GOD – NOT TOWARD HIM. In Genesis 5:24 there is a very simple yet declarative verse. It says: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

If you have any doubt or doubts about a man’s faith or not, just examine his walk! Examining a man, consider the mundane experience of every-day living, not simply when the “religious spotlight” is shining on him! If you look at Hebrews 11:5 you see another word about Enoch. It says: “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him ; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

It is so interesting and thrilling and challenging to me as I read John 1:36 which says: “And looking at Jesus as He walked, John said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” As Jesus was known by His walk as well as His word, so, true disciples reveal their devotion to their own watch-care over their walks. But too many ‘fallen men’ spiritually refuse to walk toward or with God. Independence is the rule of their every step, yet think of Peter in Matthew 14:29, who “walked on the water to go to Jesus!”

Jude had been talking about “ungodly sinners” who speak against Jesus, and then said in Jude 16, “These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts…” John said it like this in I John 2:11, “But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” And do you understand – for some they could care less that they’ve chosen darkness and missed the True Light!

I call the Psalms “The Story of Authenticity!” And it begins with Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way [the walk] of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

I BELIEVE ALSO THE FORGETFULNESS OUR LORD SPOKE ABOUT IS THE WRESTLING AND WARFARE GOING ON IN ONE’S MIND THAT THEY SELFISHLY ALLOW TO WIN OUT OVER THE TRUTH OF GOD. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul made mention of those who are, yes, even presently having to: “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…” Isn’t it sad to you that even ‘religion’ in men’s minds become stumbling blocks to the True Faith?

There is no hesitation in saying to you that redemptive faith majors on the heart, but often the ‘mind’ of fallen men put up strong roadblocks to keep one penetrating their hearts. Morally men oppose the Gospel and forget the Gospel, but mentally the ‘brain-washing’ process is just as dangerous excusing the filthiness of mind, flesh, and spirit as “the price I pay to be free to please and satisfy myself”!

How did Paul put it to the Corinthians? I Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Didn’t God say through one of His prophets, “My thoughts are not your thoughts”? And, sadly, you do know that one of the great ‘sins’ of fallen humanity is insubordination toward God and His Word!?!?

In Philippians 2:5-8 by His Word God challenges all through Paul: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Our example of a yielded mind? “Yes, God, even to the point of dying,” and, as result many say, “That’s not my mind-set!”

FORGETFULNESS? FATAL FORGETFULNESS? “IF GOD EXPECTS ME TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS IN MY LIFE THAT OFFENDS HIM OR HINDERS MY SPIRITUAL GROWTH, FORGET IT, I’M NOT INTERESTED!” Are you familiar with Matthew 5:30? Jesus said: “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

What in the world was our Lord saying? He was saying that nothing, not even your right hand, was important enough in your life if it caused you to miss or forfeit “the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” That was not an edict for all smart spiritual people to go cut off their right hand! But that right hand is not more valuable to you than relationship to Christ! Except that it is true for many because they place no value on knowing Christ – they are saviors of all they deem important for themselves!

Do you remember Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead? You’ll find the story in John 11 as Jesus had ministered to Martha about resurrection life. Jesus spoke, “Lazarus, come forth!” And verse 44 says, “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” How many have crossed your path disinterested in your testimony because they are comfortable in their ‘grave-clothes’ and have no desire to hear about the One who sets captives free! Comfort in grave-clothes? No interest in removing deathly consequences?

Paul passionately wrote to the Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 7:1-3, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one. I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.” Perfecting holiness? Forget it! Seeing myself cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit? Perfecting holiness in the fear of God in me? Forget it! Open my heart to others like Paul? Forget it! Choosing death daily that I might experience resurrection life in its fullness? Forget it!”

FORGETFULNESS? “COMMIT TO DISCIPLINE SO FRUIT WILL COME THROUGH ME HONORING CHRIST?” “The free gift of God in Christ has personal responsibility tied to it to be a fruit-producer that honors Him? I don’t think so. Hard ground in me has to be plowed, the soil of my life enriched, good seed planted, watering with the water of His Word, waiting for a crop? I believe I’ll pass!”

Peter had been talking about one being a partaker of the divine nature – and in 2 Peter 1:5-11 he said: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control, perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has FORGOTTEN that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Please check the eighth verse again! “For if these things are yours and abound, you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Oswald Chambers was so on target! In “My Utmost…” he said: [p.96], “When we begin to form a habit we are conscious of it. There are times when we are conscious of becoming virtuous and patient and godly, but it is only a stage; if we stop there we shall get the strut of the spiritual prig.” Well, that’s true of some, but others are of the attitude and frame of reference, “I don’t want to be a fruitful field for God!” and they mean it!

FORGETFULNESS? “THE NECESSITY OF SPIRIT-ANOINTED LIVING? I’M NOT IN CONTROL? I BELIEVE I’LL PASS.” In Luke 24:49 Jesus said: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

I don’t know how anyone could casually read through the Book of Acts and not be excited about Spirit-Anointed Living! A few disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, turned their known world upside down, inside out!

Receiving the ministry of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for every man Jesus loves and wants to breathe into His spiritual breath of life, but with some people in some places the Holy Spirit is not welcome when His one desire is to quicken Christ in us and empower us to overcome! Don’t reject the Holy Spirit! Don’t refuse His desire to bless you as He convicts you of sin, righteousness and the judgment to come!

Rather than forget, ignore, deny the Holy Spirit, why not say, right now, “Oh, Holy Spirit, I welcome you right now to honor Jesus IN ME and THROUGH ME. I yield to your desire to bless me ‘in Christ,’ I yield to your desire to cover me and crown me in Your anointing, empowering me to honor Christ rather than refuse His saving grace, mercy, and love. Fill me, Holy Spirit, with power divine – I’m tired of my impotence that does nothing redemptive in me or through me. Amen!”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

FORGOTTEN? MARRIAGE: A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND BLESSING?

FORGOTTEN? When you look at our modern America and, yes, our world-at-large, concerning home and family, have we fatalistically been wrapped in a futile hope of something good and lasting being restored or will we be fully wrapped in the “Blessed Hope” of Faith and Fulfillment in families – or do we just settle in to marriage being ‘forgotten’ as God ordained it to be?

I’m sincerely afraid that for far too many homes and families biblical marriage, home and family have been set aside, or, at least for a period of time, ‘masquerading’ as if everything is A-OK in our ‘house’. Has America forgotten its biblical roots concerning marriage?

Are we pulled, pressured, paralyzed by a perilous secular society, sin-ladened, which it and us in the church refuse to recognize as our dilemma, OR, can there be again a spiritual reformation and re-awakening through a powerful pull of God by His convicting Holy Spirit, sin-forgiven through His mercy and grace and the blood of Christ concerning ‘family forgetfulness,’ gladly, again, giving Jesus His rightful place as Lord over our marriages and homes?

Related to the marriages, homes, and families, have we ‘FORGOTTEN GOD,’ living though as ‘practical atheists, believing in God yet living separately as if He didn’t exist,’ OR, will we be once again fully immersed, not only in belief in Him and His Word, but learning to LIVE the ‘exchanged LIFE IN CHRIST’ – living by the Resurrection Life of our Lord in our homes and families?

FORGETFULNESS? Have we all of a sudden inherited a lost sight of God in our marriages corresponding to a lost sight of our true identity in Christ, BLINDED by the ‘god’ of this world, OR, can we say once again: “You, God, see us in our homes and families…and Your gaze on us has gracefully and graciously revealed that we need “to turn our eyes [of marriage and family] once again on Jesus Only.”

Marriage? Home? Family? Kids? Have we FORGOTTEN? Will it be the “godless” lives of choice – selfish, impersonal, radical disobedience to Holy God, OR, will our marriage and home and family be the predestined, the redeemed, the reconciled – a “Christ-filled LIFE” of selflessness, service, caring, loving, ministering, teaching, disciplining, blessing – intent on marriage and family being a God-honoring witness?

There is no doubt in my mind that what was established by God as a holy, reflective institution of God Himself has been stolen by fallen humanity and establishing for themselves the absence of ground rules, with their own ideas negating biblical revelation!

Henry de Lubac in “The Drama of Atheist Humanism,” [trans. By Edith M.Riley, 1950; New York; World Publishing Com. 1963, IX] wrote: “Man cannot organize the world [dare I say (JFF) ‘cannot organize marriage & family’?] for himself without God; without God he can only organize the world against man, [dare I say [JFF], ‘disorganize marriage & family for his own selfish interests?]. Exclusive humanism is inhuman humanism.” And I believe that explains so much about the debacle of marriage and family.

Christopher Dawson wrote “Progress and Religion: An Historical Inquiry, [1931, Peru, Il: Sherwood Sugden & Co., 1991, p.228]. He said: “It seems as though a new society was arising which will acknowledge no hierarchy of values, no intellectual authority, and no social or religious tradition, but which will live for the moment in a chaos of pure sensation.” Is that descriptive to a great degree of marriages and families in our world today?

But I believe that what has been forgotten is God Almighty’s intent that “Marriage [be]: A Celebration of Life and Blessing”! I was recently reading through Hebrews 11 and God so clearly spoke to my heart about true believers in a maddening world of marriage and family chaos! My wife and I on June 10, 2012, celebrated our 56^th anniversary of marriage. Hebrews 11:13 says, speaking of heroes of the true faith: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

Hebrews 11:14-16 goes on to say: “For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Is your desire a ‘better country’ for marriage and family around you, “that is, a heavenly country”?

You do understand that our ‘faith in Christ’ is because we knew, by His grace and by His Spirit, that we needed to be saved by His grace, had to be saved or we personally had no hope, but also, just as in the fleshly realm with fallen sin natures and a walk away from God, fleshly men AND women are only concerned in marriage with what brings them pleasure, and if their fallen sin natures aren’t pleased they look for new territory and new opportunities to satisfy that fallen sin nature!

In our modern society our population has been geared toward self-determination without God, self-rationalization as to what satisfies us the most with our fallen sin natures, self-realization on our own terms, and, yes, self-gratification which opens huge, wide doors away from God’s purpose and plan in Christ! Marriage failures usually come through one or even possibly both parties that live by a false philosophy of “self-enlightment” which is nothing more than fleshly indulgence! Mostly men, but at times some women, have decided to be free from marriage because they are “free from God”!

Read carefully Martin Buber’s convicting comment in Thomas F. Torrance’s “God and Rationality,” [Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1971, p.29], where Buber said: “Something has stepped between our existence and God to shut off the light of heaven…,[and] that something is in fact ‘ourselves,’ our own bloated selfhood.”

In I Corinthians 3 Paul challenged ‘men’ in the church, but I believe it speaks to all ‘men’ and especially those who live imitating men of fallen sin natures as it relates to their marriages or marriage failures. Paul said in the first three verses: “And I, men, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal,[fleshly, men with their old sin natures], as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you [do you believe that would include marriage troubles or divorces?], are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

Isn’t it sad to you and heart-breaking that our marriage culture in America has become so superficial, so faithless, even indifferent in far too many families as to personal and family trust and yieldedness to Holy God and our loving Savior and Lord and to His Church? It’s as if marriage has decayed to a meaningless relationship that has no blessing, no reward, no prize out of the participants’ participation even though they live under the same roof!

This attitude toward marriage is what Martin Luther foresaw as he wrote the following: “[Fallen human nature] is completely self-centered…It puts itself in the place of everything else, even in the place of God himself and seeks only its own purposes and not God’s. For this reason it is its own chief and most important idol.” [ Luther, quoted in Paul Althause’, “The Theology of Martin Luther, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966, p.147]. Would you even think or consider that divorce, home-break-up, absentee fatherhood or motherhood, is because most bow before and yield to the idol of self-devotion, self-pleasure, self-idolatry? Could or would we even dare to speak about “marital narcissism” or self-indulgence at any price?

Too many marriage partners have established themselves as the final authority on what they intend to do in their marriages – stay or go? – and God and His will about it is overthrown, usurped, denied, as the partner wanting divorce establishes and bows before self-centered omnipotence! Can’t you hear them? “God may exist, but when it comes to what makes me happy I decide for myself!” And they reject, deny, even defame biblical authority! Do you sense as I do that tons of people in marriages across America and the world see no relevance of God to their situations and circumstances as it relates to what they do or don’t do in their marriages and families? Will of man in marriage or will of God in marriage? I’m convinced our Lord’s Lordship is as vital for our marriages as our personal relationship is to Him as our Lord of lords!

One of the reasons I sense for marriage failures and not blessing and celebration is a lack of “response-ability” [a term Craig Gay uses]. When I saw that term of Gay’s and hid it away in my mind and heart, I immediately thought of Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child [yes, a marriage mate] in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Most ‘bail out’ when they should ‘hold on’! Think about what Jesus said and relate it to your marriage and family: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [That’s ‘rejuvenation’ or ‘made young again’!]. Take My yoke upon you [Are you and your wife mutually yoked to Christ?] and 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.”

And I tell you, it doesn’t matter about age – young, old whatever – as a marriage partner, get in the yoke of Christ; He’s strong, steady, set apart to the Glory of God alone – and every step tied to Him will be straight and in the right path!! But if you become your own ‘chief and most important idol’, even in your marriage, apart from God, you become just like yourself!! And Psalm 135:15-18 says: “The idols of the nations [marriages, self-worship etc.] are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. [Made by a fallen sin nature, the making of one’s self into its own idol, and worshipped, bowing before, yielded to!!] They have mouths, but cannot speak [wisely], eyes, but they cannot see; [blinded to God’s will, God’s way], they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths [spiritually dead before Holy God and His Word!]. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”

That should spur thoughts in you, right now, this very moment, about why there is ‘forgetfulness’ of celebration and blessing in marriages – you’re not sure? Come to Luke 22: 25-27! And Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” In your marriages are you lords or servants?

Have you not grasped it yet? Has our Lord’s example in relationships not been enough for you? Taking the sentence of death unto ourselves daily, “in marriage,” is the awesome spiritual reality of overcoming fleshly selfishness and blocking out selfishness that the servant spirit of Christ might reign through us to our wives! Look at I John 3:16, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for [our wives!!].”

Charles Swindoll, in his book “The Quest For Character”, [p.107], wrote the following: “Home is indeed where life makes up its mind. It is there – with fellow family members – we hammer out our convictions on the anvil of relationships. It is there we cultivate the valuable things in life, like attitudes, memories, beliefs, and most of all, character. Give God thanks today for His help in using your home to develop these all-important essentials…”

Do you remember Paul and Silas imprisoned in Acts 16? The ‘keeper of the prison,” after the earthquake, said to them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said to him, Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD.” Because marriage is to be a redemptive relationship between husband and wife and parents and children!

Though Karl Heim was writing about “the Church”, I’m taking the liberty to change ‘The Church’ to marriage. In his “Christian Faith and Natural Science, [New York: Harper and Brothers, 1957, p.24], Heim wrote: “[Marriages often] are like a ship on whose deck festivities are still kept up and glorious music is heard, while deep below the waterline a leak has been sprung and masses of water are pouring in, so that the vessel is settling hourly lower though the pumps are manned day and night.”

What is ‘the leak’? One or both of the marriage partners has ‘sprung a leak’! One or both marriage partners have lost ‘mutual submission in the fear of God’! One or both marriage partners have lost the sacrificial spirit of laying down one’s life! One or both marriage partners have lost ‘the denial of self and the taking up of Christ’s cross’ to serve the partner!

Why would I apologize to you about what I firmly believe and know: Jesus Himself is not only the Savior of the world – He is the Savior of every marriage if He was given His rightful place! Christian marriage and Christian family living begins at the Cross and the empty tomb with all members yielded to His saving grace and Sovereign Lordship!

I love what Larry Christenson wrote in his book, “The Christian Family,” [p.151], “It is not a child’s intellectual immaturity, but the adult’s intellectual sophistication, which is the real barrier to faith. “Now they were bringing even ‘infants’ to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” [Luke 18:15-17]. Since it is by “FAITH” that we receive the Kingdom, we have here the unmistakable authority of Jesus to assure us that children – ‘even infants’ – can indeed receive His saving grace. This is absolutely fundamental to Christian family living. We must have the faith that the Holy Spirit works in even the very small child, bringing him into personal relationship with Jesus.”

Oh, I know you’ve heard it – but I’ll say it again: The family that prays, stays! The couple that prays, stays! Yes, even the children that pray, often hold families together! In the Name of Jesus, forget the old decaying life of marriage and settle in to the “celebration and blessing of marriage” in the Lord Jesus – He’s your marriages’ eternal foundation!

CHAPTER TWELVE

FORGOTTEN? CHILDREN A BLESSING – NOT A BURDEN?

You are so aware of this chapter title whether you experienced your childhood as if it were a ‘horror’ movie or not. I doubt if any family in America has lived through their generations without awareness of one’s own family, friends, neighbors, who’ve experienced that some parents didn’t, wouldn’t, haven’t seen children as a ‘blessing’ and not a burden. I was a product of a broken marriage, family, and especially with my father. The divorce was not my father’s desire, but even so, I only stayed in my father’s home only one night in my entire life. I never had a call, a note, or any encouraging word from him. It was if when my mother wanted the divorce, it included me also. But at three years of age, after the divorce, in 1939, I was taken by my mother to live with her parents as she went to another city to find employment. My grandparents raised me from three years of age to about twelve years of age when my mother re-married. There’s no doubt for my grandparents that I was a burden but also a blessing. They received me lovingly, carefully, and with a commitment to see I was nurtured and cared for physically and spiritually. They were always in church every time the church door was opened! There I was touched by many caring people who also saw it was their responsibility to be a blessing and nurture a needy child. I thank God for that and for all those years under the care of my grandparents and a caring church family.

Psalm 127:3-5 says to us: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” Don’t you find these verses so interesting? Blessed with our children! A reward from God! A full quiver doesn’t make you ashamed, but even opens the door for you to speak with your enemies “in the gate.” I truly believe there is so much in those words that most of us have never touched what our Lord is telling us, but it sounds to me like our kids are even door-stoppers as our enemies seek to press in!!

In Deuteronomy 7:13 we read: “And He [God] will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also “BLESS THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB” and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.” Blessing? The fruit of the womb is blessing? The birth of new babies, the children of our households, our kids now teens then adults, and they are a blessing? I thank God, praise God, rejoice in His gifts to Sue and me – four grown children, and now nine grandchildren, and now one great grandchild – and I’m not blessed? Sue and I aren’t blessed?

David said and sang in Psalm 139: 13-16, “For You [God] formed my inward parts [and God made a mistake?]; You covered [wove] me in my mother’s womb[And He made a mistake?] I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame [bones] were not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” How awesome is that? From God’s point of view, He’s known of every birth in every nation, knew us before we were born, and put blessing after blessing after blessing in His book of the days fashioned for each one of us! And parents know that or they coldly reject anything God has to do with their children! That’s when “FORGETFULNESS” is birthed! That’s when children become a burden and not a blessing! Sadly some parents deny God any right to their children! But even with that attitude God overruled in my case! There is such an informative word for parents in Psalm 34:11 where David was speaking, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” And without a doubt this is that stumbling block for a lot of parents! “Fear God? I’m to teach my children the fear of the Lord?”

Isn’t that amazing? Rather than receiving that holy word, some parents believe themselves to be smarter than God and refuse to put that basic foundation into their children’s lives, even when Proverbs tells us at least 12 times that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge or wisdom!” In Proverbs 8 the Word speaks about “wisdom”: Verses 22-36, “The Lord possessed me [wisdom] at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I [wisdom] have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there ever was an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, or the primal dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there, when He drew a circle on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the fountains of the deep, when He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, Then I was beside Him as a master; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world, and my delight was with the sons of men. Now therefore, listen to me [wisdom!], my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.”

I do not know of a more vital or important section of God’s Word than what you just read. Yes, we are to teach our children “the fear of the Lord,” understanding that precious “fear of God” opens parents and children to the wisdom of God, the wisdom of His Word, and the wisdom of parental watchcare of their kids as a sacred trust from God. As a result parents build the bridge in their children for the reception of “divine life,” “obtaining the favor of the Lord,” and having instilled within them a love for His life, not “wronging their own souls”!

Do you remember the angel appearing to Zacharias in Luke 1 telling him his wife would bear him a son, his name was to be John, and that he was to go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elijah, verse 17, “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just [or justified], to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” How awesome and challenging is that concerning parental responsibility! Making ready and preparing your children FOR THE LORD!

I want you to also come to Matthew 7:6-11! Follow carefully!! “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

I pray you also read the previous passage in Matthew from parents or a parental standpoint! Asking – receiving, seeking – finding, knocking – opened…BECAUSE YOU ARE PARENTS OR A PARENT FAITHFULLY GOING BEFORE GOD IN BEHALF OF YOUR CHILDREN!

But you realize there are those I call “bottom-feeders!” That’s parents with no faith, no interest in the things of God, rejection of the Gospel of Christ as an offense to them, who had just as soon give their children “stones” for bread, and the “satanic” for fish!

Though Titus was speaking of qualifications for elders in a local church, I believe what he said about “elders” should be true in every parent concerning their rearing of children or the lack of it. Titus 1:6 says a man is eligible for eldership if: “if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation [ debauchery or incorrigibility] or insubordination.” To Timothy Paul talked about a ‘bishop’ “ruling his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence.”

Often in children, youth, you see not submission but rebellion, not faithfulness but unfaithfulness, not purity but impurity, not one who is moldable, but one who is incorrigible! Jesus even spoke of “children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death,” [Mark 13:12]. Spurgeon said: “Put poison in the spring [or well], and it will impregnate the whole stream.” A good, strong, worldly education will not equip your children for a God-blessed life – it requires, yes, requires daily parental example and instruction about devotion to the one true and living God and to a redeemed, reconciled, regenerated relationship with Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords!

Do you “teach” and live before your children the faith of our Lord and Savior? Do you impart the Word of God to them as their necessary milk, meat, fruit, bread, and water of the Word that spiritually sustains their lives? Oh, you know it’s true, except for a few reserved, nervous children! Excitement reigns in their little minds and hearts when you first take them to school. Why do you think it would be any different with them when you as a parent become their ‘spiritual school teacher’ and share God’s Word with them?

You’ve got to recognize and accept your parental responsibility in preparing your children for a life of faith, a pilgrimage with God, a journey of discovery for them of His good, acceptable, and perfect will for their lives.

It may not be easy at first or maybe never easy, but it is essential, necessary, mandated from God that every parent must respond to and to answer God Himself as to how we handled parental responsibility of nurturing our children. Children come into this world so cute and cuddly but it doesn’t take long for parents to learn that they are unplowed fields, yes, hardened soils of a separated heart from God, no order, no discipline, no awareness of why you plow and plow and plow, and why you carefully treat the soil of their hearts, and why you carefully seed them with eternal seeds of supernatural miracles coming to life through them! But they will and do learn. I really don’t know who said it, but I’ve kept it close and knew the moment would come when it would challenge some folks – how about parents? “To be on the road is not tantamount to arrival, but it is better than never starting.”

I’ve always appreciated Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings. You know he was imprisoned by Nazi Germany for his faith that could not, would not be silenced. In prison he wrote a powerful word for a niece who was about to be married. Bonhoeffer’s note to his niece said: “Marriage is more than your love for each other. It has a higher dignity and power, for it is God’s holy ordinance, through which he wills to perpetuate the human race till the end of time. In your love you see only your two selves in the world, but in marriage you are a link in the chain of the generations, which God causes to come and to pass away to his glory, and calls into his kingdom. In your love you see only the heaven of your happiness, but in marriage you are placed at a post of responsibility towards the world and mankind. Your love is your own private possession, but marriage is more than something personal – it is a status, an office.”

I even see marriage as a ‘holy calling,’ a heavenly ministry, an eternal training ground and equipping center, the location of the field of evangelistic harvesting, new-birth nurturing, and heavenly blessing on earth. It is to be an earthly expression of the heavenly body and enterprise of touching our world with grace. No church is built to the honor of Christ apart from parents and children living Him out in and through the daily life of home and their rich relationships. What do we read in Psalm 127:1? “Unless the Lord builds the house [dare I say family?], those who build it labor in vain.”

As I looked to closing out this particular chapter, I really wanted to pin-point for parents what is needed to spiritually, parentally, succeed in child-rearing blessings and not burdens in the children God entrusted to their watch-care. I was reading Spurgeon, and before my eyes, mind, and heart, there it was! Spurgeon taught on parents teaching the fear of the Lord! [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.2, p.356].

First, “Teach morality.” ‘What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” [Psalm 34:12-14].

Second, “Teach godliness, and a constant belief in God’s oversight.” ‘The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.’ [Psalm 34:15].

Third, “Teach the evil of sin.” ‘The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.’ Psalm 34:16-17

Fourth, “Teach your children the necessity of a broken heart open to the Lord Himself.” ‘The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.’ Psalm 34:18.

Fifth, “Teach them the inestimable blessing or blessedness of being a child of God.” ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.’

There’s no desolation of godly parents as they disciple and discipline and define their children in their Lord and Savior! There’s no desolation of children as they receive the care, training, discipling of godly parents! AMEN?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

FORGOTTEN? GOD’S BLESSING OF VISIONS, VOICES, AND DREAMS?

You’ve heard it in your spiritual pilgrimage: “You hear from God? What planet are you from? I may not be a PhD, but I’m smart enough to know your “talks, visitations, voices” from God is sure lunacy! If I were you, I’d visit a professional, highly intelligent psychiatrist!” And they walk away from you as if they had met the devil himself if they believed in him.

But I would point you to Abraham who was one of world history’s most famous people. In Genesis 15 “the word of the Lord came to Abram ‘in a vision,’ God saying to Abram, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” And the history, the pilgrimage, the journey is still going on! In fact in John 8:56, Jesus said: [Did you read it right? Yes! “Jesus said,”] “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

Listen carefully to Galatians 3:5-9! “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? – just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.”

After being a Baptist pastor for 12 years, 1962 – 1974, in February 1974 I was truly and mercifully born again, born the second time, born of the Spirit, and began an amazing journey of faith and obedience to my Lord and Savior. Between 1975 through 1981, I made about one trip a year to Brazil, working along the Amazon River. A friend said to me in 1981, “Farrell, you need to go to India!” I was not impressed but our gracious Lord DID put India on my heart. My first trip there was about 1982, a door being opened by another friend to a Church of South India church fellowship where I taught pastors in the daytime and did a three-night open-air crusade in a huge lot next to the church. After the final service was over that Sunday night, alone, I walked around that open field, thanking the Lord for the gracious harvest and the huge blessings. Then the Lord clearly spoke as if in an audible voice – I will never forget it. It was if God opened the heavens and said to me, TO ME!, “Son, you are to begin a journey with the purpose of the rest of your life ministering life and truth to my India pastors!”

In 1983 Macedonian Ministry of Missions was established and for 25 years, 4-5 trips a year, from 3 weeks to 3 months, I have ministered all over India in pastors’ conferences and open-air crusades. I taught in Haiti, the Philippines, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Thailand, Cambodia, and a few conferences in England – all because I HEARD THE VOICE AND VISION OF GOD FOR MY LIFE AND MINISTRY!

In Numbers 24:1-4 God’s Holy Word says, “Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON HIM. Then he took up the oracle and said: ‘The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, the utterance of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes wide open..” What an awesome revelation from the God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! GET READY- HIS VISION, VOICE, OR DREAM IS ABOUT TO COME TO YOU!!**

Since God is no respecter of persons, examine Psalm 89:15-24, putting your name alongside David’s expecting God to do for you what He did for David! “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn [strength] is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our king to the Holy One of Israel. THEN YOU SPOKE IN A VISION TO YOUR HOLY ONES, and said: “I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from among the people. I have chosen My servant David; with My holy oil I have anointed him, with whom My hand shall be established; also My arm shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague those who hate him. But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, and in My name his horn shall be exalted.” And, Thank God, that the God of true salvation is no respecter of persons!

I remember being in a pastors’ conference that Pastor Peter Lord led in his church in Titusville, Florida, many years ago. As I recall that conference, I remember a young pastor in his late twenties or early thirties asking Peter a question. Peter had been teaching on hearing God’s voice and the young pastor said to him, “I’ve never heard the voice of God! How does it happen?” And Peter instructed us all as well as the young pastor to bow our heads in total silence, begin to ask the Father to speak to us personally, and after a number of minutes, in that quietness, we all began to hear a man weeping. It was the questioner – and Peter said: “Young man, what did God say to you?” And the young pastor, through his tears, said, “God said, ‘You are My son, and I love you!’” He or you will never be the same when God speaks, envisions for you, or gives you a ‘dream’ out of the heart of God!

What does Proverbs 29:18 tell us? “Where there is no vision, the people perish,” or “cast off restraints”! In Proverbs 8:32-36 there is such a valuable Word that truly opens the door to divine opportunity or closes that door leaving a man to ‘try’ and find his own way, which usually leads him away from God, not towards Him! It says: “Now therefore, listen to me [to wisdom], my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.”

But, what if you are one who does NOT love “death,” but has a deep longing in your heart to hear God, how does one ‘get in’ on “The Blessing of Visions, Voices, or Dreams?”

I BELIEVE THE BLESSING OF VISIONS, VOICES, OR DREAMS BECOMES REALITY WHEN ONE IS TRULY SENSITIVE AND OPEN TO GOD’S UNVEILINGS OF HIMSELF AND HIS WILL THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD! When you come to the Book of Habakkuk, in chapter 2, verse 1, we read: “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He [God] will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.”

That is one huge ‘life-changer,’ the attitude of standing watch over one’s own heart, setting one’s self in the frame of reference of WANTING TO HEAR GOD, and “watching to see what God will say to me.. and what I will answer when I am corrected!” But far too many are not interested in ‘correction’ but God’s approval for them to continue down the road of self-affirmation!

The promise IS GIVEN! Verses 2 & 3 tell us: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” In other words, God’s Word is sure!

What did Jesus quote to Satan who came to tempt Him in Matthew 4:4? “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Do you understand? God’s Holy Word has been written specifically for YOU as if YOU were the only one it was ever written for! Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word, God, is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Is that true for you? The psalmist said in Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

No doubt this is why Peter said in I Peter 2:2, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” [or grow up into your salvation!]”. It’s so interesting and so valuable and so important to us what God said in Jeremiah 23:22!! “But if they [the prophets] had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.”

I BELIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF VISIONS, VOICES, AND DREAMS, ARE BIRTHED EVEN IN THE MIDST OF GOD’S OPPORTUNITIES IN DRASTIC HUMAN EVENTS. Do you remember Paul and Silas imprisoned for the faith in Acts 16? Look with me at verses 25-34! But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.”

Jail, prison, hospital, family crisis, student dilemma, war and a soldier in a fox-hole, job crisis, job loss, business failure, marriage seemingly down the tubes of failure,…and somebody cries out: “God, help me,” – and He sends Jesus as your rescuer and Redeemer!

I BELIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF VISIONS, VOICES, AND DREAMS, ARE BROUGHT TO REALITY AND FRUITION BY THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. In I Corinthians 2:9-12 we read: But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

All of a sudden, by grace through faith, my journey is not determined by my best efforts, my own ‘wise’ or ‘unwise’ counsel, by even my fleshly attempt to learn from others’ failures, but by the holy presence of God’s promise of the Holy Spirit to be in me, ‘guiding me into all truth,’ ‘testifying of Jesus and His plans for my life,’ and ‘opening up God’s Word through Holy Spirit interpretation practically for MY journey day by day!’

Oswald Chambers said in his “My Utmost For God’s Highest,” [p.265], “If you try to dam up the Holy Spirit in you to produce subjective experiences, you will find that He will burst all bounds and take you back again to the historic Christ. Never nourish an experience which has not God as its Source and faith in God as its result.”

In John 20:21-22 we read, So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” No doubt this is why Paul had to ask the Corinthians if their walk was an explanation of Holy Spirit presence and power: I Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

Isn’t it amazing to you as it is to me after discovering God’s blessing of the Indwelling Holy Spirit that Christians often fear the Holy Spirit and apart from faith the unsaved don’t even know “the power of God and His leadership through the Holy Spirit?” Three times in the first five verses of Romans 8 Paul said: “according to the Spirit”! The Holy Spirit convicts, convinces, and converts, then consecrates a “new-born life” on the altar of sacrifice! Yield to the Holy Spirit!

I BELIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF VISIONS, VOICES, AND DREAMS, FLOURISH WHEN ONE IS OPEN TO SOVEREIGN, DIVINE DIRECTIVES, OUT OF THE MIND, HEART, AND SPIRIT OF GOD HIMSELF. Come to Acts 8:26-35! Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading from Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself, or of some other man?” Then Philip opened His mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.”

Notice, an angel of the Lord spoke to him. Notice, also, the Holy Spirit directs Philip. And notice, Philip was available to represent God before the eunuch! You’ve, no doubt, heard of “entertaining angels unaware”! Then praise God, the eunuch was spiritually sensitive enough to seek for himself, with help! But when pride enters in, when rebellion fills the heart, when hardness shuts the door, opposites of the eunuch neither listen, hear, or envision what God truly has in store for them.

It was T.S.Eliot in “Choruses from the Rock” who wrote: “Endless invention, endless experiment, Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness; Knowledge of speech, but not of silence; Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word. Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?”

How on target is that? Endless activity, but no time for an angel! Endless effort, but no time for Life! Speech, words, motion but no time for the Master! Blessing doesn’t come in and of ourselves. Eternal purpose is never discovered when my ears are deaf to the spoken Words of Jesus. Overcoming power of fleshly lives never becomes “God’s helping hands” when I see only myself as the answer to and for me. In Jeremiah 13:25-27 [NIV] we read: “Because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods, I will pull up your skirts over your face that your shame may be seen – your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution!”

In “The Power of the Call,” Henry Brandt wrote: [p.49], “If a man is a sinner, the diagnosis disturbs him. It is my responsibility and the pastors’ to declare the truth to him. [Like an angel!]. It is important we speak the truth in love by describing what he will see in the mirror of God’s Word.”

Wrong road travelers need angelic assistance, passionate Philips, and those who speak to them under Holy Spirit anointing! Those under the curse and not the blessing need “truth-speakers” not agree-ers who know the end result of going one’s own way, doing only what one’s fallen sin-nature dictates, and feeling comfortable walking the ways of the godless, and at the same time thinking everything is A-OK when I deny God His rightful place in my life.

At least the psalmist feared God! In Psalm 119:37-38 we read: “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You.”

In 2 Corinthians 1:8, Paul walked where a lot of people in our troubled world walk, but not without hope. While he was in Asia trouble came his way to the point he was ‘burdened beyond measure..despairing even of life. Verse 9, Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.” Spiritually dead! Trust in God – not in yourself!

I BELIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF VISIONS, VOICES, AND DREAMS ARE ACTIVE AND FULFILLING WHEN ONE”S HEART IS SINGULAR AND NOT DIVIDED. In 2 Chronicles 26:16 the Word says of Uzziah, “But when he had become strong, his heart was so lifted up that he acted corruptly. For he was false to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to make an offering on the altar of incense.”

At one point here was a man who grew in stature before the Lord and men, then fell away. Did it say “his heart was lifted up?” A lifted-up heart when God says, “Guard your heart?” A lifted-up heart when God tells us “the heart is deceitful?” A lifted-up heart when in Jeremiah 17:9 God tells us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Verse 10, I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

But do you understand a “darkened heart”? Are you aware of a “deceived heart”? Does a “disillusioned heart” say anything to you? Human lives with no hope of “new”, “changed or exchanged,” “God-given hearts”, or some of the saddest people you’ll ever be around, even as they ‘smile’ at you or make fun of your faith!

Peter said “you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,” and he was talking about Jesus with whom God was well-pleased! [2 Peter 1:19]. Look at verses 16-18! “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ AND WE HEARD THIS VOICE WHICH CAME FROM HEAVEN when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”

Is your heart singular minded in yieldedness to Almighty God or are you still divided as to your allegiance and reception of God’s “His-Story”?

I BELIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF VISIONS, VOICES, AND DREAMS ARE TRULY LIFE-YIELDING WHEN ONE PRAYS THE PRAYER OF REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST AT THE CROSS – I SIGN ON TO THE TRUTH OF GOD’S UNVEILING OF THE ONE TRUE SAVIOR AND LORD! Look at Romans 10:8-13!! But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach); that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham Lotz has written a book entitled: “My Heart’s Cry.” [pps. 18-20], She wrote: “Years ago I had the privilege of praying with a woman in my class as she responded to God’s Word by confessing her sin, claiming the cross as her atonement for sin, and inviting Jesus into her heart and life, surrendering to Him as Savior and Lord. Her face was soaked in tears and wreathed in smiles when she got up off her knees. She was assured she belonged to the Shepherd and was safely inside the fold of a personal, permanent relationship with God.

Several days later, she asked me to accompany her as she went to tell her pastor of the decision she had made. I sat beside her on the small sofa in the pastor’s elegantly appointed study as she poured out her heart. With a voice that trembled with emotion and eyes that brimmed with tears, she described the commitment she had prayerfully made earlier in the week then blurted out, “I’ve been born again!”

The pastor, wearing a three-piece pinstripe suit with a gold watch chain draped across the front of his vest, listened attentively as he sat in a red leather desk chair. His silver hair was immaculate, his manicured fingers were fanned out and pressed together in a thoughtful pose, and his expression was kindly patient as his deep voice resonated in the paneled chamber. With a condescending tone that might be used with a rather slow-witted child, he explained, “But my dear Susan, you weren’t born again this week! Why, you were baptized when you were twelve years old! You’re a member of this church. You teach Sunday school. You’ve been a Christian all your life.”

I barely noticed the hostile dagger of a glance he threw me because I was so incredibly dumbfounded! His reaction to Susan was a totally unexpected revelation of what seemed to be a false shepherd!…Susan had taken God at His Word! She had heard the voice of the Shepherd, calling her by name, and she responded by following Him in a life of faith, with the first step being her own salvation. And this professional shepherd was saying it wasn’t so!…It was depressingly obvious that he was a false shepherd who had led that very prestigious church possibly without ever having entered through the Door of the fold for himself! He did not recognize or acknowledge the Shepherd’s voice in Susan’s life.”

Almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the precious and powerful Holy Spirit, The Holy Word of God, that loving pastor, that caring friend, that unannounced angel, the heavenly, eternal music, that stranger in the night, that caring, ministering doctor treating you in the hospital, that true grocer, that loving neighbor…on and on and on!! Visions, voices, and dreams! They aren’t flukes of nature, lies out of hell, fiction stories from phony teachers – IT’S GOD! IT’S JESUS! IT’S THE HOLY SPIRIT!! And they say, “Come, come unto Me…and I [Jesus] will give you rest! I’ll make you young again!!” Come! Come to Him! His vision, voice, and dream is for your salvation!

“Where there is no vision the people perish!”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FORGOTTEN? HOLY FIRE OR SMOKY FEELINGS?

Have you ever heard it? “Well, Brother Fisher, when I’m up, I’m up; when I’m in, I’m in; but when I’m down, I’m down; and when I’m out, I’m out; I don’t know about this “fiery stuff”, but I do have smoky feelings at times and really believe I just might be what I profess!” But there’s no change that reflects the Indwelling Christ. Could it be too much smoke and not enough fire?

What I’ve learned over my 78 years of life is: Wordy sermons touch heads; holy fires touch hearts. Intelligent teaching touches minds; holy fires touch the will of men. Classy speech in the pulpit moves intellect; holy fires touch the diseases of a compromised life!

Have you ever seriously considered why the first four centuries of the Christian faith were so powerful in touching our world with grace, but our modern world concerning church life and its impact on a sick world is so fragmented and fruitless to a great degree? I was recently reading Exodus and verses just exploded off the page in Exodus 3:1-5! Listen with your heart and your mind: Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

Did you see “mountain of God” or high places? Did you consider “the Angel” [messenger of the Lord] appearing to him? Did you see a manifestation “in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush”? Did you see Moses saying, “I will turn aside and see…?” Did you see, in the midst of all that, God saying, “HOLY GROUND”? What is it for you: smoky feelings or Holy Fire? Heart changes never come about redemptively through social or political recommendations but through the “holy fires of God”!

Has that changed for this modern day? I don’t think so! In Deuteronomy 4:11-12, as Moses spoke to Israel, so God speaks to us: “Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.” GOD HELP US! WE NEED GOD AGAIN SPEAKING TO US OUT OF THE FIRE!

In Jeremiah 23:29 God spoke through the prophet: “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah the prophet suffered because he sought to be faithful to God’s revealed Word, will, and way. There came a moment when he thought he’d have to walk away. But listen to what Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 20:9, “Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name,’ But His Word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.” God help us again to witness, not smoky feelings, but a fire in our bones!

Don’t you find it interesting, and, yes, convicting, that God’s Word tells us in Hebrews 1:7, “And of the angels [messengers] He [God] says: ‘Who makes His angels spirit and His ministers a flame of fire’”? How did John put it in Luke 3:16? John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Oh, really? Show me the fire in you! I was reading recently George Mallone’s book “Furnace of Renewal.” He really laid it out for disciples and churches when he emphasized ‘cosmetic renewal of the church’ is not an option churches and disciples are to take, but to find themselves “refined in the furnace of renewal”! That sounds to me like disciples and churches getting enveloped in “the fires of God”, not their fleshly best!

Leonard Ravenhill, in his book “Why Revival Tarries” made several penetrating statements: [p.20], “Preachers used to sow seed; now they string intellectual pearls. (Imagine a field sown with pearls!)…Away with this palsied, powerless preaching which is unmoving because it was born in a tomb instead of a womb, and nourished in a fireless, prayerless soul.” If one becomes ‘fireless’, it is an indication he hasn’t been on his face before the throne of God, and, is an indication spiritual death reigns in him rather than Resurrection Life, Resurrection Hope, and Resurrection power! No doubt this is why Samuel Chadwick wrote what he did: “Truth without enthusiasm, morality without emotion, ritual without soul, are things Christ unsparingly condemned. Destitute of fire, they are nothing more than a godless philosophy, an ethical system, and a superstition.”

Oh, but hear me: You know ‘godly fire’ when a man or a church’s impotence is infused with God’s omnipotence! You know ‘godly fire’ when a man or a church’s weakness is totally overshadowed by God’s reigning Spirit of power! You know ‘godly fire’ when the dry faith of a dried-up, shrinking disciple or the dried-up skins of a shrinking church’s faith is lit on fire by Holy Spirit anointing with rivers of living water flowing, yes, even through the flames! You really want to know what true Christianity and true church-life and true discipleship is all about? Stand next to the flames of the fires of God!

It was Andrew Reed who prayed: “Come as the fire, and purge our hearts with sacrificial flame; Let our soul an offering be to our Redeemer’s Name.” Sacrificial flames? You know, I’m sure, about Chuck Colson, former Special Counsel to President Nixon who ended up in prison and then came into the fullness of an intimate relationship with Christ Jesus. I read about him in the book “For Such a Time as This.” It’s an amazing story of the evidence of a Christ-lived, fiery testimony! Listen: [p.43], And on the darkest day of my life – when my dad had died, and my mother was alone, and the other Watergate fellows were released because they were sentenced by a different judge – the darkest day of my life – I received a phone call from Al Quie, the seventh ranking Republican Congressman in the U.S. House of representatives, later Governor of Minnesota. He said, “Chuck, I know what you’re going through in prison. Your prayer group has been praying and I’m going to see President Ford tomorrow and ask him if I can come in and serve the rest of your prison sentence.” I went to my bunk that night and said, “Thank You, Lord. I know you are real when no greater love as this, that a man will lay his life down for a brother.”

But that’s not all of the story! Listen to what else Colson wrote! [pps.43-44]. “I told that story across America. One day, a woman for PBS was interviewing me in Chicago after I received the Templeton Prize, and I told her that story. She said to me, “How can you be so sure that Christ is real?” I told her the story. As I was telling it, you could see the mascara was covering a lot of scars on her face. And as I was telling that story, the tears started to roll down her cheeks. She said, “Excuse me a minute Mr. Colson,” and she went in the washroom. When she came back, she had washed her face and gotten all the cosmetics back on. She said, “Let’s film that scene again. Would you repeat that story?” I repeated the story and I looked over the second time and the tears were flowing down her cheeks; she couldn’t stop. I met with her afterwards; she had grown up in the church, fallen away, got disinterested, and she looked at me and said, “If that really is the church, I’ve got to go back and be part of it.”

Our Savior’s love, grace, and mercy is a heavenly fire that attracts, draws, and embraces one to the point he’s willing to lay his life down as Jesus did His! Warm fires have drawing powers to cold souls! And certainly communities of saving faith are to be communities that are so strong and warm and loving and caring and touching others with our Lord’s selfless love that those touched don’t want to be any other place than surrounded by fires of divine love and compassion! This is why Paul said in Galatians 1:15-16, “…when it pleased God…to reveal His Son in me.” In Christ, you, yes, that’s YOU! And you are the “bond-fire” of His Living Presence that God uses to attract others to Himself!

But some say, “I haven’t sensed the ‘fire’; or, “I’m afraid that the fire I’ve known needs to be re-kindled!” I love how Robert Browning put it in “Fifine at the Fair”: “Beneath the veriest ash, there hides a spark of soul Which, quickened by love’s breath, may yet pervade the whole O’ the gray, and, free again, be fire.” The Lord Jesus is the Author of promises, and on His promises you can stand, filled again with ‘holy fire’!

It was Reinhard Bonnke in “Evangelism by Fire” who said: [p.22], “Fire is the ensign of the Gospel, the sign of the Son of Man. Only Jesus baptizes in fire.” I don’t know how it is with you, but one thing I’m assured of: Deep hunger calls for hot fires in the Spirit-realm of our journey! Fiery passion, not faithless pursuit, opens the door of Heaven for God Almighty to step down in our midst releasing His ‘rivers of Living Water’! Sovereign intervention ‘strikes the match’ to Holy Spirit release in us who find ourselves empty, dry, wondering how we fulfill His eternal purpose, and crying out for God’s help. Someone asked John Wesley about the “how” of his explosive ministry in England and across the world of his day, and he responded, saying, “I just set myself on fire for God and people come to see me burn!!”

I want you to come to Romans 8:22-23, 26-27! “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body…Verses 26-27, Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the SPIRIT HIMSELF makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” THANK GOD FOR THE INTERCEDING HOLY SPIRIT!

“Flesh” does not, cannot, will not bear witness to redemptive Truth, but the Holy Spirit “bears witness” through surrendered, yielded lives! Come to I John 5 where the ‘beloved disciple’, John, bears witness because of the Holy Spirit within Him: Verses 6-11, “This is He who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. AND IT IS THE SPIRIT [the HOLY SPIRIT] who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” THE SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS!

This is why Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:18, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” Didn’t we read in the beginning of this chapter, Hebrews 1:7, that God makes “His angels [messengers] a flame of fire”? That comes to each and every disciple! But do all receive that available gift and anointing? I don’t think so!

Fire without faith is a futile, fragile, feeble representation of the presence of Holy God in His fullness. Fire without fruit is the absence of the nature and character of Christ and fatal to an on-going walk that reflects Christ in His fullness. And fire without fullness is emptiness, a dry-well life, a river or lake spiritually drained to the degree of drought.

In Chuck Swindoll’s book, “Come Before Winter,” [p.44], he told about how, during the reign of Oliver Cromwell, that the British government began to run low on silver for coins. Swindoll said: “Lord Cromwell sent his men on an investigation of the local cathedral to see if they could find any precious metal there. After investigating, they reported: ‘The only silver we could find is the statues of the saints standing in the corners,’ to which the radical soldier and statesman of England replied: ‘Good! We’ll melt down the saints and put them in circulation!’” Does a melted saint speak to you?

In Ezekial 34:26 God spoke then and now: “I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.” That is Spirit-fullness and Spirit-fire! Don’t miss Acts 2:14-21!! Please read!

In the close of Swindoll’s book, “Flying Closer To The Flame,” [pps.246-247], he wrote: “When we are Spirit-filled and therefore rightly related to the Spirit of God:

*We are surrounded by the Spirit’s omnipotent shield of protection, continually and routinely.

*We have an inner dynamic to handle life’s pressures.

* We are able to be joyful…regardless.

*We have the capacity to grasp the deep things of God that He discloses to us in His Book.

*We have little difficulty maintaining a positive attitude of unselfishness, servanthood, and humility.

*We have a keen sense of intuition and discernment; we sense evil.

*We are able to love and be loved in return.

*We can be vulnerable and open.

*We can rely on the Spirit to intercede for us when we don’t even know how to pray as we ought.

*We need never fear evil or demonic and satanic assault.

*We are enabled to stand alone with confidence.

*We experience inner assurance regarding decisions as well as right and wrong.

*We have an “internal filtering system.”

*We can actually live worry-free.

*We are able to minister to others through our spiritual gift(s).

*We have an intimate, abiding “Abba relationship” with the living God.

Have we so easily forgotten what John proclaimed in Matthew 3:11? “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Oh, how there needs to be the radiance of the Spirit over rituals, fruit of the Spirit over fleshly smoke, willfulness under the Spirit’s leadership over fleshly waywardness, the Spirit-Age over any church-age, tongues of Spirit-anointed truth over our ‘fleshly’ interpretations, solid Spirit-revealed Truth over the professor’s faithless interpretation, the divine ‘fire’ of the Holy Spirit over ‘dummy ammunition,’ the fullness of the blessing over the emptiness of Satan’s lies, furnaces of holy presence over the empty tin-can promises of Satan!!

In fact, in God’s Holy Word, Isaiah 59:19b, His precious Word tells us ALL: “…When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

I close this chapter with words from Oswald Chambers in his “My Utmost…” [p.248] Quoting John 16:14, “He shall glorify Me,” Chambers wrote: “The pietistic movements of today have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them; there is nothing about them that needs the Death of Jesus Christ; all that is required is a pious atmosphere, and prayer and devotion. This type of experience is not supernatural nor miraculous, it did not cost the passion of God, it is not dyed in the blood of the Lamb, not stamped with the hall-mark of the Holy Ghost; it has not that mark on it which makes men say, as they look with awe and wonder – “That is the work of God Almighty.” That and nothing else is what the New Testament talks about….Jesus said, ‘When He the Spirit of Truth is come…He shall glorify.” When I commit myself to the revelation made in the New Testament, I receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit Who begins to interpret to me what Jesus did; and does in me subjectively all that Jesus Christ did for me objectively.” And that objective work in me? The Spirit lights a fire!

For you, what is it? Holy fire or smoky feelings?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

FORGOTTEN? JOY COMES IN THE MORNING?

As long as ‘professing Christians’ are in control of their own spiritual destiny, ‘joy’ is not only forgotten, it is totally absent from the ‘professor of faith.’ Does it ever occur to us that ‘our choices’ cripple our joy in Jesus? Whatever happened to “Your will be done on earth [through me] as it is in heaven?” I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Happiness is an emotion of feelings that has nothing to do with faith, but joy is the very fruit of the Holy Spirit filling, directing, and blessing your life! And, oh, how easy it is to slip out of Spirit-control to our own ‘fleshly control’!

Oswald Chambers wrote this: [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.178], “What was the joy that Jesus had? It is an insult to use the word happiness in connection with Jesus Christ. The joy of Jesus was the absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice of Himself to His Father, the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do. “I delight to do Your will, Father-God.” Jesus prayed that our joy might go on fulfilling itself until it was the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?”

As a pastor who performed many, many weddings, I don’t believe I ever knew a “friend of the bridegroom” who was downcast, unhappy, but literally joyful over his friend’s wedding! And “friends of the Bridegroom-Jesus”, are blessed with eternal joy, not fickle feelings of happiness!

There was a purpose, eternal purpose about why Jesus came. Isaiah 61:1-3, and verse 7, tells us: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me, to preach good tidings [joy?] to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness [or depression]; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified…Verse 7, Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting Joy shall be theirs.” Wow! What a promise fulfilled through the Indwelling Christ in us!

Have you ever been around folks whose countenance is usually ‘uncommon despair’? But then you come face to face with a Paul! Listen to Dallas Willard in his book “Renovation of the Heart,” [p.236], “The weakness of the vessel, Paul’s physical reality, was accepted and recognized by him as the occasion for the triumph of the treasure.” And I’m sure the ‘triumph of the treasure’ was and is the Indwelling Christ and the fruit of His Spirit including “joy”!

Earlier in the same book, [p.133], Willard said: “But for joy, ‘all’ is well, even in the midst of specific suffering and loss. Self-sacrificial love is therefore always joyous – no matter the pain and loss it may involve. For we are always looking at the larger scene in which love rules: Where all things (no matter what) work together for good to those who love God and are drawn into his purposeful actions on earth.” No doubt this is why Paul said in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

In Psalm 30:5b we read: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” That’s a sure promise from God Himself, but I have to ask, “Is a ‘night’ a twenty-four period or a season of the soul that is dark? Is the ‘morning’ the next sunrise or also that which can be future, a few days, a few years, or even decades?” But why do some forget, doubt, or refuse to believe, at least in their case that joy will come ‘in the morning’?

I BELIEVE SOME INTENTIONALLY FORGET THAT “JOY COMES IN THE MORNING” BECAUSE THEY CANNOT RELATE ‘TROUBLE,’ ‘CONFLICTS’, OR ‘TRIBULATION’ AS A PART OF RELIGIOUS FAITH. But in John 16:33 Jesus Himself said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Can’t you hear the doubters, the drifters, the defiant ones, who would like to be a part of God’s Kingdom, but not if trouble is their ticket to a full and blessed life? “Your God can’t protect you? Your God can’t deliver you from trouble? You mean if I come to Christ I should expect hardship, battles, troubles, conflicts, even injuries body, soul, and spirit?”

Our walk with Christ, with the Living God, is a walk in His winepress – and we’re the grapes that will be crushed so His pure wine through us is released! Let me tell you of “the celebration of privilege” from Paul’s point of view! 2 Corinthians 11:22-28! “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? – I speak as a fool – I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness – besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all churches.”

Hear me! There is abiding joy in Jesus regardless of our circumstances! There is abundant joy in Jesus in the midst of suffering! There is an always abounding joy in Jesus irrespective of what comes our way because HE IS WITH US! He tells us: “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And “joy comes in the morning!”

I BELIEVE ALSO SOME CIRCUMSTANTIALLY FORGET “JOY COMES IN THE MORNING” BECAUSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND AN UNBELIEVING WORLD AROUND YOU OPPOSE YOUR FAITH –IT’S HEAVY – BUT WE DON’T LOSE HEART! It was Eliphaz who said to Job in Job 4:7-9, “Remember now, whoever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? [You do see that Job’s friend thought he was cut off by God when Job’s suffering is coming from his friend in false accusations!]. Even as I have seen those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of His anger they are consumed.”

Blaming behavior is a technique of friends and family who have no relationship with God or are totally deprived of understanding of His Word because they never read it! In Job 8:6-7 Bildad came against Job unmercifully: “If you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and prosper your rightful dwelling place. Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.”

And here is an amazing blessing: Job 42:10, “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” “Joy comes in the morning!”

I BELIEVE “JOY IN THE MORNING” IS FORGOTTEN WHEN WE STRIVE IN OUR OWN STRENGTH AND FAIL! Nehemiah 8 is such an important chapter of biblical reading for every person anywhere in the world. Why? Because fleshly effort had birthed only failure and guilt and they knew they were ‘law-breakers’ without any strength!

But then in Nehemiah 8:10b Nehemiah said to those who had no joy but bathed themselves only in sorrow, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Try or trust? My effort or His ease? Our attempts or His Atonement?

I hope you clearly understand God’s understanding of YOU WITHOUT HIM! IN Romans 5:6 Paul wrote: “For when were we still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Self-strength people are truly the most hopeless people on earth because they believe they are “able” when truly, before Holy God, they are and need to be “helpless”!

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul bares his soul: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasures in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Do you see that, understand it, rest in it? Your strength – no joy, your striving – no joy, your best effort – no joy? You’ve seen it more often than you’d like – “self-made” individuals with any suggestion by you that they need to be finished with themselves and rest in the finished work of Christ at the Cross!

I BELIEVE “JOY IN THE MORNING” IS FORGOTTEN WHEN SOME ARE OVERWHELMED BY FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND THEY SUCCUMB TO THEIR ACCUSERS AND FALL IN ‘LOCK-STEP” WITH THEM RATHER THAN OUR LORD – AND WHATEVER JOY THEY EXPERIENCED IS LOST. I’ve witnessed that in a number of lives over the years, but I’m so encouraged when I see, read about, or witness the attitude of those like David: Psalm 27:11-14, “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”

We just saw in Nehemiah 8:10 that “The joy of the Lord is your strength!” But the false accusations can be so debilitative if we are not cemented in His Word and standing faithfully with the heroes of the faith who are not swayed by the false accusers!

In Proverbs 25:18-20 we read: “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, and a foot out of joint. Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, and like vinegar on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.” Because of your faith in Christ, have you ever felt “the club, the sharp arrow, or the sword” in your mind, heart, or spirit? But then Proverbs 25:28 challenges us: “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” Who or what ‘rules your own spirit’ – God and His Holy Word, OR, the false accusations of false accusers? As a result…Next,

I BELIEVE “JOY IN THE MORNING” IS FORGOTTEN OR LOST BECAUSE SOME WILLINGLY WALK AWAY FROM THE AWARENESS OF HIS ABIDING PRESENCE. In Psalm 16:11 there is such an encouraging, illuminating verse of hope and assurance: “You [God] will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” True? Absolutely – without any shadow of a doubt! But then there came a brief ‘moment’ when even David cried out, “God, where are You?”

I know, and I’m thankful, that there are those precious people who’ve never stepped away, never had a doubt, never stumbled into a state of despair or spiritual frustration, but at the same time I know the awareness of His abiding presence can slip away for moments, days, weeks, even years! And that ‘choice’ produces clouds of doubts about His presence.

So…settle it in your mind and heart: Jesus says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you!” But, like David, there was a departure and he lost his joy! In Psalm 51:12 he cried out: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” The deep valley of your own humiliation can become the mountain peak of His constant restorative love and grace!

Oswald Chambers wrote: [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.139], “Have you the slightest reliance on anything other than God? Is there a remnant of reliance left on any natural virtue, any set of circumstances? Are you relying on yourself in any particular in this new proposition which God has put before you? [ Let me insert Proverbs 3:5-6 right here, right now! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”] That is what probing means. It is quite true to say –“I cannot live a holy life,” but you can decide to let Jesus Christ make you holy. ‘YOU CANNOT SERVE THE LORD GOD,’ but you can put yourself in the place where God’s almighty power will come through you. Are you sufficiently right with God to expect Him to manifest His wonderful life in you?” It’s time to ‘run to Jesus’ if you’ve lost His joy!

I BELIEVE “JOY IN THE MORNING” IS LOST WHEN WE FAIL TO SEE “JOY” AS PLANTED SEED WITH “JOY” COMING AS WE FAITHFULLY REAP. Psalm 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seeds for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

There’s a sad word in Isaiah 16 as God came into Moab in judgment – and His Word says: Verse 6, “We have heard of the pride of Moab – he is very proud – of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; but his lies [or vain talk] shall not be so.” And the result? Verse 10 says, “Gladness is taken away, and joy from the plentiful field; in the vineyards there will be no singing, nor will there be shouting; no treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I HAVE MADE THEIR SHOUTING CEASE.”

Isaiah 9 has a more encouraging word for those who want to “reap” JOY: Verses 3-4, “You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; they rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You [God] have broken the yoke of his burden…” [Could that burden for you be “no joy”? It’s broken in Jesus Name!! Receive afresh and anew the joy of the Lord!!]

How did Paul put it for us in I Thessalonians 2:19-20? “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.” Are you planting the seeds of joy and seeing a faithful harvest?

I BELIEVE “JOY IN THE MORNING” IS SIDE-TRACKED WHEN WE FAIL TO SEE THE TRUE ‘KINGDOM OF GOD’ LIVING IN THE HERE AND NOW. How often have you heard it: “Oh, Kingdom of God living? That’s when we get to heaven in the after-life.”

You do realize there are those who don’t believe the Bible to be God’s Holy Word, or, if they do believe it, never open it! But in Matthew 6:9-10 as Jesus Himself was teaching men to pray, He said: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Paul so amplified it for us when in Romans 14:17 he wrote: “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” And if the kingdom of God IS “joy in the Holy Spirit” in the here and now, it’s time to claim Kingdom of God ruling and reigning in our lives!

I BELIEVE “JOY IN THE MORNING” IS FORFEITED WHEN MEN LOSE SIGHT OF PRAYER AS THEIR FORTIFICATION AND FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PROMISES. In Romans 15:22-33 Paul shared about his plans in the Lord to visit Rome. Don’t miss this for the very health of your daily spiritual life!

“For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may COME TO YOU WITH JOY BY THE WILL OF GOD, and may be refreshed together with you.”

Why would Paul request prayer for his joyous arrival in Rome? Do you remember him telling the church at Ephesus to “put on the whole armor of God” including the weapon of prayer? Because there are enemies of the Faith in the natural world and from the god of this age, even Satan! If there is ‘prayerlessness’ it is because we have no enemies in darkness, only friends, OR, we are shamefully neglectful of finishing our journey well – one becomes complacent, then indifferent, and then comes ‘shots’ out of Hell itself putting an end to your ‘profession’.

This is why Jesus said in Luke 18:1, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” I’ve never seen a ‘fainting spell’ by a lady or a gentleman to be a joyous occasion! Let’s let Oswald Chambers enlighten us a little bit: [p.259], “Our work lies in coming into definite contact with God about everything, and we shirk it by becoming active workers.” And there is such a huge distance between ‘active worker’ and ‘active warrior’ – and no one is ready to be a joy-filled servant who has lost the passion of prayer! Is prayer for others an evidence of a joy-filled heart?

In I John 3:16-17 are vitally important and discerning words: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” And I don’t believe that you can separate love from joy or joy from love. Has your spiritual temperature?

Let me close this chapter in Hebrews 12:2, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Where are you presently seated?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning died early in the year of 1861. I have a book of her poems that was published in 1838. It is 400 pages long. Her last poem was entitled “Weariness”. Follow her words carefully: “Mine eyes are weary of surveying the fairest things, too soon decaying; Mine ears are weary of receiving The kindest words – ah, past believing!…

Weary my hope, of ebb and flow; Weary my pulse, of tunes of woe: My trusting heart is weariest! I would – I would, I were at rest!

For me, can earth refuse to fade? For me, can words be faithful made? Will my embittered hope be sweet? My pulse forego the human beat?

No! Darkness must consume mine eye – Silence, mine ear – hope cease – pulse die – And o’er mine heart a stone be pressed – Or vain this, – ‘Would I were at rest!’

There is a land of rest deferred: Nor eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, Nor hope beheld is hope no more! There, human pulse forgets its tone – There, hearts may know as they are known!

Oh, for dove’s wings, thou dwelling blest, To fly to thee, and be at rest!”

I’m not really sure Where Browning was spiritually when she wrote “Weariness”, but I assure you that you can “FLY AWAY” with a joyous heart because of Jesus!

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

FORGOTTEN? PROFIT THAT BECOMES LOSS?

Because a man “gains the whole world,” is unusually successful in meeting all his pre-planned goals, pats himself on the back as a super-achiever, what has he ‘gained’ or what has he ‘lost’? It was the great Methodist preacher, J. Wallace Hamilton, who said: “people are training for success when they should be training for failure. Failure is far more common than success; poverty is more prevalent than wealth; and disappointment more normal than arrival.” And with that being true, which I think it is, what do we do about it?

Henry C. Link said: “While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior.” And I don’t look at that “becoming superior” as pride or arrogance, but one who learns true values, eternal purposes, a divine plan, that if he falls, he gets up and moves on with God!

Dr. James Kennedy, in his book “Cross Purposes,” [p.171], says the following: “The death of an unbeliever can be unpleasant. Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, was a great prince. In fact, he is immortalized as a royal personification in Machiavelli’s “the Prince.” He was devious and consummately dexterous in dealing with men and affairs. He was prepared for every extremity, for every circumstance of life. However, shortly before his death in a besieged castle in 1507, he is said to have written, ‘I have provided in the course of my life for everything except death. Now, alas, I am to die almost entirely unprepared!”

And I would say to you, “No man is prepared to live who is not prepared to die!” Why? Because this earthly, short life, is only a breath – after death is ETERNITY! Beyond the reality of death, ever before us as we live, is the question, “What is this earthly life all about?” And some never answer it although they find answers about how to prosper financially in the world they think they made for themselves!

There’s a reason for that: Look at Romans 1:21, 25! Verse 21, “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened…Verse 25, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Forgotten? “Profit or Loss?” In Matthew 16:26 Jesus said: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Richard Foster, in his book “Money, Sex, and Power,” [San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985, p.29], wrote these words: “Behind money are invisible spiritual powers, powers that are seductive and deceptive, powers that demand an all-embracing devotion.”

Didn’t Jesus give us all a warning in Luke 12:15? “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” It is possible for a man to be wealthy who is not captured by the deception of worldliness because the Lord Jesus has his heart, not his wealth being an idol he bows before!

I believe Jeremiah was so on target, so understanding of “profit or loss”, so gripped by the eternal difference between the life that truly profits against the life that ends up ‘bankrupt’. In Jeremiah 6:16 he heard the Lord! “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls…But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

Do you remember Jesus saying in Luke 14:11 these words? : “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” “Profit or loss?”

For many ‘profit’ is nothing more than self-promotion and bowing before an idol that one calls “wealth, money, lots of it for my pleasure!” For others ‘profit’ is counterfeiting dignity or the grace of human potential for ‘self-glory’. Your importance to God is not to be indulged in as importance to yourself only as number one in your own life or better or more important than anyone else! God is the author of visions and dreams and drives in every single life – profit or loss is dependent on whose road map you use, yours or God’s!

Are you familiar with T.S. Eliot’s “The Cocktail Party”? He wrote: “Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important..

They don’t mean to do harm – but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it, because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.”

And, how many have started, yes, even a walk with Jesus, and ended up disappointed, disillusioned, deterred, and detoured, fallen away, because they didn’t understand or know about “failing” or “falling” and getting up, or stopping short of the goal rather than persevering or pressing in or enduring to the end? They didn’t know, hadn’t learned, or comprehended about “counting the cost”, failing to see a cross in the walk before the manifestation of resurrection power!

In Romans 6:16 Paul wrote: “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are the one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness.” Phillips’ translation says it like this: “You ‘belong’ to the power which you choose to obey, whether you choose sin, whose reward is death, or God, obedience to whom means the reward of righteousness.”

And, either ‘profit’ or ‘loss’ is a radical choice that an individual makes on his own, influenced to spiritual profit by the Holy Spirit testifying of Jesus, or, influenced to ‘loss’ by the powers of darkness, brought into bondage by the devil himself even though his way appeared so ‘right,’ so ‘rewarding,’ but left one bankrupt!

John Bunyan wrote about the man he called “Mr. Facing-Both-Ways,” but that has never worked, never will work, and leaves one so fragmented, so fractured, so falling short of divine intent! This is why our Lord said: [Matthew 6:33], “But SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

In the book by Billy Graham entitled “The Secret of Happiness,” [p.7], he wrote: “A French leader has said that if the whole world had enough to eat, money to spend, and security from the cradle to the grave, they would ask for nothing more.” That sounded to me like President Obama and his ‘socialist’ philosophy bringing a people into bondage under government control! Jesus didn’t come to enslave a people but to set them free. Dr. Graham responded later, [p.9], “No man is so ignorant as he who knows nothing and knows not that he knows nothing. No man is so sick as he who has a fatal disease and is not aware of it. No man is so poor as he who is destitute and yet thinks he is rich.”

I’m not sure of Machiavelli’s spiritual allegiance or lack of it, but in “The Prince” he wrote: “Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.”

I want you to come back with me to Matthew 16 – and in this passage I want us to see verses 24-26, not just verse 26! It says, Jesus speaking, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life [for himself] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” “Profit or loss?”

What has Jesus told us? 1) DENY YOURSELF. Have YOU? Do you? Will you? 2) TAKE UP THE CROSS. And that’s daily – the sentence of death to one’s self daily, and, 3) FOLLOW CHRIST.

Mary B.C. Slade, in the 1800’s, wrote a hymn entitled “Footsteps of Jesus.” Hear these words:

“Sweetly, Lord, have we heard You calling, ‘Come follow Me!’ And we see where Your footprints falling, lead us to Thee….Tho’ they lead o’er the cold dark mountains, Seeking His sheep, Or along by Siloam’s fountains, Helping the weak…If they lead through the temple holy, Preaching the Word; Or in homes of the poor and lowly, Serving the Lord…By and by through the shining portals, Turning our feet, We shall walk with the glad immortals, Heaven’s golden street…Then at last when on high He sees us, Our journey done, We shall rest where the steps of Jesus End at His throne…Footprints of Jesus, That makes the pathway glow, We will follow the steps of Jesus, Where’er they go.”

Let me share several things my Lord has shown me: FIRST, SUBSTITUTIONARY LIFE FOR THE REAL, THE ETERNAL, THE PURPOSE-FILLED, THE BLESSING, IS SO AIMLESS AND EXTENDS AND EXPANDS ‘DEATH’ ALL AROUND FOR SOME! I don’t care how you interpret it but: “The wages of sin IS death,” always has been, always will be! There is such a huge difference in how fallen man interprets ‘life’ and how God interprets ‘life’! And you have grasped, if you’ve read this book this far that there is such a vast difference between ‘trying to survive’ and one being blessed, ‘trying to exist’ and truly “LIVING”, ‘trying to make it’ and being “made by God Himself”!

Haven’t you witnessed it far too often – the man who has defined life for himself void of God and saving grace, sold out to comfort, sold out to wealth security, sold out to a life of pleasure and prosperity. For this man, he is one navel-noticed and navel-rooted! He is the man who could be defined in no other way than ‘self-centered’. His wife knows it, his children know it, his friends know it, and even the world around him knows it! Substitutionary Life – without Christ!

SECOND, THE MAN WHO ALLOWS JESUS’ SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH ON THE CROSS TO BE FOR HIM AS IF JESUS SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR THAT MAN ALONE FINDS LIFE ETERNAL AND ETERNAL GAIN AND PROFIT! John put it a little differently but so on target! In John 1:4-9, 12-13, John wrote: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world…Verses12-13, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

IN HIM [JESUS] WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN! In John 8:12 Jesus told the woman ‘caught in adultery,’ “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of light.” Apart from Jesus Christ men are locked into the reality of spiritual death and separation from God Himself, but Jesus came “to set the captives free”!

Oh, please look, listen, and lay ‘your’ life down as you read Romans 5:1-2, 6-11! “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God….Verses 6-11, For when we were still without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

RECONCILIATION! Reconciled TO God, reconciled to His eternal purpose, reconciled to the God-head of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reconciled to eternal life – not fleshly, spiritual death, reconciled to the usefulness of our redeemed lives in honoring Him, reconciled to His purpose of being an extension of His life, an expression of His love, and the proof of His power, reconciled to be His vessel to touch our world with His grace, mercy, and love!

Usefulness to the glory, purpose, and honor of God! Do you have a “Big Dream”? I was recently reading Bruce Wilkinson’s book entitled “The Dream Giver”. He has a chapter entitled “You Were Born For This.” Don’t miss a word, but as you read contemplate our Lord’s words in John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” Hear Bruce Wilkinson’s story!

“The Hollywood producer didn’t believe it was true, and I couldn’t seem to change his mind, even though I was about to buy him lunch at my favorite neighborhood restaurant. He couldn’t believe that every person has been created with a Big Dream, and that most people, for one reason or another, just aren’t pursuing it. He said only a few people are ‘born dreamers.’ “Just because you happen to be one of them,” he said, “you don’t really think everyone in this restaurant is one, do you?”

I was losing the debate as we took our seats, and I didn’t know what to do. Our conversation had special meaning to me because, although my producer friend didn’t know it, I was trying to help him pursue HIS Big Dream. I was almost to the point of giving up when an idea came to mind. Why not try to prove it right in front of him?

When our waitress Sonja came to take our order, my heart was pounding. But I took a risk. I asked her, “Are you doing what you’ve always wished you could be doing?” She looked at me questioningly. “What do you mean?” she asked. I said, “Well, maybe you ARE doing your dream, and that would be terrific. But I wonder, do you have a Big Dream inside of your heart that hasn’t come true yet?”

Sonja thought for a moment. Then she said, “My mother is a nurse. My sister is a nurse. And I always dreamed of becoming a nurse.” “Would you have been a good nurse?” I asked. Sonja became emotional. “I would have been a really good nurse,” she said softly. “Would you like to be a nurse at this very moment?” I asked. “Yes,” she said.

So I took another risk. “Do you happen to believe that God wants you to be a nurse?” I asked. She looked away for a minute, then said, “I think so.” “If God wants you to be a nurse, then there must be a way for you to be one,” I said. “What has stopped you?” Sonja listed the reasons: an education cut short by marriage, then two children, then the demands of raising a family. “Now it’s impossible,” she said. “It’s too late.” I heard the sadness in her voice.

“What would have to happen for you to become a nurse,” I asked. “We don’t have enough money,” she said. “I can’t afford a babysitter, so I can’t go to school.” “So if you had a babysitter, you would go to school?” I asked. “Yes,” she said without hesitation.

I glanced at my producer friend to make sure he was taking this all in. Then I took another risk, “Sonja, I believe there’s somebody in your life that cares about you and would babysit your children for free. Who is that person?” Sonja thought for a moment, then her face lit up. “It’s my mother!” she exclaimed. “She just retired two months ago! She loves her grandchildren. And she’s always wanted me to have my dream. She’d babysit my kids for free if I just asked her!”

While she spoke, her eyes brimmed with tears. Mine did, too. Anytime I see someone else’s dream surfacing, I’m deeply touched because I know how sad it is not to be able to live your dream. Without even taking our order, Sonja slid in next to a friend at another table to announce that she was going back to school. “I’m going to be a nurse!” she said with tears of joy.

My friend sat across from me, shaking his head. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,” he said, “I wouldn’t have believed it. Maybe you’re right. Maybe everybody DOES have a Big Dream.” [Multonomah Publishers, Sisters, Oregon, 2003, pps.72-75]

Look at I Corinthians 2:9! But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” WOW! In John 12:24-25 Jesus tells us all: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Tell me about your ‘love-hate’ relationship with yourself in this world!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

FORGOTTEN? THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PERSONAL WATCHCARE?

Have you considered that which is ‘spiritual’ has to do with a man’s relationship with God, or the lack of it? Are disciplines that which relates to athletes and the sports’ world? What about what is personal – does ‘personal’ define what goes on in the inner man between a man and his God? Is there such a responsibility to be accounted for called ‘watch-care’? Have you, have we, forgotten?

It’s my prayer that you are not one among many who so easily forgets “the spiritual discipline of personal watch-care”! It is not something that comes in a flash like a meteorite crossing the dark night’s sky afire and then is gone. It is not that which comes and goes like a temporary habit – but it is to be that which is constant, firmly established in the inner man, and permanently preparing a man for a God-honoring, Christ-exalting walk among men.

It was Robert Burns in “The Cotter’s Saturday Night” who wrote: “Compared with this, how poor Religion’s pride, In all the pomp of method and of art, When men display to congregations wide, Devotion’s every grace, except the heart!”

And if “the spiritual discipline of personal watch-care” IS everything but the heart, one has become lost in the sea of self-esteem not honoring God at all! But in Matthew 24:42-44 we read: “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

John Wesley was so wise as he wrote “Letter To Charles Wesley”. “I desire to have both heaven and hell ever in my eye, while I stand on this isthmus of life, between two boundless oceans.” Why? Freedom in this life to choose to look toward God Himself, knowing we have an enemy called Satan, is to be free to be all God desires me to be ‘in Christ’ – not deceived by the powers of darkness who want me enslaved to my ‘old man’ under Satan’s domination!

I don’t believe most men understand life apart from God’s blessing and presence with them and in them – “there’s nothing hazardous about being an unbeliever; I’m master of my own destiny;” but for those who know that there is a huge ‘masculine’ journey of faith, they want answers! I don’t know at all about journeys on the open seas without any directional helps at all. And when it comes to the journeys of life apart from God who created us, I don’t know how any man survives – and there is such a huge difference between a life of ‘survival’ and a life blessed by God Himself!

So…you ‘gain the world, the whole world’ but lose your soul? What advantage is that? What reward is that? What kind of blessing is that to “lose your soul”?

In William Barclay’s “Daily Study Bible,” [Vol. 2 on Matthew, p.170], Barclay wrote: “A man owes himself and everything else to Jesus Christ; and there is nothing that a man can give to Christ in place of his life. It is quite possible for a man to try to give his money to Christ, and yet to withhold his life. It is still more possible for a man to give lip-service to Christ, and to withhold his life. Many a person gives his weekly freewill offering to the church, but does not go to church; obviously that does not satisfy the demands of church membership. The only possible gift to the Church is ourselves; and the only possible gift to Christ is our whole life. There is no substitute for it, and nothing less will do.”

And, although church membership is a part of our journey, it is not my emphasis in this chapter – the emphasis is between you and Jesus alone! “The Spiritual Discipline of Personal Watch-care!”

Let’s look, first, AT THE MATTER OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE THAT RELATES TO ONE’S PERSONAL EXAMINATION AND TEST EVALUATION – ‘DO I BELONG TO CHRIST’? In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul wrote: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you are disqualified?”

It’s so interesting that earlier, in I Corinthians 9:26-27, Paul said: “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

Does that sound like a man who could care less about his spiritual development or one that knew, yes, the daily discipline of keeping watch over his body, soul, and spirit, as it related to Christ? And more than his own personal watch-care, he knew to Whom he had committed himself! In I Thessalonians 5:23-24 Paul said: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He also who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

Paul knew personal responsibility but also yieldedness to the Christ within him. He understood the attitude of the wise man of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Isn’t it amazing to you that the Son of God, Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, “…increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men”? [Luke 2:52]. In verse 40 of Luke 2 it also says: “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”

“Grace of God, be on us! Grace of God, abound toward us! Grace of God, increase our stature and our favor with You and with men around us! Grace of God, make us strong in spirit! Grace of God, fill us with Your heavenly wisdom! Grace of God, honor yourself through us who do examine ourselves whether we’re in the faith or not!”

But also, LET’S LOOK AT OURSELVES CONCERNING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PERSONAL WATCH-CARE RELATED TO GOD’S DIVINE PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR OUR OWN PILGRIMAGE. You’ll remember Stephen being martyred in Acts 7 as “the stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, who always resisted the Holy Spirit,” and along with Saul of Tarsus, consented to stoning Stephen to death!

Acts 8 opens with a great persecution against the church – and again, here’s Saul of Tarsus right in the middle of it! Acts 8:3 says “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison [because of their faith and commitment to Christ Jesus!].

Acts 9 opens with Saul “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” He’s determined to wipe them off the face of the earth! But look at Acts 9:3-6!! “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’”

But, do you realize or comprehend how few there are who ask that question Paul asked? I love Oswald Chambers’ statement in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.145], “A man is a slave for obeying unless behind his obedience there is a recognition of a holy God. Many a soul begins to come to God when he flings off being religious, because there is only one Master of the human heart, and that is not religion but Jesus Christ.”

There is nothing ‘passive’ about the spiritual discipline of personal watch-care! “Lord, what would YOU have me to do?” shows true faith is active as one lays his own life down for the glory of God alone. But far too many would not even ask Paul’s question because for them it’s surrender to someone else’s sovereignty other than their own!

This leads us to LOOK AT OURSELVES CONCERNING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PERSONAL WATCH-CARE RELATED TO THE DAILY DISCIPLINE OF DEATH TO SELF FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF RESURRECTION LIFE, POWER, AND HOPE. In Galatians 5:24 Paul is so very clear! “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh [your old sin nature] with its passions and desires.”

What did we see in Matthew 16:24? Jesus speaking, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” I’m actually afraid for many who have never, ever, considered themselves as someone who needed to deny himself, or take up his cross, or truly follow Jesus as his/her only hope! But Jesus not only volunteered for the Cross, He took us with Him – what did Paul say in Galatians 2:20? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

In Romans 6 Paul laid it on the line for us to resolve in and of ourselves! Romans 6:1says:”What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” [Look at Romans 5:20b-21! “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”] Now, look at Romans 6:4-14! “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Again, Oswald Chambers so illumined for us in his book “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.256], the battle most ‘church-folk’ never enter! He wrote: “It is the things that are right and noble and good from the natural standpoint that keep us back from God’s best. To discern that natural virtues antagonize surrender to God, is to bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us debate with the sordid and evil and wrong, but we do debate with the good. It is the good that hates the best, and the higher up you get in the scale of the natural virtues, the more intense is the opposition to Jesus Christ. “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh” – it is going to cost the natural in you everything, not something…;Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.” In I Corinthians 15:31 Paul said: “I die daily”!!

But there is something else we all MUST CONSIDER! IN OUR SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PERSONAL WATCH-CARE ARE WE AWARE OF THAT WHICH CAN SEDUCE, DISTRACT, AND DISTURB ‘GODLY CONTENTMENT’? Come to I Timothy 6:6-20! “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust….”

Paul was so clear when in I Corinthians 7:35 he wrote: “And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.” Are you aware in your pilgrimage of alluring distractions? The New American Standard version speaks of securing “undistracted devotion to the Lord.” For some it’s an ‘obsession’! I Timothy 6:3-5 says: “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.”

It was Francois de Salignac who said: “Resign every forbidden joy; restrain every wish that is not referred to God’s will; banish all eager desires, all anxiety; desire only the will of God; seek him alone and supremely, and you will find peace.” Does the cup of your life, your walk, your witness, overflow with ‘Godly contentment’?

Let’s look also at THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF OUR LORD’S CHALLENGE AND COMMISSION TO ALWAYS PRAY. Look at Luke 18:1 where our Lord’s Holy Word says: “Then He [Jesus] spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”

Do you understand our Lord’s passion and love for His disciples? He’s not interested in a single disciple losing heart, fainting in the way, or stumbling along the way. I want to challenge you to take your Strong’s Concordance and compare the word ‘ought’ in Luke 18:1 to the word ‘must’ in John 3:7! You’ll not be surprised that the necessity of the ‘new birth’ is the same ‘ought-ness’ of “always praying and not losing heart”!

I so love Alfred Lord Tennyson’s words in “Morte d’ Arthurt”: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice Rise like a fountain for me night and day. For what are men better than sheep or goats that nourish a blind life within the brain, If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer Both for themselves and those who call them friends? For so the whole round earth is every way Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.” Later Tennyson wrote about “battering the gates of heaven with storms of prayer.”

Prayerless men are inept and useless to the glory and honor of God! Prayerless men are void of the very keys and notes of music that bring about the symphony of heavenly blessing and a heavenly harmony that soothes the troubled soul! Prayer calms the storms! Prayer chains our enemy! Prayer grabs hold of God who grabs hold of a praying man! Prayer is one saying ‘Yes’ to God’s willingness to answer and to bless! Prayer opens the door to the heart of heaven itself!

But, yes, the adventure of the spiritual discipline of personal watch-care grows rapidly WHEN THERE IS OPENNESS TO CONFRONTATIONS AND CHALLENGES OF CARE, CONCERN, AND COMMITMENT TO BE HIS INSTRUMENT OF OTHERS’ RECONCILIATION TO OUR LORD. Come to I Corinthians 9:16, 19-23! Verse 16 says, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!…Verses 19-23, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

Alan Redpath, author of “The Royal Route To Heaven,” studies in I Corinthians, has a chapter entitled “The Genuine Article,” and it is I Corinthians 9! He wrote, [p.107], “I believe the world is tired of religion that is a sham. People want to see in the hearts and lives of those who profess Christ the characteristics of the genuine article. Unless these marks are upon our testimony, others will not desire our Lord.”

Redpath later said: [p.110], “I do not wish to be uncharitable, but isn’t it sad that in so many instances Christian people move in their own little watertight compartments and never launch out into somebody else’s situation at all? They are locked in; their circle never touches the circles of unbelievers. They move only in their little circle of Christian fellowship; very seldom do they take the plunge outside in order to win another for Christ. I believe perhaps the greatest need of all in our evangelical circles today is that we might have the boldness in Christ to cross some of the barriers that exist to win others for Him. ‘Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel,’ says Paul.”

Let me close this chapter with the spiritual discipline of personal watch-care that thrives on ‘LOVING AND LEANING ON HIS HOLY PRESENCE’! In Psalm 16:11 David said: “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

I don’t know how it is with you, but I’m so thankful that living in His Holy Presence blesses me with the fullness of joy and that at His right hand are pleasures forevermore!

In fact, when I read Acts 3:19, my heart flourishes in His joy: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

Don’t you know that the eternal desire of Jesus for you and for me is, “That My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full,”?[John 15:11].

The seventy returned with joy to Jesus, saying to Him, [Luke 10:17-20], “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

FORGOTTEN? THE SPIRITUAL ALERTNESS OF “TODAY”?

It was really interesting as the Lord had laid “Today” on my heart – and I really wanted to know what He was saying to me. I opened up Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary to the word “today” expecting this huge explanation to stretch my brain and heart, and it simply said: “The present day.” ‘Present’ was really interesting because Webster said first: “Being in a certain place; opposed to ‘absent’. One thing is for certain – we should not be those absent from God’s presence!! And I was thrilled as I looked at John 14:25 where Jesus said to His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you while being PRESENT with you.”

Is Jesus ‘present’ with you “today” or somehow have YOU wandered away from His presence? Remember, He told the disciples that He would never leave us nor forsake us.

I really don’t know all that “Today” is to mean for each of us but there is building in my inner man an irrepressible desire, assurance, and confidence of His abiding presence with me and in me! It’s that inner awareness that apart from Him I could never fulfill God’s plan for my life but one with Him “Today” will be celebration day in the fulfillment of His good, acceptable, and perfect will!

You’ll probably remember C.S. Lewis’ statement in “Mere Christianity,” [New York, Simon & Shuster, 1996, p.21], “If I find in myself a desire that no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” But, I’m thinking, dissatisfaction with self is because I was made for another Lord – not lord unto myself but the Lordship of Jesus Christ in this world that I’m appointed to by His grace! If you’re ‘delighting’ in yourself, you’re living a lie, but if you delight in Jesus, you’re living in the Truth!

I don’t think any person has ever entered true beauty, true blessing, and a true benediction to life who has not settled into “I am the resurrection and the life…,” Jesus’ words of Himself. And when one is settled into Him, life becomes more than daily routine – it becomes divine reconciliation and enjoyment and blessing and fulfillment and satisfaction and peace and hope and love that is eternal and mercy that is Master-full!

Yet “today” there are those who ‘die’ in despair having never been enlightened to the Lord of this day and every day! You’ll remember Christopher Reeve who played ‘Superman.’ Before his premature death he said: “When I do good I feel good. When I do bad I feel bad. And that’s my religion.”

Hardness of heart is not a haven of rest for those who have “Forgotten” TODAY! Hardness of heart is not hope for those who have no hope in themselves and never see ‘hope’ in others’ choices.

It was the year 1969 when Lloyd John Ogilvie wrote his book “A Life Full of Surprises.” Receive what he wrote then for now! It’s his first chapter, first paragraph, and it’s so needed 43 years later! “The most exciting thing I see in our time of history is the new breed of humanity God is raising up out of the traditional church. In the midst of all the bad news about the failure of the church, much of which is more than justified, something now needs to be said about this amazing cadre of people who have come alive and about their churches which are wrestling with what it means to be a liberating fellowship. These are winsome, willful men and women who are constantly surprised by what God is able to do with life completely under his marching orders. They have a radical freedom expressed in a reconciling ministry. For them there is no tyranny of the either/or. They have both personal faith and social concern – love for Christ and love for the world – time for devotion and time to demonstrate.”

How awesome is that! “Today”!! A time for devotion and a time to demonstrate! “Today”! A time in radical freedom to be reconciling ministries! “Today”! The moment for the Master’s mind and will expressed through available vessels!!

Let’s look, First, at the “TODAY” OF HEARING HIS VOICE AND NOT HARDENING OUR HEARTS. In Psalm 95:7b-11 we read: “…Today, if you will hear His voice: Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, When your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘they shall not enter My rest.’”

Have you ever considered, thought about, or contemplated: “How many people are there who are listening for His voice ‘today’? How many are anxious and excited to hear God speak to them? I’m convinced God has spoken and still speaks through the revelation of His Holy Word. I have no doubt that when a man of God stands and preaches God’s undiluted, uncompromising Word, men can hear Him. I believe you’d be foolish to say that God cannot, has not, will not, speak through human circumstances and events. And I’m also assured His audible voice is heard at times by servants of the Most High God. And Jesus, Lord and Savior, also has appeared and has spoken to chosen servants.

But rebellion can close ears, blind eyes, and bring folks into an awful state of denial, intent on being masters of their own destinies! Israel tested God in the wilderness, tried the Lord as if He needed to be imprisoned by their judgments, and grieved Him in His heart for refusing to give Him His rightful place in their minds, their hearts, and their wills. They rebelled, they went astray from God, they refused to know His ways, and they did not enter His rest!

Is our modern day any different than those in the wilderness who in their ‘today’ harden their hearts and refuse to hear His voice? Peter spoke of those who “once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” [I Peter 2:10]. The God I serve is the God of love, grace, and mercy, who still is reaching out, speaking clearly, tapping on the shoulder, shining bright lights, and saving souls!!

But also in Joshua 5:9 there is such a word of hope that ought to put you on shouting grounds. Hear God’s Voice in this: The Lord said to Joshua, “Today, this day, this very moment in time, I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of this place is called Gilgal [rolling away] to this day.” GOD ROLLS AWAY YOUR REPROACH!

For 400 years Israel was in bondage, in slavery, captive to a people and rulers who did not know God and had no desire to know Him – they opposed Him at every turn. To be unsaved, to be an unbeliever, to shamefully be controlled, manipulated, abused, by the powers of darkness, you are covered in reproach, bound in spiritual chains, locked up tight by enemies who call you their friends! To be in sin is to be in spiritual grave-clothes, bound body, soul, and spirit, by those who want you sharing their darkness!

The reproach of Egypt! Incarnate unbelief! The reproach of Egypt! Unbridled recklessness, abandonment of God, unbelief! The reproach of Egypt! Accursed actions, sexual abuse, immorality! The reproach of Egypt! Ungodly pleasures, ungodly biases and blunders, ungodly relationships, ungodly unions! The reproach of Egypt! Separation, saturation in worldly, fleshly, demonic activities, bowing before idols man-made, man-accursed, man-alienated from God!

But God “rolls away your reproach”! It’s by the blood, in the blood, through the shed blood of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross, that your reproach is now gone!

Lelia N. Morris, over a hundred years ago, wrote a hymn that says: “In the misty days of yore Jesus’ precious blood had power Even the thief on the cross to save; Like a bird his spirit flies to its home in Paradise, Through the power of Calvary’s crimson wave…I was lost and steeped in guilt, but the blood for sinners spilt Washed away my sins and set me free; Now and evermore the same, praise, O praise His holy name! Will the cleansing stream availing be…God in mercy asks you why, brother sinner, will you die When such full redemption He provides? You have but to look and live, life eternal He will give, For the power of Calvary still abides…Bring your burdens, come today, turn from all your sins away, He can fully save and sanctify; From the wrath to come now flee, let your name recorded be With the blood-washed, and redeemed on high…And the blood has never lost its power…No, never, no, never, Jesus’ blood avails for sins forever…And will never lose its power.”

And, having been washed in His blood and your reproach rolled away, God comes and says to us: “SON, GO, WORK TODAY IN MY VINEYARD.” That’s Luke 21:28! Verse 29 says that he answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.”

Having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and your reproach rolled away, you don’t believe God has divine intent for you in holy service to the Lord? “Go, work today in my vineyard.”

Have you ever witnessed a new field of opportunity made ready for a harvest? There’s clearing away what needs to go; there’s making sure those weeds and wild things are removed; there’s the plowing and breaking up of hard ground; and then there comes the seed planting which is the precious seed of the Word of God. There’s watering, more weeding, still soil preparation – and then a harvest!

Whoever said “witnessing” for our Lord was easy – I’m not sure what they were talking about when it comes to ‘working’ in His vineyard! Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3:11, “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.” And that is so true – it’s as if they see the field to be prepared for the harvest but they stand outside the fence and watch, but never work!

Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:19, “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” In 2 Timothy 4:5 he told Timothy, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

And that’s the ministry of sharing the faith in our work-a-day-world! He had said to Timothy earlier in 2 Timothy 1:8, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.”

As a result of God’s grace and our salvation, what’s the end result? Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Tell me about your ‘walk’ of faith and your ‘good works’!

But there’s something else I must ask you about. We’ve just seen the ministry of evangelism. Is there legitimately and genuinely A MINISTRY OF DISCIPLES OF COMPASSION AND CARING FOR THE NEEDY AND THE POOR? In Luke 19:1-10 look with me at Zacchaeus and his encounter with Christ: Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was short of stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Is there a true test of heavenly spirituality or have we concluded that all that matters is showing up at church regularly and paying our tithes? I believe “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” is so beyond our church attendance!

Carelessness, carnality, and coldness toward the needy are not trade-marks of a true disciple devoted to the resurrected and reigning Christ! Look with me at John 13:14! Jesus said: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

Listen to Oswald Chambers in his “My Utmost For His Highest,” [pps.187-188], “Ministering as opportunity surrounds us does not mean selecting our surroundings, it means being very selectly God’s in any haphazard surroundings which He engineers for us. The characteristics we manifest in our immediate surroundings are indications of what we will be like in other surroundings…The things that Jesus did were of the most menial and common-lace order, and this is an indication that it takes all God’s power in me to do the most commonplace things in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels and dishes and sandals, all the ordinary things of our lives, reveal more quickly than anything what we are made of. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the meanest duty as it ought to be done.”

But, also, I want you to consider “today” what you have chosen for yourself – A BLESSING OR A CURSE! Come to Deuteronomy 11:26-28!! “Behold, I set before you TODAY a blessing and a curse; the blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.”

It was Thomas Carlyle in “Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches” who said: “Blessed are the valiant that have lived in the Lord.” And I have no doubt that ‘in the Lord’ IS THE BLESSING and without the Lord is THE CURSE!

To the Ephesians Paul wrote: [Ephesians 1:3], “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Have you fully grasped what Paul is telling us?

“God chose us in Christ,” “predestined us to adoption as sons,” “made us accepted in the Beloved,” “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,” “He abounded wisdom and understanding to us,” “He revealed His will to us,” “we have obtained an inheritance,” “we shall BE to the praise of His glory,” “we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” “we have our guarantee”!!

And you choose “the curse”? Listen to Deuteronomy 30:14-20! “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earthy as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

I believe I’ll “side” with Joshua and Jesus!! Joshua 24:14-15 says, “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served…Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Why not see yourself as a new Jeremiah for our day? Jeremiah 1:4-10 says: Then the word of the Lord came to ME, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth.’ For you shall go to all whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces. For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” Look at verses 17-19! “Therefore PREPARE YOURSELF and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have MADE YOU FOR THIS DAY a fortified city and an iron pillar, they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”

“Today” is not ‘never’; “Today” is not later; “Today” is not tomorrow; “Today” is not sometime; ”Today” is NOW! In Luke 6:21 Jesus said: “Blessed are you who hunger NOW, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep NOW, for you shall laugh.” What a promise from our Lord!

CHAPTER NINETEEN

FORGOTTEN? THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE IN ME?

Isn’t it amazing to you how easily some ignore the revelation of God’s Holy Word about the Trinity? That’s God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – the three in one! Some say, “How is that possible?”, when they look at man and see man, husband, and father effectually working as one! Have you heard them? “I don’t even like to think about the ‘man’ part, and ‘husband’? Lord, help us! And ‘father’? What a poor representation of man!” But sadly some totally ignore the Trinity, and especially God the Holy Spirit – as if they’d wandered over into ‘ghost-land’!

I really don’t know, don’t understand, that if ‘discipling’ is a primary, foremost responsibility of the local church, how “Receive the Holy Spirit” is usually totally ignored by those in charge! Yet, most discipleship training materials are void of Holy Spirit training. But I also know that there has been abuse, misinterpretation, false teaching, even antagonism against those who do include Holy Spirit equipping and training. “God, help us! Save us from biblical ignorance and ill-equipped disciplers who will not touch Holy Spirit training!”

But I’m also confident that ‘power religion’ is not Spirit relationship. I’m also confident that much of the Spirit-training by some compartmentalizes private thoughts about their interpretation of Spirit-activity apart from the revelation of the Word! I’m also confident that if one teaches ‘ministry of the Holy Spirit’ from a denominational frame of reference much then of the all-inclusive ministry of the Holy Spirit is lacking, ignored, or even denied by some!

Of all the teachings necessary for a free, full, fulfilling relationship to Christ and His Holy Word, I’m convinced it is the scriptural foundation in one’s pilgrimage as disciple of Christ to be that of a proper, empowering leadership of the Holy Spirit in one’s daily life. But there is such controversy about the Spirit that some have assumed teaching about the Holy Spirit causes too many problems, causes too much controversy, and causes some to “fall away” not understanding no leadership of the Holy Spirit creates that vacuum!

Questions! Is the Holy Spirit truly a part of the Trinity or an invention of misdirected Bible teachers? Is the Holy Spirit a part of my salvation process? Is the Holy Spirit absolutely essential in the maturing process as a follower of Christ? Is the Holy Spirit necessary in understanding the Word of God? Is New Testament evangelism founded on the ministry of the Holy Spirit? Is a follower of Christ to be led by the Holy Spirit on one’s spiritual journey daily? These questions, and I’m sure others, will be with us as we traverse the paths of the Holy Spirit’s leadership.

Let me begin this study of the Holy Spirit in Genesis 1:1 where God “created the heavens and the earth,” with verse 2 telling us “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters,” letting us know Creation was a partnership arrangement between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In Genesis 1:26 our Holy Word tells us, Then God said, “LET US [PLURAL] make man in ‘OUR’ image, according to our likeness…” And this is so vital in your own understanding of your need of the Holy Spirit in the “new creation” activity of your own life in Christ – and, just as God saw “that it was good” in the natural creation [Genesis 1:31], so does Holy God see your “new creation” in Christ as good! The Spirit was, is, and always will be so involved in what God the Father and God the Son are up to in your life – look at Hebrews 9:14! “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

Did you notice, did you highlight “the eternal Spirit”? When Pharoah decided to set Joseph over Egypt as an officer over the food and grain of the land, he said to his servants, Genesis 41:38, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Even pagan Pharoah recognized God’s Holy Spirit in and on a man like Joseph!!

Moses knew God’s people should not be without a shepherd. In Numbers 27:17 we see where Moses spoke with God about His ‘sheep which have no shepherd,’ and in verse 18 the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him…” And, then, in Joel 2:28-29 God gives ALL His precious promise of the Holy Spirit to be with us in so exalting Christ through our daily lives. Through Joel God said: “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

What did God’s angel tell Zechariah in Zechariah 4:6? “This is the word of the Lord: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” It’s the Holy Spirit that authenticates the work and Word of the Lord – not men’s ‘might’ or men’s ‘power’! I’m sure this is why Thomas a Kempis once said: “Many are deceived in the end, who at first seemed to be led by the Holy Spirit.”

The one thing I pray for as I do this chapter is that I don’t misinform but inform, that I don’t mislead but lead, that I in no way deceive but enlighten us all in the ministry of the Holy Spirit! Evangelical spirituality is sadly scarred and bruised when ‘fleshly fruit’ is majored on rather than the Fruit of the Holy Spirit! Notice what God’s Word says about the Holy Spirit!

WHEN THE SPIRIT HAS COME [and He has!] THERE IS CONVICTION OF SIN! Here are the words of Jesus: [John 16:7-8], “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, HE WILL CONVICT THE WORLD of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment to come.”

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says of CONVICTION: “The act of convincing, or compelling one to admit the truth of a charge; the act of convincing of sin or sinfulness; the state of being sensible of guilt…” And remember: “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

What Paul then says elsewhere is so vital! 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Hear Oswald Chambers in “My Utmost For His Highest”! [pps.240-241], “Very few of us know anything about conviction of sin; we know the experience of being disturbed because of having done wrong things; but conviction of sin by the Holy Ghost blots out every relationship on earth and leaves one relationship only – “Against You, You only, have I sinned!” When a man is convicted of sin in this way, he knows with every power of his conscience that God dare not forgive him; if God did forgive him, the man would have a stronger sense of justice than God. God does forgive, but it cost the rending of His heart in the death of Christ to enable Him to do so. The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the Divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so. It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. When we have been convicted of sin we will never say this again. The love of God means Calvary, and nothing less; the love of God is spelt [spelled out] on the Cross and nowhere else. The only ground on which God can forgive me is through the Cross of my Lord. There, His conscience is satisfied.”

BUT, ALSO, WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, HE WILL GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH. Isn’t that what John 16:13 tells us? “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”

And I’m talking about GOD’S TRUTH, not a ‘truth’ some fallen man has fashioned or designed for himself. This is why ‘religious truth’ is so dangerous. In 2 Peter 2:1-3 Peter wrote: But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Then verse 10 speaks of those who are “presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,” and then in verses 12-17 we read: But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, or as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity; a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

But the Holy Spirit has a different ministry than false teachers or false prophets! 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 says: But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And God graciously gives us the Spirit of Truth! In John 14:15-17 Jesus tells us: “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” Look at John 15:26! “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” JESUS IS TRUTH!!

But also DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE REALITY OF NEW BIRTH FROM A SON OF SATAN TO A SON OF GOD? In John 3:1-8 we read: There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water [the Word of God] and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Physical birth? We know the reality of that – and most thank God for it! But the failure comes, those dark nights and days of the soul when one figures spiritual birth is fiction. Is it fiction or is it a reality and necessity of life? Jesus said: “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!” Truth or fiction? Nicodemus said: “How can a man be born when he is old?” He was looking only at physical birth and not the birth of the Spirit! But Jesus said and says today: John 3:3, “most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John had said in John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe [rely upon, trust in, adhere to] in His name.” Are you glued to Christ?

New birth is new allegiance! Your old man is old allegiance to self-rule, but the new man is new allegiance to the reign of Christ as Lord and King of the kingdom of God. New birth is new sanctified eyes where I begin to “see” my life under the sovereign rule of Christ as Lord of my life!

BUT ALSO WE MUST DISCERN THAT, HAVING RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PART, OR PIECEMEAL, OR ‘A LITTLE DAB WILL DO YOU’!! WE RECEIVED HIM IN HIS FULLNESS! In John 3:33-34 we read: “He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give His Spirit by measure.” Look at Romans 8:9-11! “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Is there a limitation to the Holy Spirit’s work in us? Oh, I don’t think so – there may be a limitation in us, a blockage in us – but not in Him! I’m not talking about a life now with sanctified common sense, but a life indwelt by the fullness of the Holy Spirit – He has no limitations but only our resistance to what He wants to do through us!

In Romans 8:26 Paul said: “We know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Never find yourself insensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit! Never close the door on His promptings! Never consider self as wise enough to make eternal decisions on your own – rest in the fullness of God’s Spirit and the fullness of God’s Spirit’s leadership!

I’M ALSO CONVINCED THAT WE MUST BE YIELDED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC WORSHIP! In John 4:23-24 Jesus said to the woman at the well: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Worship, both private and public, is one bowing before Father-God in full surrender, in one grabbing hold of God and holding on, in one bowing, under the Spirit’s leadership, in a life dedicated afresh and anew to the glory of God.

Worship is, led by the Spirit, a fresh bowing and a new and full surrender to our Lord’s Lordship – it’s yielding, it’s surrendering, it’s renewing, it’s rekindling! Dwight Bradley put the Spirit-worshipping life like this: [“Leaves From a Spiritual Notebook,” Harper & Row Publishers]: “For worship is a thirsty land crying out for rain, It is a candle in the acts of being kindled, It is a drop in quest of the ocean…It is a voice in the night calling for help, It is a soul standing in awe before the mystery of the universe…It is time flowing into eternity…a man climbing the altar stairs to God.”

In John 4:24 again – it must be cemented in your mind, heart, and spirit of daily living! “God IS A SPIRIT; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

I don’t see worship though as a rule but release of the fullness of the life within us. Worship is not a law but the overflow of love. Worship is not a life-jacket on the ship of “Faith’ but inner Presence expressed in outward magnifying! It was Napoleon Bonaparte who said: “If Socrates would enter the room we should rise and do him honor. But if Jesus Christ came into the room we should fall down on our knees and worship Him.”

David, in I Chronicles 16:29 said: “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” And, I wonder: How many ‘worship’ and ‘bow down’ in full surrender’!

ONE LAST TRUTH OF VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR NEED TO BE YIELDED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: FLESH [YOUR OLD SIN NATURE] DOES NOT, CANNOT, WILL NOT TESTIFY OF OR GLORIFY CHRIST – THAT IS THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN AND THROUGH YOU. In John 15:26 we read again: “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, HE WILL TESTIFY OF ME.”

And then in John 16:14 Jesus said of the Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” The Holy Spirit is YOUR limitless resource of honoring Jesus in your daily walk! Understand – the Holy Spirit reveals your blessing in Christ, your life in Christ, and interprets your every step as opportunity to honor Him and glorify Him on earth as He is glorified in heaven! YOU, in Christ, are a ‘partaker’ of the Holy Spirit, and He enlightens, empowers, and encourages your walk in Christ.

Settle in to Romans 8:26-27! “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Oh, please hear and receive God’s Word for your own “SPIRIT-BLESSED SPIRITUAL HEALTH”!! I Corinthians 6:19 says, “Or do you not know that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU?” Have you made your body “a den of thieves” or is it the Most Holy Place where the Holy Spirit resides and is to reign honoring Christ? B.B. McKinney and Edwin Hatch wrote they hymn: “Breathe On Me”. It says: “Holy Spirit, Breathe on me, Until my heart is clean; Let sunshine fill its inmost part, With not a cloud between…Holy Spirit, Breathe on me, My stubborn will subdue; Teach me in words of living flame What Christ would have me do…Holy Spirit, breathe on me, Fill me with power divine; Kindle a flame of love and zeal Within this heart of mine…Holy Spirit, breathe on me, Till I am all Thine own, Until my will is lost in Thine, To live for Thee alone…Breathe on me, breathe on me, Holy Spirit, breathe on me; Take Thou my heart, cleanse every part, Holy Spirit, breathe on me.”

Tell me of your prayer to be filled with and by the Holy Spirit!

CHAPTER TWENTY

FORGOTTEN? EVANGELISM: HEARTBEAT OF CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES?

Colin Sterne and H.E.Nichol wrote a powerful hymn many years ago entitled: “We’ve a Story To Tell.” It says: “We’ve a story to tell to the nations, That shall turn their hearts to the right; A story of truth and sweetness, A story of peace and light, A story of peace and light…We’ve a song to be sung to the nations, That shall lift their hearts to the Lord; A song that shall conquer evil and shatter the spear and sword, And shatter the spear and sword…We’ve a message to give to the nations, That the Lord who reigns above, Has sent us His Son to save us, And show us that God is love, And show us that God is love….We’ve a Savior to show to the nations, Who the path of sorrow has trod, That all of the world’s great people Might come to the truth of God, Might come to the truth of God!…For the darkness shall turn to the dawning, And the dawning to noon-day bright, And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth, The kingdom of love and light.”

Darkness does prevail over most of our world today, but ‘in Christ’ the Light is shining – and our Lord, because of His grace, mercy, and love toward His chosen, redeemed people, has said: [Matthew 5:16], “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Because of what our Lord has done graciously and mercifully in Christians and churches, we are assigned the responsibility of touching our world around us with the same grace and mercy! Jesus even said in Matthew 5:13, “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

In John 7:38 Jesus said of His new-born disciples, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” That’s a disciple – that is to be His church! If the Lord poured out His life for our salvation, is the mandate and mission on Christians and churches to be the same?

If the Word declares that He [Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world, [I John 2:2], then do we have thrust upon us, Christians and churches, THE MISSIONARY MANDATE, THE WORK OF WITNESSING, AND THE WITNESSING OF HIS REDEMPTIVE TRUTH? If Jesus says “Go”, do we have the option to “stay”? If Jesus says “Tell,” do we have an option to be “silent” about Him? In Acts 20:17-28 Paul called for the elders of the churches of Ephesus: “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: ‘You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Right before His Ascension Jesus spoke to His disciples in Matthew 28:16-20. Do you believe “last words” are important? Listen to Jesus! Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earthy. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” AMEN.

How could any disciple, any church, entrusted with God’s Holy Word ignore or set aside as an ‘option we hold’, Acts 1:1-8? “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘Which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

“You shall be witnesses to Me…!” Paul put it a little differently in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;…” Then, in a few verses later, he identifies all believers in this particular way: [2 Corinthians 5:14-20], “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer; Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

Witnesses, ministers of reconciliation, Ambassadors for Christ, Truth-Tellers, men and women of the holy, heavenly persuasion, living epistles known and read by men! In 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 Paul also said: Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord. I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”

Let’s look, FIRST, AT OUR HEARTBEAT FOR OTHERS BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS CAME TO DO. When Jesus was speaking about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:9-10 He said: “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” BUT WE’RE NOT A PART OF THAT?

In I Timothy 1:15 Paul said, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” And didn’t we just read in 2 Corinthians 5:19 that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing [or reckoning] their trespasses to them, and HAS COMMITTED TO US THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION”?

RECONCILIATION? Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says this: “In Scripture, the means by which sinners are reconciled and brought into a state of favor with God, after natural estrangement or enmity…” And, ‘in sin,’ all are naturally estranged from God [“LOST”] and live even in enmity toward God! Well, what about our “lost-ness” in our sins and estrangement from God? Again, Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says: “Ruined, destroyed, wasted or squandered; employed to no good purpose;…forfeited, a ‘lost’ estate; unable to find the right way;…alienated; perplexed; being in a maze; hardened; ‘lost’ to shame; ‘lost’ to all sense of honor; shipwrecked, sunken…” And THAT”S WHO JESUS CAME FOR! THAT’S THOSE FOR WHOM HE DIED! THAT’S THE ONES FOR WHOM HE SHED HIS BLOOD! “LOST!!”

It was Jean Nicolas Gross, in “Alliance Weekly,” who said: “Do not shelter the mirror which reflects your soul’s lack of beauty; rather welcome the truth, and believe that next to the knowledge of God nothing is so precious as the knowledge of self.”

William R. Newell and Daniel B. Towner wrote these words to the song “At Calvary”: “Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary…By God’s Word at last my sin I learned; Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned, Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary…Mercy there was great, and grace was free, Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary.”

Omission of Truth, carelessness of self-contemplation, denial of God’s deep love for the ‘fallen’ and the ‘lost’, irreparably unmade apart from God’s mercy and grace, deceived as to one’s separation from God and His eternal intent for man – it ALL says “Lost!” But I wonder, isn’t it better to say, “I was ‘lost’ but Jesus found me, I was blind but He made me see, I was bound in sin’s cruel bondage, but Jesus set me free!!??”

Also, OUR HEARTBEAT FOR OTHERS IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THOSE OTHERS AROUND US DON’T HAVE TO LIVE CAPTIVE AND SLAVE-LIKE ANY LONGER TO THEIR OLD SIN NATURES. In 2 Timothy 2:19b Paul said, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

I remember reading of those World War II U.S. veterans imprisoned by the Japanese in a prisoner of war camp who remained in their cells after U.S. soldiers approached the camp even though the Japanese had unlocked their cells then ran off! When some have been enslaved to their old sin natures for so, so long, it’s hard to believe they are truly free by our Lord’s sacrificial death and resurrection!

Didn’t Paul tell us in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Verse 21, I do not set aside the grace of God…”

To the church at Rome, and us, Paul wrote in Romans 6:10-23, [OH, how vital these words are to you, believer!]. For the death that He [Jesus] died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Christ, we are FREE!! No longer are we captives and slaves of our old sin natures! The pillars of the Christian faith that keeps our spiritual health so strong are the pillars of God’s Holy Revelation about us ‘in Christ’ and the pillars of eternal freedom! Jesus died to set the captives FREE! John 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” And what happens to most of us is, we have to experience the renewing, the re-programming of our minds according to God’s Revelation, not our feelings, thoughts, or opinions! This is why in Galatians 5:1 Paul wrote: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty where-with Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

OUR HEARTBEAT FOR OTHERS IS BECAUSE WE KNOW, IN CHRIST, ONE DOESN”T HAVE TO LIVE UNDER THE CONTROL OF SATAN AND DEMON POWERS. To Timothy Paul wrote in I Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” But, who are these who give heed to these spirits and demons? In 2 Timothy 3:13 Paul told Timothy, “But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Do I believe ‘born-again believers’ can be harassed, challenged, intimidated, influenced, maybe even ‘led astray’ for a short period of time, or maybe “sifted like wheat”? Absolutely! But there is a difference for true believers between oppression and possession. In Hebrews 2:14-16 hear the truth of Christ’s aid to “the seed of Abraham”: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself [Jesus] likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.”

Can the demon-possessed be freed by Christ? Absolutely! He has conquered not only sin but the devil and every demon the devil sent to you! Listen to Revelation 12:9-17!! So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ has come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

This large spiritual warfare is actual global warfare between the devil and people of God on every continent. Satan leads the war between good and evil, between the saints and the powers of darkness, between the armies of the Most High God and the armies of the devil himself. Ephesians 6:12 tells us: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

But the promise of God’s Holy Word for every follower of Christ is found in Colossians 2:15! Jesus, “having disarmed principalities and powers, [He] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [the Cross].”

And I ask you, right now, to pause and reflect upon Jesus – was He tempted, tried, tested by the devil? But you don’t believe unbelievers and believers have to consider a warfare with Satan and the powers of darkness? Please – let them all know that Jesus is their victory over their enemies! But if they refuse, if they rebel, if they yield even an inch to their enemy, share 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12! “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason, God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

It is also so vital that you share with those separated from God and His eternal purpose that ONE DOESN”T HAVE TO LIVE SEPARATED, EMPTY, AIMLESS, MEANINGLESS LIVES MISSING OUT ON WHAT GOD PASSIONATELY DESIRES FOR THEM TO HAVE, MISSING OUT ON WHAT GOD INTENDED FOR THAT LIFE!

In Romans 12:1-2 Paul challenges our aimless world, our self-centered societies, our ‘pressed-in’ and sadly influenced godless culture, that there is a better way! “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Earlier, in Romans 5:1-2, 8-10, Paul gives hope for those who are “without strength,” for those alienated and separated from God, experiencing only death in the daily walk. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Verses 8-10, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

God has called YOU! I Peter 2:9 says: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” And this precious, purposeful, powerful calling is so blessed with holy privilege. In I Peter 3:15 Peter wrote of the blessing of God’s intention of your faith-filled life in influencing others: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

But also there’s something else you must grasp and give to your unsaved friends, family, and foes: ONE DOESN’T HAVE TO LIVE BLINDED TO GOD BUT CAN HAVE ONE’S EYES OPENED TO SEE, TO CELEBRATE, AND TO HONOR OUR LORD. In James 1:21-25 we read: “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

Disintegration of life is a sad, sad state. A divided life is a terrible turmoil. Discouraged lives are those based on self and not the Savior. Darkened lives are those never lit by the fiery, inner presence of Christ! But James said, verse 25, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

The perfect law of liberty? In John 8:36 Jesus said, and still says: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Freedom is forgiveness in Christ. Freedom is fullness in Christ. Freedom is heavenly force for the fight of faith. Freedom is the free gift of blessing upon blessing upon blessing upon blessing – in Christ! Which leads us to:

ONE DOESN’T HAVE TO LIVE ISOLATED FROM THE GREAT BLESSING OF BEING A PART OF GOD’S KINGDOM, HIS COMMUNITY OF FELLOWSHIP, AND HIS FAMILY OF FAITH, OR BECOMING ONE WITH HIM WHO DESIRES TO WORK IN AND THROUGH YOU IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS! In Philippians 2:5-18 we read some of the most encouraging, challenging, fruitful verses that relate personally to a believer in a dark world and a community of faith that needs YOU! It says: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.”

In “My Utmost For His Highest” Oswald Chambers wrote: “Are you willing to be offered up for the work of the faithful – to pour out your life blood as a libation on the sacrifice of the faith of others? Or do you say – ‘I am not going to be offered up just yet, I do not want God to choose my work. I want to choose the scenery of my own sacrifice; I want to have the right kind of people watching and saying, ‘Well done.’…It is one thing to go on the lonely way with dignified heroism, but quite another thing if the line mapped out for you by God means being a door-mat under other people’s feet. Suppose God wants to teach you to say, ‘I know how to be abased’ – are you ready to be offered up like that? Are you ready to be not so much as a drop in the bucket – to be so hopelessly insignificant that you are never thought of again in connection with the life you served? Are you willing to spend and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work and remain saints because it is beneath their dignity.”

Beneath one’s dignity? Our Lord and Savior humbled Himself and became a “foot-washer”, but that’s too menial for you? Have you “FORGOTTEN” Jesus? Poured spoke of being “poured out as a drink offering” – but you’re unsure of laying your life down in service of others? Almighty Jesus emptied Himself that we might be filled – open your life, pour it out, and see those around you blessed for eternity! The steadfastness of ministry in the name of Jesus should be the main highway you travel on! Be blessed!!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

FORGOTTEN? “DEAF TO…”, “COLD TO THE WARMTH OF HIS WORD AND VOICE”,

OR, “LISTENING TO THE REDEMPTIVE VOICES”!!

Intro: There is one thing that must be settled in every human heart – redemptive faith is never the result of fleshly sight and fleshly hearing! Oh, all across the world everyday people are hearing voices that they think they ought to heed and follow.

In Deuteronomy 18:9-22 God is so gracious to forewarn His people: LISTEN!! “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations…There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer,, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. [That’s a demon!!]. For all who do those things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you. The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ – when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken;; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of Him.” Do you understand how many ‘prophetic voices’ are around you every day? – and their conscious or unconscious desire is to lead you away from God, away from His purpose, away from His Person and APPOINTED PROPHET?

Are you aware that ever since the Fall of man in God’s Garden of Holiness that even a ‘snake’ showed up there voicing deception and never spoke “TRUTH”?

And because of the Fall, there is the need of Redemption and Reconciliation with Holy God, regeneration through faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross – Redemption is God’s Reality, Redemption is God’s Restoration, Redemption is God’s Release into the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

But too many have ears superbly trained to hear what they want to hear, to hear what pumps their flesh, to hear what everybody does so they can fit in with anyone but the God who made them, lost them, but then bought them with a price!

I say to you: Beware of any voice, anywhere, anytime, that competes, contends against, or tries to contradict the Voice of Jesus only, the Voice of the One True and Living God, and beware of the voices that speak their opinions and not the revelation of His Word!

Redeemed men have redeemed ears to hear and serve God because they’re blessed with a divine love-gift of a life that hears Him speak, responds to His voice, and reaches out for His destiny and purpose in them and through them.

Redeemed men are not such that are inclined to tell God what they think He ought to do or to let out for His approval their plans, their ambitions, and their determination to “get- er-done” with or without Holy Him.

Redeemed men, blessed as “partakers of the divine nature,” are men who know and understand that it “pleased God…to reveal His Son in [them}..” and they comprehend their “walks” as disciples are an overflow, a release, a service, to the honor of Christ out of the explanation of sheer love, sacrificial devotion, spontaneous obedience to the Proven Voice and Living Word within them!

Do you remember Genesis 15? Verse 1 says, “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’” THAT’S FAITH IN GOD – NOT FAITH IN HIMSELF! And God gives Abram a vision –

Verse 5, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them…So shall your descendants be.”….”How will this be?”, Abram was asking. And God cut a blood covenant with Abram! WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?…Verse 11 says, “And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.” Oh, what a fighter, what a defender of the Faith, what a warrior in the eternal warfare of the ages! RIGHT?….Verse 12, “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; [Ever felt you’ve been in a deep spiritual sleep?]…and behold, HORROR & GREAT DARKNESS FELL UPON HIM.”….Verse 17 tells us: in that darkness “a smoking oven & a burning torched passed between those pieces,” God assuring Abram “he was on the right journey”!

COVENANT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED! At the end of chapter 16, it says Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.” [13 years before Genesis 17:1!] – “When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said: “I am Almighty God; walk before me and be blameless.” Verse 3 – Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him…” He gave Abram a new name: Abram was ‘Exalted Father’ – Abraham was “Father of a Multitude”!

Sue and I established early in our marriage a mutual covenant – a covenant of prayer for our line of the Fishers to be established for a 1000 generations to honor God – WE HAD HEARD HIS VOICE!

In Job 42:2 Job said to the Lord, “I know that You can do all things and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted.”….And this, no doubt, is why David wrote the 23^rd Psalm out of a heart that had learned to listen to God’s heart-beat and God’s Voice!! ….[READ!!]

In 2 Timothy 2:7-9 Paul wrote: “Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not bound or chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

I’m telling you: YOU NEED TO STRIP FROM YOUR MINDS the thin gauzes of doubt, unbelief, speculation, indifference, and irreverence toward God’s Voice, and put on yourself the Royal Robe of Submission, Surrender, and SOLE RELIANCE on the VOICE OF GOD, not the wagging tongues from defiled hearts & rebellious minds who’ve determined: “WE DON’T NEED TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE!!” – I’m telling you: RUN even from a classroom, or a doctor’s office, or from a lawyer who is the ‘Law’ unto himself!

Listen to Dr. R.G. Lee out of his famous book “Payday Someday,” [pps. 55-56]. Dr. Lee preached: “In this Word of God which can never be bound or imprisoned, the historian has found his most thrilling chapters, the artist his loveliest conceptions, the poet his loftiest themes, God’s prophets their divinest messages, ethics its greatest authority, philosophy its profoundest inspiration, oratory its most beautiful quotations to bejewel its grandest flights, and many writers multitudinous themes and suggestions that blossom like rare and fragrant flowers in the world’s vast garden of literature.”

Do you understand that when one turns a deaf ear to “Redemptive Voices”, they have personally awakened in themselves afresh and anew the death knell to blessing, liberty, freedom, guidance, and the eternal destiny of fullness in Christ?

What did Paul say to the Athenians? “In Him [in Christ] we live, and move, and have our being”! And, I say, “Thank God for those who listen, hear, and respond in faith and obedience to the Redemptive Voices!”

FIRST, WE NEED TO HEAR, LISTEN, AND RESPOND TO THE VOICE OF THE LAW OF GOD. I want you to come to Exodus 19:4-6 and witness precious privilege, a treasured possession, a holy vow, and a Godly promise. The Word Says: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”…Then look at verse 19, ‘Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.” And then comes the voice of Holy Exposure in Exodus 20:1-21!!

Why the Ten Commandments engraved on those tablets of stone? Come to Galatians 3:10!! Are you ready? “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’” – Law’s Purpose? Galatians 3:24 tells us: “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Verse 7 has already told us “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” Why?

In John 8:56 Jesus said of Abraham: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”…THE LAW CARRIES EVERY MAN TO THE HOLY BAR OF GOD! THE LAW CONDEMNS EVERY MAN FOR VIOLATIONS! THE BROKEN LAW CAUSES US TO CAST OURSELVES ON THE MERCY SEAT and GRACE and LOVE OF GOD TO LEARN HIS ETERNAL WAY OF SALVATION and HEALING PROVISION

Look at the 10 Commandments, Listen to the Voice of God speaking, and then LEAN ON HIM in repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross!!…..THE VOICE OF THE LAW CONDEMNS –THE VOICE OF THE CROSS LIBERATES!….THE VOICE OF THE LAW SEPARATES – THE VOICE OF THE CROSS UNITES!….THE VOICE OF THE LAW EMBITTERS – THE VOICE OF THE CROSS SWEETENS!…THE VOICE OF THE LAW DECLARES JUDGMENT – THE VOICE OF THE CROSS DECLARES INNOCENCE!…THE VOICE OF THE LAW DECLARES DARKNESS TO THE SOUL – THE VOICE OF THE CROSS DECLARES “LIGHT” TO THE SAINTS!…

I want you to hear words from the great British preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, dead now almost 150 years ago: [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol. 4, pps. 237-238],…”Now, I beseech you, hear this word and believe it: ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.’ Oh, you can say, ‘I believe this Word – it is true – blessed be His dear name; it is true to me, for whatever I may not be, I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER; [a Law-of-God breaker!]:…And, good Lord. You know when I say I am a sinner, I do not mean what I used to mean by that word. I mean that I am a real sinner. [A LAW OF GOD VIOLATER!!]. I mean that if you should damn me, I deserve it; if You should cast me from Your presence forever, it is only what I merited [ earned] richly. O my Lord, I am a sinner; I am a hopeless sinner, unless You save me; I am a helpless sinner, unless You deliver me. I have no hope in my self-righteousness; and Lord, I bless Your name, there is one thing else, I am a sorrowful sinner, for sin grieves me; I cannot rest, I am troubled. Oh, if I could get rid of sin, I would be holy, even as God is holy, Lord, I believe.’ But I hear an objector cry out, ‘What, sir, believe that Christ died for me simply because I am a sinner!’ yes, even so. ‘No sir; but if I had a little righteousness; if I could pray well, I should then think Christ died for me.’ No, that would not be faith at all, that would be self-confidence. Faith believes in Christ when it sees sin to be black, and trusts in Him to remove it all. Now, poor sinner, with all your sin about you [Law-breaking etc.], take this promise in your hands, go home today, or if you can’t, do it before you get home – go home, I say, upstairs alone, down by your bedside, and pour out your heart, ‘O Lord, it is all true what the preacher said today; I am condemned, and Lord, I deserve it. O Lord, I’ve tried to do better, and I have done nothing with it at all, but have only grown worse. O Lord, I have slighted Your grace, I have despised Your Gospel: I wonder You haven’t damned me years ago; Lord, I marvel at myself, that You suffer such a base wretch as I am to live at all. I have despised a mother’s teaching, I have forgotten a father’s prayers. Lord, I have forgotten You; I have broken the Sabbath, taken Your name in vain. I have done everything that is wrong; and if You condemn me, what can I say? Lord, I am done before Your presence. I have nothing to plead. But Lord, I come to tell You, You have said in the Word of God, ‘Him that comes unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.’ Lord, I come; my only plea is that You have said, ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.’ [Sinners? Law of God breakers and violators!!] Lord, I am THE SINNER; He [Jesus] came to save ME; I trust in it – sink or swim – Lord, this is my only hope..[THE LAW] has pointed me to Christ alone!”

I wish you could have heard my son’s Youth Minister preach recently on Mark 9:7-8, “And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’ Suddenly when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but Jesus only with themselves.”

SECOND, WE NEED TO HEAR, LISTEN, AND RESPOND TO THE VOICES OF HEAVEN’S ANGELS AND DEPARTED SAINTS….Come to Revelation 11:15-18, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He [Jesus] shall reign forever and ever!’ And the 24 elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying, ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come. Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.” [You do understand! God isn’t talking about non-environmentalists here!!}

I want to ask you a very serious question! Are you aware that there are loud voices opposed to God, loud voices intent on the destruction of the earth, of God-ordained intent, God-ordained purpose, and a God-ordained ‘way of life’?….Rather than ushering in ‘heaven on earth just as it is in heaven now,’ there are co-conspirators intent on ‘hell on earth as it is in hell right now’!

I love reading John Piper – and, in his book, “A Godward Life,” he wrote: [pps.207, 209], “Jesus had a lively, daily awareness of heaven & hell. These awesome realities were always relevant for the way He lived and taught. He was radically reasonable about these things. If we will live forever in bliss or torment, then securing the one and escaping the other is more important than most of what we think about…So He motivated loving actions with the hope of God’s fellowship in heaven, and he motivated radical purity with the fear of separation & torment in hell. For Jesus a profound desire for heaven and a potent fear of hell were practical, daily parts of living a glad and holy life….We are playing games if we say we long for heaven more than this earth & then live like earthbound people.” And then Piper quoted I John 3:3, “Everyone who has this hope fixed on [Christ] purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Back in the early ‘80’s as I was pastoring Highlands Church in Ocala, Florida, it was the spring of the year. Into the Sunday a.m. fellowship walked a man & woman I’d never seen before – he had a white suit on and his lady friend, coal-black hair, also had a white suit. They filled out a visitor’s card and the address was the apartment complex across the street from the church. As per every Tuesday I made the visit, invited in, found out about his nationally known Christian ministry of piano with Rex Humbard’s church and even numerous appearances with Bill Gaither.

After casual and cordial conversation, he then informed me that the two were not married, that they both had left their mates and children so they could be together! I WAS STUNNED, to say the least! I then carefully dismissed myself and asked the man if he could come by my office the next morning – he agreed. Wednesday morning had almost passed – it was lunch time and I needed to go eat with Sue. But, as I was leaving, the man opened the church door, big smile on his face, then said: “Pastor Fisher, what did you think about what I told you yesterday about me and my lady friend?”….I pointed my finger at the man and said to him: “Sir, you are an adulterer and the woman you’re living with is an adulteress. And unless you both repent you’re bound for Hell! And I want you to know, unless you repent, don’t step foot in this door of God’s church.”…I walked out – and left him standing with his mouth wide open.

One year later, 2:30 a.m. in the morning I received a phone call. It was this man. He was weeping, crying, hard for him to talk, but I heard him through his tears say: “Pastor Fisher, I want to thank you. You are the only pastor nationally who told me the truth. Across Canada and America I asked leading pastors, well-known pastors, what they thought – and all but you said, “It’s OK, Brother; God wants you happy!”….NO!! GOD ISN’T INTERESTED IN YOUR HAPPINESS – HE WANTS YOU HOLY!!

The piano player and his wife had been reconciled, God had given them a ministry to troubled marriages, and they wanted to come to Ocala and share what God had done through truth shared!…Please, please, hear me: There are those “spiritually lost, spiritually destitute, spiritually inclined” to deny truth and destroy the earth – but there are the servants of God, the prophets, and the saints who’ve heard His Voice, Fear His name, and are willing to stand, & yes, die for eternal truth!

THIRD, WE NEED TO HEAR, LISTEN, AND RESPOND TO THE VOICE OF GOD CALLING OUT FOR VOLUNTEERS! Come to Isaiah 6:1-9! “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away and your sin is purged.’ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ And He said, ‘Go, & tell this people:…”

Did you catch it? I don’t know how you could miss it! Isaiah said what? “..I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go FOR US?” US?…ALMIGHTY GOD – LOVING SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT CALL TO US!! “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’; …And Isaiah responded: “Here am I! Send me.”

Are you aware that every day, men and women, boys and girls, are confronted by open doors to the habitations of the temporal or the habitations of the Eternal?….You are either pressed in to ‘pathological self-obsessions,’ ‘acute self-consciousness,’ the childish framework of ‘me, my, mine’ – or you’ve heard God’s Holy Voice calling out: “Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?”

In Mark 1:14-15 Jesus had begun His public ministry. Mark wrote: “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, & believe in the gospel.” BUT THAT’S NOT ALL

Look at Mark 1:16-17!! “And as HE [Jesus] walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon & Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them: “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

In Dallas Willard’s “The Divine Conspiracy,” Willard wrote: “This is a call for us to reconsider how we have been approaching our life, in light of the fact that we now, in the presence of Jesus, have the option of living within the surrounding movements of God’s eternal purposes, of taking our life into His life.”….I’d rather say, “taking His life into our lives,” and with Isaiah say: “Here am I! Send me!” “I want to be what you want me to be! I want to go where you want me to go! I’ll be a shoe-shiner for the glory of Christ! I’ll be a carpenter for the honor of my Lord. I’ll be a musician for the honor & blessing of Christ Jesus. I’ll be a scientist, and especially one who affirms God’s creative genius – not one who denies it. I’ll be a doctor extending my Lord’s healing grace and power.”

How can one profess redemptive life and redemptive love and redemptive liberty and redemptive privileges, and not say with Isaiah: ‘Here am I! Send me!’………You may find yourself so very much at home with the Rangers and the Mavericks and the Phil Micklesons and your pets and favorite movie stars – but you need to grasp that it is God who made you, the Lord who saved you, and a world that needs you out there! Out there is a God-birthed, God-blessed, God-bathed, God-enveloped world that needs Him!….Have you ever heard it? “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal”? And you understand – you can be heaven’s messenger of healing grace!….With transparent, transformed, and triumphant lives because of God’s grace and mercy, with the flames of our Lord’s unquenchable love, with a faithful and truthful presence and an available “Send me,” we can change the world around us!

It was Henry Ward Beecher who wrote: “Consecration is not wrapping one’s self in a holy web in a sanctuary & then coming forth after prayer and twilight meditation and saying, ‘There, I am [now] consecrated.’ Consecration is going out into the world where God is and using every power for His glory. It is taking all advantages [opportunities, crises] as trust funds – as confidential debts owed to God. It is simply dedicating one’s life, in its whole flow, to God’s service.”

FOURTH, AND LAST, WE NEED TO HEAR, LISTEN, AND RESPOND TO THE VOICE OF CHRIST – SAVED OR UNSAVED, LOST OR FOUND, SPIRITUALLY RE-BORN OR SPIRITUALLY DEAD!….Come to Revelation 3:18-22!….Let me tell you of the love of Jesus!! “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

It was Charles Morrison who once said: “The love of God is no mere sentimental feeling; it is REDEMPTIVE POWER.”……….Harold Cooke Phillips put it like this: “This coming to know Christ is what makes Christian truth redemptive truth, the truth that transforms, not just the truth that informs…”….I want to close with an old hymn!!

“My Faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!…Verse 2, May Thy rich grace impart, Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee, Pure, Warm, and changeless be A living fire!…Verse 3, While life’s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside…Verse 4, When ends life’s transcient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o’er me roll, Blest Savior, then, in love, fear and distrust remove; O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!”

What is our Lord saying to us? From “Ashes to Fire”, From slave of Satan to son and servant of Holy God,

From a world-promoter to a world-changer, From a life of indifference to a life of passion to be God’s instrument in touching others with His grace and mercy,

From a nobody to His somebody, From chains to freedom in Christ,

From a darkened soul to an enlightened spirit,

From self-consumption to spirit-sacrifice,

From deaf ears and blinded eyes to one who hears and sees and responds to our Lord’s compassion for the needy!

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

FORGOTTEN? THE CONSEQUENCES OF ‘SINKING SANDS’ OR THE BLESSINGS OF THE SOLID ROCK?

Do you believe that every church building you see is exemplary of the True Body of Christ? Are you aware of the massive differences between ‘man-made churches’ and the spiritual ministries of born-again disciples of Christ? Does ‘profession of’ always mean the reality of ‘possession’ by the Indwelling and Ever-Presence of the Living Lord?

Is explosive growth always evidence of Christ-anointing and Holy Spirit presence? Does ‘pastoral personality of attractiveness’ assure Heaven’s Hand of anointing TO THE GLORY OF GOD?

‘Jokesters,’ ‘pumpers of flesh,’ ‘All-Stars’ of intellectual genius, ‘mental manipulators’ void of the Master, knowledgeable men acquainted with the Scriptures but absent of its Author – what goes on today in churches when ‘members’ of the congregation are hand-cuffed by a man’s personality, drugged by fleshly or false doctrines, fooled by a familiar spirit, and tranquilized by a man’s interpretation apart from God’s revelation?

Do men’s business acumen (sharp perception), talents, and training assure a church’s ‘success’ to the glory of God or does it become a stumbling block in hearing the voice of God because they ‘know’ it all?

God’s “beware” of false prophets is the divine call and encouragement for His people to “be wise” in the Word led by the Holy Spirit who will, if we let Him, ‘guide us into all truth.’ Then there are the spiritual arsonists who can craftily create ‘false fires’ which have nothing to do with the Holy Fires of God; ‘kiddies’ kindling small match-book fires never realizing they can erupt into major fire-storms – and though false preachers only want to light matches under, over, and in young followers, lighting devoted ‘followship’ to them, they are so unaware of spiritual deception in themselves that they don’t even flinch when their devoted followers begin to ‘burn’ in their fleshly spiritual bondage – prisoners of their preacher rather than bound to Christ!

“Stars” of the ‘false preachers parade’ shine best with darkness not Light, wanting to hover over their subjects in commanding fashion, not Christ-like faith and fellowship and fullness of the Servant Spirit. Christ Jesus IS Lord before whom we are to bow but I have personally witnessed ‘pastors’ who demanded devotion to them as if ‘they’ were the true Lord, them becoming so assertive and controlling of their parishioners as if they were the Lord Himself!

There’s an interesting verse in Isaiah 10:21-22 where God said to Isaiah, and us, “The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God….For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet [only] a remnant of them shall return…” Do you remember what Samuel said to Saul in I Samuel 15:23? “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king [or reigning with Him].”

I don’t know how familiar you are with Habakkuk, but you need to major on it for days! Habakkuk 1:5-9 and also verse 12, “Look among the nations and watch – be utterly astonished! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you. For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places which are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers [or horsemen] charge ahead; their calvary comes from afar; they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. They all come for violence; their faces are set like the east wind. “they gather captives like sand.” And verse 12? Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O ROCK, You have marked them for correction.”

Revelation 20 speaks of a day when Satan will be bound for a 1000 years. Then verse 7 says, “And when the 1000 years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. Verse 8 says, “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

Now you must come and read, ponder, think, evaluate Matthew 7:13-27!! Here it is!! “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken to a wise man WHO BUILT HIS HOUSE ON THE ROCK; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, FOR IT WAS FOUNDED ON THE ROCK. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house ON THE SAND; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

“SINKING SANDS OR THE SOLID ROCK?” “Sinking Sands?” In Proverbs 2:18, speaking of the “strange woman,” we read: Amplified Bible, “For her house SINKS down to death, and her paths to the spirits [of the dead].” Does that ring an awakening bell in your mind and heart? Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says of “strange” that it means “foreign, pale,…odd, unusual, irregular, estranged…” And could we say ‘estranged from God Himself’? “SINKING SANDS”!

Woodward said: “That finer matter called ‘sand’, is no other than very small pebbles.” And what are ‘pebbles’ when compared to ‘Solid Rock’? Is ‘sand’ what you’d build your spiritual house on or on the foundation of ‘Solid Rock’?

What did Jesus say in Matthew 7:26-27? [Amplified Version]. “And every one who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid [foolish] man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great and complete was the fall of it.”

A decision in one’s mind, heart, and spirit, to choose sinking sand to build one’s life upon is no doubt a major part of fallen man’s old sin nature! There is that that every man wrestles with: SELF-WILL, SELF-PLEASURE, SELF-RULE – warped living that always wants to shut God out and become himself the crumbling center of his own godless universe, denying God, denying the Word of God, denying the Son of God, denying the Cross and the Resurrection, and pushing to the surface of his mind, heart, and will, his own decision as to ruling, his own sick ambition to be his own lord, ‘master’ of his own destiny, denying accountability to Holy God at God’s judgment seat.

Sinking Sands? How casual, how indifferent, how resentful are they to the sinking, shifting sands, when they are defined, explained, or scripturally exposed! Sinking sands? That’s the world, the flesh, and the devil himself and his demon hordes that enslave, capture, confine, restrict, limit, abuse, accuse, bind up, suffocate, squeeze out any turning to eternal truth! In Luke 22:31 we read, “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Have you been ‘sifted’ lately?

What a warning for any life choosing to walk on sinking sands! It’s 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved.”

Sinking sands? In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 Paul wrote: “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”

Sinking sands? I Thessalonians 1:9b-10 says” “…and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He [God] raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

Sinking sands? Ignorance of ‘the times and the seasons’ – that’s a day when every man, woman, boy or girl, will stand before Holy God and give an account, “What then did you do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” In I Thessalonians 5:1-7 Paul calls us to spiritual sobriety while the world, the flesh, and the devil, are crying out “Peace and safety” for themselves when their eternal destruction is knocking on their door. The Word says:

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.”

It was Alexander Maclaren who wrote: “That which of all things unfits man for the reception of Christ as Savior, is not gross profligacy and outward, vehement transgression, but it is self-complacency, fatal self-righteousness and self-sufficiency.” Sinking sands!

“Sinking sands”? It is a walk through life in the animalistic intent on success and survival on ‘my terms’ strictly on the basis of ‘self-interest’ with no concern as to God’s eternal intent! This is why Jesus boldly said in Matthew 16:24, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Listen to Oswald Chambers in “My Utmost For His Highest”! [p.257], “Individuality is the husk of personal life. Individuality is all elbows, it separates and isolates. It is the characteristic of the child and rightly so; but if we mistake individuality for the personal life, we will remain isolated. The shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering for the protection of personal life; but individuality must go in order that the personal life may come out and be brought into fellowship with God. Individuality counterfeits personality as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself; individuality debases human nature for itself.”

Do you see that, understand it, run from it – to God? “Sinking sands”? “…individuality debases human nature for itself…!” “Individuality… all elbows” with no reaching hand of faith and trust and surrender and obedience to God! “Individuality… counterfeits personality as lust counterfeits love…!”

“Sinking sands”? That’s standing in life fully devoted to carnality, at war with the Spirit of God, an unrenewed, fallen, rebellious sin nature, a nature and state and determination of one’s life to go it’s own way, to satisfy ‘flesh’, to deny ‘saving faith,’ one consumed with the passion to live, enjoy, incorporate his unrenewed nature in opposition to God’s eternal intent!

“Sinking sands”? It’s ‘bitten’ by the “Serpent” with a deadly poison flowing through one’s veins that has brought on a condition of life that defies human remedies! That one, yes, all, opposed to “repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross” live ‘soul-shaken’! and ‘sin-stricken’, ignoring, denying, refusing, pleading blindness to saving grace!

“Sinking sands”? That’s establishing man-made religions in opposition to a personal relationship with God through the sacrifice of Christ! That’s ‘cosmetic coverings’ apart from true conversion in Christ! But there if ‘Hope’, not fatal forgetfulness; there is THE eternal answer to fallen man’s dilemma, not fleshly hopelessness; there is the Sovereign remedy of life and heart change and eternal hope as one stands saved, secure, sanctified, and Sovereignly sure on “The Solid Rock”!!

But there is ‘hope’, not fatal forgetfulness; there is THE eternal answer, not fleshly hopefulness; there is the Sovereign remedy of life and heart change and eternal hope as one stands saved, secure, sanctified, and Sovereignly sure on “THE SOLID ROCK”! Oh, please, please, STAND ON “THE SOLID ROCK”! In Matthew 7:24-25 what precious, personal, powerful words we find! Jesus is speaking here! “therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house ON THE ROCK; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

It was Edward Mote and William B. Bradbury who wrote the famous hymn “My Hope Is Built”, or also known as “The Solid Rock.” The hymn says: “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly live on Jesus’ name…. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil….His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay….When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found; Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne…. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. AMEN.”

In Matthew 16:13 Jesus had come to the region of Caesarea Philippi and He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” And, no doubt, that questioned is ignored, answered faithlessly, denying Him carelessly, and, to them, totaling obliterating His Name as a subject they want to discuss or discern. But the disciples answered Him in verse 14, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then, here it comes…!

Then Jesus said to them, “But WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” And, praise God, for Simon Peter who answered in verse 16, “You are the Christ [the Messiah, the Eternally Anointed Promised Savior], the Son of the Living God.” In verses 17-19, what a revelation! Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and ON THIS ROCK I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

And for yourself, WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS? Plus, you do understand that how you answer is evidence of your life on “sinking sands or Solid Rock”!

SINCE CHRIST JESUS IS “THE SOLID ROCK,” THEN ONE’S ANSWER DETERMINES HIS FAITH IN GOD’S MIRACLE OF GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE – OR ONE’S LACK, VOID, ABSENCE OF TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE! What did Jesus say? “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to Father-God but by and through Me and My redemptive work at the Cross.”

I John 5:12 says, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Then in John 17:3 we read, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Oh, how misconstrued life becomes when one alarmingly believes it’s what he/she wants, what he/she wills to do, and what he/she does to form their private constitution independent of Christ!

I want you to know “The Solid Rock” is our Lord and Savior, and intends He become our Master and mastery of life! “The Solid Rock” is Emmanuel, ‘God With us’! In his book, “The Secret of Happiness,” written by Billy Graham in 1955, he wrote: [p.136], “To know about Christ is not enough. To be convinced that he is Savior of the world is not enough. To affirm your faith in Him, as we do in the Apostles’ Creed is not enough. To believe that He has saved others is not enough. You really don’t actively believe in Christ until you make a commitment of your life [to Him] and receive Him as your Savior [and Lord]…You can best demonstrate your faith in a bank by putting your money in it. You can best show your faith in a doctor by trusting him with your physical welfare in times of illness. You can best prove your faith in a boat by getting aboard and going someplace on it. You can best demonstrate your faith in Christ by trusting him with your life and receiving him unconditionally as your Savior.”

SINCE CHRIST JESUS IS “THE SOLID ROCK”, THEN ONE’S FAITH UNDERSTANDS, KNOWS, AND IS WILLING TO COMMIT TO “STANDING” ON “THE SURE FOUNDATION.” In I Corinthians 3:10-11 we read: “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

So desirous of encouraging young Timothy, in 2 Timothy 2:19-21, Paul wrote: “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

Is your life “founded on the Rock”? Is your life “safe on the Rock”? Is your journey “sure on the Rock”? No doubt this is why the wise man wrote in Proverbs 10:25, “As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more; but the righteous is an everlasting foundation!”

Raging winds, raging waters, raging wars – but the life “founded on the Rock” will never blow away, wash away, or be a victim of a senseless spiritual war – His Rock Is Christ!

SINCE CHRIST JESUS IS “THE SOLID ROCK,” AND ONE IN REPENTANCE AND FAITH RESTS HIS/HER LIFE ON THE SURE FOUNDATION, THEN IT’S NOT “THE RUDDER OF RHETORIC” BUT THE REVELATION OF GOD’S HOLY WORD THAT KEEPS OUR FEET ON THAT SURE FOUNDATION! I want you to open your own Bible to 2 Samuel 22! What an awesome Word! It’s David, King David, and he’s singing a song to the Lord!

In verses 2-4, as David sings, “The Lord IS my ROCK and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” And I’m asking you, right now, this given moment of opportunity: IS GOD YOUR ROCK, YOUR FORTRESS, YOUR DELIVERER?

In verse 5-7 David sings about opposition and God’s answer to it: “When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my voice; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears.” And I’m asking you, right now, this given moment of more than likely your own opposition: “In YOUR distress have YOU called upon the Lord?

In verses 8-20 David sings about those ‘shaking sands’, the Sovereign answer, and David’s deliverance!

In verses 21-31 David sings about “Solid Rock rewards,” about “Solid Rock watchcare,” about “Solid Rock” windows of enlightment”!!

SINCE CHRIST JESUS IS “The Solid Rock,” HIS PEOPLE SHOULD BE THOSE WHO “ASCRIBE GREATNESS TO OUR GOD”!! Deuteronomy 32 :3 Moses proclaims “the name of the Lord;” and he says, “Ascribe greatness to our God.” Why? Deuteronomy 32:4, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”

Isn’t it sad when you read a Socrates saying, “If we could but see God, we would know how we ought to live,” and yet ever before any man, anywhere, anytime, God has shown Himself! Isn’t that John 1:14? “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

In “Mere Christianity” C.S. Lewis wrote: [chapter 10], “If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world (something supernatural and eternal.”)

But you know that some deny “The Solid Rock” and have no desire to “ascribe greatness to…God.” They suppress Truth and live for The Lie!!

In closing this chapter I want YOU to turn in your Bible and read Romans 1:16-32 at least three times!! Amen??

By J.Farrell Fisher

AUGUST 20, 2014

It’s, yes, astounding to me that as I read Spurgeon for his pastoral insights and phenomenal handling of God’s Word, I come across statements that birth a new direction of preparation in preaching or teaching God’s Word. He said, [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.19, p.274], “The flesh sees honey in the drink, but faith at once perceives that there is poison in the cup.”

And there certainly is an eternity’s difference between man’s ‘flesh’ [his old, fallen sin nature] and God’s biblical faith. Spurgeon spoke about ‘flesh’ or ‘This sin is a very pleasurable thing, why should I not enjoy it? Surely I may eat this fruit which looks so charming, and is so much to be desired.” And you realize:

‘Flesh’ is blind to God and His Word. ‘Flesh’ is blind to sin, twisting Truth, distorting human personality and divine potential, grieving and gripping the inner man in Satanic slavery, promoting self-potential apart from divine intent, brutalizing divine purpose and plan, enslaving the ‘flesh’ to a godless life, omitting FAITH as THE DIVINE REMEDY OF AN IMPRISONED SOUL, substituting sin as the open door to true freedom when in reality it leads to chains and bondage and a cell or existence of fleshly limitation. ‘FLESH’ IS LIFE WITHOUT GOD!

Spurgeon went on to say so profoundly: “Faith spies the snake in the grass, and gives warning of it. Faith remembers death, judgment, the great reward, the just punishment, and that dread word – eternity. Faith sees the end as well as the beginning. Faith, while the feast is going on, reminds the revelers of the reckoning. Faith feels that she cannot buy the transient joys of earth at the countless cost of an immortal soul. ‘What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?’

Blindness to God and His salvation is hopelessness with faithlessness as the uncertain foundation of one’s existence. Self-trust, self-determination, self-will, and self-rule are the four cornerstones of our empty dwellings but faith is the solid and sure foundation.

Without biblical faith, one is void of understanding of the very heart of God. In Ezekial 18:31-32, God speaks today to you personally: “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die…? For I have no pleasure in the death of the one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”

That’s the very heart of the Lord God of Eternity – and He knows you, loves you, and wants you to be one with Him! It was John Calvin, in his “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” who wrote: “Faith is a knowledge of the benevolence of God toward us, and a certain persuasion of His veracity.”

It was Edwin Hubbell Chapin who said: “Skepticism has not founded empires, established principles, or changed the world’s heart. The great doers of history have always been men of faith.” So true!

And when it comes to human existence that is passionate for more, it’s only by faith that human existence is changed by Divine Presence through repentance toward God and FAITH in the finished work of Christ at the Cross! Truth-faith is “looking up to God,” “looking in to one’s heart-need,” and “looking around as to where one is to settle in serving and sharing our Lord and Savior”!

But, of course, multitudes live by ‘superstition’ rather than faith in God’s finished work. Others live by their mental superiority to the less fortunate because it’s ‘education’ that makes a man – not repentance and faith! Others have settled in to proving their own worth and value by what they do – not what has been done at Calvary’s Cross. It was Napoleon Bonaparte who once said: “All the scholastic scaffolding falls, as a ruined edifice, before one single word – faith.” It was Jesus who said in John 20:29, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.”

Faith! What an intriguing, inspiring, entrusting word, that calls by personal examination, inward acknowledgement, and mind and heart full surrender to the God who blesses one with SAVING FAITH! Look at Ephesians 2:8!! “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…”

Romans 1:16-17 is so clear! It says: (Paul speaking), “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just [or justified or ‘just as if I’d never sinned’] shall live by faith.”

We WERE dead in our trespasses and sins, the Gospel is preached, the Spirit convicts and convinces, and by grace through faith, repenting, believing, and trusting, we are born to new life in Christ!

It was J.P.Scholfield who wrote the hymn, “Saved, Saved!” It says: “I’ve found a friend who is all to me, His love is ever true; I love to tell how He lifted me And what His grace can do for you…

He saves me from every sin and harm, Secures my soul each day; I’m leaning on His mighty arm. I know He’ll guide me all the way…

When poor and needy and all alone, In love He said to me, ‘Come unto Me and I’ll lead you home, To live with Me eternally…

Saved, by His power divine, Saved, to new life sublime! Life now is sweet and my joy is complete, For I’m saved, saved, saved!”

We’re SAVED BY FAITH, but I believe also that there is SECURITY IN FAITH! How could one ever believe that God saves, and yet His salvation is ‘insecure’?

It may be Old Testament scripture but it is the Word of God, and the prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 26:2-4, said: “Open the gates that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. YOU [God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord is everlasting strength.”

In John 17:3 Jesus prayed to Father-God for us! He said: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Oswald Chambers, in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.93], wrote: “God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of those spots in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours…The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.”

For the true believer there is to be that steadfastness of hope in us that what God has started, He will finish! In Job 13:15 Job told his ‘friends’: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” The process of faith requires the patience of faith, yes, patience with yourself!

Robert Browning, in “The Ring and the Book,” wrote: “There is but one way to browbeat this world, Dumb-founder doubt, and repay scorn in kind – To go on trusting, namely, till faith Move Mountains.” That means “hold on” in the journey of faith; “don’t let go” in the stressful times; “eyes on the goal” as you press in to Jesus!

In Revelation 3:10-13 Jesus speaks to us who are in His ‘church’ today: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

WE’RE SAVED BY FAITH, WE’RE SECURE IN FAITH, BUT ALSO THE JOURNEY OF FAITH IS A TEST OF CHOICE IN BEING EITHER INFLUENCED BY THE WORLD AROUND US OR OVERCOMING, YES, WORLDLY TESTS AND TEMPTATIONS BY EITHER REFUSING TO INDULGE IN THE FLESHLY STANDARDS IN THE WORLD OR TO LIVE SURRENDERED DAILY TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST! And I’m sure it’s both!

In I John 2:15-17 the beloved John challenges every believer: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…

For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

It’s really interesting that Paul challenges all believers in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” when, sadly, too many professing believers will yield to a world spirit that will dishonor Christ, but the Holy Spirit emphasizes one daily being transformed “by the renewing of the mind.”

There is a vast difference in human existence between those enslaved to their old sin natures or freed by the blood of Christ and birthed into “a new creation” that is, yes, divine in nature! In Ephesians 2:1-3 Paul described those in bondage to the “old man”: “And you He made alive, who were dead [spiritually dead to God] in trespasses and sins,

In which you once WALKED ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Among whom also WE ALL ONCE CONDUCTED OURSELVES IN THE LUSTS OF OUR FLESH, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

The ‘world spirit’ is powerful, tempting, lying, attractive and addictive with deadly alternatives and outcomes, enslaving, binding and bruising, contagious, producing sick spirits in the mind and heart, destroying, poisoning, entrapping, stripping of even common decency, which is what Paul was describing to Titus when in Titus 2:12 he spoke the opposite of worldly teaching that ‘covers’ or ‘denies’ ungodly and worldly lusts, but that true faith, saving faith, transforming faith, teaches us “to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Worldly people are aware of ‘spiritual failure’ or ‘spiritual darkness’ or ‘spiritual emptiness’ which drives them to find ‘something’ or ‘someone’ to fill them up with something, but what they seek and find never satisfies because true satisfaction in life only comes by our Lord’s Resurrection Presence!

And guess what? His Holy Word tells us: I John 1:7, “If we walk in the light as He [Jesus] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.” GLORY TO GOD!

I love Oswald Chambers’ statement in “My Utmost For His Highest” when he said: [p.268], “The evidence that I am delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me.”

WE’VE SEEN THE FACT THAT WE’RE SAVED BY FAITH, WE’RE SECURE IN THE FAITH, WE FACE A TEST OF CHOICE IN OUR WALK, BUT ALSO WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO BUILD OURSELVES UP ON “YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH,” WHICH IS JUDE 20-21! It says:

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most Holy Faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life…”

You do understand “new birth” which tells us there are infants in the faith walk, children learning about the faith, teenagers tested about their allegiance to truth, young adults, maturing adults, senior adults, all growing in grace and gripping the truth practically of a sanctifying faith, understanding maturely they’ve been “set apart” in honoring our Lord and Savior!

I’m sure that much of our salvation -walk as infants in the faith and energetic children of faith is based upon, mostly, head faith, but as one matures in the faith-walk a person begins to discern ‘heart-faith’, that is, one willing to be led by the Holy Spirit of God and matured by faithfulness in and to God’s Holy Word.

No doubt this is why Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Saving, sanctifying faith is not in what I do, but what has been done through the sacrificial life of Christ and my absolute certainty and acceptance of His finished work on the Cross where He took me to the Cross with Him, and I was there crucified with Christ, and now He lives again and through my available body! It’s not “us” – it’s “Christ in us the hope of glory”!

There is such an illuminating word Jesus spoke in Luke 21:16-19. It says: “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience [steadfastness, disciplined walk] possess your souls.”

Does that relate to believers “putting on the whole armor of God”? Does that mean “seeking,” “searching,” “claiming,” “dressing,” “receiving,” all that our Lord has promised? I love Chambers’ words when he said: “Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love.” WOW! What are you building your life of faith upon?

The journey of faith is a joyous journey, but sometimes there are those who “depart from the faith” – and it’s you and Jesus only! In 2 Timothy 4:16-18 Paul told his spiritual son, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

I wrote a message last week entitled “Dark Nights – Bright Lights.” Redemptive faith is not a dark night, but the “Bright Light” of Jesus Himself – His Light never grows dim!

I pray you understand that at times a militaristic call to arms does arise for true believers, but without a doubt, I believe, Paul is talking here about a war against your own flesh, a war against the world spirit of unbelief, and a war against Satanic and demonic activity!

Discern Matthew 24:3-14 as you personally choose to do so, but don’t ignore or try to ‘sugar-coat’ our Lord’s words as He talked about the signs of the times and the end of the age! Jesus said: Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the ends of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

I hope you understand that what has been spoken by Jesus is to alert ALL of “perilous times.” Our Lord and Savior high-lighted some very vital truths about these particular times called “last days”. He said: 1]. It will be a time of great deception. Verses 4-5. 2]. It will be a time of great conflict. Verses 6-7. 3]. It will be a time of great suffering. Verses 8-10. 4]. It will be a time of open sin. Verses 11-12. 5]. It will be a time of great opportunity. Verses 13-14.

Are you prepared? Are you alert? Are you well-trained? Are you equipped? Are you prayed up? And, I would ask, ‘Are you ready to die for your faith?’

In Ephesians 6:16 Paul tells us, “above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

LASTLY, HAS ‘YOUR’ FAITH LED YOU TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO STAND FAST AND STRONG? In Galatians 5:1 Paul wrote: “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

You do know that if Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed – no more bondage, no more slavery, no more chains, no more fear of an eternal hell, no more entanglements of poor choices.

It was Robert J. McCracken who wrote: “We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.” Oh, that once again true American history be restored to our classrooms!

Again, Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” I’m telling you, “standing fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,” is why John recorded Jesus’ word for us in Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

It’s more than enduring and persevering – it’s standing tall before Holy God with a heart of thanksgiving and joy for His gift of FAITH!! “For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God!” Glory!

Ray Palmer and Lowell Mason wrote the hymn, “My Faith Looks Up To Thee.” It says:

“My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!

May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!

While life’s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide4; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o’er me roll; Blest Savior, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove, O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!”

BY J.FARRELL FISHER, AUGUST 30-31, 2018

Browsing the inner-net on my computer recently, from HTTPS://www.divorce source. Com/ main/U.S. divorce – rates –and Statistics -1037.SHTMl stated: “The U.S., since 1980.- ‘we have about 2.4 million marriages a year and 1.2 million divorces a year.’”

I hope you won’t think I’m “scandalous”, paraphrasing passages in James related to ‘disciples’, but I want to use the context of the passage to relate it to “marriages and divorces in the U.S.A. today”! James 4:1-10, paraphrased by J.Farrell Fisher, says:

“You ask, and receive not, because in ‘your marriage-dilemma’ you ask selfishly, that you may continue in your selfish, self-serving way. Adulterers and adulteresses (even spiritually), do you not know ‘friendship with the world’s false marriage ways’ is enmity with God?

Do you think the Holy Word says in vain, ‘the marriage-spirit’ that dwells in you ‘lusts’ in envy’? But Holy God gives more grace. Wherefore He resists that ‘self-centered-marriage-indifference’, but gives and keeps on giving grace to the humble.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist Satan, as he seeks to destroy your marriage faithfulness, and he will flee from you. When ‘temptations’ come to walk away from your ‘marriage vows’, cleanse your hearts, you sinners, and Satan will flee from you.

Draw near to God; and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and wash your minds and hearts in the blood of Calvary’s Lamb, you ‘twisted-mind’ professor of faith. Be broken by the Spirit and the Word, weep, and mourn; let your ‘fleshly laughter’ be turned to mourning, and your ‘fleshly joy’ to extreme heaviness of heart. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE!”

The end of Verse 29 in Luke 12 says, “…don’t be of a doubtful mind”, yet carelessly, when wounded by marriage infidelity, some choose to just ‘walk away’ ignoring God’s Word, Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.”

But many have problems about ‘marital infidelity’, because of their even ‘mixed up’ religious, personal, or ‘brain-division’, like Einstein, though seemingly ‘religious’ in a sense, who once said: [From Manu Varghese, Nikea 1100 to I phone 5’s], “I do not believe in a personal God and I never have denied this but have expressed it clearly,” or, “clearly, I’m not a disciple of Christ, or a personal God.”].

And when it comes to “marriage and/or divorce”, many, certainly, are assured in themselves that “He has no place in what they decide to do for themselves”!!

But Edmund Burke once said: ( The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations, edited by Frank S. Mead, Fleming H. Revell Company,p.296), “The Christian religion (or Faith), by confining marriage to pairs (husband and wife!!), and rendering the relation indissoluble, has by these two things done more toward the peace, happiness, settlement, and civilization of the world, than by any other part in this whole scheme of divine wisdom.” SO TRUE!!

It was William Wordsworth, in “Excursion”, (Bk.VI), who wrote: “Why do not words and kiss, and solemn pledge, And nature that is kind in woman’s breast, And reason that in man is wise and good, AND fear of Him who is a righteous Judge, – Why do not these prevail for human life, To keep two hearts together, that began Their spring-time with one love.” Great question!

I don’t know who wrote it, but I read it a long, long time ago, and kept it for such a time as this: “If a child of God marries a child of the devil, said child of God is sure to have some trouble with his father-in-law.” Classic word!!

There is no doubt in my mind and heart that the sanctity of marriage and the family relationship is one of the strong pillars of a nation’s foundation that keeps it up to the glory of God, but when the majority of a nation grants ‘acceptance’ of divorce as ‘OK’, it signs the beginning of its own ‘death warrant’ as ‘one nation under God’! At the same time, irresponsible spiritual ‘professors’ of faith in marriage, see it as ‘vital’ in ceremony but optional when ‘heat’ arises!

For some, ‘fleshly pleasures’ outside of marriage are ‘OK’ as long as one continues to attend church on Sunday! Some see marriage as acceptable, but they’ll scream that marriage without leniency in outside ‘fleshly indulgence’ is unacceptable to them. ‘Love pretense’ is not the same as ‘divine love practice’! There is no ‘peace’ when marriage vows are seen as unimportant or unnecessary when ‘one’ or both in supposed ‘holy matrimony’ accept the ‘promise’ but without consequences if one chooses to ‘play’ the ‘flesh, worldly, or Satanic way’ in marriages!

Matthew 19:5-6, Jesus speaking, declares, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Holy God didn’t INSTITUTE marriage with ‘options’, nor does He overlook or excuse marital infidelity by ‘promiscuous intercourse’ of ‘friends’, but HIS ‘faithful marriage vows’ are intended to promote marriage faithfulness and, yes, protect children that come from their supposed loving relationship.

I’m now 82 years of age, but still have, yes, pain over the divorce of my mom and dad when I was three years of age. After the divorce, my mother took me to her parents, where from 3 years of age to 12 years of age, I was with my grandparents, but also with my mother’s two sisters, one just two years older than me and the other about six years older than me – godly grandparents were needed, but those two sisters, my young aunts, compassionately and faithfully loved me, plus, in church attendance with them, I was blessed by faithful men, disciples of Christ, who went out of their way to love, serve, bless, and encourage me!! My mother re-married, her husband unsaved, but after about seven years with mom and him, then Baylor University and Seminary, just about three weeks before he died at 78 years of age, he said to me, “Farrell, all these years you’ve shared the gospel truth with me – one more time would you share it?” I did! He prayed! About three weeks after, one of the retirement nurses called Sue and I asking, “What has happened to Frank Callaway? He’s not the same man – he travels the halls and cafeteria telling everybody about Christ Jesus!”

Even ‘divided marriages’ at times have ‘flashes’ of Light in Christ that can, do, and will make a difference in some children’s lives, because the ‘believer’ intercedes to the glory of God for all the family, including maybe an unsaved partner.

THERE ‘IS’ MARRIAGE MADNESS, FOR SOME! There was a statement in “Changing Times” years and years ago that stated: “Marriages may be made in heaven, but man is responsible for the maintenance work”, and seriously sad that often times neither one or the pair understand “maintenance work”. And some accept no responsibility OR accountability in seeing the “marriage honors God”!

It’s so interesting AND convicting that 1 John 3:8 talks about “Christ coming to earth to destroy the works of the devil”, but you yourself see no marriage conflict as the ‘works of the devil’, so, you assure yourself you can handle marriage difficulties without the help of “the Savior”! How clueless is that for some in the midst of ‘marriage turmoil’?? Both individually and as a twosome in marriage, we both must see the eternal purpose of our marriage union, AND togetherness in seeing it exists for the spiritual purpose of glorifying the God who brought ‘us together’ and who wants to see our marriage problems resolved in full surrender to Him.

But across America, most in marriage unions fail because, though believing in God, He surely cannot be the foundation of their ‘fleshly union’, even when He instituted His eternal purposes in marriage before its foundation of the earth! When the marriage union, yes, often shuts God out, they willfully do so with no hope of Him fulfilling His eternal plan through their marriage union!

But hear me! In “Christian marriages”, Christ IS to have His rightful place in the union as His gathering place of both “salt and Light” to honor Himself and to sustain a sacred marriage for the enrichment, blessing, hope, and fruit of the Spirit in both husband and wife, plus the ‘kids’ that usually come!!

What does Matthew 5:14 tell us? “You are the light of the world. A ‘marriage’ that exists through Me is set on a hill”, yes, as shining lights to a needy world around you!! Do you understand? He’s not telling YOU in marriage union to ‘go out and find a light’ – “in Christ”, whether husband or wife or the union of the two, “Let Jesus’ Light shine through each of you to one another”!

Tony Evans, in his book, “America’s Only Hope,” (published by Moody Press, Chicago, in 1990), told the following ‘eye and heart-opening statement’ about Matthew 5:14: “Notice, that Jesus didn’t say, ‘Go out and get the light so you can brighten things up.’ He said, “You ARE the light.” When you are something, you don’t have to go out to find it. All you have to do is discover what you are,” (and I say, ‘discover who Jesus is in you!). Evans went on:

“There’s a story about a little eagle that fell out of its nest and landed in a turkey farm. The eagle grew up among the turkeys and, although he looked a bit different, learned to waddle like a turkey, bob his head like a turkey, and act like a turkey.

One day the young eagle looked up into the sky and saw a beautiful eagle soaring above. The little eagle in the turkey yard thought, “Oh, I’d love to be able to do that!” As the eagle soared overhead, it looked down and saw the young eagle below. Suddenly it swooped down to the ground and asked, “What are you doing here?” The little eagle replied, “I’m just here in the turkey yard where I’ve always been.”

The great eagle looked and said, “Spread your wings, boy. You do just what I do. Follow me.” Then he flapped his wings and lifted off the ground. The young eagle tried it, too. “Whee! This is all right!” “See,” the mature eagle said, “you’ve been living among these turkeys so long that you were beginning to believe you’re something you’re not! Follow me, and you’ll find out what you really are.”

“But I’m scared,” the little eagle replied. “I won’t know what to do when I get out of the turkey yard.” “When you get out of here, you’ll find out,” the big eagle answered. So the little eagle began to soar and fly. He loved it. But the turkeys down below called out to him and said, “Hey little guy, what are you doing up there? You belong down here.” .. “No, I don’t,” called out the young eagle. “I used to belong there, but now I’m what I was created to be. I don’t belong with you turkeys anymore.”

Question! Do YOU truly know to Whom you belong in your world? To the world, your old sin nature, to Satan? OR, are you owned by Christ’s blood purchase, and do you see yourself as truly “the Son of God in and through Christ alone, MARKED BY THE INDWELLING PRESENCE OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT”?

Another book I’ve treasured is a book by Jerry B. Jenkins entitled “Loving Your Marriage Enough To Protect it”, published by Moody Press in Chicago in 1989, 1993. He wrote: “One of the saddest and scariest stories I’ve ever heard on this subject was about a young evangelist. He was just barely twenty-one, on fire for God, effective in his preaching and soul-winning, and in great demand from local churches. He had preached several large crusades and was soon invited to an area-wide effort at which he would be the main speaker.

Though he was not yet out of college, he was a protégé of international evangelist Sammy Tippet and was admired and considered wise. Though he didn’t have a steady girlfriend, he dated regularly at Bible college. Spiritually he was alert and mature. He was, however, naïve. The first night of the crusade he headed up the counseling ministry in a large room near the pastor’s study. A beautiful teenager asked if she could speak with him personally. He tried to assign her to someone else, but, when she persisted, he agreed for her to wait until he was finished with the others. More than an hour after the meeting had ended, the rest of the counselors and counselees had left, and he was alone with the young girl. A few minutes later she burst from the room screaming, “He made a pass at me! He wanted to make love to me!”

That very night the pastor of the host church and a small group of the crusade planners confronted the young preacher and demanded an explanation. He denied the girl’s charge but had no witnesses. The girl had seemed an upstanding young woman in the church, and there was no reason to disbelieve her story. “What did happen in that room?” the pastor demanded.

“To tell you that would be to make an accusation behind someone’s back,” he said. “Which is what happened to me. I ask only that I be allowed to face my accuser.” The pastor and the others canceled the rest of the crusade and agreed that the young woman should be asked to face the preacher in their presence. Two nights later she showed up with her parents at a private board meeting. The pastor asked if she would care to speak about her charges against the preacher.

“She has already said all she has to say,” her father said sternly, her mother nodding and glaring at the accused. “Would you, son, care to share your version of what happened in that room the other night?” “No sir,” the evangelist said. “I see no future in that. Only she and I know the truth, and I cannot defend myself. I’d just like to say this to her. Cindy, you know what happened and what didn’t happen in that room. If you don’t tell the truth, I will be branded and may never preach again. This will damage my reputation and that of the church and even that of God. If I did what you say I did, I deserve no better, but we both know that is not the truth. I’m begging you in the name of Christ to set the record straight.”

The silence hung heavy as the board and her parents watched her face contort into a grimace before the tears began to flow. “I lied”, she said quietly. “I’m sorry. I lied. He didn’t make a pass at me; I made a pass at him. When he turned me down I was so embarrassed and ashamed and angry that I made up that story. I’m so sorry.” That preacher is no longer young. He has never again allowed himself to be alone in a room with a female to whom he is not related.” For YOUR testimony to the glory of God, is your marriage the testimony of God’s blessings because of His promises and your faithfulness to your marriage, or sadly, do you have to admit that you’ve allowed your marriage vows before Holy God to just wither away? Sadly, too many marriages today, with both husbands and/or wives are allowed to ‘wither’ rather than be a testimony that glorifies Christ Jesus and His Word! Why not, “Our marriage IS the ‘new creation’ in Christ, and ‘in Him, by Him, and for Him, to the glory of God!”

FARRELL FISHER

“Some read the Bible and gain an accumulation of information without a relational experience of Oneness with the God who wrote it.” FF

FOREWARD

After my major heart attack April 28, 2013, I knew our Lord wanted me to write – and I did. In just a brief period of recuperation, I began to write a book entitled “Resignation to Hopelessness” which really is a book about our eternal hope. But presently there is a “hopeless spirit” that is like a dark cloud heavy over our nation, the USA.

And I am firmly convinced what God did for me after my heart attack that He can do for our nation! Didn’t He say in II Chronicles 7:14 that if His people called upon Him, humbling themselves and praying, that He would forgive their sins and heal their land?

There’s a biblical command in Isaiah 60:1-3 which says to “us”: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will rise over YOU, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

And since God is no respecter of persons or nations, will He not rise upon us if we humbly call upon Him? Oh, yes, HE WILL! One truth I’ve learned and allowed to be deeply imbedded on my heart and mind is that God is not interested in our ‘abilities’, if we have any, but God is interested in our availability to ALL HE IS!!

So…let’s not be “crushed” but truly converted, and in on what God is up to! Didn’t Jesus say, “Ask, and you will receive, seek, and you will find, knock, and it shall be opened to you?” Let’s do that together as we examine some of life’s greatest questions!

OUTLINE

QUESTIONS THAT CRUSH OR CONVERT

CHAPTER ONE: “YOUR STRENGTH OR GOD’S ABLENESS?”

CHAPTER TWO: “FALSE FREEDOM OR DIVINELY VALIDATED LIBERTY?”

CHAPTER THREE: “MAN DIES! DOES HE LIVE AGAIN?”

CHAPTER FOUR: “LIFE AS A VAPOR? WHERE’S ITS SIGNIFICANCE?”

CHAPTER FIVE: “IS THERE WISDOM IN ‘WAITING ON GOD’?”

CHAPTER SIX: “IS IT COMMONPLACE TO BE DECEIVED?”

CHAPTER SEVEN: “IS THE GOAL OF CHRISTLINESS UNATTAINABLE?”

CHAPTER EIGHT: “IS IT SELF-MADE TOWERS OR HIS DIVINE HOLY PRESENCE?”

CHAPTER NINE: “FISHING FOR MEN OR A FATALISTIC MIND-CLOSURE TO MEN?”

CHAPTER TEN: “IS CONTINUAL SIN ‘OK’ FOR A NEW OR TRUE BELIEVER?”

CHAPTER ELEVEN: “IS ‘ALL STRESSED OUT’ THE EVIDENCE OF A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE?”

CHAPTER TWELVE: “IS ‘SALT’ AND ‘LIGHT’ THE REDEEMED ONE’S TRUE CALLING AND MISSION?”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: “ARE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS BOUND OR BLESSED BY OLD TESTAMENT LAW?”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: “ARE TEENAGERS, YOUTH,UNMARRIED YOUNG ADULTS FREE FOR ROMANTIC SLEEPOVERS?”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: “HOW WILL YOU PLEAD?”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: “WHEN GOD SPEAKS?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: “THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD?”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: “THE GOD OF THE PEOPLE?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN: “THE PEOPLE OF GOD?”

CHAPTER TWENTY: “ENTER HIS GATES?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: “THE WAYS OF GOD?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: “WHERE ARE ALL HIS MIRACLES?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: “IS THERE IN YOU PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: “WHERE’S THE GRIEF?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: “WHY GLORY IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: “THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE OT THE WITNESS OF A ROYAL RELEASE?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: “ON WHAT DO YOU MAJOR?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: “SAD DEFECTIONS OR SURE ELECTIONS?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: “IS THERE DANGER IN WILDERNESS WANDERINGS BECOMING PERMANENT?

CHAPTER ONE

“YOUR STRENGTH OR GOD’S ABLENESS?”

IF “Christ in you” IS “the hope of glory”, then why are there far too many ‘professing’ followers who attempt devotion as disciples in their own strength (?), which is nothing more than wilting weakness?” One’s personal determination to honor Christ in the best effort of flesh-living is setting aside Jesus in them to a ‘closet-residence’ and they are void of ALL HE IS!

If we know that Holy God made Jesus to be sin for us…that we might be made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), then why assert your impotence to please God when Christ stamped us through His shed blood as 100% as righteous as He is?

This is why in I Corinthians 1:30-31 Paul wrote: “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Oswald Chambers put it like this: [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.149], “Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy; it is drawing from Jesus the holiness that was manifested in Him, and He manifests it in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation.”

If, according to 2 Peter 1:4 we are “partakers of the divine nature,” then why reach into “the old man” and fail to “rest” in Him and all He is? Some are so deceived in their fleshly pride that participation in their spiritual journey is indulgence only in “the luxury of misery” and they miss out on the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ – and they do pay a high price in counterfeit devotion and discipline with no honoring of Christ alone.

Your weakness or God’s ableness? ‘Fleshly energy’ related to divine living is a blurring of the very Life and Presence of Christ! This is why in Romans 5:10 Paul wrote: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.”

It is not natural tendencies that honor our Lord but the supernatural triumph of His death, His burial, and His Resurrection Life that raised us up out of the pit of our own destruction to the throne of being seated with Christ in the heavenly place right now! This is why in 2 Corinthians 2:14 Paul said, “Now thanks be to God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ.”

But until one hears the Gospel Truth, is convicted by the Holy Spirit, and then receives “the gift of repentance” from God Himself, men wander and don’t know the wonder of His grace, mercy, and love, so they measure themselves by the themselves; oh, they wonder, no doubt, they question, they seek – in the wrong places, with wrong intents – and miss out on the wonderful words of eternal life, eternal mercy, and eternal grace. They miss the Mark set by God Himself.

You’ll remember that Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:15 that “…He [Jesus] died for all, that they who live SHOULD LIVE NO LONGER FOR THEMSELVES, but for Him who died and rose again ON THEIR BEHALF.” And I know you realize that there are those consumed by, controlled by, and diseased by the poisonous passion of living for themselves!

In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus spoke of those who saw themselves as very religious but had never been re-born in the Spirit realm: Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who DOES the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cat out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ ‘And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness?’”

Do you understand the ‘lawless’ and those who practice ‘lawlessness’? Look at the “Ten Commandments”! Why were they engraved on those tablets? That we might ‘touch’ the tablets, OR, that we might see our lawlessness because to offend in even one point is to be guilty of all. In Galatians 3:24 Paul wrote: “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.” Justification by faith is the only open door into the Holy Presence and oneness with God Almighty!

Man’s self-weakness, even though he may believe he’s the strongest man God ought to accept because of that man’s own estimation of himself, is a self-portrait painted in dark, grotesque, dirty colors, denying God’s judgment that he’s a guilty sinner, short-circuited by continuous sin, alienated from Father-God, spiritually dead though he believes he’s living life in grandeur when in reality he’s bound in a dungeon-cell of personal destruction. The reason? Because if a man is not living for the glory of God alone, he’s bound in the goriness and deceit of a blinded, blackened, broken existence.

If you look at Romans 5 Paul describes those for whom our Lord and Savior died on the Cross:

• Verse 6, “For while we were still helpless (without strength), at the right time Christ died…”
• Verse 6, “…Christ died for the ungodly.”
• Verse 8, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Verse 10, “For if while we were ENEMIES, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son…”; and Verse 10 doesn’t end with ‘the death of His Son,’ but with the “much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.”

Saved by your grit or saved by His grace? Saved by your determination or your dependence on His finished work? Saved by your abilities or saved by your availability to all God tells us? Saved by your efforts or transformed by Emmanuel? If we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Holy God and give an account, on what or whom will you stand with? Your weakness or God’s ableness? Hebrews 9:24-28 says:

“For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest ethers the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another – He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

This is why Oswald Chambers wrote: [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.206], “The disposition of sin is not immorality and wrong-doing, but the disposition of self-realization – ‘I am my own god’ – This disposition may work out in decorous morality or indecorus immorality, but it has the one basis, my claim to my right to myself.”

And do you understand that your claim to your right to yourself is your weakness substituted for God’s Ableness? Your grit, substituted for God’s grace, is vainness in place of the eternal victory of Christ in you and through you! Vainness is empty pride…Victory is Jesus’ eternal celebration. Vainness is a man’s constant pat on his back…Victory is Jesus’ Hallelujah Chorus that never ceases! Vainness is ineffectual effort…Victory is Jesus’ never-ending promise! Vainness is idle boastfulness…Victory is immense blessing out of the very heart of God that never ends!

Your weakness? That’s self-effort with “no wins”! God’s ableness? That’s divine initiative with never a loss! Your weakness? That’s your sin, your guilt, your penalty, your judgment that is not a ‘pretty thing’! God’s Ableness? His love, His power, His anointing, His never-ending provisions, His eternal watch-care, His faithfulness to see you through!

Your weakness? You are a descendant of Adam – hopeless, helpless, hollow – even though you’ve viewed yourself as fellow man’s greatest gift! God’s Ableness? In You? No hopelessness, no helplessness, no hollowness, no imperfections, just His divine clearance, His affirming voice: “This is My Beloved son in whom I am well pleased;” this is My perfect daughter, justified by faith, granted peace with God, and not a closed door ever to His perfect, powerful, promising presence!

Your weakness? Your worldly advantages become your heavenly bankruptcies; your tributes of earthly recognitions and earthly glories are described becoming nothing more of significance than before Holy God to be looked upon as “men of low degree, of mindless thoughts, of eternal emptiness” but, God’s Ableness? I don’t know who wrote it, but he/she said: “Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream, All the fitness He requires is to know your need of Him! This He gives you; it’s the Spirit’s rising beam!”

Is He shining His beams of glory on your life and your walk? Your weakness or God’s Ableness? I want you to think about Paul the Apostle – put yourself in his place momentarily! Your weakness or God’s Ableness? In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 we read: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is perfected [or made perfect] in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Did you see it? Do you accept it? “God’s power perfected in what?” “God’s power ONLY perfected in your weakness!” What did Paul say in Philippians 4:13? “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me.” Do you see a man in his natural state super-empowered by Divine strength? And yet how many have y7ou witnessed who leaned to their own understanding of themselves and did not depend, trust, rely, or wait upon God Himself?

Your weakness? “I can handle this; I am able; I’ve so trained, disciplined, learned for myself – and I can achieve what I want to achieve, overcome what I need to overcome, win whatever war I need to fight!” And when it’s over, you witness a whipped, beat-up puppy dog – the Lion of the Lord is absent! Your weakness? That’s one who lives on wild imaginations but is void of divine inspiration; that’s one who is fleshly motivated and makes his/her own plans – and may see them come to fruition without any inspiration from God or for God’s glory! Intellectually they reason it all out – but spiritually there is no anointing and no glory for God alone!

Would that be your weakness scribbled over the canons of your life as an imprint of your best effort void of the invasion of the anointing of God’s Spirit and God’s power? When “best efforts” replace “blessed anointing” we see defected canvases that win no acknowledgement from God!

I don’t know how I want to say this, but I’ll try: There is truly a golden rule of honoring God and glorifying Christ that comes when a disciple or disciples are empty of self and full of Jesus, empty of pride and pressing in to His fullness, empty of self-effort and full of the anointing, leading, empowering, and illuminating of His true Spirit of light!

It was John Tillotson who wrote: “He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.” Have you witnessed men who build decent reputations through their walks and journeys of life and yet are void of glory and honor and praise of God? It was John Milton, in “Areopagitica,” who wrote: “God sure esteems the growth and completing of one virtuous person, more than the restraint of ten vicious.” But what if virtuousness is for self-glory with no intent of opening the door to the honor and praise of God? Some men are virtuous without any intent of thankfulness or tribute to God! Think about it – now many NFL players play to honor God and the Savior, Jesus Christ? How many businessmen open their doors of businesses or banks or law firms to reveal Jesus? How many medical physicians or nurses do you know who see their professions as opportunities of mirroring Christ?

Slaves to worldly systems or servants of the Lord Jesus Christ? Men of selfish indifference to others or men of selfless involvement to reveal the Savior? Preachers of a professional, stage, performance status or Spirit-anointed messengers of the Most High God? False witnesses or an earthly-revealer of the Indwelling Christ? Meaningless testifiers or the very indwelling Presence and Spirit of Jesus Christ?

Your weakness or God’s Ableness? It was JohannWolfgang von Gothe who wrote: “Epochs of faith, are epochs of fruitfulness; but epochs of unbelief, however glittering, are barren of all permanent good.” Didn’t Jesus say, “By their fruits you shall know them?”

Your weakness or God’s Ableness? Are you truly aware that as God has no confidence in your ‘fleshly’ abilities neither should you? This is why in Philippians 3:3 Paul wrote: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

Paul then in Philippians 3:17-21 wrote: “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies o0f the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glorious in their shame – who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself.”

I know you see it! Now, deal with it! “Flesh or Spirit”? Fleshly religious activity and spiritual hindrances or a spiritual presence and spiritual helps that truly bear witness to the Resurrected Christ? Do YOU count all things as loss to gain Christ or does what you hold onto in your fleshly walk determine your journey? Paul said what was his goal? “That I may gain Christ!”

In C.A. Coates’ book “The True Grace of God,” he shared a hymn that says: [p.126], “Yet sure in Your presence My soul still constant were, My eye would more familiar Its brighter glories bear. And thus Your deep perfections Much better should I know, And with adoring fervor In this Your nature grow.” Are you growing? Is it wild berries or ‘true fruit’? Your weakness or is it God’s Ableness? What are you resigned to – or what or Who are you resting in?

Is your spiritual journey continuous efforts at irreparable attempts of making your present life better apart from God’s redemption and reconciliation and regeneration or are you of the variety who says, “God, be merciful to me THE SINNER?”

Is God able to choose a man and make him into the father of many nations? Is God able to sustain, prepare, and then lead His people out of their bondages into His land of promises? Is God able to choose, raise up, or even put down kings and leaders over people and nations? Is God able to shut the lions’ mouths and protect His servants, delivering them even out of the lions’ dens? Can God separate the sea of your suffering and lead you through the parted waters of trouble on dry, safe ground? Can your God heal the sick, raise the dead, shatter your prison walls and set you free?

Has God, will God, does God take wounded sons and daughters, terrorized by godless or faithless dads and/or moms, and raise up true princes and princesses in the Royal Family? Is the God you know, the God you serve, the God you celebrate, the God who makes you more than a conqueror because of His great love; yes, is He the God who takes you out of death into Life Eternal, out of sorrow over your own brokenness into delighting in His healing grace, out of your meaninglessness into His eternal purposes and plans? Is God able to raise you out of man’s religions into His divine relationship?”

Is God able to spiritually take you out of your extreme, painful circumstances of life and sit you on and in His lap for heavenly hugs and holy presence that makes you stand in joy and delight and celebration? Is the God of miracles still present with you in your high mountains of misfortune and disappointment? Is God able to transform your vain glory into our eternal presence of a glory that never fades away?

Has one thing God ever promised you ever failed? In your house of bondage, when God said He’d deliver you out and into His Land, did that never happen? Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

It was Peter who signed his name to his letter in 2 Peter 1:1-4, 10-11, saying: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father o0f our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection o0f Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…Verses 10-11, Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”

What did Paul tell Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:12b, “…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” Then Peter, again, in I Peter 4:19 wrote, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” What’s that about? In I Peter 4:14 Peter said: “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He (Jesus) is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”

I felt I needed to share these next few poetic words God put on my heart after the “widow-maker” experience with a close call to death! It’s so important that we examine where we truly are in our spiritual journey: “Our Weakness or God’s Ableness”?

“Religions’ face is not divine but is so poorly displayed And rests in sad abandonment of all heavenly aid; Religions’ voices are so extreme in their delight, But cannot lift the heart when fear shatters the night.

Uninformed disciples, so distraught in their gaze, Wonder if it’s at all possible for their mortal hearts to be raised. Misfortune is their loss with no smile in their grief, There is no word of comfort to give any sweet relief.”

Religions’ face? They gaze and gaze and gaze each day, And religions’ vain glories never die away. Emptiness is their song and they wonder, ‘To whom do we belong?’ And because ‘their weakness’ is their scheme, God’s Ableness for them is a blank theme.

Heavy are their nights because God’s Presence is not in their sight. The lions they cannot tame because they never look to God who is the same. They live in the valley of the shadow of death and never know the God who gives LIFE.

Their lives are not temples but tombs of the devils’ prey, because in their hearts no allegiance to Christ holds full sway. Absorbed in self-indulgence, divine power is not in their play, Their hearts are so contaminated because ‘flesh’ holds the day.

Hopeless sighs are not Heaven’s songs, And the love of God is not a truth to which they belong. ‘Religion is self-effort’ they boldly proclaim, as the message of Jesus to them is so lame.

Then, there is that soul, upon its knees, who has a different theme, “God is my rescuer, and upon Him I lean. Jesus is my Savior, of Him I faithfully sing. He washes my sin in His own blood, and carries me faithfully over life’s great flood.”

Holy Presence in me is His eternal theme, and with the angels of Heaven, I faithfully sing. Lord of my life from now and forever, Word of my life that faithfully delivers. Jesus is able my faith to sustain, and upon me His Spirit does faithfully rain.

God is able to lift me up, and faithfully bless me with Heaven’s over-flowing cup. I am His, and He is mine – and upon my life His Sun still shines –

And the Day is soon coming, when at His table, I eternally will dine – because He and His disciples are mutually mine.”

CHAPTER TWO

“FALSE FREEDOM OR DIVINELY VALIDATED LIBERTY?”

In John 8:31-36 Jesus so truly spoke of the true, spiritual, practical, personal, eternal freedom that comes only through Him. His Word says: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.” Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. I Know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.”

There is no greater word for an enslaved humanity than the word ‘free’! And there is no greater man on earth than that man who spends his whole life on earth providing for or even fighting for or dying for the freedom of others.

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines ‘freedom’ as: “A state of exemption from the power or control of another (maybe Satan?); liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement…”

In Genesis 15:13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.” AND THEY WERE ENSLAVED – but there came that day when God divinely intervened and “set the captives free”!

Are you aware that there are those who “settle in” to captivity and think that it’s normal or just divinely intended? I truly believe Paul was joking about the Corinthians when in 2 Corinthians 11:19-20 he wrote: “For you, being so wise, bear with the foolish gladly. For you bear with anyone if he enslaves you, if he devours you, if he takes advantage of you, if he exalts himself, if he hits you in the face.”

Ezekial 34 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. God is up to something good here for all of us who’ve been enslaved in false freedom. He searches for His sheep, He leads them out of bondage to false prophets, He cares for His sheep and delivers them from darkness, from their cloudy and gloomy days, bringing them “out” from a deathly state of life to live in blessing, in security, because “you are My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men and I am your god,” declares the Lord God.” Oh, how good and great is that?”!!

But then, just as there is, false freedom, we must understand it is promoted by false prophets! Peter calls them “wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” [2 Peter 2:17]. Then in verses 18-22 he exposes their deceptions and their end! “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought out of bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled again in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Sadly, some precious people have been enslaved, ensnared, and entangled in various webs of deceptions – and we can only pray that, out of that web of deception, men can be set ‘free’ by our Lord’s “divinely validated liberty”! “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” And Paul, in Romans 8:21, speaks of that freedom as “the glorious liberty of the children of God”!

Let’s look at ‘false freedom’ first. I’m convinced some are in bondage to the ignorance of their own SPIRITUAL DEATH BEFORE HOLY GOD.

When the Word declares that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” some ignore or are truly ignorant of the reality that “the wages of sin is death.” If you’ve never been one who reads, studies, or applies the Word of God to your life, you more than likely do not know the war between ‘flesh’ and the Spirit – that’s your old sin nature, the old man, the one not in union with Christ – so Paul tells us in Romans 8:6, “For to be carnally [or fleshly] minded IS DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Why is that? Because Romans 8:7-8 declares, “Because the carnal (fleshly) mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” That means that those controlled by, dominated by, captured by, devoted to their old sin natures are bound by that until “Christ sets you free”!

In 2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul tells us, “For He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [in Jesus only].” I love Romans 5:10! It says, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.”

‘False Freedom’? THAT’S CHAINED TO ONE’S HURTS AND PAINS AND ‘GHOSTS” OF ONE’S PAST! Are you aware of hurting individuals who strongly, steadily, and as sure as day follows night, push down, try to bury, and attempt to suffocate their lostness, deadness, doubtfulness about their true identity in the sea of their forgetfulness? There are people who live with 5 days, 5 years, 50 years of pain and heartache and, yes, ‘ghosts’ out of their former days, knowing nothing of “new creations in Christ Jesus”!

You are aware that personal reformation is not divine transformation. Adapting is not being atoned for. Education is not evaporation of the errors (?) in your life that you now endure. Cosmetic covering is not Christ’s conversion of your old self to new Life in Him. When Jesus said ‘You must be born again,’ He said it to a highly religious man of stalwart, religious prominence! But he HAD TO BE BORN AGAIN! And so do we all!

“False Freedom?” THAT’S THE HOME-MADE TIME BOMB OF EXPLOSIVE SELF-REFORM! And it is so prevalent and presumptuous! “I can handle my own life – I don’t need God. That’s for sissies, for the weak-minded, for the sad folks who can’t stand on their own.”

And all around you are so many who will not bow before Truth because they’ve convinced themselves of ‘the Lie’[“I can sin and not die!”] – and they live by ‘self-modification’ and not the “sure mercies of God.”

Are you understanding? Controlled ‘flesh’ does not bring one into a personal relationship with Holy God! Best efforts do not reveal or unveil Blessed Emmanuel! A ‘natural,’ independent, self-ruling man is not free but bound in his weakness, blind to the spiritual, and burdened [though he may not know it] by the heavy load of his GOD-LESS-NESS! Natural values and virtues hinder and bring one to that absolute necessity of “:new birth,” not even knowing Hell’s armies have surrounded them to hold them back from “crucified with Christ,” thus becoming a child of the King.

“False Freedom”? THAT’S ONE WHO “SAYS” HE IS FREE BUT LIVES IN BONDAGE TO HIS CARNAL DESIRES AND HIS INSTINCTIVE, INDULGENT INCLINATIONS! In I Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul spoke of some Corinthian Christians who were behaving like “mere men.” “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

And “mere men” are those bound to their carnal desires and their instinctive, indulgent inclinations! “Mere men”? “We must increase – Jesus must decrease!” “Mere men”? “We don’t need to ‘perfect holiness’ because we have no fear of God!” “Mere men”? “We live on a common-sense basis and are not goaded by a God you profess to know!” “Mere men”? “We don’t have to be still and we don’t have to know He is God!”

It doesn’t take long to “see” and to “know” where a man’s heart i9s – and if it’s a closed heart to God, you’ll see a man daily grinding at the mill of self-indulgence, smelling worse each moment because of his rotting sensuality, easily angered by any mention of Jesus, and either coming apart at the seams of his life or angered and fighting back because he’s yoked with the devil and the powers of darkness.

That man is not delivered FROM his sin but has been given over TO his sin. The prison cuffs become heavier and heavier – the demonic voices become louder and the demonic traps more frequent and devastating in nature. He’s bound like a Samson by the deceptions of the Delilahs!!

“False Freedom”? THAT’S ONE, YES, BOUND BY THE CHAINS OF RELIGIOUS SUPERSTITIONS AND DEMONIC PHILOSOPHIES! In Galatians 4:8-11 Paul so eloquently and in convicting fashion nailed, yes, some professing disciples who had decided for bondage rather than deliverance! He wrote: “But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.”

In fact Paul was so bold to the church at Corinth that he wrote them: I Corinthians 8:9-12, “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their conscience, you sin against Christ.”

Plus, in I Corinthians 7:35, he wrote: “And this I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly, and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.” But bound by the chains of religious superstitions and demonic philosophies is not true freedom! This is why we read in Colossians 2:6-10, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

“False Freedom”? Dare I say that some false freedom is also the result of POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL BONDAGE BY LEADERS WHOSE INTENT IS TO DECEIVE AND ENSLAVE THE PEOPLE THEY SUPPOSEDLY ARE TO BE SERVING, SETTING FREE, AND WATCHING THEIR GODLY GOVERNANCE OF THEIR LIVES, FAMILIES, AND ETERNAL PURPOSES!?!

“If Jesus sets you free, you shall be free indeed.” And I believe eternal honor is given to those who expend and extend and express their leadership to free others from the chains of civil bondage and governmental imprisonment, seeing men possess, enjoy, and share in their God-given rights: LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF BLESSING – NOT ONLY BEING A USA PRINCIPLE BUT A BIBLICAL STANDARD FOR GOD’S GLORY!

I’ve only given you a sip, a taste, of ‘false freedom’ but what is our “Divinely Validated Liberty”? Again, John 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

I pray you see, sense, and fully understand that this “Divinely Validated Liberty” IS THAT SOVEREIGNLY PLANNED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS WORLD! Revelation 13:8 speaks of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” And if you have any doubts, the prophetic Word of Isaiah 53:4-7 tells us: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”

In John 1:29 the Holy Word tells us: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” And that was Jesus of Nazareth! Revelation 5:11-13 says, Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wisdom and riches, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I hear saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

It’s God who sits on the throne! It’s the Lamb seated on the throne who took our place on the Cross, died, and yet forever lives! And all of that is out of the heart of God who tells us: John 3:16-21, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

But also “DIVINELY VALIDATED LIBERTY” IS THAT WHICH WAS AND IS SACRIFICIALLY PURCHASED: It is ours because Jesus has revealed it as a sovereign work of His power, but required, in the mind and heart of God, as that purchased by His shed blood! This is why, in Acts 20:28, that we read, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

No doubt this is why we read in I Corinthians 7:23, “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” That price was and is the shed blood of the Lamb of God whose name is Jesus. Are you truly aware of WHO Jesus IS and what Jesus DID AT THE CROSS? This IS the eternal Son of God, God Himself, who gave up His freedom and His very Life that you and I might be set free. Jesus gave up His freedom that you might be LIBERATED FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH! The old hymn says, “Jesus Paid it all, All to Him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow!”

DIVINELY LIBERATED LIBERTY IS THAT, NOT ONLY PURCHASED BY HIS BLOOD, BUT SWEETLY PRESENTED BY HIS RESURRECTED PRESENCE, POWER, AND PROMISE: Do you understand? In His love He bought you and by His power He raises you up to His throne of everlasting life – and by His grace He liberates you to live in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You may have been in sackcloth and ashes, but in your repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ, He clothes you in His righteousness and instills within you everlasting freedom and liberty. We’re no longer “bound” but “blessed”, not imprisoned by our old sin natures but liberated by His blood and power, not hidden in darkness but one celebrating in the Light, not by self-effort or personal merit but by the grace, mercy, and love of God!

Certainly, it was for sinners He died, because there was and is none righteous, no not one! But though bondage is a curse, through His blood He gives us blessing. Though bondage is a chain, through His blood He gives us freedom. Though bondage is darkness and the very valley of the shadow of death, our Lord dresses us in the beautiful gowns of freedom and liberty. Though bondage is always cruel darkness which stings us and strangles and stifles us, His True Light shines and the darkest midnights of the soul become the high noons blazing in His personal, abiding presence.

DIVINELY LIBERATED LIBERTY IS THAT WHICH, PURCHASED BY HIS SHED BLOOD, BECOMES THROUGH GRACE AND FAITH OUR PRESENT AND PERENNIAL POSSESSION: Do you understand “chained through the ages” but now, through His shed blood, we’re free in the eternal fresh air of holy presence? Bound with the guilty, but now free with the emancipated, bound with the dark ones, but now celebrating with sons and daughters of light, bound with the slaves of sin, but now servants of His holy righteousness, bound in the darkness of sinful hearts, but now servants of God by the dawn of new creation Light?

BUT, LASTLY, DIVINELY LIBERATED LIBERTY IS THAT WHICH, PURCHASED BY HIS SHED BLOOD, GRANTS TO US A PERFECT PARDON: Micah 7:18 says, “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love [or mercy]. Verse 19, He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You [God] will cast our sins into the depths of the sea.”

How does that happen? Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Yes, even King David knew and understood God’s perfect pardon! He said, Psalm 32:1-5, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand, God, was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

It was Spurgeon who said, “Forgiven sin is better than accumulated wealth.” The precious prize of pardon is a dark night turned into the brightness of Heaven’s eternal shining sun on a forgiven son whose sin has been washed and cleansed in the Lamb’s blood! Isaiah 43:25 says, God speaking, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” Glory!

The memory of past sin, washed in the blood, is not to be like a hanging noose wrapped around your throat! What you were without Christ is not who you ARE in Christ now. Doesn’t His Holy Word tell us, Psalm 32:2, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity (or charge his account with), and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

If any man after death had any perception of a life of unforgiven sin and what he had in store for an unforgiven life of rebellion to God, I believe he’d fall before the Cross and empty tomb, confessing his sin, and calling out for mercy and grace. Oh, please hear Oswald Chambers in his “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.255]. He quoted Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified [or ‘set apart’].” Then Chambers said: “It does not matter who or what we are, there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and no other way, not because Jesus pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at another door than the one which Jesus opened. I don’t want to come that way, it is too humiliating to be received as a sinner. “There is none other name…” The apparent heartlessness of God is the expression of His real heart, there is boundless entrance in His way. “We have forgiveness through His blood.” Identification with the death of Jesus Christ means identification with Him to the death of everything that never was in Him…The Atonement is a propitiation whereby God through the death of Jesus makes an unholy man holy.”

Divinely Validated Liberty, or freedom, is: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” []John 8:36].

CHAPTER THREE

MAN DIES! DOES HE LIVE AGAIN?

I don’t know of a more crippling question if one’s life has no foundation of saving grace or mercy, and he asks, “If I die, will I live again?” Death for many is, yes, death to truth because in their minds and hearts they wished to die, having no saving will to live! I saw recently in print a man speaking of “fine dying [which is] a man’s privilege…” But if he doesn’t know if he lives again, what is “fine” about that? That may be the wicked and the weary and the worn down who want what they’ve experienced to be over! But it’s not.

Death is not a ‘troubling dream’; death is not a punishment but an open door to a different state of life; death is either a dread because of the door it opens to some, but for others it is the gate of life opened to eternal blessing; it’s so sad but death for some is experiencing death without having appropriated the life God desired them to claim, while others continue their blessed life of faith even though they have died in resurrection hope, power, and promise.

It’s for certain that there truly is ‘a democracy of the dead’ in which equality is real and sure. It was the “Aerzte-Kalendar” from Germany that had a quote saying: “The thought of death leaves me completely calm because I have the firm conviction that our spirit is a being of indestructible nature, continuing from eternity to eternity; it is similar to the sun, which seems to set each night for us mortals, but which actually never sets, instead continues to shine uninterruptedly.,”

It is for sure our ‘being’ is of an indestructible nature and continues on and on and on either in Heaven or Hell! For some that eternal state after physical death is immeasurable blessing in fellowship with Holy God, with the Lord Jesus Christ, and engulfed in still greater blessings in and through the Holy Spirit; but the ‘lost,’ the unbeliever, the rebellious, the deceived, there remains forever eternal torment under the control of Satan and his satanic demons and armies forever and ever, experiencing a ‘death’ that will not die! For them, death is not the gate to heavenly pleasure but hellish dread.

I really do not know how the ‘godless’ even think about ‘death’ with its open door to continual corruption, demonic disturbance, and satanic slavery. But born-again believers? They take their “rest” on the bosom of Jesus, wrapped in His arms of love and grace and mercy! But the worldly? It was George Eliot who said: “Worldly faces never look so worldly as at a funeral.” IN Revelation 14:13 we read, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me: ‘Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘That they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

That is an awesome word of encouragement and enlightment. There is a ‘rest’ from our labors, and what we’ve done in the earthly life follows us into the heavenly life! No doubt this is why the author of Hebrews wrote: Hebrews 4:9-10, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” And, in Hebrews 3:18-19, gracious God has given us a warning: “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” When I read these verses I realize that that moment of death is not as one embracing a moment of final sleep but entering, for them, a new and lasting awakening to the fullness of Heaven’s blessings or the fullness of Hell’s curses!

The Holy Word speaks of “rest” for the believer in death, but to the unbeliever Revelation 9:12 speaks of “One woe is past; and behold, there comes two woes more hereafter.” But the born-again believer? Look with me at I Corinthians 15:50-58!! Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ “O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

I pray you see and are fully aware that born-again believers know and are fully persuaded that death has lost its sting! Yes, for the true believer “death is swallowed up in victory”!

But not all men know “death swallowed up in victory” but death sounding with cruel cries, heavy hearts, and sorrowful loneliness. Eglon, king of Moab, had conquered Israel and ruled over them for eighteen years. But the Lord raised up a deliverer whose name was Ehud. Ehud came to the king carrying not only ‘tributes’ but trouble – he brought a dagger! In the presence of the king, Ehud said to Eglon, “I have a message from God for you.” The dagger was “death swallowed up in defeat!”

You may not have heard of the venerable English preacher, George Whitfield, but in his early ministry days he fell ‘deathly ill’, and was not sure he would live or die. He experienced an extremely high fever and thought his time had come. There was a blessed negro woman who was caring for him. She said boldly, “No, Mr. Whitfield, you are not going to die yet; you have thousands more to bring to Christ; keep up your spirits, for you will live and not die – the Master has a big job for you to do.”

Job no doubt wrestled with himself and God about the reality of death. In Job 30:16-23 we read: “And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; the days of affliction take hold of me. My bones are pierced in me at night, and my gnawing pains take no rest. By great force my garment is disfigured; it binds me about as the collar of my coat. He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes. I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and you regard me. But You have become cruel to me; with strength of Your hand You oppose me. You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it; You spoil my success. For I know that You will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.”

Spurgeon wrote in his “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” [Vol. 17, p.299], “It is the part of a brave man, and especially a believing man, neither to dread death not to sigh for it; neither to fear death nor to court it. In patience possessing his soul, he should not despair of life when hardly pressed; and he should be always more eager to run his race well than to reach its end.” Sound words of wisdom from Dr. Spurgeon!

I have a very solemn statement to share with you that I firmly believe can change your life forever if you respond positively to it. Here it is: “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.” That comes from Isaiah the prophet to Hezekiah who was sick and near death. [Isaiah 38:1].

Across the seventy-seven years of my life I have witnessed death in the old, in the young, in babies, in middle-aged men and women, scholars, athletes, doctors, housewives, mothers, fathers, soldiers, policemen, historians, prisoners, patriots – but regardless of their status economically, financially, socially, spiritually – whatever, they still died!

The psalm-song of David ought to be learned and sung over and over: Psalm 39:4-7, “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Surely every man walks about as a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them. And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.”

It was Augustine who used to speak uncertainly, not sure whether he ought to call life “a dying life or a living death” – and it’s certain the temporal life is a dying life and we are living to die, but that’s simply earthly and fails to face the eternal! I’ll never forget my New Testament professor of preaching at Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, who told us regularly: “Preach as a dying man to dying men!”

Again, Spurgeon, [“Spurgeon’s Sermons,” Vol. 17, p.301] preached: “Early in the life of my boys I took them to the old churchyard of Wimbledon and bade them measure some of the little graves within that enclosure, and they found several green hillocks which were shorter than themselves. I tried thus to impress upon their young minds the uncertainty of life. I would have every child remember that he is not too young to die. Let others know that they are not too strong to die.” Then Spurgeon shared about Paracelsus, a very famous physician of old time, who prepared a medicine that he believed would extend a life for a long time if taken regularly, and maybe never die, except of extreme old age; and guess what? Paracelsus died a young man!

Job not only believed though that the hour of death would come since “it is appointed unto men to die,” but that also, after death, there are “houses appointed for all living.” Beyond death, beyond the grave, there is Satan’s abode and the Savior’s home in glory. Where you spend eternity is to be settled in your own mind, heart, and will.

What did Job say? And did he say it because he truly believed it and rested in it? “I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.” Providential plans are firmly established for “life after death” because of His revealed Word: Didn’t David describe for us the joy in the true believer because of his after-death destination? Psalm 23:4-6 tells us: “Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER!”

There is resurrection life AND resurrection hope! It’s Job again, Job 19:25-26, who cemented and celebrated for us the true believers’ after-life when he said: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, THIS I KNOW, that in my flesh I shall see God.”

Paul understood our future after our earthly departure. In I Corinthians 13:12 he wrote: “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” And in Christ we are KNOWN BY GOD HIMSELF!

Do you know it, sense it, celebrate it, shout it out on the housetops? Didn’t we read I Corinthians 15:53? “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality?” Glory! Glory Hallelujah!! Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary describes “immortality” like this: “The quality of never ceasing to live or exist; exemption from death and annihilation; life destined to endure without end; as the immortality of the human soul – Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” [2 Timothy 1:10]. Noah Webster went on to describe immortality as “exemption from oblivion…existence not limited.”

And all of this is because, I Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God alone who is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” SO BE IT!

But I do know that there are so many people, even some in our local churches, who’ve never broken through their walls of fear about death to rest in the eternal hope of their oneness in and with Christ Jesus for the forever life in Heaven. Of course, some are afraid to die because they know they are separated from God, and intend to stay that way – but Hell scares them. I can only pray they get Hell scared out of them because Hell is real as Heaven is real, but it truly is a ‘hellish’ place!

Again, listen to the wise Spurgeon who operates as a surgeon on the disease of the fear of death and Hell: [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol. 17, pps. 312-313], “When the decree of God is our delight, we feel no abhorrence to anything which He appoints either in life or in death. If we are living as Christians ought to live, we have denied our self-will, and we have accepted the Lord to be the arbiter of all events, the absolute ruler of our being. If your soul is truly married to Christ, you find your supreme bliss in the Bridegroom’s will. Your cry is, “Your will be done.” This should be our ordinary condition in daily life; and it is an admirable preparation for thinking of death with composure. Let me live, if God will be with me in life; let me die, if He will be with me in death. So long as we are “forever with the Lord,” what matters where else we are? We will not further ask when or where; our ‘when’ is “forever,” our ‘where’ is “with the Lord.” Delight in God is the cure for dread of death.” Amen?

Are you at peace that if you lie down in your bed tonight that it just might be your last night alive in your earthly body? The one thing I believe we gladly receive through the truth of God’s Word is that a man is not prepared to live fully if he’s not prepared to die in faith – not fear. How does that come to be?

RECFEIVE GOD’S FAITHFUL WORD FOR YOURSELF ABOUT LIFE AND ABOUT DEATH. What did Jesus tell us? “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” How’s your daily menu in God’s Word?

RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM DYING. Isn’t death appointed? It doesn’t matter where you live death occurs. It doesn’t matter how educated you are – one is not wiser than death. It doesn’t matter how physically strong you’ve disciplined y7ourself to be, that moment comes when death rules. It doesn’t matter how religious you’ve trained yourself – death is inevitable. Psalm89:49 says, “What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?”

RECOGNIZE THAT, ONCE DUST, TO DUST WE SHALL RETURN. Yes, Job spoke of ‘corruption’ that ‘you are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘You are my mother and my sister,’ alerting himself that he does go the way of all men – and he knew his time would come. Do you deny it? “In Adam all die”! But, praise God, in Christ we live forever even though the physical perishes!

RECOGNIZE, YES, THE WAGES OF SIN IS, ALWAYS HAS BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE ‘DEATH’! What does Romans 5:12 tell us? “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned – “ So, we’re hopeless? Look at Romans 5:17! “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more, those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Christ Jesus.”

RECOGNIZE IN YOURSELF THE REALITY OF YOUR OWN AWARENESS, ASSOCIATION, OR AFFINITY WITH THE INEVITABLE!! And do you know what happens when we get gut-level honest with ourselves? We begin to ask questions, to look about us to the overcomers of the fear of death, to truly ask, “Does God have a word for me?”, to set aside satanic influences of unbelief, doubt, or fear, and to begin a journey of faith and obedience to “my Savior” who died and rose again!

In Psalm 91 we find such a powerful word of enlightment, encouragement, and an enabling to live the overcoming life in Christ. It says: Verses 14-16, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” Living in Christ is living abundantly because that’s LIVING IN AND THROUGH GOD ALONE!

CHAPTER FOUR

“LIFE AS A VAPOR? WHERE’S ITS SIGNIFICANCE?”

In “The Works” of Alfred Lord Tennyson, [p.546], the famous poet and writer of the past, wrote the following words: “Visions of youth – for my brain was drunk with the water, it seems; I had past into perfect quiet at length out of pleasant dreams, And the transient trouble of drowning – what was it when matched with the pains Of the hellish heat of a wretched life rushing back through the veins?” The very next writing?

“Why should I live? One son had forged on his father and fled, And if I believed in a God, I would thank him, the other is dead, And there was a baby-girl, that had never looked on the light: Happiest she of us all, for she past from the night to the night.”

A suicidal youth and a dead baby girl who never saw light! And some believe they’ve celebrated life by drowning or just dying right out of the mother’s womb? I believe I’d call that “maimed, marred, misspent living.” I pray that it would alarm you, stir you, challenge you, that you would discover multitudes around you who see for themselves no real value in living – as James 4:14 asks, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

And that’s true of masses of people! Certainly we were all created free to choose whether to live as a fleeting vapor or a victorious son and daughter of God Himself. But sadly, the paralysis of believing, of trusting, of obeying the God who made us, leaves one spiritually and morally empty, and he/she does as he/she pleases with desperate, darkening consequences. “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Presumptuous people are for the most part people who are arrogant, filled with fleshly pride, irreverent to revealed Truth, ‘living’ unto themselves in a state of spiritual blindness, darkness, and unbelief. They defy conscience, promote vainness, and despise holiness and holy revelation.

Vapor victims? Life has no meaning for them, life purpose is a paralysis they think they avoid, life relationship to God is hollow for them, life values are personal merits rather than Prince of Peace mercy; life music has no sound chords but only death and dying, off-key rhythms; life’s ‘self’, as Francis Bacon wrote, is ‘the chiefest bridle of all vices’; “life is doubt so just do as you please;” life is for many an untruth that sprouts into total falsehood, becoming Satan’s sharp teeth to sink into others; yes, and vapor victims can be victims of religion apart from relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Robert Burns, in “The Cotter’s Saturday Night,” wrote: “Compared with this, how poor Religion’s pride, in all the pomp of method and of art, When men display to congregations wide, Devotion’s every grace, except the heart!”

In “Gentle Alice Brown” Sir William Schwenk Gilbert wrote: “Of all unhappy sinners, I’m the most unhappy one! The padre said, ‘Whatever have you been and gone and done?” LIFE IS A VAPOR! That’s “what you’ve been and gone and done!” How sad is Job 7:6-10? “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope. Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good. The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; while your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be. As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, so he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, nor shall his place know him anymore.”

Fast, fleeting, hopeless days – a brief breath – a vanishing cloud – one who is no longer known – with Job at one point in his earthly journey even saying: Job 7:16, “I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are but a breath.”

“Life as a vapor? Where is its significance?” James helped us so much to understand “hope” when one sees himself as totally “hopeless”. In James 1:14-16 the brother of Jesus wrote: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” How did Paul the Apostle put it? Romans 5:10 says, “For id when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.”

Paul said later in his letter to the Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He [God] mahe Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” That’s our eternal victory not temporal vapors! But the sad truth is some who profess faith in Jesus’ shed blood for their sin never consider5 its purpose in God’s grace and mercy to extend, express, and enlighten His righteousness through their daily journeys!

“My sins are forgiven!” SO? For what purpose and to whose glory? In Romans 5:14-17, 20, the Apostle of faith challenges us: “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more, the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more, those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus. Verse 20, Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”

I’m not interested any further in elaborating on our death, our state of death, or our date with death, but that out of that spiritual death our Lord and Savior has released for us “resurrection life, resurrection power, and resurrection hope.” It’s so true that a man needs to understand his latter end and the briefness of his days on this earth, but more importantly one needs to grasp, “Why am I here? And, what is the purpose of my existence?”

Spurgeon said, [“Spurgeon’s Sermons”,Vol.15, p.54], “Among the earnest, the prayerful, the holy, many must own that the vaults of death have brought them spiritual health.” And I believe, even more, confronted by Christ, testified to by the lives of His servants, spiritually convicted by His living Word, one comes to the holy hour of divine confrontation and eternal intent!

Significant day? Significant life? I believe that’s the day of truly eternal significance when one is gripped, not by what today or tomorrow brings, but WHO HOLDS US IN HIS HANDS AND ARMS AND HEART OF SAVING GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE. Have you heard our Lord say to you: “You are Mine because I love you, I died for you, and I rose from the grave to draw YOU unto MYSELF?” In 2 Corinthians 4:6 we read, :For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Significant day? Significant life? At least “vapor” shows us how meaningless and fleeting we are in ourselves. I believe, by God’s Word and by God’s Spirit and by God’s faithful witnesses, that we begin to sense, receive, and stand upon our eternal purpose of “LIVING” in the glory and relationship of oneness with Him! Paul put it like this in Galatians 1:15-16, 24: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me…v.24…And they glorified God in me.” In Galatians 2:20-21 Paul enlightens us even more: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God…”

Significant day? Significant life? The new disciple’s life is not for pats on our backs but for praises to the God of grace. In I Peter 2:9-10 Peter tells us: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

Paul, in Romans 1:3-5 speaks “concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him, we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom YOU ALSO ARE THE CALLED OF JESUS CHRIST…”

“Obedience to the faith”? In 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 Paul wrote: “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

Ambassadors for Christ, messengers to a lost and dying world, witnesses of His amazing grace, love, and mercy, the story-tellers of eternal truth, the flag-carriers of kingdom allegiance – extensions of His life, expressions of His love, the proofs of His power!

Significant day? Significant life? What about safety? What about security? What about ‘settled into’? What about heavenly significance of service and sacrifice? What about life as a true hymn of faith? In Isaiah 33:14-17 the prophet wrote: “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has seized the hypocrites; “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, His water will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see the land that is very far off.”

Spurgeon wrote: [“Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol. 15, p.31], “Safety in Zion belongs to those born in her by regeneration, reared in her by sanctification, enfranchised in her by faith in the Son of God, settled in her by fixed principles, confirmed in her by obedience to her laws, and bound to her by intense love of her king and her citizens. Such “shall dwell on high” secure from danger, and only such: the aliens and foreigners within her gates shall ere long be driven forth with shame.”

“Life as a vapor? And where is its significance? Just think for a moment about Paul’s challenging statement to the Galatian church – Galatians 4:19-20, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.” Do you grasp a present, participatory, praying spirit in the “professors of faith” around you? For many, rather than significant, saving faith, it is an attitude of shame toward God and they’re angry with Him. In Isaiah 45:22-25, God speaks: “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him. In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory.”

That’s because some are so ‘self-sufficient’ that they believe God ought to bless them because of their meritorious ‘spiritual genius’ – and God laughs! But the ‘true Israel’ calls for mercy. The true Israel calls to God for new hearts. The true Israel cries out for grace to abound toward them more and more. The true Israel knows and understands there is no hope for them save in God Himself! Their faith and trust is living – not dead, it is dynamic – not dormant, it is heart-changing – not cosmetic!

Significant day? Significant life? Do you remember the angel’s description of John to Zacharias? Luke 1:16-17 says, “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Oh, how awesome is that! Our faith in Christ is a walk making ready people prepared for the Lord! YOUR LIFE IN CHRIST? It’s not a fictitious story of faithlessness but the true story of people preparing to meet their God!

What does Ephesians 2:8-10 tell us about our life and living in Christ in eternal significance? It says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

What is a ‘professed’ faith if there is no life change? Your outward life may be perceived as “All For God,” but if there is no new heart by the grace of God, it’s a sham, a pretense, a false witness! But grace, true grace, births a new witness – Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age..” Then in Titus 3:5-7 he amplifies it to Titus, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

There’s nothing ‘skin-deep’ about saving faith in a “new life” – saving faith is the reality of crucifixion with and in Christ and raised up as a new creation. In Psalm 24:3-5 David wrote about the King of glory and His Kingdom citizens. He said: “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

Oh, examine your ‘life’ of faith. Is it a true life of faith – redeemed by the blood of Christ, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and renewed by the Living Word of God? Are you a free man in Christ Jesus? Free from the darkened sins of your old sin nature? Free from the uncontrolled vices of guilt and shame and bondage? Free from the oppression and domination of the powers of darkness? Free from the fashionable sins of a perverted people? Free from the starvation diet fleshliness birthed in you? Free from the abomination of a defenseless nature of sin and death?

What did Jesus tell us? John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal live, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

Oh, but that is not all you need to rest in!! Look at Romans 8:31-39!! What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” [Vol.15, pps. 46-47] Spurgeon said: “As for the waters, the living waters of grace and of the Holy Spirit, these shall always flow: in summer and winter shall the still waters be found at your side; yes, they shall be within you “a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.” Words cannot tell the privilege of the man who lives in God and lives with God! He need not shiver in the damps of the earth – he lives on high; he need not fear the fury of the enemy, for he has a place of defence; he need not dread the lapse of time; his munitions are of rock; he need not tremble at famine and drought, his needs shall all be met by the care of heaven. The man who knows his sins are forgiven, who is covered with the righteousness of Christ, who is in vital union with the Lord Jesus, who is indwelt by the Holy Ghost: that man, I say, need not desire to be any other than he is, but may give himself up to blessing and praise and magnifying the Most High every moment of his life till he is caught up to the highest heaven, to dwell where enemies cannot threaten nor necessities arise.”

Always remember: self-righteousness is a curse – Savior-blessed righteousness is heavenly celebration daily; self-acceptance is deceit if Christ within you is not your delight; self-approval is blindness while Christ’s Atonement is true sight and heavenly vision; self-worship is the devil’s delight while “rejoicing in the Lord” is a disciple’s journey and eternal destiny’ self-will is spiritual sickness while divine will and blessing is healthy living, thanks to God’s love, mercy, and grace.

Psalm 39 is an awesome psalm of personal awareness and a psalm of one’s awareness of the great, great need of God to transform “vapors” into the eternal breath of God in us. The psalmist wrote: I said, “I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.” I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; and my sorrow was stirred up. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue: “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreaths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches and does not know who will gather them. And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of the foolish. I was mute, I did not open my mouth, because it was You who did it. Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is a vapor. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as well as my fathers were. Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, before I go away and am no more.”

Hear me! If your “life” is a life of significance and celebration it’s because you are “in Christ Jesus”! No other reason or explanation! So… “All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!!”

I truly celebrate Christ Jesus every time I pick up and read Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest.” On pages 140-141 he listed Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him.” Then he said confirming words to this chapter: “The initiative of the saint is not towards self-realization, but towards knowing Jesus Christ. [I say, that’s true life!]. The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular and sacred; he sees everything he is dumped down in as the means of securing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is a reckless abandonment about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life, and He will bring us to the same point again and again until we do. SELF-REALIZATION leads to enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work. Whether it be eating or drinking or washing disciples’ feet, whatever it is, we have to take the initiative of realizing Jesus Christ in it! Every phase of our actual life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father in the most menial work. “Jesus knowing…that He was come from God, and went to God…took a towel…and began to wash the disciples’ feet.”…The aim of the spiritual saint is “that I may know Him.” Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am here not to realize myself, but to know Jesus…[the disciple’s] aim is to secure the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances he is in.” AMEN?

CHAPTER FIVE

“IS THERE WISDOM IN WAITING ON GOD?”

In “Tennyson’s Works” I do not know what spurred the following but it does speak, not to waiting, but postponing what could have happened earlier in two lives. Tennyson wrote: “And the wind began to rise, and I thought of him out at sea, And I felt I had been to blame; he was always kind to me, ‘Wait a little, my lass, I am sure it will all come right’ – And the boat went down that night – the boat went down that night.”

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines waiting as “staying in expectation.” I like that, but I also know that waiting can be ‘wilting’! Job said in Job 14:14, “…All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes.” He didn’t want to be ahead of God or behind Him. Job said later, Job 17:13-15, “If I wait for the grave as my house, if I make my bed in the darkness, if I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘You are my mother and my sister,’ Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it?”

There’s no doubt Job knew a ‘waiting’ apart from God can be so demonstrative of everything but Godly living and Godly expression and experience. He had learned to battle through dark moments and come out in eternal Light. In Job 19:25 he said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth, Verse 26, And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.”

Living in the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas, area it is not unusual to see a large number of auto wrecks daily, snuffing out lives by the hundreds over a year’s time, and some because of faulty brakes – but spiritually far too many outside of automobile wrecks have no wisdom, no understanding, no prudence to protect, but live so recklessly. Fleshly or carnal security is not exempt from spiritual stupidity. They don’t possess holy wisdom but learn self-pride and self-wisdom goes before a spiritual fall which can become so disastrous. Their lives have faulty spiritual brakes because they’re devoid of divine wisdom.

There is such an impressive, inspirational instruction in Isaiah 40:29-31. It says, “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Of course, you are aware that “youths and young men” feel they are so invincible that they need no one, not even God! But they do “faint,” they do “fail,” and they do “fall.” Even “old men” wax “old” in foolishness and will “live” in spiritual death because they base their lives on fleshly desires, inordinate affections, maddening morality, and give no place for God in their lives! It’s not just old garments that become “ragged and torn”, but old men as well who have no wisdom.

Wanton, worldly wisdom waits not on God but wilts and dies because men build “houses” with no foundation of faith or on unstable, improper, yes, deathly foundations without God!

Knowing the reality of heavenly wisdom that comes from “waiting on God” comes because one recognizes truly that “in Him we live and move and have our being.” Apart from Him it’s death in full mode. And this, no doubt, is why inspired by the Holy Spirit, James wrote 1:5-8 which says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Lacking wisdom and knowing it is not a universal blessing but sadly a universal curse because most men really believe they are wiser than God Himself and more able to handle their own affairs leaving God Himself out of their lives. “If any of you lack wisdom” – how wise or insufficient of wisdom are you? Do you understand that when it comes to our lives in the spiritual realm that most have never had a tutor – they are content with spiritual blinders to ignore rather than have unveiled in them the wisdom of God.

But James told us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him.” Let’s see what we can discover about the wisdom of waiting on God!

WE’VE JUST SEEN IN SCRIPTURE THE WISWDOM OF WAITING ON GOD THROUGH PRAYER: If we look at Ephesians 5:18 we hear Paul instructing us to “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” It’s for sure that “praying…in the ‘flesh’” is of no value but praying in and through the Spirit-Man opens the door to the very mind and heart of God.

In James 4:2 James said: “Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” Didn’t Jesus tell us in Matthew 7:7-11 about asking and receiving? “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

BUT ALSO THERE MUST BE THE WISDOM OF RECEIVING FROM “THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES” AS OUR EXAMPLE: In Hebrews 12:1-4 we see a challenging word for us: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Forconsider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted ti bloodshed, striving against sin.”

Tell me about that godly “cloud of witnesses” that you’ve allowed to surround your life – family, friends, ‘angels unaware,’ teachers, neighbors, classmates, the converted and transformed ‘drunk’ or drug addict, the friends whose marriages were saved by Christ Jesus, that holy professor whose presence constantly caught YOUR ATTENTION.

Acts 5:25-32 highlights for us godly witnesses that cannot be silenced or denied – and all around YOU are godly witnesses from whom you can and will receive their “cloud of glory” as they reveal to you their salvation journey. “So one came and told them, saying, ‘Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’ Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be a Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.’” And doesn’t His Word speak about a “great cloud of witnesses”?

THEN ALSO THIS GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES IS THE WISDOM THAT ACCEPTS GOD’S EXCHANGE OF HIMSELF FOR OUR NOTHINGNESS: In I Timothy 6:7 Paul wrote: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” To Titus Paul wrote: Titus 1:15, “…to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled…”

I don’t hesitate in saying to you that apart from God’s salvation in and through Christ ALL MEN are as nothing – that’s zeroes. No eternal LIFE, No eternal significance, and yet our Lord valued them enough to die on the Cross for their nothingness to bless them with Heaven’s everything and ALL!

Alfred Lord Tennyson, in “Despair,” wrote the following: [“Tennyson’s Works,” p.545], “Hoped for a dawn and it came; but the promise had faded away; We had passed from the cheerless night to the glare of a drearier day;….He is only a cloud and a smoke who was once a pillar of fire, The guess of a worm in the dust and the shadow of its desire – Of a worm as it writhes in a world of the weak trodden down by the strong, Of a dying worm in a world, all massacre, murder and wrong….O we poor orphans of nothing – alone on that lonely shore – Born of the brainless Nature who knew not that which she bore!….Trusting no longer that earthly flower would be heavenly fruit – Come from the brute, poor souls– no souls – and to die with the brute.”

In Isaiah 40:17 the prophet looks upon the nations of the masses of people and says: “All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.” But then, because of His great love and mercy, He chooses to die in our place that we might live in Him and through Him! In James 1:2-4 James wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Do you see that? Out of a saving, tried faith, God’s people allow the steadfastness of God to do a perfect work in them, and they become mature and complete, lacking nothing. The “nothings” become inheritors of His everything! In Jeremiah 29:11 our Lord speaks: “For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

ALSO, PLEASE NOTE, IT’S WISDOM, TRUE WISDOM THAT DISCOVERS AND DEPENDS UPON THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD: One of the awesome passage of the Old Testament is found in I Chronicles 29:10-14 which says, Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: ‘Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.”

A solemn, serious, sacrifice of praise is in order every day of a man’s life concerning the greatness of our God. In fact, I see it as indispensable – and apart from the worship and praise of God’s greatness, it causes me to wonder if they’ve truly entered a saving relationship with Holy, Merciful, Loving God. The greatness of God is immortal!

The greatness of God, yes, the awareness and acknowledgement of it by men, breeds eternal interest, abiding love for, and continual praise and bowing before and celebrating our great God! The absence of that in one’s life is evidence they’ve never met Him, or known Him, or loved Him, or celebrated Him. Psalm 48:1 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised…” Great in goodness, great in mercy, great in love, great in His activity, great in His wisdom, great in His deliverance, great in His salvation, great in His assurance, great in His glory, great in His power, great in His name, great God, great King, great Savior, great Lord, great Peace, great Joy – do you know, do you serve “The God Who Is Greater?”

THIS LEADS US TO THE WISDOM THAT OPENS THE HEART OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE AND ADORATION IN A TRUE BELIEVER’S HEART AND SOUL: In John 4 the woman of Samaria had come to draw water and Jesus asked a drink of her. The woman responded, verse 9, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” In verse 10 Jesus responded to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” What a curve-ball to a ‘strike-out queen! But, at least now, encountered by Jesus, she wants to know where one gets ‘living water’!

In telling her about the ‘living water,’ Jesus tells her that the water He’ll give to her will become in her a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life! Then, beginning in verse 21-26, Jesus reveals to her the heart of true worship! Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of [or through] the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

And who are the true worshippers? Philippians 3:3 says, “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh [or one’s old sin nature.”

Revelation 4:8-11 is a picture of those who “bow” before Holy God and their Savior in an unending attitude of adoration and praise! It says: “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes, around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

I remember in my very younger years, maybe 8-11 years of age, when I visited my father’s parents in Athens, Tennessee, they had a large two-story home with a wrap-around porch from the front door all the way around to the back door. I often walked around the porch and would witness a woman on her porch on her knees with her hands lifted high. I asked my grandmother one day what the woman was doing, and she responded, “Why, son, she’s worshipping and praising and praying to God. She bows before Him every day.” I didn’t ask her but I should Have: “Mammaw, do you bow and pray every day?”

I would ask you right now: “Are you a disciple who bows, who prays, who worships God every day?” I love the statement that I heard on an occasion: “Worship is transcendent wonder.” It was Rufus Jones who once wrote: “Worship is the act of rising to a personal, experimental consciousness of the real presence of God which floods the soul with joy and bathes the inward spirit with refreshing streams of life.” WOW!

Psalm 95:1-7 says: “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”

IT’S ALSO WISDOM THAT UNVEILS THE WILL OF GOD AND THE WAYS OF GOD: In Ephesians 6:6 Paul wrote: “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, DOING THE WILL OF GOD FROM THE HEART.” Then, in I Thessalonians 4:3 Paul said: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” And sanctification means what? That’s one “set apart” for the glory of God alone!

Oswald Chambers wrote in his “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.217], “Am I willing to let God do in me all that has been made possible by the Atonement? Am I willing to let Jesus be made sanctification to me, and to let the life of Jesus be manifested in my mortal flesh?”

Then Chambers added: “All that Jesus made possible is mine by the free loving gift of God on the ground of what He performed, my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness), a holiness based on agonizing repentance and a sense of unspeakable shame and degradation; and also on the amazing realization that the love of God commended itself to me in that while I cared nothing about Him, He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul says nothing is “able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Wisdom unveils the will of God which unveils the very ways of God! We know that Jesus says: “I am the WAY…” Is His way your way? In Luke 1:67-79 Zacharias had been filled with the Holy Spirit, and he prophesied saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Now, look at verses 78-79 again! “Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Are you a part of “the new and living way”? Hebrews 10:19-25 says: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching.”

It’s my earnest prayer that “the new and living way” is your path, and that you choose God’s will and God’s way every day of your life! In Deuteronomy 30:11-20 we read: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

But last of all, in this chapter, I WANT YOU TO SEE, SENSE, SEIZE, AND STAND IN THE WISDOM THAT SHARES IN THE WORK OF THE LORD: In Acts 9 we have recorded Saul of Tarsus’ conversion experience. As he was confronted by the Lord, at first he didn’t know who He was, but then in verse 6, “trembling and astonished,” Paul said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Far too many who have “been saved” (?) want the Lord’s stamp of approval for their plans of a disciple’s walk, but not His! In Acts 9:15 the Lord Jesus said to Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Verse 16, For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Paul was a “first round draft choice” by our Lord. And he signed on! In I Corinthians 9:19-27 he said: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law, ( not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” [Check out 2 Timothy 2:15-21!]

You do know that there is a night coming when no man can work. Don’t be delayed in fulfilling our Lord’s calling through your life and witness. Are you a laborer together with God? And, like Paul, we’ll not serve our Lord with our own preconceived ideas, but “Lord, what would You have me to do?” Oswald Chambers said: “One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God then one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit….Unless the worker lives a life hidden with Christ in God, he is apt to becoming an irritating dictator instead of an indwelling disciple.” [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.83].

W.H. Bellamy and Wm. J. Kirkpatrick wrote the following old hymn: “O troubled heart, there is a home, Beyond the reach of toil and care; a home where changes never come; Who would not fain be resting there?…Yet when bowed beneath the load, By heaven allowed, your earthly lot; Look up! You’ll reach that blest abode; Wait, meekly wait, and murmur not….Toil on, nor deem, tho’ sore it be, One sigh unheard, one prayer forgot; The day of rest will dawn for you; Wait, meekly wait, and murmur not.”

WAIT ON THE LORD!! IT’S WISDOM!!

CHAPTER SIX

IS IT COMMONPLACE TO BE DECEIVED?

Thomas Adams once said: “The devil is no idle spirit, but a vagrant, runagate walker, that never rests in one place. – The motive, cause, and main intention of his walking is to ruin man.” If you have a problem believing in the devil, guess what? You’ve been deceived by the very author and master of deception! In I peter 5:8 Peter wrote: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.”

It was Shakespeare in “Comedy of Errors,” [Act 5, sc.1, l.9] who wrote: “He must have a long spoon that shall eat with the devil.” I’m not sure I agree with Thomas a Kempis writing that, “The devil does not tempt unbelievers and sinners who are already his own,” because entrapment, deception, a lying spirit, and, yes, temptation overflows out of him and his devilish army, not just to disciples of Christ but even to our Lord’s enemies.

But neither do I believe deception comes only from Satan. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 Paul wrote: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

Genesis 3 is our introduction to deception that becomes so commonplace – and the very first verse says, “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” Several things take place here that every man, woman, and child is susceptible to: 1) The devil casts doubt on the Word of God, 2) The devil twisted truth and distorted it, 3) The devil confuses – Verse 3, 4) The devil spouts the BIG “LIE” – you can sin and not die, Genesis 3:4 5) The devil breeds unbelief and then entices – Verse 6.

And look what happens as a result of a commonplace deception! Verse 7 says, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made them coverings.” That’s the early birth of ‘FIG-LEAF RELIGION’ which dominates fallen humanity.

There are deceitful men whose evil hearts dictate commonplace deception. The Word speaks of “deceitful and unjust men.” In Psalm 120:2 the psalmist cried out in his distress saying to the Lord, “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.” Have you tried to score that with your national leaders or your investment advisers or your children’s teachers or, yes, even your church’s overseers?

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” And that surely can be more than the devil and his army! And if you, apart from Christ, have not learned it about yourself, get ready! Jeremiah 17:9-10 says, God speaking: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

In Ecclesiastes 9:3 the “wise man” wrote: “This is an evil; in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; [do you think deceit might be included in “the hearts of the sons of men (who) are full of evil?] madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.”

What did God say through Jeremiah in Jeremiah 9:3-6? “And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me,” says the Lord. “Everyone take heed to hios neighbor, and do not trust any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanderers. Everyone will deceive his neighbor, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity. Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Mw,” says the Lord.”

There was a day, after serious preparation, that Jesus had left Jerusalem for Bethany, and He was hungry. In Mark 11:13 the Word says: “And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves…” The fruit had not been produced yet. And I wondered – does the Lord look for heavenly fruit on the trees of our lives or is He disappointed when He sees fruitless trees that deceive the public about our professional faith but are barren trees?

Deception? Commonplace Deception? Fallen men without Christ are specialists at examining one’s profession of faith – and sadly, too often, rather than a sacrificial life they see covetousness, rather than a servant spirit they see self-centered multitudes of church folk simply examining their spiritual navels! Spurgeon was right! “A false professor [of Christ] exposes Christ to ridicule.” Outward allegiance breeds individuals who inwardly are becoming “gospel-hardened.” Do you remember “the parable of the two sons” in Matthew 21:28-32? Don’t miss the “I go, sir,” but he doesn’t go! That’s deceit – not true wisdom!

Why is it that some know TRUTH but find that truth clouded over by fleshly lies that they have time to resolve their spiritual dilemma later? That’s deceit! Here’s how Spurgeon dealt with that attitude as he preached: [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol.9,p.198], “Pity the poor naked spirit which so soon will be quivering with utmost agony, a self-caused agony, an agony from which it would not escape, an agony of which it was warned, but which it chose to endure sooner THAN GIVE UP SIN and yield to the scepter of sovereign grace.” WHAT A DECEPTION!

Think about Adam and Eve in the Garden as Satan came to deceive them! And consider again that the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil was not, is not, never will be the fruit of the tree of life. And where has the majority of fallen humanity chosen to find their fruit? Bitter trees – blessed fruit? Or bitter trees of life – blessed fruit of life? The devil’s choice or the Savior’s sacrifice?

Deception! I’m sorry, so very sorry, for the millions who bow before idols and receive no salvation help. Deception! I’m sorry, so very sorry, for the millions who follow religiously dead men and know nothing about the Living Savior and Lord. I’m sorry, so very sorry, for, yes, masses of people who go to cemeteries without any hope of resurrection life and power. Deception!

Deception? The author of Hebrews calls us all to a high alert! In Hebrews 3:12-14 we read, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you8 an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today”, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…”

“Departing”? Has the Hebrews author alerted, yes, ‘believers’ to the danger and a disaster of a life deceived by sin? He speaks of our “rest” but then in Hebrews 3:15-19 he says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

If a man is deceived, if a man is falling, if a man is falling because of disobedience, repentance is as necessary for the stumbling as it was for one’s conversion experience, which is why Hebrews 4:16 alerts us, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Thank God that grace and mercy is truly available to the brokenhearted over their deception!

We’ve already seen that Satan himself since the days of Adam and Eve has been busy with “deception” – “has God really Said?” “You surely shall not die”! “I’ll give you a kingdom to rule over!” But there is more: I Peter 5:8-9 tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a rearing lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhoods in the world.”

I say to you with a heavy heart that I would be seriously concerned about a lost man or a believing man who would dare to say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about – I’ve had no threats from the devil?” Could that be because he’s already fully captured and controlled? And it’s more than deception, it’s more than even devouring – he wants to destroy your witness, destroy any faith you may have, destroy your ministry, destroy your family, destroy your circle of influence. He wants you so deceived that you’re no longer a threat to his field of operation.

But it’s not only the powers of darkness who want to paralyze you from seeing and walking in the highway of holiness – there are also worldly men who will, who do, who attempt to short-circuit your connection with faith in Christ. In Ephesians 4:12 Paul wrote: “that we should be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting…”

Far too many believers are totally unaware of “the trickery of men”! The prophet Jeremiah looked around his community and country, and in Jeremiah 9:1 he spoke of his “eyes a fountain of tears, that I may weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” But God had to say in Jeremiah 9:3, “…they are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me.” And then in verse 6 the Lord told Jeremiah, “Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the Lord.

Then, in Matthew 24:11, Jesus moved away from ordinary men spouting deception – He said: “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” In Isaiah’s day, Isaiah 30:8-11, God told Isaiah, “Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and note it on a scroll, that it may be for time to come, forever and ever; that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, tuen aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” And certainly this modern-day is a day in which rebellious people promote, allow, even love “smooth things”, and false prophets are raised up to “prophesy deceits.”

But God is so gracious. In Isaiah 30:21 He tells us, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” You can trust God even when you’re attacked with ‘deception’ and you find yourself afraid. Corrie Ten Boom said before her death, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

Then there is another path you could find yourself on if you’re not alert, not careful, and not disciplined in “the way of righteousness.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 we read: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason, God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Unrighteous deception? And notice, unrighteous deception because they “had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Didn’t we see in Hebrews 3:13 about some being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin?”

Also there is the “mere men malady”! Look carefully at I Corinthians 3:1-3! “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” Then Paul later warned us and alerted us to the “blessed walk of faith.” That’s I Corinthians 3:18-23! But how does this “mere men malady” capture some in deception? Matthew 13:22 says, “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of the world and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES CHOKE THE WORD, and he becomes unfruitful.” DECEPTION CHOKES TO DEATH – NOT LIFE!

Let me share one more dilemma that some find themselves in. In Colossians 2:8 Paul wrote: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Then he opened wide the door of faith and trust and hope and blessing when he said in Colossians 2:9-10, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Question? In your journey with Jesus, what is your greatest blessing outside of your oneness with Christ? Before going to the next chapter, please read Luke 10:1-20!!

CHAPTER SEVEN

IS THE GOAL OF CHRISTLIKENESS UNATTAINABLE?

There are those who truly believe that if their names are recorded in a church’s membership role then certainly all is right between them and the Lord Jesus. I don’t know anything any further from the truth than that statement. There are those who say they are probably more knowledgeable about Jesus because from infancy on they’ve attended a church regularly. But I have to ask again, “Does church attendance validate one’s salvation experience?” Does burial in a Christian cemetery assure that one buried there must have been a believer? And did that dead ‘believer’ conform his life to Christ’s life?

Even ordained ministers have often been deceived in their journeys – “why of course I am Christlike – if not, how was I ordained? Why, almost daily I am counseling needy souls and every Sunday I preach at least once – and you wonder if I’m Christlike?” Have you ever been around “a biblical scholar” whose daily walk has no resemblance to spiritual soundness and reflects poorly on the spirit of the power of Truth and gives no evidence of the “second birth”?

In a church community have you ever been around faultfinders or constant, unbearable, condemning gossips or condescending bullies? Slander is a chief weapon of those who “profess” Christ but know nothing of possessing or being possessed by the fullness and spirit of His Life! Their mission in life? To right the wrongs in every one’s ‘life in Christ’ but their own.

Have you ever heard it? “Well, I presume I am saved because I was baptized as a baby, as a child, as a teenager, or as an adult – of course I’m saved!” “Oh, I might not resemble Jesus – but I try.” “Yes, I’m a Christian – I may not look like Jesus – I may not resemble Him at all, but do you want to see my baptismal certificate?”

And I would ask: “Were you crucified with Christ? You know you live, but no longer YOU – it’s Christ in you who is the hope of glory? Did you die to your flesh [your old man, your old sin nature] so the Spirit of Christ might live in you and through you?” Have you passed from death unto life and that life of Christ sealed in you by His Spirit? Or have you suspended the journey because you believe since you were “saved and baptized”, beyond that it’s foolishness? I don’t think so!

“Patience for His perfect work?” “Why, I’m “saved” already, so what’s this business of a ‘spiritual perfect work’?” “You mean I’m supposed to look like Jesus in all I am or all I do or in all I say? That sounds like salvation by works to me. I’m going to stay away from those “work” words!” If one has been truly “born again,” he/she begins a journey of conformity to Christlikeness, taking the sentence of death daily that the resurrection life of Christ may be manifested, fully released, each day.

“Patience for His perfect work” appears to many as a path to ‘rose-colored’ living without a single problem. When Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation,” to many that sounds like a betrayal of true faith even though Jesus suffered, bled, and died on the Cross!

What’s the question? “Is the goal of Christlikeness unattainable?” Do you grasp the identification of the one who asks it? That’s the one who is not truly acquainted with the Word of God, not familiar with biblical truth, and, yes, not identifying with even the words of Jesus! They are influenced by the world, the world in the church, by the flesh, and by the devil himself – and the devil surely doesn’t want you to be even a believer who identifies with the Word of God! Darkness in the mind about one’s true identity in Christ is a devilish ploy to bring deception into fruition rather than a true believer standing on the Word.

I know there is ‘holy anxiety’ at times when one has known the Truth, walked in it, and, maybe, fallen away from it for a brief moment, but a “new-born” son or daughter of God will, I say WILL, arm themselves afresh and anew against sin and death. It was Spurgeon who said, “There is no temple of the Philistines which shall not fall beneath the might of our greater Samson.” I pray you receive that truth!! He then quoted a hymn with powerful words: “No power in earth or hell Can force me to depart; Christ is my strength unconquerable, He fortifies my heart…Fixed in His love I stand, And none shall drive me thence; Enclosed I am within the hand of Love’s omnipotence.”

Do you truly understand “abiding in Jesus”? There is JOY in abiding there! There is PEACE in abiding there! There is FULLNESS in abiding there! Paul told the church at Rome: Romans 15:29, “But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” What a word of hope and encouragement to us!

Christlikeness unattainable? It’s so opposite the holy work of the Cross and the empty tomb, so opposite the Word of God, and so opposite the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He magnifies in you the resurrected Christ! It’s not impossible in attaining Christlikeness. It’s not impossible for you daily to choose death to yourself so the resurrected Jesus can be fully released through you.

What did Paul say in Galatians 2:20? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” He then identified a major problem some ‘believers’ find themselves in when in Galatians 3:3 he said: “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh [or your old sin nature]?” He then asked the Galatians as I now ask you: Galatians 4:9, “But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire to be in bondage again?”

Are you aware that there are those who turn back rather than press in? Are you aware that some “professors” choose the weak and beggarly elements over the God-given provisions of Holy Presence, living promises, and fullness of divine life? It even happens with churches! Listen to Spurgeon: [“Spurgeon’s Sermons,” Vol.19, p.359], “The new plan is to assimilate the church to the world, and so include a larger area within its bounds. By semi-dramatic performances they make houses of prayer to approximate to the theater; they turn their services into musical displays, and their sermons into political harangues or philosophical essays – in fact, they exchange the temple for the theater, and turn the ministers of God into actors, whose business it is to amuse men. Is it not so, that the Lord’s day is becoming more and more a day of recreation or of idleness, and the Lord’s house either a joss-house full of idols, or a political club, where there is more enthusiasm for a party than zeal for God?”

“Is the goal of Christlikeness unattainable?” Yes, if a church doesn’t preach and teach faithfully the Word of God. Yes, if the church promotes and demonstrates worldliness rather than God-likeness. Yes, if pulpits are claimed by unregenerate men who’d just as soon deceive people than preach Truth. Yes, if church members are satisfied with dried-out bread, muddy water, and spoiled fruit!

Poor quality disciples become vessels unto dishonor because devotion to Truth wanes and wanes and wanes – and one then can’t discern a difference between a so-called disciple and the world around him/her. Divided allegiances between half-hearted disciples and the world will not usher in, demonstrate, or validate the very sovereign rule of heaven on earth. Our Lord wants disciples who know His kingdom rule and authority and cry out faithfully: “Christ’s kingdom come, Christ’s will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven.”

“Is the goal of Christlikeness unattainable?” It certainly is if those professing faith in their redemption in Christ is squeezed in to a vessel that sees no problem if it’s dirty, impure, mixed, callous to the heart of God, compromised at every turn, and not protective of his/her or God’s reputation, certainly not sold out to a pure heart and washed in the blood of the Lamb!

It was Watchman Nee who wrote the book, “Changed Into His Likeness.” [Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington, Penn., 1973, p.52]. In it Nee said: “The Church counts for nothing in herself, save as a vessel to bring in Christ. God’s purpose is in the Son.” And if ‘your purpose’ is other than the Son, you’ll never see, sense, or celebrate His Life in you! And then on page 53 Nee really unveiled why many Christians miss out on the blessings from heaven. He said: “God does not only want right things done; He wants us to be the medium of right things that HE is doing.” That means a true disciple is the true vessel that contains the True Savior who does His heavenly work in an available human vessel. If you were crucified with Christ, why are you attempting to do His work? WOW!

Nee then said, “I am afraid this is not a popular thing to speak of. Preach to stir men to more evangelizing, more activity, more sacrifice, and they will listen and agree. But talk about the worthlessness of our work for God, even when it is not sinfully but well done, and we meet with disapproval and misunderstanding. Yet this is the central point in service. Whether we can bring in Christ to be God’s vessel of recovery depends on whether we can get out of the way to make room for Him…Only what He does in us and through us can satisfy Him.”

Do you see it? Our attempts at helping our Lord become major distractions to His working in us and through us. And when we are determined to serve Him through our best efforts, we shut the door to Him! We attempt – we fall short. We go out to serve – and come home empty-handed. We try in the best energy of our flesh, fail, and then question ourselves if Christlikeness is really obtainable! Then we learn: No – it’s not OUR trying but trusting Him to be faithful in His work through us.

That can be a tough place when a strong human will becomes a stumbling block to Christ Jesus Himself! It’s a challenge, I know, to be able to say every day or this particular day, right now, “Lord, I know it’s time I choose an end to myself where You can be in me and through me “My All In All.” But when we’re determined to chart our own course of Christian service, then the Christ in me is forced to a back-seat or a second-place. Do you see it? Extreme self-confidence detracts and even demotes Jesus to a behind-the-scenes watcher! Inflated egos close the door to Christ to do His work, His way, and in His will, but He has not, will not, force Himself in fullness on an empty, brainless, fruitless, “I can handle it, Jesus” kind of devotee!

“Well, I AM GIFTED!!” And they give no place to the GIVER! What does Romans 6:11 tell us? “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Have you failed to grasp what our Lord is telling us through Paul as he wrote in I Corinthians 1:26-2:5? “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 2:1-5, then says: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Self-will, fleshly power and determination shuts the door on the fullness of Christ in us! Oh, but we read in Colossians 3:1-4, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

I know it may be a ‘shocker’ to you, but God is not at all interested in your improvement – we all come up short, so God crucified us all with Christ! Get over your failure, rest in faith, let Christ stand in you as your hope of glory!

Christlikeness is not unattainable when I grasp that God’s desire in me is for me to be an empty vessel in which Christ Jesus is fully welcomed! I Peter 1:6-7 says, noting that the “revelation” we read about is “the unveiling of Christ in us and through us: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation [or unveiling] of Jesus Christ…”

Paul was a travailer in prayer. In Galatians 4:19 he said, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth [pains] again until Christ is formed in you.” He could have said he was travailing until Christ was fully released through you! Oswald Chambers said: [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.268], “I cannot enter into the realm of the Kingdom of God unless I am born from above by a birth totally unlike natural birth. ‘You must be born again’ This is not a command, it is a foundation fact. The characteristic of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me. Immediately Christ is formed in me, His nature begins to work through me.”

How does that come into fruition in your life? You believe, receive, repent, yield to, and walk in Christ Jesus! 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”

Do you see it? Self-energy blocks Christ’s fullness in you! Self-effort is like an earthly dam holding back His eternal supply of All-Sufficient Life, grace, power, love, and His faithfulness to Holy God through us. When Jesus is made Lord of your life, that tells me lordship has switched from self to the Sovereign Lord and Savior of the Cross and empty tomb – and if God raised Jesus from the dead, and He did, so can He raise us out of our state of spiritual death and resurrect us to allow Him to be Himself in and through us!

And because your body, your life, is now the residence, yes, of the very life of Christ, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Yes, the goal of Christlikeness IS attainable!

I close with statements by Oswald Chambers in his “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.56], “I have to cleanse myself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit until both are in accord with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I insubordinate in intellect?” Am I forming the mind of Christ, Who never spoke from His right to Himself, but maintained an inner watchfulness whereby He continually His spirit to His Father? I have the responsibility of keeping my spirit in agreement with His Spirit, and by degrees Jesus lifts me up to where He lived – in perfect consecration to His Father’s will, paying no attention to any other thing. Am I perfecting this type of holiness in the fear of God? Is God getting His way with me, and are other people beginning to see God in my life more and more? GOOD QUESTION!

CHAPTER EIGHT

“IS IT SELF-MADE TOWERS OR HIS DIVINE HOLY PRESENCE?”

It didn’t take long after the “fall of men” for God to look down and see the following in Genesis 6:5-6, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved ion His heart.” But earlier, in Genesis 5:24, we read of a man that the Word says, “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” What a contrast!

And over thousands of years things haven’t changed that much. There are still those who “give themselves over” to their wickedness, and there are still those who “choose to walk with God.” Without hesitation, I believe God is still “grieved in His heart” because of those who willfully choose to walk as ‘god’ unto themselves and refuse “Amazing Grace.”

But when you come to Genesis 11 and Genesis 12 you begin to see “The Beginning of Confusion” and “The Beginning of Unveiled Purpose.” Confusion can and often does erupt in some local churches among believers. In I Corinthians 14:22-23 Paul wrote: “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?”

In verse 33 Paul then said, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

The sad truth that grips my heart in 2013 is that far too many folks cannot, will not, have no intention of discerning between ‘peace’ and man-made confusion, yes, even in some churches! “Is It Self-Made Towers OR His Divine Holy Presence?” Have we chosen to live in “peace” or fleshly confusion? Do we choose “God’s Way” or the fleshly rule? Is it surrender to His voice or are most men directed by “the world, the flesh, or the devil”? Is it God’s conversion and His construction of heavenly life in you or is it man’s confusion and corruptness and clouding out of a God-ordained life or church fellowship?

In Joshua 24:14-15 Joshua spoke to the people of Israel and us when he said: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Do you have an Angel guiding, establishing, protecting, providing for your every need? In Exodus 23:20-25 God speaks: “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perezites and the Canaanites and the Hivities and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. You hall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.”

That is not simply an Old Testament promise to Israel, but when you read Philippians 4:19 you see a New Testament valid promise to men and women of redemptive faith. Paul said: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Isn’t this why David said in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”? Oh, fallen men may accumulate much, except for what the inner man wants and needs. Worldly men, void of God, remain empty, unfulfilled, and certainly not “blessed”!

Heavenly men? They are an “extension of God’s LIFE,” an “expression of God’s Love,” and “the proof of His never-ending power and glory”! Earthly men? They are as “sounding brass” and “clanging cymbals” with lives and instruments out of tune, off-key, void of a Director, and producing nothing but poor music in themselves and their walks.

In I Corinthians 15:47-49 Paul tells us, “The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man.” The image of the heavenly man? That’s men of faith and trust and obedience bearing the image and likeness of Jesus Christ Himself because of repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross!

This takes us back to Genesis 11:1-9! Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.” Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel [Confusion], because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.”

I pray, having been confronted by “self-made towers” or by “Divine Holy Presence” and eternal purpose, that you choose to “walk with God” like Enoch, and that now you eagerly await God’s taking of you into His eternal home.

Notice: “Come, let us…” Where is God in all that? You’ll remember that Adam and Eve, deceived by Satan, thinking that “having their eyes opened, would be like God, knowing good from evil,” all of a sudden realize they had been lied to, and thus, [Genesis 3:8], “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” And men, in “self-made towers,” are still hiding themselves from the presence of the Lord with most of them not even knowing what they are doing!

“Come, let us…”! You’ve seen them, you know them, you’ve rubbed shoulders with them: “We’re the masters of our own destiny! We don’t need God! We’ll build ourselves and build our own cities, and they will reach the heavens!”

“Come, let us…”! “Who knows better than us what we want to do with our lives? Get this, you Christians: ‘us’ is more than you and collectively we’re smarter than your God!”

“Come, let us…” what we want to build, erect what we want to erect, construct what we decide needs to be constructed to “better our lives.” Really? Better when most are void of eternal purpose, void of a meaningful, blessed relationship with the God who made them, void of any desire of ‘Heaven is my home,’ settling for a hellish relationship that lasts forever with the devil and his demons?

“Come, let us…” live with our uncontrolled, lustful passions, live with our lives enslaved to worldly lusts, selfish ambitions, harmful spiritual diseases that steal true life from us, live dominated by the lies of the world, the flesh, and the devil, bound and enslaved but never recognizing the spiritual chains and spiritual prison bars.

“Come, let us…” leave God out of our ‘life equations,’ because we’re able, we’re strong, we’re mature, we’re wiser than the wisest of that Christian community. The ‘lifelessness’ of godlessness, even in its sickness, is superior to a Godly submission.”

“Come, let us…” savor, cherish, hold onto our independence from God and His ‘unhealthy’ people – we’ll stand alone, on our own, free as a living prisoner can be.”

“Come, let us…” choose our selfish, limited, emotionally limited infancy of life that exposes our hollow hearts, our sinful minds, and our fallen natures that seek to hide us from God’s control.”

“Come, let us…” go on our own way without God, never realizing our steps away from Him produces in us a sad reality like suffocation or drowning or a deathly state of hopelessness that tries to deny, refute, or cover over the emptiness that unbelief in the God of eternal salvation produces.”

“Come, let us…” deny that the sacred nature of human life is more important than the secular and that choosing to walk independent from God is not sickly, deathly, or producing ‘killer’ viruses in us that God calls ‘sin’ or ‘sinfulness’ or ‘spiritual death.’” Really?

“Come, let us…” pump ourselves up in our egos with an unfounded confidence that ‘faith in God’ is unnecessary, unimportant, and really unfounded.” Really?

“Come, let us…” follow our own wishes, hopes, and dreams of anticipation of self-fulfillment that we know will satisfy our fleshly selves, our darkening desires, enabling our true selves to be birthed, raised, and matured to self-happiness.” Really?

“Come, lets us…” embrace a choice of lifestyles that is impurely self-centered, crowning ourselves as rulers over our hedonistic, sexually immoral activity that identifies us with a fallen world in general.”

“Come, let us…” head ourselves in the direction of a worldly happiness that has nothing to do with “Jesus joy” even though He said His joy was a joy that “remains in you and stays full.” Though happiness is fickle and unsure, we’ll gamble ourselves on ourselves to find our own happiness.”

“Come, let us…” live with the bread of our own achievements since the God of the Bible tells His people tribulation awaits His own. We, in the world, live with the fruit of our own labors.”

“Come, let us…” treasure our treasures, gloat over our accomplishments, forget God, lift up our hearts in pride, and set aside His biblical commands.” Oh, but I say to you, please receive Deuteronomy 8:17-18, 19c: “Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives your power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant…” But if one says, ‘Come, let us…, then in verse 19c God says: “I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.”

Then, I know you’ve noticed in Genesis 11:4, And they said, “Come, let us build…”! Do you grasp who we are reading about in the early existence of human beings, birthed into fleshly life amidst the very handiwork of God in His masterful Creation? But they say, “Come, let us build…” Consider the universes, consider the planets, consider the vastness of our outer space and the beauty of earthly mountain-peaks and valleys, consider the awesomeness of oceans and majestic fields, consider the beauty of fields ready to be harvested, consider the Rose of Sharon, consider what He has built – and remember that Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…”

If you carefully read and receive the Book of Jeremiah, you will discover, not our ability to build, but one’s availability to all God is and to all God does! God told Jeremiah in chapter one, verses 18-19, “Therefore prepare yourself and arise…For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar…For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”

Yet, one chapter later, Jeremiah 2:32, God said: “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.”

“Build?” “Come, let us build?” Whatever man “builds” is a futile effort if they do not see, understand, or grasp for themselves what Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:13-19! When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Do you understand that man “builds” tombs of death while God, through available men of faith and trust, build tabernacles of Holy Presence?

In Acts 20:32 Paul said: “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified.” Question! What is it to be sanctified? That word means “set apart” to the honor and glory of God alone – and whoever you are, whatever you ‘do,’ is to be or to build to God’s glory! That’s to be your ‘built business’!

But what happened in Genesis 11:4 as the ‘let us’ crowd began to “build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; [and] LET US MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES…” This is in spite of Psalm 100:3 as David said, “Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.” “…we ourselves?” That’s those who say, whatever God has done, we can do better. We’ll make a name for ourselves.” But do YOU understand? Whatever you do of merit, the honor belongs to God alone, whether you give it to Him or not! This is why in I John 1:8 John wrote: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

In Isaiah 28 the prophet spoke of “scornful men” who in verse 15 said, “For we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.” Then, when you come to Nehemiah 1 you see a ‘vision development’ birthed out of a burden and Nehemiah praying for his people and for their opportunity to once again be favored by God. He wrote: Nehemiah 1:3-11,

And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of Israel, Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept Your commandments, the Statutes, not the ordinances which You have commanded Your servant Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.”

But, hear me; just as Jesus ‘redeemed’ all of mankind at the Cross doesn’t mean all men are forever saved if repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of the Cross is not exercised! Nehemiah was passionate for his people as we ought to be for our people – but some are so intent on “making a name for ourselves,” Jesus is just an option for them that they never exercise! Again, Nehemiah said in verse 11, asking God to listen to those ‘who desire to fear Your name…’! Isn’t it tragic? How many do you know, even IN the church, who fear God’s name?

There’s a warning in Psalm 9:5 where the psalmist says, “You [God] have blotted out their name forever and ever.” And though their name has been erased from God’s remembrance, it doesn’t mean their eternal life is now extinct – they live forever under the curse of Hell’s flames, the devil’s domain, and cannot escape the “death that never dies”!

And then what happened in the fallen nature of men in Genesis 11:4 as they sought to “build ourselves…a tower whose top is in the heavens”? It was 400 A.D. when Augustine wrote the following in his “Confessions”: “How can you draw close to God when you are far from your own self? Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know You.”

Most ‘tower-builders’ do not know themselves and thus have no intimate knowledge of Holy God who longs to “birth” their lives in the Spirit as His earthly dwelling! Most ‘tower-builders’ are stuck in themselves and have no comprehension of God’s ‘tabernacle-dwelling’ in and through their lives. And that’s because their minds and hearts are clouded over concerning the intensity and power of evil.

My son, Stan Fisher, urged me to read Peter Scazzaro’s book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.” In the third chapter, [pps. 42-43], Scazzaro spoke about “The Beast Today” out of Revelation 12, 13. He then said: “The beast tells us: *happiness is found in having things; *you should get all you can for yourself, as quickly as you can; *security is found in money, power, status, and good health; *above all, you should seek all the pleasure, convenience, and comfort you can; * God is irrelevant to everyday life; * Christianity is just one on many alternatives to spiritualities; * there are no moral absolutes; whatever is true for you is what is true; *you’re not responsible for anyone but yourself; and * this life on earth is all there is.

“Tower-builders or tabernacle-dwellings”? You do understand that ‘tower-builders’ choose darkness over light, the here and now over the eternal awareness, physical and earthly dividends over spiritual and eternal blessing, the temporary, fleshly satisfactions that soon disappear, waiting for a bigger and greater ‘hit’ that one received the last time around and still come up empty. OR,

What about tabernacle-dwellings? What did Paul tell us in Galatians 2:20? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me..Verse 21, I do not frustrate the grace of God…!!”

Oh, but then in Philippians 1:19-21 Paul was so anointed in the Spirit as he wrote these words: “For I know that this [imprisonment] will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness as always, so now Christ also will be magnified in my body whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

It was Francis de Sale who described the true eternal blessing in Christ as follows: “the mind’s loving, unmixed, permanent attention to the things of God.”

But if you haven’t been seeking after God Himself, be assured that God is in hot pursuit after you. You may, even at this very moment, not be a person who has anchored himself/herself to an inexhaustible search after Him, but be aware He’s ‘smelled’ you and is tracking after you. God’s search is unceasing to make every person a ‘child of the King,’ a son/daughter in the family of God, a servant like Jesus who doesn’t appear to be served, but to serve and give one’s life for the many.

CHAPTER NINE

“FISHING FOR MEN OR A FATALISTIC MIND-CLOSURE TO MEN?”

As I began to write this chapter, I had received word of the death of a son of a life-long friend. The man who died was about the same age as my son, Scott, who is 55 years of age. He had been on a trip to Alaska with his parents and his own family. They had flown in from Alaska to Atlanta and were taking a shuttle service to Chattanooga, Tennessee, near their home in Cleveland to get their cars. They didn’t get out of Atlanta before Scott Hicks collapsed with a fatal heart attack. My friend who informed me of his death said that Scott was sharing his faith in Christ with a man who was traveling on their shuttle – and he said, “Scott shares his faith in Christ with everyone he encounters. This man who had experienced saving grace and mercy and had become a new creation was relentless about sharing the faith, making disciples, and honoring Christ Jesus his Lord and Savior!”

I could not help but think: “What if every true believer understood their ‘calling’ to share the faith with others? What would happen worldwide? But also what has been the result of a ‘fatalistic mind-closure to men’? I’m convinced that as an American citizen of 77 years of age that I have witnessed a down-turn of Christians sharing the faith! I’m also convinced that most pastors and churches have not even begun to equip their people to share their faith with others. In Matthew 4:17-20 Jesus shared His heart with the lost and encouraged His disciples to be “fishers of men.” From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

There came a ‘moment’ after Creation that God looked upon the men He created and said, Genesis 6:6, “And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth and He was grieved in His heart.” One translation says God was grieved and His heart was filled with pain. But then there was a Noah who “found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and Noah walked with God.” And ark-building began to rescue the drowning in the sea of their sins!

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, was just as much God as if He were not man, and just as much man as if He were not God. And, facing the Cross, Jesus prayed in Matthew 26:39, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not as I will, but as You will,” because He knew and understood the suffering of the Cross was the only hope of man’s redemption, so Jesus suffered, bled, and died in behalf of YOU and me. And that is not a fatalistic mind-closure to men! The ‘spirits’ of fallen men oppose the need of man’s redemption and their response in repentance and faith, but in I John 4:1 we read, “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if whether they are from God,” and FROM GOD there always has been and always will be the call to touch the lost with the message of grace, mercy, and love.

God’s inexhaustible grace and love at the Cross in Christ’s shed blood is indelibly placed at every turn that men need to be saved. Why should any true disciple ever question the equipping of the saints to share their faith with others? Could it be even possible that many who “profess” faith in Christ are really ‘believers’ who are buried in a casket of a false disciple? And I can only ask, ‘Is your Christ-spirituality a consciousness of the need of ‘witnessing to others’ or an ‘illusion’ that makes no sense of responsibility in you and through you?

In Acts 1:8 our Holy Word of God tells us, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESSES TO ME in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” After Jesus’ death and resurrection, we read in Matthew 28:16-20 about “The Great Commission.” It says: Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen!

Have YOU announced man’s ‘pardon’ by God Himself? The following story entitled “The Strange Case of George Wilson” came from an American Baptist Association Trust: “ In 1829 two men – Wilson and Porter – were convicted of robbing the United States mails, and sentenced to death by hanging. Three weeks before the time set for Wilson’s execution, he was pardoned by President Andrew Jackson…Strangely enough, Wilson refused the pardon. The case went to the Supreme Court (United States vs. George Wilson, 7 Peters’ Report, page 150) and the court finally handed down its decision: “A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him.”…Most people would agree that Wilson was a fool for refusing to accept a pardon. Yet these same people daily reject the pardon which God has provided for them…Because God is just, He must punish our sins, But because God is merciful, He Himself suffered the awful penalty when Jesus Christ, His Son, suffered all the wrath of God against our sins as He died on the cross of Calvary. ‘For God os loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)…Your pardon has been signed by God Himself. Now all you need to do is accept it by telling God in prayer that you are guilty of sin; ask Him to pardon you, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). At the same time you call upon God trust Him to pardon you for Christ’s sake. Do this and God will deliver the evidence of your pardon and you will be released from the prison of sin. Unless you accept the pardon, you remain condemned. “He that believes not is condemned already.” (John 3:18). Wilson’s was a strange case. But then, Wilson was a fool.”

A pardon? A release from sin’s penalty and sin’s power and sin’s perversions? Men set free to be and become all God intends for them to be “in Him”? Adopted out of the devil’s dominance into the true liberty and freedom as sons and daughters of God? No debt due to sin? No bankruptcy due to one’s old nature? No brokenness and sadness due to separation from God? And you don’t have “good news” to share?

In Psalm 32:1-7 David wrote about “the joy of forgiveness,” but you “in Christ” don’t have a song to sing? “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” [Have you heard God singing over you lately?]. [Have you been singing to Him?].

And in Psalm 33:3 David, yes, spoke of “singing to Him a new song” that speaks of awe-struck wonder because of God’s “fashioning of the heart”! [I remind you that in I Samuel 16:7 the Lord said to Samuel, “…for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”] “The Fashioning of the Heart?” Psalm 33:15 says, “He [God] fashions their hearts individually…” In Ezekial 36:26 we read of God granting to repentant men and women, yes, and boys and girls, “a new heart.” In Hebrews 10:12 and verses 19-23 we read: “But this Man, [Jesus Christ], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God…Verses 19-23, Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

“The Fashioning of the Heart?” Acts 16:14 speaks of Lydia whom “the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul,” but you’re unsure the Lord will do the same through your witness to others?

“The Fashioning of the Heart?” Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts…”Do you truly understand your role in touching your world around you with His mercy, grace, and love? Your family, your friends, your city, your state, and nation, needs to know they are loved by God, loosed by God to His ultimate intention, led by God, lifted by God, and liberated into the fullness of Holy Presence in them from ‘doing’ to ‘being.’ 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” And you don’t have a word to share?

What about a “new song” to sing about our names written down in glory? Do you understand “new wine”? A “new covenant”? Could your lost and “alienated from God’ friends need a “new spirit”? Our Lord promises a “new heart”! Even “new, ripened fruit” can be your inheritance! Are “new tongues” a worthy consideration for a foul-mouthed old man? Don’t you believe the promise of a “new man” births hope in the hopeless? Oh, yes, there is a “new and living way”! SHOW THEM, TELL THEM, ASSURE THEM OF THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD’S PROMISES! In a hellish earth, hellish life, hellish home and family environment, a hellish existence, you don’t have a word about “a new and living way?”

Let the fresh, vibrant, life-giving words of Paul encourage you as you, in convicting fashion, receive what Romans 6:4 tells us: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” How encouraging is Romans 7:4 to you? “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another – to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” And didn’t Paul say in Romans 7:5 that men, when in the flesh [old sin nature], that “the sinful passions…were at work…to bear fruit to death”? But verse 6 tells us that once, having died to what we were held by, NOW we’re at work to “serve in the newness of the Spirit…”?

Could we, should we, be discerning right now that our new-found walk of faith is to be a walk under the control; and leadership of the Holy Spirit? As Paul wrote the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 3:2-6, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Is it possible that as a new believer in Christ or an aged believer that you have sensed the great need of being empowered by the Holy Spirit to become a valid, victorious witness of saving grace and you, right now, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit that you might truly be a vibrant witness?

Then, in 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Paul wrote: “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech – unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing [or fading] away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

OH, and then look carefully at 2 Corinthians 4:1-6! “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Did the last verse we read say that God Himself commanded ‘light to shine out of darkness, shining in our hearts TO GIVE THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.’? Did Jesus Himself say anything different from what we’ve just read? In Matthew 5:14-16 our Lord said: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

But again in 2 Corinthians 4:7 Paul said, “we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” The “treasure” of Christ’s living presence in us, the “treasure” of redemptive truth, the “treasure” of God’s desire that through us, verse 11, “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” AND WE TELL OTHERS! Do all that we tell about salvation believe, receive, and rest themselves in Christ? Jesus said in John 8:47, “He who is of God hears God’s words…” You can be at peace that if you faithfully share gospel truth you’ve done your part.

Prior to His ascension after His resurrection disciples asked Him, [Acts 1:6-8], “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?” And Jesus said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Oh, and then Jesus was taken up, leaving the sharing of saving grace and faith to His earthly disciples!

In chapter two of Acts the Holy Spirit came! And “this” became “that” which was spoken by Joel the prophet: Joel 2:28-29, “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit bin those days.”

And what an encouraging, uplifting, anointed word that we find in Acts 2:25 from David, “I foresaw the Lord always before My face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.” YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF WITNESSING TO OTHERS – THE LORD is at YOUR right hand! Plus, what was instilled within Peter must be instilled in every new disciple! Acts 2:36-40, 47 says: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Verse 47, “…And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

It is vital for you as a born-again believer to examine carefully every situational opportunity that you see the early disciples experiencing. Too often God’s people re uninformed or have overlooked situational witnessing! If, as Peter Scazzero said in his book, “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality,” [p.109], that “Unhealed wounds open us up to habitual sin against God and others,” how many do you reach out to who exemplify “unhealed wounds” and “unhealed hearts” and “unhealed marriages” and “unhealed relationships” or even “unhealed churches”?

As you examine Acts 3, the very second verse shows us about “a certain man lame from his mother’s womb.” Remember that Acts 1:1 informs us “…of all that Jesus began both TO DO and TO TEACH…!” And the early disciples learned His lessons and examples fully! Have you?

I remember being in a huge government housing project in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, for a street meeting with Pastor Anand of Apostolic Christian Assembly. The musicians had sung, I had preached, and then I extended an invitation for salvation, for deliverance, or for our Lord’s healing grace. Before me a father and mother came carrying their 8 year old son who’d never walked since birth, in a blanket, laid him down at my feet, and then asked, “Can your Lord and Savior heal our son?” Anand and I laid hands on the boy and prayed, and then said, “Arise, young man, and walk!” Praise God, he did rise and walk.” I’ll never forget his toothpick legs, but then saw, through prayer, God giving him strong legs!

And if that wasn’t a ‘shocker’ enough for us, the very next night another father and mother carried to the front their 11-12 year old son who also had never walked! The same Jesus of the night before touched this young man and gave him new legs – and the family or families of both sons came to salvation in our Lord!

I like to call true disciples “The Appointed and Anointed” of the Lord! In Matthew 10:1 we read: “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirit, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of disease.” Jesus then said in verses 7-8, “And as you go, preach, [witness, testify], saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.” [But do you not have anything to share? Maybe it’s time to “be born again!”]

One of the most heart-wrenching stories I’ve ever read about was a Miss Havisham from the novel Charles Dickenson wrote about called “Great Expectations.” The story is about this daughter of a very wealthy family who, on her supposed wedding day, received a letter at 8:40a.m. that her fiancé who was to become her husband that day informed her he’d not be there for the wedding. The story is that exactly at 8:40a.m having received this sad word, stopped every clock in her home at the time of the letter’s arrival, deciding to spend the rest of her life in her wedding dress, plus wearing only one shoe since that was all she’d put on, living that way into old age, choosing to live an unfulfilled past even to her death!

Is it possible some Christians “assume” they are married to Christ yet never bear children of faith? They talk about their wedding to the Lord but never consummated the marriage with holy vows and a holy heart like Him to touch their world with grace. Do you think her story, your story, might resemble Judas? Was his life a life of “wasted opportunities”?

For some, what I’ve just written is so true, but at the same time I would say, “it’s not true of all disciples.” In Matthew 10:16-24 and in verses 27-28 we hear Jesus speaking to us and warning us that witnessing is not enjoying a “nice piece of cake,” but, yes, trouble! Jesus said: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. Verse 27-28, Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” And that’s JESUS SPEAKING TO US!!

There is a serious word in Matthew 10:32-33! Jesus says: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Don’t you find Jesus’ words convicting and challenging? I don’t believe Jesus is speaking only of ‘public confession’ but also private and personal declaration of one’s need of the Savior and Lord of life, sharing with those around you of His love, grace, and mercy, that it was for them also that Jesus died on the Cross, and if they were the only person on the face of the whole earth, what He did on the Cross He would and did it just for them.

Jesus’ words to alienated sinners? Matthew 11:28-30 tells us: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and 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.”

Do you know anyone who “burns the candle at both ends” or “labors and is heavy ladened”? Do you know anyone who needs Christ’s ‘yoke’, yes, needs to be broken from their selfish, uncontrolled, untrained life? Do you know anyone who needs His rest for their souls? Then share the love of Jesus, share what He’s done for you, share what He’s done for your family and friends and classmates or business associates! Fishers of men or a fatalistic mind closure to men and their spiritual needs?

Christless lives are eternal disasters regardless of their earthly successes or lack of them. Christless families living faithless lives are void, yes, even destitute of the Lord’s eternal promises. It breaks my heart to say it, but Christless professors, so wise in the world’s ways, are ‘train-wrecks’ when it comes to eternal relationships and values and true wisdom of the One who made them. I don’t know of a sadder state of life than for one to be immersed in the non-reality for them of faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

If “practicing the presence of God” is vital for true spiritual health in the life of a believer, what about “practicing the presence of needy people” concerning their need of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior? I’m personally convinced and appalled that too many pastors and churches in America have no awareness at all of what I call “intentional evangelism.” That means evangelism is intentional in all I am, in all I do, even expecting that every day, in all I do, He is reaching out through me to others who need His saving grace and mercy.

When it comes to “fishing for men”, have you considered prayer as a mighty war weapon for who and how we reach the lost, the unsaved, the deceived, the desperate ones who have no hope? In Philippians 1:9-11 Paul said: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” DO YOU PRAY FOR THE LOST?

Consider also your own life situations! Is every event, every good or bad experience just happen-chance – or is God up to something good through you? What did Paul say in Philippians 1:12? “But I want you to know, brethren that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel…”

Will you be a servant of Christ who exalts, magnifies, expresses, the beauty and blessing of His saving grace and redemptive acts and glorious work of lost mankind’s salvation? In closing this chapter, look prayerfully at Acts 3:6-9! Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them – walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.”

CHAPTER TEN

“IS CONTINUAL SIN ‘OK’ FOR A NEW OR TRUE BELIEVER?”

I have no hesitation in saying to you that I know this chapter will cause a major ‘fuss’ with some because I grew up in a denomination that says one cannot do anything but sin until he/she goes to Heaven! That, I believe, is a perversion of biblical truth! I sometimes wonder if some ‘devotees’ to the Word of God are simply ‘kindergarten children’ who refuse to grow up, mature, and accept the Word of God for what God says or find it acceptable to claim that Word without its application to their own lives because they are comfortable with a ‘compromised’ profession of faith!

What did Paul say in Romans 6:1-3? “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we WHO DIED TO SIN live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” What an awesome, convicting, life-changing or life-condemning question!

Oh, but it gets better and better! Look at Romans 6:5-7! “For if we have been united together (us and Jesus) in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should NO LONGER BE SLAVES OF SIN. For he [that’s you or me] who has died has been freed from sin.”

These are some of the most liberating words you’ll ever find in God’s Word because you accept Truth that because of Jesus’ death on the Cross and your co-crucifixion with Him you are now no longer a slave to sin and your old sin nature but a transformed slave chained to God through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross!

Look at Romans 6:17-18 and verse 22 and rejoice evermore! “But God be thanked that though YOU WERE SLAVES OF SIN, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Verse 22, But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

John Piper said in his book “A Godward Life,” [p.161], “The old slave master [Satan] pays wages, but God gives gifts,” and then quoted Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Do you understand the ‘mind-set’ that many professing disciples operate by? “The wages of sin is death,” therefore many ‘strive’ to be overcomers of that which Jesus paid the ultimate price for while the revelation of God’s Word tells us, Romans 6:12-13, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Presenting one’s self to God on the merits of Christ alone, not one’s best effort!!

Are you truly, truly fully aware of 2 Corinthians 5:21? It says: “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.” What’s your choice: ‘sinner separate from God or saint set apart as the righteousness of God?’ Oswald Chambers hit a historic ‘home-run’ when he wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.224], “That Christ died for me, therefore I go scot free, is never taught in the New Testament. What IS taught in the New Testament is that “He died for all” [not- He died my death], and that by identification with His death I can be freed from sin, and have imparted to me His very righteousness. The substitution taught in the New Testament is twofold: ‘He made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.’ It is not Christ FOR ME unless I am determined to have Christ formed IN me.” Amen? And that is the true battle-front in every believer’s life: Is it me or Jesus? Is it that I want the ‘best’ and the ‘worst’ of me or my conformity to the image of Christ? Am I a ‘slave of sin’ or the servant of the Most High and Holy God? Will I be a victim of continuous sin or a victor because of the finished work of Christ at the Cross and His historic resurrection Presence in me and through me?

I do want you to KNOW without hesitation that the evidence of a spiritually born, new life in Christ, is that you are one man/woman. Boy/girl, who is passionate about Christ having His way in and through you, and His image becomes more real and clear through you! I know it’s a process, a continual activity of choosing the ‘Spirit-Life in Christ’ over the ‘old man, the flesh,’ but I have a biblical promise that never changes: I John 1:7, “If we [I, you] walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

The evidence? Didn’t Paul say that one should “examine himself/herself whether he/she is IN THE FAITH”? And this is so true when one hears Jesus say in Luke 12:35-47 the following: “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you, that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But KNOW THIS, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore YOU ALSO BE READY, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming, and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, AND WILL CUT HIM IN PIECES [in two] AND APPOINT HIM HIS PORTION WITH THE UNBELIEVERS.”

What did Paul say to young Titus as he wrote to him in Titus 2:11-14? “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

And when you read these verses, do you sense ‘performance’ or one’s position in Christ, that one ‘grinds’ out the faith or is graced, that one earns or is empowered and enveloped in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ? In Romans 5:17 Paul said: “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more, those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Continual sin? Is that possible if my “life is hidden with Christ in God”? Continual sin? ‘OK’ for a new or true believer? Continual sin? Some say, “What God says is for the future – it really can’t be for the present because I have a love for the flesh, the fallen part of me, and, yes, for my sin, but I know God understands, overlooks, and even excuses what I can’t help but do!” Really? Continual sin? “Well, the ‘gift of righteousness is a future reward, not a present reality.” Oh, really?

If the last paragraph is true, then it means that God’s verdict about our sin that was issued in the very Cross of Christ was a great injustice to the very name of Christ, but it is not! Jesus took your sin and mine, your old sin nature and mine, and we “died” with Him, in Him, and through Him!

What is Hebrews 10:14 all about? The author wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” The author had already said in verse 10, “By that will we have been sanctified THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE FOR ALL.” Glory!

The blood ATONEMENT of Jesus Christ is not to give us a license to sin but our liberation from the tendency to sin! But, when we do sin, because our Savior promised and sent the Holy Spirit to inhabit ALL believers (Romans 8:9), the Spirit will do what? In John 16:8 we read, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

What did Paul tell us in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10? “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

And ‘godly sorrow,’ birthed in us by the Holy Spirit abiding in every believer, arouses within us our failures, our falls, our fickleness, but also highlights God’s faithfulness in forgiveness, and continues to shape us in the very image and likeness of Jesus – conscious sorrow resulting in an appreciation of unconscious God-likeness!

Isaiah 32:13-15 gives us a picture of God’s people apart from the Holy Spirit but then what happens when there is yieldedness to the Spirit’s control. The prophet heard God speak: “On the land of My people will come up thorns and briers, yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city; Because the palaces will be forsaken, the bustling city will be deserted. The forts and towers will become lairs forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks – Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.” And then He said that the peace of God will reign.” Is that true in you?

Let me share several things that I believe are of utmost importance for the true believer in overcoming ‘continual sin’!! Come with me to I Corinthians 9:27! There, Paul said: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

One translation says: “I buffet my body and make it my slave…” I believe Paul is telling us we are not to be blind to our progress or lack of it in being conformed to the image of Christ! If you haven’t learned it as yet, you need to know there is a spiritual war going on – and you do have a part in this!

In I Corinthians 10:1-14 we read: “Moreover, brethren I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the clod and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ,. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the end of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

If Christ is your Rock, and you stand on Him, and keep on standing on Him, you are one who understands your completeness in Christ, and that there is a transition of identity – we’re not slaves to sin any longer but sons of God! But, it’s true, sometimes in our journeys as followers of Christ Jesus we do have to have ‘wake-up calls’! In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul wrote to each of us today. He said: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is perfected in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” [Vol. 19, pps.369-370], Spurgeon preached: “I am quite sure that some people think themselves very strong, and are not so. Their proud consciousness of fancied strength is the indication of a terrible weakness. We have among us ‘certain persons who think that they can do all that is needful for their own salvation’ whenever they please to do so. They can perform all sorts of good works, or at least quite enough to carry them to heaven. Their first idea is that they are to be saved by their own doings; and they really expect to be saved. They may admit that they have a few faults and flaws in their character; but these are so trifling as to be hardly worth mentioning, And God Almighty is too merciful to be very particular. Their lives have been excellent, their tempers amiable, their manners courteous, their spirit generous, and they quite believe that by keeping on at the same pace they will win the prize: if they do not, who will? The ship of their character is in fine condition; they have no leaks which the pumps cannot keep down; their sails are not rent, and they hope to sail into the haven of peace with a glorious cargo of merit, having an abundant entrance, and hearing a ‘Well done!” Ah, my friend! That consciousness of legal strength is a mere delusion, and it will have to be taken out of you. There is no going to heaven that way – by self or by works of self. Your error is a common one, but it is fatal. I have seen many epitaphs of persons, placed by mistaken kindness of friends upon their tombstones, which I felt sure would have been sufficient to shut them out of heaven if they had been true. These departed worthies do not appear to have been sinners at all; their virtues were superlative, their faults non-existent. Such wonderful people would appear from their epitaphs to have flown up to the gates of heaven upon the wings of their own virtues, and to have entered therefore without a passport of mercy, as burgesses by their own right of the New Jerusalem. I wonder how they would behave themselves in heaven, if they were really admitted there! All the rest are singing, ‘We have washed our robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” but these needed no washing, and so they would be likely to strike up a little song by themselves, and sing ‘Our robes never needed washing; we kept them as white as snow.’ What discord that would create in the music of the skies! What a division of character and feeling would be found among the celestials! I cannot see how there could be any harmony of sentiment among sinners saved by grace and righteous ones who owed nothing to mercy, nothing to the atoning sacrifice.” Oh, how truly spoken!

Then, could one be ignorant of the danger of “drifting away”, of “neglecting so great a salvation,” or ignoring the witness of God within or the gifts of the Holy Spirit”? That’s Hebrews 2:1-4! “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness, both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”

When “self” begins to be supreme, drifting away becomes the end result! When “neglect” becomes a practice, the sea of identity “in Christ” becomes cloudy! When “Spirit-led” becomes weird, then true discipleship has begun to wane! And that leads one to:

TAKING ONE’S EYES OFF OF JESUS OUR LORD AND BEING LED AWAY FROM SPIRITUAL FREEDOM TO DEMONIC BONDAGE! Look with me at Hebrews 2:9-10, 14-15, “ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings…Verses 14-15, Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Subject to bondage?

Jesus even said: “In the world you will have tribulation,” but too many put on “rose-colored glasses” seeing ‘peace and safety’ when there is none! Didn’t we read “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,” but you hear only that ‘peace and safety’ song?

One last thing I want to emphasize in this chapter: Submission to Christ, our Lord and Savior, is not an open door to disobedience which breeds hardness of heart through deceitfulness of sin!! Hebrews 3:12-14 says: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today”, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”

And that doesn’t put the fear of God in you? Look at Hebrews 3:18-19! “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

I urge you in the days ahead to major on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10! “for when I am weak, then I am strong”? Why? How? That’s eyes off self and eyes only on the Christ within! That’s eyes set, not on your weakness, but on God’s amazing strength and never-failing power! That’s a commissioned journey, not in yourself, but in His ever-abiding presence! That’s an awareness of hopelessness in one’s flesh but eternal hope in God’s Spirit! That’s faith, not in earthly dry wells, but faith in His eternal supply that never runs dry! That’s not awareness of who I am, but availability to ALL GOD IS – always has been, always will be! Amen? It’s not only our consciousness to all God is, but our complete surrender to His Sovereignty and His saving and sure ways!

Is your pilgrimage in Christ one of drudgery, duty, dejection, distraction, or is it discipline, dependence, discernment, destiny, and delight? Don’t forget Psalm 1:1-2! “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates days and night.” Is that your testimony?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“IS ‘ALL STRESSED OUT’ THE EVIDENCE OF A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE?”

My wife, Sue, and I flew into Utah with her sister, Amy, and her husband, Joe Rodgers, to visit our son, Stan, and his wife Leann, and their daughter Katie, and their young families, Mr. & Mrs. Zach Fisher and Mr. & Mrs. Ben Fisher. What a delight! We flew in August 3, 2013, and on August 5 I was reading the news of “USA TODAY”. On the very front page was an article entitled “All Stressed Out?’ with a sub-title: ‘Buy some peace.’ It said, “Cloaked in anxiety, our 24/7 on-the-go nation produces stress-buckets. And, of course, one person’s angst is another person’s business opportunity.”

Then the article introduced Deepak Chopra (?) who said that he never feels stress, because he’s introduced his “Dream Weaver” ‘to aid relaxation, meditation, sleep.’ It’s a business idea – and he’ll probably make a small or big fortune that has absolutely nothing to do with “the peace that passes all understanding.”

In the article Ann Mack stated that “we’re entering the dawn of the super-stress era,” then stated, “since it’s become a cost issue and serious medical concern, you’ll see more efforts to prevent or reduce it. “ The article stated further: “Little wonder in a nation that could be the world’s poster child for stress. Last year, some 7 in 10 Americans said they regularly suffered physical symptoms due to stress, and 67% said they regularly experienced psychological symptoms because of it, reports the American Psychological Association. In a still-recovering economy, it’s no surprise that the top three causes of stress last year were related to money, work, and the economy, reports the APA.” David Ballard then said, “We’re just not very good at dealing with stress.” So, welcome Deepak Chopra’s Dream Machine! Really?

“Buy some peace”? You do understand that there are multiple ways to find a temporary, false, “never feel stress” peace that has nothing to do with the peace with God, the peace of God, or “the peace that passes all understanding” through Christ Jesus!

Thomas Merton has written in his “Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander,” [New York: Doubleday, 1968, p.86], “There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence…activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence…It kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.”

Do you recognize or even doubt that “stress” is not good, that “stress” is an evidence of absence of the Spirit and Word of God in one’s life? If “stress” is real, and it is, would we even dare consider that God Himself called a ‘Sabbath Rest’ as very good, Genesis 1:31, but some around you, maybe even yourself, truly believe “burning the candle at both ends” is not harmful but holy? I’m afraid for some, I DON’T AGREE!

In Peter Scazzero’s book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality,” [p.170], Peter said: “On every Sabbath, we experience a sampling of something greater that awaits us. Our short earthly lives are put in perspective as we look forward to the day when God’s kingdom will come in all its fullness and we will enter an eternal Sabbath feast in God’s perfect presence. We will taste His splendor, beauty, greatness, excellence, and glory far beyond anything we ever experienced or dreamed.”

What does Exodus 20:8-11 tell us? “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work; you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” So… on Sunday you just do as you please, and ignore God’s holy day? No wonder you’re “stressed out”!

Do you believe that Holy Sovereign God knows us better than we know ourselves, and that His Word about the “Sabbath Rest” is still an absolute essential in our spiritual, even physical pilgrimage? I’m sure it’s why7 David said in Psalm 84:5, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, O God.”

Angelo Patri, in “Redbook,” wrote: “Spiritual power is a hidden power, locked in the silence of the soul. We cannot force it to come at command o0f will. But when in extremity our strength is as water, our will as the sighing of the wind, when we yield all physical being and lean hard on the spiritual strength within us, the soul’s strength rises to assure us as the sun rises over the rim of night…This spiritual strength is man’s inheritance, the eternal power granted him at Creation. It is God’s breath within him. On that strength we can go forward; we can take whatever comes and know it is well with us always.”

What’s the title of this chapter? “Is ‘All Stressed Out’ The Evidence of a Spirit-Filled Life?” I don’t think so! The wiseman of Proverbs wrote in Proverbs 25:28, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” No walls of protection in one’s life breeds “all stressed out”! Earlier, in Proverbs 16:32, the author wrote: “He who is slow to anger is better than the might, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”

Could ‘all stressed out’ be true description of one who is “heavy ladened”?” In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said: “Come to Me, all you who labor, and are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and 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.” The word ‘laden’ is a Greek word for ‘over-burdened’ or like a cargo ship that sinks because it was over-loaded! It also means ‘loaded up with spiritual anxiety.’

I hope and pray that you saw in the Matthew 11 passage the words “all you…” and “all you who are heavy laden…” and you latch on to Jesus words: “I will give you rest…” Do you understand that that is a divine promise from the lips of Jesus our Lord and Savior and Master of our lives? Then Jesus said: “Come…take…learn…and LEAN” on Him! But I also see and sense in another word of our Lord that when we come, take, learn, and lean on Him that He “gives” – and it’s not only a “rest” FROM one’s heavy load but a “rest” IN CHRIST HIMSELF!

Oh, but then our Lord said: “Take My yoke upon you…” which tells me my rest is not from inactivity but a walk, a work, a willingness to be “yoked” to the Master-Bull who “breaks” me from walking alone in my journey of faith to walking in step with my Lord and Savior!

Do you realize how easily frustration with your circumstances and fretfulness in your situation can disable a fruitful walk with your Lord? Shutting down is the dominance of our flesh, and, yes, even demonic activity to feed off of our weariness, our wilting, our warped spiritual activity and identity ‘in Christ’! But the question of the moment is: HOW HAVE I ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN? I’ll look with you at seven sources or roots:

FIRST, “STRESS” COMES BECAUSE OF A TROUBLED MIND. In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Paul speaks of “not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or word or letter, as if from us…” which in context related to the ‘rumor’ that the ‘day of Christ had come.’ But the reality is that many are “soon shaken in mind or troubled” about many, various, different situations and circumstances – and it births various forms of even sickness: emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual!

To Titus Paul wrote: [Titus 1:15]. “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.” Do you understand “vainly puffed up by [one’s] fleshly mind”? And if pride goes before a fall, maybe one needs to examine his/her fleshly mind activities!

Paul gives us all valuable words of wisdom when in Philippians 2:5-11 he wrote: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

A spiritual mind-set is extremely important, I believe, to every day “set your Mind” in direction to, dependence upon, and devotion set to honor the Lord today, through you, His honor, glory, and praise! If that is an unimportant spiritual discipline, then it’s easy to experience a shriveled soul, a parched devotion, a flooded day of preoccupation with one’s “feelings”: rather than full faith and fellowship, and, yes, even distractions of eye-set and mind-set!

In Colossians 3:1-2 Paul challenges us all: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” How challenging is that?

SECOND, “STRESS” COMES BECAUSE OF A DIVIDED HEART. In Psalm 81 there is a sad but deliberate admonition from God concerning His own people Israel. God Said: Psalm 81:8-16, “Hear, O MY people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied them.”

The passionate prophet, Hosea, heard God speak from a broken heart when He looked upon His own people, Israel. In Hosea 9:10-12 we read: “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, and separated themselves to that shame; they became an abomination like the thing they loved. As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird – no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception! Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them to the last man. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!”

And, then, in Hosea 10:2-4, we read why it happened then and why it happens now: “Their heart is divided; now they are held guilty. He will break down their altars; He will ruin their sacred pillars. For now they say, “We have no king, because we did not fear the Lord. And as for a king, what would he do for us?” They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant. Thus judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.”

The word ‘divided’ means “divided in loyalty”. I don’t know how you read spiritual times and seasons in church life in your nation, but “divided in loyalty” is, sadly, an ‘in-time’ evaluation of church life in America – too many ‘Christians’ on Sunday would rather ‘play’ than pray, wilt, rather than worship, gad about rather than give God the sacrifice of Praise, even when God says: “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy!” DIVIDED HEARTS!

THIRD, “STRESS” COMES THROUGH AN OVERLOADED STYLE OF LIFE. And that can be because of one’s true devotion to Gods and the opposition that arises against devoted followers of God. When Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation,” the flood of tribulation can be overwhelming at times. In Psalm 69 David cried out to God with an urgent plea for God’s help in David’s time of trouble! Psalm 69:1-18 says: “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overwhelm me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully; though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. O God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You. Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me; let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel. Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children; because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that became my reproach. I also made sackcloth my garment; I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate speak against me, And I am the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the floodwater overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut its mouth on me. Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. And do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies.”

FOURTH, “STRESS” COMES BECAUSE OF A SPLIT FAMILY OR A FAMILY SO ENGROSSED IN ITSELF THEY STIFLE OUT GOD, AND WHAT THEY CONSIDER “GOOD” FOR THEMSELVES BECOMES A GRAVE OF THE HEART.

In Micah 6:8 the Word says, our Lord speaking, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, [or lovingkindness] and to walk humbly with your God?” It doesn’t get any better! In Micah 7:6 it says: “For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.” Could that be sons against a father or a father against his own flesh and blood?

It was Horace Bushnell who once wrote: “A house without a roof would scarcely be a more different home, than a family unsheltered by God’s friendship, and the sense of being always rested in His providential care and guidance.”

In Titus 1:11 Paul wrote: “…whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain…”Whether an unstable or stable family, both are subject at times to false teachers who would undermine faith, trust, obedience in families.

No doubt this is why Peter, in Acts 3:25-26, wrote or spoke the following, yes, to ‘stressed out,’ stifled, starving families today: “You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you, first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning every one of you from your iniquities.”

We know God established family life in order that families might “be fruitful and multiply,” that man might, together with mate and children, experience and enjoy God’s blessing, to picture up close Jesus and His precious body of believers, to instill parenting as a tool to, yes, reveal the very heart of God, to reveal mutual dependence upon Him whether parent or child, to establish, train, mature, and bring children up “in the training and admonition of the Lord,” and to exhibit in small form the large, very Body of Christ Jesus!

In America, and no doubt the rest of our known world, there is an assault on Godly family life. There is prevalent, right now, an infectious spiritual disease that is out to decay, disintegrate, and deplete Godly husbands and wives and Godly fathers and mothers. “The thief is out to kill and destroy marriage and family.” Yes, even in America, right now, there are those in governmental powers nationally who believe their ‘state’ powers are more sacred than families – they want to rule over, control, and direct6 your children to trust them more than they trust God or parents! And families are being split at a rapid pace!

FIFTH, “STRESS” COMES BECAUSE OF A CORRODED LOYALTY: I pray that I can say this without being harsh, super critical, or mean-spirited, but a corroded loyalty to our Lord is the under-pinning of corroded loyalty in the home and family. In fact, a corroded loyalty, I believe, is because of ‘false liberty’ one has professed in a Christian marriage ceremony as one who desires to honor Christ, and has ‘professed’ to a church congregation that same ‘false liberty’; therefore, loyalty to the Body of Christ quickly or slowly deteriorates.

A test of loyalty always emerges in a disciple’s life, in a pastor’s life, in a church’s life and relationships and responsibilities, in a family’s close relationship and responsibility, and, yes, even in a business! And when corroded loyalty has run its course, “stress” breaks out like an infectious disease! Loyalty is because of love, not love because of loyalty. Jesus proved His love for us in that while we were still sinners He died for us!

Corroded loyalty is evidence one has forgotten “crucified with Christ”! In Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.228], he wrote after quoting Galatians 2:20, “These words mean the breaking of my independence with my own hand and surrendering to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me3 up to the point 365 times a year, but He cannot put me through it. It6 means breaking the husk of my individual independence of God, and the emancipating of my personality into oneness with Himself, not for my own ideas, but for absolute loyalty to Jesus.” Tell me! In you, right now, this very moment – are you standing in absolute loyalty to Jesus or has your loyalty been corroded?

SIXTH, “STRESS” IS BIRTHED BY THE SEED OF A COMPROMISED ETHIC: In John 6:60-71 we read a heart-wrenching story of defection from Christ. It says: Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to Him by My Father.” From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.”

A safe description besides “a compromised ethic” would be “the internal assaults” on the Savior and His people. I don’t believe our Lord and Savior was ever overcome in any way by a compromised ethic or the internal assaults, but I assure you that there are numerous believers who’ve been overwhelmed by that “stress”! “Will you go away”? because of oppositional forces to your faith? “That’s a tough word, Jesus”! “That’s an offensive word, Lord”! “That’s exposing our prejudices, Master”! “That’s contradicting and compromising for us what we really think, Jesus”!

Have you ever heard an unbelieving husband berate his ‘sold-out’ wife for her devotion to her faith and church family – and see her begin to back off? Have you ever witnessed a “big boss” come down hard on a few employees for their “stand” concerning their Savior and see them go silent fearing a loss of their jobs? Have you ever sat through a condemning session by a university professor that threatens devotees of our Lord – and they become like dunces in a corner of the class? Have you seen the end result of the ‘party’ class of young people to side with godless fraternity brothers or sisters and become totally delinquent as to a stand for the eternal faith?

Deceivers, denouncers, yes, demonstraters against biblical faith can call out that response of a compromised ethic, but at the same time some “feed” on trash and not the treasure of God’s revealed Word and they starve the soul – the bread of life is substituted for foul crumbs trying to survive on a spiritual starvation diet!

And, “God, help us”! a compromised ethic is often the end result of a poor choice of friends – some are swayed to evil rather than a biblical ethic by carelessly associating with immoral men, loose women, or lewd conversation that darkens not enlightens one’s conscience and convictions.

In “Mrs. Browning,” Elizabeth Barrett Browning, wrote: “The Soul Travailing,” [pps. 80-81], about the “stress” of ‘traveling vainly.’ She wrote: “Always! Always! Must this be? Rapid Soul from city gone, Dost thou carry inwardly What doth make the city’s moan?…Must this deep sigh of thine own Haunt thee with humanity? Green visioned banks that are too steep To be overbrowsed by the sheep,…May all sad thoughts adown you creep Without a shepherd? – mighty sea, Can we dwarf Thy magnitude, and fit it to our straightest mood?…O fair, fair Nature! Are we thus impotent and querulous Among thy workings glorious – Among Thy fullnesses that still Leave us vacant and defiled,…And wailing like a kissed child, Kissed softly against his will? God, God! – With a child’s voice I cry, Weak, sad, confidingly – God, God!…Thou knowest eyelids raised not always up Toward Thy love (as none of ours are) droop, As ours, over many a tear!…Thou knowest, though Thy universe is broad, Two little tears, suffice to cover all! – Thou knowest – Thou, who art so prodigal of beauty – we are oft but stricken deer, Expiring in the woods – that care for none Of those delightsome flowers they die upon!…O blissful mouth, which breathed the mournful breath We name our souls! (self-spoilt!) by that strong passion Which paled thee once with sighs – by that strong death Which made thee once unbreathing – from the wrack, Themselves have called around them, Call them back Toward Thee in continuous aspiring!…For here, O Lord, For here they traqvel vainly; vainly pass From city pavement to untrodden sward,…Where the lark finds her deep nest in the grass Unswept of its last dew! – Yea, very vain The greatest speed of all these souls of men, Unless they travel upward to Thy Throne! There sittest THOU, the satisfying ONE, With blood for our sins, and holy perfectings For all requirements – while th’ archangel, raising Toward Thy face his full ecstatic gazing, Forgets the rush and rapture of his wings!”

SEVENTH, “STRESS” ERUPTS IN THE VOLCANO OF A WOUNDED SPIRIT: In Proverbs 18:14 we read, “The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?”

A broken spirit is one who has been exchanged at a loss for an impoverished spirit! There is nothing proud for one to brag about when a wounded spirit bankrupts one’s faith, one’s devotion, or one’s dependence upon God for healing grace in a time of trouble. Most, rather than looking up, are now looking in – and wounds birth an overwhelming attitude of “poor me”!

Grasp what Jesus was saying in Matthew 26:41 when He said: “Watch and pray, lest YOU enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

I want to close this chapter with a letter I recently received from “Circuit Rider Ministries,: the support arm for Andy and Rebecca Brink’s on-going ministry of the Faith. Rebecca wrote THIS letter, yes, about “stress”. I called Andy and Rebecca and asked if I could print it in this chapter – they were glad to! Here it is: [Their address? PO Box 6241, Tyler, Texas, 75711 – phone #: 281 – 755 – 4030], and if you don’t know, their 7^th child will be birthed soon!! Are YOU ready? Rebecca wrote:

“Well, I would love to say that having another baby on the way has just been a breeze as if I have this thing down by now, but it just hasn’t quite worked out that way. There haven’t necessarily been any real complications, but man has it been hard not to sink into a major funk over the little things: -/ I have thought many times while unable to move due to utter exhaustion, “I am getting way too old for this!” I have been so easily frustrated when the kids are just being kids, and it’s not simple and easy…as if having kids is EVER simple and easy?? I think I literally spent the entire first trimester either wanting to throw up, cry, or just crawl in bed and sleep for weeks, hoping it would all magically be better when I woke up. I kinds though I had a legitimate “bone to pick” with God, that by number 7, I should have had some sort of right of passage into an easy pregnancy. I felt pretty justified in my way of thinking, until it was clear He was not being a team player. Well, then I was just plain mad! I sort of felt like I had been tricked into this deal, and the road ahead seemed impossibly long and weary. So I am going to be brutally honest here because this story has a GREAT ending!…

So, flash forward to my second trimester and you will find me in the depths of self-pity over how hard my life seemed, barely functioning from complete exhaustion (thinking FOR SURE something was wrong with me)…and only FIVE more months of pregnancy to go. Ouch! I finally had a chance to get away one weekend with some dear friends and spent the whole first day crying, wondering why this pregnancy still had to be so hard. I mean, the second trimester is supposed to be a breeze! I was desperately needing God’s grace, strength and encouragement, but was too mad at Him to ask for help[. Everyone that weekend was so sweet and attentive, but I just felt kinda numb inside. After dinner the first night, a dear friend spoke up and shared with the group something she had recently learned about Psalm 46:10. Well, some of you may remember from the last newsletter that that was the exact verse that had so impacted me the year before: “Be still and know that I am God.” My ears kinda perked up as she shared, and I began to try and let His Word penetrate my heart…

The word “still” in that verse literally translates as follows: “to cease from striving, to lay your hands down, letting God intervene in your situation without your interference.” As my friend was sharing this, I felt my heart beginning to soften. I was also struck that evening by a song that was shared. The words went something like this: “I’ll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered…all I am is Yours.” Those words began to chip away at the hardness of my heart. Later that night, in the privacy of my room, I began to lay it all out before the Lord and genuinely ask Him for His help. I realized that when Andy and I had “abandoned” ourselves once again to God’s sovereignty, trusting that this new life He had given us was a part of His plan, I had an expectation that God would be so pleased, that He was just going to lay out a bed of roses for me to relax on for the next nine months! (Mistake #1). I was horrified that things were actually harder on me than they had ever been before, and that there might be more difficulty and suffering ahead: – / All of a sudden, I could see my heart so clearly…I was willing to “abandon and surrender all” as long as there was no inconvenience to me. And as long as it all made me feel and look good, I was all in! But to think that you can step out in faith and choose to trust Him for something hard, and then suffer for it??? I wasn’t up for that one. (Mistake # 2), Then I remembered Daniel and his faithfulness and commitment to God, and what did he get for it? A trip to the lion’s den, with an unknown outcome! He had no idea that God had a great purpose in Daniel’s suffering, and was prepared to send His angels to protect him that fateful night, but Daniel sure didn’t know it. He had already calculated the cost to his life, but it was worth it to Daniel…I guess the real question is, was He worth it to me? Did I really want to give the Lord everything, so that I could sing the words to that song without feeling like a complete hypocrite? “I’ll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered, ALL I am is Yours!” Really? Even if it means more children? Even if it means less money because it has to stretch over so people? Even if it seems like I will NEVER get to enjoy a day of rest and relaxation without rearranging the entire universe so that all seven children are cared for in my absence? And for what? Why do I have to abandon and surrender anyway? My wrestling match with God!…

“Be still and know that I am God” continues to take on deeper meaning for me as I am learning to cease from striving when things get hard. For those of you that have had children, I am sure that at some point during childbirth classes, someone told you that you have to relax during contractions or they will be entirely ineffective, making your labor much more painful. Our midwife always has to gently remind me at the end when things are beyond tough, to let even my facial muscles relax throughout the pain so that my body can get it over with faster and easier. It sounds crazy, but it has totally worked! And I can tell you, in the very same way, that this pregnancy was so much harder than it had to be for me because I spent the first five months of it tense, frustrated and angry. When I literally chose to surrender, lay my will down, and trust that this whole thing is working for my good, my body began to respond well and it got so much easier! I went from not being able to get off the couch, to actually feeling pretty good and excited about the whole ordeal! Now did my troubles vanish? Not any more than the pain of childbirth, but there has been a special grace to get through it much easier! The incredible thing about the pain of childbirth is that when you think you cannot take it another second, that little life is right around the corner. And when that baby arrives, the pain is forgotten and totally worth it. What a perfect picture!” AMEN? THANK YOU, REBECCA BRINK!!

CHAPTER TWELVE

“IS ‘SALT’ AND ‘LIGHT’ THE REDEEMED ONE’S TRUE CALLING AND MISSION?”

As Matthew 5 opens, in Verse one, it speaks of “His disciples came to Him,” and then Jesus began to teach them. And I want you to contemplate so seriously the words that our Lord spoke to them and us in verses 11-16! “Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so the persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

In Luke 6:22-26 Dr. Luke gives us a broader picture of both true and false disciples when he wrote: “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

It would do you well to spend months in the four Gospels learning not only the Life of Christ but also the lives and ministries and troubles and heartaches of His true disciples. Did you catch, were you shocked by, was self-examination the result of reading our Lord’s words in Luke 6:26? “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

This chapter is not to be an examination of false prophets but it does amplify for us His “true prophets” and the clear evidence describing them is “persecution for righteousness’ sake.” Has it not dawned on you yet a fallen world’s despising of the message of Christ Jesus? Our Lord and Savior became the ridicule, abuse, and slander of even the religious crowd of His day, but the identifying mark of false prophets was their extreme popularity!

Jesus never said that His disciples would find a world awaiting their ministries and rejoicing with them in what they had to say. In fact, in John 15:18-25 Jesus said: “If the world hates you, you know that i9t hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet, because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept Mt word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

And before our Lord’s betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane, He had gone aside to pray. John 17 is Jesus’ passionate prayer for His disciples right before a religious crowd in a diabolical frenzy with the soldiers arrested Him, bound Him, and led Him to Caiaphas who told the Jews that it was advantageous if one man should die for the people! John 17:6-19 tells us: To the Father our Lord prayed: “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father, keep through Your name these whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Hear me! Being true to Christ and His word and His mission means a world ‘out there’ will declare an unholy war against you, your family, your fellowship, and the more loyal you become in your commitment to Him alone the greater your opposition!

What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:11? “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” Was Paul on target when he told Timothy in his letter to him, 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” And, then, in Acts 5:41-42 we read: “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

But there is an encouraging word for all true believers in Romans 8:16-19! “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”

Then, a heavenly word follows for us in Romans 8:31-39! “What then shall we say to these things? If God id for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His Own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now, FIRST QUESTION: “IS SALT THE REDEEMED ONE’S TRUE CALLING AND MISSION?” What do we read in Matthew 5:13 as Jesuis says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

And, I wonder, does ‘salt’ lose its saltiness when it’s never sprinkled on what it has the potential to preserve, influence, add a better taste to? Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says of ‘salt’: “To sprinkle, impregnate or season with salt, as to ‘salt’ fish, beef, or pork…To fill with salt between the timbers and planks, as a ship, for the preservation of the timber.” Do you see it? A ‘ship of life’ but no ‘salt’ as a preservative; a ‘ship of faith’ but no salty influences; a ‘ship of proclamation and testimony’ but no salt to capture the pure taste of our Lord and Savior!

Genesis 18:16-19:24 is an awesome lesson about the saltiness of God’s people. Sodom was spared for a time because of ‘salty’ Lot in its borders. And in Genesis 18:26 the Lord said: “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous men within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Do you grasp why America hasn’t fallen yet? Oh, it’s been grievously wounded, it rests at a place of desperation this very moment, but God “SEES” the righteous few and withholds His judgment!

In Exodus 32 we find Moses looking upon “the people of God” and he saw them “unrestrained,” verse 25. Moses called out at the entrance of the camp: Verse 26, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side – come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.” But judgment fell upon 3000 of the people that day. More were ready to die, but Moses intervened! Look at Exodus 32:30-35, Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.” So the Lord plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made.”

That’s not the end of the story of salty grace and mercy! In James 1:27 we read: “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” You do know how “spotted” your world is with immoral activity, in the lowering of biblical standards of holy behavior, in making dishonesty a public norm rather than a disgrace, of promoting impurity and ungodliness as an acceptable pattern of life, of advancing deliberate temptations to sin and violate even the laws of God, of wiping out, of tarnishing the righteous rather than the unholy, of promoting the unprincipled as leaders of our nations, of abusing the Ten Commandments as illogical, ‘off-the-wall’ suggestions, of disdaining biblical truth as that which helps ‘monkeys’ not people!

Oh, there’s more! Esther! What a story! Esther’s husband was the king, and Esther’s people came under the king’s judgment, and many were slaughtered! Mordecai came to Esther to inform her that she would not escape any more than all the other Jews, and she had to take a stand. Is that being ‘salt’?

Mordecai told Esther, [Esther 4:4], “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” And Esther responded: “If I perish, I perish.”

Does that speak to you and you in your nation, in your family, in your school, in your community and state, in the time of the lowering of standards, in the time of betrayal of marriage oaths, in the time of bosses or employees going under-handed betraying ethics, morals, laws, or truths of God’s Word? Does ‘salt’ preserve from corruption, deceit, incest, dirty jokes? Is a disciple of Jesus a “cleansing agent or remedy” for a people who are about to be destroyed by bad, yes, evil choices?

And I don’t know about you but I love “salt” on my summer-grown garden tomatoes! WOW! What a flavoring miracle! Do you hear it around your kitchen table? “Pass the salt, please.” And that’s to be a believer’s life, his/her testimony, even a gift of saltiness in the Spirit-realm to flavor a tasteless life!

I love what Oliver Wendell Holmes had to say once, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.” Preachers, pastors, parishioners aren’t to be offerers of ‘death’ but announcers of ‘life’, of ‘saltiness,’ of ‘blessings’ – not a dark, dead, dismal curse! A depressed world needs divine salt, divine joy, divine peace, and divine usefulness with an eternal taste – not a savorless life, or a savorless ministry, or a savorless marriage, or a savorless man! “God, help us!”

In “Tennyson’s Works,” Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote: [pps.3-4], “O God! My God! Have mercy now. I faint, I fall. Men say that Thou didst die for me, for such as me…Patient of ill, and death, and scorn, and that my sin was as a thorn Among the thorns that girt Your brow, Wounding Your soul. – That even now,…

In this extremist misery of ignorance, I should require a sign! And if a bolt of fire would rive the slumbrous summer noon While I do pray to Thee alone, Think my belief would stronger grow! Is not my human pride brought low? The boastings of my spirit still? The joy I had in my freewill All cold, and dead, and corpse-like grown?…

And what is left to me, but You, And faith in You? Men pass me by;- Christians with happy countenances – and children all seem full of You! And women smile with saint-like glances Like Your own mother’s when she bowed Above You, on that happy morn When angels spake to men aloud, And You and peace on earth were born…

Goodwill to me as well as all – I one of them; my brothers they; Brothers in Christ – a world of peace And confidence, day after day; And trust and hope till things should cease, And then one Heaven receives us all.”

That was written before 1892! Do you understand a redeemed man’s true calling and mission? ARE YOU SALT? But also a redeemed man’s true calling and mission is not only his spiritual saltiness but the reality of heaven’s LIGHT! Matthew 5:14-16 says: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

It is absolutely so amazing to me – I become awe-struck every time I read it or hear it when I know that Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” This is why in I Thessalonians 5:5 Paul said, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.” He told the church at Ephesus, Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

To the church at Galatia, Galatians 1:15-16, Paul said that it was the very “pleasure of God” to separate Paul from his mother’s womb, call him through His grace, for the purpose and plan of “revealing His Son in me,” and in you! If you haven’t heard, haven’t understood it, having received it as yet, your “old man” was “crucified with Christ; it is no longer I [YOU!} who lives, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God.” That’s Galatians 2:20-21!!

In Christ, you and I, children of faith, are vessels, containers – and every day we are to choose death to ourselves that the resurrection Light and Life of Christ might shine through us. That’s Luke 8:16 where Jesus said: “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter [or those you encounter] may see the light.”

You’ll remember that Jesus told the people of His day about the witness of John in John 5:35, “He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.” And have you fully absorbed Peter’s testimony in 2 Peter 1:16-19? “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came down from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

“Dark places – shining lights!” “Dismal circumstances – a shining Light!” “Defeating darkness – overcoming Light!” “Downcast spirit – uplifting Light of glory, honor, and praise!” “Doom and gloom attitudes – songs, singing, and shouting the Light of our Savior’s glorious praise!”

True light is seen, true light is radiant, true light reveals, true light exposes, true light overshadows, true light enhances and encourages, true light warns and illuminates dangers, true light glorifies God!

William Barclay, in his Daily Study Bible Series on Matthew wrote: [p.122], “One of the old historians wrote of Henry the Fifth after the Battle of Agincourt: ‘Neither would he suffer any ditties to be made and sung by the minstrels of his glorious victory, for that he would wholly have the praise and thanks altogether given to God.” The Christian never thinks of what he has done, but of what God has enabled him to do. He never seeks to draw the eyes of men to himself, but always direct them to God. So long as men are thinking of the praises, the thanks, the prestige, which they will get for what they have done, they have not really even begun on the Christian way.” SOBERING WORDS!!

The only significance to your life is the Light of Christ within you – all else is sinking sand of selfish insignificance! If your life does not radiate the Life of Christ within it’s like ‘a boundless ocean of existence’ without eternal meaning and mission!

Darkness? Self-enhancement! Light? Christ-honoring! Darkness? A little dishonesty! Light? Living in Truth! Darkness? No sympathy! Light? Mercy and grace and kindness! Darkness? Self-promotion! Light? Self-denial to honor Christ alone! Darkness? Reckless abandonment to one’s sin nature! Light? Complete surrender to our Lord’s Lordship! Darkness? An incapacity to walk faithfully, holily, righteously before God! Light? One faithful unto death and crowned with the Light of Life!

Light? O.D. Kretzman, D.D., in the “Illinois Medical Journal,” once wrote: “If we are to survive the atomic [nuclear]age, we must have something to live by, to live on, and to live for. We must stand aside from the world’s conspiracy of fear and hate and grasp once more the great monosyllables of life: faith, hope, and love. Men must live by these if they live at all under the crushing weight of history.”

Do you understand the chaotic darkness of godless lives? And are you blessed by those God-filled lives of light and liberty and the love of God? I love what Philllip Brooks once said: “Be such a man, and live such a life, That if every man were such as you, And every life a life like yours, This earth would be God’s Paradise.”

What about St. Irenaeus, in “Adversus haereses, V, who wrote: “The Word of God, Jesus Christ, on account of Hid great love for mankind, became what we are in order to make us what He is Himself.” “Glory!”

In John 1:14-16 we read awesome words of heavenly intent for the “salt and light” folks of redemptive faith, full surrender, and awesome transformation: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”

W. Russell Bowie, in “The Chaplain,” [December 1960] wrote: “The doctrine of the incarnation is no unrelated speculation. It is the truth by which we find God, and are found by God, both in the common times, and the times of crisis. It says to us that the glory of God can be revealed in the little place and in the everyday event, as it was in the earthly life of Jesus; and it makes us trust that the divine redeeming purpose cannot be killed by the evil which may crucify it, and that in the love of Christ the power of God stands by us even when the world is dark.” GLORY AGAIN!

“Salt and Light” for me are the seeds of God’s everlastingness, the living fruit of His eternal vineyard, the healing touch of His grace of transformation, and the blessed flood of immortal living in His holy presence.

“Salt and Light” for me, because of our Lord’s saving grace, and His eternal mission, is the evidence of His indestructability of the Spirit-man and his role in touching God’s chosen with mercy!

“Salt and Light” is God’s “academy awards” not of fiction but the fact of eternal salvation and your participation in it. “Salt and Light” is God shining, unveiling, revealing the birth of immortality for all men if they but repent and put their faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross!

“Salt and Light” may have as its stage appearance the dim but darkening reality of a man’s separation from God, but its second and final drama is reconciliation with God, regenerated by God, and a renewal into God’s eternal intent for your life in Christ!

“Salt and Light” are a modern-day Job’s statement of faith and reason and revelation that “I know that my redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God.” [Job 19:25-26]

“Salt and Light” are the thoughts of eternal “rest”, eternal “restoration,” and eternal “consolation,” that says though earthly life was brief, eternal life in Him is forever!

“Salt and Light” are living hopes beyond the shadows of earthly dreams. “Salt and Light” are abandoned clothes in a casket because of absence from the body is presence with the Lord.

“Salt and Light” has a ring of nobility to it because to be in Christ is to be a part of a new creation that honors, blesses, and praises God and worships the King.

“Salt and Light”, white and bright, are those radiant colors of eternal hope, given to us that does not make us ashamed but continually blessing our Lord and being blessed.

“Salt and Light”, reminders of sins forgiven, the Savior present, the Spirit ruling, and Holy God being praised. “Salt and Light”, the great open door to our eternal home, the gathering of all the saints past, present, and future – and rejoicing in the angelic chorus at the throne of God as we all bow, adore, praise, exalt, and celebrate the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

“Salt and Light” – night and darkness are behind us and day and light ever before us, never diminishing but intensifying in our Lord’s eternal glory. “Salt and Light” – yes, it’s the heavenly language of our Lord and Master who tells us our value and worth is discovered as we look to His cross and resurrection.

“Salt and Light” – Joseph Addison, in “Cato,” [Act V, Sc 1] wrote: “The stars shall fade away, the sun himself grow dim with age, and nature sink in years, But YOU shall flourish in immortal youth, Unhurt amidst the war of elements, the wrecks of matter, and the crush of worlds.” Why? In Christ, through Salt and Light, you have become a part of a new day, a new way, a new heaven, a new life, a new future!

“Salt and Light” – an anonymous author penned these words: “Think of stepping on shore, and finding it Heaven! Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God’s hand, Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial air, Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality, Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm, Of waking up, and finding it HOME.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“ARE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS BOUND OR BLESSED BY OLD TESTAMENT LAW?”

It was four years ago, 2009, that I had had printed in India my book entitled: “Dangerous Trends From The Denouncers Of Truth.” In that book the thirteenth chapter is entitled: “The Grace of the Law – A Necessary Revival.” I’m including that chapter in this book as another question: “Are New Testament Christians Bound Or Blessed By Old Testament Law?” In Hebrews 2:14-15 the author said: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself [Jesus] shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” And the fear of death is more than, yes, the fear of the devil, but even the fear of the broken law of God! Are you ‘bound up’?

If you’ve ever heard the statement, “We are people no longer under the Law but people under Grace!”, then you need to immediately pause, thoroughly examine the scriptures, and then respond to either the truth or error of that statement. There is a need, especially in America, for a necessary revival – THE GRACE OF THE LAW.

Without the resurrection of the grace of the law in this country, our nation will not survive these decades of decadence and immorality. God will not allow us to do so. Those who “take His name in vain” and bow down to the gods of their depraved flesh “will suddenly be broken and that without remedy.” In Matthew 5:17 Jesus is very clear: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

The truth is that the law of God is either being fulfilled in you, through the presence of the indwelling Christ, or you find yourself under the Lord’s judgment because you are walking according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit! In Romans 3:31 Paul asks a vitally important question: “Do we then nullify the Law through faith?” (Then he answers his own question), “on the contrary, we establish the Law.” That word “establish” is translated from the Greek word “his–te–mi”, and means “to make to stand.” Because I’m a disciple of Jesus, I have become one who is to ESTABLISH again the law of God; I am to be one who MAKES TO STAND forever that which God requires; I am to be one who abides ‘in the Law,’ not in order to be saved, but BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SAVED! Submission to the law of grace or transgression of that Law is the benchmark of either my obedience or my rebellion to Holy God!

In Ezekial 36 a prophetic picture is painted by the Lord. It is a picture, not only of those in Israel, but of the Church of the last days. Read carefully verses 17–31. What is God saying about that new, bold covenant that would see its fulfillment in Christ Jesus? Note especially verses 25–27: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols, (see also Colossians 3:5). Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”

There is a new Law now! In Romans 8:2 Paul says it is “the Law of The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.” And then he says that as a result of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, our Lord has done what? He “has set you free from the Law of sin and death.” I grew up singing an old hymn, “Free from the Law, O happy condition!” It was not until later that I finally learned it was not freedom from the Law of God, but freedom from the Law of sin and death! Paul clearly states, in agreement with the previously mentioned words of Jesus, in Romans 8:3, that “[God] condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Jesus issued a strong warning in Matthew 5:18–9: “For truly I say to you, until Heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of Heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall b called great in the kingdom of Heaven.”

There are some who “keep” and don’t “teach.” There are some who “teach” and don’t “keep.” But our Lord says we are to be those who “keep and teach” even the least of the commandments. Sadly, today, our nation, and even our churches, have bought into a teaching that we are “free from the Law of God.” The result has been devastating! The Law of God has become a strange thing. Some church members will even get angry with you when you read the scriptures that the requirement of the Law of God is to be fulfilled in them! Ask me how I know!

In Hosea 8:12, speaking of Israel and prophetically of last days churches, God says: “Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of my law, they are regarded as a strange thing.” In Hosea 4:6–7 God called the nation of Israel to accountability, and He’s doing the same today to “religious America,” the nation that is “supposedly one nation under God.” Listen to what He says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I will also forget your children.” Several years ago, my son, Scott, wrote an article entitled The Law of God Today. Let me quote from that article: “We are living in the midst of one of the greatest times of apostasy in the history of the world. Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 3:1 that “in the last days difficult times will come.” He went on to describe these difficult times in the following verses: “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Many teach that this is a description of the condition of the world in general during the last days. If that is true, what is so unusually different about that as compared with any other time in history? Unregenerate men have always lived that way! The tragedy of this passage is that PAUL IS DESCRIBING THE LAST DAYS CHURCH!” And Scott spoke the truth!

As one reads through the Bible, it becomes very clear that God hates sin, in fact, He says, “the wages of sin is death.” But today the church is sending a confusing message to the world. As revelations of sexual immorality in the form of pornography, adultery, and homosexuality among preachers become a common occurrence in the national and local media, the church preaches more loudly than ever “the unconditional forgiveness of God.” The message of the gospel has been lowered to a “bumper–sticker theology” that says, “Christians aren’t perfect – just forgiven,” and so they keep on sinning.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been neatly packaged into “Madison Avenue” slogans and phrases to make it more palatable to the masses, the goal being to present the “good news of God’s forgiveness” in a ”positive” non–offensive manner. All reference to man’s absolute depravity and his status before God as a sinner condemned to death apart from repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus alone, is completely ignored, and even labeled as harsh and unloving. A man like Robert Schuller can make the following statement and still be recognized as one of the leading evangelical ministers in the entire world! “I don’t think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and, hence, counter–productive to the evangelism enterprise than the often CRUDE, UNCOUTH, AND UNCHRISTIAN STRATEGY OF ATTEMPTING TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THEIR LOST AND SINFUL CONDITION.”

It is not crude, uncouth, and unchristian to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition! It is not crude, uncouth, and unchristian to make the church aware of sin that leads to death! I guess Schuller doesn’t appreciate Jesus saying that if He hadn’t come they wouldn’t have known their sin! They have forgotten what James said – or they make light of it and say it doesn’t really say what it says. But it does! James 5:19–20, “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.”

Please hear me, the grace of God, the marvelous, matchless grace of God is not an excuse for sin. Grace is not licentiousness but liberty. Grace is not a frivolous teaching allowing you to flirt, court, or get into bed with any sin your heart desires. But grace is that fiery teaching of liberation and freedom emancipating you to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.” (Titus 2:12). In I Timothy 1:5, Paul tells Timothy: “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” And that’s God’s desire for His people. Notice Three Things:

First, LOVE FROM A PURE HEART.

Look at Psalm 24:3–5, “Who may ascend unto the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Living in the presence of Almighty God is conditional!

In Isaiah 59:1–2 the Lord specifies the consequence of sin upon our relationship with Him: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.” But remember that Ezekial 36:26 reveals God’s provision for His people – “I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you.” And what was the evidence of a new heart and spirit? “By My Spirit, you’ll keep the Law in your heart!” In fact, Galatians 5:14 says, “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

There is no pure heart apart from a new heart. In the New Testament the same message is born out in I John 2:3–6, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him, the one who says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same manner as He walked.” And how did Jesus walk? He walked in heart purity! He fulfilled, established, made to stand, the Law of God.

Second, A GOOD CONSCIENCE. The Word has much to say about conscience. In I Corinthians 8:7 Paul issues a warning about conscience, “a conscience being weak is defiled.” That is why Paul challenged Timothy in I Timothy 1:19, to maintain a good conscience. In I Timothy 3:9, he again challenged his spiritual son to hold “to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” And I assure you that the mystery of godliness is not being held onto in a lifestyle of law–breaking!

In I Timothy 4:2 Paul speaks of men who “by means of hypocrisy of liars seared in their own consciences as with a branding iron.” A seared conscience? There is no doubt what it is, it is those who violate the Law of God and feel no qualms about it – outside the church and within it, sometimes even in the pulpit! But there is hope! Hebrews 9:14 says, “how much more will the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

The prophet asked, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” In Luke 6:46 Jesus asks, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ yet do not do what I say?”

Third, A SINCERE FAITH. Does that mean there can be an insincere faith? Of course it does! But what is a sincere faith? Romans 3:31, once again, “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law [of God]!” Do you understand that? An insincere faith? In I Timothy 6:3 Paul describes it as “anyone who advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness.” A question – did the Lord Jesus set aside the Law of God or did He intensify its demands? I read a review of a supposedly “Christian” book in an India newspaper by a doctor of theology there. There was a quote from his book that said, “Jesus hated the Old Testament Law.” I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was another confirmation of what the prophet Jeremiah called “the lying pen of the Scribes.”

In I Timothy 1:8–11, Paul instructs us in the purpose and proper use of God’s Law. He says: “But we know that the Law is good if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”

Look carefully – “realize the fact that the law is not made for a righteous man.” A righteous man? I John 3:7 says, “Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” There is by the grace of God an imputed, credited, declared righteousness through our faith in Christ that is real! But the deeper truth is, that imputed, credited, declared righteousness becomes the consuming passion of a man’s life, he’s not a play–actor (hypocrite), but a participant in the fullness of Christ’s indwelling Life. A “righteous man” is one who has been swallowed up by Life – one who has been clothed with His dwelling from Heaven. That’s Jesus, who fulfills the Law! And the man “in Christ” is the man indwelt by and overflowing with the spirit and attitude of Jesus, “I do always those things that please My Father.”

There are many who say, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior,” but it’s a matter of the head and lips, but not of the heart; it’s a matter of culture and convenience not commitment and consecration; and it’s often a matter of family tradition not a living, life–changing, vibrant, all–consuming passion and faith! In Matthew 7:21–23 Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of the Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Listen with your heart to Romans 6:19 if you are a Law of God violator! “I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For first as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in your sanctification.”

I wonder why these verses are seldom read in many churches today? Look at the warning from John found in I John 3:4, “Everyone who practices sin also practices ; and sin is lawlessness!”

To practice lawlessness brings a curse and separation from God! Paul tells us in Galatians 3:13 that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. Not though, REDEMPTION IS FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, NOT THE REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW! Galatians 3:14 continues, stating that through Christ we “receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” The Spirit? The promise of the Spirit? Through faith? In Acts 5:32 the Word emphatically states who can receive the Spirit of God: “And we are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Look at Abram – he’s a pagan living in Ur of the Chaldees. He’s called out, chosen by God, and found faithful. His name is changed. The “AH” out of YAHWEH is added to signify his relationship with Almighty God. His life is changed, he receives the promise of the Spirit, and lives a life of obedience and submission to God. In Galatians 3:17 Paul says, “What I am saying is this: The law, which came 430 years later…” Why 430 years

later?

Because there was that long and unusual period in the history of God’s people when they walked in faith and obedience. It was not true in man’s early history! Genesis 6:5–6 says of the generation that was destroyed bt the flood, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually; and the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart!” There’s the flood and a Noah. Then in the sovereignty of God, He looks to Ur of the Chaldees, to pagan Abram, and raises him up to bless him and to make his name great and to bless through Abram all the families of the earth! For 430 years there is a new spirit and attitude in the hearts of men toward Holy God! Then comes the Law! Why? Galatians 4:19 asks and answers the question: “Why the law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed should come to whom the promises have been made.”

Look to Galatians 3:21, “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be!” Now please look back to I Timothy 1:8. It is highly critical for your understanding, and mine. “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully.” How does one use the law of God lawfully? Whenever there is lawlessness and rebelliousness, the law of God must be upheld. Whenever there is a compromise with the unholy and the profane, you must uphold the law of God. Whenever there is immorality and sexual perversions, the law of God must be upheld. Why? The Law leads us to Christ! In Galatians 3:24 Paul says, “Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.”

I want to quote again from Scott’s article “The Law of God Today.” “Jeremiah prophesied of the New Covenant that would be fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 31:33, h said, “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it.” In Hebrews 10:15–16, after stating that the Holy Spirit bears witness to us, Jeremiah 31:33 is quoted as applying to us, “I will put My law upon their heart.” In Psalm 40, a Messianic Psalm, Jesus says in verses 7 and 8, “Then I said, Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Your will, O My god; Your law is within My heart.”

The New Covenant that we have in Jesus Christ leaves no room for lawlessness; instead; the promise we have is that He will give us A NEW HEART, a heart that DESIRES TO DO HIS WILL. In Ezekial 36:26–27, we are told, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes.”

Rather than resisting the true nature and character of God by justifying our rebellion, we are to have a heart like David, who said in Psalm 119:97, “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Israel had a law written on tablets of stone that God said was not too difficult for them to keep. We have the law of God written upon the tablets of our hearts and the Holy Spirit living within us to cause us to desire to do His will; that is why the writer of Hebrews warns us in Hebrews 2:3, after reminding us that every transgression and disobedience by Israel received a just recompense, ‘how shall we escape (judgment) if we neglect so great a salvation? We are without excuse!”

THE GRACE OF THE LAW – A NECESSARY REVIVAL BECAUSE:

Number one: MEN DON”T KNOW THEY ARE SINNERS!

There must be the necessary revival of the Grace of the Law because there are multitudes in sin and they don’t even know they’re sinners in danger of the eternal judgment of God! There was a French evangelist who said on an occasion of a deep burden over the lostness of man to a friend: “Oh, I wish I could find a sinner; I’ve got such good news to tell him.” The friend responded: “Find a sinner? Why, the world is filled with them.” And the evangelist answered: “I know, but it’s one thing to be a sinner and quite another to know it!”

Listen to Paul in Romans 7:7–12, “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the law; for I would not have known about coveting if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment producing in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the law sin is dead. And I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive, and I died; and this commandment which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me. For sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. So then the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good!” Examine Romans 3:20b,

“For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

Isn’t it convenient that our nation’s courts have seen fit to remove the Law of God from hanging on the walls of courts and schools? Do you realize how rampant the violation of the Law of God is across the world today? And there must be a “voice raised in the wilderness declaring – Make His paths straight!”

*“The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23

*“Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” Matthew 7:23

* “I have seen a violent, wicked man spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil. Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more; I sought for him, but he could not be found. Transgressors will be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked will be cut off.” Psalm 37:35–36, 38.

*”Zion will be redeemed with justice, and her repentant ones with righteousness: But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, and those who forsake the Lord shall come to an end.” Isaiah 1:27–28.

* “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15. That’s not a good thing!

The Grace of the Law!

Number Two, MANY CHURCH MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THEY ARE NO LONGER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR SIN.

There must be a necessary revival of the Grace of the Law because there are multitudes of churches filled with many people who truly believe they are no longer accountable to the Law of God, and even feel they are free to continue in sin because they believe they couldn’t do otherwise until they get to heaven! Yet, that is not the testimony of scripture or the truth of Christ’s triumphant victory over sin at Calvary! To the woman taken in adultery before Jesus, after her accusers left, said to her after forgiving her sin, “Go and sin no more.” That was also Paul’s challenge to the church at Corinth. In I Corinthians 15:34 he said, “Become sober–minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God; I speak this to your shame.” I pray that as a disciple of the Lord that you will be mastered by the truth of Romans 6:12–22. It is truly one of the most liberating passages in all the Word of God. Remember Jesus’ words in John 8:32, “and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!”

Look with me at several verses from Romans 6:12–22:

*6:12, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts.”

*6:14, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law (of sin and death), but under grace!”

*6:18, “and having been freed from sin, you became servants of righteousness.”

*6:22, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit (grace, the Word, the Spirit) resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” (Read also Romans 8:12–14!)

In I Peter 4:17–18 the Word declares that “it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved (and it is), what will become of the godless man and the sinner.”

A number of years ago, I was pastoring Highlands Baptist Church in Ocala Florida. On a Sunday morning there was a handsome, striking couple that visited our fellowship. They signed a visitor’s card indicating they lived in the apartment complex across the street from the church. As usual, I visited all visitors the following week. I was not prepared for what I learned. This man had been a well–known pianist for churches and quartet ministries across the U.S. and Canada. I learned that the woman was not his wife, but that they had met and “fallen in love.” He left his wife; she left her husband and children. He informed me that before they made their final decision to break up two families they sought the counsel of “leading pastors” in the U.S. and Canada, and had been encouraged to “follow your hearts.” I was stunned! I paused! Then I excused myself, but asked the man to come by my office. The next morning he came. And with smiles on his face he asked me, “Well, Pastor, what do you think?” I didn’t have to think! I pointed the “finger of God” in his face and said, “Sir, you are an adulterer. I don’t care what your ‘leading pastors’ had to say, you are a lawbreaker. If I believed what you and those pastors believed, I’d close my Bible, close the doors of this church, and tell all the people to go home – it’s all a lie. But it’s not, and unless you and that woman repent you are both going to Hell along with those false prophets who counseled your rebellion to the Law of God. And, sir, until you repent, you are not welcome in this church.” I then walked out the church door and left him standing in the foyer in shock and dismay. He never came back. But a year later, 2a.m. in the morning, I got a long distance telephone call. There was a man on the other end weeping. He gave his name. It was the adulterous gospel piano player. He said, “Farrell, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You were the only man to tell me the truth. By the Word and the Spirit and your testimony, I finally saw the truth. I was convicted. I repented. The relationship was broken off, and by the mercy and grace of God my marriage has been restored. My wife and I would like to come to Ocala and tell what God did in our marriage. He’s even given us a ministry to hurting couples and troubled marriages.” He came – and we were blessed! I later saw him on national television playing the gospel of Christ piano and music with the countenance of Christ all over him!

Number Three, THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE. There must be the necessary revival of the Grace of the Law because this nation has lost sight of the “divine intent” of truly being one nation under God. Proverbs 14:34 states: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

Abimelech, king of Gerar, asked an interesting question in Genesis 20:4, “Lord, will You slay a nation?” He has in history, and He will also do so to our nation, unless our nation repents and returns to righteousness!

Deuteronomy 32:28 describes our nation today, “For they are a nation lacking in counsel, and there is no understanding in them.” Verse 29 says, “Would that they were wise, that they understood this, that they (as a nation) would consider their latter end or discern their future.” Listen to David in Psalm 9:15–20, “The nations have sunk down in the pit, which they have made; in the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught. The Lord has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God. For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O Lord; let the nations know that they are but men.”

In Isaiah 1:4, the Lord prophesies to Israel of their decline, and it is so applicable to America today, “Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons, who act corruptly! They have abandoned the Lord! They have despised the Holy One of Israel! They have turned away from Him!” Bill Bennett, former secretary of education and drug czar has written a book entitled “The Devaluing of America.” It should be read by every school board member in America. At one of the Republican conventions he made this statement, “There is a FRAYING of the social fabric of this great nation!” That’s true, but more than that, there is a fraying of the spiritual fabric of this once great nation! The garment of faith and obedience to Almighty God is being rent in twain from top to bottom! How does it happen?

Study Psalm 2. Look carefully at the first two verses! “Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed.” Then in verses 8–12, look at the end result of that! Don’t miss it! “Ask of Me and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall shatter them like earthenware. Now, therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence, and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way. For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”

The Lord said to Samuel (I Samuel 8:7), “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” We saw in the beginning of this third theme how (Proverbs 14:34) “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Let God bring conviction to you over the spiritual condition of our nation – and let’s pray together for genuine revival!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“ARE TEENAGERS, YOUTH, UNMARRIED YOUNG ADULTS FREE FOR ROMANTIC SLEEPOVERS?”

Again, when my Sue and I were in Park City, Utah, for about 12 days, August 3-August 15, 2013, I read another “USA Today” newspaper with an article entitled: “Let Teenagers Have Their Romantic Sleepovers,” with a picture of Angelina Jolie in 2001 with her mother, Marcheline Bertrand. It stated that when Angelina Jolie was 14 years of age, her boyfriend had been allowed to move in.

The article was written by Amanda Marcotte. She wrote: “While state education boards across the country are still embroiled in a debate over whether to even accept the realities of sex before marriage, in the real world, widespread acceptance of premarital sex and cohabitation has opened up a debate about whether parents who still have kids in the house should let them have romantic sleepovers or even let boyfriends or girlfriends move in…In 2011, Angelina Jolie shocked her fans with the news that she had lived with her boyfriend when she was 14, and that she planned to be just as liberal in the living arrangement department as her mother was. When the shock wore off, two years later, Henry Alford in “The New York Times” opened up the possibility that such a move might even be the smart one for parents and kids. It might even improve relationships between them.”

Amanda Marcotte then spoke of these “trends” as that which, she believed, was “reflective of a larger shift in American life,” which is true because the larger shift is a greater disgust of the Law and Word of Holy God. “Let’s take the Ten Commandments off the walls of our legal centers, schools, homes, and, yes, even churches – we just might offend somebody!”

Amanda Marcotte wrote: “The old-school parental claim that their offspring should never have premarital sex under their roof is yielding to a more accepting attitude about their growing and grown children’s sexuality.”

“The real world”? Yes! Enemies of God and His Truth, enemies of holiness and righteousness, enemies of the call to pure hearts and cleansed souls, enemies of anything or anyone that suggests we have a call from God to obey His Word, enemies of anyone who challenges sexual immorality is an offense against Lord God Almighty and a violation of His covenant-law and even His covenant-grace!

We live in a time period of American history of “misplaced, lost, and buried shame”! Shame over known-sin has been shed just as shame over lust, license, and the dark moments of adultery and fornication have been denied! It’s as if a former ‘stable society’ has given over to lawless claims of liberty and freedom to do as one pleases failing to recognize spiritual anarchy!

I do want you to know that I believe there is a time, there is a place, there is a ‘line’ that can be crossed – and when it’s crossed, Holy God will shut that door of opportunity to turn to Him – and judgment is birthed! Adultery, abortion, and, yes, animosity toward the God of Calvary’s love – and they shake their fists in defiance of God and His Word – and turn inward on themselves to satisfy their shameless lusts!

Do you remember Judges 17:6? “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Isn’t that true for a significant number of American citizens including many youth in our culture? And a word of warning from God’s Holy Word is essential here and now! Proverbs 17:15 says, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.”

Are you aware of how much justification of wickedness goes on in America today? Yes, even in the White House and presidential quarters day after day after day – and there will come a time when they stand before Holy God to give an account of their words, their deeds, their actions that shame His Word, His gracious deeds, and His atoning actions!

And promiscuous young people today? In “Aurora Leigh” Elizabeth Barrettt Browning wrote: “I felt so young, so strong, so sure of God,” but many youth have said by word and deed, “I feel so free to do as I please, really, so weak morally, but I’m a believer,” and deceive themselves in a licentious fashion indulging their fallen flesh to express their independence, believing they are unrestrained by God or His Word, by parents, by their school leaders or teachers, and they become loose in thinking and deeds when in reality they strap themselves tighter and tighter in fleshly and demonic bondage.

In Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1,13-14 we read: “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’ Verses 13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: ‘Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

I want you to grasp, young people, that liberty in Christ is not a license to Sin! There are those who will excuse your sin, give you false feelings of assurance as you sin, and even take advantage of you in participating in your sin. But neither in them or you yourself is there any genuine spiritual life at all if you bow before the American idol of sexual immorality!

In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus speaks: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practices lawlessness.’”

John Piper wrote: [“A Godward Life,” p.256], “the evidence of being savingly known by Jesus is to be an evildoer no longer, that is, to have righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. Religious zeal and even miracle working do not prove a new heart of love.”

Do you ‘profess’ a marriage to Christ or look forward to a wedding to come? I think about those youth, the collegians, young adults, who have been ‘reared’ with no holy revelation, or of youth who’ve had great moms and dads, but are totally untethered to anything that godly parents taught them – oh, but they do ‘profess’ Jesus as they “call their own shots,” “determine their own way, deny discipleship demands, and even say, “I acknowledge You, Lord, but when it comes to sexual preferences, I’ll do as I please.”

But look at Matthew 22:2 and verses 10-14! “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son.” Verses 10-14, “So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Are you unaware of the lack of holy wedding garments in one’s marriage to Christ? Wedding garments? Wedding garments in the spiritual, heavenly realm? No heavenly wedding garments – no marriage to Christ! Have you, young people, overlooked Titus 2:14? “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

I don’t hesitate in saying to youth and to adults that broken vows of honoring Christ through illicit, immoral sex-capades, deface and defame the precious picture of a Savior who washes our sins as white as snow! And forgiveness IS granted through the shed blood of our Lord, IF we accept His Word, “Go, and sin no more!”

Why was God’s law given? Romans 3:20 says, “…for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” And by the Cross and the shed blood of the Lamb of God the guilt of sin is washed away! Paul went on to say in Romans 3:21-26, “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God sent forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Faith in Jesus is not a license to continue in sin, but liberty from the very power of it! And a young person who has embraced sexually immoral behavior, longing to be free of its curse and condemnation, repents and keeps on repenting, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of his/her faith, and establishes, not impure, but pure relationships with one of the opposite sex.

I don’t have to tell you that there are always consequences to broken laws of God, consequences to broken precepts of holy living before the Lord, and scars that often remain like a bad dream you can never forget. And the devil will surely remind you of what he believes is your unworthiness to receive God’s forgiveness. But it’s there, and there forever!

God is a good and gracious parent. In Hebrews 12:6 we read, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”

That’s not ‘jail-cell’ confinement imprisoning you as punishment, but an act of heavenly correction. In Hebrews 12:10-11, we learn what His conscientious purpose and plan is: “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Young people, ‘painful’ correction or discipline spiritually is a high and holy calling AND ‘privilege’ but Jesus said in John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me,” and the attitude of our Lord concerning Father-God? In John 8:29 Jesus said: “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, FOR I ALWAYS DO THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM.” What a calling! What a mission for your life, young person! What holy privilege – “don’t cast your pearls before swine!”

There is no blessing in a scheme of law of God rejection or a personal pursuit of satisfaction of sexual tendencies that declares one guilty of breaking, defiling Holy Law in the pursuit of self-satisfaction of one’s “glands”! Again, John Piper wrote: [“A Godward Life,” p.119], “If you love God’s good gift of sexuality, take a stand for treating it like precious gems rather than common gravel. Guard it in the velvet-lined safe of steel commitment. Don’t strew it on the street or in the press.”

I pray that every young person in America would memorize Psalm 1! I believe a huge youthful transformation would occur concerning their response to youthful sexual immorality. Psalm 1 says: “Blessed is the man [the young person] who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

But I also believe that as Timothy, young Timothy, received counsel from his spiritual elder, Paul, if young people today would receive Paul’s words, a deepening of true faith would occur and a great respect for honoring God with the bodies would become a holy, heavenly reality! In 2 Timothy 2:19-22 Paul wrote:

“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

I want you to know, young person, that it is God’s desire, His heart and passion, to redeem young men and young women but it is not His intent to celebrate your depraved decisions that satisfy your lusts and clashes with His Truth!

In James 3:13-17 the brother of Jesus wrote: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

John saw the “holy city,” the “New Jerusalem” in a vision in Revelation 21. And God spoke to him in verses 7-8 saying: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Hear Jesus, young people – don’t turn a deaf ear to our Loving Savior and Lord! In Revelation 22:12-19 Jesus said: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Do you remember Joseph, the youngster, who honored God? In Genesis 39:1-9 there is an awesome example for youth today!! It says: “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and he served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had put under his authority. So it was, from the time he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

I want to share a word from Josh McDowell from his book, “Beyond Belief To Convictions.” He said: [p.166], “God is so passionate about his relationship with us and our kids that he has personally – and miraculously – provided the inspiration of his word, supervised its transmission, and repeatedly reinforced its reliability so that all those who have open eyes and open hearts may believe it with assurance and conviction. Nations may have rejected it, tyrants may have tried to stamp it out, heretics may have tried to distort it, but the evidence of the Bible’s reliability is sufficient to assure us and our kids that it has remained a true reflection of reality – of who God is – and that it is “stronger and more permanent than heaven and earth,” [Luke 16:17]. Moreover, an examination of how God has meticulously and miraculously protected the integrity of His Word will impress us and move us with the depth of God’s love for us and His faithfulness toward us.”

Oh, youth, young people, those caught in a cruel trap of self-indulgence and sensual, sexual ‘pleasure’ – it is out of the very pit of hell to steal from you marriages; greatest gift for a husband or a wife – the gift of sexual pleasure untainted but celebrated on a wedding night and for untold years to come! Oh, understand it, grasp it, hold out for it – the gift of purity, saved for your wife, saved for your husband!

In sexual relationships there is a high mountain of the very glory of God in your marriage, where the armies of Satan celebrate and get their “fix” in every diabolical sexual perversion! If you’re there, you are “feeding” the demons! And most youth have never been told they “entertain” demons unaware!!

Has the ‘voice’ of shame deceived you, blinded you, deafened you? Has a fallen society so corrupted you that you cannot begin to hear God’s passionate voice about fighting the fight of faith? Has even a divided, deceived church community ‘brain-washed’ you that pre-marital sex is no big deal? Are ‘common-place’ professors violating you with ‘uncommon,’ ‘evil,’ ‘fleshly’ thoughts about what’s normal to them – immoral, perverted lifestyles?

Too many youth are garrisoned by the godless and consider they’re OK to do and be what their fatalistic friends do and are! Too many youth are entrenched in the norm of a fallen society producing in them a spiritual stagnation, refusing to even LOOK God’s Way! Too many youth are “comfortable” with a Christless crowd where their dispositions become boxed in to immoral living, sexual perversions, illicit activities, so guiltily playing “the fool” with their souls.

Oh, youth, “you must be born again”! Of, youth, “you must be born of the water of God’s Word and born of His Holy Spirit”! Oh, youth, Jesus loves you and wants YOU to be His Bride! Oh, youth, Jesus must increase and you must decrease! Oh, youth, recognize that you were crucified with Christ, yes, YOU, 2000 years ago! Your old sin man died on the Cross with your Lord and Savior! There’s forgiveness, cleansing, reconciliation, renewal, residency with your life His home on earth!

What does Isaiah 45:22-25 tell us, young people? “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come. And all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him. In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory.” How does: “shall be justified and shall glory” sound to you?

I do care about where you’ve been by the choices you’ve made and what you’ve done by the choices you’ve made because there are consequences, yes, good and bad – but more importantly the Word tells me, yes, that God Himself is so pleased when one youth turns to Him!

In Acts 26:12-19 receive the testimony of Paul! “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith.’ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”

Oswald Chambers wrote in his “My Utmost For His Highest” valuable words for the understanding of every young person. He said: “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” Our Lord said, in effect, to Paul – Your whole life is to be overmastered by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine. I HAVE CHOSEN YOU!!”…When we are born again we all have visions, if we are spiritual at all, of what Jesus wants us to be, and the great thing is to learn not to be disobedient to the vision, not to say that it cannot be attained. It is not sufficient to know that God has redeemed the world, and to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did effectual in me; I must have the basis of a personal relationship to Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim, he was brought into a vivid, personal, overmastering relationship to Jesus Christ. Verse 16 is immensely commanding – “to make YOU a minister and a witness.” There is nothing there apart from the personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person not a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s, he saw nothing else, he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

What about you, young lady? What about you, young man? To Whom or to what do you belong?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“HOW WILL YOU PLEAD?”

Have you ever witnessed a court-room scene when someone is being arraigned for a crime and the judge asks, “Mr. So & So, HOW DO YOU PLEAD?” Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says of “arraign”: “To call or set a prisoner at the bar of a court, to answer the matter charged against him in a indictment or information. When called, the indictment is read to him and he is to plead guilty or not guilty and to elect by whom he will be tried.”

Before the judgment bar of Holy God, how will YOU plead? Before the judgment bar of Holy God, who do you choose to be your advocate? Before the judgment bar of Holy God, what’s the case you lay out before Holy God? Think about it! Why?

In Romans 2:1-3 Paul wrote: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, that you will escape the judgment of God?”

Paul said to the Corinthian congregation in 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”

Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Peter had a challenging word to every man. In I Peter 4:14-19 he wrote: “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

Oh, I do like what Anthony Hoekema wrote in his book, “The Bible And The Future,” [Grand Rapids: Wm.B. Eerdman’s Publ. Co., 1979, p.259], “The failures and shortcomings…of believers…will enter into the picture on the Day of Judgment. But – and this is the important point – the sins and shortcomings of believers will be revealed in the judgment as forgiven sins, whose guilt has been totally covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

And I know this is why David wrote in Psalms 19:9-10, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

But pity and pray for those who see the finger of God writing over their judgment page the word “TEKEL”, [Daniel 5:27], “You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.”

When I married my wife, Sue, she was of the Methodist persuasion, and still is! There’s an old Methodist hymn with these words: “Are you ready? Are you ready? Ready for the Judgment Day? When the saints and sinners shall be parted right and left – Are you ready for the Judgment Day?”

And do you remember Julia Ward Howe’s words in the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”? “He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat, He is sifting out the hearts of men before His Judgment Seat”? Oh, think about it! Press in to it! Have you heard the arguments?

ONE, “I’M A RELIGIOUS MAN”!! But I’m not ashamed to bust that bubble that that man based his life upon because ‘religion’ has never “REDEEMED” any man! Do you really differentiate between ‘religion’ and what Jesus said, “You MUST BE BORN AGAIN, born of the water of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit”?

Religion began in the Garden of Eden! Genesis 3:7 says, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; AND THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER (“FIG-LEAF RELIGION”) AND MADE THEMSELVES COVERINGS.”

That’s man-made creations! That’s religious invention that has no intention of being reconciled to God God’s Way! From “Confusionism’ to Hinduism to Islam-ism, that’s men’s intent on doing their own thing in their own way, deciding for themselves what makes them look good before a ‘god’ they claim to know.

Religion has been confronted by Christ as empty of redeeming merit! Do you remember Nicodemus, a religious man, a spiritual guru of Judaism? We read about him in John 3:3-11!! Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.”

Do you remember Paul before King Agrippa because of the Jews’ condemnation of him after his conversion to Christ? In Acts 26:5 we read, “They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our RELIGION I lived a Pharisee.”

But was he “saved,” was he “redeemed,” was Paul at that time, under Pharisaical religion saved? NO!! I remember Major Ian Thomas of England speak of those who are “awakened souls, but unregenerate in spirit.” SO TRUE!

Religion may awaken a soul to some form of conscience but it cannot transform into a “new creation.” Religion may excite with mandates of some shades of truth but it doesn’t, hasn’t, and never will lead to DIVINE TRUTHY except by the shocking awareness of religion’s EMPTINESS! Have you heard it?

TWO, “I LIVE BY THE GOLDEN RULE.” Do you realize how that flies in the face of God?

If the “golden rule” is redemptive, then why did God decree “the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world”? If the “golden rule” is regenerative, then why the Cross of Christ? If the “golden rule” SAVES, then why did the SAVIOR SUFFER? If man’s initiative transforms, then why the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? If you’ve determined that all you need is to live by the “golden rule,” then you’re the goose that is about to be cooked because all you can lay are brass eggs, trying to pass off as “golden,” when it’s only “fools’ gold.”

Golden rule mentality, spiritual mentality on your terms, is ‘self-determination,’ and “my best efforts ought to be acceptable even if God chooses the death of His Son.” BUT LISTEN: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 tells us: “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…that is, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to ud the WORD OF RECONCILIATION.”

THREE, “I’VE DETERMINED I AM A RIGHTEOUS MAN.”

That’s man’s unsound declaration revealing how far he is from Holy God! What does God say? “…ALL (ARE) LIKE AN UNCLEAN THING, AND ALL (THEIR) RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS…” [Isaiah 64:6].

Do you remember how that happened? Genesis 2:16-17 says, “And the Lord God commanded the man saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat…but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.”

The trees of the garden of which we may freely eat? “The tree of life!!” That is Living By The Life of Another [Jesus Christ], that is Living In And Through God’s Life, That is Partaking of the Fruit of Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope!

But the “Good Old Boys” Network ‘measures themselves by themselves,’ and partakes of the fruit of “good and evil.”

Here’s the “shocker,” my friends: Holy God took your best and your worst, BOTH, and judged them worthy only of the Cross! In Christ Jesus God crucified your best AND your worst! “I am crucified with Christ!”

Two thousand years ago Holy God hung you on the Cross with Christ: your goodness was judged worthy of death – your evilness was judged worthy of death! And you ‘think’ you have something to offer to God? So, when you stand before the Court of God, how will you plead? Who is your advocate? What will be your defense?

“I’m a religious man”? “I’ve lived by the Golden Rule”? or “I’ve determined, God, whether You like it or not, I’m a righteous man”?

But there is another option, another life choice, another Way…it’s called the Way of love, grace, and mercy, in and through the sacrifice of Christ in YOUR behalf! And consider this: If you were the only person who ever lived, what Jesus did for the whole lost and dying world, He would have done what He did just for YOU!!**

“My faith has found a resting place – not in device or creed! I trust the ever LIVING ONE – HIS WOUNDS FOR ME SHALL PLEAD… I need no other argument, I need no other plea; It is enough that Jesus died, and that HE DIED FOR ME.”

Your life, its foundation, is built on either selfish gratification or on Sovereign Grace. “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? AMAZING LOVE! HOW CAN IT BE, THAT THOU, MY GOD, SHOULD DIE FOR ME?”

You’re familiar with I Corinthians 11 where Paul talked about the Lord’s Supper. In verse 28 he said, “But let a man EXAMINE HIMSELF, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”

This IS examination time, encounter time, entreaty time. It’s “TERROR OF THE LORD” TIME or “TRIUMPHANT MERCY, LOVE, AND GRACE TIME.” This is “pump my flesh time” or “falling on the Rock of Jesus time” This is “self-measurement time” or “Sovereign mercy time.” This is “grit time” or “marvelous grace time” from our loving Lord.

This is the “mountain top of self-approval time” or the “fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins time”. This is “boastfulness and willfulness of self time” or the “bread and wine time” of God’s redemptive plan. This is the self-written “book of accomplishment time” or the “Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine time”!

Are you familiar with the old hymn entitled “At Calvary”? “Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died, AT CALVARY…Mercy there was great and grace was free, Pardon there was multiplied to me…There my burdened soul found liberty AT CALVARY.” Have you been there?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“WHEN GOD SPEAKS?”

It happened many years ago when I was pastoring a church in a southern city in the U.S.A. I was sitting in my church office intent in preparation both in the Word and in prayer for the coming Sunday services. All of a sudden, I sensed a strong and powerful “Voice.” “Your friend, [I’ll leave him unnamed] is involved in an adulterous affair. Go tell him to repent or I’ll strike him dead.” I was stunned! (“What was that? Who was that? It wouldn’t be God. My friend is happily married. My friend is in church every Sunday. My friend is so hospitable to me and my wife. My friend is a successful businessman.”) That sure was strange – and I shut it down.

Three months later it broke wide open. It was true. A relationship had been going on for three years with a ‘lady’ (?) in the church unknown to no one, we thought, but later we learned from a few of our church youth they had known and had been following the couple to their ‘hidden’ rendezvous. The man’s marriage was rescued. The woman walked away from her husband and children.

Was it God speaking and I couldn’t hear? I believe it was without a doubt! Jack Deere, in his book “Surprised By The Voice of God,” [p.20], wrote: “The God of the Bible reveals much more to us than the sins of others. He speaks about many things. Sometimes we fail to hear Him because He says more than we want to hear. Sometimes we fail to hear Him because we are ignorant of the varied ways in which He chooses to speak to us. And sometimes we fail to hear Him because His voice is drowned out by competing voices that masquerade as God’s voice, throwing us into confusion.

Listen to the Word of God!! His voice is on every page: In Jeremiah 7:23-24,26, we read: “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. Verse 26, Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.” It didn’t get any better at this time for God’s people!

Jeremiah 11:10 says, “They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers who REFUSED TO HEAR MY WORDS, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.”

So God asked a question! Jeremiah 23:18, “For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?” And here comes a challenging, convicting, mind-clearing, and will-engineering word that should shake you to the core!! Jeremiah 25:4 says: “And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear.”

Did it say, “rising early and sending them”? Was that early a.m., early morning, early in their pilgrimage, or was it that God, early on, “read their mail,” “watched their reluctance early in their journey to submit themselves to Him,” or God foreseeing, after their choices of deafness to His voice, the perception of their falling away?

In Matthew 10 Jesus had just sent out His twelve disciples, and in verse 27 He said: “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” He had just said in verse 26, “…and there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and HIDDEN THAT WILL NOT BE KNOWN.” [HOW’S YOUR FEAR OF GOD DOING?].

Paul was giving his defense in Acts 22 after the commander was about to arrest him – and he told of Ananias coming to him, sent by the Lord. In verse 14, Ananias said to him, “The God of our fathers has chosen you that YOU SHOULD KNOW HIS WILL, AND SEE THE JUST ONE, AND HEAR THE VOICE OF HIS MOUTH.”

If you’ve ever been under my preaching ministry at all, I know you’ve heard me preaching over and over again: “God is no respecter of persons. What He’s done for Moses, Paul, David, John, He’ll do for you.” And that includes conversational language concerning His good, acceptable, and perfect will for your life!

And God is still speaking as He did to Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah, or James because His love for us is as great as it was for them. Our Lord is still speaking because of the intensity and overflow of His heart, purposes, plans, and missions because they are as great or greater now than they were then.

He’s still speaking because HE WANTS US TO HEAR HIS VOICE in order to know Him more perfectly, maturely, and intimately.

He’s still speaking because, like a little child with a loving father, He wants to build our confidence and assurance as to our Holy Family Heritage.

He’s still speaking because like a small ship in a big ocean we need the ‘Heavenly Stars of His Priceless Words” to give direction to our lives!

I picked up Larry Lea’s book “The Hearing Ear” a few years ago. I finally started to read it recently! I was overjoyed by what I read. In the “Preface,” Lea said: “Most of us can point to some specific time and say, ‘That was the turning-point in my life.’…I certainly can… (Lea said:), When I think of my turning point, I remember that day back in 1968 when, for the first time in my life, I heard the voice of God… I was 17 years old and I had lost my mind. Locked inside the psychiatric ward of Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, I spent most of the time lying on my bed in a drugged stupor with my eyes rolled back in my head. I thought that the lady who cleaned my room was my mother and that the patient across the hall was the doctor…

But one day the horrible mental fog around my brain cleared just long enough for a shining ray of hope to penetrate my senses. Falling to my knees, I prayed the only prayer I knew how to pray. Pleading, weeping, I cried out to God, over and over I sobbed out His name: ‘Jesus! Jesus! Oh, merciful Jesus!…

Suddenly, I heard a voice speak in my spirit: ‘Now, you are My son. You will take My message to this generation. You will be My mouth and My minister.’ Then the voice told me I could get up and go home…In less than a week, I walked out of that hospital, and I’ve sought to walk by that same still, small voice ever since.” [THANK YOU, LARRY LEA!!].

Over and over again in the Word, it says: “He who has ears, let him hear!!” NOW, LISTEN TO JESUS!! In John 8:42-47 Jesus said: “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God, HEARS GOD’S WORDS; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Isn’t it amazing that what some call “dumb sheep” Jesus talks about them “hearing His voice”! In John 10:3-5 Jesus said, “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Oh, and then Jesus said in verse 16: “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”

I tell you, Jesus HAS SPOKEN TO YOU whether you’ve heard and responded to His voice or not! He SPEAKS – you should listen! Then, in John 10:27-18 Jesus continued: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

So…what is this really all about “When God Speaks?”

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS THE VOICE OF FRIENDSHIP AFFIRMATION! In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron had just spoken against Moses, and God showed up!! Numbers 12:6-8 says, Then God said, HEAR NOW MY WORDS: ‘If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision, and I speak to him in a dream… Not so, with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house -…I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings, and he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?’”

We see in Exodus 33:11, “So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” There’s an old hymn entitled “Day By Day.” It says: “Day by day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find, to meet my trials here; Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for weary or for fear. He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure Gives unto each day what He deems best – Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest…Every day, the Lord Himself is near me, With a special mercy for each hour; All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me, He Whose Name is Counselor and Power; The protection of His child and treasure Is a charge that on Himself He laid; “As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,” This is the pledge to me He made.”

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS THE VOICE OF INSTRUCTION:

I want you to come to Deuteronomy 4:10-12, 33, 35-36, and verse 39: The Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children. Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice…Verse 33, “Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?…Verses 35-36 “To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire.” …Verse 399, “Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.”

What is His Holy Word telling us as He speaks to our hearts? 1) “That they may learn to fear Me –“ In Matthew 10:28 Jesus confirms the legitimacy of one “fearing God” when He said: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather FEAR HIM who is able to destroy both soul and body in HELL.”

Have you seen the truth of the everlasting gospel in Revelation 14:6-7? Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has comer; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

2) “That they may teach their children –“ Do you have a passion that your own children grow up with an intensity of godly identification? “Our parents birthed us, but we’ve chosen to truly be children of faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” WOW! How good is that?!? And, thank God, for parents who do not ignore the spiritual training of their children!

3) “That they may know the Lord Himself is God; there is none other.” I pray that you remind, teach, instill within your children and family Exodus 20:3-6!! “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Now…

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS THE VOICE OF WITNESS AND WARNING:

In Psalm 81:9-16 we are “admonished”: “There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

The prophet Ezekial received a word from God in Ezekial 3:17, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning for Me.”

It’s why the psalmist in Psalm 95:7-8 recorded God’s heart-cry: “Today if you will hear His voice:…Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion; and as in the day of trial in the wilderness…” I ask YOU: Was the day of trial in the wilderness of God?

In Isaiah 30:9 God said to the prophet, “this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear THE LAW OF THE LORD.”

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS THE VOICE OF DIRECTION FOR YOUR LIFE, YOUR WITNESS, YOUR PERSONAL MINISTRY, YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL HEALTH:

In Isaiah 30:21 we read, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’ Whenever you turn to the right or whenever you turn to the left.” His voice of direction? I Corinthians 16:9 speaks of “…a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries…” Why the adversaries? Why the opposition? Because there are those who have no desire to be led by God!

In Revelation 3:7-8 we read, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things say HE who is holy, HE who is true, HE who has the keys of David, HE who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens…I know your works. See, I have set before you an OPEN DOOR, AND NO MAN CAN SHUT IT.” Oh, and then there is Colossians 3:14-17!! “But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him.”

To Noah, God said: “Make yourself an ark,” even if he didn’t know what an ark was! To Abraham, God said, “Get out of your country, from your kindred, and from your father’s house to a land I will show you…I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

To Moses, God said, “Come now and I will send you to Pharoah that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” To Paul, God said, “Rise and stand on your feet: for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things I will yet reveal to you.”

A poem written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox says this: “One ship drives east and another drives west with the selfsame winds that blow. ‘Tis the set of the sails And not the gales which tells us the way to go.”

What’s the “set of the sails” for your life? Has God Almighty “set your sails”? Or is it self-will, self-rule, self-pleasure, self-direction, or the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God? In Genesis 24:27 we read, “I being in THE WAY, the Lord led me…”

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS WITH THE VOICE OF JUDGMENT UPON THE NATIONS:

In Isaiah 34:1-6, 8, we read astounding words about the voice of God’s judgment – and not one nation is spared!! “Come near, you nations, to hear; and heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world and all things that come forth from it. For the indignation of the Lord is against the nations, and His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to the slaughter. Also their slain shall be thrown out; their stench shall rise from their corpses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their host shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine, and as fruit falling from a fig tree. For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; indeed it shall come down on Edom, and on the people of My curse, for judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made overflowing with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. Verse8, For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion.”

It was Thomas Carlyle who once wrote: “Foolish men imagine that because judgment for an evil thing is delayed, there is no justice, but only accident here below. Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is as sure as life, it is as sure as death!” [Get ready, America! God has set you in His sights!}

In Isaiah 42:13 we read: “The Lord shall go forth like a might man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.” Are you ready for the march of the mighty man, God, as He comes and clearly calls your name to stand before Him and give an account? Why? Isaiah 65:12 says: “Therefore I will number you for the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear, but did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight.”

Have you heard some say: “Old Testament! Old Testament! We’re of the New Testament crowd!” Really? In Revelation 6:12-17 we read: “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and ion the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from THE WRATH OF THE LAMB! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

But men of saving grace and faith and mercy who truly have heard His voice and responded in true repentance and faith? Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:17-18, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS WITH THE VOICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES:

In Isaiah 42:5-9 we read: Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Aren’t you awed as you come to the Book of Acts and read about Philip? Acts 8:26-35 says: Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Etiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: [Out of Isaiah 53], “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.”

[And aren’t you amazed as you read Acts 9:1-20 and see the blessed conversion of Saul of Tarsus who became Paul the Apostle? Please read it!!].

Isaiah 43:18-21 tells US of OUR NEW OPPORTUNITIES!! “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.”

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS WITH THE VOICE OF HOPE: Ezekial 36 and Ezekial 37 are both clear passages of understanding about the heart of God and His voice of hope, yes, in you and in me!

In Ezekial 36:24-30 we read, God speaking: “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations.”

And I pray you will pause, right now, and turn in your own Bible to Ezekial 37, reading the first ten verses! You’ll be awed by what you read. It’s God’s promise of new life, new breath, new blessings!

Dead-bone nations have a sunlight of hope! Dead-bone people like you and me have a revelation- ray of holy sunshine and hope shining on us! Dead-bone churches can be raised up to resurrection life and light by Jesus only! Dead-bone marriages can, and, yes, will be renewed by the miracle of grace and mercy! And, dead-bone visions and dreams will hear His voice of hope!

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS WITH THE VOICE OF SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE FROM THE BONDS OF SPIRITUAL DEATH:

In John 5:25 we read, “Most assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, the hour is coming, AND NOW IS, when the dead WILL HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD; AND THOSE WHO HEAR WILL LIVE.”

Jesus now, yes, NOW, stands before the tombs of multitudinous lives “dead in trespasses and sins,” and says, “Lazarus, COME FORTH!” “FARRELL, COME FORTH!” “ANGIE, COME FORTH!” “CALEB, COME FORTH!” And His Word says: “and he who had died came forth…!” Amen?

William T. Sleeper and George C. Stebbins wrote the old hymn: “Jesus, I Come.” It says: “Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come; Into Your freedom, gladness and light, Jesus, I come to You; Out of my sickness into Your health, Out of my want and into Your wealth, Out of my sin and into Yourself, Jesus, I come to You!” Amen?

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS WITH THE VOICE OF DIVINE CONVICTION:

Jesus said in John 15:22, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” Divine Conviction? Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says of conviction: “The act of convincing, or compelling one to admit the truth of a charge; the act of convincing of sin or sinfulness; the state of being convinced or convicted by conscience; the state of being sensible of guilt; as, the ‘convictions’ of a sinner may be temporary or lasting and efficacious. By ‘conviction’ a sinner is brought to repentance. Men often sin against the ‘conviction’ of their own consciences.”

• There is THE DIVINE CONVICTION OF HOLY PRESENCE: Luke 5:8 says, “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ feet or knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
• There is THE CONVICTION OF HOLY LAW: Romans 7:8-9 tells us, “But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.”
• There is THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY GHOST: John 14:8-9 says, “And when He [the Holy Ghost6] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…of sin because they do not believe in Me…”
• There is THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY WORD: Psalm 119:133 says, “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Oswald Chambers, in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.254], has written: “Conviction of sin is one of the rarest things that ever strikes a man. It is the threshold of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict of sin, and when the Holy Spirit rouses a man’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not his relationship with men that bothers him, but his relationship with God – “against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.” The marvels of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven man who is the holy man, he proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by God’s grace. Repentance always brings a man to the point: I HAVE SINNED. The surest sign that God is at work is when a man says it and means it. Anything less than this is remorse for having made blunders, the reflex action of disgust at himself.” [Where is God in that? ‘disgust at self’, but no shame before God?]

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS WITH THE VOICE OF AWESOME, MYSTERIOUS REVELATION:

In 2 Corinthians 12:1-5 we read of these mysterious revelations. It says: “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows – how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast except in my infirmities.”

Isn’t it amazing to you? Here’s Paul. He knows of others who’ve been blessed, encouraged, and uplifted by these awesome events of ‘hearing God’! Then Paul hears Him! And he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. ‘Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” When our Lord speaks to you, you be strong in Him!

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS WITH THE VOICE OF UNVEILING OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST:

Oh, get ready! This is so good! Revelation 1:9-20 is a word from John for every believer! It says: “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodecia.” Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with Me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”

This is so similar to what Peter, James, and John experienced as Jesus took them up on a high mountain, Matthew 17:1-6, “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.” Have you entered the “glory-cloud” of holy presence lately?

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, UNDERSTAND, IT IS WITH THE VOICE OF VICTORIOUS CONQUEST:

In I John 5:4-5 John tells us: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

There is such an encouraging, inspirational word for us in John 4:42 which says: Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” Spurgeon wrote: [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial library, Vol.13,p.225], “Appointed, anointed, commissioned of the Father to speak to us, to confer with us, to make known among us the mind and will of our great and gracious Sovereign,…[Jesus spoke} and we should heed and hearken to His words.” Have YOU heard the voice of God speaking to you?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD?”

As we begin this chapter study together, I want to lay the foundation with three different passages of God’s Word: First, Psalm 139:1-6, 16-17, 23-24, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Verses 16-17, Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Verses 23-24, Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Philippians 4:4-6 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Jeremiah 23:23-29, “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off?” Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord. “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed! I have dreamed!’ How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal. The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord. Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

How is it with you as you face yourself, your walk, your pilgrimage, your journey as a follower of Christ when you come to such a word as Psalm 139 and Paul’s letter to the Philippians? Or what about Jeremiah’s deep awareness of God’s eyes on him?

Do you read it with the same insight David wrote with, or Paul, or Jeremiah? “MY LORD IS NEAR TO ME!!” When Paul wrote Philippians he was “chained,” yes, “imprisoned,” bound, not knowing if he would live or die! In Philippians 1:13 he said, “it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that MY CHAINS ARE IN CHRIST.” *QUESTION!!*

Are the “chains of YOUR circumstances ‘IN CHRIST’?” Is what happens to you seen as an opportunity “FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL”? Do you see every situation, event, happening, as another giant step of you “being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of others’ faith?

Paul faced tremendous problems, and yet he saw them as OPPORTUNITIES because “in nothing was he going to be ashamed, [but that] now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.”

And when in Philippians 4:5 Paul said, “The Lord is at hand,” he wasn’t talking about the Lord’s bodily return, or His second coming, but about HIS ABIDING PRESENCE! He eagerly waited for the Savior’s “coming again,” but here he’s gloriously overwhelmed by the deep awareness that Paul’s life was enveloped, en-sphered, encircled, en-grasped, enraptured with the precious presence of the Prince of Peace.

Do you live OVERSHADOWED BY THAT DIVINE CLOUD OF GLORIOUS PRESENCE? Spurgeon said he could not recall ever spending even a short 15 minutes without the profound thought of the presence of Christ!! “The Lord is at hand!!”

How did David put it? Psalm 139:7-12 and verse 5 says, “The Lord is at hand!” F.B. Meyer, in his Devotional Commentary on Philippians, [p.209], wrote: “We all know times like that. We have been walking in the midst of some beautiful landscape, the river rushing past, flowers dipping their cups silently into its brink, the gentle air moving through the quivering leaves above, the insect life humming its varied music, and all nature suffused with the smile of the sun. Then, all of a sudden, there has been borne in on us the consciousness of a spiritual presence; we have FELT A BREATH ON OUR FACES, A THRILL IN OUR HEARTS, [“THE LORD IS NEAR”]…In church, when saying your prayers mechanically, falling in with the murmur of repetition as you’ve done a 1000 times, standing listfully listening to the people singing, or joining them without much heart; sitting apparently intent on the words of the minister while your thoughts have been far away on business or pleasure. SUDDENLY there has been as if it were the music of GOLDEN BELLS, and YOU HAVE REALIZED THAT THE OLD PROMISE WAS BEING FULFILLED: “THERE AM I IN THE MIDST.” Without opening the door, without the sound of a footfall the Lord Jesus has glided into the shut apartment of your nature, and you have said, ‘The Lord is NEAR.’”

One of the awesome truths of life that needs to be awakened in your heart and mind is the reality of God’s desire for you TO KNOW HIS NEARNESS, for you to know His love for you, how ‘precious’ His thoughts are TO YOU, and how the Living God, the Resurrected Savior, and the reigning Holy Spirit is as much with you and for you as if there was no one else on the face of the earth – just you and Him! Let’s look at this “nearness”:

THERE’S THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD EVEN IN OUR FALLEN STATE AND NATURE:

What does Romans 3:23 say? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Oh, and then Isaiah 59:2 reminds us, “your iniquities have separated you from God.”

When Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s Word and bought into Satan’s “LIE” that you can sin and not die, they died spiritually and all of a sudden realized their spiritual nakedness and the separation of their souls from God.

Even then as now they began to think, “God is far away,” or “there is no God,” or “if there is a God, He doesn’t care about me,” or “If there is a God, and He knows my condition, He’ll not want anything to do with me.”

And the problem is because our own hearts, in our fallen state, are so far from God, WE CONCEIVE THE FALSE IDEA THAT GOD’S HEART IS FAR FROM US! But look at Genesis 3!!, and especially verses 4-9! What did they do?…”hid themselves from the presence of the Lord.”

Do you know about hiding? Men hide themselves in their depraved thoughts. They hide themselves in their religious deceptions. They hide themselves in their busyness. They hide themselves in their alcohol, drugs, or sexual addictions. They hide themselves in their self-made, personally designed, fleshly goals, aims, and ambitions building towers to make a name for themselves. They hide themselves even in the pews of “Cultural Christianity”!

Then…all of a sudden, “Adam, where are you?” In his hiding place – and it’s God seeking Adam! It’s not man who seeks after God. What does Romans 3:10-12 tell us? As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.

We didn’t seek God – GOD SOUGHT US! It’s not our voice, “God, where are You?” It’s God’s voice – “Adam, where are you?” [And you do know, don’t you, that God knew exactly where Adam was: geographically or positionally”]

God’s “The Seeker.” God’s “The Hound of Heaven.” It’s not “search and destroy,” but “seek and save”! What does “Immanuel” mean? God With Us. God In The Flesh. John 1:11-12 tells us: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

Listen to Spurgeon, [Memorial Library, Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol.18, p.270], “Friends, I remember well when I was in the death-cart, and Jesus came to me with PARDON. Death and hell were before me; I rejoiced exceedingly when I SAW THE NAILPRINTS IN HIS HANDS AND FEET, and the WOUND IN HIS SIDE. When He said, “Your sins, which are many, are all forgiven,” I thought I never saw such loveliness before, and never heard such music in all my days.”

What did David say in Psalm 40? “HE BROUGHT ME UP OUT OF A HORRIBLE PIT, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps…He has put a new song in my mouth…PRAISE TO OUR GOD!”

What does that great old Hymn say? “Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary…[But] by God’s Word at last my sin I learned – Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned, Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary…O the love that drew salvation’s plan! O the grace that brought it down to man! O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!”

Forever man should know of God’s nearness because of that mighty span of the Cross of Jesus! But also..

THERE’S THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN NEED OF PERSONAL REVIVAL:

In Psalm 85:6 the question of this hour, today, right now, comes forth: “WILL YOU NOT REVIVE US AGAIN, THAT YOUR PEOPLE MAY REJOICE IN YOU?” What did Paul say in Philippians 4:4-5? “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, REJOICE!…Let your [steadfastness] be known to all men. THE LORD IS AT HAND.”

When you come to Psalm 119:67 you’ll hear King David say: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” In verse 149 he said, “Hear my voice, according to Your lovingkindness; O Lord, REVIVE ME according to Your justice…” and then said in verse 151, “You are NEAR, O Lord…” Personal Revival Needed? REVIVAL BECAUSE ONE LOSES THE JOY OF SALVATION, REVIVAL NEEDED BECAUSE ONE HAS WILLFULLY GONE ASTRAY (Psalm 119:176), “I have gone astray like a lost sheep…”, and, yes, corporate revival because the church as a whole has lost the desire to pray, (Psalm 80:18), “revive us, and we will call upon Your name,” revival because one has lost that glorious inner countenance – days without number He has been forgotten – 3 times in Psalm 80 David cried out, “Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine upon us, and we shall be saved;” and revival because one can find himself/herself in bondage – Ezra 9:8 says, “And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our Gods, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.”

Vance Havner, now deceased Southern Baptist prophet, wrote a little book entitled “Repent Or Else.” [pps. 14-16]. He wrote: “Revival is a work of the Spirit among God’s own people whereby they get right with God and with each other…Revivals should not be necessary…but so long as we have such a malarial brand of Christianity, a fever and a chill, a fever and a chill, we shall need revivals…The church needs time out to tune up. We are so busy building a bigger orchestra, that we cannot stop to tune our instruments…We never need to go to the mourner’s bench more than when we feel least like it. [Then quotes Finney]: ‘Revival is nothing less than a new beginning of obedience to God, a breaking of heart and getting down in the dust before Him with deep humility and obedience to God, a breaking of heart and getting down in the dust before Him with deep humility and forsaking of sin.”

And what did David say? “You are near, O Lord…” IN THE MIDDLE OF MY MESS, Our Lord is at hand. In the middle of our darkness, our Lord shines His Light. In the middle of our rebellious wanderings, our Lord finds us! “A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing; Our Helper He amid the floods of mortal ills prevailing.”

THERE’S THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN NEED OF CONFIDENCE AND ASSURANCE:

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m not sure I can make it. I’m not sure I can hold on. I’m not sure I can enter in. I’m not sure I can overcome. I’m not sure I can make it to the ‘finish’ line. I’m not sure.” But Psalm 121:1-2 says: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Are you aware of the ‘infancy’ of Israel’s faith in God as they began to follow Him out of Egypt, into the wilderness, and on in to the promised land? There were times they said, “We wish we were back in Egypt!”

The pilgrim journey was new to them – “we’ve never passed this way before!” Spurgeon said: “…their newly found liberty was darkened by a terrible fear of RECAPTURE!” But listen to Exodus 13:20-22, “So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.”

What does Exodus 14:19 tell us? And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.”

In Hebrews 13:5 God Himself said: “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” Have you forgotten or overlooked God’s word to Joshua? Joshua 1:5 says, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”

Is that any different at all from Matthew 28:20 when Jesus said: “Lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.”

You may never see visibly a natural cloud that bursts into a flame, but because of God’s promises YOU CAN STAND ASSURED, “God Is With ME and His Power, Protection, Provision, Presence ABOUNDS TOWARD ME to see me through.”

Exodus 14:19 again? “And the Angel of God who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and STOOD BEHIND THEM!!” STOOD BEHIND THEM – STANDS BEHIND ME – STANDS BEHIND YOU!!

It’s settled from God’s point of view! It’s permanent from God’s side! It’s forever, a done deal! The Glorious Angel of God is permanently fixed, shrouded in the clouds of heavenly glory, with sword drawn in His hand. Isaiah 52:12 tells us: “For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

[Please read Romans 8:31-32, 29-30, 37-39].

THERE’S THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES IMMERSED IN THE DEEP WATERS OF WORRY, DOUBT, OR FEAR:

Look with me at Philippians 4:6-7, 13, and 1:28! “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus….Verse 13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 1:28, And not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.”

Have you heard them? “I have God’s blessing as long as I am real positive. I have God’s blessing as long as I am really ‘spiritual’. I have God’s blessing as long as I am real up-beat, as long as I give the appearance of being strong. I have God’s blessing as long as I am a ‘super-saint’. I have God’s blessing as long as I am an extra-ordinary disciple. I have God’s blessing as long as my thoughts and affections are set on things above. I have God’s blessing as long as I’m walking in perfection.” NO!! A 1000 times, NO!

In Proverbs 3:5-6 we read, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Have you seen “The New 23^rd”? “Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. He lets me rest in meadows green and leads me beside the quiet stream;…He keeps on giving life to me And helps me to do what honors Him the most, Even when walking through the valley of death, of death, I will never be afraid, For He is close beside me…Guarding, guiding all the way; He spreads a feast before me In the presence of my enemies [worry, doubt, fear!!]… He welcomes me as His special guest, With blessing overflowing, His goodness and unfailing kindness Shall be with me all of my life and afterward I will live with Him forever, in His Home.”

ALSO, IS THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES ISOLATED BY THE JUDGMENTS OF MEN:

Please come to Genesis 16:1-9, 13-14, Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.” So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” Verses 13-14, Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You-Are-The-God-Who-Sees;” for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; [Well of the One Who Lives and Sees Me!]…”

Do you know about ill-treatment, misjudgment, harsh and cruel renderings against you – the besmirching of your name, honor, character? What about the purloining of your good and godly reputation? Even Jesus was not exempt from this attitude or action!

Luke 6:7 says, “The scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely…THAT THEY MIGHT FIND AN ACCUSATION AGAINST HIM.” Jesus’ own family was saying, “He’s lost His senses!”

I want you to come with me to I Peter 3:13-17 because “the Lord is at hand” – He is so near to you as you are maligned, ridiculed, even lied about!! “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

Did Jezebel misjudge, threaten, and isolate Elijah? I Kings 19 says Elijah “arose and ran for his life…” He ran to the wilderness, ended up in a cave. Oh, but then, LISTEN!! I Kings 19:9, “…Behold, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ELIJAH…Verse 11, Then God said to him, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And BEHOLD THE LORD PASSED BY!

Do you remember Jeremiah’s pilgrimage? The weeping prophet was being walloped! Look at Jeremiah 32:1-3, 31:3, 11-14, and Jeremiah 33:1-3!

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house. For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord; “Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it..” Jeremiah 31:3, 11-14, The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you…Verses 11-14, For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the Lord – for wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd; their souls shall be a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; for I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”

Jeremiah 33:1-3, Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, “Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord id His name): Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

You’ll remember John on the island of Patmos in Revelation 1 imprisoned for the faith! YOU are going to be wronged, but “Look up! YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEAR!” You will be misjudged! Get in the Spirit and hear God’s trumpet blow His rallying cry for your defense!

THERE IS THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE INTENSE BATTLES OF THE FAITH:

In 2 Chronicles 20 the people of Moab with others came to battle Jehoshaphat. He was afraid and began to seek the Lord, and Judah gathered together to seek Him. They knew they didn’t have the power to stand against their enemies so they set themselves together to seek God’s help. They “stood before the Lord” and cried out for His help. In verse 15 the Spirit of the Lord had come upon Jahaziel and he heard God speak: Thus says the Lord to you, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Thank God for Isaiah 54:17 which tells us: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.

I love Deuteronomy 28:7 which tells us, “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face: they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.” SCATTERED AND SHATTERED BY GOD HIMSELF!

Do you remember the three young Israelites in the fiery furnace because they would not bow before Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image? Daniel 3:24-25, we see and hear the king saying, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?…Look!! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire: they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God!!” WOW! In Daniel 6:22 Daniel had been cast into the lions’ den because of the battle of praying to God! “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouth, so that they have not hurt me…” GLORY!

Paul was in that “good fight of faith”! He told Timothy (2 Timothy 4:16-18), “At my fist defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

When Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah, Hezekiah gathered his people and gave them encouragement. 2 Chronicles 32:8 says, “With him is an arm of flesh: BUT WITH US IS THE LORD OUR GOD, TO HELP US AND TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.”

And what did John say in I John 4:4? “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAT HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD.”

THERE’S THE NEARNESS OF OUR LORD WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES SURROUNDED BY THE LITTLE FOXES THAT SPOIL THE VINEYARD:

Have you ever seen the “FOX” of envy or strife? Philippians 1:15-16 says, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add afflictions to my chains.”

Have you ever seen the “FOX” of disinterest in the progress and joy of faith for others? Philippians 1:24-26 says, “Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith.” Paul never displayed disinterest in others’ spiritual progress – it was his heart and mind every day, every way, everywhere! But too many Christians exhibit disinterest in where other young believers are – there is no concern by them for your spiritual maturity.

Have you ever witnessed that “FOX” of disunity? Philippians 2:1-4 says, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

What about that “FOX” of unbelief, false doctrine, false worship? In Philippians 3:1-3, 18-19, we read: “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Verses 18-19, For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame – who set their minds on earthly things.”

Have you ever been shocked by the “FOX” of pettiness between women? Look at Philippians 4:1-3, “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I also urge you, true companions, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” Consider “wild cat female kittens” at one another’s throat – watch out!

Have you ever been around that “FOX” of selfishness? That’s not the Philippians because we read in chapter four, verses 15-17, of THEIR unselfish support of Paul, but I remember a church financial secretary telling me on an occasion that she did not comprehend that the most vocal opposers, disrupters, antagonists in a church business meeting were always the ones who supported the church financially the least of all!

How does one raise up stones to break bones when the Lord is at hand? How does one center so much on themselves in selfish fashion when the Selfless Savior is at hand? How does one center so much on themselves allowing pettiness to permeate them when the Prince of Peace is present? How does “my way” or the highway rule some hearts when the Marvelous Master moves among us? How does unbelief and false doctrine get a foothold in some lives when the God of all Truth rules the day?

Here’s how Paul dealt with it. Listen carefully and prayerfully to his words in Philippians 3:7-16, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upwards call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”

The last point in this chapter? THERE IS NEARNESS OF OUR LORD IN THE TIME OF OUR DEATH:

You do know! We are going to die! How about YOU reading Psalm 23 right now as a refresher course! The Nearness of our Lord even in our fallen state and nature! He’s drawn near to us! The Nearness of our Lord when we find ourselves in need of personal revival! He’s drawn near to us! The Nearness of our Lord when we find ourselves in need of confidence and assurance! He’s drawn near to us! The Nearness of our Lord when we are immersed in the deep waters of worry, doubt, or fear! He’s drawn near to us! The Nearness of our Lord when we are isolated by the judgments of men! He’s drawn near to us! The Nearness of our Lord when we are in intense battles of the faith! “The Lord stood with me!” The Nearness of our Lord when we find ourselves surrounded by the little foxes that spoil the vineyard! “I am with you, in your midst!” The Nearness of our Lord in the time of death! “You are with me, I’ll fear no evil!”

Is our Lord near us now? Remember Gethsemane? There Jesus knelt to pray, “Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from ME; NEVERTHELESS not My will, but Yours be done…And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood flowing to the ground.” WHY? “Because “I AM NEAR YOU AND FOR YOU!”

He was before Pontius Pilate, falsely accused, condemned by a thoughtless, truth-less crowd: “I take your condemnation, judgment, guilt, sins upon MYSELF, because “I AM NEAR YOU AND FOR YOU.”

Watch as He plods the streets, beaten unmercifully in the scourging, bleeding already profusely, carrying that “Old Rugged Cross” because “I AM NEAR YOU AND I AM FOR YOU.”

At this very moment He’s your Advocate, your Heavenly attorney, at the right hand throne of God, having pled your case before that eternal throne of the Most High God, because “I am near you and I am for you.”

When He comes in that heavenly cloud of glory, the second time, not as the suffering servant, but the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords, when that glorious trumpet sounds, you’ll hear Him say, “Because I’m near you and I am for you. Come on – let’s go to our eternal gathering together and to our eternal home!” AMEN?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“THE GOD OF THE PEOPLE?”

In Isaiah 40:18 there is a powerful question. It says, “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare Him with?” Our God, Jehovah God, the one and ONLY TRUE AND LIVING GOD IS BEYOND COMPARISON! Would you try to compare Him to the world’s wealthiest man who holds in his little fingers the destinies and fortunes of corporations and crowds of employees?

In Isaiah 1:3 it says, “An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand.” And too many don’t know and don’t understand that He is the OWNER of it all! Haggai 2:8 says, “The silver is MINE, and the gold is MINE,” declares the Lord of hosts.

In Psalm 50:10 we read, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a 1000 hills.” Would you try to compare Him to the world’s wisest men who hold in their little fingers papers or degrees of their intellectual accomplishments?

I Corinthians 1:19-21 says, “For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

There used to be a song we used to sing about that said something about God holding the whole world in His hands – and HE DOES!

In Isaiah 44:6 the Word speaks, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the Lord of hosts; I am the first and the last, and there is no god besides Me…”

Rahab stood on her gift of revelation faith and said to Joshua [Joshua 2:11], “for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” And she rested her life on “the scarlet thread.” And it hasn’t changed.

2 Chronicles 6:14 declares, “O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart.”

I want to challenge you, if you haven’t been already, right now, with Isaiah 26:4 which says, “Trust in the Lord forever. For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” And the God we serve is no respecter of persons or peoples: Deuteronomy 7:21 says, Moses speaking: “…the Lord your God is IN YOUR MIDST, a great and awesome God…”

Deuteronomy 10:17 tells us, “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe.” It gets better!

Look with me at Deuteronomy 32:3-4, [but let me insert first Deuteronomy 31:3 where Moses declared that, “It is the Lord your God who will cross before you!” Don’t be afraid! Moses then wrote a song in chapter 31, verse 19, that he tells them about, and we find it in the 32^nd chapter!] – Deuteronomy 32:3-4, “For I proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.”

And we also are on a journey, and there are new horizons before us all, even battles to be fought and heavenly reserves to draw upon in our most difficult and blessed moments! So, Psalm 70:4 says, “Let God be magnified!”

“THE GOD OF THE PEOPLE?” OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF ETERNAL, CREATIVE POWER: [Let me say to you, right now, that you don’t have to have full or complete understanding of a truth to stand upon it! Remember that!].

In Genesis 21:33 the Holy Word says, “And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the EVERLASTING GOD!”

God didn’t begin – HE IS, ALWAYS HAS BEEN, AND ALWAYS WILL BE! We read in Jeremiah 10:10, “But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.” Then come to verses 12-13, “It is He who made the earth by His power (don’t ever forget it!! Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created [made] the heaven and the earth” –In fact, in Hebrews 11:3 we read, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”),…who established the world by His wisdom; and by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens…When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth: He makes lightning for the rain, and brings out the wind from His storehouse.”

Psalm 100:3 declares, “KNOW that the Lord Himself is God: It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves…” Now,

Come to Isaiah 40:9-14, and 28-31! “O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up to the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “BEHOLD YOUR GOD!” Behold the Lord shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding? Verses 28-31, Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

And the meaning of what we’ve just read? “NEVER FORGET THE GOD OF ETERNAL, CREATIVE POWER!” This is why, in your spiritual journey, that 2 Corinthians 5:17 is so important! “Therefore, if ANY MAN is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; and behold, new things have come.” He said in Revelation 21:5, “And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things NEW!”

Ask the “born again” – New Life! Ask Peter after he failed – New Beginning! Ask parents who know – New children! Ask children who know – New Parents! Ask businessmen who lost it all – New Opportunity! Ask ones who know of fractured, broken marriages – New Grace, Holy Households! Ask nations once ruled by tyrants and dictators – New Nations with God As Their Lord!

The church of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is to be the people who herald the “NEW HOPE”!! David Chilton wrote an exposition of Revelation entitled “Days of Vengence,” [pps. 547-548]. Listen to what he wrote about Revelation 21:5!! He said: “…The only essential difference between the subjects of 2 Corinthians 5 and Revelation 21 is that Paul is speaking of “the redeemed individual,” while John is speaking of “the redeemed community.” Both the individual and the community are recreated, renewed, and restored to Paradise in salvation, and this cosmic restoration has already begun. John sees that what has begun in seemingly (to the eyes of the first century) isolated instances is really the wave of the future. The new creation will fill the earth; the whole creation will be renewed. This is true definitively, it will be absolutely true eschatalogically – and it gives us the pattern for our work in between, for it is also to be worked out progressively. The New Creation must be unfolded, its every implication understood and applied, by the royal priesthood in this age…The great church historian Phillip Schaff understood this: ‘To the Lord and His kingdom belongs the whole world, with all that lives and moves in it. ALL is yours, says the apostle (ICorinthians 3:22). Religion is not a signal, separate sphere of human life, but the divine principle by which the entire man is to be pervaded, refined, and made complete. It takes hold of him in his undivided totality, in the center of his personal being; to carry light into his understanding, holiness into his will, and heaven into his heart; and to shed thus the sacred consecration of the new birth, and the glorious liberty of the children of God over his whole outward and inner life that may not be glorified. The creature, in the widest extent of the word, is earnestly waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, and sighing after the same glorious deliverance. The whole creation aims toward redemption; and Christ is the second Adam, the new universal Man, not simply in a religious but also in an absolute sense. The view entertained by Romish monasticism and Protestant pietism, by which Christianity is made to consist in an opposition to the natural life, or in ‘flight from the world,’ is quite contrary to the spirit and power of the Gospel, as well as false to its designs. Christianity is the redemption and renovation of the world. It must make all things new.” Can you say AMEN to that?

In Isaiah 42:5-9 we read, Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

And then Isaiah 45:18, 22-23 tells us, For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. Verses 22-23, “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” And, remember, as we’ve begun this study, we’ve seen THE GOD OF ETERNAL, CREATIVE POWER – at this given moment we need to bow before Him and declare our allegiance to Almighty God!

OUR GOD? OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF CONSTANT CALLING:

In Genesis 3:9 Satan had come and deceived Adam and Eve, and they rebelled and sinned, then realized their ‘nakedness’ before Holy God. Then they were feverishly ‘fig-leafing’ their lost and sinful condition, had hidden themselves, they thought, and then in verse 9, “Then the Lord God CALLED to the man, and said to him, “Where are you, Adam?”

I tell you, God is not blind. He knew where Adam was and what condition he was in spiritually. God said, “Adam, look where you are at this point in your life. Look at what disobedience has produced. Look at the absence of God from your life. Look at the end result of devilish deception and fleshly indulgence!”

Do you remember Hagar when God spoke to her in that isolated place? She said, (Genesis 16:13), “You are a God who sees.” And because He sees, He calls. In Ezekial 33:11 we read, “Say to them, ‘As I live!” declares the Lord God, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?”

We just saw in Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto Me, and be saved, all the earth: for I am God and there is none else.” Paul told Timothy (I Timothy 2:4) that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Notice, it’s God who takes the initiative! I Thessalonians 5:24 says, “Faithful is He who calls you.” It’s God who sends the prophets! It’s God who produces the beautiful feet of those that preach, witness, and bring glad tidings of good things. It’s God who inspires the songs of deliverance, salvation, and healing grace. It’s God who speaks through the partner or the parent or the child! It’s God who calls to us even in the crisis of circumstances. It’s the GOD-BREATHED WORD OF HOLY SCRIPTURE BY WHICH WE ARE TO LIVE! God does it!

In Deuteronomy 30:19 we read, God speaking, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” Don’t let it be said of you, Proverbs 1:24, “I called and you refused…”

And old hymn says it so clearly: “Jesus Calls Us,” written by Cecil F. Alexander. It says:

“Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea, Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, saying, ‘Christian, follow Me.’…Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store. From each idol that would keep us, saying, ‘Christian, love Me more.’…In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease, Still He calls us in cares and pleasures, ‘Christian, love ME more than these…Jesus calls us: by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Your call. Give our hearts to Your obedience, Serve and love You best of all.”

OUR GOD IS ALSO THE GOD OF CLEAR UNVEILING:

In Genesis 17:1-3 we read: “Now when Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I AM GOD ALMIGHTY; walk before Me and be blameless…And, I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.’ And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him…”

David said in Psalm 48:10, “As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth.” You’ll remember God coming to Isaac in the contentious land of the Philistines and saying to him, (Genesis 26:24), “I am the God of your father Abraham…”

To Jacob, God said, (Genesis 31:13), “I am the God of Bethel…” the God of encounter, anointing, and promise. And you’ll remember that Jacob had his name changed – “Israel of God” – and he was praying for Joseph with whom he had been reunited and in that prayer said, (Genesis 48:15),, “to the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day…”

In Joshua 24:19 Joshua called Him, “…the holy God, the jealous God.” And, yes, He is THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, GOD MY HELPER, the sustainer of my soul, the God who works wonders, My Father – the rock of my salvation, God of our salvation, God our refuge and strength, The Lord – the God of Heaven, the Lord – your God, God of Israel!

Isaiah 9:6 says He is “the Child born, the Son given, upon whose shoulders the government rests – His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” And how could anyone ever forget Matthew 1:21? “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Then in Matthew 22:32 we read: “I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

JEHOVAH M’KADDESH (Sanctification), ROPHE (Healer), NISSI (Shepherd), SHALOM (Peace), JIREH (Provider), TSIDKENU (Righteousness), ROHI (SHEPHERD), SHAMMAH (Present).

Have you heard it before: (?) “Oh, that I may know Him…” And John 17:3 says, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”

OUR GOD IS GOD OF CONTINUOUS CARE TO THE GREAT NEEDS OF FALLEN AND REDEEMED MANKIND:

Do you remember what Isaac asked his father on that mountain? “Father, where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Genesis 22:7-8, Abraham responded in faith and confidence: “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” He knew the heart of God and the promise of God – and he was sure!

What does 2 Corinthians 5:19 tell us? “God was ‘in Christ’ reconciling the world to Himself…” Are you reconciled to God? In verse 21 Paul wrote: “He (God) made Him (Christ Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Catherine Marshall, in her book “Something More” (p.7), wrote: “Our God is the Divine Alchemist. He can take junk from the rubbish heap of life, and melting this base refuse in the pure fire of His love, hand us back – GOLD!” It is our salvation – the sustenance of the soul and spirit! LOOK AT HIS WORD! REJOICE AND RECEIVE!

Deuteronomy 8:2 He “led you in the wilderness…disciplining you.”

Deuteronomy 9:3 He “crosses over before you as a consuming fire,”

Deuteronomy 9:6 He “gives you a good land”

Deuteronomy 12:7 He “blessed you” Deuteronomy 12:9 “giving you the inheritance,” Deuteronomy 13:3 “testing you” Deuteronomy 20:4 “goes before you”

Joshua 1:13 “gives you rest”, Joshua 23:5 “promised you,” Joshua 23:10 “Fights for you”

I Samuel 9:8 “tells us our way, I Samuel 10:9, “changes the heart,” I Samuel 10:10, “comes upon us mightily,” 2 Samuel 22:48, “executes vengeance for me,”

I Kings 4:29, “gives wisdom,” I Kings 18:21 calls us to “Follow Him,” I Kings 18:24, “answers by fire,”

I Chronicles 4:10, “grants what we request,” I Chronicles 12:8, “helps you,” I Chronicles 14:11, “breaks through my enemies,”

2 Chronicles 9:8, “delights in you,” 2 Chronicles 25:8, “has power to help,” 2 Chronicles 26:5, “prospered him,”

Ezra 2:8, “hand of God is favorably disposed to all who seek Him,”

Nehemiah 7:5, “puts His will in our hearts,” Nehemiah 9:17, “God of forgiveness,” Nehemiah 13:2, “turns the curse into a blessing,” Nehemiah 13:26, “loved by God,”

Psalm 14:5, “with the righteous,” Psalm 18:28, “illumines my darkness,” Psalm 18:32, “girds with strength,” Psalm 43:2, He “is my strength,” Psalm 43:4, “my exceeding joy,” Psalm 43:5, “the help of my countenance,” Psalm 46:1, “my refuge,” Psalm 49:5, “redeems my soul,” Psalm 50:2, He “shines forth,” Psalm 53:6, “Restores His captive people,” Psalm 56:9, “for me,” Psalm 57:2, “accomplishes all things,” Psalm 60:2, “Through our God we shall do valiantly,” Psalm 62:11, “power belongs to God,” Psalm 71:5, “my confidence,” Psalm 71:7, He “taught me,” Psalm 77:14, “works wonders,” Psalm 84:11,” a sun and a shield,” Psalm 86:15, “merciful and gracious,”

Ecclesiastes 3:14, “whatever God does will remain,”

Isaiah 5:16, “shows Himself,” Isaiah 40:1, “comforts His people,” Isaiah 40:3, “in the desert a highway for our God,” Isaiah 40:10, “comes with might,” Isaiah 50:4, “gives me the tongue of disciples to know how to sustain the weary one with a word,” Isaiah 51:22, “contends for the people,” Isaiah 62:5, “rejoices over me,”

Daniel 2:28, “reveals to His people,” Daniel 3:17, “able to deliver us,”

Amos 7:1, “shows me,”

Luke 1:78 revealed “the tender mercy of God,” Luke 7:16, “visited His people,” Luke 8:39, “done great things for us,” Luke 16:15, “knows our hearts,”

Acts 10:41, “chosen beforehand – verse 42, appointed by God,”

Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 15:5, “gives perseverance,” Romans 15:13, “fills us,” Romans 15:33, gives “peace,” Romans 16:20, “crush Satan,”

I Corinthians 10:13, “faithful,” I Corinthians 15:28, our “all in all,”

2 Corinthians 1:9, “raises the dead,” 2 Corinthians 9:8, “able to make all grace to abound toward you,”

Philippians 2:13, “at work in you,”

Colossians 4:12, “assured in all the will of God,”

I Thessalonians 2:4, “approved by God,”

Ephesians 1:6, “accepted in the beloved,”

Hebrews 2:4, “bears witness with us,”

James 4:8, “draws near to us,”

2 Timothy 4:17-18, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…” Titus 3:5, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”

And then I tell you, it is not a trite verse but the center of all glorious truth, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

And, then, Paul wrote in Philippians 4:19, “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” AMEN?

OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF THE “BURNING BUSHES” ALONG LIFE’S JOURNEY:

In Exodus 3:1-6 we read: Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of God appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near to this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.”

And then in Deuteronomy 5:22-24 there are awesome words of hope! “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. And you said, ‘Surely the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives.”

Creation itself is a ‘burning bush’ – Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God: and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”

The two tablets of stone by the finger of God is a ‘burning bush’ – Psalm 19:7-8 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

The Prophetic Word is ‘a burning bush’ – “Thus says the Lord…”

The cross of Christ is a ‘burning bush’ – Romans 5:8, “God proved His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Holy Spirit’s presence in us is a ‘burning bush’ – John said when Jesus came (Matthew 3:11), “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Do you remember? There was the “burning bush” in Genesis 3:8 when Adam and Eve “heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” and they HEARD HIS CALL! It got their attention!

There was the “burning bush” in Genesis 12 when a pagan man in a pagan land heard the divine command and obediently “went forth as the Lord had spoken to him.”

There was the “burning bush” in the isolation of ‘escapism’ in the midst of broken rlationships when (Genesis 28:12) Jacob saw a ladder, heard a voice, and declared “Surely the Lord in in this place, and I did not know it.”

There was the “burning bush” of a prophetic finger when David learned: “You’re the guilty man who needs to be reconciled to God.”

There was the “burning bush” of the ‘second chance’ when Jesus appeared to the distraught Peter who had bungled badly his oath of allegiance.

There was the “burning bush” of an obedient Phillip who went to the backside of a desert to witness and proclaim Christ to a confused yet hungry Ethiopian.

There was the “burning bush” of a flashing light on the Damascus Road that humbled Saul of Tarsus and changed him to a Paul the Apostle. [Examine Psalm 139:1-18!!].

OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF THE SINGING SYMPHONIES OF PRAISE:

Psalm 40:1-3 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord: and He inclined to me and heard my cry…He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay: and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm…And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God: Many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”

Yes, the Word speaks of the songs of God in I Chronicles 16:42! Daniel Webster said to have HYMNED is to have SUNG, PRAISED, OR CELEBRATED IN SONG! Psalm 47:6 says, “Sing praises to God, sing praises: Sing praises to our King, sing praises!” In Psalm 69:30 the psalmist says, “I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.”

Have you ever considered it? Why is there such a vast storehouse of Gospel Music all over the world in the Christian faith but in other ‘religions’ there is little if none?

And there is an answer! Religions are of the ‘head’ while the Christian Faith is of the heart! True salvation births “new songs”! God’s sustenance and faithfulness overflows into our celebrations! A filling and anointing in the Holy Spirit of the Almighty erupts into “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with our hearts TO THE LORD.” Just consider the awesomeness of Handel’s “Messiah”!!

Psalm 146:2 says, “I will praise the Lord while I live: I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” [Look at Psalm 150!!].

OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF SMITTEN SALVATION:

In Isaiah 52:13-53:12 we read, “Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider. Isaiah 53:1-12, Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground, He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked – but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

What does I Corinthians 1:18 tell us? “The word of the Cross…(is what?)…THE POWER OF GOD!!”

“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt…Yonder on Calvary’s Mount outpoured – there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt…Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss: Grace that is greater – Yes, grace untold – points to the refuge, the mighty Cross…Dark is the stain that we cannot hide – what can avail to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide – whiter than snow you may be today…Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see His face, will you this moment His grace receive?…Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.”

So Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow: though they are red like crimson they will be like wool…”

OUR GOD ALSO IS THE GOD OF THE SPOKEN WORD:

In Isaiah 46:5-11 we read, “To whom will you like Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike? They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; they prostrate themselves, yes, they worship. They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it and set it in its place, and it stands; from its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer nor save him out of his trouble. Remember this, and show yourselves men; recall to mind, O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’ Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.”

God spoke to men like an Abram and a Moses. He spoke to nations like Israel. He, yes, spoke to pagan kings like Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar. He spoke to cities like Nineveh. God spoke in certain times and seasons. He’s even spoken in circumstances or events we all face at times. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

We have the promise of Jesus in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I WILL COME TO YOU.” In 2 Samuel 7:29 David said excitedly, “…For You, O Lord God, have spoken: and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

In Numbers 24 God met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and sent him to Balak. And, in verse 19, when he met him he said: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

Sometimes it’s “the seven peals of thunder,” that have spoken. (Revelation 10:4). Psalm 60:6 says, “God has spoken in His sanctuary.” Isaiah 1:20 affirms it, “Truly the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

And then in Jeremiah 25:3 we read, “I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.” Are you listening? Are your ears tuned to hear God speak?

A failure to listen for God to speak to you is tragically what Oswald Chambers called “incarnate unbelief,” which means one has no faith, is god unto himself, is guided by personal feelings, and shutting the door in the face of God. This is not the day nor the time, really not ever, to shut God out of your life or ministry! Look to Him, listen for His voice, and rest in His Sovereign leadership and guidance – yes, hear Him speak to you!

Ezekial heard God!! In Ezekial 5:13 we read, “…then they will know that I, the Lord, have spoken in My zeal when I have spent My wrath upon them.” Then, Paul, in I Thessalonians 2:13 wrote, “…we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which performs its work in you who believe.”

And what did Paul say to Timothy? “ALL Scripture is GOD-BREATHED!!” Do you accept Jesus’ word? Matthew 4:4 says: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

“Holy Bible, book divine, precious treasure, you are mine; Mine to tell me from where I came, mine to teach me what I am…Mine to chide me when I rove; mine to show a Savior’s love; Mine you are to guide and guard, mine to punish or reward… Mine to comfort in distress, suffering in this wilderness, mine to show by living faith, man can triumph over death…Mine to tell of joys to come, and the rebel sinner’s doom, O Thou Holy Book divine, precious treasure, YOU ARE MINE.”

OUR GOD IS THE GOD ON FINAL, EARTHLY SUMMATION AND FULL, ETERNAL GLORY:

In Ephesians 1 Paul talked about the WORK AND WILL OF GOD, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of us all! He said: Ephesians 1:3, “He’s “blessed us,” Verse 4, He’s “chosen us,” Verse 5, He’s “predestined us to adoption,” Verse 7, He’s “redeemed us through His blood,” Verse 8, He’s “lavished upon us the riches of His grace.” Then…

In Ephesians 1:9-12 we read, “He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him…(LISTEN!)…with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things in the earth…In Him…also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestine3d according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will…to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ, should be to the praise of His glory.”

There is such a strong, powerful, illuminating word in Colossians 1:18 which says: “…that in all things He [Jesus!] might have the preeminence!

Our lives are to be summed up in Christ! Our marriages are to be summed up in Christ! As parents we are to so live and teach our children that their lives also are summed up in Christ! Your business and work ethic are to be summed up in Christ! Your friendship relationships are to be summed up in Christ! Your visions, dreams, goals, aims, aspirations are to be summed up in Christ!

Does Jesus reign in your heart and in your home and in your work-a-day world?

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD?”

I want you to come to Ezekial 36 first. We’ll share together verses 22-28, and then Ezekial 37:24-28, and then Hebrews 8:1-2, 6, 10.

Ezekial 36:22-28, “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,’ says the Lord God, ‘when I m hallowed in you before your eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.”

Ezekial 37:24-28, “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”

Hebrews 8:1-2, 6, 10, “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. Verse 6, But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Verse 10, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

When you think about those who were not a people but now they are, when you think about those who were void in mercy but now filled with it, and when you think about those who had no abiding name but now they do, what do you say of them?

They’re called “the believers of the faith, saving faith,” “the Body of Christ,” “the Army of God,” “the soldiers of the Cross,” “the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ,” “the baptized ones,” “the Covenant crowd,” “the Christ-tians,” “the followers of the Way,” “the Born-again-ners,” “the sheepfold,” “the children of the Way,” “the children of Light,” “Wisemen,” “the Promised Bride,” “the Brotherhood of Love,” “the Israel of God,” “the sons of Promise,” “the citizens of the Kingdom,” “the Family of Faith,” “the branches of the True Vine,” “God’s Household,” “a habitation of God through the Spirit…”

But I like that holy covenant of Promise Word we just read, Ezekial 36:28, “So you will be My people, and I will be your God!” In Scripture, you’ll find “My People,” “Your people,” “His people,” “the people of the Lord,” “the people of His pasture,” “the flock of His people,” “Your great people,” “Your own people,” “the people of the God of Abraham,” “Your people called by Your Name.”

Samuel said in I Samuel 12:22b, “…the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.” But you do realize that there are multitudes of people who have no desire at all to be the people of God.

Jude 12 speaks of those “caring for themselves,” and Genesis 11:4 speaks of those whose all-consuming life passion is to “make a name for ourselves,” a people of the world who’ve been squeezed into its mold, a people who think only of flesh, the temporal, and not of the Spirit or the Eternal!

But then there are “the people of God”! Who are they?

You’ll remember Exodus 32 and 33 and the “golden calf” madness of a people who rode “side-saddle” on the calf of deception, idolatry, and spiritual foolishness. And they heard from God, “I’ll see that you get to the land I promised you, but I will not go up in your midst.” And our God will never be with our deceptions, idolatries, or our spiritual foolishnesses!!

But THEY humbled themselves, and Moses interceded: Exodus 33:15-16, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all other people who are upon the face of the earth?” Who ARE these “distinguished” People of God?

IT IS THOSE WHO LIVE IN “THE REST” THAT THEY ARE CHOSEN OF GOD:

In Deuteronomy 7:6 Moses said, “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God: the Lord your God HAS CHOSEN YOU to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

Psalm 33:12 says, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” I would remind you of what Paul said to the church at Rome, (Romans 3:10-11), “As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no not one…there is none who understands, there is none who seeks after or for God.”

But if now there are those ‘seekers for God,’ what happened? In Jeremiah 31:3 the prophet tells us, “The Lord appeared to me from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

Do you remember John 6:44? Jesus said, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” He said later in John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I CHOSE YOU.”

In Revelation 17 it says that there will be those who “wage war against the Lamb.” It’s the way it has been and the way it will be! But also it says in verse 14, “and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords, and King of kings, [LISTEN!}, and those who are with Him (in Victory) are the CALLED, and CHOSEN, and FAITHFUL.”

So in Colossians 3:12-15 Paul says to us: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things, put o love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

Then, in Hosea 2:19-20, 23 we read, “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord. Verse 23, Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are MY PEOPLE!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’”

THE PEOPLE OF GOD? THOSE WHO IN REPENTANCE ARE BROUGHT TO HIM:

In Luke 1:17 we read, “And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous: so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John the Baptist was raised up with the ministry of repentance. Jeremiah was a major Old Testament prophet of repentance! In Jeremiah 5:3 he spoke: “O Lord, do not Your eyes look upon truth (and for truth)? You have smitten them, but they did not weaken. You have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock: they have refused to repent.”

John, in Matthew 3:2, began his ministry, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus, then, in Mark1:14-15, came “preaching the gospel of God,” saying “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe [or trust in, rely upon] the gospel.”

Before His ascension, in Luke 24:47, Jesus commissioned His disciples “that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed on the basis of His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

Paul, to the Ephesian elders, Acts 20:21, stated he testified to both “Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Do you remember when Peter went before the elders in Jerusalem about Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit? When he explained the elders glorified God saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life!”

Look at 2 Corinthians 7:9-11! Paul said: “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

THE PEOPLE OF GOD? THOSE WHO ARE JOYOUSLY REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB:

In Matthew 1:21 we read, “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” And do you remember when the mouth of Zacharias was opened that he prophesied? Luke 1:68 says, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people.”

Peter later said, I Peter 1:18-19, “you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver and gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers…but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” Redeemed, not by religious activities, but by the blood of Christ. Redeemed, not by valiant attempts to live by the Golden Rule, but by the blood of Christ. Redeemed, not by consecrated devotion to the traditional teachings of men, but by the blood of Christ. Redeemed, not by manly attempts to live a moral life, but by the blood of Christ.

Titus 2:14 tells us, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Jesus was and is “the merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [Hebrews 2:17]. Then, Hebrews 13:12 tells us, “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people THROUGH HIS OWN BLOOD, suffered outside the gate.”

THE PEOPLE OF GOD? THOSE WHO ARE JUSTIFIABLY RECONCILED TO GOD:

In 2 Corinthians 5:14-19 we read, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

Did it say “reconciled us to Himself through Christ”? And he said it not once but twice! “RECONCILED”? There are two words here: ALLASSO, “to change, alter, exchange,” and KATA, “according to”. That’s ‘according to’ HIMSELF! He changes us, alters us, exchanges us “according to” JESUS!

We are reconciled to His PERSON – “we shall be like Him.” We are reconciled to His PURPOSE – “…saved us and called us with a holy calling…(2 Timothy 1:9) I Peter 4:2 says, “…live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” We are reconciled to His POWER – I Corinthians 1:24, “Christ, the power of God…” In His prayer for the Ephesian church Paul prayed, (Ephesians 1:19), that they might know “what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” We’re not the impotent – we’re the empowered; we’re not the addled – we’re the anointed; We’re not the empty – we’re the FILLED IN ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the truth that the word of the Cross of Christ IS the very power of God. [I Corinthians 1:18].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. [I Corinthians 2:4].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the faith that rests not on the wisdom of men but on the power of God. [I Corinthians 2:5].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the truth for our raising up through power. [I Corinthians 6:14].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the surpassing greatness of the power that is of God and not of ourselves. [2 Corinthians 4:7].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the truth that though we know we are weak in Him, yet we shall live with Him and in Him because of the power directed toward us. [2 Corinthians 13:2].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the truth of the working of His power. [Ephesians 3:7].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the power of His resurrection. [Philippians 3:10].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the truth that we have been strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. [Colossians 1:11].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the truth of the glory of His power. [2 Thessalonians 1:9].

“In Christ” we are those who know and live by the power of His indestructible Life. [Hebrews 7:16].

“In Christ” we are protected by the power of god. [I Peter 1:5]. So, Revelation 19:1 says: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God” – and to Him we have been reconciled!!

THE PEOPLE OF GOD? THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ROYALLY BLESSED BY OUR FATHER-GOD:

Psalm 144:15 says, “How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!” Then in Psalm 67:7 the psalmist said, “God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”

The first two verses of Psalm 67 says: “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us – that Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all the nations.”

If you haven’t read Ephesians lately, you need to be blessed by Ephesians 1:3 where Paul said that God has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” BLESSED US?

He’s blessed us because we’ve been washed in the blood of the Lamb, Revelation 22:14. He’s blessed us because our hope is only in Him, Titus 2:13. He’s blessed us because we’re of the faith of Abraham, Galatians 3:9. He’s blessed us because we’ve been willing to be reviled for the name of Christ, I Peter 4:14. He’s blessed us because we died “in the Lord,” Revelation 4:13.

I love Deuteronomy 28:6 which says, We’re “blessed when we came in, and blessed when we go out!” And then in Verse 8 it says that God even commands the blessing! Glory!

Disciples of Christ are not foolish fanatics but faithful men and women who’ve become devoted to Holy God because of His undeniable loyalty to His servants! He’s “blessed us” and He keeps on “blessing”!

THE PEOPLE OF GOD? THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED IN THE FULLNESS OF HIS HEAVENLY AUTHORITY:

In John 20:21 Jesus said, “Peace be with you: AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, I ALSO SEND YOU.” Is that a call to a few or a calling for ALL His chosen disciples?

Revelation 1:5-6 tells us, “…To Him who loves us, and has released us from our sins, by His blood…and He has MADE US TO BE A KINGDOM, priests to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

One of the great theological differences of men’s ministries is when the kingdom of God begins. For some it’s future while for others it is present, NOW. Let’s look at the Word!!

I Timothy 1:17 says, “Now to the King Eternal (of the ages), immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” Then, in I Timothy 6:15 Paul called Jesus “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”

And then John, in Revelation 1:9 gives us insight: “I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and the kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus…” Is that clear to you? THE KINGDOM IS IN JESUS!! Then our Lord, in Luke 10:19 tells us, “Behold, I give you authority…” Then boldly in Romans 5:17 Paul illumines us more: “…much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will REIGN IN LIFE through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Did that say “reign in life” or reign when you get to heaven someday? To the Ephesians, Ephesians 3:10-11, Paul wrote: “grace was given…[LISTEN!]…in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places…This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which God carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What about what Jesus had to day about all disciples, then and now? In Luke 12:32 our Lord and Master said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.” That’s THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THE KINGDOM RULE, THE KINGDOM AUTHORITY, THE KINGDOM PURPOSE AND PLAN, THE KINGDOM PROVISIONS AND POWER!

Didn’t He teach us to pray: “…YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ‘ON EARTH’ [in the here and now] AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.” GLORY!!

Jesus calls you in Christ “the salt of the earth,” “lights on the hills,” the Ezras and Nehemiahs building greater cities than old Jerusalem – we’re ushering in the New Jerusalem! And Daniel 11:32 says, “…the people who know their God will display strength and take action…” Tell me about your personal ‘game plan’ in helping Jesus Christ change the world!

Daniel 12:3 says, “And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Then in Daniel 7:13-14, “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.”

Isaiah saw it! And he cried out: “Here am I! Send me!” God said, “Go, and tell this people!” And with that heavenly authority, we are His witnesses, we are “Kingdom” ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ!

THE PEOPLE OF GOD? THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ORDAINED AS TRUE WORSHIPPERS OF THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD:

Isaiah 43:21 says, “The people whom I have formed for Myself will declare My praise.” It was the psalmist, in Psalm 102:18, who said, “Let this be written for the generation to come; that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.”

Oh, I pray Jesus’ words in John 4:21-24 will truly speak to your heart and open it wide to worship and praise the Living God! It says: Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Our Lord said in Luke 19:40, “I tell you, if these (disciples) become silent, the stones will cry out!” The angels bless the Lord (Psalm 103:20). Even “the morning stars sing together for joy” – symphonies of praise to our God.

Why were the “Pharisees” so “in the face” of the disciples and so opposed to their joyful praising of Jesus? I like Arthur Pink’s definition of worship and it explains the void within the Pharisees and scribes. [It’s in his volume on John, p.208], “Worship is a redeemed heart occupied with God, expressing itself in adoration and thanksgiving.”

The Pharisees and scribes were devoted to print – disciples were devoted to the Prince!

The Pharisees and scribes were devoted to the page – disciples were devoted to the Author!

The Pharisees and scribes were devoted to the scroll and their interpretation of it – disciples were devoted to the Spirit of it and their need of Christ the Savior!

In closing this chapter, do you remember when the Word of God was rediscovered in the reign of Josiah, how it was read in his presence, and how he tore his cloths at the reading of the Word of God? Why? Because he knew that there was such a vast difference in what he heard and what he knew he and his people were or did or did not do! He was heart-broken!

Listen to me! “In Christ” we’re the people of God. We’re the Church, the Body of Christ, the fellowship of the believers – that’s those who are to BE the People of God. And yet too often there is such a difference in what we hear and know and what we do!

So what does God say? II Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Paul really nailed it down for us when in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 he wrote: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

How could a believer forget Jeremiah 2:32? “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number?” But we’ll not be those who forget – we’ll be those who fill Heaven with praise and adoration! We’ll not be those who wilt – we’ll be those who worship with great passion and fidelity! We’ll not be those drifting into complacency and indifference – we know Him, love Him, and will serve Him faithfully. We’ll not be those who look and act like unbelievers – we’re those who are “Living Stones,” true memorials to our Lord and Savior! We’ll not be those who are silent – we’ll sing His High Praises and make joyful sounds of true devotion to Christ Jesus!

Oh, don’t miss this: I Peter 2:9-10, “But YOU are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” Glory!!

I close this chapter with words from Habakkuk 3: 17-19, “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”

“The People of God”? That’s those who have come to God’s open door to “the measure of the stature of the fullness of our Lord Jesus Christ”!! That’s those who say with Paul, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and, yes, even the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

“ENTER HIS GATES?”

It’s one of the greatest statements of faith found anywhere in the Word of God. It’s one of the most loved Psalms, Psalm 100: “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!…Serve the Lord with gladness…Come before His presence with singing…Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves…We are His people and the sheep of His pasture…ENTER INTO HIS GATES with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise…Be thankful to Him, and bless His name…For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”

And His “enduring truth” still says to us, “ENTER HIS GATES”! In Luke 13:23-24 one said to Jesus, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And Jesus said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” What an awesome encouragement and warning!

Psalm 122:1-2 is entitled “A Song of Assents” – and I would ask you, are you ascending into the “gates of the Lord”?

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’ Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!”

Bill Bennett, in his book, “The Book of Virtues,” [Simon & Schuster, New York, 1993, pps.479-480] included Henry van Dyke’s “Doors of Daring.” It says, “The mountains that inclose the vale with walls of granite, steep and high, Invite the fearless foot to scale their stairway toward the sky…The restless, deep, diving sea that flows and foams from shore to shore, calls to its sunburned chivalry, ‘Push out, set sail, explore!’…The bars of life at which we fret, that seem to prison and control, Are but the doors of daring, set ajar before the soul… Say not, “Too poor,” but freely give; Sigh not, “Too weak,” but boldly try; you never can begin to live until you dare to die.”

And Jesus our Lord straightforwardly declares: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” The steps of Jesus led Him straight to Jerusalem for an appointment with death!

There was a physical sacred city called the city of God, Jerusalem; also called the holy city. And just as God ordained its building with “gates,” what He did then He has done now. The “holy city” of the Spirit has “gates” they’re not “doors of daring”, but “doors of dependence”! They’re not gates of timbers and iron, but gates of eternal truth and heavenly inspiration and instruction!

We know what God had to say to Obadiah about Edom and Esau because we saw in the Word “The Advancing Amalek Army.” But we also need to learn of “the reasons of God’s judgment.” Listen to Obadiah 10-11, 13: “For your violence against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever…In the day that you stood on the other side – In the day that strangers carried captive his forces, When foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem – Even you were as one of them…Verse 13, You should not have entered the gate of My people in the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity.”

Will you stand within the gates of grace or will you be a violator, a foreigner, a stranger standing within the gates of judgment? What did Jesus say? “…for many, I say to you, will seek to enter (the straight and narrow) gate, AND WILL NOT BE ABLE!!”

Edgar Guest wrote “The Things That Haven’t Been Done Before.” It says: “The things that haven’t been done before, Those are the things to try; Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore At the rim of the far-flung sky,

And his heart was bold and his faith was strong as he ventured in dangers new, and he paid no heed to the jeering throng or the fears of the doubting crew.

The many will follow the beaten track With guideposts on the way. They live and have lived for ages back with a chart for every day.

Someone has told them it’s safe to go On the road he has traveled o’er, And all that they ever strive to know Are the things that were known before.

A few strike out, without map or chart, Where never a man has been, From the beaten paths they draw apart To see what no man has seen.

There are deeds they hunger alone to do; Tho’ battered and bruised and sore, They blaze the path for the many, who do nothing not done before.

The things that haven’t been done before Are the tasks worthwhile today; Are you one of the flock that follows, or Are you one that shall lead the way?

Are you one of the timid souls that quail at the jeers of a doubting crew, Or dare you, whether you win or fail, Strike out for a goal that’s new?”

I want you to know there is the goal of a new and living way – it’s the gates of God that lead to His eternal life and His eternal day. What did Psalm 100:4 tell us? “Enter His gates with thanksgiving…”

In Ezekial 43:5-12 the prophet tells us: “The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. Then I hear Him speaking to me from the temple, while a man stood beside me. And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places. When they set their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me, they defiled My holy name by the abominations which they committed; therefore I have consumed them in My anger. Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me, and I will dwell in their midst forever. Son of man, describe the temple of the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and perform them. This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.” [Did you notice: “its exits and its entrances”?]

Now come with me to Nehemiah 3=

Let’s LOOK AT THE LAMB’S GATE: Nehemiah 3:1, Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors…”

We certainly are His people and the sheep of His pasture, but to enter the Holy City, there is only one way! In John 10:7 we read, Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” Again, in verse 10 our Lord said, “I AM THE DOOR. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” Remember, it’s called the “Sheep Gate,” or the “Lamb’s Gate.”

In Exodus 12:3-8, 21, we read: “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assemble of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” Verse 21 then says: Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, AND KILL THE PASSOVER LAMB.”

And you’re unsure about the identity of the “Passover Lamb”? In Isaiah 53:7-11 we read “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was ‘led as a lamb’ to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken, And they made His grave with the wicked – but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.” Its verification?

In John 1:29 the Word of God says: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!”

In Revelation 12 John informs us about the ‘great dragon’ and our war with the Devil or Satan, and then in Verse 11 informs us: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Don’t take lightly your own spiritual warfare with the powers of darkness but, at the same time, rest in the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world that Revelation 13:8 tells us about: “All who dwell on the earth will worship him [that’s yielded to and devoted to the Devil himself] whose names have not been written in [God’s] Book of Life of the Lamb…”

Revelation 14:1 tells us, “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” And they are busy preparing for the “wedding” of the Lamb and Is Bride! Revelation 19:7 tells us, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” WOW!

The “Lamb’s Gate”? That’s entrance to God’s City of “Rest”! Matthew 11:28-29 says: Jesus speaking, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Charles Spurgeon, in his Memorial Library series, “Spurgeon’s Sermons, [Vol. 13, pps 311-312], wrote: “The gospel of Jesus Christ is intended as a refuge for those who have broken the law of God, whom vengeance is pursuing, who will certainly be overtaken, to their eternal destruction, unless they fly to Christ and find shelter in Him. Outside of Christ the sword of fire pursues us swift and sharp. From God’s wrath there is bout one escape, and that is by a simple faith in Christ. Believe in Him, and the sword is sheated, and the mercy and the love of God will become your everlasting portion; but refuse to believe in Jesus, and your innumerable sins, written in His book, shall be laid at your door in the day when the pillars of heaven shall reel, and the stars shall fall like withered fig-leaves from the tree.”

The “Lamb’s Gate”? That’s the entrance to God’s City of our eternal home!

It’s “a promised home” – John 14:2 says, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.” Paul clarifies it to the Philippians and us when in Philippians 3:20 he wrote: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

It’s “a permanent home” – Philippians 3:21 says, “WHO WILL (might, maybe, possibly?) transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body,…”

It’s “a prosperous home” – Revelation 21:21 says, “And the twelve gates of heaven were twelve pearls (priceless): each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”

It’s “a pleasurable home” – Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

The “Lamb’s Gate”? That’s the entrance to God’s City of abundant provisions! Doesn’t Philippians 4:19 tell us, “And my God SHALL SUPPLY all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

The “Lamb’s Gate”? That’s the entrance to God’s City of separation from all that is behind us! Judges 2:1 says, “Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers.” Oh, and listen carefully, thankfully: God leads US up from the world, from bondage, from sin and death, from a meaningless existence, from hollowness and helplessness, from the deception of the fruit of good and evil to the eternal fruit of one tree of hope and help of an empty tomb!

Let’s look at THE FISH GATE: Nehemiah 3:3 says: Also the sons of Hassenaah built the FISH GATE; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars.” So.. what significance does that have for us today?

In Matthew 4:19 Jesus is calling His first disciples, saying to them, and us: “Follow Me, And I will make you [to become] FISHERS OF MEN!!”

In Romans 10:12-15 we read: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’”

Gabriel Marcel said: “Conversion is the act by which one is called to be a witness!!” Isn’t that what the Resurrected Christ told His disciples just before His ascension? Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Come to Acts 8! Acts 8:4 says, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” ‘Preaching’ is the Greek word: evangelidzo!! That’s evangelizing, sharing the Word, sharing the faith, reaching out in the name of Christ Jesus!

Acts 8:5 says, “Then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.” The word ‘preached’ here is the Greek word, KERUSSO, or “to herald,” “to blow the trumpet.”

Acts 8:6 says, “And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Phillip…” The word ‘spoken’ is the word “LEGO” or conversationally speaking to another!

Acts 8:25 says, “So when they had testified…” That word ‘testified’ is the Greek word ‘MARTUREO’ meaning “bearing witness to a fact you know about even to giving up your life if needed.”

Are you getting this beautiful picture? Deuteronomy 12:3 says, “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.” It’s why the wiseman of Proverbs said, Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”

Again, “Conversion is the act by which one is called to be a witness!” Psalm 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy…He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing Bringing his sheaves with him.” IT HASN”T CHANGED! “RESCUE THE PERISHING!!”

Let’s look at “THE OLD GATE”: the Farrell Fisher translation? “The ANCIENT Gate”!

Nehemiah 3:6 tells us: “Moreover Jehoida the son of Paseah and Meshullum the son of Besodeiah repaired the OLD GATE; they laid its beams and hung its doors, with its bolts and bars.” [Just a question since I’m fast approaching the age of 78!! “What’s so bad about the ‘old’ or ‘the ancient’?]

In Jeremiah 6:16 we read, THUS SAYS THE LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘WE WILL NOT WALK IN IT.’” Later, in Jeremiah 18:15 God spoke again, “Because My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in pathways and not on a highway…” [Could that be no desire to walk on God’s “Highway of Holiness?”] What is “The Old Gate”?

That’s the “ANCIENT GATE OF THE SOVEREIGN RULE OF HIM WHO IS CALLED THE ANCIENT OF DAYS! Daniel 7:9-10 says, “I watched till thrones were put in place, and THE ANCIENT OF DAYS was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire…A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.”

That’s the “ANCIENT GATE OF THE APPOINTED KINGDOM RULE OF HIS HEAVENLY SON!

Daniel 7:13-14, 18, says: “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him before near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. Verse 18, “But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.”

That’s the “ANCIENT GATE OF PROMISED VICTORY FOR THE SAINTS!

Daniel 7:21-22, 26-27 says: “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,…until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. [But the beast arises, “speaking pompous words against the Most High,…persecuting the saints of the Most High…intending to change times and law”]. Verses 26-27, “But the court shall be seated And they shall take away the beast’s dominion, to consume and destroy it forever…Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

Oh, yes, there is another Gate!! IT’S “THE VALLEY GATE”! Nehemiah 3:13 speaks of “the low place”. It speaks of the gate or the way of humility!

In Philippians 2:3-8 we read, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

For “proud societies” I know it’s difficult but James 4:10 tells us, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” And God’s vision is not impaired!

I Peter 5:5-6 says, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud; but He gives grace to the humble.’…Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

How powerful and liberating and challenging and convicting is the Word of God!! 2 Chronicles 7:14, “humble yourselves and pray – God answers! Psalm 10:17, God hears the desires of the humble. Psalm 25:9, God teaches the humble His way. Psalm 34:2, The humble hear and they rejoice. Psalm 37:11 The humble inherit the land. Proverbs 29:23 The humble obtain honor. Luke 1:52 God exalts the humble. James 4:6 God gives grace to the humble. James 4:10, God lifts up the humble.

What about in Nehemiah 3:14 the “repairing of the REFUSE GATE”?

Do you remember Exodus 12 and the preparations for Passover? Exodus 12:15 says, “..On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.” What is the Word telling us about “refuse”?

In I Corinthians 5:8 there is a word about “the leaven of malice and wickedness.” If you look at Verse 7 it speaks of “clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”

Paul’s word to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:20-22 is so on target, not only for youth worldwide, but on target for all! “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself for the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, and prepared for every good work. Flee youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Do you know and understand what the will of God is for your life? In I Thessalonians 4:3 Paul said, “For this is the WILL OF GOD, YOUR SANCTIFICATION; that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” The word “sanctification” is a word that fundamentally tells us we are “set apart” for the honor and glory of God alone, set apart for His usefulness in kingdom allegiance!

It’s why in I Thessalonians 4:7 Paul said, “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” We cleanse ourselves because “in Christ” we serve, represent, and honor the King of kings and Holy God. But beyond what we just read, what about what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:1? “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

We cleanse ourselves because we’re called with a high and holy calling. We cleanse ourselves because we possess a holy hope – being like Him. We cleanse ourselves because of our ministries of salt and light. We cleanse ourselves so Christ feels at home in us. We cleanse ourselves because cleanliness in Spirit is better than dirtiness of the flesh. Next Gate?

There is “The FOUNTAIN GATE”: Nehemiah 3:15, “ Shallun..repaired the Fountain Gate.”

I want you to look first at John 7:38-39 where Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water…But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Then later, in John 16:7 Jesus said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage (necessary) that I go away: for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

Oh, and then, in John 20:22, after telling the disciples that ‘as the Father has sent Me, I also send you,” Jesus “Breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Some appropriate little brooks – others choose the flow of the mighty Niagara Falls. Some choose to dig in desert sands for a small drop of water – others choose the flow of a mighty Amazon or Nile River of the Spirit.

The Fountain Gate speaks of entering the flow of God Himself. The Fountain Gate speaks of standing on the promise of available power. The Fountain Gate speaks of resting in the fullness of Him who fills all in all. The Fountain Gate speaks of receiving available provisions of the fruit of the Spirit. The Fountain Gate speaks of trusting the baptism of Holy Ghost fire sweeping over us like the wind of a fire-cloud into the very glory of God. The Fountain Gate speaks of the acknowledgement of our impotence, but also the announcement and availability of His inexhaustible supply of His great power.

Acts 4:33 says, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”

Jack Taylor, in “The Key To Triumphant Living,” [Broadman Press, Nashville, 1971, p.81], wrote: “How marvelous is the figure of a RIVER…a RIVER: is involuntary and doesn’t have to try. A river is unselfish and available wherever it goes. A river is the picture of confidence and power and doesn’t have to babble like a brook! A river is consistent and keeps on keeping on. You don’t have to prod it. A river is a picture of constant cleaning. Cast pollution in it and it will sweep it away. A river is a symbol of courage. Put obstacles in front of it, and it will overwhelm them. A river speaks of available power. It runs factories and turns lights on all over the country.” Do you see the necessity of the Fountain Gate? No production, no power, no lights apart from the anointing of the mighty Spirit of God!

This is why Paul wrote Ephesians 5:17-18, “Therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is…And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT!! Let the river flow through you!

But Jeremiah 2:13 says, God speaking, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS, and hewn themselves cisterns – broken cisterns that can hold no water.” And then in Jeremiah 17:13 God says, “Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth. Because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.”

But there is another option!! Zechariah 12:10 says, God speaking, “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

Let’s meet together, right now, at “THE WATER GATE”: Nehemiah 3:26 says, “Moreover the Nethinim who dwelt in Ophel made repairs as far as the place in front of the WATER GATE…” How absolutely thrilling is God’s precious Word!

Come to Nehemiah 8:1-6, 8-9, Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose…and Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground….Verses 8-9, So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.”

In Ephesians 5:25 Paul spoke of how Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it…and then in Verses 26-27 he said, “that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” I pray you are familiar with the ministry of the Word of God – individually, as a family, as a nation, and, yes, throughout the world!

Psalm 107:20, “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” But come to Psalm 119!! It majors on God’s Word: Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man cleanse his way> By taking heed according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:11, “Your word have I hid in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” Verse 25 speaks of “revival” according to God’s Word! Verse 28 speaks of “strengthened according to God’s Word!” Do we walk around with fleshly, spaghetti, or like muscles or mighty muscles of Almighty God?

Psalm 119:49 says, “Remember the word to your servant upon which You have caused me to HOPE.” Then verse 89 speaks of God’s Word “settled in heaven – FOREVER.” In verse 105 the psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Then in verse 165 he said, “Great peace have those who love Your word, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Receive His holy Word as your daily bread!

Next, let’s look at “THE HORSE GATE”: Nehemiah 3:28 says, “Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.” The HORSE GATE?

Proverbs 21:31 speaks of “The Horse prepared for the day of battle”! Tell me about your own spiritual preparation to “fight the good fight of faith”! Jeremiah 8:6 speaks of “The Horse rushing into battle!!” Oh, but then it gets really personal here when in Zechariah 10:3b we read: “For the Lord of hosts will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle…!”

What does Revelation 19:19 tell us? “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”

Ernest Shurtleff wrote the great hymn entitled, “Lead On, O King Eternal.” It says: “Lead on, O King eternal, the day of march has come; Henceforth in fields of conquest Your tents shall be our home. Through days of preparation Your grace has made us strong, And now, O King Eternal, We lift our battle song…

Lead on, O King Eternal, Till sin’s fierce war shall cease, And holiness shall whisper The sweet Amen of peace; For not with swords loud clashing, Nor roll of stirring drums, With deeds of love and mercy The heavenly kingdom comes…Lead on, O King Eternal, We follow, not with fears; For gladness breaks like morning Where’er Your face appears; Your cross is lifted o’er us; We journey in its light: The crown awaits the conquest: Lead on, O God of might.”

Let’s look at “THE EAST GATE”:

Nehemiah 3:29,”…After him Shemaiah …the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.” Malachi 4:2 says, “But to you who fear My name the Sun of righteousness SHALL ARISE with healing in His wings.”

Without a doubt I believe this East Gate is that gate of looking, preparation, anticipation, even longing, for the soon return of the King of kings and Lord of lords! Matthew 2:2 says of ‘the wise men’ from the East that they came seeking: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him!”

Matthew 24:27 makes it even clearer: “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

But God’s Holy Word inspires us to always ‘be ready’ as if today were the day keep your eyes fixed on the East! Revelation 22:12, 16 says, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work, Verse 16, I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Almeda J. Pearce wrote a classic hymn entitled “When He Shall Come.” It says: “When He shall come, resplendent in His glory, To take His own from out this vale of night, O may I know the joy at His appearing – Only at morn to walk with Him in white!…When I shall stand within the court of Heaven Where white-robed pilgrims pass before my sight – Earth’s martyred saints and bloodwashed overcomers – These then are they who walk with Him in white!…When He shall call, from earth’s remotest corners, All who have stood triumphant in His might, O to be worthy then to stand beside them, And in that morn to walk with Him in white!”

Revelation 3:4, Jesus speaking, “You have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

Lastly, let’s look at “THE ASSIGNMENT – APPOINTMENT – RECRUITMENT GATE”: Nehemiah 3:31 tells us about Malchijah making repairs…in front of the Miphkad Gate, “inspection” or “recruiting gate.”

In 2 Timothy 1:9 Paul shared with Timothy the call to share in the sufferings ‘FOR THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE POWER OF GOD,’ telling him, “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works [or plans], but according to His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before time began…Verse 10, but now has been revealed…”

Do you remember as we began this study that we heard Jesus say, “Strive to enter through the NARROW GATE?” O but now, listen to Psalm 31:8, “You, God, have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; YOU HAVE SET MY FEET IN A WIDE PLACE!!”

I tell you, it’s a wide place of spiritual adventures. It’s a wide place of touching the infinite and laying hold of the supernatural. It’s a wide place of expanding horizons within the Sovereignty of God. It’s a wide place of grasping the heart and ministry of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It’s a wide place where the bubbling of the spring becomes a mighty river of incomparable love feeding the world with grace and mercy.

Disciples of Jesus are not those confined in a small place suffering from ‘cabin fever’ – they are the ones who’ve entered the gate of holy calling and soar with Christ in the heavenly places. Though they may live in a small town they are consumed with the spirit of global-mindedness. They’re those who’ve been lifted to the vast vistas of world vision. With Abraham their desire is to be a blessing to all the nations of the earth.

John saw a vision in Revelation 5:9-10 – it’s of those singing THE NEW SONG: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; For you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation…And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”

Luke 13:22-30 is both a warning AND a reason to rejoice in the Lord! It says: “And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open for us, and He will answer and say to you, I do not know you, where you are from; then you begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say to you, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

It was Bob Moorehead, pastor in Seattle, Washington, in the book “Standing Tall” by Steve Farrar, who wrote: [pps. 165-166], “I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look up, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, stored up, and stayed up the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until Heaven returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear.”

And I’d say Bob Moorehead’s color is “blood-red” from the very veins of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God! Amen?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“THE WAYS OF GOD?”

I did a message a number of years ago entitled “Restraining Affection.” One of those restrained affections was ‘the restraining affection of a limited knowledge of God.’ Several things I want to make mention of to introduce “The Ways of God”: Romans 10:1-2 showed us those who “have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge.” In Titus 1:16 we learn of those who “profess to know God, but by their deeds deny Him.”

It doesn’t let up much at all! In John 17:3 Jesus said, “this IS eternal life, that they might KNOW YOU, the only True God and Jesus Christ whom You sent”, but how many really “know” Him? We learned in that message Hebrews 10:30-31, “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengence is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people – IT IS A TERRIFYING THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD.”

And then in Hebrews 3:10 we read, “Therefore I was angry with this generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts; and they did not know My ways…(as a result) Verse 11, ‘As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest.’” How serious does it sound to you to know God and His ways? But God is gracious and merciful which explains both Jesus’ presence AND the Cross!

So our Lord and Savior tells us in Matthew 10:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Take My yoke upon you and 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.”

Moses learned the grace and mercy of God – and I don’t want you to miss what Moses said: Exodus 33:11-14, So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, SHOW ME NOW YOUR WAY, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.’ And He said, “y Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” The psalmist wrote, Psalm 103:7, “He [God] made known His ways to Moses.” And if He did that for Moses, will He do that for you?

There are those who profess that they’re the people of God – they ‘profess’ that they know His ways, or they profess they want to know His ways, but in Psalm 95:10 God declare, “…they do not know My ways…” But then there are those who come to the spiritual crossroads of life and say, “I don’t even want to know Him or His ways.”

In Job 21:7, 13-15, are words you can hear regularly, and your heart is broken. Listen, and choose Him, not a sin-blackened heart! Job 21:7 says, “Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?” A sobering question – or should be! Then, Job 21:13-15 says, “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him?’”

There are those who settle for the fringes of His ways – Job 26:14, “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways: and how faint a word we hear of Him!” The fringes of – but not His ways!

But then, there are those who hunger, long, desire, walk with the very breath of life in them only to know Him: Philippians 3:10 is Paul saying, “that I may know Him!!” And Daniel 11:32 gives people like Paul a heavenly promise: “…the people WHO KNOW THEIR GOD will display strength and take action.” There are several things I want you to clearly understand:

One, GOD WANTS US TO KNOW HIS WAYS:

Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” I sense God focuses on us because of His great love for us – the man who is the furtherest throw away from God is the man loving God is most concerned about!

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are completely His, whose hearts are steadfast.” But you must understand and be genuinely awakened in Truth: God doesn’t unveil Himself to the divided heart! Psalm 25:9 says, “…He teaches the humble His way…”. God doesn’t reveal Himself to the proud and arrogant! Psalm 25:12 says, “Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose…” Psalm 25:14 says, “The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.” David put it even stronger in Psalm 103:17-18 when he wrote and sang: “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them”

God doesn’t manifest the beauty and glory of His life when there is no fear of Holy God. David was so bold about himself before the Lord. In Psalm 25:4 he cried out to the Lord: “Make me know Your ways, O Lord.” He said in verse 5, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.” Are you seeing “the surrendered life”? Are you sensing a hungering heart? Do you possess a longing soul for God Himself? Or are you ‘blind’ to what or WHO you need to see?

Understand: God doesn’t pull back the curtain to a prayer-less, self-satisfied heart.

Two, GOD NOT ONLY WANTS US TO KNOW HIS WAYS, HE WANTS US TO BE ONE WHO WALKS IN HIS WAYS:

In Deuteronomy 8:5-6 are two significant, eye-opening verses that should awaken you if you’ve lapsed into indifference to God and His ways – “You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. THEREFORE you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to WALK IN HIS WAYS and to fear Him.”

You know Moses had a true heart for God – and Moses had a heart for His people also. In Deuteronomy 28:1-2,Moses said: “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord.”

Didn’t Jesus ask a very pertinent, pointed statement when He said, “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, but you do not do what I say?” I hate to be the one to shock you to your senses, if needed, but ‘obedience is not an option in the day of grace’! Obedience is the hallmark of one who has truly been born again!

In Deuteronomy 19:9 we read: “and if you keep all these commandments and do them, which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and to walk always in His ways, then you shall add three more cities for yourself besides these three..”

Have you truly come to grips with the evidence of “saving grace”? Ephesians 2:1-2 says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” Paul said later in Ephesians 4:1, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

But the Word of God, the Holy Word of God, exposes the false foundations of disobedient, reckless, self-centered living, when in Isaiah 42:24, we read God’s response to that kind of a lifestyle: “Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the Lord against whom we have sinned? And in whose ways they were not willing to walk? And whose law they did not obey?”

Here they are! They knew or know His ways – but they chose, then and now, not to walk in them! Doesn’t Jeremiah 5:1-5 give us a saddened picture of, yes, even modern-day rebellion concerning those who refuse to walk in His ways? It says: “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her. Though they say, ‘As the Lord lives,’ surely they swear falsely.” O Lord, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return. Therefore I said, “Surely these are poor, they are foolish; for THEY DO NOT KNOW THE WAY OF THE LORD, the judgment of their God. I will go to the great men and speak to them, for they have known the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God.”

The Book of Hosea is one great prophetic word, yes, for our modern world to discover the ways of God! In Hosea 14:9 His Word tells us, “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous WILL WALK IN THEM, but transgressors will stumble in them.”

God’s Holy Word overflows with “promises” He makes – Zechariah 3:7 says, Thus says the Lord of hosts, “IF you will walk in My ways, and IF you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among those who are standing here…” How exciting is I Kings 3:14? “And if you WALK IN MY WAYS…then I will prolong your days.” It’s in Isaiah 58:13-14 where God gives the challenge of us, all humanity, desisting from all our ways, and yielding ourselves to God’s ways, delighting ourselves in Him, then He will cause us to ride on the high hills of the earth and feed us with the heritage of Jacob.

But commitment is required! Psalm 37:5 is so clear: “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Then in Psalm 50:23 we read, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright, I will show him the salvation of God.” As a result of the eternal choice of God’s ways for your life, Psalm 138:5 says, “And they will sing of the ways of the Lord: For great is the glory of the Lord.” Are you singing yet?

Three, WHAT ARE THE WAYS OF GOD?

Without hesitation, it’s easy to say God’s ways are the ways of greatness! Deuteronomy 10:17 says, “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality or takes a bribe.”

He’s great and awesome in His creative power: Genesis 1:1 begins, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The prophet Isaiah hear Him speak: Isaiah 45:6-8, “That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things. Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it.”

He’s great in the eternal Cross of Christ: I’m sure you know John 3:16 by memory! But you haven’t attached eternal significance to Christ’s shed blood and broken body dying on the Cross for your salvation?

He’s great in His character and great in His awesome acts! Deuteronomy 7:21 says, “… for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.” I Chronicles 16:25 says, “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised…” Has your life of faith matured to the point that you have become one disciple who more and more erupts in praise and adoration for the glory of God like a spiritual volcano that never subsides?

How does the Word describe His greatness? “Great deliverance,” “great judgments,” “great power,” “great terrors,” “great fires,” “great voice,” “great work which He did,” “great wrath,” “great name,” “great things He has done for you,” “the greatness of His victory,” “great mercies,” “great lovingkindness,” “great compassion,” “great goodness,” “Great King of all the earth,” “great peace,” “great glory,” “great sword,” “great wisdom,” “great law,” “great faithfulness,” “great vengeance,” “great signs,” “great day of the Lord,” “great love wherewith He loved us,” “great salvation,” “great Shepherd of the sheep”!

In Mark 10:42-45 we learn about “sharing” in His greatness! But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Yes, there is the way of greatness!

There is the way of the mother hen! Matthew 23: 37-38 says, Jesus speaking, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate..”

His way is the way of blamelessness or “having integrity”: 2 Samuel22:31, 33 tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.. Verse 33, “God is my strength and power, AND HE MAKES MY WAY PERFECT.” This is why in Psalm 101 David wrote: Verses 2-3, “I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”

His way is the way of straightness! In Acts 13:9-10 Paul confronted Elymas the sorcerer: “Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?’” Oh, but of course, we don’t have to worry about that attitude in America, do we? Again, David, in Psalm 125:5 said, “But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.” Do you remember John beginning his public ministry, and they asked him, John 1:23, “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness; make straight the way of the Lord.’”

His way is the way of LIFE: I love what Peter said in the beginning of his public ministry in Acts 2:25-28, “For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades [or “among the dead”]. Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.” But you have a better way of life than Jesus’ way?

His way is the way of Righteousness and Truth: In Revelation 15:3 we read, They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of saints!” Isaiah 64:5 says, “You, God, meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways.”

His way is the way of Blessing: Psalm 67:1-2 the psalmist gives us both an invocation and a doxology. He wrote: “God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.” Have you ever heard someone say, “God wants me to be happy.” No, He wants you “blessed” – happiness is here for a moment, then gone away in the dark clouds! But God’s ‘blessing’ is forever. Plus, God isn’t interested in your happiness – He wants you to be HOLY!

His way is the way of the stronghold: Proverbs 10:29 is so clear: “The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright.” In Him, you don’t have to be uptight when you walk upright because we have a mighty fortress in our God, a bulwark never failing. It’s a stronghold of strength, love and compassion, protection, provision, and Holy Presence! Psalm 48:3 says, “God, in her palaces (the Holy City) has made Himself known as a stronghold…”

His way is the way of Sovereign Leadership: In Genesis 24:27 we read: And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brothers.” Isaiah 48:17 says: Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who LEADS YOU BY THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO.” And, praise God, that Word is still true today. He will open doors for you, and He will close the doors you do not need to be headed toward!

His way is the way of PEACE: Isn’t it interesting as you look at world events, national crisis, family eruptions, church splits – Isaiah 59:8 says, “The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” Don’t you remember that Jesus’ promise is for the “peace that passes all understanding”! Glory!

Then, lastly, His way, is the Everlasting Way: Habakkuk 3:6 simply says: “His ways are everlasting..” In John 10:27-28 Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

In Oswald Chambers’ book “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.93], he wrote: “God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of those spots in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. “This is life eternal, that they might know You.” The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.” That central place of power? Walking in His ways, walking in step with our Lord and Savior, and, yes, walking in step with His people!

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“WHERE ARE ALL HIS MIRACLES?”

The question of this chapter is what Gideon asked the Angel of the Lord in Judges 6 – and it is a pointed, personal, powerful question for all disciples of our Lord to be examining! Certainly, Gideon was asking concerning three areas of a disciple’s spiritual journey: 1) “Where are all His miracles …that our fathers told us about, 2) that our nation once knew, 3) And that our walk with God experienced in the infancy of our faith and pilgrimage.

Thomas Fuller, in his book entitled “Church History,” [Vol. 2, p.239) said: “Miracles are the ‘swaddling – clothes’ of infant churches.” No doubt that statement is truer, but miracles also are the garments of salvation disciples are to be walking in! Miracles are not to be the exception, but the explanation of the Indwelling Life of Christ in every true believer! That’s those believers made totally available to Almighty God and the Resurrected Christ and the very present power of the Holy Spirit!

In Numbers 11:23 the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s power limited?” It’s not the Lord’s power that is limited but the limitations of the Lord’s people that they carry around, even doubting its modern-day availability!

Deuteronomy 3:24 says, “O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand: for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?”

But the psalmist asked, Psalm 79:10, “Why should the nations say, ‘Where Is Their God?” But is it God that is the problem when miracles appear as ancient acts or is it us? Must we have to say to the nations, ‘Our God is asleep?’ ‘Our God doesn’t do what He once did?’ Or ‘Miracles were for another day and age and no longer are they applicable to New Covenant people!’ I don’t think so! GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER!

Hear what Spurgeon had to say, and receive it, walk in it, and apply it to yourself and the church of these ‘last days’! [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol. 17, p.95], “Some deny miracles; and if they also deny God, I will not at this time deal with them. But it is very strange that anyone who believes in God should doubt the possibility of miracles. It seems to me that, granted the being of a God, miracle is to be expected as an occasional declaration of His independent and active will. He may make certain rules for His actions, and it may be His wisdom to keep them; but surely He must reserve to Himself the liberty to depart from His own laws, or else He has in a measure laid aside His personal Godhead, deified law, and set it up above Himself. It would not increase our idea of the glory of His Godhead if we could be assured that He had made Himself subject to rule, and tied His own hands from ever acting except in a certain manner. From the self-existence and freedom of will which enter into our very conception of God, we are led to expect that sometimes He should not keep to the methods which He follows as His golden rule. This has led to the universal conviction that miracle is the proof of Godhead. The general works of creation and providence are to my mind the best proofs; but the common heart of our race, for some reason or other, looks to miracle as surer evidence; thus proving that miracle is expected of God.”

A miracle? What is it? Listen to Robert South: “A miracle is a work exceeding the power of any created agent, consequently being ‘an effect of the divine omnipotence’!”

I want my life, my family, my ministry, my church, my nation, to be an effect of divine omnipotence! It was Vance Havner, in his book, “Repent or Else”, [p.18], who said: “A lot of Sunday-morning Christians, who want to sit with folded hands and listen to a mild discourse on the Teacher of Galilee, need to be aroused from their stupor by a vision of the flaming Christ of the Candlesticks.” I’m telling you, the church TODAY needs to become a true body of believers ‘ship-wrecked on His Sovereignty and stranded alone on the Sea of His omnipotence!

Isn’t it absolutely amazing to you that Jesus had to say to a church, [Revelation 3:20], “Laodecia, Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.” “WHERE ARE ALL HIS MIRACLES”?

HIS MIRACLES HAVE BEEN “BURIED IN THE ATTITUDE OF SELF-PITY” IN THE MIDST OF LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES RATHER THAN THE APPROPRIATION OF GOD’S AVAILABLE PRESENCE, PROPHETS, AND PROMISES TO SEE HIS SERVANTS THROUGH:

In Judges 6:1, 6-10 we read, “Then the children did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years. Verses 6-10, So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. Also I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But you have not obeyed My voice.”

Do you understand “pity parties”? That’s a trap we set for ourselves binding us in our natural inabilities while thanksgiving is release to the availability of God’s supernatural power! Pity parties are paralyzing, but appropriation is liberating!

In Acts 16, beginning at verse 16, as Paul and Silas were ministering to a slave girl who possessed a spirit of divination and received deliverance, her masters were more than annoyed by Paul and Silas – they had them imprisoned! Opportunity now for a “pity party”? No! How about appropriation through prayer to Holy God? Acts 16:25 says, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns, and the prisoners were listening to them.” The result? A great earthquake, prison doors opened, chains loosed, and a multitude of prisoners get saved!

We fix our eyes on ourselves so often, on our circumstances, on our enemies, that we cannot see or recognize the awesome hand of God! The Word doesn’t say, “Fix your eyes on your circumstances!” It says, “Fix your gaze upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith!”

We need to see every moment of every day the crucified, risen, ascended, reigning, glorified and coming King of kings and Lord of lords who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we ask or think! We need to see the Christ of the Golden Candlesticks whose countenance overshadows us, brighter than the noon-day sun, whose eyes are like fire, and whose voice is like the sound of many waters.

We need to see Him (Colossians 2:15) who “disarmed the rulers and authorities, who made a public display of Satan and the powers of darkness, who stripped them naked, triumphing over them.”

If we really bow down to the Lord Jesus, if we really submit ourselves to His authority, if we gladly become His servant, under His Sovereign control, there is no circumstance we are not over! Why? Because He rules and He reigns – and we learn to let God be God in us and through us! If you haven’t, then confess your self-pity, abandon it at the altar and receive the prophet’s word and walk on with God in His miracle-working deliverance!

HIS MIRACLES HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY A WALK OF DISOBEDIENCE RATHER THEN OPENED BY A WALK OF OBEDIENCE:

In Judges 6:10 we read, ‘Also I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But you have not obeyed My voice.” In Deuteronomy 7 we read about God’s passion to bless those who obey Him – and you would think that that is the desire of every believer, but sadly it is not! Deuteronomy 7:9-14 tells us: “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who Keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them. THEN it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples…”

Do you remember His Word? “Tell the sons of Israel, ‘Go forward,’” and as they did, the Red Sea was opened and they walked on dry land and the armies of the enemy were destroyed! Do you remember? “Stretch forth the withered hand” – and as he did, the hand was restored! Do you remember? Elijah to the widow of Zarephath, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” “I have no bread, only a handful of flour and a little oil.” “Make me a cake first, then you and your son. For thus says the Lord, ‘the bowl of flour shall not be exhausted nor the jar of oil empty until the day that the Lord sends rain on the field of the earth.’ She went and did as Elijah had spoken.”

Where are all His miracles? There was a poll nationwide that said 90% of Americans believe in God, and we know there is a church just about on every corner of American cities big or small, yet the spiritual climate of America is in a sick stage near death. It doesn’t seem to equate! You look at the seven churches in Revelation 2, 3, and 5 were in great need of the miracle power of God restoring them to their first love! And if we are going to see God’s miracles again, there must be a ‘revival’ of obedience!

Listen to Finney, quoted in Havner’s book, “Repent or Else,” [pps. 15-16], “Revival is the renewal of the first love of Christians, resulting in the conversion of sinners to God. It presupposes that the church is back-slidden and revival means conviction of sin and the searching of hearts among God’s people. Revival is nothing less than a new beginning of obedience to God, a breaking of the heart and getting down in the dust before Him with deep humility and forsaking of sin. A revival breaks the power of the world and of sin over Christians. The charm of the world is broken and the power of sin overcome. Truths to which our hearts are unresponsive suddenly become living. Whereas mind and conscience may assent to truth, when revival comes, OBEDIENCE to the truth is the one thing that matters.”

HIS MIRACLES ARE BARRED BY A LACK OF APPRECIATION OF GOD’S DIVINE MANDATE: Again, in Judges 6:14-16, hear the word of the Lord: “Then the Lord turned to him (Gideon) and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?’ So he said to Him, ‘O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manessah, and I am the least in my father’s house.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Is there an appreciation, a deep appreciation, for the mandates of our Master and Lord? In John 20:21 He said, “Peace to you! As My Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And they go in their own strength? No! John 20:22 says, And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” With have the Master’s Divine Mandate plus Holy Spirit anointing!

In John 14:12 our Lord says even now to us: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do because I go to My Father.” What an amazing word! Do you possess heavenly appreciation for our earthly mandate?

HIS MIRACLES ARE BOUND UP IN FEAR, EVEN FEAR OF FAILURE, RATHER THAN TRUE BIBLICAL FAITH THAT CALLS UPON GOD TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG:

In 2 Chronicles 16:9 we read, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

Do you have even a faint idea of the dilemma of one who has no idea of the God who has shown Himself strong but they settle in to try and stand on a false foundation of fear?

I want you to come back to Judges 6 and follow carefully every word in verses 17-24: Gideon said, to God, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.” And God said, “I will wait until you come back.” So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them. The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.”

Then in verses 36-40 Gideon is either unsure of God, afraid of his own failure, or doubting himself that God could use him as a leader! That’s what these verses are about! Gideon didn’t need a fleece – he needed the unconditional offering of full surrender to the will of God for his life, submission, yes, even celebration that God had confidence in him whether he did or not! Gideon had been touched by the signature of God on his life – but he was genuinely afraid.

Is God with us? Is God with you? Why not say to Him, “Lord, consume my fears and give me a strong faith; Lord, light the fire of your blazing glory in me; Lord, show yourself strong! A fleece? Why not faith in the faithfulness of God! But, at the same time, I don’t believe it was ‘doubting Thomas’ but a man who wanted only in the divine certainty of the Living Christ’s presence, power, plan, and promise. We should not be those who ‘kick against the pricks, but those subject to the hands of our Lord’s control!

HIS MIRACLES HAVE BEEN BETRAYED AND BLOCKED BY THE ACQUISITION AND ACCEPTANCE OF IDOLS AS AN ORDINARY PART OF ONE”S LIFE:

Look again in Judges 6:25-29! It says, Now it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and TEAR DOWN THE ALTAR OF BAAL THAT YOUR FATHER HAS, AND CUT DOWN THE WOODEN IMAGE THAT IS BESIDE IT; and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down. So Gideon took ten men from among his servants AND DID AS THE LORD HAD SAID TO HIM. But because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal, torn down; and the wooden image that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar which had been built. So they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And when they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”

Do you remember the word of the Lord coming to Ezekial? Ezekial 14:2-3 says, And the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?” I believe you know the answer!

And, sadly, most Americans don’t even know what ‘idolatry’ truly is from God’s perspective! But Colossians 3:5 informs us: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, WHICH IS IDOLATRY.”

Are you aware of what you’ve just read? The Holy Word of God explains much of America’s fall into idol worship, even by many in the church! Rather than devotion to Christ Jesus, many faithfully bow before their idols in their minds, bodies, and, yes, their hearts – they’re captured, bound, imprisoned, to the world, the flesh, and the devil!

Have you cut down and burned the idols in your own heart and mind? Is your life hidden with Christ in God? To what or who do you bow before each day? “Where are all His miracles?” In the born-again, surrendered, yielded life – not to idols, but yielded to Christ alone! That’s THE MIRACLE!

HIS MIRACLES HAVE BEEN BESEIGED BY A FEAR OF MAN THAT LIMITS THE FULLNESS OF GOD:

In Judges 6:30-32 we read: Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the wooden image that was beside it.” But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!” Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead against him, because he has torn down his altar!”

It’s for sure: Joash had no fear of man, but at least he did have a fear of God. Proverbs 29:25 tells us, “The fear of man brings a snare [a trap], but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe [or secure].” The fear of men is wicked, but the fear of God is heavenly blessing. But it is true that some earthlings have no confidence in God Himself but fear of men dominate their every turn – and they suffer with a spiritual disease that is quickly cured when God has His rightful place in their lives. If we know God is our ‘help’, why should one ever fear?

It’s faithlessness in God Himself that breeds fleshly fear of fallen men! God doesn’t birth cowards – He births sons of God. God doesn’t birth men who are overcome by the fear of what men could do to them, but births men who know God is their defense and their defender!

HIS MIRACLES HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY FLESHLY DEVOTIONS RATHER THAN FAITHFUL DEPENDENCE UPON THE SPIRIT OF GOD:

There is such an interesting verse in Judges 6:34 which tells us: “But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon..” Came upon? It’s a word that basically means “took possession of”!

But those who doubt, are afraid of, or ignorant about the Holy Spirit’s ministry in their lives offer God “best effort” which shuts the door on God’s blessing their lives in the anointing of His Spirit and power – they want to “wing it” on their own, producing only death not heavenly life.

Do you remember our Lord’s words to His disciples right before His ascension? John 20:21-22 says: So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!!” Has that changed? Not from Jesus’ point of view, but certainly from those who trust in fleshly devotions, miracles are strange events they want no part of.

In Luke 5:17-26 you find Jesus forgiving and healing the ‘paralytic but also you see the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, and the scribes, who in their ‘fleshly devotions’ are opposing Jesus! That attitude has not changed even today!

HIS MIRACLES HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY THE INTELLECTUAL RATIONALIZATIONS OF NICKLES, NUMBERS OR NOSES, RATHER THAN THE INFINITE REVELATION – “GOD IS ENOUGH”:

In Judges 7:2 the Lord spoke to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’”

In that story God shared with Gideon that if Israel went out on its own to defeat the Midianites that they would internalize the victory and it would be their personal glory – not God’s. So, He told Gideon, “Too many men, Gideon! Send home those who are afraid, and 22,000 left the battlefield!” Another large number of Israelites failed God’s test the second time, leaving only 300 men against a strong nation’s might! And their weapons? God, torches and trumpets!!

Look at Deuteronomy 8:10-20! “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. BEWARE that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest – when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end – then you say in your heart ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember thye Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods and serve them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.”

HIS MIRACLES HAVE BEEN, ARE, WILL BOOMERANG THROUGH DOUBT AND SPECULATION OF THE UNUSUAL, MIRACULOUS, SUPERNATURAL, RATHER THAN RECEIVED IN AN ATTITUDE OF HUMBLENESS, PRAISE, AND WORSHIP:

In Judges 7:12-15 we read, “Now the Midianites and Amalikites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude. And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.” Then his companion answered and said, “This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.” And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshipped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.”

In Matthew 13:53-58 we read about Jesus going back into His own country. He went into the synagogue to teach them, but they doubted Jesus and His teaching! They were “offended at Him” – and verse 58 tells us: “Now He did not do many mighty works THERE because of their unbelief.” Does that attitude of unbelief still hinder Jesus’ miraculous ministry?

How about Abraham? Romans 4:20-21 says: “He did not waiver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being FULLY PERSUADED that what God had promised, He was also able to perform.” Amen?

HIS MIRACLES HAVE BEEN BLIGHTED BY A SPIRIT OF “FALLING SHORT” RATHER THAN ENDURING TO THE END:

In Judges 8:4 we read: When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three men who were with him “crossed over”, exhausted but still in pursuit.”

Isn’t it interesting to you that Jesus said in Matthew 20:16 that “Many are called, but few chosen”? You are aware, I pray, that you as a man, like Gideon, are chosen to fulfill God’s purpose in and through your life! No doubt this is why Paul said of himself, in I Corinthians 9:22, “…I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

Life with eternal purpose, life with a divine design, life with eternal intent!! But the spirit of “falling short” of God’s plan short-circuits one’s walk of faith! Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.221], “All God’s men are ordinary men made extraordinary by the matter He has given to them. Unless we have the right matter in our minds intellectually and in our hearts affectionately, we will be hustled out of our usefulness to God.”

And I pray that is not an indictment of your spiritual walk and journey but an illumination of God’s intent for your spiritual journey – YOU WILL BE ONE AVAILABLE TO GOD FOR HIS MIRACULOUS MINISTRY!!

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“IS THERE IN YOU PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS?”

The calling of God on a man’s life is such a high and holy calling. To be ‘in Christ Jesus’ is to be a vessel, a container, set apart for the glory of God through availability to the Indwelling Lord and Savior and Master of life.

I want you to read so carefully and prayerfully Revelation 1:4-6, “Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and HAS MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO HIS GOD AND FATHER, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Do YOU say ‘Amen’ to that?

In I Peter 2:4-5, 9, we also read: “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Verse 9, But YOU are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Then in 2 Timothy 1:8-9 we read, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” WOW!

Next foundational word for this chapter? I Peter 5:10, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

God’s Holy Word is so inspirational, instructive, illuminating for us His divine intent laid out from the overflow of His heart and mind before the world had even been established! In Leviticus 16:21-22 we read about “the scape goat”! The Lord had spoken to Moses with instructions: “Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”

And if you haven’t learned it as yet, “Christ Jesus IS God’s ‘scape goat’ in our behalf on the Cross with His broken body, shed blood, and dying form! Yet, many have not returned to the Lord! In Amos 4:11-12 the prophet spoke: “I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; yet you have not returned to Me,” says the Lord. Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD!”

Holy God is concerned, not only with the lost, the separated, the unbelievers, but also His own children of faith who take lightly spiritual preparedness and readiness. This is what apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are all about because we read in Ephesians 4:12-16, that these teacher-servants are given “for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” What an awesome foundation for us in this chapter!

So Jesus in His loving spirit of compassion said to us in Matthew 24:42-44, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

What was it Jesus said to Simon Peter about preparation and readiness? Look at Luke 22:31-32, And the Lord said to Simon, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” The wise man of Proverbs 24:16 told us, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” Who are you? The righteous man who falls and gets up or the wicked man content in his calamity?

In Matthew 22:8-14 Jesus speaks to us all about preparation and readiness. He Said: Then the king said to his servants, “The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Preparedness and Readiness? What is it all about?

THERE IS THE PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS OF THE HEART:

In Psalm 78:7-8 we learn absolute essentials for reconciliation to Holy God. It says, “That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that DID NOT SET ITS HEART ARIGHT, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

2 Chronicles 12:14 tells us about King Rehoboam. It says: “And he did evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.” And that’s the calling on every man’s life, past, present and future: Prepare your heart to seek the Lord!

Samuel had gone to Bethlehem at the Lord’s request, and he saw Eliab, saying to those around him, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” But I Samuel 16:7 is God’s response to Samuel’s flawed response about Eliab. God said: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Do you remember the question David asked in Psalm 23:3? “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?” And God’s response? Verse 4, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart…”!! Well, that’s certainly a dilemma if you look only inwardly to yourself and do not look to the God who graciously offers “new hearts”! Isn’t that what God tells us in Ezekial 36:25-27? “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

In John 7:38 Jesus tells us, “He who believes in Me, [that’s trust in, rely upon, adhere to], as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Since the lost man’s heart is a diseased heart, spiritual heart-transplant is his only hope of being reconciled to Holy God. Prepare, get ready to meet Him face to face!

THERE IS THE PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS TO REMOVE EVERY OBSTACLE:

2 Timothy 2:19-22 hits the nail dead-center on the head of God’s concern for every disciple of Christ. Paul wrote to his young spiritual so, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,” and “let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Our journey of faith in Christ is not ‘happen-chance’ but holy commitment to be, to become, all God desires of us – and that’s explained in Colossians 3:9-10, “Do not lie to one another, SINCE you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have PUT ON THE NEW MAN who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”

Here’s how Oswald Chambers explained it in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.222], “When looking back on the lives of men and women of God the tendency is to say – What wonderfully astute wisdom they had! How perfectly they understood all God wanted! The astute mind behind is the Mind of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God’s wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God.” Oh, how strong and on target is that!

THERE IS THE PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES EVERY DISCIPLE FACES:

In John 16:33 Jesus speaks to us as His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

There’s an interesting word Paul shared with the church at Corinth when in I Corinthians 14:8 he said, “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?” That may explain the Ephraimites when Asaph said in Psalm 78:9, “The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.”

The Christian walk, the path of true disciples, the highway of holiness, always leads to a battlefield. For some it’s in their marriage, for others it’s parental-children conflicts, for businessmen it’s war with a crooked associate, for college students who serve Christ it’s war with a godless professor, for churches it can be a ‘false preacher’ who betrays the Word he professes loyalty to, for true pastors it’s ungodly men who see themselves ‘sent by God’ to keep the preacher straight –spiritual walks in Christ always leads to ‘your cross,’ ‘your war,’ ‘your test,’ and you cannot escape it, but you can prepare just like a soldier on his way to a war-front! Antagonism to the true faith and loyal disciples of Jesus is the recognition that trouble is rooted in everyone’s journey with Jesus, but there is the promise of His people leaning on Him coming out a ‘winner’ not a loser, a victor not a victim, a champion not a dejected, defeated, defiled son!

I love 2 Chronicles 20:15 which says: Thus says the Lord to YOU, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Amen?

THERE IS THE PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS TO KEEP OUR LAMPS ALIGHT:

In Luke 12:35-37 Jesus tells us, “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.” Are your lamps burning?

The call on your life as a disciple is the call to walk in the light as He is in the light, yet many ‘professing disciples’(?) choose to walk in darkness. And the ‘darkness of disillusionment’ is a black cloud, not only overshadowing many, but producing doubt, cynicism, and even rejection of the Christ-life they claim to hold.

I pray what Jesus had to say in Matthew 25:1-13 will be a light exposing your darkness if you’ve let it in or a light that reveals your devotion to the only Lord and Savior: “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now, five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

In John 5:35 Jesus described John like this: “He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.” Will Jesus rejoice over your light as it reveals His fullness in you?

THERE IS THE PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS FOR THE APPROVAL OF GOD:

I Corinthians 9:23-27 informs us not only of the approval of God but “striving for the crown.” I was a high school and collegiate football player for my high school team in Cleveland, Tennessee, and was on football scholarship at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I can assure you that I never played to lose but to win! What did Paul tell the Corinthians? “Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

To Timothy Paul wrote: 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth.”

Yes, and did you know or did you fly by what Paul said to the Corinthians why he disciplined himself in the things of the Spirit-real? BECAUSE HE HAD NO DESIRE TO BE DISQUALIFIED!! That is NO APPROVAL FROM GOD HIMSELF! That ought to scare the living—– out of you!

But there are ‘professors of faith’ who are not possessors of the true faith – they are ‘pretenders’! And in Titus 1:15-16 Paul wrote: “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” But is it your strong desire to be “approved by God”?

THERE IS THE PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS TO DIE:

In 2 Timothy 4:5-8 Paul wrote: “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

I’ve already told you earlier in this book of my heart attack on April 27, 2013. My son Scott took me to the hospital just moments after we arrived back from Houston, Texas, having attended a three-day conference there. I had chest pains from across my left shoulder straight across to my right shoulder. At the emergency room an EKG was ordered: Two minutes to do the EKG, two minutes for the emergency room doctor to read it, and immediately he said to the 7 or 8 attendants working on me: “Get him out of here to surgery; he has less than an hour to live!”

Down that hospital corridor they ran with me, up an elevator, into the surgical wing – and at 8:30 on a Saturday night, there was my heart-surgeon doctor ready to perform a miracle: my main artery was 100% closed, there was a huge blood clot ready to break loose and kill me, but Holy God intervened! And here’s the miracle of grace: I had no fear AT ALL – if my Lord wanted me in Heaven, I was ready to go! Are YOU prepared to die?

I ministered for 25 years all over India leading pastors’ conferences, open-air crusades, and youth evangelism outreach. On one of my memorable trips I so clearly heard God say to me: “The church of India will blossom, but it will blossom by the blood of the martyrs.” India’s pastors are prepared to die!

THERE IS PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS TO PREACH, TEACH, OR SHARE THE WORD OF GOD:

Thank God for Paul’s passionate concern for the young Timothys. He wrote in 2 Timothy 4:1-2, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, PREACH THE WORD! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

Why is that? Because in the ‘last days’ church of the 21^st Century, Verses 3-4, “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Do you realize and understand what Paul was talking about as he shared the “falling away-ers” from the true faith and word because of their “itching ears”? Well, be assured, God hasn’t called you to “scratch” itching ears but to preach, teach, and share with others the revelation of God’s Holy Word! And that’s even if it costs you your life! Beware of any “community of faith” (?) that has no real emphasis on the revelation of God’s Word!

In I Peter 3:15 Peter wrote: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Are you ready?

THERE IS PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS FOR THE WEDDING DAY:

In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul challenged the church in Corinth and, yes, churches everywhere: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” Does it appear to you that some “professors” might not prepare for the wedding day?

In Revelation 19:5-8 John heard a voice from heaven saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, AND HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

There should be no surprise as to who the “bride” is preparing for the wedding day, but Revelation 17:14 tells us: “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and THOSE WHO ARE WITH HIM are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Romans 5:10 opens the door to your preparation and readiness for that eternal “wedding day”. It says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.” Are YOU “being” saved by His life?

In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul wrote: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The “bride” prepares herself, making herself ready for the wedding day. And verse 3 of this same chapter lets us know this bridal path preparation when Paul said the Corinthians were in his heart “to die together and to live together.” I thought it was ‘live together so they could die together.’ That may be the natural world, but in the Kingdom of God it’s daily taking “the sentence of death” that we might share in resurrection life, resurrection power and resurrection hope – dying together so we eternally live together wedded to our Lord and Savior!

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“WHERE’S THE GRIEF?”

In Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 are words that express true cycles and events of a pilgrim’s journey. It says: “There is an appointed time for everything…A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” But for Israel Jeremiah had to ask, Jeremiah 15:5, “Indeed, who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem, or who will mourn for you, or who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?” Certainly God’s “chosen people” have little support – and if Israel was destroyed [which it won’t be] who would mourn but those who share God’s heart?

In Matthew 11:16-17 Jesus said: “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to other children…and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and yet you did not mourn.”

No grief or no mourning about personal, spiritual tragedies, or, yes, national reversals from God-fearing to a godless society, is like an evil ‘scum’ settling over the population at large! Rather than a genuine Godly sorrow, many societies just settle into a gall of bitterness. You’ve sensed it no doubt when spiritually there is no clear shining sun, no fresh spring rains of revival or renewal, no cooling clouds – only horrible spiritual hurricanes that pummel your life –only spiritual volcanic eruptions all around you, only dark, dark clouds of suffering, demonic attacks, Satanic interference…and no one seems to care!

But you don’t mourn or grieve alone – if you – because in Matthew 5:4 God’s Holy Word tells us, Jesus speaking, “Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.” I pray that you understand if you are one who does grieve over the spiritual climate surrounding you that you understand that your “grief” is but the shadow of God’s Holy Presence!

In Isaiah 53:3 the prophet tells us about Jesus: “A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Grief or sorrow is out of the divine nature of God Himself! Grief or sorrow is assurance of eternal presence! No grief, no sorrow over the spiritual condition of individuals or a nation is evidence of a spiritual disease that needs and must have divine healing.

In Ezekial 9:4-6 The Lord said to the prophet, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” To the others He said in my hearing, ‘Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is a mark; and begin at My sanctuary.’ So they began with the elders who were before the temple.”

Why was that? Because there was little grieving and mourning over the sins of the city and the nation! And God said, “Begin with the elders in leadership of My temple!!”

There’s another prophetic word God gave to Amos. Notice Amos 6:1-8, “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria, notable persons in the chief nation, to whom the house of Israel comes! Go over to Calneh and see; and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory? Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near; who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on your couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall; Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; Who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, BUT ARE NOT GRIEVED FOR THE AFFLICTION OF JOSEPH. Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, and those who recline at banquets shall be removed. The Lord God has sworn by Himself, the Lord God of hosts says: ‘I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.” No grief, no mourning – and God moves in judgment!

To mourn? The dictionary says, “to express grief or sorrow; to grieve; to be sorrowful…mourning may be expressed by weeping or audible sounds, or sobs, sighs or inward silent grief…to lament.”

To grieve? “To feel pain of mind or heart; to be in pain on account of an evil; to sorrow; to mourn.” Do you understand whether its grief or mourning over a broken marriage, or a wayward teenager, or a rebellious nation, or godless leaders, or a compromising pastor or church people, or lost family members and friends separated from God, your brokenness can hold back God’s judgment?

Is it possible that, “where there is no grief or mourning or sorrow” over the situations of life you find yourself in, that we can [and will] have God’s grief birthed in us if we call on Him? Yes, if one is willing to accept it and share it with Him! It begins with:

THE GRIEF OF GOD OVER THE SIN OF MAN THAT YOU WILLINGLY ACCEPT:

In Genesis 6:5-6 we read: Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and HE was GRIEVED IN HIS HEART.”

The author of “Green Pastures” wrote: “It ain’t no picnic bein’ God…”. [That was John Jasper.]. And you begin to understand and grasp the awesomeness of God’s heart for you and me! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In Isaiah 1:2-9, 18-20 we hear both the mind of God and the heart of God, His grief and His grace: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.’ Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; strangers devout your land in your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah. Verses 18-20, Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Listen to Jesus and the grief in His own heart as He spoke about Jerusalem: Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” And the result? Verse 38, See! Your house is left to you desolate!” But you don’t believe that’s our Lord’s concern about you or your nation?

WHAT ABOUT THE GRIEF OF CARING MEN OVER THE LOSTNESS OF OTHERS AND THEIR SEPARATION FROM GOD?

In Romans 9:1-3 we read the heart of Paul the Apostle: “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.”

One of the greatest dangers any professing disciple of Christ faces is a cold, cold heart concerning the lost, the perishing, the alienated from God folks! If there is no sorrow and grief over the separated from God people, it means one has become extremely shallow in his faith. And I’m not thinking of the sorrow of the rich young ruler because riches had become his god – his sorrow was because he had become disillusioned when he realized the bondage of self-love and what possessed him – and he certainly was not willing to let it go! But Jesus reached out to him, He sought to touch him with grace and mercy, He targeted what had his heart and sought to truly make him rich in faith! Who do you reach out to?

Do you remember Psalm 126:5-6? It says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seeds for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

What was our Lord’s commission to the early church and has it changed? “You shall be My witnesses…!!” Are you busy about the Father’s business?

THERE IS ALSO THE GRIEF OF THE FALLING OF THE MIGHTY:

I Samuel 15 is such a powerful word to all of God’s people, and, yes, a word of warning concerning our obedience or lack of it as the Lord commissioned us. It’s about Saul as Samuel came to confront him. The commission of God to Saul was to go and Amalek and utterly destroy that people – none were to be spared!

Saul did attack them, but I Samuel 15:9 says, “but Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep…” Look with me at I Samuel 15:13-23. We read: Then Saul said to Samuel, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak on.” So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said to Samuel, ‘But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.’ So Samuel said: ‘Has 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 heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” Verse 35 then says, And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.” Enough said here!

THERE IS ALSO PARENTAL GRIEF OVER THE FALLING AWAY FROM GOD OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS:

Proverbs 10:1 is so very clear, “A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother..” And then in Proverbs 17:25 we read, “A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.”

Isn’t it absolutely sad for parents who live Godly lives, lay their lives down in ministry and service to their sons and daughters, and, yes, train them well in the Word and by example, to have to face the devastation of their sons and daughters because they choose the world not God’s will, they choose fleshly devotion to a fallen self not faithfulness to a loving Savior, they choose loose living morally to living in and by the Holy Word of God!

For parents that is horrendous, a heavy weight hard to carry, and even a hellish assault on their own faith! Rather than God’s spirit of grace on their sons and daughters some parents are crushed as they witness sons and daughters bound by spirits of deception, bound by the control of demonic spirits that have taken their children over with hellish mind control, broken-hearted as they watch sons and daughters sold out to the spirit of godlessness.

How sad is it when a broken-hearted parent reads a passage like Proverbs 19:16 which says, “He who keeps [God’s] commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless [reckless] of his ways will die.” And at least those parents set aside to the glory of God grieve over wayward children.

THERE IS THE GRIEF OF A DEPARTED GLORY:

Ephesians 3:21 says, “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” That’s God’s aim, His divine will and pleasure, His goal for every life to live under the glory cloud of Holy Presence, for the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to reign supreme in every heart, every home, every church, every life – glory all around!

But when you look to Lamentations and then look around you, one is heavy-laden by the absence of God’s glory cloud! Lamentations 1:20 speaks of one in great distress because of that recognition that His glory has departed. It says, “See, O Lord, that I am in distress; my soul is troubled; my heart is overturned within me, for I have been rebellious. Outside the sword bereaves, at home it is like death.”

Why is it? You know what Romans 3:23 says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!” But that’s so difficult for many to face up to – so they substitute glory in God for a spirit of godlessness in themselves!

It may be hard for a godless society to accept, but I believe the Holy Word is convicting and convincing, so follow carefully I Corinthians 5 which says: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles – that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

THERE IS ALSO THE GRIEF OF THE WORD-TESTING:

Didn’t we just read in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 5 two statements “inspired by God’s Holy Spirit” – Verse 9, “I wrote to you in my epistle…” and Verse 11, “But now I have written to you…”

In 2 Corinthians, again, Paul stresses the vital importance of openness and obedience to God’s divine will! 2 Corinthians 6: 11-12 the Apostle said, “O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.”

Do you grasp what we’ve just read? Grief always overshadows a life that is resistant to the Holy Word of God! Didn’t Jesus tell us in Matthew 4:4, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”?

Go to Genesis and read carefully God testing Abraham. Remember? “Take Isaac to the land of Moriah, offer him as a burnt offering on the mountain.” Abraham told his two servants traveling with him that “we will come back to you.” He was going to be obedient and offer Isaac, and he expected “a resurrection”! In verse 12 of chapter 22 of Genesis God said as Isaac laid on the altar, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.” [Check out Ezekial 21:1-17!!].

BUT ALSO WHERE IS THE GRIEF OVER THE NEEDY?

In Job 30:25 we read: “Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?” And there is no doubt God’s compassion SHOULD flow through us to the poverty-stricken physically, but just as passionate God’s people must “care” for the spiritually poor! Isn’t spiritual poverty as great a threat to a society as physical poverty? Neglect of either is not an option God’s people should hold!

Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Then in Psalm 35:9-10 David was being persecuted, but he called out to the Living God because he knew God’s heart: “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation. All my bones shall say, ‘Lord, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?’

But we who are in oneness with Jesus have no concern, no ministry, no outreach, no compassion for the poor? “As Jesus is, so are we in this world?”

THERE IS THE GRIEF OF A POTENTIAL BETRAYAL AND A PERILOUS FALLING AWAY:

In Matthew 26:17-25 we learn about Judas! But then follow carefully verses 31-35! Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

Do you understand the fragileness of ALL disciples when persecution is unleashed? In Zechariah 13:7 it says: “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,” says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered…”

Mark 14:21 should plant the fear of God in any and every true believer! It says, “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”

The Prophet Jeremiah puts before us awesome words of warning when he told us in Jeremiah 22:8-10 these words: “And many nations will pass by this city; and everyone will say to his neighbor, ‘Why has the Lord done so to this great city?’ Then they will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshipped other gods and served them.’ Weep not for the dead, nor bemoan him; weep bitterly for him who goes away, for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.”

THERE IS THE GRIEF THE WALK OF DEATH PRODUCES:

In Matthew 26 Jesus had gone to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. In verses 37-39 we read about this momentous night in the life of our Lord AND three of His disciples: And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

And you do understand – I’m not only talking about one’s facing the reality of physical death that can produce ‘grief’ about dying in many hearts, but I’m talking about the struggle between ‘flesh’ and Spirit that we all must face and fight, and some ‘fear’ that death to self or, yes, death to their old sin natures! There’s no doubt that ‘grief’ concerning a sharing of “the afflictions of Christ” that Paul talked about has and will generate grief in some hearts, but here is to be a “continuing” in the faith, grounded and steadfast and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you’ve centered your life in! Hold on! Don’t give away to ‘grief’ the walk of death can produce!

THERE IS, OR SHOULD BE IN EVERY BELIEVER, GRIEF OVER HARDENED HEARTS:

In Mark 3:1-5 we see this possibility for today: And Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there with a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.”

Did you notice Jesus “grieved by the hardness of their hearts”? And I have no doubt about some who hear the demands of discipleship, His call to be broken bread and poured out wine, His call to disciples to take up their own crosses and follow Him, and they say, “I’ll not be squeezed by anyone, crushed by anything to make His wine, or accept the call of a cross for anybody or anything,” and as a result, they walk away from the greatest relationship and opportunity they could be a part of – they don’t – and Jesus grieves over hardened hearts.

THERE IS ALSO THE GRIEF OF “TOO-LATE” TEARS:

Oh, how I pray that the Holy Spirit will come fully upon you and bring holy conviction on you if these verses relate to you: Hebrews 12:14-17 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” “Too-Late Tears”!! “Too Late!!” Some determine they have time – but it was “too late”!

I close this chapter with James 4:7-10. I pray you receive it right now: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Would you please go to Revelation 21 and read carefully Verses 1-8, and verse 27!

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“WHY GLORY IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST?”

I know as well as you that modern men major on an awful lot of things, but it certainly doesn’t mean that most men ‘glory in the Cross of Christ’! Modern men, separated from God, indulging fallen flesh, and possessing no interest in our Lord’s death on the Cross, are totally devoted to the ‘old man,’ to their fallen flesh or old sin nature, and though they do not know it or understand it, they are bound by the powers of darkness and serve like a slave of the old Roman empire!

Fallen men, away from God glory in themselves, glory in the accumulation of more and more money, glory in their fame or name that they make for themselves, glory in their indulgent, fleshly, sin natures, and really do celebrate and rejoice in their sinfulness!

I love what Oswald Chambers had to say when he said, “The evidence that I am delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me.” And sadly most men do not know that “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” You would think that would be good news for a sin-bound man, but some find their bondage enjoyable and saving faith a “downer”!

But in Isaiah 52:13-15 we read, “Behold, MY SERVANT shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider.” And that certainly is my desire for every alienated soul living apart from “amazing grace” that they shall see His face, hear His voice, sense His Spirit, and repent toward God and put their faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross!

I don’t know if you know it or ever really considered what happened to Jesus as He was beaten, battered, spat upon, and, yes, stripped naked as they nailed Him to the cruel Cross – it was shameful! And no Roman was ever put to death on a cross – but they nailed Jesus to the Cruel Cross! But the question is: “Why [should you] Glory In The Cross of Christ?”

If a ‘self-glorying’ man ever slows down long enough, opens his ears to gospel truth, becomes sick with ‘amiable religiosity,’ is convicted by the Holy Spirit of his sinful bondage, and pauses long enough and seriously enough to view naked Jesus on the Cross because of Jesus’ love for that man to forgive him and set him free from his sin problem – if “he lifts up Jesus in His mind and his heart, Jesus will draw him unto Himself” in saving grace and mercy!

This is why Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.264], “The calling of a New Testament worker is to uncover sin and to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior [and I say Lord also], consequently he cannot be poetical, he must be sternly surgical. We are sent by God to lift up Jesus Christ, not to give wonderfully beautiful discourses. We have to probe straight down as deeply as God has probed us, to be keen in sensing the Scriptures which bring the truth home and to apply them fearlessly.” If that’s true – and it is – let’s begin:

WE ARE TO GLORY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY SATISFACTION OF OUR SIN DEBT BEFORE HOLY GOD:

God set the terms of your ‘sin-debt’ forgiveness! Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of God’s grace…”

There is another vital verse that must penetrate all of our minds and hearts. It is I John 2:2 where John wrote: “And He Himself [Jesus] is the PROPITIATION for our sins, and not ours only, but also those of the whole world.”

What did John the Baptist say when he saw Jesus coming? “BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHICH TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!!” One of the old, old hymns that still holds a special place in my heart is the hymn, “There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood”:

“There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins, And sinners plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains…The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day, And there may I, tho’ vile as he, Wash all my sins away…E’er since by faith I saw the stream Your flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die…Then in a nobler, sweeter song I’ll sing Your power to save, When this poor lisping, stammering tongue, Lies silent in the grave.” This hymn was written by William Cowper.

Paul told the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

I pray you have understanding of our Lord’s revelation! I Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also died for our sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit…”

Isaiah 53:10 tells us: “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” Why? Because Verse 11 says, “He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.”

Hallelujah! Jesus took our iniquities and nailed them to His Cross Himself as He suffered, bled, and died to take away your sin! Glory in Him!!

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS BECAUSE IT OPENS THE DOOR TO THE HOLY PLACE:

Hebrews 10:19 is so very, very clear. It says, “Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus…”

Do you know what the Great High Priest used to do before he entered the Holy Place in the tabernacle? Only the Great High Priest could go in once a year only, and that after great spiritual preparations! But in case he overlooked something and died on the spot as he entered the presence of God, he had tied a long rope around his ankle so the priests outside could drag him out from the presence of God. But NOW?

In Matthew 27:50-51 we read, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit…and behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom..” What is that all about? That is our Lord, through the Cross, opening the door to the Holy Presence to all of God’s people!

Hebrews 6:19 says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters the veil!” But you see no reason to glory in Christ Jesus?

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS BECAUSE IT REVEALS THE DEPTH OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US:

Romans 5:8 is so on target! It says, “But God proved His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

But I do believe some take God’s truth and twist it, determining for themselves, not His Word, that His forgiveness is a license to do as I please since God is so loving and forgiving! How preposterous and unbelieving is that! Do YOU really believe the tremendous price of Jesus’ suffering and death on the Cross was to give you an open door or free pass to sin as you please?

If, according to Isaiah 49:5, that God formed Jesus “to be His Servant” and through conversion we’ve been made One With Christ, how is that freeing us to do as we please in a ‘free-sinning lifestyle’?

Consider again John’s message in John 3:16-21! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

And, Romans 8:35 asks, and then answers: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” I have a question: “Does your trouble or troubles traumatize God? Does your bad experiences in life limit what God can do in your behalf? Are your “wounds” exempt from the wonders of His love, grace, and mercy?”

Listen to me – I’m telling you: “In Christ” even “bitter seasons” become “sweet blessings” because He will never leave you nor forsake you! Spurgeon preached a message that caught my attention. It was based on Ecclesiastes 11:3 which says: “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth,” and his message was entitled “Black Clouds and Bright Blessings.” [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.11, p[.225].

Look with me at Ephesians 3:17-19! It says: “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST which passes knowledge; THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.”

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE IT RELEASES THE VICTORY TO OVERCOME SIN IN OUR DAILY LIVES:

Romans 6:14 is so very, very clear: “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are no longer under the law (of sin and death!!), but under grace.” And God’s grace is greater and stronger than your old sin habit! But it does require our yielding ourselves as servants of our Lord and Savior and not to our old sin nature – we yield ourselves to the victory of His “Blood Atonement”!!

If our Lord and Savior said, “Go and sin no more,” then when do some professing believers say they can’t do anything but sin until they get to Heaven? How convenient for the compromisers!

If our Lord and Savior said, “Go and sin no more,” then why do fleshly pleasure seekers shut their ears and their hearts to the finished work of Christ on the Cross in their behalf? Do you remember Jesus having a woman caught in adultery brought to Him by the Pharisees? That’s John 8. And in verses 10-12 we read, When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Romans 6:22 tells us: “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE WAY OF EXALTATION:

Come to Philippians 2:5-11, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus humbled Himself and was exalted, lifted up. Jesus made Himself of no reputation and was exalted. Jesus took the form of a bondservant and was exalted. Jesus humbled Himself and was exalted. Jesus was obedient to the point of death and was exalted. But as His “followers” we are free to choose a different way to be exalted? I don’t think so!

It was Phillips Brooks who said: “Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity, and the exaltation of humanity.” His guiltless blood was shed for men’s guilty hearts so that through repentance and faith they may be exalted with Him!

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY WAY SOVEREIGN GOD DETERMINED SALVATION BY FALLEN MEN COULD BE OBTAINED:

Acts 4:12 is the foundation of building a lasting ‘house of faith’ in God! It says: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” And that name that saves? Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Emmanuel –“God with us”!

Paul told the Corinthians in I Corinthians 15:1-3, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, IF you hold fast that word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES…”

Do you understand ‘reconciled to God’? And if it is necessary, essential, and is by God’s determination alone – what does His Holy Word tell us? Romans 5:10 says, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.”

You are not put into a right relationship with Holy God because you are ‘religious,’ or because you do religious acts, or because you, at least, try to obey Him. You’re saved only through the sacrificial death of Christ on the Cross, and you ‘rest’ in His finished work there! Religious or “In Christ”? Good deeds or “In Christ”? Church attendance or “In Christ”? Super efforts or “In Christ”? “Others speak well of me” or “The Spirit Himself bears witness with My Spirit”?

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A NEW DYNAMIC OF TRUE LIFE:

In Hebrews 10:10, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of Jesus Christ, once for all…” What will? The will of God from before the foundation of the world – Christ Jesus as the Lamb slain in the mind and heart of God BEFORE the world was even established!

Hebrews 10:14-17 tells us: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their Minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’”

“Sanctified”? That means ‘set apart’ by God for His glory, honor, and praise! “A New Dynamic”? Glorying in the Cross to the glory of God alone! “Living”? To honor Him alone and fulfill His eternal purposes!

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE THE CROSS WAS GOD’S WAY TO TRIUMPH OVER OUR ENEMY, SATAN:

In Colossians 2:13-15 we read: “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, having triumphed over them.”

John illumined our victory over the powers of darkness in I John 3:8 when he wrote: “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of Satan.” The works of Satan? To dismantle you! To so tempt you that you fall away! To capture you, yes, for Hell itself!

Look at Hebrews 2:14-15 and glory in the Lord Jesus’ rendering Satan powerless: “Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil:…and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

When the psalmist said in Psalms:136:24 that “[God] rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy endures forever,” don’t you think the devil and his demons are your enemy? And Jesus handled your dilemma with the devil! And you have reason to glory in Him!!

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE THROUGH THE CROSS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD IS RELEASED:

Just listen and receive I Corinthians 1:17-18, 23, which says: “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should be made void…For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED!!”

Why was Paul sent? “TO PREACH THE GOSPEL” which we just learned that the word of the cross not only “saves us, reconciles us, redeems us,” it is also the great power of God released through us in an overcoming life, in spiritual warfare, and the release of His great power through us to honor Christ by ministering in His Name, by His available anointing and empowering!

You may face disillusioning battles but the power of the Cross promises you victory. You may face a world of trouble, but His Cross is the power of God to overcome. You may face closed doors, but the great power of God opens those doors or better doors.

WE GLORY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS BECAUSE THROUGH THE CROSS THE WORLD’S PULL HAS LOST ITS POWER:

Galatians 6:14 says it so encouragingly: “But God forbid that I should boast except in the CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” The world pull, yes, has lost its power through the Lord Jesus. Settle it: ALL THAT MATTERS IS JESUS!

There’s an old hymn that says: “This world is not my home, I’m just a’passing through, My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.” That’s Heaven – my eternal home around God’s throne!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE OR THE WITNESS OF A ROYAL RELEASE?”

I wonder if you’ve ever said it or experienced it, “I am going to get this done right this time,” but again you fall flat on your face. You have great confidence in yourself and you try but you’re soon crushed. You’re blessed with lofty ambitions but you live with LIMP ACCOMPLISHMENTS. You dream and drool with the drippings of SELF-DETERMINATION but end up with the nightmare of constant failure.

You know the STANDARD of moral accountability and responsibility but find yourself flawed with the reality of SIN in the heart. You aim toward “the mark” and you miss it. You RACE toward the finish line of personal faithfulness and you stumble and fall.

You reach up for the shining star of light and “GLOW-FUL-NESS” but radiate only the darkness and despair and dismay of wanting to do right but wallowing in the wrong.

And the powerful truth of the revelation of the Word of God is that a self-sufficient, self-motivated man never finds the witness of a royal release while the weakness of self-willed resolve is hidden from our eyes.

The great depth of our own weakness is a mystery to a man who is disciplined and determined to make it on his own without any outside help including God. Do you understand? STRONG CONSTITUTIONS can be our undoing. Brave soldiers are beyond numbering in basic training, but when the real battle commences few heroes are to be found with medals of HONOR.

I’m not sure if you’ll be familiar with the story called “STYX” in which THETIS dipped ACHILLES everywhere but the heel by which she held him. He was so strong and so invulnerable wherever the water had touched him, but remember, the heel hadn’t been covered by the water, and all of a sudden PARIS shot the arrow into the heel, and ACHILLES DIED.

Most men think of themselves as completely INVULNERABLE but fail to remember there is a HELPLESS HEEL. The one thing I want you to know is that without the Spirit of Christ controlling our lives we are all “SHORN SAMSONS”! Dr. Watts had a verse in one of his hymns that said: “SAMSON, when his hair was lost, Met the Philistines to his cost; Shook his vain limbs with vast surprise, made feeble fight, and lost his eyes.”

YOUR strength is your greatest weakness! YOUR proud consciousness is a strong indication of personal corruptness! YOUR ship of flawed character has had a major leak since its inception and is about to sink! YOUR own flight to the gates of heaven on the wings of self-estimation of acceptable virtues has an unacceptable visa and passport.

Why did Jesus die if we could earn our own way to heaven? Why was His blood shed if your best could merit the favor of God? TRUTH IS NEEDED!!

Listen to Spurgeon [Vol.19,p373, Memorial Library, Spurgeon’s Sermons]: “Sinner, if you grow no sweeter flowers than the dunghill of your own nature can nourish, you will die amid poisonous weeds. If you never drink of better water than the filthy well of your own heart will yield, you will perish of thirst, or of a deadly drought.”

The weakness of personal resolve is a field of broken promises. The weakness of personal resolve is a playing field of despised vows. The weakness of personal resolve is a dirty pig-lot of vain imaginations.

I’m not asking you to get a better “grip” on yourself; I’m asking YOU to let go of yourself. I’m not asking you to make a better resolution of self-determination; I’m asking you to be finished with yourself. I’m not asking you to start another chapter entitled “Better Effort;” I’m asking you to give yourself the “Blessed Encounter” with Jesus.

I’m not asking you to make a new avowal of attachment to the rod of self-improvement; I’m asking you to surrender to the rod of Spirit-anointing!

Do you know what Romans 7:18-25 says? In Romans 7 there has been a big struggle in Paul’s life because as yet he hadn’t learned Romans 8! We’re talking about a believer, a follower, a new servant of Christ with a major war going on. How do we know? Look at Romans 7:22!! “For I DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF GOD (or Word of God) ACCORDING TO THE INWARD MAN.” No unbeliever DELIGHTS in God’s Word. No unbeliever even has an inward man! But Paul did and you in Christ do!

Paul wisely shares his struggles. He wisely shares the maturing process. He wisely shares the absolute spiritual necessity of accepting one’s impotence to fulfill the purposes of God on his own. Do you remember Peter’s vow of determined resolution? Matthew 26:35, “Even if I have to die with You, Jesus, I WILL NOT DENY YOU!” “And so said all the disciples.” And the truth is, the disciples fled and Peter denied!

William Barclay said, [his Romans study, p.103], “The human will unstrengthened by Christ is bound to crack.” And it’s not that we’ve cracked – we’ve been shattered into pieces because we majored in our weaknesses rather than be mastered by the witness of the Holy Spirit!

Dr. Griffith Thomas, in his devotional commentary on Romans, [pps. 192-193], wrote: “The key to the meaning of the entire section is found in the repetition of “I” 30 times in the chapter, without a single mention of the Holy Spirit. It indicates what “I” am struggling to do, and utterly fail to do in my own strength.”

THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE OR THE WITNESS OF A ROYAL RELEASE?

It’s said of Muhammed Ali while flying to one of his events that his flight got into some turbulence. The seat-belt sign came on and as usual the stewardess checked it out and all had complied but Ali. She asked him to fasten his seat-belt, but the “Lip” responded, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” And the stewardess replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane either.”

THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE: LISTEN TO GOD”S HOLY WORD!!

THERE’S THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE BECAUSE OF THE DIVINE RECOGNITION OF FLESH’S IMPOTENCE: In Mark 14:37-38, as Jesus was going to Gethsemane to pray, he came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to them, “Could you not watch one hour?…Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.” And whether or not YOU recognize the ‘flesh’s’ impotence, God Does! HE KNOWS about our weaknesses!

THERE’S THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE BECAUSE OF THE DIVINE DETERMINATION AND JUDGMENT UPON THE ‘FLESH’: Listen to I Corinthians 15:50, [And by the way, ‘flesh’ is your old sin nature!], “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood CANNOT INHERIT the kingdom of God.” We must learn quickly, early, life’s crossroads – Flesh or Spirit? Old man or new man? Sinner or saint? Sin nature or partaker of the divine nature? Earthly living only or Heavenly minded?

THERE’S THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE BECAUSE OF THE DIVINE DECLARATION OF HOPE ONLY IN CHRIST JESUS: John 1:12-13 tells us: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who will believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, NOR of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

THERE’S THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE BECAUSE OF THE DIVINE INSIGHT THAT PROMOTION OF THE FLESH LEADS TO A GREATER PERVERSION OF THE SAME: Look at Romans 6:19, “I speak in human terms because of the WEAKNESS OF YOUR FLESH. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, AND OF LAWLESSNESS LEADING TO MORE LAWLESSNESS…” Do you understand that? When ‘religious flesh’ gets involved it builds a bigger BARRIER between Holy God and sinful man! When ‘willful flesh’ is released for either good or bad, it leads to a greater divide between presumption and personal salvation!

THERE’S THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE BECAUSE OF THE DIVINE EXPLANATION THAT THE “HOW TO” NEVER COMES TO FRUITION WHEN I’M “INTO” WHAT GOD IS “ONTO” IN HOLY JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNATION: What did Paul say in Galatians 2:20? “I am crucified with Christ…” My evil and my good were both nailed to the Cross! But, for Paul, in Romans 7:18-19, he’s been struggling because his ‘religious self’ rather than his ‘redeemed, regenerated self’ has been in control. Listen to Romans 7:18-19, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) NOTHING GOOD DWELLS; for to WILL is present with me, but HOW TO perform what is good I do not find…For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, THAT I PRACTICE.”

THERE’S THE WEAKNESS OF RESOLVE BECAUSE OF THE DIVINE REVELATION THAT SELF-PROMOTION NEVER PLEASES GOD: Romans 8:5 is so very clear: “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh..” And the result? Romans 8:7-8 says, “the fleshly, (carnal) mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be…So, then, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.” Don’t forget what ‘flesh’ is biblically: your old sin nature!

THERE’S THE WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH BECAUSE OF THE DIVINE UNVEILING OF FLESH’S ULTIMATE END: Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally (or fleshly) minded IS death…!!” Romans 8:13 says, “For if you live according to the flesh YOU WILL DIE…” Alexander Maclaren put it like this so plainly and powerfully: “That which of all things unfits man for the reception of Christ as Savior, is not gross profligacy and outward, vehement transgression, but it is self-complacency, fatal self-righteousness and self-sufficiency.”

Jean Nicolas Grau, in the “Alliance Weekly,” wrote: “Do not shelter the mirror which reflects your soul’s lack of beauty; rather welcome the truth, and believe that next to the knowledge of God nothing is so precious as the knowledge of self.”

Listen to James Milner!! “While a man rests on his own merits for acceptance with God, it is of little consequence whether he be a pagan idolater, or a proud, ignorant Pharisee. – I do not know which of the two is most distant from the kingdom of God.”

Now, let’s shift gears, and get in full throttle!! LET’S LOOK AT “THE WITNESS OF A ROYAL RELEASE”:

Come to Romans 8:1-2!! “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, WHO DO NOT WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, but (WALK) according to the Spirit…For the law of the SPIRIT OF LIFE in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Notice, in fact, in verse 4, that EVEN “the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled IN US who do not walk according to the flesh BUT WALK ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT…” In John 16:7, prior to His departure, Jesus said to the disciples, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage (necessary) that I go away; for if I do not go away, the HELPER will not come to you: but if I depart, I WILL SEND HIM TO YOU.”

THE WITNESS OF A ROYAL RELEASE BECOMES REALITY BECAUSE OF OUR “BIRTHING” IN THE SPIRIT: In John 3 Jesus said to Nicodemus in verse 3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born AGAIN, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God.” Verse 5 then says, Jesus speaking, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless on is born of the water (of the Word) AND the Spirit, he cannot ENTER the kingdom of God.” And then in verse 6 Jesus explains: “That which is born of the flesh is FLESH, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

In the natural we’re all born physically alive but spiritually dead to God. Romans 3:10-18 says, “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one…There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God…They have all gone out of the way; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one…Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit…the poison of asps is under their lips…Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness…Their feet are swift to shed blood…Destruction and misery are in their ways…And the way of peace they have not known…There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

OH, BUT WE’VE COME TO CHRIST JESUS! How? John 6:44 says, Jesus speaking, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;” WHAT A REVELATION!! And LISTEN! Because of true “repentance toward God” AND “faith in the finished work of Christ” alone at Calvary, we’ve come out of DEATH into LIFE by the same Spirit who raised Christ from death in Joseph’s borrowed tomb. Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, HE WHO RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD WILL ALSO GIVE LIFE TO YOUR MORTAL BODIES THROUGH HIS SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN YOU.”

In fact Romans 8:9 clearly says, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. NOW IF ANYONE DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NOT HIS.” BIRTHED AND INDWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! GLORY!

THE WITNESS OF A ROYAL RELEASE BECOMES REALITY BECAUSE OF THAT ADDED BLESSING OF OUR “BAPTISM” IN THE SPIRIT: Right before His ascension, after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples. Look at John 20:19-22, “Peace be with you…” [What is that? It’s a fruit of the Spirit!]. He said again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Listen to verse 22, And when Jesus had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’!” IMPARTATION!!

Then come with me to Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4, And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to part from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which He said, “you have heard from Me.; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Then in Acts 2:1-4 we read: When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. What do you see in these two different passages?

Well, there is an Indwelling – but also an Overflowing. There is a residence – but also a release. There is an enveloping – but also an enduement of power from on high. There is the presence – but also a powerful anointing. The Holy Spirit is the Mighty Breath of God imparting Divine Life, but He’s also the Mighty Wind releasing God’s directional force, and also the mighty river sweeping us up in a delightful flow of heavenly blessings!

Don’t ever forget Acts 19:1-6!! And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

You’ll remember that John the Baptist went out into the wilderness of Judea preaching and multitudes came to him. In Matthew 3:11 he said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall Baptize YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE.” Is there the spiritual fire of God in your bones?

HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM IS FOUR ILLUMINATING REALITIES: 1) IT’S A CERTAIN EXPERIENCE! They tarried, they anticipated, they obeyed, and a transformation occurred. Listen to Arthur Wallis! (“In The Day Of Thy Power,” pps.69-70), “These who but a few days before had slunk into the upper room and bolted the door for fear of the men who had murdered their Master, are now standing in the open and alleging that this Jesus is alive, and accusing their hearers of murder. Peter, who a month and a half before had denied his Lord at the jibe of a servant-girl, now stands before the multitudes in the very city where He was crucified, and asserts that God had made this Jesus ‘both Lord and Christ.’ Certainly something very definite has happened to these believers…IT IS THE BIRTHRIGHT OF EVERY CHILD OF GOD TO RECEIVE THAT ANOINTING, AND TO KNOW THAT HE OR SHE HAS RECEIVED IT.”

2) IT’S A CLARIFYING EXPERIENCE! It’s so evident: “He’s not ‘fleshly,’ he “walks in the Spirit.” It’s not the ordinary for her, “she walks in the supernatural.” There’s nothing ordinary about them, “they walk in the dimension of the extraordinary!”

In Acts 2:5-18 read carefully these dynamic events in the early church! And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass in the last days,” says God, “That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams, and on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” It happened just as God said: He clarified it for them!

3) IT’S A COMPULSIVE EXPERIENCE! “Compulsive”? It means “The application of a force that is irresistible.” Luke 24:49 says, “Clothed with power from on high.” Acts 10:38 speaks of “anointed…with the Holy Spirit and with power.

To the church at Corinth, I Corinthians 2:4-5, Paul said, “And my speech and my p[reaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER…THAT YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT BE IN THE WISDOM OF MEN BUT IN THE POWER OF GOD.”

E. Paul Hovey wrote: “The word ‘Comforter’ as applied to the Holy Spirit needs to be translated by some vigorous term. Literally, it means ‘with strength.’ Jesus promised His followers that “The Strengthener” would be with them forever. This promise is no lullaby for the faint-hearted. It is a blood transfusion for courageous living.” AMEN!!

4) IT’S A COVETED EXPERIENCE! In Matthew 5:6 Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED.” Are you ‘hungry’ for Spirit-anointing?

In Isaiah 44:1-3 we read, “Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you; ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.” Do you understand how ready God is to pour out His power and anointing on a thirsty, hungry soul?

THE WITNESS OF A ROYAL RELEASE BECOMES REALITY AS WE BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE OURSELVES THE BLESSINGS OF SPIRIT-ANOINTED LIVING: Consider the Blessing of Confidence and Assurance: Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

Let it well up within you: “I KNOW, I REALLY KNOW, I’M A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, GOD’S OWN SPECIAL PERSON, I’M NOW A PART OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD! HOW DO I KNOW? Because the Spirit of God has written it on my heart!”

Consider the Blessing of Unshakable Awareness: I John 3:24 says, “…And hereby we know that Jesus abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us.”

Consider the Blessing of Unveiled Encouragement: John 14:26, “But, the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” In fact, in Luke 12:12, Jesus assures us, “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say.”

Consider the Blessing of An Opened or Closed Door: Acts 13:2 says, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” OPEN DOOR! But in Acts 16:6 we read, “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.” CLOSED DOOR!

Jonathan Edwards, one of God’s appointed-anointed leaders of the Great Awakening wrote: “God has had it much on His heart, from all eternity, to glorify His dear and only begotten Son; and there are some special seasons that He appoints to that end, wherein he comes forth with Omnipotent Power to fulfill His promise and oath to Him; and these times are times of remarkable pouring out of His Spirit, to advance His kingdom; such a day is a day of His power.”

And here you and I are. What about us? Will it be, “The Weakness of Resolve or the Witness of a Royal Release?” Will it be, our testimony, our epistle, read of all men, as that of the Flesh or that of God’s Spirit through us? Will it be self-determination or Spirit Dependence?

Will it be active, animal like acceleration or mighty anointing of His Spirit? Will it be a shallow stream of self-effort or an ocean of omnipotent occupation? Will it be fleshly energized excitement or a Spirit- quickening of the saints in the fires and rivers and baptisms of the Holy Spirit?

Will it be man at his best that falls so short or God unveiling Himself in irresistible power and anointing? Will it be man taking the field to play his understanding of the religious game or God’s Spirit at bat in the excellence of His extraordinary enduements on the evangels of the faith?

Will it be us in our masterful, fleshly manipulations or the manifestation of God’s Falling Fire kindled in Heaven and in His heart?

God gives us a promise in Ezekial 34:26. It says, “I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their seasons; there shall be showers of blessing.”

And I believe our nation and our churches have not been in seasons and showers of blessing, but in spiritual drought and dryness because we’ve tried hard and at the same time resisted the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! And God is saying, “There’s going to be a change. Get ready. The Fire is going to fall!!”

Listen to Spurgeon’s powerful prayer and let’s make it our own: “O God, send us the Holy Ghost! Give us both the breath of spiritual life and the fire of unconquerable zeal. O You are our God, answer us by fire, we pray! Answer us both by WIND and FIRE, and then we shall see You to be God indeed. The kingdom comes not, and the work is flagging. Oh, that You would send the wind and the fire! You WILL do this when we are all of one accord, all blessing, all expecting, all prepared by prayer…

Lord, bring us to this waiting state! God, send us a season of glorious disorder. Oh, for a sweep of the wind that will set the seas in motion, and make our ironclad brethren, now lying so quietly at anchor, to roll from stem to stern!…

Oh, for the fire to fall again – fire which shall affect the most stolid! Oh, that such fire might first sit upon the disciples, and then fall all around! O God, You are ready to work with us today even as You did then. Stay not, we beseech You, but work at once…

Break down every barrier that hinders the incoming of Your might! Give us now both hearts of flame and tongues of fire to preach Your reconciling word, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“ON WHAT DO YOU MAJOR?”

In Philippians 1:21 Paul shared his heart: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Think about that with me: “For to me…” My choice, my selection, my determination…! But remember, it’s God Himself who reaches out to us! In fact, in Proverbs 1:24-25, we read: “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out My hands and no one regarded, because you disdained all My counsel, and would have none of My rebuke…Verse 26, I’ll laugh at your calamity..” God said a similar word in Jeremiah 7:13, “And now, because you have done all these works,” says the Lord, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer.”

And then, “For to me to live…”. For most it is a life-long search for ‘life’ but always in the wrong places with the wrong persons and for the wrong reasons. But Jesus said in John 10:9-10, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief [Satan the liar], does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

“For to me to live IS CHRIST”… Jesus IS the eternal reality of Heaven’s pre-ordained plan and blessing for fallen men. And without Christ we are separated from God, lost, on the wrong foundation, majoring on the minors that sound out the ultimate chord of sadness, separation, and senselessness instead of the desires of God for us. Augustine said it: “Restless are our souls, O Lord, until we rest in You.”

Do I major on my faults and failures or on Christ’s strengths and His redemptive conquests? Do I major on un-acceptance before others or that I am “accepted in the Beloved”? Do I major on the inevitable defeats or on His eternal victories that always cause me to triumph, declaring me a “winner” in my journey?

Do I major on my fear that no one really loves me or that God proved His love for me in that while I was yet a sinner Christ died for me? Do I major on a search for personal identity or do I major on the fact of a true, fulfilling identity of who I am “in Christ”? Do I major on my sinfulness and the filthy rags of attempts at self-justification or on my declared redemptive righteousness “in Christ”?

Do I major on my weaknesses in a debilitating fashion or magnify my weakness so that the power of Christ may rest upon me? Do I major on the oldness in the old sin nature or on the fact that I am a new creation in Christ and declared by God to be a ‘saint’ or one set apart to the glory of God?

Do I major on cultural or familial curses that want to dominate me or on the kingdom of Christ and the faith-filled blessings of His kingdom that liberates me?

Do I major with the psalmist on the sad fact that no man really cares for my soul or on the glad fact that God has loved me with an everlasting love and drawn me with His lovingkindness? Do I major on the futility of the fleshliness of First Adam or on the finality of Spirit-Life in the Second Adam?

Do I major on what I was before Christ or on who I am in Christ? Do I major on the reigning death of my old sin nature or the reign of righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior?

Do I major on the reality of earthly opposition, that so many are against me, OR on the blessed truth that Almighty God is for me? Do I major on my own personal ineptness in things of the Spirit-realm or that I am more than conqueror through Him who loved me?

Do I major on my feebleness in human effort of being a witness to my world around me or on the fullness in divine oneness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do I major on my fears of war with the powers of darkness or that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under my feet?

Do I major on my inability and shortcoming of impacting my world effectively or on Him who is able to establish me redemptively in my world? Do I major on my personal poverty in the Spirit-realm or that I am already enriched in everything spiritually by my Lord and Savior?

Do I major on my earthly learning that never brings me to the knowledge of the truth or on the benefit of the new blood covenant in Christ where I receive His wisdom and His mind? Do I major on my continual war with temptation or on the truth that my God made a way of escape from it?

Do I major on my restlessness in life or that there is rest in Christ now and a rest that remains for the people of God? Do I major on that in my life that is unsure and fading or upon the anchor of my soul that is both sure and steadfast and which enters into the Presence of God behind the veil?

Do I major on my tendency to wander and draw back or upon the faith and trust and reliance upon Him that causes me to press in to the saving of my soul? Do I major on my sorrowful chastenings or do I look beyond to the yielding of the peaceable fruit of righteousness by which God trains me?

Do I major on all that can be shaken in my life or do I rest and receive in its fullness the kingdom of Christ which cannot be shaken? Do I major on the passion for the praise and honor of men or am I consumed with the passion for the praise of God alone?

Do I major on the works of the law by which no one is ever justified or on the deeds of the law written on the tablets of my heart by the finger of God through the blood of Christ? Do I major on the fallen life of my former self without Christ or on the redeemed life in Christ who loved me and gave Himself for me?

Do I major on setting aside the grace of God in me and focusing on “grit” or do I stand in the grace of God and focus on His glory as His gift to me? Do I major on being made perfect by the flesh or do I major on having been perfected by the Spirit?

Do I major on the weak and beggarly elements of life that leads again to bondage or on the joy of the Lord that is my strength and the blessed revelations that lead me to true freedom and liberty? Do I major on the entanglements of the world, the flesh, and the devil that leads again to bondage or do I stand fast in the liberty by which Christ Jesus made me free?

Do I major on the less of my former, unredeemed life or on the “much more” of reconciliation, being continually saved by Christ’s Life?

Do I major on what I was without Christ, without strength and ungodly, or on the revelation, Ramah Truth, that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and by His grace be being continually transformed to the kingdom of the godly?

Do I major on personal condemnation incited by the accuser of the brethren or on a powerful confidence inspired by the affirmer and advocate of the elect? Do I major on the power of sin in the old man or on the truth of power over sin because I know I died with Christ at the Cross, my old body of sin, and that now sin is no longer my master but Jesus is?

Do I major on the law of sin and death or on the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus who has made me free from the law of sin and death? Do I major on the emphasis of a carnal mind that is enmity against God or on the Leadership of the Spirit that is life and peace?

Do I major on the program of “of me,” “through me,” “for me,” or upon the ministry of “of Him,” “through Him,” and “to Him” to whom be glory forever? Do I major on making constant provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust or do I put on the Lord Jesus Christ?

Do I major on the kingdom of food and drink or on the Kingdom of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost? Do I major on the emptying of my life of faith of all confidence or assurance or on the God of hope who fills me with all joy and peace in believing that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit?

Do I major on my sadnesses and sorrows or on the provision of Holy God that I can live before others with joy by the will of God and may be refreshed and renewed with them as I walk by faith? Do I major on my earthly, fleshly house that is daily dying or on the eternal Temple of God which is my body where the Holy Spirit of God dwells?

Do I major on the kingdom that is word only of men or on the Kingdom that is of God filled with Holy Ghost supernatural power from on high? Do I major on the mindful discouraging picture of what I was or on the truth that I’ve been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God?

Do I major on the constant attempts of the thievery of your time or on the redemption of your time and the revelation of truth that you may serve the Lord without distraction? The Christ-Life in you is not a small compartment but the total summation of ALL HE IS and ALL HE DOES through your available life!

Do I major on the sounding brass and clanging cymbals or on the greatness of that which abides: FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE? Do I major on the fact that I have many adversaries as a disciple of Christ or on the fact that through it all God has opened a great and effective door for me?

Do I major on that which was buried with Christ and it stinks or on the fact that through the new birth you and I are of God now and by His grace we have become the fragrance of Christ? Do I major on the letter that kills or on the Spirit who gives life? Do I major on the ministry of condemnation from the devil or on the ministry of righteousness that comes from God abounding in His glory?

Do I major on the veiled face of an unrepentant heart or on your unveiled face by the grace of God that continually transforms you into the same image from glory to glory? Do I major on despair because heaven’s treasures are in an earthern vessel not discerning it’s God’s design so the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us?

Do I major on the fact that I’ve lost heart because my outward man is perishing or on the glorious fact that the inward man is renewed day by day? Do I major on selfish living for the satisfaction of SELF or on living no longer for myself but for Him who died for me and rose again?

Are you yielded to the domination of the old man or on the discipline of the new creation miracle of God? Do you major on the restriction of your own affections or on the marvelous truth that the love of God has been poured out in your heart by the Holy Spirit who was given to you?

Do you major on the reality of trouble on every side, that without are conflicts and within are fears, or on the reality that nevertheless God comforts the downcast? Do you major on the poverty of your personal soul life or on the grace of the Lord Jesus who for your sake became poor, that you through His poverty might be made rich?

Do you major on the emptiness and void of your former life without Christ or that in Christ by the grace of God you always have all sufficiency in all things to every good work? Do you major on measuring yourself by yourself and comparing yourself among others or on the Holy Blessed Gospel that as He is, so am I in this world?

Do you major on the thorns that pierce your life or on the grace that is sufficient to see you through? Do you major on what was crucified with Christ, dead and buried, or on that resurrection life, hope, and power of God?

Do you major on the futility of your former self with all its deeds of fleshliness or on the fruit of the Spirit? Do you major on your doubts and uncertainties or on the fact that, having believed and trusted, you’ve been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise?

Do you major on those accusations of the powers of darkness of your former emptiness or on the truth of Jesus, the fullness of Him who fills all in all? Do you major on the fall-out of having been a child of wrath or on the fill-up of the truth that I’m a son or daughter of God now by grace and faith?

Do you major on your perplexities, conflicts, and anxieties, or on Him who is your Peace? Do you major on the heartache of living in a loveless world or on the joy of knowing the love of Christ which surp[asses knowledge?

Do you major on your own personal ineptness in your spiritual journey or on God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you ask or think? Do you major on your sadness for no greater progress in your spiritual maturity or on the confidence that He who began the good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ?

Do you major on the failures of the past or on forgetting the things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are before you, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus? Do you major on the temporariness of your earthly home or on the blessed truth that your citizenship is in heaven?

Do you major on all the sad events of your life and maybe even multiple sorrows or do you REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS? Do you major on being anxious about everything or in everything do you pray to God and find the peace that passes all understanding?

Do you major on the kingdom and the power of darkness around you or on the holy truth that God has translated you out of that kingdom into the Kingdom of the Son of His love? Do you major on the emphasis of your reaching earthly stardom for earthly glory and recognition or on the emancipation of your soul and spirit as you discover Christ only ‘in you’ is the hope of God’s glory?

Do you major on the shadows of former things from the past, even in the historic events of scripture yesterday or on the substance Who is Christ? Do you major on the involvement of earthly attractions or on setting your mind on the things above?

Do you major on your inability to speak the Gospel like Moses and Jeremiah both did or on the revelation that you’ve been approved by God, entrusted with the Gospel to speak faithfully its claims not as pleasing men but God?

Do you major on the establishment of your place in the world or that God desires to establish our hearts blameless in holiness before our God? Do you major on your short-comings or on the gracious fact that God counted you worthy of the Kingdom of God?

Do you major on your unworthiness of Heavenly Kingdom Life or that God from the beginning CHOSE YOU FOR SALVATION through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth? Do you major on the reality of having made shipwreck of your faith at some point or on the rescue of God like the restoration of Peter?

Do you major on the mystery of iniquity or on the mystery of godliness? Do you major on the earthly opposition to the Gospel that sometimes makes you feel ashamed of the testimony of our Lord ( the Gospel is an offense, it brings reproach!), or do you major on the glorious truth that He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us before time began?

Do you major on what you don’t know about the things of God or on what you do know – whom you believed and how you once were persuaded that He is able to keep what you’ve committed against that day?

Do you major on the discouragement of having been a vessel of dishonor or on the promise that he who cleanses himself WILL BE a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the master and prepared for every good work?

Do you major on the forsaking of friends and family because of your faith or on the glorious truth that the Lord stands with you and strengthens you, delivering you from every evil work and preserving you for His heavenly kingdom?

Do you major on earthly blessings alone in this present age or are you majoring on looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ? Do you major on the hopelessness of your flesh or on the hopefulness in Christ that is an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which does enter the veil of God’s Holy Presence?

Do you major on the prayerlessness of men in your behalf or on Christ who ever lives to make intercession for YOU? Do you major on religiosity and ‘churchy-anity’ or on pure and undefiled religion before God the Father?

Do you major on the aftermath of your old sin nature, on the burial clothes from your death in trespasses and sins or on the truth that you’ve been made a partaker of the divine nature? Do you major on the disappointment of lost battles in the spiritual war or on the truth that you are of God, you HAVE overcome, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world?

Do you major on the fact that the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one or that you are of God and have overcome him through the blood of the Lamb, through the word of your own testimony, and that you truly don’t love your life, even unto death?’ Do you major on your ‘trip-ups’ or on Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy?

I don’t really know what all this is about…why the Lord poured these questions into me. But I was reading Revelation 3 as the Lord spoke to the pastor or messenger at Sardis, and in Verse 2, Jesus said: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”

And I know in one sense He is saying, “You’ve not been mature in your understanding of who YOU are IN CHRIST.” Proverbs 23:7 says: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Out of the passion of his soul for the church at Rome, Paul wrote: Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world but be [being] transformed – BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND – that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

With the renewing of your mind fresh this very moment, consider Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatever thing are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – think on these things.”

And we know from I Peter 2:10- that though once we were not a people, “but..now [we are] the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy!!”

Have YOU obtained mercy? Are YOU the person of God, His son, His daughter? Are you His own special people? Are you a holy nation? Are you a royal priesthood? Are you the chosen race?

Listen carefully: I’m not asking you to take the name of the Lord your God in vain – I’m asking you to take His name in Victory!! Confess? That means agree – same the same thing as:

“I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS!” “I AM BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS!” “I AM MADE ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST!” “I AM SEATED WITH CHRIST IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES!” “I AM BORN AGAIN!” “AS JESUS CHRIST IS IN THE WORLD, SO AM I.” “I AM BORN AGAIN BY THE WORD OF GOD.” “I AM KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD.” “I WAS REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!” I AM COMPLETE IN CHRIST LACKING NOTHING.” “MY SINS WERE NAILED TO HISW CROSS – THE BLOOD COVERS THEM.” “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!”

And on and on and on, God celebrates who we are “in Christ!!” Why don’t you celebrate right now, and continue to identify who YOU ARE IN CHRIST!

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“SAD DEFECTIONS OR SURE ELECTIONS?”

Every pastor with a shepherd’s heart and every small part of the Body of Christ knows that the greatest calamity that occurs to a fellowship of believers is not outward assaults from the Church’s or disciples’ enemies, but inward assaults from wounds in the house of our friends, from the wiliness of warped false teachers, from even the wars of the apostates and traitors to the truth.

Every true shepherd’s heart and even every small part of the Body of Christ has grieved and been broken-hearted over supposed sanctified selfishness when people save themselves for themselves and have nothing to pour out for the greater body of Christ.

Every true shepherd’s heart and even every small part of the Body of Christ has experienced a Judas with his sop and his subtle, severing kisses and maybe hollow hand-shakes. Every true shepherd’s heart and even every small part of the Body of Christ knows the sickness of slander, the sickness of a ‘good-by, been good to know you salute, the disease of loose tongues, and the death of divisiveness of lies about God’s people – and they have no shame. But we can overcome all that.

The greatest heart-ache, the heaviest, sickening feeling and emotion that God’s people experience is when there is out and out DEFECTION. They are here, they are with us – but then, even though we didn’t see it or sense it, they’re going back to Egypt!

Numbers 11:5 says, “We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions and the garlic.” AND THEY TURN BACK! Numbers 11 is not much different from John 6. There had been a great deliverance, a heavenly provision; it’s not manna out of heaven now but the “living bread” and the call of true discipleship to “eat My flesh and drink My blood!” Then listen to John 6:60, 66:

“Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’…Verse 66, FROM THAT TIME MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK AND WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM!!”

Then Jesus turned to the 12 and said, Verse 67, “Do you also want to go away?” And Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!”

The devil is a “genius” at finding ways to make run-a-ways from the faith to really feel at home in the strange land and making “feeding swine” feel as if it’s a royal service.

Every “Samson” has his “Delilah” who is out to say “The Philistines are UPON YOU, Samson.” They long to see you grinding at the mill, spiritually blinded to your hope and help, chained to them and not to Christ!

Every DISCIPLE has not only a demon but Legions that stand at his door demanding, demeaning, deceiving, desiring to steal, kill, and destroy – but you don’t have to open that door!

On the High Mount of Transfiguration we stand in the Glory-cloud of God’s Presence and right below us the devil rages in a young son in an epileptic fit. If Satan will ask of Christ Jesus to bow down and worship him, will he bid to us, call to us, come to us in frequent solicitation to cross the line and stand on his side? You can bet your last dollar on that – unless you already are His lo0ck, stock, and barrel!

WHAT IS IT THAT SO DRAWS TO THE DARK CLOUDS OF SAD DEFECTIONS?

THERE IS THE SAD DEFECTION OF ANSWERING THE CALL OF THE WORLD AROUND US:

Song of Solomon 6:13 says: “Return, return, O Shulamite: Return, return, that we may look upon you!” I want you to notice several things about the timing of the call to defection! For one, it’s in the high moment of spiritual ecstasy – she’s just heard from Jesus! Verse 4 says, “O my love, you are as beautiful as TIRZAH, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners!”

It’s in the holy moment of confidence and assurance! Verse 3 says, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. He feeds me among the lilies.”

It’s in the hand moment of busyness about the Father’s business. Verse 11 says, “I went down to the garden of nuts to see the verdure of the valley, to see whether the vine had budded and the pomegranates had bloomed.” AND HERE COMES THE WORLD!! “Return, return, O Shulamite: Return, return that we may look upon you!”

That’s the call that appeals to pride: “that we may look upon you!” It’s the call of past haunts, pleasurable indulgences, the call of paralyzing persons of emptiness and shallowness, appealing to one’s flesh! The voices of the sirens are the calls to the old slavery of the sisterhood of selfishness and the manhood of ego-madness, manipulation, and misery – all coated with the poisonous sugar or poisoned essence of peppermint – looks sweet, then kills!

It seems so innocent, so beneficial, so pleasurable! And then, ensnared, it becomes so deathly! 2 Timothy 4:10 says, “…Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.”

Spurgeon, in his “Spurgeon’s Sermons, [Memorial Library, Vol.15, p.18], wrote: “When the world loves the holy man it is the love of the vulture for the sick lamb.”

It’s why J.B. Phillips said: “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold!”

THERE ALSO IS THE SAD DEFECTION OF NEGLECTING THE HOLY SPIRIT:

In Matthew 25:1-13 listen carefully: “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were wise took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

You should know and receive faithfully Galatians 5:16, “I say then, ‘Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” But what if you do? What if you’re deceived, distracted, detoured away from following the Holy Spirit’s lead? Look at Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

And I’m convinced this is why Paul was so clear to the church at Thessalonica! In I Thessalonians 5:19, he said: “DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT!” To the Ephesians he wrote in Ephesians 4:30, “And do not GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

The prophetic word of Isaiah 63:8-10 reveals so much about God’s people and their relationship with the Holy Spirit AND God’s concern for His own people’s reaction to the Holy Spirit. He said: ‘Surely they are My people, children who will not lie.’ So He became their Savior…In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old…But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.”

To neglect the Holy Spirit is: 1) Shutting the door to conviction – John 16:8 says, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin…” 2) Shutting the door to remembrance – John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” 3) Shutting the door to guidance into Truth – John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…” 4) Shutting the door to testimony and the glorifying of Christ – John 15:26 says, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” 5) Shutting the door to the Spirit is deciding to live by the letter only that kills – 2 Corinthians 3:6 “who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Hebrews 10:29 makes mention, yes, of the danger of “insulting the Spirit of grace…!” Yield to the Spirit, don’t ‘yelp’ like a deranged dog!

THERE IS THE SAD DEFECTION BECAUSE OF AN ATTITUDE OF COMPLACENCY AND INDIFFERENCE:

Look with me at Luke 12:35-41! “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them to sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do you speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”

It might be best for us all to consider carefully whether or not we’ve been truly devoted to the honor of Christ alone or have we drifted into complacency or indifference Why? In Luke 12 look at verses 42-46! And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.”

“Cut in pieces”? “Sweet Jesus” doing that? In Jeremiah 34:18 & 20 the Lord speaks: “And I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts of it – Verse 20, “I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. Their dead bodies shall be for meat for the birds of the heaven and the beasts of the earth.”

Complacency and indifference is like partaking of poisoned “Kool-Aid”!

THERE IS THE SAD DEFECTION BECAUSE OF THE BIRTHING OF A GREATER LOVE FOR SENSUAL INDULGENCE THAN THE SACRED LOVE OF HOLY GOD:

In Proverbs 21:16 we read, “A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the congregation of the dead.” What congregation do you want to dwell in? The congregation of the dead or the congregation of the living? For you, is it the congregation of ‘fleshly’ pleasure or the congregation of the priceless pleasure of Holy Presence?

In I Thessalonians 4:3-8 we see opposite points of view as to a selection of a lifestyle that honors or shames Holy God: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

Didn’t Paul tell young Timothy, I Timothy 5:6, “…she who lives in pleasure is DEAD while she lives.” You need to be so aware and alerted that all around you in a godless society are those who take pleasure in unrighteousness!

Spurgeon, [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.12, p.303], wrote: “Certain it is that the pleasures of sin for a season fascinate their minds till they sacrifice their souls at the shrine of sordid vanity…they have renounced the pleasures that never pall, the immortal hopes that never fail, and turned their backs upon that blessed Savior who gives and feeds the tastes for joys unspeakable, for joys of glory full…,” for transient joys, temporary pleasures, and tantalizing terrors that seemed so full of good and acceptable.

THERE IS THE SAD DEFECTION BECAUSE OF ONE’S MEDDLING IN MYTHS AND SPECULATIONS MAKING SHIPWRECK OF THEIR VESSEL OF FAITH:

In I Timothy 1:18-19, Paul wrote: “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophesies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck…” And I have no doubt that Paul was referring to what he’d already written in verses 3-7 of the same chapter: “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia – remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”

He gave Timothy a greater challenge in 2 Timothy 4:2-4, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Do you understand that for some myths and speculations become more palatable than the meat and surety of God’s historical, holy Word? Have YOU grasped the reality that to eat His flesh and to drink His blood is to take on Christ Jesus – His Spirit, His way of bringing about victory; that death, burial, and resurrection is the only path to true salvation?

And, as a result, the Gospel becomes offensive to some!! Remember the disciples saying to Jesus, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

Do you realize how many people say, “I just don’t understand what the Bible is saying,” when in reality the TRUTH of God’s Holy Word has clashed with their personal prejudices and their pride? Do you understand why many choose to walk no more with Him because His cause, His character, His claims and demands of discipleship kick against the goads and they won’t have it any longer? THIS FAR AND NO MORE, for them!

Can’t you see that private stronghold, those long-held habits, or maybe their favorite ‘pleasures’ finally bringing one to that place where they say, ‘No More!’ and in an unholy huff, they turn away?

THERE IS THE SAD DEFECTION BECAUSE THE GOD OF GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE HAS TO TAKE A BACK-SEAT TO THE GOD OF GREED:

In I Timothy 6:6-11 Paul wrote, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Luke 12:13-15 tells us of a man who sought to get Jesus to help settle a dispute over an inheritance: Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Yet, how many do you know who would react to Jesus Himself saying to Him brazenly, “O YES IT IS!” And they walk away from the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

In his book, A Minister’s Obstacles, Ralph Turnbull has a chapter entitled “The Dry Rot of Covetousness”. [Fleming Revell Com., 1954, p.26 & p.32]. And many never know that the disease of the dry rot of covetousness is consuming not only their lives but their faith and ministries.

Turnbull quoted D.R. Davies in his “The Sin of Our Age” calling attention to this “dogma of increasing wants.” And once the seed of greed is implanted in the heart it ever grows in an increasing appetite for more and more.

Chuck Swindoll in “The Quest For Character,” [p.22], wrote: “Nobody ever withstood greed without a fight that was both relentless and fierce. The god FORTUNE dies a slow, painful death.”

But please REMEMBER – it’s not money but “the love of money” that is the root of all kinds of evil. Money or greed becomes an idol in the heart that men bow down to! Now…

Remember we began with the question, “Sad Defections Or Sure Elections?” Come with me to 2 Peter 1:2-11, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” NOTICE, “SURE ELECTIONS”!

• In the context of 2 Peter 1, we CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT SALVATION IS NOT ONLY DEPENDENCE BUT ALSO A “DOING OF THE WORD.” It’s actively “Standing On The Promises!”

The overcoming attitude of “sure election” is the attitude of “add-to-it is.” Salvation is not stationary but a progressive walk in the way, the will, and the Word of God.

Our walk in salvation is not only EARNING A LIVING but BUILDING A LIFE! It’s why in I Peter 2:2 Peter said, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow up into your salvation.”

2. We know our calling and election is SURE BECAUSE WE ARE “PRESSING IN TO CHRIST!!” I Peter 2:21 says, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”

It’s that spirit and passion of Paul in Philippians 3:7-14, “But what things were gain to me, these things I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

3. We know our calling and election is sure, being made sure, BECAUSE WE LOVE SIN LESS AND LESS AND LONG TO FULFILL ONLY THE WILL OF GOD MORE AND MORE:

I Peter 4:1-2 says, “Therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same purpose or mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…that he NO LONGER should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

In verse 17 Peter puts it in a little different way but so enlightening: “If anyone ministers, let him do it with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:14 says, “…be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”

……….4. We know our calling and election is sure BECAUSE IN THE WAY OF HUMILITY WE’VE BEEN DRAWN NEAR TO GOD AND LONG TO STAY THERE:

I Peter 5:5-7 says, “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for…’God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble…’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

………..5. We know our calling and election is sure BECAUSE WE REST ON THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD’S WORD: [I’m going to close this chapter, this last point on sure election, by asking you to read carefully and over and over for several weeks Psalm 119!! Will you?}

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“IS THERE DANGER IN WILDERNESS WANDERINGS BECOMING PERMANENT?”

The title of this last chapter sounds so foreign to the purpose of God in the leading of His people – and yet ‘so true’ for far too many disciples! The wilderness pilgrimage is ‘legitimate’ and according to the sovereign purposes of God in leading His people from the beginning of the journey to its completion; from the infancy of faith to its full maturity, from “little children” to “young men” and beyond to “fathers of the faith,” according to I John 2:12-13; from a land of spiritual bondage and slavery to the promised land of “the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

In Deuteronomy 6:1 the Word says, “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, THAT YOU MIGHT DO THEM IN THE LAND where you are going over to possess it.” And then in Verse 23, “and HE BROUGHT US OUT…in order TO BRING US IN, to give us the land which He had sworn to give to our fathers.” Our God has sworn to give us the land which has been promised to us, just as with the children of Israel in the wilderness, and that promised land for you and me is that He has predetermined from before the foundation of the world, that we should be conformed to the image of His Son. It’s His desire, His purpose, even His provision of all-sufficient grace that we finish the course. But sadly, not all pilgrims successfully pas through the wilderness; what is intended to be temporary becomes permanent, instead of the door to life and oneness with Christ it becomes their door to death and eternal separation from God.

Why the wilderness? Deuteronomy 8:2 tells us: “…God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, TESTING YOU to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” [If YOU have a problem with this, ask yourself why Jesus said, “Why do you call Me Lord and do not do what I say?”]. I heard a friend once teach, “whatever God makes, He tests.” Peter said the same thing in I Peter 4:12, “Beloved, DO NOT BE SURPRISED at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you FOR YOUR TESTING, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” Jesus Himself was tested – by the devil, in the wilderness. In Luke 6:40 Jesus tells us, “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been FULLY TRAINED, WILL BE (JUST) LIKE HIS TEACHER.” We are instructed to expect this time of testing in the wilderness to find out what is really in our hearts, “whether (we) would keep His commandments or not.”

In I Corinthians 10:1-12, the apostle Paul warns us to learn from what happened to the children of Israel in their wilderness wanderings because it is an example for us in our wilderness walk. In Verse 1 he says, “For I do not want you to be unaware, BRETHREN…” about what happened to our fathers in the wilderness. They had taken into themselves the Passover Lamb (in I Corinthians 5:7 we are told that Christ is our Passover Lamb), they were delivered out of the bondage of Egypt (we are delivered out of the world and the bondage of Satan), they were baptized in the cloud and in the sea (a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the “washing of the water of the Word”), they had experienced the power of God as He delivered them over and over again with mighty signs and wonders, BUT “THEY WERE LAID LOW (DESTROYED) IN THE WILDERNESS!”

Why were they destroyed? Because of their evil desires, idolatry, immorality, they tested God, and they grumbled and complained about the difficulties and hardships they were encountering along the way. Contrary to popular evangelical belief, God did not destroy them because “they were ruining their witness of earth, so He decided to bring them on home early,” God’s destruction is forever, and one lives in a state of death that never dies! And Paul says to you and me in verse 11, “Now these things happened to them as AN EXAMPLE, and they were written FOR OUR INSTRUCTION, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” Then follows a staggering warning that most people today simply choose to ignore. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

It is not God’s desire that any disciple perish but that all come to repentance and walk in holiness, finishing the course, obtaining the witness, not aborting the formation of Christ within us, but going on – going over into the land promised – completion in Christ, “the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:13). After the Lord had led Israel into the wilderness He gave them a choice – “See, I have set before you today LIFE and prosperity, and DEATH and adversity…So CHOOSE LIFE in order that you may live…by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life…” His desire for them, as well as for us, was that they follow Him fully; the Word tells us that He does not will for anyone to perish. But He clearly placed the choice of life and death in their hands. “If your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that YOU SHALL SURELY PERISH.” (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

Many of the children of Israel chose to die in the wilderness, they chose not to go all the way with Christ; for them the wilderness became permanent. Why does the wilderness that God intends to be temporary become permanent in the lives of His people? Psalm 106 gives an account of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, and it is a solemn warning for you and me.

THEY FORGOT HIS WORKS

In Psalm 106:13 we are told that “they quickly forgot His works.” This is really an astonishing statement. The mighty works of God were demonstrated before the whole world as a testimony of His power and His choosing of Israel, all of the nations had heard of the works of the God of Israel and it struck fear in their hearts. But Israel forgot! They forgot the power of God that was released in their behalf to deliver them from the captivity of Egypt. They forgot the plagues, they forgot the death angel, they forgot the Blood that spared them, they forgot about the opening of the Red Sea and the destruction of the enemy, they forgot about His provision of manna and the water that came from the rock. The tragedy is that they forgot all of this in just a few short years!

The result of their forgetfulness is found in verse 15, so “He sent a wasting disease among them.” His judgment was released upon them. Now remember that P{aul had told us that “all these things happened as an example, and were written for our instruction…” Is it possible that we could follow in their example of forgetfulness? In Revelation 2 we hear the words of Jesus to the church at Ephesus. “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. REMEMBER from where you and fallen, and REPENT and do the deeds you did first; or else I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand out of its place.” Ephesus forgot. They forgot His mercy and love that He had extended to them. They forgot what they were like before He saved them. They forgot the hell they were living in and the hell they were destined to before He snatched them out of the fires.

Have you forgotten what Christ did for you at Calvary? Have you forgotten the price He paid to redeem you from every lawless deed? Have you forgotten that it was He who sought you out, not you who sought Him out? Paul reminds the Corinthians in I Corinthians 6:9-11, “that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God…neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU, BUT YOU WERE WASHED, BUT YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, BUT YOU WERE JUSTIFIED…”

Have you forgotten that while you were an enemy of God living in the futile way of life handed down to you by your ancestors, “foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another…” Titus 3:3; the kindness of God then appeared to you and saved you? Peter tells us in II Peter 1:9, “For he who lacks these qualities (the character and nature of Jesus Christ) is blind or short-sighted, HAVING FORGOTTEN HIS PURIFICATION FROM HIS FORMER SINS.”

Remember Jesus, remember the price He paid, remember His works! Don’t ever let the enemy cause your mind to become so cluttered with self and the affairs of this life that you forget His works, as Israel did.

THEY DID NOT WAIT FOR HIS COUNSEL

Psalm 106:13 also tells us that “they did not wait for His counsel.” His desire for them was to follow the leading of His Spirit, He would show them the way. In Isaiah 30:21 He tells them, “And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Jesus told the disciples in John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” There is the reality of following the voice of Jesus, the counsel of God, waiting upon Him. And yet the testimony of so many today is to rush out in the impulsiveness of human will rather than the absoluteness of divine will.

The true disciple of the Lord Jesus who wants to go on will not follow the voice of strangers. Many strangers rose up among the children of Israel with ‘a word from God’ to go back to Egypt, to build a golden calf, not to go in to the promised land, not to drive out the nations, to marry foreign women. But God’s word is forever settled and not one jot or tittle of it has passed away. In Jeremiah God addressed the problem of following the words of men rather than the words of God. In Jeremiah 23:16 He said to them, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; THEY SPEAK A VISION OF THEIR OWN IMAGINATION, NOT FROM THE MOUTH OF THE LORD.”

How do we know or recognize a stranger? By knowing the voice of the Lord, by knowing His Word and His Spirit. When you acquaint yourself with The Shepherd you’ll have no problem discerning strangers. Paul foresaw this problem when he gathered to himself the elders of the church at Ephesus. In Acts 20:28-30 he said to them, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit haqs made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure SAVAGE WOLVES WILL COME IN AMONG YOU, not sparing the flock; and FROM YOUR OWN SELVES MEN WILL ARISE SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, TO DRAW AWAY THE DISCIPLES AFTER THEM. Therefore be on the alert…” His advice to them was to discern the difference: “And now I commend you to God and TO THE WORD…”

THEIR HEARTS CRAVED EVIL THINGS

Another sign that the wilderness is dangerously close to becoming a place of permanent torment is found in Psalm 106:14, “They craved intensely in the wilderness.” Their hearts turned back to Egypt. Suddenly the wilderness struggle that God was using to work His character and His nature into them, to bring them to a place of total dependence upon Him, became too difficult. And although they were free from slavery, slavery began to look good to them once again. In Numbers 11 we find that they had “greedy desires.” And although they had FORGOTTEN the works of God, they REMEMBERED “the fish we used to eat in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic.” Their hearts turned back to Egypt and they began to long for having their fleshly desires fulfilled once again. It did not matter that it meant enslavement, they were like Esau, willing to trade their inheritance for a bowl of stew

There is the reality of the inward struggle, the battle to bring our minds and bodies into subjection to the will and the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it is just that, A STRUGGLE! Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.” Paul knew the reality of this struggle when he wrote in Galatians 5:17, “The flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another.” But if you desire to enter in to the promised land, “you may not do the things that you please.”

In the same way that we were formerly slaves of sin, we are to now become slaves of righteousness. How? In Romans 6:12,13 Paul said, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness.” We are not to allow our fleshly cravings to control us, but we are to bring our desires into conformity with His Word. Paul spoke of buffeting his body and making it his slave; bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ; and no longer carrying out the desires of the flesh.

In II Timothy 4:10 Paul sadly reports that “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me.” In Philippians 2:20-21, in recommending Timothy to that church he admitted the loneliness of his walk; “For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. FOR THEY ALL SEEK AFTER THEIR OWN INTERESTS, not those of Christ.” In the same way that Israel was warned the people of God are warned today, but just as the nation of Israel, many of the people of God today are “craving intensely in the wilderness.” Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No one, after putting his hand to he plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” An example of the judgment that comes upon those who look back is found in Lot’s wife, who looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. In Luke 17:32 Jesus simply said, “Remember Lot’s wife.”

THEY TESTED GOD

Psalm 106:14 also tells us that “they tempted God in the desert.” They expected Him to perform for them regardless of the rebellion in their hearts. There came a time in their wilderness walk when there was no water. Instead of crying out to “The Lord Your Provider,” instead of calling upon the name of “Yahweh,” the great “I AM,” they quarreled with Moses. In Exodus 17:3 we read, “The people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses.” Moses cried out to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”

In their hearts they were saying, “perhaps God could save us from bondage and slavery, but surely He’s not able to give us water!” “God could provide the blood to save us from sin and death, but surely He’s not able to provide us with our daily bread.” “God could thwart the mighty attack of the enemy, but surely He’s not so personal or thoughtful as to be concerned with our physical sustenance.” “He may be mighty, but He’s not “ALL-MIGHTY!” In Psalm 78:18-19 we read, “And in their heart they put God to the test by asking for food according to THEIR OWN DESIRE. Then they spoke against God; they said, ‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?’”

In Matthew 6 we find the reality of a caring, loving, providing father who so cares for us that the very hairs of our head are numbered. His name reveals His character, “I AM.” “I AM whatever you have need of.” Do you need food? “Look at the birds of the air…Your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they?” Do you need clothing? “Observe how the lilies of the field grow…if God so arrays the grass of the field… will He not much more do so for you?” “I AM YOUR PROVIDER.” Do you understand that He is able to meet every need that we have according to His riches in glory? What does He ask of us? “Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; or for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?…For ALL THESE THINGS THE GENTILES EAGERLY SEEK; for your Heavenly Father KNOWS THAT YOU NEED ALL OF THESE THINGS. BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.”

THEY REBELLED AGAINST GOD’S AUTHORITY

In Psalm 106:16 we read that “they became envious of Moses in the camp, and of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.” This tragic event is recorded for us in Numbers 16 and it is called “The Rebellion of Korah.” Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with two hundred and fifty leaders of the people, “men of renown,” rose up against Moses and Aaron. Verse 3 records their charge against Moses, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the people the assembly of the Lord?” This sin is prevalent in the church today as men and women begin to experience the presence of God and then the rebellion that is in their hearts begins to manifest against God’s appointed leadership.

Both the Old and New Testaments have much to say about false prophets who mislead the people by not turning them away from their sins, who for the sake of material gain begin to compromise the Word of God. Nowhere in this Word are we told to submit our li9vesw to the teachings and authority of false prophets. But the history of the church reveals that “The Rebellion of Korah” is a common occurrence among the people of God who become enlightened by His Word and become partakers of His Holy Spirit, and then rebel against godly authority. “We are ALL HOLY.” “We have no need that ANY MAN should teach us.” “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us.”

In the 1740’s during the “Great Awakening,” George Whitfield came to America from England preaching a fiery message of holiness and repentance. Sadly, he encountered great opposition from a very ritualistic religious establishment. He later recorded his observation of the state of the ministry in New England in his journals, saying, “Many, nay most that preach, I fear, do not experimentally [or experientially] know Christ.” What George Whitfield spoke was true! But the result of his authoritative blasting of the ministry among the thousands of new converts in the Great Awakening period produced a rebellion to ALL preachers and a spirit of anarchy that nearly destroyed any lasting fruit of that great revival. When Whitfield realized what was happening, he wrote with humility, “Alas, alas! How can I be too severe against myself, who, like Peter, have cut off so many ears, and my imprudencies mixed with my zeal, have dishonored the cause of Christ.”

There is the scriptural precedent for the role of overseer or elder as well as the reality that all who are born again by His Spirit are a part of the body, and each part is “being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part…” [Ephesians 4:16]. But that is not to the exclusion of God-ordained leadership. In Ephesians 4:11 Paul described the “gifts of men” from God to the church, “And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, FOR the equipping of the saints FOR the work of service, TO the building up of the body of Christ…”

Paul told Titus, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might SET IN ORDER what remains, and APPOINT ELDERS IN EVERY CITY as I directed you…” Paul then gave very specific guidelines that these men were to meet. He told Timothy in I Timothy 3:1, “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man ASPIRES TO THE OFFICE OF OVERSEER, it is a fine work he desires to do.” Notice that Paul commends that desire, he did not condemn it. James warned us in James 3:1, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.” We serve a holy, sovereign God who is the God of order and not the author of confusion. He has anointed men and placed them in the Body with the responsibility to watch over it, to feed it with the pure word, to protect it from savage wolves and to lead men and women into the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ.

With the scriptural understanding of the role of overseers, Paul boldly proclaimed in Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” It is amazing how we as Christians like to “pick and choose” through the Word of God. The rebellion of Korah is a solemn warning for you and I today; God judged Korah, Datah, and Abiram as well as all who followed them. In Numbers 16:32, 33, we read, “the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah, with their possessions. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol.”

THEY DESPISED THE PROMISE

Psalm 106:24 says, “they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe in His word.” They left Egypt with their eyes fixed on the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey, but when it was time to take possession they refused. The spies who were sent in to the promised land returned with “a bad report,” saying, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us…it is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.” [Numbers 13:31-32].

In the same way, we have been delivered out of the world, ruled by a harsh taskmaster, even Satan himself; a land of sin and guilt, of bondage and slavery, of rebellion and disobedience, and have been given a promise – the promise of being changed, conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Peter tells us that through His precious and magnificent promises we may “become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Imagine that! You and who “were dead in our trespasses and sins…and were by nature children of wrath,” (Ephesians 2:1-3), have the opportunity to be “made alive together with Christ…and seated with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

We must also encounter the trials of the wilderness so that we learn to trust Him in all things, but as we enter the times of testing we are to “greatly rejoice…that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” But sadly, today there are many voices crying out, “the bad report” that the promise of Jesus Christ is unobtainable, that it is vanity for a man to believe that he can be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ in this life. Yet for those who have the spirit of Joshua and Caleb, who are willing to be the only ones to go in and possess the promise, Paul said in II Corinthians 4:11, “For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Will you be like Paul who was able to say at the end of his life, “I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…” and like Joshua and Caleb of whom the Lord spoke in Numbers 14:24, “But My servant Caleb, BECAUSE HE HAD A DIFFERENT SPIRIT AND HAS FOLLOWED ME FULLY, I will bring into the land…”; or will you be like “the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the Lord?” Numbers 14:36. The reason they died? They did not believe His word!

THEY JOINED THEMSELVES TO IDOLS

There is no subject in the entire Word of God that is more directly spoken to by God. In Exodus 20:4,5, He told them, “You shall not make for yourself an idol…you shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” The Lord instructed them to drive out all of the nations in the land they were going in to possess because He knew their hearts would be drawn away from Him. They were forbidden to mingle with the nations for this very reason, yet we read in Psalm 106:35, “They mingled with the nations, and learned their practices, and served their idols, which became a snare to them.”

God called this harlotry, spiritual adultery and prostitution. In Deuteronomy 31 the Lord revealed to Moses what would happen to the people as soon as he was gone, and Moses prophesied to the people in verses 16, 17, “this people will arise and PLAY THE HARLOT WITH STRANGE GODS OF THE LAND…and will forsake Me and BREAK MY COVENANT which I have made with them. Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I WILL FORSAKE THEM and hide My face from them, and they shall be consumed.” And just as the Lord said it would be, it was; in Psalm 106:28 we read, “They joined themselves to Baal-peor.”

The prophet Jeremiah saw what was happening in the land and it absolutely broke his heart. He is called “the weeping prophet” because with brokenness he prophesied to Israel about the impending judgment; he saw how Israel had turned away from the Lord and said in Jeremiah 3:9, “it came about because of the lightness of HER HARLOTRY, that SHE polluted the land and COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH STONES AND TREES.” Paul warned us in I Corinthians 10:7, “And do not be idolaters as some of them were,” and in verse 14 said, “Therefore, my beloved, FLEEE FROM IDOLATRY.” The very last words of John in the book of I John are, “Little children, GUARD YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS.”

“Oh, preacher, pastor, prophet – that would never happen to us!” Really? Listen carefully to Colossians 3:5! “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” And YOU ARE UNSURE AMERICA IS FAST BECOMING AN IDOLATROUS NATION? Oh, and by the way, Colossians 3:6 tells us: “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.”

We are warned that in the same way the wrath of God came upon the children of Israel and they were destroyed in the wilderness, the same thing could happen to us if we turn away from following the Lord to worship other gods in this world! “Oh, God, HELP US!”

THEY RESISTED THE HOLY SPIRIT

I want you to look carefully at Psalm 106:32-33 because there is no doubt this is a problem in modern church life today! “They angered Him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses on account of them; Because they rebelled AGAINST HIS SPIRIT, so that he spoke rashly with his lips.”

It gets clearer when you read Acts 7:51, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You ALWAYS resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.” And that is not good! What about you?

In Romans 8:13-14 Paul tells us: “For if you live according to the flesh [your old sin nature] you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

It is the Holy Spirit of God within a true disciple that honors, exalts, and glorifies Christ, not anything that has to do with one’s “old man or fallen flesh.” And when the Holy Spirit is received, acknowledged, and yielded to, a disciple, then, sees the Spirit at work in Him to lift HIGH Jesus Christ and empower one to live victoriously, not as a defeated disciple! Don’t RESIST the Holy Spirit!

What does John 16:14 tell us? “He, the Holy Spirit, shall glorify Me.” I pray that your very body has become a temple of Holy Presence and that you live a life led by the Spirit of God and not your flesh! And, I pray, you clearly understand Holy Spirit Presence and never yield to defile that temple! Amen?

CONCLUSION:

This has been an interesting, inspiring journey for me and I pray for you also. My heart attack on April 27, 2013, was an awareness of life’s uncertainty, but also a deep awareness of God’s holy presence in and through an available vessel – and that He is in charge!

I’m thankful He gave me extended time to write the book entitled “Resignation To Hopelessness” and this book “Questions That Crush Or Convert.”

And I’m thankful you persevered through 29 questions! And I pray your question or questions have been answered. I encourage you that “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Eat heartily!! Amen? Farrell Fisher

“CRIMINALIZED FOR STANDING FOR THE TRUTH”!

At a “National Hispanic Leadership Conference” in Houston, Texas, April 29, 2015, former Florida governor and presidential candidate, at the time, Jeb Bush, said: “There is no more powerful and liberating influence on this earth than the Christian conscience in action and today in America it is important to respect and to protect Christians acting on their faith…not just talking about their faith, but there is a constitutional right and more importantly for a loving society Christians need to have the space to be able to act on their conscience.” My only problem with his statement is, that often, the ‘Christian conscience’ is willful determination of ‘flesh’ opinions rather than Holy Word of God revelation!

It wasn’t long ago, maybe same day as Jeb Bush, that former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, said, maybe same conference, “We are living in perilous times where people who are Christian are on the brink of being criminalized for their convictions.”

And both men, stressing their beliefs, are easily, in this day and time, set aside and considered ‘radical’ by ‘godless’ or even ‘misinformed’ professing believers who don’t stand on the Word of God! It’s difficult to “stand for Truth” when one’s foundation is built on “self-evaluation” rather than “God-revealed-Holy Truth”!

We can go all the way back to Joshua’s day when in Joshua 24:14-15 we read, Joshua speaking, “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

We live in days as a nation that are not foreign to any nation, any people, or even to one, and can visualize what goes on anywhere, anytime, with any persons, just like the historical history of Christ’s crucifixion on the Cross several thousand years ago! Come with me to Luke 23, beginning with Verse 32! “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” {“If”? Are you aware of the reality of literally millions and millions, more likely billions, who understand, ‘There IS the King of the Jews, the King of all Americans, the King of every European, African, or Asian’ but who selfishly decide for themselves as to whether or not they will choose to serve the Lord?!?}.

In Luke 23:34 then tells us that Christ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” {Which is so true of literally millions and millions who do not know what they do when they trivialize Christ, join those who divide His garments and “roll the dice” hoping what He says is not true – BUT IT IS!}. Even the rulers of Israel SNEERED, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

Don’t you find that so interesting? They had an inkling about ‘the Christ, the chosen of God,’ but couldn’t, wouldn’t, didn’t receive the prophetic word from many of their prophets hundreds and hundreds of years before His actual coming! Do you remember Jesus saying in John 8:56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad”? Verse 57 follows, Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” In Verse 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” And their response? THEN they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them (the “stone-throwers”), and SO PASSED (THEM) by.” {Will Jesus have to “pass you by” when all are brought before His Throne of Judgment, whether you like it or not?}.

In Luke 23:36-38 we read: The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrews: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Didn’t we just read in Luke 23:33, “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.” At least Luke KNEW Jesus was not a criminal, but, as God in the flesh, Who willingly offered Himself as THE sacrifice for the sins of all humanity! Even John, early in his writing of the Gospel of John, John 1:14, wrote: “And the Word (the Living Word of God!!) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth,” proclaiming in Verse 29, The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Examine John 1:32-35! And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ AND I HAVE SEEN AND TESTIFIED THAT THIS IS THE SON OF GOD.” Again, the next day, John stood with two of His disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Dare I tell you that Christ Jesus IS “the Way of Life” that leads to the “way of death”? In Matthew 10:16-18,21-22 Jesus challenged the original ‘twelve disciples’, saying to them, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

Verses 21-22 then says, “Now brother will deliver up brother TO DEATH, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

It is so evidently true that to “follow Christ Jesus” is to follow Him in every step He had to take, including the way of ‘suffering’, the way of ‘rejection’, the way of ‘obedience’, willing to fulfill the Father’s eternal will: death to Himself that resurrection life and hope could, would, and was manifested! Oh, and then in John 20, after His crucifixion and burial and resurrection, in Verses 19-21, we read:

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:30-31 then says: And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

And do you understand that “life in His name” does not come in full fruition apart from the awareness of and willingness to die daily to the ‘flesh’, the old sin-nature, and self-will, plus, a readiness of physical death by persecution if it comes your way, BECAUSE you will not deny Him?

In 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 Apostle Paul wrote: “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death (“the wages of sin is death”!), and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us…”! Did Holy God, the Father, allow Jesus’ death and then manifest His Holy Power to raise the dead after Jesus’ three days in the grave?

And, how pleased is God the Father for the willingness of 21^st Century disciples to offer their lives daily as a “willing sacrifice” taking that sentence daily to themselves that His Resurrection Life may be manifested in their mortal flesh?

Do you remember Paul and Silas imprisoned, Acts 16:20-24? It says: And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” ( Ever heard it yourself? “We’re free Americans and not interested in anything you ‘Christians’ have to say! Keep on, and we’ll have you imprisoned, or kill you ourselves!”}. [I actually heard that threat in India as I preached openly on the streets!].

Continuing in Acts 16:22-24, Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

That was a literal event for faithful believers, and it does still happen today that some believers are physically jailed for faithful testimonies in certain locations. BUT there IS a ‘symbolism’ which extends to many today who are vocal for the faith but ostracized by ‘friends’ and ‘family’, opponents shutting the door on them for their outspoken challenge to receive Christ!

“CRIMINALIZED FOR STANDING FOR THE TRUTH OF GOD’S HOLY WORD”? Are you aware of Christian Institutional and openly, strong, faithful disciples of Christ witnessing a rapidly growing opposition and threats because of many enemies of God who are becoming openly hostile to the Word and Will of God and against those who uphold “All Scripture is divinely inspired…”?

Prayer is rapidly being removed from classrooms with kids being told “School is not a place to pray!” Really? Yes, really! Ten Commandments are being removed from lots of places across the Nation where the banners of Truth used to fly! In Sweden pastors have been jailed for opposing homosexuality – and that threat is not far away in the U.S.A.!

There’s an active homosexual- sick man named Mitchell Gold whose diatribe against the Word of God and churches, pastors, and faithful disciples who stand on that Word of God, who has said, “They must be made to take homosexuality off the sin list,” and a New York Time’s writer, Frank Bruni, affirmed Gold’s obscene opposition to Holy God and His Word, saying, “His commandment (that’s Mitchell Gold’s commandment) is worthy – and warranted.”

And what sickens me is when I hear some say of their pastors, “They’ll not expose or speak the Truth because they don’t want to offend ANYBODY!” God, help us! It’s as if our formerly great nation, “one nation under God”, is fast becoming a nation under opposition to God!

“CRIMINALIZED FOR STANDING FOR THE TRUTH OF GOD’S HOLY WORD”? I want to urge you right now to commit yourself to reading faithfully, over and over, the Book of Daniel for at least a week! In Daniel you’ll find, not trivializing Truth, but many who want Biblical Truth obliterated from the national scene or stage! Follow Daniel 6:1-16!

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

So the governors and satraps SOUGHT TO FIND SOME CHARGE AGAINST DANIEL concerning the kingdom; BUT THEY COULD FIND NO CHARGE OR FAULT, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him, “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisers, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows opened toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”

So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

And the king, when he heard these words was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

SO the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”

In Verses 21-22 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

AND the accusers, on the king’s command, were all cast into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den!!!

What was King Darius’ response? He wrote a proclamation! Verses 25-28 says: “To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end.

He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of lions.” So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Glory!

“CRIMINALIZED FOR STANDING FOR THE TRUTH OF GOD’S HOLY WORD”? John 8 is a strong chapter defining Christ’s strong “Personal Witness” against the ‘religious’ Pharisees who determined He deserved to die because He opposed their religious pretense and no true eternal foundation upon which they walked and talked “the game” yet they never faced their guilt, sin, and separation from Holy God, and certainly had no ears to hear both prophetic utterances from hundreds and hundreds of years before or His declaration of Messianic identity!

Jesus told them in John 8:19, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” Oh, and then in John 8:23-24 Jesus released the eternal arrow of Truth about the scribes and Pharisees and the ‘religious but unredeemed’ Jews: “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

In John 8:37-47 Jesus then said: “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I

heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.

When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

So…Christ Jesus Himself was ‘criminalized’ by the religious, unbelieving, unrepentant crowd and CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS for all men because of God’s great love for the world!

What went on then still goes on today! The unbelieving world still condemns the holy and congratulates the hollow; the unbelieving world sentences the sincere and celebrates the sinner; the unbelieving world imprisons the faithful and frees the ‘foul’ from any and every offense; the unbelieving world still maligns the merciful and merits the ‘molded’ in mind and heart!

It was Harriet Beecher Stowe who once said: “No one is so thoroughly superstitious as the godless man. Life and death to him are haunted grounds, filled with goblin forms of vague and shadowy dread.” And, in most cases, it’s the godless man criminalizing those who stand for, in, and through the truth, resulting, for them, a Hell forever with the devil, his demons, and all rejecters of Biblical Truth, and all sin-infected ‘profound minds’, and all ‘superficial thinkers’ who know nothing about standing on Eternal Truth!

IN THE FATHER’S FINISHED WORK?”

By J. Farrell Fisher, June 23-25, 2017

I pray that you clearly understand a ‘metaphor’ because when the Word of God speaks about a ‘lion roaring’, it was not a physical lion but it represented Satan, demonic activity, and, yes, even some human lives “roaring against God and His people”!

At the same time one must consider his/her choices that puts one at times in perilous, dangerous circumstances, yes, opening the door and inviting “the roaring lion” in! As a result, most live on the edge, or even have already invited spiritual warfare, opening the door to the ‘wild lion’ of devilish intent with one’s life as the “wild lion’s battlefield”.

As Hebrews 4 talks about the promise of rest, and especially in examining “the fear of the lions’ roar”, this passage is highly relevant. Hebrews 4:6-12 tells us, “Since therefore it remains that some must enter it (God’s ‘rest” in Christ!), and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today,’ after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”.

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from His works as God did from His.

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. {Rest from the bondage of sin? Certainly! Rest from demonic world influences? Without a doubt! Rest from the “lions’ roar” or deafened to Truth by it?}.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Exposing reality as it is – all-out surrender to Christ’s Lordship or compromising with Satan as the ruler of darkness?]. And there is NO CREATURE HIDDEN FROM HIS SIGHT, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

It was Shakespeare, in “Measure for Measure,” [Act 11, sc.2. l. 73], who wrote: “Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; And He that might the vantage best have took Found out the remedy.. How would you be, If He, which is the top of judgement, should but judge you as you are?” Oh, and in Daniel 5: 27, I read: “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting,” which is true of every life without Christ, or true of the ‘disciple’ who followed Him, then abandoned Him, or, yes, true of every man in the kingdom or out who opens the door ‘playing with the lions’ roar’!

Sadly, many men ‘laugh’ about the “Lions Roar”, and, yes, ridicule those who examine themselves as to whether they ‘fear the lions’ roar’ or “rest” in the faith of Father-God’s finished work through Christ through the cross and resurrection! Sin, rebellion, disobedience, denial of life in the spirit-realm only through Christ’s shed blood, eternal plan, purpose, and power to fulfill it, are ‘blinded by the “fear of the lions’ roar” rather than resting in Christ’s gracious gift’!

“Fear of the lions’ roar” even closes many minds to the inevitable doom of their deplorable minds as they journey, yes, in darkness that they really think is ‘light’, living loftily in the flesh, blinded to the tomb of their impending death and a death that will not die, because they had no faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross in and through His eternal plan of “His Shed Blood and Gift-Offering of intercessory death”!

The greatest tragedy of all human existence? A fleshly heart that has no awareness of God’s great love, interceding sacrificially on the Cross, yes, Christ taking the toll, enduring the suffering, so that the “lions’ roar” would be silenced by the Hallelujah Chorus of the Savior’s Resurrection, but unbelief, rebellion, and the captivity of demon forces, hold them forever in the devil’s prison!

Tragedies as the result of the “lions’ roar”? “The wages of sin is death”, a death that will not die, a death that eternally has to hear the “lions’ roar” – no ear-plugs in Hell! “The wages of sin is death”, a death capitalized by Satan himself without any dividends, only pain, heart-aches, and bankrupt wages, a death that is not gentle but eternal in its pain of lost fleshly dignity, ill but no physician, a death that turns ‘fleshly pleasures’ into constant hellish torment, a death that constantly, twenty-four hours a day, reminds the “devil’s new classmates”: “There is no graduation, no cap and gown, no awards but only curses, no open doors or even windows but closed to light, love, and liberty – only darkness, only hate, only bondage – and the chains are heavy”!

Dare I tell you? There will be, in Hell, “good men” who were deaf to Amazing Grace who will share the tortuous consequences of men who refused to be “washed in the blood of the Lamb”, offering themselves to be, yes, Christ’s Holy Temple, but they said, “No! I’m my own man determining my own fate!” The death of a “good man” but deaf to the call of God is fleshly obstinateness and can only, in Light of God’s love, be described as ‘a cheapened life’!

Don’t you find it strange that mortuaries or funeral ‘homes’ are voiceless concerning deaths, and I’m sure would never want to have to talk about the Christ-filled life OR the finished product of the lions’ roar? But be assured, I’m sure that there are ‘guardians of the bivouacs of the dead’ because both Heaven and Hell will protect its own! I found Socrates’ words in “Plato’s Apology” to be so unsound when he wrote: “Be of good cheer about death, and know this of a truth, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.” Really?

Later, in the same writing, as I read it, I said to myself: “Plato should have apologized, but he couldn’t because I’m not sure he knew anything about the “fear of the lions’ roar” or “Faith in Father-God’s Finished Work” at the Cross through Christ! Plato wrote: “To fear death, gentlemen, is nothing other than to think oneself wise when he is not; for it is to think one knows what one does not know. No man knows whether death may not even turn out to be the greatest of blessings for a human being; and yet people fear it as if they knew for certain that it is the greatest of evils.”

No – death is not the greatest evil; the greatest evil is rejecting God’s love through Christ to transform men now from sons of Satan into sons of the Savior and Lord! I say to you, that men fear death because they have no fear of God! I even read one man writing about “fine dying is a man’s privilege”, but without Christ dying is an unceasing scourge, not the ‘fine wine of pleasurable living’! There are no “sweet hopes” after death for a Christ-rejecting life lived out under the “sweet tyranny” of a sour Satan!

I’m not sure what John Greenleaf Whittier was trying to prove when in his “Maud Muller” he wrote: “Ah well! For us all some sweet hope lies Deeply buried from human eyes; And, in the hereafter, angels may Roll the stone from its grave away!” Really? Slaves of Satan have no “sweet hope”, and what Satan plans to do is not hidden away but clearly revealed in the Holy Word of God, and heavenly angels will not be “rolling away stones” for those who’ve already chosen their assignment to the devil’s ‘playground?’! “Holy God, continue to open blind ears, deafened ears, hardened hearts, even stubborn, rebellious men who ‘dance the dance of death and Hell’!”

Considering “Fear of the Lions’ Roar Or FAITH IN FATHER-GOD’S FINISHED WORK?”, how could one ignore the message and truth of Job’s journey unless the Holy Word of God to them is unimportant? Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD!” And Job’s journey is highly enlightening!

In Job 2:1-10 we’re introduced to the Sovereignty of God, to Satan’s attacks on all mankind, to ‘divided allegiance’, and to True Faith sustaining the “blood redeemed” even through Satanic attacks! It says:

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”

Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” [Have YOU witnessed Satan’s ‘walking back and forth’ around you, your home and family, your city, state, or nation, even your ‘church grounds’?’].

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who FEARS GOD and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity (a Gift of God’s grace!), although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

But Job said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” [Have YOU ever seen the “troubles of your soul” as stepping stones into the fullness of His blessing and His protection and watchcare over you?]. IN ALL THIS JOB DID NOT SIN WITH HIS LIPS.”

Oh, YOU may find yourself at certain times “sitting among the ashes” like Job because, just as Job, true followers and disciples of Christ will be “tested” by the powers of darkness, or if you’re really a threat to Satan, you may be met by him face to face! But, praise God, He wants us to know: “True Faith IS Faith In Christ’s Finished Work”, and even when “crucified”, HE AROSE three days later!

And Satan’s darkest ‘night’ surrounding your soul may put you into a moment of doubt and desperation! But, child of the True Faith, be reminded of Gypsy Smith’s song of the early 1930’s, “Jesus, Revealed in Me”! It says: “Christ, the Transforming Light, My love, my strength, my will; Piercing the darkest night, Making His glory shine. Oh, to reflect His grace, Causing the world to see, Love that will glow Till others shall know Jesus, revealed in me.” (Like Job?). AMEN?!?

PART 2 (by J.Farrell Fisher) Nov.14-15, 2016

It’s so vitally interesting and important to me to read what Leo Tolstoy, in his writing, “The Kingdom of God is Within You,” had to say: First statement? “The Christian cannot promise to do or not do a given thing at a given time, for he cannot know what the law of love, which is the commanding principle of his life, will demand of him at that time.” But one thing is certain: Holy God, King Jesus, the Holy Spirit will not ask you to say or do anything that would violate His Word, His Will, His character, His eternal truths!

The second statement of Leo Tolstoy? “Christianity, with its doctrine of humility, of forgiveness, of love, is incompatible with the state, with its haughtiness, its violence, its punishments, its wars.” But it’s for certain, as followers of Christ Jesus, as He warned, we warn; as He confronted “religious pretense” or “political inconsistencies with Divine Truth” or “flesh at its worst or best”, so true disciples are silent when He’s silent or vocal as He was vocal; as followers of Christ Jesus, we don’t lean on fleshly instincts of one’s own mind apart from Christ or one’s fleshly instincts of fallen mankind’s mind, will, or emotion but rests upon the Christ within guiding, yes, even one’s investment of his/her life in the midst of a lost, needy, separated-from-God world!

And, I certainly don’t stress ‘religion’s pride’ or the ‘pomp’ and ‘showiness’ of self-indulgent performance, or ‘worldly’, or Hollywood’s interpretations of the ‘good life’ or ‘evil life’ or ‘religious activity’ at its best, when “Christ IN YOU IS the hope of eternal glory” and Him alone! Don’t you think this just might be why Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead…”? In fact, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY.” Later, in 2 Corinthians 4:11, Paul stated, “For we who live (in Christ!) ARE ALWAYS delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

It’s SO VITAL that every “professing believer”, not only acknowledge, receive and act upon what the Word of God says about every single person convicted and convinced by the Holy Spirit, but affirming the Truth about Holy God’s justification of taking the sin and sin nature of all mankind on the Cross in and through His Son and our Savior and nailing it to the Cross!

Paul acknowledged and affirmed this truth when in Colossians 3:3 he wrote: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God,” then challenging us in Colossians 3:5-7, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is IDOLATRY. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which YOU YOURSELVES ONCE WALKED when you lived in them.” But you don’t “live” there any longer if YOU ARE IN CHRIST!

I don’t know if YOU are fully aware of what Holy God declares about the “new creation” family of faith, but it is so important that You receive, understand, appropriate, and stand upon 2 Corinthians 13:5-8! “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. Now I pray that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.”

So the Apostle unveils the “true path”, the “new identity”, and the “everlasting unveiling of the Biblical Truth of God’s redeemed, blood-bought sons and daughters of saving grace, mercy, and love in and through Christ alone”!

FIRST, NEW CREATION SONS AND DAUGHTERS HAVE ACCEPTED THEIR CRUCIFIXION WITH CHRIST AND HIS RESURRECTION TO, IN, AND THROUGH THE ETERNAL LIFE OF HOLY GOD! What did Paul tell us in Galatians 2:20-21a? “I have been CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith IN the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God…!”

Even King David learned the vital, eternal necessity of “new life” in and through the “Promised Messiah” when in Psalm 87: 5-7 he wrote: “And of Zion it will be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her; and the Most High Himself shall establish her.” The Lord will record, when He registers the peoples: ‘This one was born there.’ Both the singers and the players on instruments say, “All my springs (fresh springs!) are in you.”

Oswald Chambers wrote, in “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.271), “Our Lord never patches up our natural virtues, He re-makes the whole man on the inside. ‘Put on the new man…’”! That’s “new creations”, “the new man,” accepting, resting in, relying upon the “new covenant,” and rejoicing daily in the celebration of Kingdom living in the “new heaven and the new earth”!

Yes, even in Old Testament times there were those, like Abraham, about whom Jesus said, John 8:56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad,” Jeremiah even hearing the Lord say in his day, Jeremiah 29:11-14, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity!” [For instance, ‘are you still a slave to your old sin nature, maintaining allegiance, even appreciation, of the ‘old man’ nature and character’?].

What does Romans 8:13-14 says: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

As YOU read the Holy Word, do you find it so illuminating in learning to be “through with the old man of sin” and LEANING ON CHRIST’S DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION? In Hebrews 3:12-19 there is a dramatic unveiling of “professors of faith” who fell short of entering “God’s Promised Land Through Christ”! It says: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. FOR WE HAVE BECOME PARTAKERS OF CHRIST “IF” we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, BUT TO THOSE WHO DID NOT OBEY? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Do you see it? “Followers? But limited by their unbiblical ‘faith’, dying in their ‘obedience’(which was so limited!) BEFORE entering the Promised Land”? SO YOU discern that’s “salvation by works”, or truly is it not THE EVIDENCE THAT TRUE SALVATION HAS BEEN BIRTHED? I’ve said it often, I’ll say it again: “Obedience is not an option in the age of grace, but the evidence grace is honoring Christ by doing what He says!” Dare I ask you again? “Have YOU “mortified the deeds of your flesh and “rested” in Christ alone?”

SECOND, NEW CREATION SONS AND DAUGHTERS, ARE, YES, LEGITIMATE FAMILY OF GOD OFF-SPRING BY THE BORN-AGAIN REALITY IN AND THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT! In John 3:5-6 the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus and us; ‘MOST assuredly, I say to you’, “unless one is born of water (the ‘water of the Word’!) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

In Romans 8:16 Paul tells us: “The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-18a we read: “Therefore, if anyone is IN CHRIST, he IS a New Creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…”; and, as “new creations IN CHRIST”, we don’t ‘rest’, rely upon what we think, or ‘try’ to be better – we “TRUST” God’s testimony about us “in Him”!

“In Christ” Holy God “reconciled us to Himself through Christ Only”! “In Christ” divine forgiveness rules and restoration to God’s eternal intent begins – we are the “tent,” the “tabernacle”, the “temple” of Christ’s Resurrection Presence! “Christ IN YOU the hope of glory”!

In 2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul added, “For He (God the Father) made Him (God the Son, Emmanuel) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God In Him (in Christ Jesus).” Worldly religions promote personal redemption by determined, best efforts, believing it “rests” in one’s confidence in himself/herself to overcome, faithfulness to an ‘assembly’, whether Christ is there or not! Worldly religions, agnostics, atheists, even, sad to say, some ‘church folk’, believe Christ Jesus went too far saying, “Come to Me, and I will give you rest,” when often the “worldly” discern ‘salvation’ in themselves!

Again, “God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin FOR US, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” In Romans 6:10-14 Paul illumines one’s lack of salvation knowledge, laying out our true journey! He said: “For the death that Christ Jesus died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. LIKEWISE you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THEREFORE do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Only through the “Blood Atonement” of Christ in and through His sacrificial death on the Cross is there liberty and freedom and eternal blessing in a life re-born by the grace of God to His honor alone! And that miracle of redemption, reconciliation with God, through Christ alone, is the “open door” of eternal opportunity to unveil His Son through the “redeemed”! Galatians 1:15-16 says, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and CALLED ME through His grace, TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME…”, but you’re unsure if that’s God’s purpose through you? [You might need to “be born again”!].

THIRD, REDEEMED CHILDREN OF FAITH ARE CALLED BY THE LORD TO BE HIS WITNESSES, HIS AMBASSADORS, HIS MESSENGERS TO A NEEDY WORLD! And, of course, WHO determines what a needy world is? Fallen men or Holy God? Also, when it comes to an individual’s determination what his ‘religious profession’ is all about, is it ‘self-determination’ or Sovereign Calling and ordination and equipping for His eternal plan?

It’s true that the unbelieving world has no awareness of or commitment to being ‘reconciled to God’ because they’ve chosen to be “at peace” with their godlessness and unbelief. But for the “church,” for individual believers, there is the reality, for some, that their ‘intellectual superiority’ sets them apart from a disciple’s or church’s mandate and commissioning of “being His witnesses” – that to them is impractical, unadvisable, degrading to their “biblical brilliance”! Really? Yes, really!

Or, like the Dallas pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church, “The Gospel is opened to all and closed to none,” welcoming homosexuals as ‘true disciples’! Where do you find that in the Word of God! The True Gospel of Christ and the Word liberates from, not opens the door to continue in sin, in debauchery, in rebellion and disobedience to the Holy Word!

I believe the Holy Word when it says in Revelation 21:5-8, Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things NEW.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. BUT the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” And, if you believe ‘sexually immoral’ doesn’t include homosexuality or lesbianism, I’d go into the Word, before the Throne of God, before the community of true “born-again believers” asking them: “Is a homosexual lifestyle acceptable here, in you, and in your church?” And if they said, “Yes”, I’d run as fast as I could AWAY from a compromising, godless, collectively-deceived-mind-set unredeemed by the “Blood of the Lamb”!

In Matthew 28:16 the new disciples went to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. This is after His resurrection and before His ascension. In Verses 18-20 Jesus issued His “Great Commission”! He said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (or “So be it!”).

IF: “I am not my own, but I was bought with a price, the blood of the Lamb of God, and I am under His authority”, and He then tells me, “You shall be My witnesses, My messengers, My earthly representatives to a lost and perishing world of unbelievers,” do I, do we, just turn deaf ears and blinded eyes to a perishing people, or do I share the “Life-Raft” to ‘drowning people’ with no sense at all of personal accountability for my indifference to their eternal need?

I tell you, I truly understand why the ‘modern church’ and ‘modern music leaders’ avoid old hymns that convict, convince, and open uncaring ‘church members’ to a lost world around them – they want no reminders of spiritual responsibility to touch their world with grace, mercy, and love – they are so enamored with their own spiritual concerns that ‘witnessing, evangelizing, touching my world with mercy and grace is just too heavy a responsibility to bear’!

Fanny J. Crosby and William H. Doane, in the old “The American Hymnal,” (compiled and edited by Robert H. Coleman, in cooperation with The Broadman Press, Nashville, Tennessee, copyright, 1933), wrote the hymn “Rescue the Perishing.” It says:

“Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.

Tho’ they are slighting Him, Still He is waiting, Waiting the penitent child to receive; Plead with them earnestly, Plead with them gently, He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, Crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore; Touched by a loving heart, Wakened by kindness, Chords that are broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, Duty demands it; Strength for your labor the Lord will provide; Back to the narrow way Patiently win them; Tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.”

FOURTH, TRUE CHILDREN OF SAVING FAITH ARE NOT ONLY WITNESSES, MESSENGERS, AND AMBASSADORS, THEY ARE ‘FOOT-WASHERS’ AND “TRUE SERVANTS”! In John 13:1-17 there is an amazing revelation of true, heavenly, God-interpreting living, ministry, and service of the true disciples of Christ Jesus! It says: Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, FOR SO I AM. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, that you should do as I have done to you.

Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, BLESSED ARE YOU IF YOU DO THEM.”

Dare I give you a hint to successful, Christ-honoring servants? In Philippians 3:10-11 Paul wrote: “…that I MAY KNOW HIM and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” THE DEAD WITHOUT CHRIST ARE NOT ABOUT TO BOW BEFORE OTHERS TO WASH THEIR FEET! They’d SAY, “How disgraceful, how demeaning, how foolish,” yet Christ directs His disciples to be “foot-washers”!

“Foot-washers” ARE “true servants” of the Lord Jesus Christ! They understand humbling one’s self to be exalted in and with Christ Jesus, the “Eternal, God-given foot-washer”! Doesn’t 1 Corinthians 10:31 tell us, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”? Whatever YOU do – do YOU sense the Christ in you saying, “Live with the ‘foot-washing’ spirit and attitude of the Christ in you! You’re the “vessel” – I’m the content”! And the Christ in you desires to wash fallen mankind’s feet AND the saved, and as you humble yourself before Him and allow Him to be the foot-washer through you, He’ll humble more and more souls before His Father, Holy God!

Are YOU aware, even as pastors and teachers, of “the calling, the instruction, the EXAMPLE of Christ Himself” as He said in John 12:23-27,But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

IF anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for THIS PURPOSE I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name,” (through you and me?)!

I close this message with John’s challenging illumination for true disciples in 1 John 3:16-19! “By this we know love (agape love), because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”

“Identifying True Disciples of Christ?” I don’t know who wrote it, but his/her challenge is so on target! “My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.” THAT’S “CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY”!!!

UNLIMITED SURRENDER?”

BY: J.FARRELL FISHER, Oct. 9-11, 2017

It’s without hesitation that I sense and say that our ‘modern-day’ religious philosophies have very little, if any, to do with Biblical Revelation! In fact many deny the validity of the Holy Word of God birthed in the minds and hearts of men and women, convicted by the Holy Spirit, converted by the inspired Word, and anointed as His messengers of Divine Truth!

In the inspired word of Hebrews 11:1-3 we read: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

Verse 6 of Hebrews 11 then tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Are YOU a diligent seeker?). Not only Abel and Enoch, but we read of Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, with Hebrews 11:13 telling us: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

Tell me about “what YOU are assured of,” tell me, have YOU embraced Christ or is your belief in Him one of ‘measured devotion’, AND have YOU “confessed” that you also are now a stranger and pilgrim on the earth, because your ‘faith’ is not measured but IS “unlimited full surrender” to the King of kings and Lord of lords? And that does declare you “a stranger and pilgrim on the earth”!

In Matthew 5:48 Jesus said about the “truly blessed disciples”, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” In Christ we’re not called to be “children in understanding” but from birth on BY THE SPIRIT, we are to be disciples of Christ who understand and commit to and follow Him in “Unlimited Surrender”!

In the ‘flesh’ there is a ‘maimed existence’ void of God’s presence, but in the “Spirit” we are birthed into the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ! That’s “new creations”, “new men and new women”, truly living under, in, and by, to us, the “new Spirit” who “guides us into all truth”!

Are you a possessor of ‘measured devotion’ or do you live in and by the power of unlimited surrender? Follow carefully Psalm 33:1-11 and verses 13-14 and verses 18-22!

Psalm 33:1-11 says: “Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! (Righteous because of what you do or what Christ did on the Cross?). For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.

For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the people of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.”

Verses 13-14 tells us: “The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth;

Verses 18-22 then says: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.”

“Unlimited surrender” actually, effectively, and ultimately continues to, day by day, bless beyond measure because true disciples have birthed within them by the Holy Spirit an unflinching loyalty to the Word of God in Christ, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest”! And didn’t the psalmist say, “Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You”? Where and in whom does your hope lie, if you have any hope?

But, for some, there IS the reality of “measured devotion”! Yes, there are limited limits of one’s ‘discipleship-loyalty’ because, for them, “Jesus asks too much”, which He never did – He just took your old life and old sin nature to the Cross and, yes, it WAS “crucified with Christ”, and seeking to resurrect what He carried to the Cross unveils one’s faith in himself and a lack of trust in what Christ did to give one new life, new hope, and a new eternal destiny!

In Philippians 3:10-14 Paul wrote: “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Hear me! There IS a maturing process in one’s relationship to Christ! “Babies” in Christ sometimes ‘mess up’, ‘children in the faith’ also will ‘mess up’, ‘youngsters in the faith’ will ‘mess up’, and, dare I say it? Even Mature followers of Christ will, at times, yes, tragically ‘mess up’! But in 1 Corinthians 1:9 we read of God’s faithfulness! Paul wrote: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In 1 Corinthians 2:1-4 Paul added: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I have determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

“Measured devotion” is revealed in “professing folks” who are, yes, always looking inward to themselves as an explanation of whether or not they are ‘maturing’. Yet Paul said: “I take the sentence of death daily to the ‘old man’ that the resurrection life of Christ may be manifested in my mortal flesh!” So, in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, Paul illumines true spiritual witness and spiritual understanding, saying, But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us THROUGH His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things THAT HAVE BEEN FREELY GIVEN TO US BY GOD.” Glory! In fact, that’s a “GLORY! HALLELUJAH! PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFTS!” And, did Paul say, “freely given to us by God”? Yes, he did!

But, “measured devotion” in place of or a substitute for “unlimited surrender”? In 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 the Apostle Paul writes a “game winning, historic, world series competition ‘heart-run’ between flesh and Spirit”, between the natural at its best and the spiritual rallying in “unlimited surrender”, and ‘religious do-gooders’ against the “new-born” sons and daughters of Christ’s eternal family! He said:

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent,” (Holy God defines fallen, self-inspired men as “those who are perishing” from those “who are being saved” because those who ‘are being saved’ rest in God’s wisdom and God’s redemptive power, not in their fleshly intellect!). Paul continued, Verses 20-25,

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

In which community have YOU chosen to live? The community of unbelievers, the community of “measured devotion” which is the one with self-limitations, OR the community, the family of God, the Bride of Christ who live in “unlimited surrender” to His sovereign rule? There’s an amazing word in 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:1 – don’t miss this!! It says:

“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you NOT TO RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD IN VAIN. [Are there those who do?]. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. (Question! WHAT REALLY HAS YOUR HEART AND MIND?). Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them (the world, flesh, and Satan-devotees!) and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” “Measured devotion” OR “Unlimited Surrender”? Have YOU received “the grace of God in vain”? Measured devotion is ‘the treasure of self-effort at its best, leading to nothing’, but unlimited surrender is the eternal riches of being dead to the old man and living day by day in the fullness, the blessing, the ‘finished work’ of the Resurrected Christ!

In Jeremiah 1:8, as God called Jeremiah to ministry and service, He said to him and to every true child of faith in Christ, “…I am with you to deliver you!” Do YOU give the Lord Jesus His rightful place “in you” as your Lord and Savior, as the Master of your life, as, yes, Sovereign Administrator of your every- day step? Is Jesus King of your heart and mind? Is Christ Jesus “in you” as your Deliverer from your old sin-nature, your bondage to ‘devilish’ activity, and your fleshly allegiance to the world-influence around you that desires to maintain your allegiance to a “less than God devotion” but satisfying ‘personal desires’ without God interfering? Godless living is maniacal, manipulated by Satan, and spiritual insaneness! “God, move on the spiritual brainlessness by the Holy Spirit!”

By J.Farrell Fisher, May 25-26, 2017

“CROWNED PRINCES,CROWNED PRINCESSES

SERVING THE KING OF KINGS”?

OUTSTANDING, MIND-ILLUMINATING, HEART-INSPIRING WORDS FROM PAUL IN HEBREWS 2:14-3:1-14 THAT ALL “CHURCH-FOLK”& “ALL OUTSIDE OF CHRIST” MUST HEAR!! PAUL SAID:

HEBREWS 2:14-18, “FORASMUCH THEN AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH & BLOOD, CHRIST ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME; THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH,THAT IS,THE DEVIL; AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE.

FOR VERILY HE TOOK PART NOT ON HIM THE NATURE OF ANGELS;BUT HE TOOK ON HIM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM. WHEREFORE IN ALL THINGS IT BEHOVED HIM TO BE MADE LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN, THAT HE MIGHT BE A MERCIFUL & FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST IN THINGS PERTAINING TO GOD, TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE. FOR IN THAT HE HIMSELF SUFFERED BEING TEMPTED, “HE IS ABLE” TO SUCCOUR THEM THAT ARE TEMPTED. (SUCCOUR?IT’S A WORD DEFINED AS, “HELP,RELIEF,AID,ASSISTANCE”; THAT’S HOLY GOD ‘RUNNING’ TO HELP RAISE YOU OUT OF DEATH INTO “LIFE”, OUT OF BONDAGE INTO “ETERNAL FREEDOM”, OUT OF DEVILISH CHAINS “TO THE PROMISES OF YOUR LORD & SAVIOR OF GOD’S OVERCOMING STRENGTH”, OUT OF DEVILISH ACCUSATIONS “TO OUR LORD’S ABIDING TRUTHS”, OUT OF CONSTANT ACCUSATIONS BY DEVILISH DEMONS TO THE “LORD’S PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING”!). OH, NOW TO HEBREWS 3:1-14! WHEREFORE, HOLY BRETHREN, PARTAKERS OF THE HEAVENLY CALLING, CONSIDER THE APOSTLE & HIGH PRIEST OF OUR PROFESSION, CHRIST JESUS; WHO WAS FAITHFUL TO HIM THAT APPOINTED HIM, AS ALSO MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS HOUSE.

FOR THIS MAN (JESUS) WAS COUNTED WORTHY OF MORE GLORY THAN MOSES, INASMUCH AS HE WHO HAS BUILT THE HOUSE HAS MORE HONOR THAN THE HOUSE, FOR EVERY ‘HOUSE’ IS BUILT BY SOME MAN; BUT HE THAT BUILDS ALL THINGS IS GOD.

AND MOSES VERILY WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS HOUSE, AS A SERVANT,FOR A TESTIMONY OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE TO BE SPOKEN OF AFTER; BUT CHRIST AS A SON OVER HIS OWN HOUSE: WHOSE HOUSE ARE WE IF WE HOLD FAST THE CONFIDENCE & THE REJOICING OF THE HOPE FIRM UNTO THE END. WHEREFORE (AS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS), TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, AS IN THE PROVOCATION, IN THE DAY OF TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS: WHEN YOUR FATHERS TEMPTED ME (GOD, THE SPIRIT, JESUS, THE THREE IN ONE!),PROVED ME, & SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.

WHEREFORE I WAS GRIEVED WITH THAT GENERATION, & SAID, THEY DO ALWAYS ERR IN THEIR HEART; & THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN MY WAYS. SO I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER INTO MY REST “TAKE HEED, BRETHREN,LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU AN EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF, IN DEPARTING FROM THE LIVING GOD.

BUT EXHORT ONE ANOTHER DAILY, WHILE IT IS CALLED ‘TODAY’; LEST ANY OF YOU BE HARDENED THROUGH THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN. FOR WE ARE MADE “PARTAKERS OF CHRIST” “””IF”””!! WE HOLD THE BEGINNNG OF OUR CONFIDENCE STEDFAST (OR FIRM) UNTO THE END.” WOW!!

CHRIST JESUS “IS” KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS, & IF KING JESUS IS IN US, HE’S THERE NOT SIMPLY TO BE ‘PRESENT’ BUT TO ‘PRESIDE’; HE’S IN YOUR HEART NOT TO BE PROMINENT BUT PREEMINENT; “OBEDIENCE” IS NOT AN OPTION IN THE “AGE OF GRACE”!! GEORGE MACDONALD, IN HIS WRITING “MARQUIS OF LOSSIE” (CH.72) WROTE: “I FIND THE DOING OF THE WILL OF GOD,LEAVES ME NO TIME FOR DISPUTING ABOUT HIS PLANS.”

THERE’S AN OLD HYMN WRITTEN BY A LADY NAMED MARY BROWN THAT SAYS: “I’LL GO WHERE YOU WANT ME TO GO, DEAR LORD, O’ER MOUNTAIN OR PLAIN OR SEA; I’LL SAY WHAT YOU WANT ME TO SAY, DEAR LORD, I’LL BE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE.”I ASK YOU!!!

ARE YOU (“IN CHRIST”) A “CROWNED PRINCE” OR A “CROWNED PRINCESS”? DO “YOU” LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO KING JESUS?IN “ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIOUS QUOTATIONS”,(PUBLISHED BY FLEMING COM.,WESTWOOD,NJ),IS A COMMENT BY MICHAEL EYQUEM de MONTAIGNE: “THE FIRST LAW THAT EVER GOD GAVE TO MAN WAS A LAW OF OBEDIENCE; IT WAS A COMMANDMENT PURE & SIMPLE; WHEREIN MAN HAD NOTHING TO INQUIRE AFTER OR TO DISPUTE, FOR AS MUCH AS TO OBEY IS THE PROPER OFFICE OF A RATIONAL SOUL ACKNOWLEDGING A HEAVENLY SUPERIOR & BENEFACTOR. FROM OBEDIENCE & SUBMISSION SPRING ALL OTHER VIRTUES, AS ALL SIN DOES FROM SELF-OPINION & SELF-WILL.”

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, LIKE ADAM & EVE, MANY ‘PLAY’ BUT DON’T OBEY!! THEY STILL ‘SIN’ AS THEY ‘PLAY’ THE ‘RELIGIOUS GAME OF ‘PRETENSE’ HOPING OTHERS DON’T SEE THEIR SIN-NATURE IN OPEN DISPLAY AS THEY,YES, CHOOSE THEIR WAY RATHER THAN VICTORY OVER THEIR SIN & SIN-NATURE BY THE BLOOD SHED BY CHRIST ON THE CROSS, CARRYING HIMSELF &YOU TO CALVARY, TO THE GRAVE, BUT 3 DAYS LATER AROSE OUT OF PHYSICAL DEATH INTO SPIRITUAL VICTORY BECAUSE OF THE REVEALED WORD OF GOD! IT WAS JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER WHO WROTE YEARS AGO THESE WORDS: “IN SIMPLE TRUST LIKE THEIRS WHO HEARD BESIDE THE SYRIAN sea, LET US, LIKE THEM, WITHOUT A WORD, RISE UP & FOLLOW THEE.”

CHOSEN BY CHRIST! CONVICTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! CHRIST KNOCKS ON YOUR HEART’S DOOR – IF “YOU” INVITE HIM IN, HE OFFERS YOU THE FREE GIFT OF EVERLASTING LIFE, & IT’S YOURS BY REPENTANCE BEFORE GOD & FAITH IN “CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK”! & THE RESULT? HOW ABOUT CROWNDED PRINCES & CROWNDED PRINCESSES?

CROWNED PRINCES –CROWNED PRINCESSES?IF I REFER TO THEM, NOT AS SOME NATION’S KIDS UNDER A GOVERNOR’S RULE, BUT AS CHOSEN SERVANTS OF THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS, DO YOU GET A CLEAR GLIMPSE AS TO WHERE I AM HEADED IN THIS PRECIOUS WORD & WILL OF GOD?

1 PETER 4:10-19 INFORMS US: “AS EVERY MAN HAS RECEIVED THE GIFT (A MAN, A WOMAN WHO HAS REPENTED & TRUSTED!),EVEN SO MINISTER THE SAME ONE TO ANOTHER, AS ‘GOOD STEWARDS’ OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD. IF ANY MAN SPEAK, LET HIM SPEAK AS THE ORACLES OF GOD; IF ANY MAN MINISTER, LET HIM DO IT AS OF THE ABILITY WHICH “GOD GIVES”; THAT GOD IN ALL THINGS MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TO WHOM BE PRAISE & DOMINION FOREVER & EVER. AMEN (OR SO BE IT!).

BELOVED, THINK IT NOT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL “WHICH IS TO TRY YOU”(OH, BUT IN THE 21^ST CENTURY, ‘WE WORRY ABOUT THAT? THESE ARE ‘SMOOTH’ DAYS; RIGHT?). WRONG? THE WORLD, THE OLD SIN NATURE, & SATAN & HIS DEMONS STILL STRUT IN PROUD ARROGANCE TO TAKE YOU AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS DOWN – THEY WANT YOU MARRED,SCARRED, & HARDENED BY ‘DECEIT, PRIDE,& THE PULL OF THAT DECEITFUL NATURE OF SIN THAT STILL CAN DECEIVE!). PETER GOES ON,

VERSES 13-19 SAYS, “BUT REJOICE, INASMUCH AS YOU ARE PARTAKERS OF CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS; THAT, WHEN HIS GLORY SHALL BE REVEALED, YOU MAY BE GLAD ALSO WITH EXCEEDING JOY.

IF YOU BE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, HAPPY ARE YOU; FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY & OF GOD RESTS UPON YOU:ON THEIR PART JESUS IS EVIL SPOKEN OF, BUT ON YOUR PART JESUS IS GLORIFIED.BUT LET ONE OF YOU SUFFER AS A MURDERER, OR AS A THIEF, OR AS AN EVILDOER, OR AS A BUSYBODY IN OTHER MEN’S MATTERS.

BUT LET NONE OF YOU SUFFER AS A MURDERER, OR AS A THIEF, OR AS AN EVILDOER,OR AS A BUSYBODY IN OTHER MEN’S MATTERS. YET IF ANY MAN SUFFER AS A CHRISTIAN,LET HIM NOT BE ASHAMED; BUT LET HIM GLORIFY GOD ON THIS BEHALF. FOR THE TIME HAS COME (IS THAT TIME COMING AROUND OUR WORLD TODAY?) THAT JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD:AND IF IT FIRST BEGINS WITH US, WHAT SHALL THE END BE OF THEM THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF GOD?

AND IF THE RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY BE SAVED, WHERE SHALL THE UNGODLY & THE SINNER APPEAR? WHEREFORE LET THEM THAT SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD COMMIT THE KEEPING OF THEIR SOULS TO “HIM” IN WELL-DOING, AS UNTO A FAITHFUL CREATOR.”

CROWNED PRINCES – CROWNED PRINCESSES SERVING THE KING OF KINGS? I WANT TO CLOSE THIS MESSAGE WITH THE HYMN ENTITLED “CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS”. (THE AMERICAN HYMNAL, BY BROADMAN PRESS, NASHVILLE, TENN.1933).

“CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS, THE LAMB UPON HIS THRONE; HARK! HOW THE HEAVENLY ANTHEM DROWNS ALL MUSIC BUT ITS OWN! AWAKE, MY SOUL, & SING OF HIM WHO DIED FOR THEE; AND HAIL HIM AS YOUR MATCHLESS KING THRO’ ALL ETERNITY.

CROWN HIM THE LORD OF LOVE! BEHOLD HIS HANDS & SIDE,- RICH WOUNDS,YET VISIBLE ABOVE, IN BEAUTY GLORIFIED: NO ANGEL IN THE SKY CAN FULLY BEAR THAT SIGHT, BUT DOWNWARD BENDS HIS WOND’RING EYE AT MYSTERIES SO BRIGHT.

CROWN HIM THE LORD OF LIFE! WHO TRIUMPHED O’ER THE GRAVE; WHO ROSE VICTORIOUS TO THE STRIFE FOR THOSE HE CAME TO SAVE: HIS GLORIES NOW WE SING, WHO DIED & ROSE ON HIGH; WHO DIED ETERNAL LIFE TO BRING, & LIVES THAT DEATH MAY DIE.

CROWN HIM THE LORD OF HEAVEN! ONE WITH THE FATHER KNOWN, ONE WITH THE SPIRIT THRO’ HIM GIVEN FROM YONDER GLORIOUS THRONE! TO YOU,LORD,BE ENDLESS PRAISE, FOR “YOU” FOR US DID DIE; BE THOU, O LORD, THRO’ ENDLESS DAYS ADORED & MAGNIFIED.”

WOULD “YOU” DARE SHOUT: “GLORY BE TO GOD ALMIGHTY FOR HIS GRACE, MERCY, & LOVE, SO PROVEN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIS OWN SON THAT WE MIGHT BE RESTORED TO “HIS KINGDOM LIVING FOREVER & EVER”??!!

CROWNED PRINCES-CROWNED PRINCESSES? IN 2 PETER 1, VERSES 1-7, IS PETER’S INSPIRED WORD ON GOD’S GRACIOUSNESS & POWER THAT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL TRUE REPENTANT & FAITHFUL BELIEVERS! FOLLOWED IN VERSES 8-11,& VERSE 16, THEN I CLOSE THIS MESSAGE.

2 PETER 1:1-7 SAYS, SIMON PETER, A SERVANT & AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, TO THEM THAT HAVE OBTAINED LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH WITH US THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD & OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST: GRACE & PEACE BE MULTIPLIED UNTO YOU THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, & OF JESUS OUR LORD,

ACCORDING AS HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE & GODLINESS,THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM THAT HAS CALLED US TO GLORY & VIRTUE: WHEREBY ARE GIVEN UNTO US EXCEEDING GREAT & PRECIOUS: THAT BY THESE YOU MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE “DIVINE NATURE”, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST. AND BESIDE THIS,GIVING ALL DILIGENCE,ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE; & TO VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE; & TO KNOWLEDGE TEMPERANCE; & TO TEMPERANCE PATIENCE; & TO PATIENCE GODLINESS; AND TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS; & TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS CHARITY.

THEN EXAMINE VERSES 8-11! FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU, &ABOUND, THEY MAKE YOU THAT YOU SHALL NEITHER BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. “BUT” HE THAT LACKS THESE THINGS IS BLIND, & HAS FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS. WHEREFORE THE RATHER,BRETHREN, “GIVE” DILIGENCE, TO MAKE YOUR CALLING & ELECTION SURE;FOR IF YOU DO THESE THINGS, YOU SHALL NEVER FALL; FOR SO AN ENTRANCE SHALL BE MINISTERED UNTO YOU ABUNDANTLY INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF OUR LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.” THEN, VERSE 16!! “FOR WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES, WHEN WE MADE KNOWN UNTO YOU THE POWER & COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BUT WERE EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY.” GLORY!!

ARE “YOU” AN EYEWITNESS OF HIS MAJESTY? HE SAYS, AS HE KNOCKS ON YOUR HEART’S DOOR, “OPEN THE DOOR OF YOUR MIND, HEART, & WILL, & I WILL COME IN! BY MY LOVE, GRACE, & MERCY, I’LL CROWN YOU AS “CROWNED PRINCES & CROWNED PRINCESSES” IN MY KINGDOM LIVING OF HEAVENLY GLORY, DIVINE LOVE & POWER,SONS OF ETERNAL FAITH! AMEN? & WE’RE CALLED TO BARE FRUIT

By: J.FARRELL FISHER, AUGUST 21-23, 2017

It’s really astounding to me that some immature believers sincerely believe they are the “called” to fight the good fight of faith “in Christ’s place” – and if that is their ‘frame of reference’ in living out their calling as a believer, be assured, they are greatly deceived!

In Matthew 16:21-25 we find Christ Jesus telling His disciples about His coming death. It says: From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said TO HIS DISCIPLES, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

In our modern-day there are many who feel by ‘joining a church’ that they are ‘fighting for’ the honor of Christ, but, sadly, that attitude, that frame of reference about discipleship is foreign to what Jesus taught and explained by His life journey. The “fellowship of believers” in and through the church fellowship is vitally important! “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is!” But when it comes to “serving the Lord” the disciples were “discipled” not to “fight for” Christ but to “fight from” Him!

In 2 Corinthians 1:9 Paul wrote: “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, THAT WE SHOULD NOT TRUST IN OURSELVES but in God who raises the dead…!” He said later in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us DIFFUSES the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”

The “triumph” in the walk and witnessing of redemptive faith is not well-planned, fleshly best, but is ‘willful choice daily’ to be dead to the old man and allowing Resurrected Jesus to have an available vessel in and through which He expresses Himself, or a ‘temple’ yielded to His abiding Presence in and through which He chooses to validate Himself in a passionate, Spirit-anointed witness through YOU! Our lives are the ‘book-covering’ while Christ Jesus is the content! This is why Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:2-6,

“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an EPISTLE OF CHRIST, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”

“Fighting For” is the absence of the sentence of death in ourselves, “Fighting For” is ‘peddling the word of God’, “Fighting For” is emitting the spirit of fleshly death at its best, “Fighting For” is ‘the aroma of death leading to death’, and, sadly, ensuring it, “Fighting For” is ‘church-mentality’ void of the ink of the Spirit of God, “Fighting For” is human self-sufficiency written with imitation ink and void of the Spirit who, yes, gives life.

“Fighting For” is ‘walking in craftiness’, ‘handling the word of God deceitfully’, and sharing with others a ‘veiled gospel’, the ‘god of this age’ blinding unbelievers and choking believers lest the glory of Christ would shine through them!

“Fighting For” is taking pride in one’s ‘earthen vessel’, even treasuring it unwittingly, wanting the “power” to be the best of flesh rather than the very power of God! “Fighting For” is the immature believer, undiscipled, who is “restricted by his/her own affections”, not the heart of the Indwelling Christ beating within them!

In 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 Paul reminds the Corinthian believers and us of where our “strength” in fighting the good fight of faith comes from, or more clearly, “IN WHOM”! He said, “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness OF CHRIST – who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (or ‘fleshly’) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Paul the Apostle didn’t choose to live by the “best effort” philosophy of some immature disciples in their spiritual walks, by ‘arming’ himself with the best human invented war weapons, or by his own invention of ‘flesh-minded’ rhetorical or philosophical reasoning, stating strongly, anointed in the Spirit, in Ephesians 6:10-18,

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having gird your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

Tell me about your prayer ministry from the “best efforts” of your flesh OR do you pray resting in the Christ within and appropriating the POWER of HIS MIGHT? We do face “the wiles of the devil”, but THERE IS THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, not your ‘fleshly desires’ to be an overcomer by YOUR “self-determination”! It’s “your best”, which means you’re “whipped”, or Christ Jesus in you being YOUR “more than conqueror Victor” over the world, the flesh, or Satan himself!

“Fighting For or Fighting From”? Do you understand how Holy God desires to have available “vessels” through which He is able to be Himself and touch individual lives, needs, and purposes THROUGH YOU? Have you overlooked, denied, or never known the eternal Truth? “CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY”? In YOUR spiritual journey, day by day, is it with the TRUTH? The TRUTH? 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ, AND THROUGH US diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” I’d say that that is “Living In” and “Fighting From”, not ‘living trying’ but Living Triumphant, Fighting From His abiding presence within!

In 1 Peter 4:2 Peter challenges all believers “that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” If God says, and He does, “I have chosen you”, dare we congratulate God on His wisdom for being able to discern our ‘potential’, or is it His grace, mercy, and love, willing to use our ‘will-less awareness’ of “Why me?” Almighty God, the Faithful Creator, the Loving Father, the Discerning Genius of spiritual matters, desires the “empty” vessels that He fills with Holy Presence, or as Oswald Chambers wrote: “Paul’s secret joy was that God took him, a red-handed rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive, and now that is all he is here for,” and, praise God, you learn you’re a cleansed vessel by the blood of the Lamb, through which Loving God, obedient Son, and the Holy Spirit, touches your world around you with Christ’s Presence released through you!

If God sovereignly chose you before the foundation of our world, and He did, was He interested in ‘robots’ or rescued, renewed, re-born sons and daughters, washed in the blood of the Lamb and available to all He desires to be and to do in you and through you? He crucified your ‘old life’, and by grace and mercy and love, raises it up as He resurrected Jesus, “giving us a future and a hope”, and that is, “a new, useful vessel” in which the Resurrected, Reigning Christ is able to extend Himself and express His love for all of sinful, fallen, alienated and separated humanity, yes, in need of the Savior and Deliverer from Satan’s grasp!

Natural men and women have the opportunity of witnessing SUPERNATURAL, DIVINE PRESENCE making their bodies the “Holy Temples” of Resurrection Presence! Do you fully understand or grasp the reality of God as the “Faithful Creator”? Examine the undeniable physical cosmos and its glory – is its future firmly in the hands of its Creator? If so, in the spiritual realm of a “new-born Life”, do we fret or faith His faithfulness in fulfilling the work He started within us? Why do doubts and fears even arise? Is it from demonic influences of, “Has God really said?”, or worldly philosophies that major on man’s genius of “flesh abilities”, or the ‘flesh-nature’ itself that so wants ‘fleshly advancement’ apart from the grace and power and provision of God “in Christ”?

In Psalm 71:1-2 the psalmist was a realist concerning true awareness of the victorious status of one “fighting for” or “fighting from”. He said: “In You, O lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, and cause me to escape; incline Your ear to me, and save me.” But have YOU decided it’s YOUR “best effort”, it’s YOUR “self-determination”, or your “confidence” in your own abilities that makes the difference in your journey of the ‘flesh’ or the Spirit?

How is it that “famous Christians” became famous? Do YOU understand that “famous Christians” never advanced their personal abilities, but they saw their “ordinariness” in Kingdom Living to be authored by the Holy Spirit of God? What does Matthew 6:33 tell us? “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” So, if God clothes the lilies of the field, can He cloth you in Kingdom ministry, not “your best”, but His faithful provision of the Christ within you as His hope of glory for you and through you?

Religions abound worldwide, but where, in the Word, did Holy God ever endorse fallen men’s devotion to their own religious ideals? Yes, it was not only for fallen humanity that Christ Jesus came to sacrifice His life for their reconciliation to God, but to replace ‘religious ideals’ with the “redemption through the blood of the Lamb of God”, thus through repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s “finished work” at the Cross, men and women, boys and girls, would learn to live by the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ Jesus! No other way exists before the throne of Holy God!

B.B. McKinney and Hattie Bell Allen wrote the Hymn, “Christ for the Whole Wide World!” It says: “Christ for the whole wide world! Our task has just begun, For millions wait in every land The message of God’s Son. Shall they be left in sin, To die without His Word, Without the Savior Jesus Christ, Because they never heard?

Christ for the whole wide world! His message must be sent To millions dying in their sin To call them to repent. Christ Jesus died to save, But they can never know Until we bring our gifts of love And bid His heralds go!

Christ for the whole wide world! His heralds will proclaim Salvation for men everywhere in Jesus’ blessed name. And we who cannot go To bear His tidings far Will pray for those who take the Word – And witness where we are.

We will give, we will pray, We will witness every day, That the millions of the whole wide world May know our Savior’s love.”

Is that YOUR song OR do YOU no longer sing?

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER, MAY 2-3, 2019

THE PSALMIST, IN PSALM 111, WAS,(YES), INSPIRED TO WRITE, VERSE 5, “GOD HAS GIVEN MEAT UNTO THEM THAT FEAR HIM: HE WILL EVER BE MINDFUL OF HIS COVENANT.” BUT ‘ILLOGICAL DEBATERS’, STRONGLY ‘POISONED’ BY ‘GOD-RESENTERS’ ACCEPT ‘LESSONS’ (?) FROM THE ‘FLESH OR SIN-NATURED’ MEN OR WOMEN, WHO RATHER THAN “TRUST GOD” WHO BIRTHED MANKIND WITH THE CHOICE FOR THEIR LIFE’S JOURNEY TURN INWARD & AROUND BUT NOT TO GOD, WHO,YES,EVEN THOUGH HE “KNOCKS”, AND THEY REFUSE TO OPEN THE HEART’S DOOR BECAUSE THEY ‘LOVE’ “FLESH” NOT SPIRIT, LOVING A “LOST WORLD’S RESENTMENT OF DEVOTION TO GOD”,SO, “GUIDED BY ‘HEART-DEAD, MIND-BLINDED’, AND WARPED WILLS DECEIVED BY SATAN HIMSELF”, THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO FOOLISHLY CHOOSE TO REMAIN SEPARATED FROM GOD, UNDER SATAN’S DOMINATION, BLINDED BY ‘A FOOLISH LOST-WORLD MENTALITY’, UNAWARE THEY’VE CHOSEN ‘ILLOGICAL, NATURAL,DEMONIC,AND ‘HELLISH’ INSIGHT THAT LEAVES MERCIFUL, LOVING, GRACIOUS, CARING GOD & HIS WILL, WORD, & WAYS OUT OF THEIR LIVES, SO THEY “CHOOSE” THE WORLD’S GODLESS SPIRIT, THE SIN-NATURE’S DEPRAVITY, AND SATAN’S BLINDNESS!!

“ILLOGICAL DEBATERS” ARE OFTEN BLINDED BY AN INNER ‘ATTITUDE’, STRONG BUT WEAK AND DEFENSELESS, THAT, “UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT SIN”, THEY LIVE HOLDING ONTO, ‘IN SOME’, A “WILDER-LESS”, “WONDER-LESS”, “WISDOM-LESS”, “WITNESS-LESS” ATTITUDE THAT EVEN ‘BELIEVERS’ (?) WHO CALL THEMSELVES ‘DISCIPLES OF CHRIST’, CAN’T DO ANYTHING BUT SIN SINCE ‘BEING SAVED’ (?), THOUGH JESUS TOLD HIS THE MAN IN THE TEMPLE THAT HE HEALED, JOHN 5:14, “BEHOLD, YOU ARE MADE WHOLE:SIN NO MORE, LEST A WORSE THING COME UPON YOU.”

“ILLOGICAL DEBATERS”? IN TITUS 3:2-11 PAUL STOUTLY AND WISELY WROTE: “TO SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN, TO BE NO BRAWLERS, BUT GENTLE, SHOWING ALL MEEKNESS UNTO ALL MEN.

FOR WE OURSELVES ALSO WERE SOMETIMES FOOLISH,DISOBEDIENT,DECEIVED,SERVING DIVERS LUSTS AND PLEASURES, LIVING IN MALICE AND ENVY, HATEFUL, AND HATING ONE ANOTHER. BUT AFTER THAT THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR TOWARD MAN APPEARED, NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST;

WHICH HE SHED ON US ABUNDANTLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR; THAT BEING JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE (JUSTIFIED? “JUST-AS-IF-WE’D-NEVER-SINNED!”), WE SHOULD BE MADE HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

THICH IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND THESE THINGS I WILL THAT YOU AFFIRM CONSTANTLY, THAT THEY WHICH HAVE BELIEVED IN GOD MIGHT BE CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS, THESE THINGS ARE GOOD AND PROFITABLE UNTO MEN. BUT AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS, AND GENEALOGIES, AND CONTENTIONS, AND STRIVINGS ABOUT THE LAW; FOR THEY ARE UNPROFITABLE AND VAIN.

A MAN THAT IS A HERETIC AFTER THE FIRST AND SECOND ADMONITION REJECT; KNOWING THAT HE THAT IS SUCH SUBVERTED, AND SINS, BEING CONDEMNED OF HIMSELF.” WHAT A POWERFUL, ENLIGHTENING, CONVICTING REVELATION OF THE HOLY WORD!!

“ILLOGICAL DEBATERS” ARE DESCRIBED IN PSALM 2:1-4! THE PSALMIST ASKS, “WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE, AND THE PEOPLE IMAGINE A VAIN THING? THE KINGS OF THE

EARTH SET THEMSELVES, AND THE RULERS TAKE COUNSEL TOGETHER, AGAINST THE LORD, AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED, SAYING ‘LET US BREAK THEIR BANDS ASUNDER, AND CAST AWAY THEIR CORDS FROM US. HE THAT SITS IN THE HEAVENS SHALL LAUGH; THE LORD SHALL HAVE THEM IN DERISION. ( THAT WORD ‘DERISION’ MEANS, ‘RIDICULE’ OR ‘MOCKERY’!)

PLUS, IT’S SATAN HIMSELF & HIS DEMONIC WARRIORS THAT “PUT CORDS & BANDS” ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL BIRTHED MANKIND WHO MUST RECEIVE CHRIST’S BLOOD REDEMPTION FOR THEM TO BE FREE FROM SATANIC BONDAGE!

BUT, IN THIS MOMENT, THIS TIME PERIOD OF YOUR LIFE, ARE YOU AN “ILLOGICAL DEBATER” OR ARE “YOU” A “CONVINCED,CONVERTED, CONSECRATED, CONFIRMED TRUE DISCIPLE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”? A VERY ENLIGHTENING VERSE IS FOUND IN HEBREWS 11:4! “BY FAITH ABEL OFFERED UNTO GOD A MORE EXCELLENT SACRIFICE THAN CAIN, BY WHICH HE OBTAINED WITNESS THAT HE WAS RIGHTEOUS, GOD TESTIFYING OF HIS GIFTS; AND BY IT BEING DEAD YET SPEAKS.” (A WITNESS THAT ‘CONTINUES’, EVEN AFTER ‘YOU’ DIED? “AMAZING GRACE”!!).

ARE “YOU” CONVINCED? AND “CONVINCED”, DO “YOU” ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO “CONVINCE” OTHERS THROUGH YOU? IN MATTHEW 10:19-20, JESUS TELLS US: “BUT WHEN THEY DELIVER YOU UP, TAKE NO THOUGHT HOW OR WHAT YOU SHALL SPEAK: FOR IT SHALL BE GIVING YOU IN THAT SAME HOUR WHAT YOU SHALL SPEAK. FOR IT IS NOT YOU THAT SPEAKS, BUT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER WHICH SPEAKS IN YOU (AND “THROUGH YOU”!).”

“CONVINCED” BECAUSE YOU “WERE CONVERTED”? IS THAT “BORN AGAIN”, GRACE-FILLED, SPIRIT-BIRTHED, SPIRIT-ENLIGHTENED, SPIRIT-CONFIRMED,SPIRIT-ANOINTED, SPIRIT-GUIDED, TO TOUCH YOUR WORLD WITH THE ETERNAL GOSPEL STORY OF GOD’S POWER TO SAVE OTHERS THROUGH YOU AS YOU LIFT UP THE MESSAGE OF “BLOOD REDEMPTION, RECONCILIATION, AND REACHING OUT THROUGH YOU WITH HIS AMAZING GRACE TO OTHERS?”

“CONVINCED”, “CONVERTED”, BUT ARE YOU “CONSECRATED”? IS THAT “SET APART”, AS ONE DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT BY THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD, “BORN AGAIN”, A “NEW CREATION” NO LONGER ONLY UNTO ONE’S SELF, BUT “CAPTURED, CONVERTED, CONSECRATED, ONE BECOMES CHRIST’S “ROYAL AMBASSADOR”, COMMISSIONED BY CHRIST TO BE HIS WITNESS TO A WORLD THAT NEEDS TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD, REPENTING OF SIN AND SEPARATION FROM HIM, BUT THEN “SET APART” FOR THE UNVEILING OF THE GLORY, GRACE, AND MERCY OF GOD THROUGH YOU BECAUE OF THE RESURRECTED, REIGNING CHRIST WITHIN YOU!!

“CONVINCED,CONVERTED, CONSECRATED” – GOOD, EXCELLENT, GRACE-GIVEN – AND – “CONFIRMED” BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, EVIDENCED BY THE “FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT” MULTIPLYING IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU!

MARCUS M.WELLS, IN “THE AMERICAN HYMNAL”, PUBLISHED IN 1933, BY THE BROADMAN PRESS OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, (P.188),WROTE THE HYMN, “HOLY SPIRIT, FAITHFUL GUIDE”. IT SAYS: “HOLY SPIRIT, FAITHFUL GUIDE, EVER NEAR THE CHRISTIAN’S SIDE; GENTLY LEAD US BY THE HAND, PILGRIMS IN A DESERT LAND;

EVER PRESENT, TRUEST FRIEND, EVER NEAR YOUR AID TO LEND, LEAVE US NOT TO DOUBT AND FEAR, GROPING ON IN DARKNESS DREAR.

WHEN OUR DAYS OF TOIL SHALL CEASE, WAITING STILL FOR SWEET RELEASE, NOTHING LEFT BUT HEAVEN AND PRAYER, WONDERING IF OUR NAMES WERE THERE.

THEN JESUS SPEAKS! WHISPERING SOFTLY, ‘WANDERER, COME! FOLLOW ME, I’LL GUIDE YOU HOME!

WEARY SOULS FOREVER REJOICE, WHILE THEY HEAR THAT SWEETEST VOICE, WHEN THE STORMS ARE RAGING SORE, HEARTS GROW FAINT, AND HOPES GIVE O’ER,

WADING DEEP THE DISMAL FLOOD, PLEADING NAUGHT BUT JESUS’ BLOOD, THE SPIRIT SPEAKS, WHISPERING SOFTLY, “WAN DERER , COME! FOLLOW ME, I’LL GUIDE YOU HOME!”IS THE WORD, THE “TRUTH”, THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOUR GUIDE TO VICTORY OR IN “BEST EFFORT”, “FLESH-SPIRIT”, “SATAN-DECEIVED” ATTEMPTS TO BE ‘CHRIST-LIKE’, HAVE YOU “FALLEN AWAY” FROM THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST?

HE IS THE “FULLNESS”, BUT YOU “TRIED” RATHER THAN “TRUSTED”? “ATTEMPTED” RATHER THAN “ATONED”? “SELF-EFFORT” RATHER THAN “BOUGHT WITH A PRICE”, ‘PAID FOR’ REDEMPTION BY THE SHED BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD BECAUSE “GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD”? IN WHOM WILL “YOU” STAND WITH BEFORE HOLY GOD AT HIS ETERNAL JUDGMENT SEAT WHEN YOUR DAY OF DEATH COMES?!?

By J. FARRELL FISHER, June 5-6, 2017

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul challenges us, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal (fleshly or according to the old Adam-nature!). For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and BEHAVING LIKE MERE MEN?”

It was Fenelon who once said: “There is practically nothing that men do not prefer to God. A tiresome detail of business, an occupation utterly pernicious to health, the employment of time in ways one does not dare to mention. Anything rather than God.” A number of lessons I need to deal with in these moments:

1. MERE MEN WALK AND WANDER APART FROM GOD! In 2 Corinthians 5:11 Paul said, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…”. In fact, in Proverbs 1:7 the ‘wise man’ wrote: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” And the ‘persuasion of men’?

A. Though they’ve been ‘lost’ to God, “In Christ” they are found! B. Though they’ve been separated to God, “In Christ” they’re made one with God in and through Him! C. Though they were without Christ mortal only, “In Christ” they become immortal in Him! D. Though they were dominated by an old sin nature, “In Christ” they’ve become partakers of the divine nature!

Genesis 5:24 tells us, “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for GOD TOOK HIM!” In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 and Verses 17-21 we read: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Verses 17-21, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” That, my friends, is a Glory to God Word!

2. MERE MEN THOUGH SUBSTITUTE THEIR BEST FOR GOD’S BEST! In Genesis 2:15-17 we read, Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord commanded the man, “of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

I love Jose Desalzo’s comment in his writing, “God’s Frontier” when he wrote: If God is lacking, nothing a man does is of more consequence than the acts of a mouse.” Your best as a ‘mouse’ or God’s best as a “man in Christ”?

In Galatians 2:20 Paul wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Christ Jesus said in John 15:4-5, “Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

3. MERE MEN WALK DIVISIVELY, NOT IN A UNIFYING MANNER! Again 1 Corinthians 3:3, “for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

In Psalm 133 we find a powerful, unifying theme! It says: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of (Mt.) Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For the Lord commanded the blessing – Life forevermore.”

Do YOU love the ‘brotherhood’? I’ll never forget doing a meeting in southern India in Coimbatore years ago – I had insisted outreach to every church, every pastor or priest, every gathering regardless of denominational affiliation! After four or five days together, I saw men truly “love one another”!

4. MERE MEN WALK IN THE FLESH, NOT IN THE SPIRIT! In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, not thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

I love what the blind Helen Keller said before her death. “Never consent to creep when you feel the impulse to soar!” But again, Paul in Ephesians 5:17-21, said: “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

5. MERE MEN WALK WITH FLESHLY AMBITIONS ONLY – NOT TO PLEASE GOD! In 2 Corinthians 5:4-9 we read: “For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God; who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” But not unbelieving men consumed with fleshly ambitions! It was Pierre Duplessis who said: “Surely, if all the world was made for man, then man was made for more than the world.” Do YOU know what that is?

6. MERE MEN WALK WITH AN AFFIRMATION OF THEIR LIVES APART FROM GOD – THE MASTER’S MEN HAVE NO TRUST IN THEMSELVES! In 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 Paul wrote: “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, Verse 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us…”

Paul enlarged our understanding in 2 Corinthians 3:5 when he said, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” Proverbs 3:5-8 is so essential in living a victorious, overcoming life. It says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him (Giving God His rightful place as Sovereign Administrator over your life!) and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

It was Thomas a Kempis who once wrote: “God never deceives; but a man is deceived whenever he puts too much trust in himself. MAN PROPOSES BUT GOD DISPOSES.” The prophet Hosea gave a call to repentance to the nation Israel, and, yes, to all across our world today: Hosea 10:12-13, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you have trusted in your own way…”

7. MERE MEN WALK WITH BLINDED EYES – GOD’S MEN WALK WITH SPIRITUAL, HEAVENLY VISION! Again, Paul made it so clear by the anointed writing through the Holy Spirit! In 2 Corinthians 4:3-7 he said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Men with blinded eyes? Epictetus, in his writing, “Fragments”, wrote: “Man is a little soul carrying around a corpse.”

8. MERE MEN WALK ON THE BASIS OF THEIR PERSONAL PERFORMANCE – GOD’S MEN WALK ABOUT STANDING ON THE PROMISES! In 2 Corinthians 7:1 we read, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

In Daniel 11:32 the prophet tells us, “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”

Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.239), “The promises of God are of no value to us until by obedience we understand the nature of God. We read some things in the Bible three hundred and sixty-five times and they mean nothing to us, then all of a sudden we see what God means, because in some particular we have obeyed God, and instantly His nature is opened up. “All the promises of God in Christ are Yes, and in Him Amen.” The “yes” must be born of obedience; when by the obedience of our lives we say “Amen” to a promise, then that promise is ours.”

9. MERE MEN WALK EARTHBOUND – GOD’S MEN LIVE IN THE HEAVENLIES! In Ephesians 2:4-10 we read, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Mere men earthbound or Holy Men of God living in the heavenly kingdom now? Mere men or Messengers of God? Mere men or Mighty Men of valor? Mere men or Ambassadors of Christ? Mere men or sons and daughters of God our Father? Mere men or ministers of reconciliation? Mere men or Witnesses of Saving Grace? Mere men or the Elect, the Chosen of God? Mere men or the Apples of God’s eyes? Mere men or God’s workmanship? Mere men or Partners with God? Mere men or Vessels of honor before Holy God?

Mere men or clay in the hands of the Potter sculpted in His Holy Image? Mere men or partakers of the divine nature? Mere men alone in emptiness or One in Him the fullness of Him who fills all in all?

10. MERE MEN WILL WALK RELIGIOUSLY – BUT NOT RE-BORN! In John 3, If Jesus says, “You must be born again,” does that mean “best effort” or “Amazing Grace”? It was Max Depree who wrote: “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” And that means all of fallen mankind must accept the crucifixion of their “old man” with Christ at Calvary’s Cross, and the “new-birth” resurrection life in Christ!

Mere men or the new born? “In Christ” has profound, life-changing, eternal realities! Her Me! “I’m chosen of God to bear His Name! A royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special person!

I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, born again into the Holy Family of God. “in Christ” we’re sons and daughters of our heavenly family, our lives have been “hidden with Christ in God,” and He’s raised us up to be seated with Christ in Heavenly Places, declared to be ministers of reconciliation, ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ, entrusted with the Gospel and counted worthy to walk with Christ.

Jesus is the Bridegroom – we’re the Bride of Christ, witnesses of His Redeeming Grace, trustees of the mystery of godliness, and God says we’re “priests and kings unto Him”, the very fragrance of Christ, His peace-makers, His disciples, His soldiers of the Cross.

And “in Him” we’re more than conquerors, new creations, living sacrifices, epistles, poems of the grace, mercy, and love of God – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, disciples, “Followers of Christ”, servants of the King, bearing the image of the Heavenly Man, the called, the separated, the anointed, indwelt by the Fullness of God, Messengers, Proclaimers, Heralds of the Gospel,

The Glorious Body of Christ and members of that Holy Body in particular, Vessels through which God reveals His Son, the salt and light, the Symphony God sings about, the music of His heart, and over us He sings the sounds of joy and sweet pleasure!

There’s an old hymn by Charles Wesley and John Zundel published in”The American Hymnal” in 1933 by The Broadman Press in Nashville, Tennessee. It says: “Love divine, all love excelling, Joy of Heaven, to earth come down! Fix in us Your humble dwelling; All Your faithful mercies crown. Jesus, You are all compassion, Pure, unbounded love You are; Visit us with Your salvation; Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Your loving Spirit Into every troubled breast! Let us all in You inherit, Let us find that second rest. Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all Your life receive; Suddenly, return, and never, Nevermore Your temples leave; You we would be always blessing, Serve You as Your hosts above, Pray, and praise You without ceasing, Glory in Your perfect love.

Finish then Your new creation; Pure and spotless let us be; Let us see Your great salvation, Perfectly restored in You; Changed from glory into glory, Till in heaven we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before You, Lost in wonder, love, and praise.” AMEN?

By J.Farrell Fisher, June 3-5, 2018

I don’t know how this title question hits you, but I’m convinced large numbers of “religious ‘professors of faith’, pastoral leaders, ‘faithful’ (?) church folk, modern-day teachers, denominational leaders, national ‘religious’ devotees, are going to be absolutely shocked and amazed when, before the eternal throne of glory Jesus sits, then says to them, Matthew 7:21-23,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Jesus affirmed Himself “Lord” twice through the false professors saying that there are those who know His name without being united in the Spirit of His mission! It’s not simply knowing His name by even affirming His Lordship; many have that record and acknowledgement ‘without submitting to His authority’, allowing Him to do His work in them, or obeying His commands.

In fact, many living in ‘religious fantasy’ rather than “redemption’s reality” are void of the importance of truly ‘taking heed to themselves’, just as Jesus spoke in Luke 21:34-36 when He said them and, yes, TO US: “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For IT WILL COME AS A SNARE ON ALL THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH. Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Dare I tell you? Believe I will! “Carousing and drunkenness is more than careless indulgence in alcoholic beverages and ‘strong drink’, but even, yes, the ‘indulgence’ in religious activity apart from being “born again”, apart from being vessels of Holy Presence, apart from being instruments of His righteousness, or commissioned under His authority allowing Him to be Himself in you and through you! God isn’t interested in what you do ‘for Him’ but only in what YOU allow Him to be and do in you and through you as, yes, His temple of Holy Presence!

The validation of true disciples is not in what they allow themselves to do ‘for Christ’, but for them daily taking the sentence of death to themselves that give Him the open door to manifest Himself through them! It’s a matter of availability for Him to be Himself through yielded, surrendered, opened doors of the heart for Him to walk in and through! How many have you known who owned pianos but never learned to allow the “Master Pianist” to play through them? True Christians are not defined by what they do for Jesus but by being individuals who allow Him to be Himself in them and through them! True Christianity finds its eternal identity in allowing Jesus’ Resurrected Presence to find ‘open doors’ for His Eternal Presence to be Himself in them and through them as Holy God has found them to be available vessels of His Holy Presence!

Much of supposed Christianity across our world today is ‘pretense’ of the true revelation! Most of the modern Christian world today sees their faith as ‘church membership’ apart from Resurrection Presence and, yes, Christ being Himself through them! What did Paul say in Colossians 1:24-28, “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the “mystery” which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Are YOU aware of, yes, “the mystery of the glory” of the church at large, which IS “Christ IN Jew and Gentiles who make themselves available to all Jesus IS and always has been – the Conquering, Victorious, Reigning Lord over sin and death”? In the known world of today how many have you witnessed who truly grasped “Christ in me my hope of glory”?

Our known world is barren of true redemptive faith; it is bewildering by those who challenge them to be free of ‘self’ as Jesus crucified it and therefore gladly and continually rejoicing yielded themselves fully to His Resurrection Presence! Most of the known religious world of today is embittered that God saw them worthy only of crucifixion with Christ! They’ll privately and publicly blaspheme His Holy Name when they learn the Truth of “crucified with Christ”, from the strongest intellectual to the limited mind, from the strongest of human flesh to the weakest physical body trying to be spiritual, from the fleshly proud learning life without God’s Resurrection Presence is nothing more than the ‘stench of death continuing to die’!

Though ‘fallen humanity’ has been deeply wounded and ‘fallen away from God’, the truth of the Word of God is that Holy God reached down, out, and around to the fallen, knocks on their hearts’ doors, unveils the awareness of their need of “new life, new hope, new power, and new purpose”, seriously wounded by their native, fleshly, self-fulfilling natures, but by the grace, mercy, and love of God, through Holy Spirit conviction and by the ‘gift’ of repentance offered as the ‘door opener’ between God and man, and ‘the gift of faith’ gladly given, one grasps the full, true meaning of the work of Christ at Calvary’s Cross, with sinners becoming saints in and through Christ alone! A ‘saint’? One set apart as “His temple pf Holy Presence”!

God isn’t interested in religious or spiritual robots that have no say in a choice or lack of it when it comes to spiritual devotion. Every human life must decide “on their own they choose to serve Me or not – I will not stamp mankind’s devotion to Me unless it is only in and through their response to Christ’s knocking at their heart’s door and the offering by Him of the gift of His shed blood, the blood of the Lamb of God, crucified so that they may desire by Me my offering of grace, mercy, and love through My Son’s finished work at the Cross.”

A few words I’ve written for hopefully greater enlightenment for sinners and the saints. I wrote:

“Though wounded we may have been by our natural, native, fleshly sin, by the grace and mercy of God through the Spirit-conviction and repentance, we receive inheritance of the gifted Presence of Holy God, through Christ’s blood, and now sealed by the Spirit as sons and daughters of God!

Christ in you the hope of glory – what an amazing, eternal reality! Though having strayed and become ‘lost’ on our own ‘self-ordained range,’ God sought us out to bring us to His home through divine ‘heavenly change’.

Christ’s Resurrection Life is man’s eternal hope, but how many do you know who live as if the Savior doesn’t exist? Once again, even often, they will sense “His knock at the door,” but because of unbelief and religious rationalization they will not soar in heavenly places, but sorrow in tears and sadness forever – because they know, “We didn’t answer!”

Some have discovered: “To Be Is To Live For the Purpose and Plan and Power of God”, but never ask about “The Door” to His Holy Presence, and are spiritually illiterate about His “keys to the Kingdom”!

Yet some know of the keys to the Kingdom yet hidden them away in their personal heart-deception, never desiring to take and insert the keys of repentance and faith into His everlasting Kingdom!

But it’s time to awake, time to arise, time to surmise, how to stand up and look into His merciful, gracious, loving eyes, repenting of your sin, resting in His blessing, turning to His promises of one’s eternal residence.”

But does pride, prejudices, or personal persuasion speak to you identifying afresh the reality of sad but certain ‘godless living.’? Or, possibly, is there in YOU the comforting, strengthening, enlightening, assuring Word in you, “Christ in Me, my hope of glory”, authored by the convicting Holy Spirit?

To be “in Christ” is no longer one’s identity in the register of all fallen sinners, blinded mankind, or Satan’s fallen and conquered captives, but one “in Christ” who knows “blood-forgiven,” blessed with repentance and faith as new-born sons and daughters of the eternal family of God, no longer descendants of Satan’s deceitful clan, captured, blinded, and forever ‘perishing’ but never dying family of Satan’s devotees to faithlessness, indifference, and strong unbelief in the eternal purpose of Holy God, yet gloriously Holy Spirit convicted, convinced, and converted into the “new identity” of divine royalty, sons and daughters of God because, soldiers of the Cross, yes, and truly “washed in the blood of the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, God’s Son” as “new creations” of His “Amazing Grace”!!

It was Robert H. Coleman of Dallas, Texas, who in 1933 had a hymn entitled “O Happy Day” published by the Broadman Press, written by Philip Doddridge and E.F. Rimbault entitled, “O Happy Day”. It says: “O happy day that fixed my choice on You, my Savior and my God!

O happy bond, that seals my vow To Him who merits all my love! Let cheerful anthems fill His house While to that sacred shrine I move.

It’s done; the great transaction’s done! I am my Lord’s, and He is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine.

High Heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renewed shall daily hear, Till in life’s latest hour I bow, And bless in death a bond so dear.

Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away! He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day; Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away!”

You need to “get on board”, and never tire as you travel together with Him and His growing ‘family of faith and obedience’, submitted hour by hour, day by day, with the Prince of Peace Presence, with His Kingly Persuasion, and with the Spirit’s Power Anointing, fulfilling your calling as His earthly representative! You no longer are turned to the world’s opinions but to the Savior’s Holy Word, not to self but to the savior, not to appearances but to the reality of His abiding presence in the life of faith He’s chosen to be His earthly Tabernacle!

The Lord Jesus describes the true children of faith when in Matthew 20:25-28 He said: But Jesus called them to Himself and said: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – JUST AS the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

How different from the man-made philosophies of fallen men who ignore the Eternal Presence of the Resurrected, Reigning, Enriching Savior and Lord! In Romans 1:24-25 Paul wrote, “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, WHO EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR THE LIE, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

At the same time consider Hebrews 9:14! “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God!”

And upon His discovery and enlightment to the “Amazing Grace”, he wrote to all believers, Colossians 5:13, For you, brethren, have been called to liberty, only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh (which is your old sin nature!), but through love serve one another.”

What a difference between the “old man” and the “new man in Christ”! The “old man”? Barren of divine life and holy presence, bewildered through indifference to the call of God, bitter in the inner man, easily blaspheming the name of Jesus, blind to the Truth, blotted, bonded and enslaved with a dangerous breach from God’s Presence, definitely breached away from Eternal, Abiding Presence as “the chief musician sang in Psalm 60:1-5, O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, restore us again! You have made the earth tremble; You have broken it; Heal its breaches, for it is shaking. You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion. (Yet) You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. That Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your right hand and hear me.” [Do YOU call out to God to hear you because of your passion concern for the “lost” who surround you?].

THIS IS A “NEW DAY” OF DIVINE OPPORTUNITY TO BE “RESTORED”, “RENEWED”, “RE-BORN”, “REGENERATED”, “REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB”, “REFITTED WITH HOLY PRESENCE, HOLY PURPOSE, AND HOLY POWER”! Bow down before Him so He can raise you up, confess so He may cleanse you and wash pure as the blood of the Lamb of God is pure, “RELIGHTENING YOUR MIND AND HEART TO ETERNAL TRUTH”, “RE-EQUIPPING YOU WITH THE CHOSEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SEND YOU OUT TO THE NEEDY LIVES SURROUNDING YOU”, AND “CHOOSING TO BE THE DIVINE REPRESENTATIVE OF HOLY PRESENCE”, YES, FOR THE WORLD AROUND YOU TO WITNESS HOW TO EXCHANGE THE LIE OF THEIR LIVES FOR HIS ETERNAL TRUTH , CHRIST JESUS WHO NEVER CHANGES”!! Amen!

By: J.Farrell Fisher, July 21-22, 2017

You are aware, I’m sure, of how the Jews in Jesus’ day were well-trained in Jewish traditions, yet the majority of Jews in Jesus day were the ones who participated in or ordered Jesus’ crucifixion! They “heard” the Word, learned certain “truths” about it, but never read the heart of God or His eternal purpose in and through Christ Jesus as revealed in both Old Testament prophecies and New Testament realities!

Acts 4 is an important chapter as I seek to lay the foundation for this message! It says in Acts 4:1-12, Now as they (the first, new disciples!) spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees (“Sad-you-see”, refusers of belief and trust in Christ as Lord and Savior!) came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole.

This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ (Psalm 118:22). Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Would YOU say that these early fishermen who became followers, disciples, servants of Christ, as “disciplined students”, didn’t simply “practice” the Faith, but lived it out in and through their availability to the Indwelt, Ruling, Reigning, King of kings and Lord of lords, who made, by His mercy, grace, and love, their physical, forgiven, blood-washed bodies into His Holy Temple and Heavenly Hospital of saving, healing, delivering, re-birthing needy souls as His earthly presence, to continue touching a needy world around YOU with His Holy Presence IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU?

“Disciplined students” are not the ‘well-trained’ in biblical principles but the “well-served, finished with themselves, only offering their bodily presence for Christ to be Himself in them and through them”! I don’t know of a more hypocritical thought than one who believes, “How grateful God must be to have me on His team since I am the great performer of Christ-likeness!” It’s not performance but Christ’s Presence that must be our testimonies: “Christ in us, Christ through us,” as Paul instructed us about the ‘mystery’ in Colossians 1:26-28, saying, “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints (Those who are “set apart”). To them GOD WILLED to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect IN CHRIST Jesus.”

How ‘shocked’ were you when you read and re-read John 2:23-25? Now when He (Christ Jesus) was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. BUT Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, FOR HE KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN.

Our Lord and Savior explained in John 3:16-21 the Lord Jesus said: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him (trusts in, relies upon, adheres to, fully surrendering all rights in one’s self and full trust in Who Christ is and what He desires to do through you) should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him (trusts in, adheres to, relies upon) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (Do you think that this just may be why Paul said what he did in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I DIE DAILY”?)

And didn’t Paul add in 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead”?

Christ Jesus knew what was in those early disciples, and He still reads men’s hearts today as if they were wide-opened books for all to read! He didn’t commit Himself to those ‘partial believers’ who assumed their ‘fleshly bodies’ were worthy of His blessing and forgiveness – but Christ Jesus turned THEM away!

“Disciplined Students”? Luke 14:25-33 speaks of Jesus telling the great multitudes (!!) who followed Him, turning to them and saying to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear HIS CROSS and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, (Have you truly been seated before Christ, determining the cost of full surrender unto His Lordship, AND have YOU taken the sentence of death unto yourself that His Resurrection Presence will be manifested in YOUR mortal flesh?”), whether he has enough to finish it – lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Paul made a highly interesting and convicting statement in 1 Corinthians 7:35, saying, “And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.” DISTRACTION? How many examine the true faith and only see Jesus ‘wanting slaves to Him’ when in reality He passionately longs for “servants”. He said of Himself, “I didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to give my life a ransom for many.” Christ Jesus was a “foot-washer, not a pew sitter”! Christ Jesus was a servant, not a ‘slave driver’! Christ Jesus WAS the sacrifice, not a proud, self-centered, cruel ruler demanding your unrelenting devotion to, often, an earthly king’s insane demands on his citizens! But consider the “distractions” of imitators, of “professors” of a faith that omits, or overlooks repentance toward God and faith ONLY in Christ’s Resurrection Presence within their “blood-washed” hearts and minds and surrendered wills only to His Lordship!

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 the heavenly blessed, humbled Paul, wrote: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you.”

You’ll find it very interesting that Paul also said in Hebrews 10:39, “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” In fact, earlier, in Ephesians 6:6, he said, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart…”

There are those who have drawn back to perdition! There are those who are ‘man-pleasers’, not servants DOING THE WILL OF GOD OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF THE HEART OF CHRIST IN THEM!!! There are those who are religious, strong-willed, intense imitators, who pat themselves on their backs about their ‘devotion to the Christian ‘church-faith’, but in their innermost being are the award winners of ‘play-acting’ by their best efforts and know nothing about “crucified with Christ” and “raised by the convicting, converting power of the Holy Spirit” to prepare YOU to be His earthly, home-outreach in ministering in you, to you, and through you!

Follow Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-16! “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. FOR I DETERMINED not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

However, we (Paul and the early Apostles) speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written:

“Eyes has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual (like: “You are not your own but have been bought with a price, even the shed blood of the Lamb of God!”). But the natural man (unbeliever, ‘sinner’, captive of Satan!) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him (while in 1 Corinthians 3:19 Paul declared under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God!”); nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (emphasizing Jesus’ words in John 3:19-21, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in (and through) God.”), Paul continuing in 1 Corinthians 2:15-16, But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no man. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” BUT we have the mind of Christ,”

And true disciples wait upon the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit in the Spirit’s witness through us, not impulsive, self-directing ‘believers’, but vessels through which the Holy Spirit honors, guides, and glorifies Christ through us!!!

I ask YOU: “Are YOU a “disciplined student AND a delighted servant” living in the light of the glow and glory and submission to Christ’s Resurrection Presence IN YOU? By Christ’s precious blood He purchased through His cross the title deed to ownership of your life – He bought you out of Satan’s bondage and your sinful nature ownership to be “A Child of the King”! Have you “bid farewell” to your old self-controlled life to submit yourself to the sovereignty of “Christ in you”, to the King of kings and Lord of lords? If so, why not “walk in Him, your only hope of glory, blessing, and never-ending satisfaction if His precious, eternal Presence?

2 Corinthians 5:1-9

Family & friends, kids & grandkids, what blessings from God,

Enriched so full, so free, as by Him, we walk with such holy glee.

Joy is our blessing as in Him we reside,

Doubly strengthened by family & friends, kids & grandkids at our side

Sweet Joyce Baird, one of God’s treasured women, Wife, mother, grandmother, friend, indeed, None can surpass her desire to meet need.

Loved by her husband, cherished by her sons, no woman is as bright as Joyce’s shining sun.

Light for your darkness, love for your seed, strength for your faith in your moment of need.

Prayer her great armor, the passion of faith her great sword, Love of our Savior her greatest reward.

Saved by His grace, embroidered in lace, her heart for her husband a heavenly taste.

Seen by her sons a radiance of God, sure of her steps in Heaven’s holy sod.

So thankful Joyce was here to point family and friends to His divine sphere.

No doubt about it, Joyce is already at it, singing & praising, loving & serving, as always she bowed.

Can you hear her now? She’s singing so loud! So safe, so secure, so free in her spirit, Loving & Blessing her Savior so dear, praying in heaven for family & friends –

She says:

“It’s time, yes, it’s time, DRAW NEAR!” Can you hear her? It’s that wifely love, that mother’s care : Husband, sons, family, friends – DRAW NEAR!!”

By: J.Farrell Fisher, October 26-27, 2017

Before we get to the major thrust of the message, “Imitation or Actualization?”, I sense the need to make you fully aware that there are unbelieving men and women across the world who have no shame that, yes, they are “enemies of God”! Unbelief IS the major calling card of many people who are content in the ‘darkness’ of their minds and hearts of no need of God – they are ‘sufficient’ in themselves and what they stand for and want to hold on to it!

You may not be familiar with the Pharoah of Egypt that Moses and Aaron confronted in Exodus 5:1 on appointment from Holy God. They told Pharoah, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” But in Verse 6 Pharoah said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

There are many ‘pharoahs’ across our known world who are staunch enemies of our loving, merciful, caring God! There are many ‘pharoahs’ who are so ‘self-mastered’ that to suggest submission and surrender to the Author of Life and His authority is to release from within resentment of, hatred for, and opposition to the King of kings even if it ushers in more and more of unbelief, and they’ll willfully “crucify the Christ” over and over, again and again, in their hearts and minds!

There IS ‘the counsel of the ungodly’, there ARE ‘paths of the sinners’ clearly marked out, and there are those who “sit in the seat of the scornful”, fully opposed to Divine, Eternal Truth! Around you are “the chaff which the wind WILL DRIVE AWAY,” with the way of the ungodly becoming a ‘wall of separation eternally’ because they refused to bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords, not fully surrendered to His good and perfect will for their lives but content with the “best” sinful flesh has to offer! There ARE highly intelligent individuals in man-made ‘philosophies’ who, for themselves, “have no need of God or your Savior”, and they are strong, at times even, vindictive in their responses, but they ARE THE ONES FOR WHOM CHRIST JESUS SHED HIS INNOCENT BLOOD ON THE CROSS FOR THEIR REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION, Jesus even knowing there would be those who turn from Him, not to Him!

Unbelievers, yes, are ‘savorless salt’, yet they sense the world around them can’t do without them, even though they themselves ‘drink’ the poisoned waters of their own intellectual philosophies! Unbelievers speak of “my good chosen lifestyle” but void of abiding peace with God and with his/her fellow man. Unbelievers choose life apart from the sacrificial nature of Christ as He willfully gave Himself to fulfill God’s perfect will; unbelievers live without divine, sacrificial love, lives without the foundation of true faith that lights the way in and through their dark world, and, certainly, for them, no true foundation to withstand life’s, at times, brutal storms; oh, and void of sustaining power against the world, one’s old sin nature, and Satan Himself!

Unbelievers are unaware they’ve been totally blinded by Satan and the powers of darkness; they are unaware of Heaven’s intent, and without knowing it, blinded to demonic intent through Satan’s ‘disciples’ – they are well-trained in the deceptions of darkness; and, in Luke 14:34-35, Jesus describes lives who know nothing of “salt’s intent”, who are not ‘fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out’! Consider that for a few moments before continuing!

Unbelievers ARE slaves to their old sin-natures, carnal in a man’s ‘self-will’, always “behaving like mere men” (1 Corinthians 3:3!), ‘natural men’ bound by what their sin-natures dictate! There are ‘unrighteous men and women’, and they do not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9), Paul then saying, 1 Corinthians 6:9b-11, “Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, not thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God.”

And true believers forsake the world, their old sin-nature, and the Satanic deceptions, yes, even willing to die for the “Eternal Truth”! Do you remember what Christ Jesus said to the ‘religious’ (?) scribes and Pharisees, products of the false teachings of Judaism in Matthew 23:2-5, self-appointed, and, yes, out to deceive true seekers and true believers? “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe AND DO, but do not do according to their works; FOR THEY SAY, AND DO NOT DO. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; BUT they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men.” [Do you understand? There’s no radiant life in the ‘scribes and Pharisees’ unveiling Christ but only unbelieving men ‘trying’ to religiously pump their ‘flesh’ up to an acceptable level before God’s eyes and feel themselves ‘superior’ even to ‘grace-birthed-disciples of Christ; in fact, they’ll see to it you’re crucified or banned from legitimate, fleshly lives like theirs !].

I was awed recently reading again Dallas Willard’s book “The Great Omission” where in it he wrote the following: (pps. 11-12), “Nothing less than life in the steps of Christ is adequate to the human soul or the needs of our world. Any other offer fails to do justice to the drama of human redemption, deprives the hearer of life’s greatest opportunity, and abandons this present life to the evil powers of the age. The correct perspective is to see following Christ not only as the necessity it is, but as the fulfillment of the highest human possibilities and as life on the highest plain. It is to see, in Helmet Thielicke’s words, that “the Christian stands, not under the dictatorship of a legalistic ‘You ought’, but in the magnetic field of Christian freedom, under the empowering of the ‘You may’.”

And I must ask! Do you understand “the magnetic field of Christian freedom, under the empowering of ‘You may’”? Here’s how Paul explained it in Colossians 1 as he unveiled “the mystery”! He said in Verses 26-29, “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints (that’s those set apart by God FOR the dwelling place of His earthly presence!). To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”

That, my friends, is a “Wow Word!” It’s not you ‘trying your best’ to serve Jesus! He crucified your worst and your best, raising you up to be the temple of His Holy Presence, so that His Resurrection Life, His Resurrection Hope, and His Resurrection Power would be continually manifested in and throughout the ages through any life finished with its self but available to Him as the earthly abode of all He is and all He desires to do through them! Most ‘church folk’ are so in love with their own ‘Christian identity’ that Christ is shut out from being Himself in and through them, and a lost world around them never sees the Savior and Lord being Himself!

But, in Galatians 2:20-21a, Paul wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God…”! I am an A.W. Tozer fan because his writings truly align with Biblical Truth! Many years ago Tozer wrote about, his “feeling that a notable heresy has come into being throughout evangelical Christian circles – the widely accepted concept that we humans can choose to accept Christ only because we need Him as Savior and that we have the right to postpone our obedience to Him as Lord as long as we want to,” adding that for one to profess that falsehood is to deny its tragic deception but heighten the Truth “that salvation apart from obedience is unknown in the sacred scriptures”, with Jesus speaking in Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do the things which I say?”

Christ Jesus Himself declared that obedience to Him is not an option in the day of grace and mercy! In John 6:63-64 the Lord Jesus said: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh (that’s the best and the worst of all fallen mankind!) profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”

He went on to say, because He knew there were some who professed, followed, but did not ‘believe’, AND they eventually did and eventually will betray Him! (Of course, there are those who say: “It happened with early disciples, but not in our day or our time or in our ‘assembly of believers’!” Really?). And John 6:66 then says: From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. (For you, how sad is that?).

You understand, I pray, that there is a natural world AND there is a spiritual world, the world of fallen humanity AND the spiritual world of the Kingdom of God, a world of ‘self-direction’ AND the world, the kingdom, the family of faith, trust, and obedience who give King Jesus His rightful place as Savior and Lord and Sovereign Administrator ushering in His Kingdom-Will in repentant, available vessels who accept “crucified with Christ” but through Redemptive Faith have become vessels, temples of His Holy Presence!

No doubt this is why the Lord Jesus said in John 6:63, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life”! Do you think this just might be why Jesus said in John 4:24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and truth”? Jesus said and still says, “You MUST be born again,” stating the reality of spiritual birthing through repentance toward God and faith alone in Christ’s “finished work” at the Cross AND through “His empty tomb” presence and living as intercessor at the right hand throne of Holy God!

In Colossians 2:11-15 Paul testifies, teaches, and trains true disciples in Truth! He said, “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism (that’s the ‘baptism’ of crucifixion-death’!), in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Dare I tell you? Believe I will! “If you NOW don’t see yourself crucified with Christ, you and your old sin nature, then you are still captive of the world philosophies, satanic deception, and your own brainless, godless nature!”) – “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!”

Again, remind yourself of John 6:63! “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh (your old sin-nature!) profits nothing.” To give you understanding, let me take you to 1 Corinthians 2:1-4 where Paul wrote, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

What does 1 Corinthians 2: 14 declare to us and, yes, witnessed by us in the spiritual blindness of many unbelievers? “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” which affirms Jesus’ words, “God is Spirit; and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth”, affirming, “You must be born again, born of the Spirit, for new life in Christ alone!”

But, having moved away from the initial statements about “unbelievers”, has there been clarity for you of the difference between “imitation” of the faith and the “actualization” of re-born, Spirit-birthed, “new creations” through their repentance toward God and, yes, faith alone in Christ’s redemptive work at the Cross, taking ‘natural mankind’ to be “crucified with Christ”, and aware of it, repented, and then “rested” in His Resurrection Presence? HEAR ME:

No more ‘knowledgeable’ awareness of the ‘good self’ substituted for God’s verdict of worthiness of the Cross alone, what one author called “an embarrassing encumbrance”, but, yes, now, the Bible confession, “it was for my sin, my sin nature, my devotion to ‘self’ rather than all-out allegiance to “God’s Way” that Christ Jesus willingly, lovingly, obediently, submitted Himself to God’s perfect will and Way, and in the willful laying down of His own life for the sin of all the world because of God the Father’s still great love for all of fallen humanity, enduring the Cross”!

I close with Jesus’ words in John 7:16-18! “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”

And, I ask, WHAT DOES JESUS’ WORDS EXPLAIN OR EXPOSE IN YOUR TRUST IN HIM ALONE OR ARE YOU STILL LEANING ON YOUR SELF-CENTERED UNDERSTANDING AND EXPRESSION OF YOUR ‘RELIGION’ BUT NOT HIS TRUE SCRIPTURAL FAITH OF AN INTIMATE, LIFE-EXCHANGE THROUGH YOUR DEATH WITH HIM AT THE CROSS, ACCEPTING HIS RESURRECTION PRESENCE AS YOUR HOPE ALONE – NOT ME, BUT CHRIST IN ME THE HOPE OF ETERNAL GLORY?

HAVE YOU “DIED TO YOUR OWN SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS”, NOW CONSCIOUSLY AWARE HE TOOK YOUR OLD SIN NATURE TO THE CROSS THAT IT MIGHT DIE WITH HIM, BUT THEN GLORIOUSLY RAISED UP TO BE HIS “MASTER-FILLED” “NEW CREATION”?

OR MARITAL BLISS?” (Sept.9, 2017, by J. Farrell Fisher)

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An experience recently with a man experiencing ‘monotonous marriage madness’ occurred when he mentioned to me that it looked as if his marriage had failed. He said his wife asked him to leave their home – she was tired of him. He also informed me that they had been ‘active church members’, BUT, he said, “She has a tendency toward alcoholism, and usually drinks more than a bottle of wine a day.” Over the years of crossing his path, maybe once every two-three years, he always had a very ‘down-in-the-mouth’ attitude, giving me no encouragement that he himself lived as a strong ambassador of Christ to his family. I believe he had two or three young adult sons, but he did say that one seemed to be leaning on the Lord, finally. When I prayed about him, his marriage, and his family, it was as if Holy God had written the ‘title words’ of this message in the sky! I knew I had to look at “monotonous marriage madness” OR “Marital Bliss”!

My wife, Sue, and I have been married 61 years! We birthed and raised together three sons and a daughter, the oldest son now pushing toward 60 years of age! Our second child, Susan, was just 14 months younger than Scott, then Stan, about 5 years younger than Susan, and then Steve, about 7 years younger than Stan. And, for Sue and I, it has been a fabulous journey! We’ve been blessed with kids who learned to honor the Lord – and all four are true examples of, yes, sons and a daughter of the Family of God!! Their kids are fast becoming stout witnesses of “saving grace, mercy, and love” in and through Christ!

I often have to ask as I read or hear about the disastrous divorce rate in the U.S., or about schools that intentionally shut God’s Word out of the educational process, or the communities that have no desire for “In God We Trust”, or even hospitals around who don’t allow pastors any longer free access to the “needy”, and certainly don’t want preachers in their hospitals praying, does anyone ever learn about “marital bliss” or are there those who excuse ‘monotonous marriage madness”? It’s happening!

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In reading the Psalms recently, I came to Psalm 66:8 which said, God speaking, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace

day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent. AND give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

But, my concern, a weighty concern, in our modern-day in America, is: “Where are the ‘watchmen’ on the walls of the ‘city’ of marriage and family? Where are the ‘protectors’ of marriage enrichment, marital bliss, and families that choose to be salt and light in the ‘field’ of disintegrating marriages?

In Isaiah 62:6 God said the same thing! “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent. Verse 7, And give Him no rest till He establishes (or makes to stand), and till He makes (marriage, again) a praise in the earth.” “God is able!”, but do YOU in your marriage want His help? Some in the ‘marrirage community’ entered ‘marriage’ as simply, for them, ‘male and female fantasies’, or ‘legal experimentation in sexual frolicking’ (?), but never in the “good, acceptable, and perfect will of God”, and His bidding and blessing in marriage!

In Philippians 3:12 Paul made an ‘eye-opening’ statement when he wrote: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” But, can you paraphrase that Verse, you and your ‘marriage partner’, related to, yes, “the Holy ministry of marriage” for your sakes, for your future children, for the HONOR of Christ Jesus, AND for the very “example” of national security, willing to be “laid hold of by Christ to honor marriage”?

National security? “I thought that was our military forces, but, you say our marriages play a major role in national security?” Absolutely I do! And, for you and your marriage, does Holy God have, or is He allowed to have for your marriage, His firm grip of divine strength, magnificent promises, and His very Spirit to ‘birth’, ‘raise’, mature’, and, yes, ‘use your marriage’ to honor His Son and unveil to a broken marriage community around you that there is an answer in Christ alone!

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Have you ever heard of friends of yours and your mate having problems, and the worldly ‘counselor’, even some in the ministerial community, advising: “You two just might as well divorce – it will save you a lot of pain and frustration.” Really? Don’t you find it sad when you learn that ‘marriage counseling’ often falls into the ‘insane’ advise of, “It’s OK; just follow your ‘natural inclinations’ – God won’t disapprove; He equipped you for that in handling both the good and the bad.” HOW STUPID AND HOW FAR AWAY HAS MANKIND FALLEN, and especially, in some, in the, “yes”, marriage counseling ‘ministry’?

“God IS able,” but when it comes to ‘saving marriage relationships’ some believe He’s disabled! Some in the ‘cloudy marriage condition’ never seek after the will of God but are certain He wants them ‘happy’ even if it requires divorce! Is it just humanly possible that one could ‘lean not to his/her understanding’ but yield to the will of God instead? In Philippians 3:10-14 Paul had been inspired to also write the following: (and I encourage you to apply it to marriage and family!), saying: “that I may know Him AND the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Even a ‘dying’ marriage relationship’?).

Not that I have already attained (a perfect marriage!), or am already perfected; BUT I (we) press on, that I (we) may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me (us). Brethren, one thing I do (we do), forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I (or we), press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” IN THE MARRIAGE COMMUNITY!

I remember many, many years ago, someone asking my wife, Sue, “Have you or Farrell ever considered divorce?”, with Sue comically saying to them: “No! Divorce has never been a word allowed in our home by us or our children; BUT, ‘murder’ has been an option off and on!” [Well, for some, that ‘sounds’ reasonable and justifiable! Right? WRONG!!].

Without hesitation, I say to you, Biblical revelation declares God’s will to be “indissoluble relationships” which I firmly believe will still be celebrated together around our Lord’s eternal Throne! And the church, pastors, Christian families and

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friends to one another, are to be ‘ambassadors’ of “blessed marriages”, ‘ambassadors’ of comfort, correction, and encouragement’, and ‘ambassadors’ of, yes, saving grace, mercy, and love’. Why? Because we are “soldiers of the Cross”, and sometimes the field of battle is within the marriage community!

You see, too many fail to see ‘marriage’ as their ‘field’ of service for the glory of God! It was Robert C. Dodds, in his book, “Two Together”, (Copyrighted 1959, 1962, by Thomas Y. Crowell Company, N.Y. publishers), who wrote: “When two people, in a dramatic service of divine worship, extend open and defenseless hands and clasp them together, they are showing to God and to the world their readiness to learn from each other the mysterious penetration of real love.”

But, of course, because of the ‘fallen-away-nature’ of “independence from God”, men/women choose “my way or the highway”, even most, very casually and ‘cool’ because: “I’m my own person – I can do as I please. And I have no desire in this “Pleasing God” to do as He says – I’ll do as I damn well please!” How separated, sick, and insane has mankind ‘fallen away’?!?

It’s so interesting as you read through Paul’s Book of Ephesians, coming to Ephesians 5:15-16, hearing him say passionately: “See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil,” but, YOU ARE SO SPIRITUAL (?), YOU SAY: “That has nothing to do with my marriage relationship.” Really?

In Ephesians 5:17-18 Paul then said: “THEREFORE DO NOT BE UNWISE, but understanding WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit…”. Strong influences in marriage of ‘self-will, self-determination, and self-dependence’ ALWAYS leads to the “reckless drunkenness” of “my way”, easily avoiding the will of God!

Studiously, under the leadership of the “guiding” Holy Spirit, examine Ephesians 5:22-29, AND, Verse 33! It says: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and

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He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives JUST AS also Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

SO, husbands ought (must) to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.” He enlarged his heart in Verse 33 saying, “Nevertheless let each one of you so love his own wife as himself, and let his wife see that she respects her husband.”

But, you understand, you are aware: There are those men, those women, who have no respect of divine intent in their lives, therefore, whatever the world, the old sin-nature, or Satan suggests, they’ll willingly follow, even desecrating holy marriage vows!

Peter was a stalwart servant of Christ as he matured in faith by the Spirit, and in 1 Peter 2:13-17 he wrote: “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men – as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people (Including your wife or husband?). Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” [Are YOU about ‘honoring’ King Jesus in your marriage relationship?].

Later, Peter spoke about Jesus “bearing our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.” Verse 24! So… are you living in “healed marriages” or just take “man’s way out – divorce apart from the disciple of Word and Spirit allegiance?

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Oh, and then there’s a ‘shocker’ in 1 Peter 3:1-2! Peter wrote, yes, inspired by the Spirit, “Wives likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, WHEN they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.” And then in Verse 7 Peter wrote: “Husbands, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs TOGETHER of the grace of life, that your prayers not be hindered.”

In Pastor T.D. Jakes’ book, “He-Motions”, published in 2004 by G.P.Putnam’s Sons, p.201, Pastor Jakes wrote: “So often I hear couples talk about how in most relationships there’s one partner who needs the other partner more, and this person is the one who sacrifices their power to keep the other one happy. Obviously, this promotes an unhealthy, unbalanced, lopsided relationship that will only foster bitterness, resentment, and unbridled distrust between man and wife. I believe that in order to strike a balance regarding the power in a relationship, each person must recognize the variety of his or her needs as well as the needs of their partner. It’s not just one need but the complex layers of need – each of you has different needs that the other can touch like no one else. It is vital that you look to your relationship as a banquet to feed both of you; one cannot gorge him – or herself while the other goes hungry.” GORGING apart from God’s discipline IS deathly, whether the marriage relationship or one’s personal walk! It was Paul Johnson, British historian, who wrote in his book, “Enemies of Society”, that its continuation, its blessing, its fulfillment, especially in the marriage part of society, is the passion for God’s truth (in marriage!) and the voluntary willingness for change in us until He has His rightful administration through us! Yes, in marriage, it is to be: “Lord, what would YOU have me to do to honor You through my walk with my wife or my husband?” How many do you need who truly seek the will of God in their marriage? Yet how easy it is to look across the broad spectrum of marriage and see ‘discerning distortions’ apart from the Spirit, the will, the intention, AND the provision for a Christ-honoring marriage and family? Why not PRAY until we see His Kingdom come, His will be done in the home daily to His glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving?

CLOTHED IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST?”

July 25-26, 2017

Do you believe, at least, that Pharoah, leader of Egypt in the time of Moses, was a ‘religious man’? I have no doubts! BUT, when Moses and Aaron went in to Pharoah, with a “Thus says the Lord,” in Exodus 5:1, Pharoah responded, in Verse 2, “Who is the Lord, that I should let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” Pharoah’s “sweet waters” of unbelief became “bitter waters” opening up the floodgates of divine judgment and washing Pharoah’s life of unbelief, rejection, and fleshly independence away!

In James 1:26 the brother of Jesus wrote: “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, this one’s religion is useless.” Without a doubt, there are large numbers of men and women who live religiously with the robes of ‘best efforts’ yet know nothing about “clothed in the righteousness of Christ Jesus”, basically ‘serving’ a useless, ‘best effort faith’ of fallen men!

Is there a biblical truth about “clothed in the robes of true salvation” or are there those who ‘imitate’, choose ‘religious garments’ (?), while “clothed in the righteousness of Christ Jesus” is to them unknown grounds they don’t prefer to walk on, “Just give us our religious robes, and we’re happy!” But is there such a thing as “clothed with desperation” rather than “clothed in deliverance”? The “strange apparels” of religious pretense do not transform sinful hearts and minds into the residences of Christ Jesus!

In Psalm 109 David talked about his “accusers” who were clothed in shame and opposed him in false judgments and accusations. [Is fallen mankind the same regardless of location or historic time periods? I certainly think so!]. What happened to King David does happen today, yes, even when there are those who wear the “religious robes” of ‘best efforts’ while they seek to assassinate true disciples of Christ Jesus! Psalm 109:17-20 tells us David spoke these words concerning ‘religiously-robed, best effort folks’ he considered false testifiers of religious devotion: “As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; as he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, so let it enter his body like water, and like oil in his bones. Let it be to him like the garment which covers him, and for a belt with which he girds himself continually. Let this be the Lord’s reward to my accusers, and to those who speak evil against my person.”

Holy God, yes, sovereignly provides for His faithful followers His divine covering and unending watchcare, but to the ‘religiously robed, best-effort’ folks, Holy God allows their own cursings, their own adversarial leanings to God’s truth, to become the power and influence as their ‘reward’ – they end up rewarded with their own bitterness, their own indictment of the faithful, exercising for themselves the button releasing God’s judgment! They ‘presume’ in their hearts and minds to know more than God about spiritual matters.

And, Holy God WILL reserve punishment for the day of judgment as the “self-robed crowd” lives on thinking they’ve overcome ‘warped beliefs’ to live religiously independent of eternal truth! In 2 Peter 2:1-11 Peter wrote: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom THE WAY OF TRUTH WILL BE BLASPHEMED. By covetousness they will EXPLOIT YOU with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) – then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH IN THE LUST OF UNCLEANNESS AND DESPISE AUTHORITY. They are PRESUMPTUOUS, SELF-WILLED. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation before the Lord.”

The thing I want you so aware of is that what we’ve just read is about ‘people’ assuming leadership roles in local churches when their intent is to promote ‘fallen flesh’, not honor King Jesus! They USE ‘great swelling words of emptiness,’ they ‘allure people in the church’ through the lusts of the flesh, they’ll despise faithful preachers who faithfully preach the truth, they’ll walk excusing their worldly ways as they ‘walk according to their sin natures in the lust of uncleanness’, easily recognizable because they “despise authority.”

Their outward character is “show-off-ish”, solidly presumptuous, strongly self-willed, spiritually brute-beasts, and more likely than not strongly opposing what they can’t explain biblically, because they are in the perishing process of their own corruption, their own unrighteousness, and covered inwardly with spots and blemishes they can’t explain, eyes full of adultery, wills unceasingly yielded to the sin nature, covetous, accursed, loving their sinful ways!

Are you aware of empty hearts, empty minds, empty words, as they seek to lure the ‘border-line’ disciple into their world of error? Are you truly aware of those around you, yes, in some church fellowships, who are living in ‘error’, slaves of corruption, in bondage but they don’t even know it, though they are just like ‘sick dogs’ who go back to feast on their vomit? It’s a shame that many in the church are unaware of the “perdition of ungodly men” who too often, in some churches, promote what Satan stands for and approves of!

The beloved John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write his gospel and his letters, and in 1 John 3:7 he wrote: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, JUST AS JESUS IS RIGHTEOUS.” If so, in Christ are you walking “righteously” before the Lord? And, in your world of daily living are you releasing the Indwelling Christ or the “best religious devotion a man can muster up”?

“Religious robes of best efforts”? Have you any awareness and awakenings of the “do-gooders”, the “try-your-best-crowd”, the “strong debaters of self-justification in their ‘spiritual assemblies’(?)”, the “church attender who thrives on “self-justification” as he/she tries his/her best”, or the “religious elite”, like in Jesus’day when He confronted the religious ‘elite’ of Pharisaism or Judaism, experts at strict observance of temple practices, never understanding Christ’s desire to BE the Holy Presence within their personal temples, when in John 8 upon their response that they were Abraham’s children, Jesus said, in Verses 39-47, “IF you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.

Then they said to Him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, AND THE DESIRES OF YOUR FATHER YOU WANT TO DO.

He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

“Religious robes of best efforts” OR “Clothed in the righteousness of Christ”? In 2 Peter 1:1-4 Peter wrote: “To those who have obtained LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH with us BY the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, AS HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN TO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue (manmade glory, manmade virtue?), by which HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Walking in God’s presence one becomes a “partaker of His divine nature”! Walking in God’s presence in Christ one escapes the corruption that is in the world through lust! Walking in God’s presence in and through the Indwelling Christ who is our ‘hope of glory’, we ARE BEING TRANSFORMED BY THE HOLY WORD AND HOLY SPIRIT, as the Word and the Spirit always has and always will honor Christ Jesus, the Sovereignly-appointed Savior and Lord of Holy God’s eternal Kingdom!

But are you aware or alerted to the sad fact that one, religiously, can live with inclinations without ever appropriating the promises of God through Christ? Are you aware there can be ‘religious thoughts’ without Spirit-transformation? Has it dawned on you yet that there can be argumentation with God without acceptance by God? Are you aware of “professional theories” without accepting His perfecting Truth? How many have you witnessed in your own spiritual journey who walk with you having a ‘spiritual thirst’ but no desire for the “Living Water”? I heard Senator John McCain speaking after his surgery encouraging U.S. senators to leave “Tribal politics and get back to the U.S. Constitution”, and I said to myself, “When will ‘professional religionists’ get back to Christ, the only hope of the manifestation of the glory of God in our needy world?”

Is this why Peter continued his anointed word in 2 Peter, saying in 2 Peter 3:17-18, “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, BEWARE lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, BEING LED AWAY WITH THE ERROR OF THE WICKED; but grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

In Matthew 13 Christ Jesus had spoken to “great multitudes who were gathered to Him”, explaining “The Parable of the Sower”, and in Verse 10 the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Verses 11-16 tells us Christ Jesus’ explanation of speaking with parables! Jesus said: “Because it has BEEN GIVEN TO YOU (TRUE DISCIPLES!) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them (the crowd out and up for its own religious leanings!) it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have an abundance; (Does your heart overflow with joy for what has so far been revealed, but you long for, hold onto, and press in for more and more unveiling of eternal Truths?); but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.(Are there those who ‘limit’ what they want to know about God’s plan and purpose for their lives, yes, limitations as to how far they are willing to go with Him?).

Therefore, Jesus says, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: (BECAUSE they possess no desire for LIVING TRUTH because of eyes willfully closed and cold, dull hearts to “Amazing Grace” since “grit” fits them better than Christ Jesus and His grace!),

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, SO THAT I (The Living, Merciful God) should heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes (repentant, broken, needy disciples!) for THEY SEE, and your ears FOR THEY HEAR; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Are YOU a ‘hearer who hears but does not obey’ or a hearer who says: “Yes, Lord, what would YOU have me to do?” Are you living as a “professing disciple” who “does the ‘best’ I can”, blocking God’s flow of the River of Life in Christ, or a repentant, trusting, surrendered, yielded life to Christ alone, His Resurrection Life, His Resurrection Hope, and His Resurrection Power? “Christ alone, my hope of glory”!! The path of radical change is the life that rests in the radical life of Christ who embraced the Cross as God’s will for His life! Have you truly chosen “this day” WHOM you will serve?

“EVANGELISM – THE CALL OF

EVERY DISCIPLE”

BY J. FARRELL FISHER

Acts 1:8, Jesus speaking, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Oswald Chambers: “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.179], “Be rightly related to God, find your joy there, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. Be a center for Jesus Christ to pour living water through.”

INTRODUCTION

Nearing 78 years of age on June 12, 2014, I’ve had a lot of time lately to reflect upon my life’s journey. It’s been amazing to me to see the hand of God and the Spirit of the Lord Jesus on my life, my marriage, my family, and my ministry mission.

After pastoring churches from 1963 to about 1985, our Lord graciously directed and led me into world-wide ministry, from Brazil in the mid-1970’s to a new door of ministry primarily in India from about 1983 to about 2008 – 25 years of traveling 3-5 times a year from 3 weeks to 3 months, ministering the Word to pastors, outdoor crusades, and weekend Youth –evangelism outreach.

It was November, 1998, when I had an accident at our home in Belton, Texas, as I had decided to trim a tree over our driveway, spreading over and onto our garage roof. Using the power saw I had cut through a very large limb and was about to get off the ladder and pull the limb down – but the limb snapped, fell quickly to the concrete driveway, bounced against the ladder, and I fell hard and fast onto my driveway breaking my left arm and driving it up through my shoulder, destroying the joint. Sue thought I was dead!

That began a long journey that’s not over with yet. Three or four years ago I had to have four left shoulder replacements in five weeks, attempting to get the new “French reverse joint” to work in me and relieve the pain of collapsing ligaments, tendons, and nerves. It’s now the end of April, 2014, and I’m ‘OK’ with my new left shoulder. Beginning in September, 2012, I started another ‘journey’ – double-knee replacements. December 3, 2012, I had double-hip replacements – [some have asked if it’s all from my high school and collegiate football days at Baylor]. I think my “outward man is perishing,” but my inner man is renewed day by day – and there are, at least for me, no sorrows in my inner man, but I guarantee you I’ve lived with a lot of pain in the outer man! And then, April 28, 2013, I had the “widow-maker” – a massive heart-attack with the emergency room physician saying, “Get him out of here to surgery – he’s got 45 minutes to an hour to live.” My major artery was 100% closed with a large blood clot behind the blockage ready to go to my heart and kill me instantly. It was 8:30pm that Saturday night and my heart surgeon was there, I’m sure on the orders from God Almighty, if he understood or not. It was a miracle of grace. I was dismissed on Tuesday morning to go home!!

In my first few months after the heart-event, I wrote two new books in about a three-month period! Now, it’s the end of April, 2014, and Holy God has stirred my heart dramatically! The new book is being birthed – “Evangelism – The Call of Every Disciple.” I pray it blesses you, convicts you, enlightens you, informs you, and instills within you a passion to share your faith in Christ with those around you who live without Him. Be brave, be bold, be caring, be prepared – BE A WITNESS OF OUR LORD’S SAVING GRACE!

Again, it was Oswald Chambers who said: “Whenever you obey God, His seal is always that of peace, the witness of an unfathomable peace, which is not natural, but the peace of Jesus.” Are you at peace concerning your witness? Is it an unfathomable peace for you?

OUTLINE

CHAPTER ONE: “EVANGELISM – GOOD NEWS PROCLAMATION”

CHAPTER TWO: “EVANGELISM – BY OVERFLOWING COMPASSION”

CHAPTER THREE: “EVANGELISM – THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RELEASE”

CHAPTER FOUR: “EVANGELISM – BLIND FAITH”

CHAPTER FIVE: “EVANGELISM – THE CHURCH’S MAJOR MINISTRY”

CHAPTER SIX: “EVANGELISM – GOD’S ETERNAL INTENTION”

CHAPTER SEVEN: “EVANGELISM – BECAUSE OF A NEEDY WORLD”

CHAPTER EIGHT: “EVANGELISM- BECAUSE OF THE CALL FROM HURTING PEOPLE”

CHAPTER NINE: “EVANGELISM – UNVEILING OUR LORD AND SAVIOR”

CHAPTER TEN: “EVANGELISM – THE GIFT OF PEACE FOR A TROUBLED WORLD “

CHAPTER ELEVEN: “EVANGELISM: ANGELIC REJOICING”

CHAPTER TWELVE: “EVANGELISM – HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTING”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: “EVANGELISM – BECAUSE OF A WORLD CULTURE CAPTURED BY SATAN”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: “EVANGELISM – BECAUSE DRY BONES ARE LIFELESS”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: “EVANGELISM – BECAUSE OUR GOD IS MILITANT!”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: “EVANGELISM – BECAUSE EYES ARE BLIND, EARS ARE DEAF, AND MINDS COLD!”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: “EVANGELISM – BECAUSE THE KING OF GLORY COMES SOON!”

CONCLUSION:

CHAPTER ONE

EVANGELISM – “GOOD NEWS PROCLAMATION”

I often wonder if modern-day “church members” have the slightest understanding of what “good news proclamation” is all about! It’s as if for them modern day evangelism is a myth apart from any meaning or relevance to their supposed “walk with Christ.”

Is identity with Christ a private matter that has no public relevance? Is oneness with the Lord and Savior void of inner activity with a “lost” and “dying” world around them? As long as “I” am saved and assured of an eternal relationship and heavenly home forever in the “family” of God, what difference does it make to those outside the family? Are they really my responsibility?

I am baffled by a group of believers that senses no obligation to “reach the lost” with saving grace. I am confused when “pastors” have no sense of urgency about community, state, national, or world evangelism. I am so disturbed when bodies of professing believers all across our nation have never implemented, supplemented, prayed for, activated, instituted, day by day, week by week, “touching our world with grace, mercy, and love.”

Are true New Testament church relationships to be void of impacting the world around them as long as they’re “faithful to one another”? Is a valid member of the Body of Christ excused from sharing the faith with unbelievers as long as he/she is faithful with his/her tithes and offerings to the local church of which he/she is a part? Is “salt” in one’s profession of faith to be preserved for one’s self or poured out where “salt” is truly needed?

“Good news” – but never told or shared with another? “Good news” – but never announced to a needy friend or family member? “Good news” – but mute to an empty, Godless, perishing world around one’s circle of influence? “Good news” – but void of any sense of personal responsibility to even those one loves the most? “Good news” – but blind to those who are blind themselves to the love, grace, and mercy of God? “Good news” – but content that the “lost” are on their own, “not MY responsibility”? “Good news” – but unaffected by one’s awareness that those without Christ will be eternally separated from the God of love because His love couldn’t, didn’t, wouldn’t flow through you?

“Evangelism – Good News Proclamation”! “Evangelism – Good News Reconciliation to Holy God”! “Evangelism – Good News Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Oneness with the God who made us, lost us, reconciled us to Himself by His own sacrifice”! “Evangelism – Good News participation in His Eternal Plan”! “Evangelism – Good News Discovery of who we are in Him through His shed blood”! “Evangelism – Good News Understanding that God loves us, wants us, and needs us to share with Him in His love for our world”!

Do you see yourself as an extension of His Life, as an expression of His love, and as the proof of His power, to touch the world around you and see God signing His name on others through you? Or is your opinion about yourself such that God sponsors a losing cause if He chooses to “save” the world around you through your witness? If you haven’t learned it yet, man, woman, boy or girl, if you were the only one who had ever lived up until now, what Jesus did 2000 years ago, He did it just for you! God wants you to be His “Master-piece”! God wants you, in and through Christ Jesus, to be His true “symphony of praise” and “thanksgiving” because of what He is able to do through a surrendered vessel in His hands!

I don’t know how you view Genesis, but I see it as “The Beginning of Unveiled Purposes” out of the very heart of God Himself. Abram and Sarai had been in “Haran”, the place of the dead – a charred, parched, burned up, barren, dry land. [That’s where the most of humanity is housed today in our modern day of human expectation!]

But in Genesis 12:2 the Lord said to Abram [just as He does personally to you in this very moment!], “I will make YOU a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing…Verse 3, …and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Verse 4, So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him…”

Has the Lord spoken to you? Of course He has! Our God is no respecter of persons! What He said to Abram He has said to you! Galatians 3:29 says, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” The promise? “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” But the question is, will you depart and do as the Lord has spoken to you?

I don’t know how you view the Book of Acts but I see it as the New Testament introduction to true discipleship! I call it: “The Master’s Mandate of Meaningful Ministry,” or “The Father’s Faith, Following, and Future,” or “The Final Chapter of a Disciple’s Calling”, or “The Family of Faith and Their Fulfilling Fight.”

But you? Me? Us? How can God Himself accomplish through us what He did through them? And Acts 1:8 tells us, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Please notice: It’s not our abilities but our availability to God’s Holy Spirit who anoints us and empowers us to be our Lord’s witnesses!

But then Peter carries us a step further when in I Peter 3:15 he wrote: “But sanctify [or set apart] the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…”

Holy Spirit anointing, personal availability, a sensitivity of opportunity, intentional evangelism, a willingness to speak up, speak out, speak to, trusting our angels to lead us, led by the Holy Spirit! Isn’t that Acts 8:29 when the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” And the Word says, “So Philip ran to him.” [Who have you been running to lately because the Holy Spirit prompted you?]

Philip obeyed, and Acts 8:35 tells us, Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

Acts 9 really unveils for us divine potential for any man. Look with me at Acts 9:10-20, “Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”… Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”…But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”…Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some time with the disciples at Damascus…Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues that He is the Son of God.”

And as a result of the act of obedience, what is to happen? In Acts 2:47 we read, “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Are people “being saved” “daily” our true spiritual heartbeat?

“Evangelism – Good News Proclamation”!! I’m always amazed that some are so blind and deaf to the reality of amazing grace that God, YES, God Himself, can heal the lame, open blind eyes, blot out the blackness of a sinful heart, and make someone a new person – and they refuse to believe! The sad truth is: THEY DON”T WANT TO BE TURNED AWAY FROM THEIR SIN AND INIQUITY!

It was Peter who said in Acts 3:16-23, “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, [“Good News Proclamation”!!] that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” “Good news” – but they settle for sad news because they are so in love with their sin and their iniquity!

In verse 26 of Acts 3 Peter said, “To you, first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” But that’s not ‘glad news’ but “sad news” when one loves his iniquities more than he loves the God of “Good News”!

I have no hesitation in saying to you that naked truth shared to a darkened heart and soul can cut one in pieces and turn him to saving grace and mercy! Listen to Acts 2:36-39!! “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, THEY WERE CUT TO THE HEART, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, [and because you truly repent], let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” You do understand that it was YOUR SIN that nailed Jesus to the Cross! And it’s your heart-felt repentance that births ‘remission of sins’, not water baptism! Water baptism is testimony of one’s death, burial, and resurrection in Christ to eternal life.

“Evangelism – Good News Proclamation!” Do you see repentant men receiving “the gift of the Holy Spirit”? Right before Jesus’ bodily ascension into Heaven Luke 24: 45-49 says: “And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses to these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

God “opened their minds,” He “opened their hearts,” He “opened their eyes” to sense eternal things concerning world redemption, He “opened their very beings” to sense and receive the capacity of fullness in The Spirit realm – “endued with power from on high.”

“Evangelism – Good News Proclamation!” Do you see YOUR calling? 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” Do you remember in Genesis 24:27 where the man said to Rebecca, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken God’s mercy and God’s truth toward my master. As for me, being in the way… the Lord led me..”

And as our Lord’s ambassador, His earthly, appointed, anointed, empowered representative, we are to be “in the way, led by our Lord,” discovering the divine opportunities of sharing our faith in Him with others! I love Oswald Chambers in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.236], speaking of “the intuitive jar” as the inner admonitions of the abiding Holy Spirit guiding us to those He is concerned about. If according to Romans 8:16 the Spirit “bears witness with our Spirit,” then, as true disciples, we must learn to whom the Holy Spirit leads us. Listen to Chambers:

“The Spirit of God witnesses to the Redemption of our Lord, He does not witness to anything else; He cannot witness to our reason. The simplicity that comes from our natural common-sense decisions is apt to be mistaken for the witness of the Spirit, but the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature, and to the work of Redemption, never to our reason. If we try to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder we are in darkness and perplexity. Fling it all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give the witness.”

In Ephesian 6 Paul tells us about putting on the whole armor of God even praying ‘always’ ‘in the Spirit’, and especially, verse 19, “for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, verse 20, FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR IN CHAINS; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Certainly it was literal for Paul – he was behind prison bars – but you and I are an ambassador “chained to Christ” – and all around us is a world of people in bondage to themselves and their sin who need to be set free.

“Evangelism – Good News Proclamation!” But do you understand, do you realize, do you comprehend, that one can so shroud or cover his professing faith that no one around him has discovered his ‘devotion’ to Christ Jesus? Is faith in God to be hidden in dark shadows so no one appears responsible in sharing his ‘faith’? Is redemptive faith so strange to you that to share it with others would mark you as a “looney-tunie”?!?

In John 17:1-4 Jesus speaks: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”

Do you see it, sense it, celebrate it, appropriate it? “I, number one common disciple, have finished the work you assigned me to carry out”! Jesus said on one occasion that He came into our world to “bear witness to the truth” – but you have a different purpose?

I love Acts 4:33, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” Do you long for great grace on all of your church family? Do you passionately long for great power on all of your church believers? If you’re not aware of it, I’ll tell you: Spiritual battles for the souls of men are lost or won on the “plains” of divine will, never in the pews of spiritual satisfaction void of eternal intent. “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.”

Is there a travailing spirit in you for the salvation of lost souls around you? Or is there a cloud of illusion covering your mind, heart, and spirit, creating within you an aching abyss of absence of the love of the Lord Jesus for lost souls for whom He died? Are we gripped by a worldly independent oneness or have we, because we are now “in Christ,” become spiritually governed by His sacrificial spirit in laying down His life to touch others with His grace through us? Peter wrote in I Peter 4:13 that we should “rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” Is there gladness in your heart because, governed by the Spirit of Christ within you, lives are touched for Christ and you are eternally blessed?

Oh, I know there is a “war”! Revelation 17:14 tells us: “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are CALLED, CHOSEN, and FAITHFUL.” But far too often the “war” is an inward war concerning will: Will I witness or will I not witness? In I Corinthians 9:16 Paul wrote: “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”

I don’t know how you look upon Paul’s letter to the Galatians, but I call it “The Gospel of Faith, Freedom, Fullness, and Fruit.” In Galatians 1:15-16a, Paul said, “But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me…” Biblical fruit is a life you touch in God’s faith, giving freedom, fullness, and the very fruit of the Indwelling Christ! Do people around you glorify God because of the redemptive faith they witness and hear from you?

I would ask you: Does the love of Christ compel or constrain you to touch others with His love, grace, and mercy? Are you a “poured out drink offering”? Have you willingly, day by day, gone to the altar as a willing sacrifice for Jesus?

In Matthew 10:27 hear Jesus!! “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on housetops.”

Let me close with words again from Oswald Chambers: [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.33], “You shall be My witnesses.” How many of us are willing to spend every ounce of nervous energy, of mental, moral, and spiritual energy we have for Jesus Christ? That is the meaning of a “witness” in God’s sense of the word. It takes time, be patient with yourself. God has left us on earth – what for? To be saved and sanctified? No, to be at it for Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured out wine for Him? To be spoiled for this age, for this life, to be spoiled from every standpoint but one – saving as I can disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life as a worker is the way I say “thank you” to God for His unspeakable salvation. Remember it is quite possible for any one of us to be flung out as reprobate silver – “…lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

Are you a spiritual sluggard or a strong saint sharing the Way of salvation? Is it self-realization for you or self-abandonment to the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for your life and walk and witness as a disciple of Christ? Do you live your church life in the spirit of self-vindication or yielded to the Lord of your life in full surrender or as Moffatt interpreted James 1:4, “Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect.”

Are we ‘victims’ or witnesses? Are we aimless disciples or ambassadors of Christ? Are we silent ‘sinning’ believers or sounding-off singers of saving faith? Are we ‘self-controlled’ or Spirit-prodded?

Are we to adapt to fleshly nations and peoples or announce the remedy to misguided leadership and follow-ship? Are we deaf to the heart-cries of the aimless or alert to the voice of the Holy Spirit to reach out and touch our lost and dying world?

Has God ‘reasoned’ with you about your walk or REVEALED YOUR HOLY CALLING AS A BIBLICAL EVANGELIST?

It was Benjamin Franklin who once said: “If passion drives you let reason hold the reins.” Is it ‘reason’ or revelation that holds the reins for your walk and witness?

Remember, our Lord said, “Follow Me, and I will make you to become ‘fishers of men’!” How about examining your fishing string of late!?!

CHAPTER TWO

EVANGELISM – OVERFLOWING COMPASSION

IT’S THE DIVINE DESIGN

It’s an amazing, shocking, awakening word when you read Jesus’ response to some who “believed” in Him as you read John 2:23-25! It says: “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man; for He knew what was in man.”

Belief in a miracle, a miracle even by Jesus Himself, is not a sign of “saving grace and mercy.” Oh, our Lord and Savior is so merciful, so kind, and so able to save by His amazing grace, but evangelism occurs by an awareness in one’s mind and heart of His overflowing compassion, seen in His sacrificial death on the Cross in our place – not because He heals, not because they “observed His signs,” but because of repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ alone at Calvary as He bled and died in our place!

Jesus said, “Come unto Me” in Matthew 11:28 – and that’s our beginning point. Some think they came unto Jesus because they’re in a church every single Sunday. He said, “Come unto Me,” and every disciple, every church, every denomination should be coming unto, into, through Christ’s compassionate HEART and His compassionate being, and His compassionate ways.

Difficult words from the lips of Jesus are exactly what most need to hear because some have determined their ‘rightness’ with God by what they’ve done, not by what He did once for all AT CALVARY!

Do you remember the rich young ruler in Luke 18:18? He asked Jesus, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, [Verses 19-20], “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”

The rich young ruler responded in verse 21, “All these have I kept from my youth up.” Then in verse 22 Jesus spoke these words: “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

The rich young ruler was very sorrowful because he was a very rich, wealthy young man, and his riches owned his heart and mind! Jesus responded in verses 24-25, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The crowd around Jesus and the rich young ruler then responded, in verse 26, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus answered, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” What an illuminating word for us! With us it is impossible – but with God, all things are possible, even our salvation, our redemption, our restoration to God’s eternal intent.

How many have you known who heard the word of truth, the way of salvation, the wisdom of God Himself, yet turned and walked away – content that their way of life should be acceptable to God? In the rich young ruler, Jesus’ words brought him to discouragement – and he defiantly walked away because God’s overflowing compassion was a poor substitute to his fleshly devotion.

There are several truths I encourage you to deal with as you consider “Evangelism – By Overflowing Compassion” knowing it IS THE DIVINE DESIGN!

Do you remember Jesus telling us of the prodigal son who left the father’s blessing for a life of self-rule? But he came to his spiritual senses and decided to return home. In Luke 15:20 the Word says, “But when he was a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says of compassion, “A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration…”

And compassionate God has a merciful, forgiving, tender heart – so committed to restoring you to Himself. It’s why in Psalm 23:6 David said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Do you remember Charles Wesley’s “Christmas Hymn”? “Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” WOW!!

It was Thomas Watson who once wrote these words: “Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not.” On one hand, God willingly shines forth His compassion and His mercy and His love, while on the other hand divine justice will be meted out to those ignoring His compassionate heart! Evangelism by overflowing compassion?

First, please notice: Evangelism by overflowing compassion through a predetermined explanation. In Romans 9:14-15 Paul wrote wisely: “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For He said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

And Holy God, yes, even before our world had been formed, knew within His mind and heart what created MAN with a free will would do. Revelation 13:7-8 speaks of “the beast” who makes “war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.” And then verse 9 says, “If any man have an ear, let him hear.”

Do you see it? Have you grasped it? Are you understanding that God, before the world was formed, knew of man’s fall, and He knew He had to “make a way,” for our rescue, our redemption, and our restoration to His divine plan for us! It was Jesus Christ! He’s the Way, the Truth, and the Life, sovereignly destined to take our sins on to Himself and shed His blood, suffer, and die, that we through repentance and faith should be, could be, would be, reconciled to Holy God.

And in John 6:44 Jesus said, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which sent Me draws him.” Every man is drawn, but not every man responds to God’s reach, to His knock on the heart’s door, to His, yes, mental and moral and merciful message of full surrender to Holy God! But a Paul can say, and, yes, you and me, “God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

His predetermined plan was the Lamb, Christ Jesus, slain in God’s mind, heart, and will, before the world was ever formed. Didn’t Jesus even say of Abraham that he “rejoiced to see My day, and he was glad”?

There is a religious world around you in which many “profess but never possess” the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Is it really evident? Yes! There are those who begin a walk and turn away and walk no more with Jesus. There are those who possess illumined minds to some divine truths but have hearts that are blinded. “New man” is a strange term, “new life” is a fiction to them, “new heart” is a false impression, and “new Light” remains darkness because there is no repentance, there is no “travailing in birth…until Christ is formed in you.”

But we have an eternal promise: I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

That’s God’s PREDETERMINED EXPLANATION! But also it’s His wisdom to see Evangelism By Overflowing Compassion THROUGH PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS!

There are two verses of Scripture in Romans 9 that are of such high spiritual understanding. Those two verses are Romans 9:7 and Romans 9:29. They say: Romans 9:7, “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham (that’s FLESH!), are they all children (or children of Faith and Spirit!).” Then verse 29 says, “And as Isaiah said before, ‘Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah.”

Flesh is flesh! Flesh is man in his old fallen sin nature! Flesh is the absence of God. Flesh is void of the Eternal. Flesh is self in full debased form. Flesh is human nature seeking to fill the void of spiritual emptiness.

This is why in 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul wrote of “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge…”

But, please hear me! Evangelism by overflowing compassion comes through the Holy Spirit’s knocking on the door of your mind and your heart, through a church’s Godly intentional witness, through a caring, faithful friend who touches you with God’s grace, mercy, and love. And, yes, a bold man, on his own, doing HIS thing: “casting down [HIS] imaginations,” and gladly receiving the divine initiative, ripping out of his worldly mind and worldly heart, all that is opposite of God and allowing God to fill him with Holy Resurrection Life and Presence!

But also it’s so vital, so important, that having experienced what you’ve read in this chapter so far, that you go beyond yourself to a needy world around you. Evangelism by Overflowing Compassion because you become aware of it through powerful personal experiences with others in your mind and on your heart – yes, even casual encounters when you never expected it!

Are you familiar with the woman drawing water at the well in John 4? River water, well water, or living water? And around you, every single day, are people like her, trained in simply river or well water, having never heard of “living water”!

It was “a casual encounter” – a man filled with leprosy saw Jesus! [Luke 5:12], “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” “I am willing; be cleansed.” “Living water”!

Are you familiar at all with “casual encounters” of “a dead man being carried out”? Sadly, most believers are never aware of the “dead men” around them, but Jesus saw the grief of a mother over the death of her son, and He had “compassion” for her! “Young man, I say to you: Arise!” And he who was dead sat up and began to speak.” [Luke 7:14]. The crowds viewing this miracle of grace witnessed the event and great fear came upon them all, and they glorified God! “Living water”!

A “casual encounter”? In Matthew 12: 8 Jesus had just declared, “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath,” and Jesus went into “their synagogue.” [I find that so interesting! I wonder at times if He speaks of “their church”!] But there was a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath with a withered hand. Of course, [ you do understand it, don’t you?], the Pharisees asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”, so that they might accuse Him. Jesus told the man, “Stretch out your hand,” and He healed it!

A “casual encounter”? Mark 1:40 tells us of a leper who came to Jesus, imploring Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean,” and Jesus, moved with compassion, said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Verse 42 says, “As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.”

But also are you fully aware of Evangelism by Overflowing Compassion because, “in Him,” you sense “people envelopment”! In Romans 9: 25-26 Paul wrote: As He says also in Hosea: [Hosea 2:23], “I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.” And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they shall be called sons of the living God.”

How conscious are you of the Spirit of God in you using your residence as His launching pad in touching others through you with God’s grace and mercy? Don’t you find it so interesting and encouraging that Romans 8:26 tells us, “Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Our own bodies are so far more than residence of our conveniences, but the personal throne-room of the Holy Spirit, yes, a “holy place” where the Spirit of God lives, operates, instructs, and uses us as His jumping off place – to touch lonely, lost, languishing souls so impoverished but about to be filled, by the Holy Spirit, with the fullness of God Himself!

How I pray that you sense in yourself the absolute need of the Holy Spirit in you to touch your world around you with God’s love! In I Corinthians 2:1-5 Paul wrote: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech, or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

In John 16:13-14 Jesus spoke vital words for our understanding He said: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will TELL YOU THINGS TO COME. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

I love Oswald Chambers’ words in “My Utmost For His Highest,” when he wrote: [p.248], “Jesus said, ‘When He the Spirit of truth is come…He shall glorify Me.’ When I commit myself to the revelation made in the New Testament, I receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit Who begins to interpret to me what Jesus did; and does in me subjectively all that Jesus Christ did for me objectively.” What is happening ‘in you’ objectively because of the Spirit in you guiding YOU to “people envelopment”?

Evangelism by Overflowing Compassion through the presence of Him who is able! I so love the words of Paul when he wrote in I Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Isn’t “Christ in you” the very hope of glory? Isn’t it “the Spirit of truth” who comes to glorify Christ? Spiritual hunger, spiritual vision, true spiritual ambition, spiritual power, spiritual insight – by our abilities? God, help us! Expose our ineptness, our weakness, our blindness, our inabilities – and show us, give us, anoint us in the very fullness and power of Your Holy Spirit!

In I John 5:6b we read, “And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” The Spirit is ABLE!

I also pray you are gripped, grasped, held onto tightly by the reality of Evangelism by Overcoming Compassion because there is within you, [or about to come upon you!!], a true Spirit of travailing for souls! In Isaiah 66:8c we read: “For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.”

Do you understand a travailing spirit for the lost souls of people around you? Isaiah was a man moved upon by God and instilled with that travailing Spirit. In fact he had an amazing promise from the very throne of God. Isaiah 66:22 says, “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, “so shall your descendants and your name remain.”

Almighty God asked Isaiah in Isaiah 66:8, “..shall a nation be born at once?”, God giving His chosen servant the eternal dream and surety of a new-born spiritual people and spiritual nation! A personal witness can birth one new child of God but has the God-given potential to birth a whole nation of new believers! Through YOU!!

Do you remember that “before the day of Pentecost had fully come” Peter preached and three thousand souls were birthed into God’s spiritual Kingdom? And you doubt that God Himself could do the same through you?

Evangelism by Overcoming Compassion? How? By yielding to the presence of Him who is able! Ephesians 3:20-21 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Yes, Amen to the glory of God! Amen to His able-ness! Amen to His faithfulness to His Word!

Paul said in Romans 10:9, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” He added in verses 12-13, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Oh, God’s able-ness! Rejoice in it, rely upon it, rest in it!

This is why in 2 Corinthians 2:14 Paul wrote: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” Have you spiritually trained yourself in the triumph of Christ – in His able-ness?

CHAPTER THREE

EVANGELISM – THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RELEASE

There is such an interesting word from Jesus that can and does find itself easily passed over. It’s Matthew 24:12 where Jesus said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” He was speaking about signs of the ‘end times and the end of last days’!

I have no doubt the He spoke about those who live lawlessly, body, soul, and spirit – their love of the Godly life and spiritual things as a lost cause in their evaluation of things that have meaning for them.

If you read the Matthew 24 passage carefully you’ll see great deception in the last days, great conflicts in the end times, great suffering of all – believers as well as unbelievers – great open sin, an attitude of shamelessness, and the time of great open sin bringing to the true believers a time of great opportunity!

“The responsibility of release,” true evangelism, an open door for enslaved people bound in their chains of self-will, self-pleasure, and self-destruction, but Jesus telling us in John 20:23, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

What an awesome revelation that our Lord unveils to every disciple! Our Lord exposed not only a “love grown cold” but tells us of divine love released through a caring people who witness bound up men and women who need His release – and caring disciples take on those who need “the forgiveness”! A caring people live with reckless abandonment and have a goal of touching others with God’s love, grace, and mercy – they know release and want to see others walking in the light of His freedom – not in the darkness of Satanic bondage or self-imposed slavery to sin.

One of the guiding passions of Paul’s ministry was the fact that he saw himself as debtor. He wrote in Romans 1:13-17, “Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you, just as among the other Gentiles. I AM A DEBTOR, both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest”, [p.143], “Do I feel that sense of indebtedness to Christ in regard to every unsaved soul? The spiritual honor of my life as a saint is to fulfill my debt to Christ in relation to them. Every bit of my life that is of value I owe to the Redemption of Jesus Christ; am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His Redemption into actual manifestation in other lives? I can only do it as the Spirit of God works in me this sense of indebtedness.”

Paul said in Romans 1 three things that you as a believer must resolve: 1) “I am a debtor”, 2) “I am ready”, 3) “I am not ashamed”

And this became reality in him because of the release of the Holy Spirit through him! In Romans 8:12-14 he said, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh [or one’s old sin nature], to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

There are three separate passages in Acts I want to strongly impress upon you: 1) Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 2) Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” 3) Acts 4:33, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”

“Evangelism – The Responsibility of Release”? And you think you are able? I don’t think so! But ‘Christ in you IS the hope of glory,’ and Spirit-anointing is your guarantee of a daily supply of boldness to touch your world with grace!

Redemptive relationships are to be such, yes, a normal part of every believer’s life. There is a powerful, uplifting, encouraging, and motivating story in Luke 5:17-26. The Word says, “Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst of Jesus. WHEN HE SAW THEIR FAITH, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” [If you read John 20:23 over and over, you begin to wonder how many “Pharisees and teachers of the law” sit by and “forgive” no one!!]

I’m sure there are those who need more healing grace than the physical paralytic because, though ‘professing believers’, they are bound with the paralysis of dreaded personal fears overcome by destructive, deathly sin that they’re not free from, or bound with the paralysis of despondency, the paralysis of disillusionments, the paralysis of self-confidence – and they don’t even know, though spiritually paralyzed, that through Christ Jesus THEY can rise up and walk a victorious life in and through our Lord and Savior!

The Luke 5 passage is so birthed with a holy, sacred, yes, divine way of touching men’s lives who are so in need of saving grace and mercy. Four banded together, four carried the needy man, four placed him at the very feet of Jesus. But whether one or four, God’s people are to creatively find ways to bring the needy man to Jesus! And isn’t it amazing to you that they never said a word to Jesus but simply set the needy man at Jesus’ feet? Who is it that you’ve lately carried to the feet of Jesus and laid him, them, at His precious Presence?

Oh, and notice! A paralyzed man placed at the very feet of Jesus – and having seen “their faith,” the faith of these four men, Jesus said what? “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” [Verse 20, Luke 5]. This didn’t shake the four men who brought the paralytic, but it sure shocked the scribes and Pharisees! Luke 5:21 says, “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Follow carefully and prayerfully and reflectively Luke 5:22-26, But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” – He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”

Understand ! It is not strange! Redemptive relationships call for the responsibility of release! What did Jesus say? John 20:23, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them..”

In Matthew 16:13-19 Jesus, with His disciples traveling with Him, asked them the following: “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

A revelation from heaven! Redemptive relationships call for the responsibility of release! And you in Christ are commissioned, having been made free in Him, to “set the captives free!!” Judges 5:12 speaks of “leading captivity captive” – and, praise God, there is spiritual binding and loosing on this earth, to the glory of God! There is even “bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” [2 Corinthians 10:5b].

Yet how many do you know who interpret their freedom in Christ as the right to be “spiritually unemployed,” never sensing the meaning of “take up your cross and follow Me”!

“Evangelism – The Responsibility of Release”? I have no doubt that its fruition and fulfillment is born out of a burden much like Nehemiah who looked upon the broken down walls of Jerusalem, the Holy City. Some, far too many, have never seen their lives as broken down walls subject to the powers of darkness or their lives as possibly, potentially, city-grounds of a holy dwelling place. Nehemiah asked the king for permission to return to the torn-down city in order to restore it to God’s intent!

And, today, the new Nehemiahs are accepting the responsibility of release and moving out to restore in others God’s eternal intent. No doubt this is why Paul wrote in Galatians 5:13, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

It was Phillips Brooks who once preached, “Be such a man, and live such a life, that if every man were such as you, and every life a life like yours, this earth would be God’s Paradise.”

But rather than lives on earth being God’s Paradise, far too many men, and I say probably the majority of earthly men, are not truly free in the scriptural sense because they are slaves to their flesh, their old sin natures, that ‘fallen man’ spirit – and someone must be God’s tool to touch their lives with His grace and mercy. We know, John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed,” free on God’s terms and blessed with His eternal intent!

In I Peter 2:15-16 Peter wrote so wisely under the Spirit’s anointing, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men – as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.”

Peter had said earlier in I Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

But there are those sincerely or ignorantly seeing themselves called out of darkness into His marvelous light with little or no concern for those in bondage to their sin, their old sin natures, or in bondage to Satan Himself! And you have no concern for unbelievers around you? The miracle of divine Redemption is meaningless to too many “professors of faith”, and they live silently in enslaved states to flesh, sin, and the devil, totally unconcerned about the reach of the Redemption of others through them.

I really, really believe that it’s time for professing Christians everywhere to stand with Jesus crying out to Holy God, “What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Your name,” and that’s through us in the 21^st century!

Frederic D. Huntington once said: “Sorrow is our John the Baptist, clad in grim garments, with rough arms, a son of the wilderness, baptizing us with bitter tears, preaching repentance; and behind him comes the gracious, affectionate, healing Lord, speaking peace and joy to the soul.”

You do know that Isaiah 53:3 tells us of our Lord and Savior who was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” How’s your ‘grief’ quotient concerning lost mankind surrounding you? Jesus ! A man of sorrows because He cared so passionately for the lost and dying spiritually so much so that He took their sin unto Himself and carried it to the cruel Cross!

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the following: “Sorrow is divine. Sorrow is reigning on all the thrones of the universe, and the crown of all crowns has been one of thorns. There have been many books that treat of the sympathy of sorrow, but only one that bids us glory in tribulation, and count it all joy when we fall into divers afflictions, that so we may be associated with that great fellowship of suffering of which the incarnate Son of God is the head, and through which He is carrying a redemptive conflict to a glorious victory over evil. If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.” Glory!

“Evangelism – The Responsibility of Release”! It was Henri Frederic Amiel who said: “The distinguishing mark of religion [Dare I say relationship with God?] is not so much liberty as obedience, and its value is measured by the sacrifices which it can extract from the individual.” What has God Himself extracted from you concerning the sacrifice of a laid-down life in a personal witness to others?

How do you measure your spiritual devotion to Christ in His call to you to be a witness of saving grace? Devotion to His holy calling is not that which comes and goes – it doesn’t or shouldn’t fade away from us in silence! Devotion is one captured by obedience to His calling – “Tell the world you’re a Christian and how it happened!”

A witness of saving grace to others? Oswald Chambers, in “My Utmost For His Highest”, [p.264], has written: “The calling of a New Testament worker is to uncover sin and to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior, consequently he cannot be poetical, he must be sternly surgical. We are sent by God to lift up Jesus Christ, not to give wonderfully beautiful discourses. We have to probe straight down as deeply as God has probed us, to be keen in sensing the Scriptures which bring the truth straight home and to apply them fearlessly.”

“Evangelism – The Responsibility of Release”! Years ago my wife and I attended a convention of pastors where we met one of my former Baylor University classmates, a pastor in the Marietta, Georgia area. He introduced us to a man by the name of Harry Dent who used to be a presidential aide in Washington, DC. He had retired and returned to his home, I believe, in South Carolina. He was not a disciple of Jesus, but his daughter, a born-again believer, encouraged her father to read carefully the Gospel of John, and then they would talk. Harry met Christ through his daughter’s reaching out to one she cared for and loved deeply. Harry Dent was born-again and even attended a Bible College and seminary to deepen his understanding and prepare him to be a faithful witness.

Lee Strobel was a newsman from Chicago, an unbeliever. But his wife was born again and he was sure he could research the Bible and refute everything she said. Through his born-again wife Lee Strobel met Jesus even writing a book entitled “The Case For Christ.”

I’m a former pastor who after twelve years of pastoring came to the reality of the new birth after a pastor-friend, Peter Lord, said to me: “Farrell, I sense you are a man who has never truly repented of his sin and made Jesus Lord of your life.” He was right, and in February, 1974, I was born again and God pointed my life, my heart to international missions. It’s good for preachers to be born-again!

I Peter 1:22-23 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…”

CHAPTER FOUR

EVANGELISM – BLIND FAITH?

Hebrews 11:1 is certainly clear to anyone who wants to hear it and receive it: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

A man’s relationship with Holy God is not a matter of one’s ‘common sense,’ or one being totally ‘rational,’ or a life of ‘emotional sentimentality,’ or of such natural tendencies of ‘a brilliant mind,’ that one on his own figures it out and enjoys God just reaching down from His throne and bestowing on him blessing after blessing!

No, I believe I heard Jesus say something about YOU taking up your own cross and following Him. I believe I heard Him say, “In the world, you as a believer, a disciple, a follower of Christ, will have tribulation.” That makes sense to You? Common sense?

In “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.226], Oswald Chambers wrote: “Faith by its very nature must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God’s character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in its actual working out has to go through spells of unsyllabled isolation. Never confound the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, much that we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive. Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that contradicts Him – I will remain true to God’s character whatever He may do. ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him’ – this is the most sublime utterance of faith in the whole of the Bible.”

In Jude 3-4 there is a holy summons given because “blind faith” always excites for spiritual warfare. It says: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I so love what God’s Word says in John 20:29, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.” It was Augustine who said, “For what is faith unless it is to believe what you do not see?” And the one truth you personally may need to grasp for yourself is that biblical faith is so far beyond human reasoning or human intellect!

I’m sure it’s why William Newton Clarke once said, “Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see.” Sir Thomas Browne opened a huge door of understanding when he wrote: “To believe only possibilities is not Faith, but mere Philosophy.” And philosophical minds ponder – they do not rest in faith!

Skeptics are multitudinous in number but ‘zero’ in heavenly harmony, ‘zero’ in the higher faculties beyond human reasoning, ‘zero’ in the transformation of spiritually dead men into classic reputations of men touched and taken over by God Himself!

Peter Taylor Forsyth said: “Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us.” And this is no doubt why we witness a nation birthed by God Himself, yes, the United States of America, that is fast moving toward a godless society as a whole!

“Evangelism – Blind Faith”? Yes, there is Hope, biblical hope of eternal significance! I’m thankful my ministry years were influenced by the Englishman, Leonard Ravenhill, who wrote the book “Why Revival Tarries”. In it [p.115] he wrote: “Had Saul met only a preacher and heard only a sermon on the Damascus road, he might never have been heard of again. But he met Christ!…Right there that day Saul’s philosophy of life was met with LIFE HIMSELF.”

Didn’t Paul tell us in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that “we walk by faith, not by sight”? I love what Napoleon Bonaparte once said: “All the scholastic scaffolding falls, as a ruined edifice, before one single word – faith.” That is so very, very true! Why? Because true, saving, life-changing faith is looking up, looking in, and looking around – then offering one’s life to Living God as a sacrifice of praise!

I say to you, faith is not a probability but a blind certainty, touched by the God we do not see! Reason may give to a man of intellectual prowess a sense of superiority but faith gives a man the certainty of a heart of reconciliation with Holy God!

It was John Greenleaf Whittier in “My Soul and I” who wrote: “Nothing before, nothing behind; the steps of faith fall on the seeming void, and find the rock beneath.” That’s, yes, “The Rock of Ages”! Augustus Toplady and Thomas Hastings wrote that precious old hymn. It says:

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Your wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure…

Not the labor of my hands, Can fulfill Your law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, These for sin could not atone, You must save, and You alone…

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Your cross I cling; Naked, come to You for dress; Helpless, look to You for grace; Vile, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die…

While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold You on Your throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.” Glory be to God alone!”

It was Alfred Lord Tennyson, in “Idyllys of the King: Merlin and Vivien,” who said: “Faith and unfaith can never be equal powers; Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.” Faith or unfaith? Faith is God’s saving provision – it is saving faith, appropriating faith, wise, intelligent, mind-filled faith, and certainly assimilating faith that forever builds us up IN HIM!

That tells me that God’s saving faith is a supplying faith! I challenge you to read through the Psalms daily over the next 3 months reading at least 10 chapters a day! But hear Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

In Psalm 32:1-2 David said: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

Yes, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.” Yes, “Blessed is he who leans not unto his own understanding but in all his ways acknowledges, bows before, surrenders to the King of kings and the Lord of lords!” Yes, “Blessed is the man not in bondage to worldly education but the man ‘faith-filled’ in the revelation of God’s Word and His liberating power!” Yes, “Blessed is the man whose ‘blind faith’ has opened heavenly understanding of who he now is ‘in Christ’!”

But how many do you know who are like one of Doestoevski’s characters. Harold A. Bosley wrote about him in his “Religion in Life.” Dostoevski had one of his ‘stars’ saying: “I am an X in an indeterminate equation. I am sort of a phantom in life who has lost all beginning and end, who has forgotten his own name.” Bosley wrote: “The affirmation that we find in the Gospel causes us to confront every man with the word, ‘I know your real name. You are not an X in an indeterminate equation or a phantom in life, you [by faith!] are a child of God, you are a brother of mine in Christ.’” Oh, how rich and revealing and restorative is that!

“Evangelism – Blind Faith?” Don’t you find it amazing that so many men around you try to live apart from heavenly vision which has as its support “blind faith”?

You’ll remember that the wise man of Proverbs 29:18 wrote: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” It was James Russell Lowell, who wrote: “The wicked and the weak, by some dark law, have a strange power to shut and rivet down their own horizons round us, to unwing our heaven-aspiring visions.” And that no doubt is true of some, as disciples, who try to live apart from ‘heaven-aspiring visions.”

But in acts 26:19 Paul said to King Agrippa, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.”

How do we deal, modern-day church, with God’s Word in Joel 2:28? “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

“Blind faith”? And evangelism as a result of it? It was Raphael who said: “I simply dream dreams and see visions, and then I paint around those dreams and visions.

For me? After my conversion in February of 1974, and after my Lord’s leading into Brazilian missions for about six years, that amazing door was opened to India by a friend who said, “Farrell, you must go to India!” I consented! And God said, “The rest of your ministry life is to be committed to the pastors, churches, and youth of India.” I painted for 25 years – and God produced a masterpiece!!

I love what E. Paul Hovey said: “A blind man’s world is bounded by the limits of his touch; an ignorant man’s world by the limits of his knowledge; a great man’s world by the limits of his vision.” Tell me about YOUR Christ-given vision!

No wonder Peter Marshall wrote in “Mr. Jones, Meet The Master,” “Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.”

“Evangelism – Blind Faith”? Have you ever heard news editors, professors, teachers, even preachers speak about ‘virtuous men’? I have no doubt that godless men can act at times in a virtuous manner. But, for me, virtue can be the finest of ‘flesh’ while righteousness is the finest of the Spirit-controlled, Spirit-led, Spirit-blessed life.

Virtuousness is a calming nature in place of one’s viciousness, but righteousness is God’s gift. Psalm 85:10 says, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

Evangelism as ‘blind faith’ is the unveiling by God Himself of a full, free, fulfilling life – Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” Not maybe, not simply a possibility – but hungering and thirsting after the fullness of God brings a “filling” that never has to be depleted!

Psalm 87:7 is so enlightening and encouraging! It simply says, “All my fresh springs are in You.” Not the best of a fallen and restored Adam but the best of ALL Jesus is and ALL He promises! In “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.271], Oswald Chambers wrote: “We will cling to the natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us into contact with the life of Jesus Christ which can never be described in terms of the natural virtues. It is the saddest thing to see people in the service of God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them, depending on what they have by the accident of heredity [or what they learned in a fleshly manner by repetition!]”

Hear me! It’s in and through Jesus Christ alone that fallen mankind inherits the heavenly Life of Christ alone!

“Evangelism – Blind Faith!” In Galatians 3:26 Paul very clearly says: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” And faith in Christ Jesus is not an inactive activity unless one wills it and walks away!

In the very next chapter, Galatians 4:19, the apostle wrote, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.”

The birthing process in flesh is an extremely painful event – but the birthing process in the spirit-realm is ‘just a piece of cake’? I don’t think so! God’s Holy Word speaks of a warfare – not only with the powers of darkness but warfare in the putting to death daily of the natural man and putting on Christ!

In Galatians 5:24 Paul said, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” I hate to tell you, but Paul said: “I DIE DAILY!” Chambers again said: “Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.” What a challenge! A daily challenge!

Spiritual royalty is never a reality because false prophets set crowns on your head. Spiritual crowns come to be placed on the heads of God’s holy people because willingly a disciple of Jesus dies to his/her independence and self-will, resting himself/herself in the strong arms of Jesus only. Didn’t our Lord say, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself”?

And “blind faith” is blindness chosen to the old man and eternal eyesight to the new man redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and invaded by His resurrection Holy Presence! As we lift Him up in our lives day by day we are being changed into His likeness as He molds us into His eternal image.

Grant Colfax Tullar wrote this hymn: “Face to face with Christ my Savior, Face to face, how can it be, When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ, who died for me…

Only faintly now I see Him, With the darkling veil between; But a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen…

What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain! When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain!…

Face to face – O blissful moment! Face to face, to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who loves me so.”

And He does love YOU so much!! Just look at the Cross! There’s an old, old hymn by B.B. McKinney that says:

“I am mourning o’er my follies; I am weeping o’er my sin; For my guilt’s become oppressive, And a burden long has been; Will the Lord be gracious to me, If I tell Him all my woe, Will He leave me in my anguish?

“No!” Crimson Calvary answers, “No!” Crimson Calvary answers, “No!” On the cross the blessed Savior paid the sin-price long ago; All who will on Him believe, Full redemption shall receive, For the blood of Jesus cleanses Whiter than driven snow.” Amen?

CHAPTER FIVE

EVANGELISM – THE CHURCH’S MAJOR MINISTRY

When one thinks of “church” today are one’s thoughts turned to the buildings one has built, or to the crossroads of whether it is truly a spiritual society that honors the heart, the name, the reputation of Jesus, or that its initiative is self-church-promotion in place of Christ-realization?

The “church” is not to have as its goal being such an exhibitionist that its reputation sadly brings shame on the name of Jesus Himself!

The “church” at times has prospered phenomenally financially but been bankrupt as an extension of His Life, as an expression of His love, or as the very living proof of our Lord’s power!

Can a “church” be strong in the eyes of the world around it yet far too weak from God’s intent? Can a “church” be so concerned about itself that protective walls are so stout it hinders the ‘lost’ from finding a way in?

The “church” – is it possible some settle into a mind-set that sinners are trespassers who don’t have a right to enter? The “church” – has its emphasis become so strong about its ‘sacredness’ that strangers to the faith feel unwanted?

The “church” at times has become so respectful about itself that the world outside, lost and separated from God, doesn’t sense an ‘open door’.

Isaac K. Beckes made a very profound statement when he said: “We must stop giving the impression that the church is surrounded by a wall, fighting for its existence against a world that is trying to destroy it; instead, we must realize that the church is a force pushing out into the world.”

The “church”? I firmly agree with Paul the apostle that the church of our Lord and Savior is on a journey that includes every disciple being built up “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” but not at the expense of sharing the faith with others outside becoming a lost cause!

“The church” must, yes, it must realize that too often it has set itself as opposite from the very lost world in which it exists and is there (in the world) as the connector between God and lost men! And there are some who even feel or they sense that to be lost in ‘church life’ is to willingly separate one’s self from God Himself, yes, denying the very reason Jesus came into the darkness!

It was Albert Rasmussen, in “Christian Social Ethics,” [1956, Prentice-Hall], who wrote: “The great sin of the church is to be so interested in serving those within it that it cannot serve the needs of those without.”

I’m sure you’ve seen on TV people in Jerusalem gathering at the “wailing wall.” Would to God every “church” had a “wailing wall” spirit for the lost, the dying, the separated from God multitudes out their doors!

Didn’t Jesus say, “I have come to seek and to save that which is lost,” [Luke 19:10]? In I John 2:2 John said, “And He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” The “church’s” calling is announcing to the world through its messengers, John 1:29, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

In and through every local church, through every member-disciple, is there a calling for ALL to be a part of God’s missionary heart, His missionary spirit, and His missionary sacrifice, touching our world around us with His love, grace, and mercy? Again, Oswald Chambers has written, [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.214], “A missionary is one who is wedded to the charter of his Lord and Master, he has not to proclaim his own point of view, but to proclaim the Lamb of God. It is easier to belong to a coterie [ ‘a group of people who associate closely because of common social purposes, interests, etc.’ Random House Collegiate Dictionary.] which tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, easier to become a devotee to Divine healing, or to a special type of sanctification, or to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Paul did not say – ‘Woe is unto me, if I do not preach what Christ has done for me, “ but – “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” This is the Gospel – “The Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world!”

The “church”? Tell me about YOUR church’s prayer ministry that majors on God Himself sending out “laborers”! Doesn’t Matthew 9:37-38 tell us, Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Most churches are doubled-down on readiness for Sundays and Wednesday nights, maybe – but what about super intense training on, yes, winning people to faith in Christ alone?

I was just reading recently John 14:12 where Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” I have no hesitation in saying to you that prayer is necessary, intense, life-altering warfare! And prayer with witness is the key to eternal victory. James Montgomery wrote an old hymn entitled “Prayer Is The Soul’s Sincere Desire.” It says:

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed; The motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear, The upward glance of an eye, When none but God is near.

Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice, Returning from his ways; While angels in their songs rejoice And cry, ‘Behold, he prays!’

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, The Christian’s native air, His watchword at the gates of death; He enters heaven with prayer.

O Jesus, by whom we come to God, The Life, the Truth, the Way, The path of prayer Yourself has trod; Lord, teach us how to pray!” Amen?

The “church”? Isn’t it to be a pillar of fire that captures a dark world’s attention, that alerts a lost pilgrim to the right pathway home, that touches hurting humanity with healing grace, that, yes, picks up the fallen and shows him healing grace, that breaks the chains of Satanic bondage gripping every lost, separated from God, unbelieving man, woman, or child, shouting out their only hope?

The “church”? The gathering place of the forgiven and the forgiving, the assembly of atoned men and women by the blood of the Lamb overflowing with the joy of the Lord and cannot be silent or selfish or just satisfied they’ve been reconciled when there is a “world” that God so loved and loves even now! 3 John 7 says, “..they went forth for His name’s sake..”

In Revelation 7:9-10 we read: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Who is this great number? Revelation 7:14 says, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

The “church”? Seed planters, harvest workers, disciple-makers, trainers equipping the trainees, travail-ers in prayer for the lost, spiritual soldiers trained to win the battles for the souls of men, evangelists proclaiming the “Good News,” the appointed and anointed sent out to share saving faith and the marvelous grace and the unlimited love of our Lord and Savior!

The “church”? Yes, a suffering church because of its evangelistic witness and mission! In Hebrews 10:32-36 we read: “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated [enlightened], you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…”

Tell me: Because of your faithful witnessing as a church Body to the lost, are YOU ready to suffer, are you ready for imprisonment as a believer, and, yes, are you willing to face martyrdom because of your witnessing ministry?

Tell me: Because you ‘evangelize’ are you willing to be made a ‘spectacle’ to your world around you? In I Corinthians 4:10-13 Paul talked about being a ‘fool’ in Christ! He talked about being dishonored by the world around him. He then said in verses 12-13, “And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”

The “church”? Do you realize how much time ‘church officials’ spend in evaluating, planning, implanting strategies for a healthier local body of believers with no strategies, training, or equipping their churches to witness and evangelize?

Life in Christ through the local Body of believers is to be the biblical learning of laying down one’s life for others, coming into the sovereign wisdom and revelation of a witnessing community, and even strategizing how the local church can share the Gospel world-wide!

But the church does have an enemy – it’s the Devil! And he’s more than a ‘shop-lifter’ – he’s a destroyer! It was Henry George Bohn in “Handbook of Proverbs” who wrote: “The Devil entangles youth with beauty, the miser with gold, the ambitious with power, the learned with false doctrine.”

And he’s sure ‘good’ at deceiving churches and pastors and believers that evangelism is not their true cup of tea! What’s your church’s banner that flies over it? “Come in – we’re comfortable!” or, “We go and we tell!”

The “church”? I don’t know who wrote it, but I came across these words that truly say so much that needs to be said and read and received and reduplicated! Receive it:

“Faith is not merely praying upon our knees at night; Faith is not merely straying through darkness into light; Faith is not merely waiting for glory that may be. Faith is the brave endeavor, the splendid enterprise, the strength to serve, whatever conditions may arise.”

Biblical faith, redemptive faith, saving faith, serving faith as one “makes disciples”! Didn’t Paul say in Galatians 2:20 that, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” And Christ lives in you so that you may be a faithful member of your local church? He lives in you to extend His Life, express His love through you, and prove through your witness His power to save!

The “church”? Does the Word of God talk about Saul who became Paul to give us simply a historical view of what Christ can do for one man or what He can do through all men?

You know Saul’s encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road and how he was touched by grace and mercy. Is that an isolated incident or do we read in it every repentant man’s future ministry? Follow Acts 9:10-16!

“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ So the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.’ And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.’ Then Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”

Hear me! In Christ, you are not a showroom exhibit, but the Savior’s expression of eternal love and grace! To the church at Rome, Paul wrote: [Romans 1:1-6], “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom YOU ALSO ARE THE CALLED OF JESUS CHRIST.”

Do you see it? YOU are the called of Jesus Christ, YOU have been separated to the gospel of God, You have been called to obedience to the faith, YOU have a mandate from the Master to bear His name to unsaved men and women!

In the old “Pure Oil News” a black minister was asked about his secret as a powerful preacher. He responded: “It’s simple. I read myself full. I think myself clear. I pray myself hot. And then I let go.” Amen?

Do you remember Jesus going into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and reading from the prophet Isaiah where Isaiah recorded these words:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Was that just for Jesus or is it an all-inclusive word? What does Acts 1:8 tell US as a reminder? “But YOU shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

I’m sure you’ll remember Acts 3:37-38 when men said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” And don’t dare forget Acts 2:39! “For the promise is to you and to your children, AND TO ALL WHO ARE AFAR OFF, [Even in the 21^st Century!], as many as the Lord our God will call.”

I close this chapter with words from the old hymn, “Jesus Calls Us”. It says: “Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea, Day by day His sweet voice sounds, saying, ‘Christian, follow Me.’

Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store, From each idol that would keep us, Saying, ‘Christian, love Me more.’

In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease, Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, ‘Christian, love Me more than these.’

Jesus calls us: by Your mercies, Savior, may we hear Your call, Give our hearts to Your obedience, Serve and love You best of all.”

Has Jesus called YOU? Have YOU responded to His call? Are YOU His witness weaved into His church family by His grace, mercy, and love? Are you reaching out around you to touch others with His saving grace? Are you the voice in the wilderness saying to the lost: “Come Home! Come to Jesus! Come to His salvation and an eternal relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords!”

CHAPTER SIX

EVANGELISM – GOD’S ETERNAL INTENTION

Romans 8:28-30 says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

God’s eternal intention? And evangelism through us as believers is His way of turning the tide of godlessness to a calm sea of eternal bliss? All around us are “natural” men blinded by the god of this world, consumed by hopelessness, driven by a strong storm of sinfulness, swayed by a self-centered morality, and most have no need of God and deny the Gospel as their ‘good news,’ glad for you but no sense in them of interest in reconciliation with Holy God!

But the Lord Jesus gives to every born again believer a promise that we must learn to stand on: [John 12:32], “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

Romans 5:17-18 is so uplifting when you see “abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness” and that we share in the reign of Christ! It says: “For if by the one man’s offense [Adam in the fall] [resulting in] death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.”

But is it possible that needy men will reject a free gift? Of course! There IS rejection, even denial, of God’s mercy and grace! Oh, but for some the denial comes in a cloud of what one has called, “amiable religiosity.” And that has nothing to do with the “new birth”! But ‘religious’ men can perform in an acting career of similarity void of our Lord’s indwelling presence.

This chapter is Evangelism – God’s Eternal Intention! There are “the called according to His purpose.” But who are the called? Is that the gifted one? Is that the diligent, disciplined, determined one who decides in himself he’s capable of pleasing God? How phony is that and so opposite of what our Lord Jesus did and does though us! Romans 5:10 tells us: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled we shall be [being] saved by His life.”

It is “Christ in us [who is] the hope of glory!” It is Christ through us that touches our world with saving grace! It is not our efforts but Christ’s sacrificial death that brings us into a right standing with God. It is the shed blood of Christ that washes our sin away. It is His cruel death that God accepts in behalf of our penalty – and through that death alone wipes your slate clean and instills Christ in you as God’s testimony of mercy and grace.

We do not ‘reason’ ourselves into an acceptance by God – we receive His revelation and find acceptance through the sacrificial death of Christ Jesus alone. Atonement, blood atonement, Jesus’ willing sacrifice on the Cross brings an open door of opportunity of reconciliation with Holy God – and that alone!

The “called” are “new creation” miracles wrought by the heart of God alone! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes [trusts in, relies upon, adheres to] in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The “called”, who are “new creations”, discover, not only miraculous saving grace of the heart of God, but a new unveiling of identity! 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [in Christ]!” I love Oswald Chambers’ statement when he said: “It is not Christ “for” me unless I am determined to have Christ formed “in” me.” [“My Utmost…”, p.224].

The righteousness of God “in Him”? In Galatians 1:15-16 Paul said, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me…”!! What an awesome revelation! Romans 5:12 explains: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men.” The righteousness of God is not in fleshly, sinning men but in Christ alone! The righteousness of God is not a man’s good deeds, but God’s glorified Son because of His sacrificial death on the Cross in our behalf – and that alone! God’s righteousness in us is because of Christ’s sacrificial death for us and His resurrection Presence in us!

We don’t ‘save’ ourselves! We don’t earn a right standing with Holy God! We’re not privileged because of our degrees or our good deeds or our self-determination! It’s the “shed blood” of Christ alone that puts in us a right standing with the Living God who loved us, lost us, and then bought us off the marketplace of sinfulness through the “SAVIOR”! The only ‘doing’ by a sinner separated from Holy God is in the finished work of Christ on the Cross by repentance toward God and faith in what Jesus did on the Cross in shedding His innocent blood for our guilt!

Evangelism – God’s eternal intention! “…predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…!”

If Holy God had only one Son who was well-pleasing, and it’s true – if He births “new sons” through the shed blood of Christ, is it because God accepts First Adams because He is so gracious or new Second Adams because He is so merciful and loving? In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 we read of God’s awesome intent!!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a ‘new creation’; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, THAT IS, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the ‘word of reconciliation.’ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Tell me about your likeness to Christ! Tell me about your journey of being conformed to His image. Describe to me your holy ‘pressure cookers’ that daily brought you to total dependence on CHRIST IN YOU! Tell me about His seal of Holy Presence that you lean upon! Oh, hear Paul’s words in I Corinthians 2:12! “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

Blood Redemption through the Cross of Christ is the door of your life being opened to His resurrection life, resurrection hope, and resurrection power – and the journey of being “conformed to His image” has begun! If you are without Christ, it’s a sad journey with only darkness ahead, but ‘in Christ’ it is a new identity, a new dawning of eternal morning light, and a new warmth of holy presence uplifting one to eternal significance in and through Christ alone!

It was Alfred Lord Tennyson who wrote the following words: “Ring in the valiant man and free, the larger heart, the kindlier hand! Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be!” And that’s Christ being Himself in you and through you which is why you take the sentence of death unto yourself daily that the resurrection life of Christ may be manifested through you.

Paul the apostle wrote confidently to the church at Rome, and us, when in Romans 15:29 he said: “But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” He said, “I come with Christ, I come with the gospel of Christ, I come with the blessing of the gospel of Christ, AND, “I come with the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Where are you on God’s thermometer?

Have you been sidetracked? How easy for some to become intellectually sidetracked with a professor’s philosophy of life and miss our Lord’s Living Presence in them! No doubt this is why Josiah Strong said years ago: “There are many in the Church as well as out of it who need to learn that Christianity is neither a creed nor a ceremonial, but a life vitally connected with a loving Christ.” So true!

Blood Redemption! Divine Reconciliation! Holy Invasion! Oneness in and with Christ! Christ – your Hope of Glory! In Christ – drawn by Father God and the Holy Spirit! Glory in the Cross of Christ! Hidden with Christ in God! Emmanuel! God with us! God in us! God through us! Walking in the light as He is in the light, His blood cleanses us from all sin! Jesus – our Fresh Spring in us that never runs dry! Jesus – our Living Water! Jesus Christ! Loyal in death! Loyal in Resurrection Life! Loyal in Heavenly Power and Provision and Presence! Jesus! Our faithful intercessor!

Do you truly believe Jesus Christ is God’s only provider of all you need to live a victorious, conquering, overcoming life of faith that honors Him? Listen to Oswald Chambers in “My Utmost For His Highest”! [p.256], “It is the things that are right and noble and good from the natural standpoint that keep us back from God’s best. To discern that natural virtues antagonize surrender to God, is to bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us debate with the sordid and evil and wrong, but we do debate with the good. It is the good that hates the best, and the higher up you get in the scale of the natural virtues, the more intense is the opposition to Jesus Christ. ‘They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh’ [that’s your old sin nature!] – it is going to cost the natural in you everything, not something.”

Isn’t that why Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 that, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” Deny himself? That is willful death, a full denial of the virtue of the old man separated from God, a complete personal sacrifice of the natural man in order to witness the new birth of the spiritual man, a glad substituting of the pampered self for the new life in the Spirit of Jesus, the painful process of faithful repentance and full surrender until Christ Jesus is fully formed in each of our hearts and the old man is fully obliterated!

Whoever said becoming a true Christian is “a piece of cake” has totally avoided the Word of God in their deliberations! I’m thinking I remember Paul writing, 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Before His Ascension, Jesus told His disciples in John 16:7-12, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It I to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”

Do YOU understand? God’s Eternal Intention is to bring you forgiveness, Presence, a living Word, an available Power, an eternal purpose – that is, that your available life in Christ becomes a mirror to others reflecting His Holy Life in and through YOU! In the previous verses we just read in John 16:7-12 we’ve learned: 1) The Awareness of Christ of our need, 2) The Advantage of His Absence – “THE HOLY SPIRIT IS COMING!” 26 times, at least, He tells us of His coming! 3) The appointment of His Spirit – the Spirit’s assistance in honoring and glorifying Christ through us!

In I Corinthians 2: 4-5 Paul said: “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Is that clear to you?

We are not to be as some to which Paul referred to in I Corinthians 3:3 that there were some in the Corinthian church “behaving like mere men”! You are not a “mere man”! God’s eternal intention?

YOU have the mind of Christ! You have been indwelt by His resurrection life! You are a recipient of the Holy Spirit! You are “more than a conqueror”! You are Christ’s “ambassador”! You are “wise in Christ”! You are ‘the temple’ of His Holy Presence! You are a life saved by grace to show forth the glory of God! You ARE “gifted by the Spirit”! You are an “epistle of Christ” written by the Holy Spirit and read by all men! You are “being transformed into Christ’s image from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord!” God has “shined in your heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” who shines through you! You live no longer for yourself but for Him who died and rose again that through His presence in you men around you “see Jesus!”

YOU have been crucified with Christ, you no longer live – but Christ lives in you; and the life which you now live in the flesh you live by faith in the Son of God, yes, the One who loved you and gave Himself for you! You glory only in the Cross of your Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world has been crucified to you, and you to the world! God’s Eternal Intention! You were far off from God but Christ Jesus has brought you near to God by His own blood! You are now a dwelling place of God in and through His Holy Spirit! You are now a bondservant of Christ doing the will of God from your own heart! You know you’re in the process [you haven’t finished the journey quite yet] but fully assured that what God started, He’ll finish in you and through you!

You count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus your Lord, for whom you have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish that you may gain Christ! YOU ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST, LACKING NOTHING! Live like it! Fulfill God’s eternal intention! Glorify your Savior on earth as He’s glorified in Heaven!

Sing His praises! Shout forth the worthiness of the Worthy Lamb! Celebrate His “birth” in you! Fight the good fight of faith! Put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…!!

You receive the Word of God! You welcome the Word of God! You devour the Word of God! You proclaim the Word of God! You stand on the Word of God! You know God’s eternal intent!

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it!!”

CHAPTER SEVEN

EVANGELISM – BECAUSE OF A NEEDY WORLD

Isn’t it amazing to you as you open John’s epistles and he’s addressing ‘my little children,’ [and that’s his young children in the faith], that in I John 2:15-17 John challenges them about not loving the world! He said: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

I don’t know who said it but I read it: “The ship’s place is in the sea, but God pity the ship when the sea gets into it. The Christian’s place is in the world, but God pity the Christian if the world gets the best of him.”

As God’s handiwork, the world around us is a beautiful and majestic place, but the people in it have taken the ‘divine dream’ and perverted it. It was Herrick Johnson who once wrote: “Buying, possessing, accumulating, this is not worldliness. – But doing this in the love of it, with no love to God paramount – doing it so that thoughts of God and eternity are an intrusion – doing it so that one’s spirit is secularized in doing it – this is worldliness.”

It was Robert E. Lee who wrote a truthful letter to his wife. In it he wrote: “What a glorious world Almighty God has given us! How thankless and ungrateful we are, and how we labor to mar His gifts.”

When Jesus said for us all to come unto Him and we’d find rest, the sad truth is that a sinful world is restless, a defiant world is tired and weary, and a rebellious world fails to sense its “unvoiced cry after God,”[Theodor Munger]. What did we read from I John? “..The lust of the flesh [old sin nature], the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life..” And we know fleshly pride is a disease of “the falling away” from God Himself!

The world! The world created and formed by the hand of God Himself through His creative genius has been marred by sinful men, yes, and needs its own Redeeming! The Kingdom and the Power and the Glory God intended have witnessed a sad commentary of failure, of deep misery, of false hope, of dark shadows rather than heavenly light, of a heaviness that holds down even one’s attempted reach after Him, of a blindness to the beauty of a God-ordained world and a God-ordained life, because ‘fallen mankind’ fails to grasp that the world he has marred is a visible picture of a marred heart within!

One of the saddest words for parents concerning a son or a pastor concerning a parishioner or a godly teacher concerning a pupil or a Christian doctor concerning a patient is seen in 2 Timothy 4:10 when Paul said to Timothy “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.”

I think one of the saddest words I’ve read recently came when I was reading Spurgeon in “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” [Vol.6, p.ps 128-129], when he preached: “Another point in which the sinner often excuses himself is the manifest ‘worldliness’ of many Christians. You will see Christian men and women as fond of dress, and as pleased with the frivolities of the age, as any other persons possibly could be; just as anxious to adorn their outward person, so as to be seen of men, just as ambitious to win the praise which fools accord to fine dressing, as the most silly fop or the most gaudy among worldly women. What does the world say, when we turn round to it, and accuse it of being a mere butterfly, and finding all its pleasures in gaudy toys? ‘Oh! yes,’ it says, ‘we know your cant, but it is just the same with you. Do you not stand up and sing, Jewels to me are gaudy toys, and gold but sordid dust? And yet you are just as fond of glittering as we are; your doctors of divinity pride themselves just as much in their D.D. as any of us with other titles. You are just as punctilious about terms of honor as any of us can be. You talk about carrying the cross; but we do not see it anywhere, except it be a golden cross sometimes hanging on your bosom. You say you are crucified to the world, and the world to you: it is a very merry sort of crucifixion. You say that you mortify your members and deny yourselves: your mortification must be suffered in secret, for it is but very little that we can see of it!’ Thus the worldling casts back to us our challenge, declaring that we are not sincere, and thus he comforts himself in his sin, and justifies himself in his iniquity.” How sad is that evaluation!?!

Evangelism – Because of a Needy World! But if the church in the world, the disciples in the world, the ministries in the world, reflect through themselves what they’ve seen in the worldly, what good does that do? Or maybe, better said: What damage does that do? The integrity of the Cross, the integrity of the name of Jesus, the integrity of a church’s ministry IS AT STAKE! What if the world looked on you, and all they saw was inconsistency? What if the world looked on you, and all they saw in you was vain pretense? What if the world around you looked upon your ‘profession’ and said: “It’s child’s play with him – nothing really sincere!”

We’re called to minister to a lost and dying world, not mingle and mix in with the world’s godless ways! We’re not called to feel at home where Satan dwells but to invade for the purpose of conquering not acquiescing, proclaiming not participating in aimless activity, witnessing not wilting in worldly partying that defames Jesus!

In Acts 17 Paul faithfully went into the cities, not to participate in their godly deceptions, but to “reason – to explain- to demonstrate That the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, (saying), “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ [Messiah]. The Jews WERE UPSET! In verse 6 they went to Jason’s home dragging him and other believers to the council of rulers saying, These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” That’s our calling in going into the world but not of it!

I’m telling you: true believers cannot view a godless world around them with an unconcerned countenance! The godless world is a needy world – and only Christ can meet its need! Deuteronomy 32:28-29 says, “For [the nations] are void of counsel, nor is there understanding in them. Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” Have you considered your latter end, your last days, or your scheduled appointment before the Holy Bar of God’s judgment?

Evangelism – Because of a Needy World! I want you to see the needy world in light of “Death”!

I’m not sorry about it but utterly sincere – you must hear the Truth! Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Sin IS death – and sin reigns in an unsaved world!

YOU are no stranger to “death” whether an unbeliever or a believer! Death does reign – and no person is exempt from death whether a believer or an unbeliever!

I don’t think ‘fallen man’ is aware of the very pains of death and its surroundings. Suffering, silence, strains, stings, dark shades, shame, strife, shakings, songs of grief, Satan happy, spiritual strokes without a solution for the sinner, stained with Satan’s marking: “MINE”!! Thomas Adams said, “The devil is no idle spirit, but a vagrant, runagate walker, that never rests in one place. – The motive, cause, and main intention of his walking is to ruin man. “He walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”

It’s an old Welsh proverb that is so on target: “The Devil has three children – pride, falsehood, and envy.” No doubt this is why God inspired I Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” by sight, by smell, and by spiritual sense you CAN discern to whom one belongs!

It was William Shakespeare in “Henry VIII,” who said, [Acts IV, sc.2, I, 68], “And, to add greater honors to his age than man could give him, he died fearing God.” In you, is there a holy fear of God or has the Devil deceived you?

I love what William Penn wrote in “Fruits of Solitude.” He said: “They that love ‘beyond the world,’ cannot be separated. Death cannot “kill” what “never” dies. Nor can Spirits ever be divided that love and live in the “same” Divine Principle; the Root and Record of their “friendship” [or kinship]. Death is but ‘crossing’ the ‘world’, as Friends do the Seas, they live in one another still.”

In Ezekial 18:23 God asks: “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” And the evangelist, the disciple, the witness, the ambassador representing God? He/she is announcing: “The soul who sins shall die!” Front row, back row, pulpit or pew! Mayor of the city or the famous “street-walker” of the city! Top teacher of the school or top student of the school! Bank president or cashier! Leading candidate or runner-up! “To be carnally minded is death!” [Romans 8”6].

Evangelism – Because Of A Needy World! I want you to see the needy world in light of DISTRACTION!

How easy for some on the journey of life that should be a journey of hope finding themselves in a hopeless state because they are distracted!

Yes, and that is because of our mutual sin nature! Human nature is in a fallen state away from God and is at variance with the Almighty! Human nature is not an effect of God’s creative genius but the effect of life based on a man’s selfish determination!

Human nature, because of the fall, has become an enemy of God, not His friend! Human nature, because of Adam’s sin and rebellion, has seen nation after nation birthing people wandering further and further away from Holy God. Human nature, fallen, alien to, and separated from God, has become a darkened sphere of a man’s self-rule, self- government, self-discernment, and self-pleasure that has left God out and written Him off, just as the nation called America is doing today!

Human nature is an inner voice of a fallen sin nature that opens the door to violating every law of God because the heart and mind is lawless! Human nature is the illicit fleshly handmaiden of one whose very being has rejected God – to this point! It doesn’t mean one has to remain in that Satanic bondage, ordered by the demon powers of Hell itself!

2 Peter 1:2-5 gives us hope! It says, “Grace to you and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that THROUGH THESE you may be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” AMEN AND AMEN! GLORY BE TO GOD ALONE WHO IS EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US!

Evangelism – Because of a Needy World! I want you to see the needy world in light of its DOUBT!

Doubt is a grave-digger! Oh, I know it can be the stepping stone to faith and trust, but more often than not it is the friend of rebellion and tyranny.

Enoch Fitch Burr wrote a long time ago: “In the hands of unbelief half-truths are made to do the work of whole falsehoods. – The sowing of doubts is the sowing of dragon’s teeth, which ere long will sprout up into armed and hostile men.”

But TRUTH IS the conqueror of doubt! One looks at Jesus and sees, not doubt, but the Divine, anointed, appointed, Son of God, Immanuel – God in the flesh! Doubts may surface but Truth reigns supreme! Doubts may be announced but Truth arises to conquer! Doubts may shout out but Truth sings the song of salvation and deliverance!

In Matthew 14:31 Jesus said to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And I believe that’s what our Lord asks all of us in the Body of Christ today, “Why did you doubt?”

I think William Robert Rodgers was on target in his writing called “Words.” He said: “Your doubts are the private detectives employed by your dislike, to make a case against change or choice.” You see, the Gospel gives you a choice for eternal change, but you doubt?

Evangelism – Because of a needy world! I want you to see the needy world in light of DENIAL!

2 Pater 2:1-3 tells us: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”

Denial will breed doubt! Doubt will produce denial! Both lead to a destructive state and will remain hopeless if they do not turn to Jesus in repentance and rest in His finished work AT CALVARY!

Earlier in 2 Peter 1:19 Peter talked about a light that shines in a dark place. That dark place is a place of denial of saving grace and mercy, but hope arises when “the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

Do you remember the day our Lord and Savior was crucified? Matthew 27:45 says, “Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.” Denial produces total darkness in one’s mind and heart!

Oh my! What joy! What delight! What amazing grace! In John 8 Jesus saw a ‘woman caught in adultery.’ The scribes and Pharisees had brought the woman to Jesus. He told her, “Go and sin no more – you’re not condemned!” Then Jesus said to all those who were around: Verse 12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Denial! Darkness! Despair! Then Jesus comes, Jesus knocks! “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

Evangelism – Because of a Needy World! I want you to see the needy world in light of its demands!

If you’re unsure of a needy world and its demands, just give one moment of thought to the serpent saying to Eve: “You will not surely die.”

Do you remember Moses and Aaron before Pharoah, ruler of Egypt? They told that the God of Israel said to let His people go. But Pharoah said in Exodus 5:2, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

How does this happen? Modern times have not brought change to human hearts! In Romans 1:18-32 we read, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie [That’s, ‘you can sin and not die because of it’], and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

So that’s it? We give up, slow down, count our losses, pat ourselves on the back and give up on meeting the needs of a needy world! Right? WRONG! Though God gave them over He didn’t give up – He gave His Son! Yes, the wages of sin IS death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord! And we lift up our Redeemer, the world’s Savior and Lord, God’s gift to fallen humanity!

Has it changed? John 3:16! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Glory be to God! There’s hope for our needy world – TELL THEM!

CHAPTER EIGHT

EVANGELISM – BECAUSE OF THE CALL FROM HURTING PEOPLE

As I was reading Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.252], I came across an interesting paragraph that spurred this chapter on hurting, sick, wounded people. He said: “Health is the balance between physical life and external nature, and it is maintained only by sufficient vitality on the inside against things on the outside. Everything outside my physical life is designed to put me to death. Things which keep me going when I am alive, disintegrate me when I am dead. If I have enough fighting power, I produce the balance of health. The same is true of the mental life. If I want to maintain a vigorous mental life, I have to fight, and in that way the mental balance called thought is produced.”

Did he say, “mental balance called thought is produced”? And when YOU think about those with unbalanced mental thoughts, or thoughts about ‘I’m sick and I’m going to die,’ or ‘my wounds that are beyond physical but are mental, emotional, spiritual, are going to kill me or drive me crazy,’ or, ‘I’m a hopeless case, and there’s no one who can help me,’ do YOU step in? Do you have an answer? Do you know the remedy? Do you care?

As you examine yourself or evaluate the wounded, the ‘unbalanced,’ the sick, the lonely, the disturbed, the distressed, the alienated from God which is “MAJOR” in all physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual sickness, Jesus gives us vital words for our consideration: Luke 21:19, says, Jesus speaking, “By your patience [steadfastness] possess your souls.” He expanded our understanding of this when in verses 34-36 He said:

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing [or dissipation], drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape ALL THINGS that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” What a challenge!

In Job 5:18 we learn about the Living God being a “tester” of all peoples! It says, “For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.” Job even said in chapter 9, verse 17, “For He crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.” Is the Living God up to something so huge beyond our immature understanding?

It was the wise man of Proverbs who wrote: [Proverbs 27:6], “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” There is something huge in the wind as God allows, yes, “wounds without cause,” or “the wounds of a friend.”

One thing is for sure: God is with us all to “save us, heal us, redeem us, complete us, fulfill us!” In Jeremiah 30:17 God says: “For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds.” What a promise!

There are times when we wonder: Is God around in all this? In Proverbs 13:12 we read, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when desire comes, it is a tree of life.” There are times of “heart sickness” when one has avoided, even denied, the tree of life!

In Deuteronomy 28:58-63 God spoke specifically to Israel but in reality He speaks to all peoples. He said: “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues – great and prolonged plagues – and serious and prolonged sicknesses. Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed. You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing [one of no value, meaning, or purpose]; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.”

Ezekial 34 speaks to “irresponsible shepherds” – that’s men appointed to feed God’s people, but their intent was on indulging themselves! Verse 4 says, “The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.” That’s a sad commentary on the false pastors in the world today who see themselves as “rulers” over God’s people!

As Jesus sent out the twelve, He said, [Matthew 10:7-8], “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Would that describe your church’s ministry today or the description of your pastoral care?

In Matthew 14:14 we read: “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”

I was a pastor for about 22 years before “missions” captured my heart and I began living on airplanes to India mostly, but also Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Kenya. I also ministered in the Philippines, Cambodia, and other Asian nations, plus Hong Cong and excursions into China. India had about 25 years of my life for which I am eternally thankful. I see there several billion people who will be touched by the Gospel through men I was privileged to challenge with His Word and Spirit!

Thoughts of India reminded me of John 5:5 where there was the man “who had an infirmity 38 years!” Listen: Verses 6-9, “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.” He learned of “Sabbath rest”! Have you?

Around you is a world filled with people who are wounded, warped, sick, demonized, plagued, wounded by friends, family, foes, forces of darkness, bruised, bound by the powers of darkness, lost, alienated from God and hope and blessing, mentally and morally and meaninglessly handicapped, slaves to that old sin nature and the one called the Devil, hopeless, sinfully sad, diseased in thought and void of Truth, giving the picture from themselves that they are helpless!

Do you remember Lazarus being sick? This was the brother of Martha and Mary. John 11:3 tells us the sisters sent to Jesus a message, “Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick.” John 11:4, When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Lazarus was raised from the dead!

All around you are the walking, spiritually dead people! All around you are the walking, crippled in motion and meaning, millions who have no hope but in Christ – and you are the messenger, you are the minister of healing grace, you are the bearer of the spiritual medicine that lifts up the fallen, brings healing to the sick, and prays him/her through, yes, at times, even the very valley of the shadow of death!

Do you understand, sense, are aware of, many, many people who are overcome by “a spirit of infirmity”? In Luke 13:10-17 we read, “Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, ‘Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.’ And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.’ The Lord then answered him and said, ‘Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound – think of it – for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?’ And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.”

I don’t know her exact illness – I know she had been bound by Satan for eighteen years! I know people who live, yes, willingly live with a willful binding spirit of despondency; others living with a disturbing recall and weight from true failures they can’t seem to get over; others I’ve seen sick with resentment, bitterness, and a hardness to the Spirit because they know unforgiveness and are not about to let go of it; others wouldn’t acknowledge it but they are crippled by that strong spirit of self, self-righteousness, a sickening self-confidence, self-reliance depending on no one or nobody; others are so corrupted in their minds that they’ve become bodily, mentally, emotionally, and, certainly, spiritually ill – odorous oaths, evil thoughts, irrational logic, blasphemous ideas – and they contemplate, rationalize, think: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver ME from this body of death?” I KNOW THE LORD AND SAVIOR WHO CAN REMOVE THE VILE AND MAKE IT PRECIOUS, GODLY, CHRIST-HONORING IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED!

Oh hear me! Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord speaks: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give YOU a future and a hope.” And then in Jeremiah 30:17 God gives every man a holy promise: “For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: ‘This is Zion; no one seeks her.’” OH, but I say my Lord and Savior seeks out those who aren’t even looking! He wants to heal you, restore you, redeem you, empower you, raise you personally up to the cloud of His heavenly glory!

Do you understand the sickness of spiritual diseases called guilty consciences, self-inflicted wounds of a dismal outlook on life because of what one has engaged in, or embittered by situational circumstances, or wounded, stricken, afflicted in a godless conscience?

Have you witnessed around you a life shattered by vain hopes, the bankruptcy of life when one’s ‘faith’ was in their carnal security and it vanishes, a sense of hopelessness because of the falseness of self-love that brings despair, an absolute state of ,yes, fear, because one recklessly indulged their depraved appetites, lusts, and passions – and they’re ‘sick’? Thomas Carlyle once said: “The deadliest sins were the consciousness of no sin.” And the consciousness of no sin is awareness of the greatest sinner! That is deathly “sickness”!

Spiritual sickness and spiritual disease are the products of the ‘natural’ rebelling against the Divine and self-control, self-assertiveness, and self-promotion demoting God and elevating ‘self’ and a sinful nature as one’s joint ruler, producing ‘sickness’ only healed by repentance toward God and true faith in the shed blood of the Lamb of God!

“Shock treatment”? Have you heard of it? The Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has announced clearly that man’s goodness and his sin are worthy only of being nailed to His Cross, covered and washed away by His blood! What did Paul say? “I am crucified with Christ”! That’s my rebellious self, my religious self, my sinful self, my ‘good’ self, my evil self, my personally ambitious self, concerned only about me, my, or mine! The “Rock of Ages” classic hymn truly says, “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Your cross I cling.”

It was William Cowper, in “The Progress of Error, [L.613], who wrote: “The Cross! There, and there only (though the deist rave, And atheist, if Earth bears so base a slave); There and there only, is the power to save.” Yes, there and there only is the eternal answer to the heart-cry of hurting, sick, lonely people!

Sin is sickness! Sin brings hurts, pains, diseases, and self-destruction! Sin is death – but through Jesus God gives us the power to raise the dead and witness the indwelling of resurrection life, resurrection hope, and resurrection power!

Oswald Chambers said, “The evidence that I am delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me.” But the blood of Jesus is God’s eternal transfusion of life evermore in Christ! David wrote in Psalm 103:1-5 marvelous words:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

I remember my dear friend, Bob Phillips, telling us a story years ago. Bob had been co-founder, co-pastor with David Wilkerson at Times Square Church in New York City. He resigned, I believe, after about ten years serving with David, and moved, I think, to Wyoming, where he owned some land. He loved walking in the hilly, mountainous areas around his home, but one day he was out and heard this horrible, terrible, squeaking, alarming sound. He didn’t know what it was, but he asked a neighbor who’d been there a long time. The man shared that it was the cries of an eagle. When they’re older their wings become very heavy to the point that they can’t fly. Then the eagle begins one by one to painfully pull out every weighty feather to allow new growth. Bob went out the next day to find where that eagle had landed in order to soar again – and he found it, not the eagle, but the bloody mess with dried feathers covering the ground where, painfully, it went through its transformation! Have you pulled out yet all in you that keeps you from soaring in the heavenly places?

In Psalm 90:8-10 we read: “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Tell me: Have you pulled any feathers lately?

CHAPTER NINE

EVANGELISM – UNVEILING OUR LORD AND SAVIOR

In John 12, as Jesus was contemplating His coming crucifixion, He told the people around Him in John 12:25-26, “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

Then He began to pray! Verses 27-28 says: “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

In verse 32 Jesus then said: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all ‘peoples’ to Myself.” The basis of eternal Redemption and Reconciliation with Holy God does not come through good deeds, good religions, or good efforts by men, but only an encounter with and experiencing of the crucified and resurrected Christ “in us, the hope of glory”!

Oh, I know that there are multitudes who are satisfied with their lives without God but Jesus came to put a sword in the heart of man’s speculations about his life without Him. When it comes to life, when it comes to eternal purpose, when it comes to fleshly determinations about how to be “happy” in this world, understand that Jesus came, not to make you ‘happy’, but to usher you in to a state of eternal rightness with God through “the Blood” of the Lamb of God shed on Calvary’s Cross and to “bless” you!

As Paul was closing his epistle to the Galatians, he wrote in Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Then in verse 17 he said, “From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” So what did Paul do? Go to a “tattoo” artist? I don’t think so!

In I John 5:4-5 the beloved disciple wrote: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

In verses 11-14 of I John 5 we have before us eternal words inspired by God’s Holy Spirit! The Word says, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Then in verse 20 John is closing out his letter and he writes: “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.”

I am sure there are those you rub shoulders with every day who have absolutely no interest in who Jesus is and what He did for them at the Cross! But Jesus knows their need, knows their bondage, knows how they were so deceived, knows the depths of their spiritual poverty, knows their ‘testy’ temperaments, knows their defiance of spiritual Truth, knows their substitutions for Him that lead only to eternal emptiness, eternal slavery, and eternal domination over them by Satan and the powers of darkness!

So Jesus says anyway: Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and 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.”

The displacement of God’s rule from one’s life produces disintegration not wholeness nor peace nor eternal purpose; disintegration, yes, even a spiritual death, providing one with a dark cloud of self-importance, self-goals, that only instigates even more self-pity that delights the devil and his armies!

When Jesus is allowed into one’s mind, heart, spirit, and body, He releases a perfect ‘tidal wave’ of heavenly peace, an overwhelming awareness of eternal, Godly love, a practical, understandable vision of what it means to be ONE with Him, in Him, through Him!

You and I are no different than the early disciples who walked with Jesus on troubled streets or with Him on stormy seas in life. In Matthew 8:23-27 we read, Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Do you understand the full meaning of Jesus Christ as the “storm-stopper”? Do you experience, not on the Pacific or Atlantic oceans, but those restless, stormy, tumultuous times in your journey – and you wonder what they are all about? Could it be, not what the stormy seas are all about, but what Jesus Christ is all about, yes, in YOU? No faith, ‘little faith’, some faith, doubtful faith, a troubled faith? Is that what you are all about or, because of the winds and storms and violent currents of your life, have you ever called out to the “Calmer of storms” whose name is Jesus Christ?

What a delight to the Lord Jesus when a troubled soul looks out of itself and in to the very eyes of Jesus! What a delight to Him when He senses that another soul is turning in confidence and assurance to Him! I’ll tell you: You don’t have to get to your wit’s end to seek out Jesus, but if that is what it takes for you, so be it, if YOU are brought, not to the brink, but willfully plunging into that sea of repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ alone! Jesus said it several times, “I must be about My Father’s business.” Whose business are you after? Self or the Savior?

There is a promise in I John 1:7 that should excite you. It says: “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Did you receive that? Do you believe that? Will you rest in that eternal Truth? Oh, I know that a lot of men admit to casual sin in their lives at times, but confronted by the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, broken-hearted men begin to repent because they see what their sin cost Jesus in His suffering and death on the Cross!

Have you failed to understand that Jesus Himself is the only propitiation or satisfaction for our sin-debt as He shed His blood on the cruel Cross? John 1:29 says: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

In verses 32-34 we read that John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

I really am amazed as I read words from Paul the Apostle when he said in Philippians 3:10, “that I may KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” The call upon lost humanity, alienated and separated from God is “that I may know Him;” the call upon every pastor, believer, disciple, missionary, servant, member of the Holy Family of God is “that [we] may know Him.”

But far too many men are on a journey to know themselves and how they can enjoy and profit from their lost state of faith! Far too many have never considered, “Christ in [them], the hope of glory.” If a man’s slightest thought is on how he conquers his world and not how he’s to be conquered by the Lamb of God, he becomes a man destined for fleshly, sin-nature loyalty, loyal to himself, denying Christ as Lord and Savior and Master of his life, and he lives standing on a thin thread over the pit of Hell, soon to be admitted there!

There’s another choice, another option, another Way! Look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith! You may be a transgressor, but Jesus is reaching out to you! You may be the sinner, but He’s YOUR Savior! You may be bound by your iniquity, but Jesus shed His blood to break the chains! It’s amazing to me that at times the world itself will cast out or imprison the great offender of human decency, but Jesus comes to say, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Outcasts by human societies are our Lord’s opportunities to express His love, His grace, and His mercy! If Christ Jesus is our only hope, and we receive the Truth, then the outcome is the death of doubt and our reception of the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Hasn’t God said: “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” but you’re not sure?

In Isaiah 42 we read a prophetic Word about the coming Christ! It says: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles [that’s you and me!]. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law.” Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it; I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

The Lord God has done what? He tells us 700 years before He comes that the Suffering Servant will win the battle over the powers of darkness and set the captives free!

In Lamentations 3:19-26 Jeremiah prophetically tells us of “the salvation of the Lord” as he personally walked through personal anguish and even loss. He said: “Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers and sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; ‘Great is Your faithfulness.’ The Lord is my portion says my soul. Therefore I hope in Him!”

If Jesus was sovereignly sent by Holy God to bring about our Redemption and Reconciliation, and He did, [It’s prophecy fulfilled, it’s historical reality, and it’s personally verified!], but you are unsure? Hear me! Spurgeon said: “If the Lord Jesus Christ be no common person, but nothing less than God Himself, who shall doubt His power to save?” [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol. 14, p.279].

Ephesians 1:7 is so powerful and informative! Paul wrote: “In Him [in Christ Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the riches of His grace.” But you believe God must have suffered ‘heavenly bankruptcy’ because His riches of grace are not available to you? I tell you, the angels sing daily about His amazing grace; disciples, like Paul, stand in a constant graced stature because of His amazing grace; and pastors, missionaries, disciples world-wide still ring out His amazing grace!

Have you witnessed troubled souls who encounter the compassionate Lord and Savior and experience constantly, yes, peace in the inner man? Didn’t He say, “My peace I give to you?” Didn’t He say He opens the very door to the Holy Presence of God? Isn’t there the promise of a defeated Devil and the powers of darkness? Aren’t we assured of abiding presence of the resurrected King of kings and Lord of lords in us, and we need not fear? What did Paul say to young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:12? “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that HE IS ABLE to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

There were no doubts in Paul concerning assurance that Jesus was able to keep him. There were no hesitations about the Blood of the Lamb to wash him white as snow. There were no roadblocks in Paul’s mind concerning Jesus raising him out of that grave of spiritual death. There was no hesitation in Paul but full assurance that His Savior and Lord interceded in Paul’s behalf before the very throne of God! He was awed by Christ’s undying love for him, by His Savior’s unceasing, fully available, omnipotent power! “I KNOW whom I have believed…!” Do you?

In Colossians 2:8-10 Paul wrote: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; AND YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, who is the head of all principality and power.”

It was William E. Biederwolf who said: “A man who can read the New Testament and not see that Christ claims to be more than a man, can look all over the sky at high noon on a cloudless day and not see the sun.” So very, very true!

I didn’t write it and don’t know who did but they wrote: “Matthew presents Jesus as the Royal Savior; Mark, as the Servant of man; Luke, as the Son of man; John, as Son of God.”

And it is so true: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, grant new life, give eternal hope, and hold us in His holy hands forever!

Jesus IS “the Light of the world” that is in such terrible darkness! Jesus is the crucified, buried, and raised from the dead Lord and Savior! Jesus is the exact image of the one true and living God – God’s perfect representation! Jesus is mankind’s only hope! He IS the righteousness of God! Jesus is God’s unspeakable gift to a fallen world with the grace in Him to raise us out of our spiritual death!

Jesus IS the King of love who is my Shepherd. Jesus is the wisdom of God and very power of God. Jesus is the joy of our salvation, the true fountain of living water, our “bliss-Blesser”, the tree of eternal life, our very Resurrection from the dead! Jesus IS “the Man of sorrows” so acquainted with our grief! Jesus is the guiltless Blood shed for all guilty men like us!

Jesus IS the Name above all names! It was J. Wilbur Chapman who wrote: “I know of a world that is sunk in shame, Where hearts oft faint and tire; But I know of a Name, a precious Name, That can set that world on fire: Its sound is sweet, its letters flame. I know of a Name, a precious Name, ‘Tis Jesus.” Holy is His Name! Miraculous is His Name! Powerful is His Name! Eternal Hope and Sovereign Help is His Name!

E.E. Hewitt wrote: “More about Jesus I would know, More of His graces to others show; More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me.”

Jesus IS the Great Physician, the Healer of broken, bound, bruised hearts! Jesus IS the Son of God! Jesus IS the eternal Soldier of the Cross where He waged the battle for our forgiveness and won! Jesus is the One who dispels darkness even in the human heart! Jesus is, becomes, and continues to “shine” as the Sunlight of our souls! Though His head was crowned with thorns for the Cross, He won our victory over sin and death, and now wears that incorruptible crown!

Jesus IS the sovereign Seer knowing your end from your beginning! He’s the Savior of souls, He’s their Bread of life and eternal hope, He’s their Strength to overcome, He’s our unspeakable Gift that we treasure, He’s our ALL IN ALL, He’s our healing grace of our sorrows, our wounds, our fears, and our doubts!

“All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, To crown Him Lord of all!”

There is no understanding for human history without the knowledge and saving grace of Jesus Christ! The absence of Christ in a human heart, family, present or future, is the acknowledgement one prefers darkness over light, sin and eternal death over forgiveness and eternal life, and one’s ‘fleshly’ best over God’s countless blessings!

It was Lew Wallace who wrote: “After six years given to the impartial investigation of Christianity, as to its truth or falsity, I have come to the deliberate conclusion that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of the Jews, the Savior of the world, and my personal Savior.” AMEN?

Jesus Christ is the Truth that never wavers or changes or is covered over or hidden. HE IS THE TRUTH!

Isaac Watts, in his “The Psalms of David,” wrote: “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun, Does His successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore Till moons shall wax and wane no more.”

I love what John Wesley wrote in his “Christian Perfection.” He said: “The holiest of men still need Christ as their Prophet, as “the light of the world.” For He does not give them light but from moment to moment; the instant He withdraws, all is darkness. They still need Christ as their King, for God does give them a stock of holiness. But unless they receive a supply every moment, nothing but unholiness would remain. They still need Christ as their Priest, to make atonement for their holy things. Even perfect holiness is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ.”

How wise was Henry Benjamin Whipple who long ago wrote wisely: “All we want in Christ, we shall find in Christ. If we want little, we shall find little. If we want much, we shall find much; but if, in utter helplessness, we cast our all on Christ, He will be to us the whole treasury of God.” AMEN?

CHAPTER TEN

EVANGELISM – THE GIFT OF PEACE FOR A TROUBLED WORLD

In a “natural” world where the Supernatural is frowned upon, trouble is the name of the game! Even in a small community of, say, two hundred people you’ll find “wars” are seemingly a part of life! Pain, heartache, fear, desperate circumstances, appalling relationships with ‘friends’ or even family, marital nightmares, rebellious teen-agers, mental anguish, business failure, character assassination without cause, pettiness, and, yes, scandalous treatment, verbal abuse, distresses that appear so deadly, persecution for His name’s sake, sharp and painful reactions from the friend who sells you short, the mate that is constantly and unmercifully critical, battered by the bitter, surrounded by many who are so angry, so explosive in their natures, so impulsive in their actions, and, yes, so evil in their intents!

Has there ever been that moment when you knew you just had to cry out to God and keep on crying out because you were so surrounded by the troubles of fallen humanity or even by the troubles of ‘professing believers’ or an international crisis that would mean your sons and daughters may have to go to war, or that “the cares of this world” were multiplying exponentially, or that racial strife was becoming an unstable situation with even deadly results?

How deep does grief and sorrow have to be before we reach out of ourselves for help? I really think that we all must come to an understanding about whether our trouble is the handiwork of God to shape us in His likeness or is it trouble wrought by troubling men and women who are so unstable themselves that in their actions they don’t even know they are denying the sovereignty of God!

But then also we must consider if what we’re facing in our troubling moments is OUR habitual disregard of life in The Spirit or self-hatred that has really become God’s enemy in us!

Job knew what he was talking about when in Job 5:7 he said, “Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” But the psalmist gives us hope as we read in Psalm 46:1-7, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help of trouble [or time of need]. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

God shall help her, just at the break of dawn? That sounds to me like a night of trouble, a night of spiritual darkness and conflict, a night when even a man of faith at times wonders if he will see the light of day.

The Christian faith knows no abiding truth greater than God’s promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” There are times one wants to ‘panic’ but He says, “Be not afraid.” There are times one wants to hide, but God says, “Come to Me.” There are times when trouble is so tumultuous one wonders if the safest place is in a grave, having been made foolish in thought by a non-blushing Devil!

Do you remember James Russell Lowell’s “The Present Crisis”? He wrote: “Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side.” Trouble is real! By God’s Spirit and His Word we must discern that it’s God’s open door for our good or the Devil for our bad. And what a promise Jesus gives us when in John 16:13 He said, “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” Thank God for the Holy Spirit of Truth!

Are you sensitive at all to the ridiculous AND holy revelation? Are you aware of the difference between ‘handicapped by flesh’ and ‘enlightened by the Spirit’? Do you discern easily between that which is superstition and that which is Sacred? Do you contemplate at all the danger of idolatry compared with the safety of the blessing of the one true and living God? Are you able to easily identify ‘play actors’ with God’s true children of saving faith?

Harold Cooke Phillips wrote: “This coming to know Christ is what makes Christian truth redemptive truth, the truth that transforms, not just the truth that informs.”

Yes, our world is filled with informative languages and words and schemes, but is there the Truth that is “The Gift of Peace For A Troubled World”? Yes, we have “Good News,” we have “redemptive Truth,” we have the “Living Savior and Lord,” we have the offering of “the gift of peace” that comes from Jesus only!

John Greenleaf Whittier wrote in “Miriam” these words: “We search the world for truth. We cull the good, the pure, the beautiful, From graven stone and written scroll, From all old flower-fields of the soul; And, weary seekers of the best, We come back laden from the quest, To find that all the sages said Is in the Book our mothers read.” How true!

But there is a problem in our troubled world and some have no interest in the “gift of peace”! In Jeremiah 6:10 the prophet heard God speak: “To whom shall I speak and give warning,that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot heed. Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it.” As a result God said in verse 14, “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace.”

You do understand that there are multitudes who believe they have peace because they’re free to do as they please, they think they have peace because they’re able to go from one sinful pleasure to the next, able to immerse themselves in lascivious madness, able to dance the dance of frivolity – no worth, no value, no eternal importance, just immersed in triflingness and silliness and sinfulness as a ‘part of the crowd’! “Peace, peace!” when there is no peace!” Yet the ‘play-actors’ of the modern day spiritually are those planted in the “hot-beds of hypocrisy”, meaning even some preachers who say, “Do as I say – not as I do”!

“THE GIFT OF PEACE FOR A TROUBLED WORLD”? Aroused to evangelize? In Romans 3:21-24 we read, “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Troubled world? Because of sinful, Godless hearts! And the church has no mandate about that? Preachers of churches today have no biblical basis to raise up a church that evangelizes?

Troubled world? Because of Christ-less lives! But the eternal gospel of the grace of God is an ineffective ministry? The eternal gospel is now bankrupt and void of saving grace?

Troubled world? Because “justification” by many in the church is unimportant since they want the stain of sin remaining upon their religious cover with no real desire to live the victorious life over sin! Justification is what? Acceptance by God “just as if I’d never sinned”because of the power of the Blood Jesus shed on the Cross!

Troubled world? Hear Oswald Chambers! [“My Utmost For His Highest”, p.247], “The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the revelation which it brings is not palatable. There is a certain pride in man that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom, I will give myself in consecration, I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ….As long as we are rich [in ourselves!] possessed of anything in the way of pride or independence, God cannot do anything for us.”

Troubled world? Aren’t you aware that there is across the broad border of humanity a total disinterest in any expression of respect for or even a little love and appreciation of Him? His holiness, His righteousness, His purity, seems to the worldly to call for an obligation they are not willing to accept.

Troubled world? Don’t you know divine demands spoil a man’s self-determining control? Surrender? Submit? Obey? Follow His lead? “I’m self-willed, self-motivated, self-controlled, and I’ll determine for myself what I am, what I wish to do, and what I know I’m capable of! Who needs God?”

Oh, but hear me! The heart of this chapter is: Evangelize – Because of the Gift of Peace For a Troubled World! The troubled world is not the heart of ministry but the heart of God is the Gift of Peace!

What does Jeremiah 29:11 tell us? God speaking, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Do you receive it? “Thoughts of peace and not of evil.”

In John 14:25-27 Jesus is speaking to us, to you, to our world: “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

What an awesome word from our Loving Lord whose passion is YOUR PEACE! Haven’t you noticed? He speaks to instill heavenly peace in every man! Nothing distracts Jesus – He grants peace! Nothing deters Jesus – He desires your perfect peace! Nothing disturbs Jesus – “Let not your heart be troubled”!

I don’t know who wrote it but it speaks a powerful word to me: “Oh how sweet to view the flowing of my Savior’s precious blood, With divine assurance knowing He has made my peace with God.”

In Philippians 4:6-7 Paul tells us: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

That’s peace on your life, on your brain, on your walk of faith, on your family, on your marriage relationship, on your friends and neighbors, on your nation, on your witnessing ministry, on your missionary activity, on your maturing growth in the fullness of Christ!

But I believe also that a soul-saver is a peacemaker! Extending His Life, expressing His love, proving His power to save is a great calling and great ministry! And I don’t believe God will keep in perfect peace voiceless witnesses!

It is so true that peace is not the absence of spiritual warfare, but because of peace in the inner man, that man wants to fight the good fight of faith and extend Jesus’ Kingdom in the hearts of others.

It was Henry van Dyke, in “What Peace Means,” who wrote: “The Bible teaches us that there is no foundation for enduring peace on earth, except in righteousness; that it is our duty to suffer for that cause if need be; that we are bound to fight for it if we have the power; and that if God gives us the victory we must use it for the perpetuation of righteous peace.” That’s peace in a life, peace in a marriage, peace in a ministry, peace in a church, peace in a home, peace in a city and state, peace in a nation border to border, peace across the world!

John Greenleaf Whittier wrote: “Drop Your still dews of quietness till all our striving cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of Your Peace.”

Yes, it is a peace that passes all understanding! Taste it! You’ll like it!

H.G.Spafford and P.P.Bliss teamed together on the glorious old hymn entitled “It Is Well With My Soul.” It says:

“When PEACE, like a river, attends my way, When sorrows like sea-billows roll; Whatever my lot, You have taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul..

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And has shed His own blood for my soul..

My sin – oh, the bliss of this glorious thought – My sin – not in part, but the whole, Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul..

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, ‘Even so’ – it is well with my soul..

It is well…with my soul…It is well, It is well with my soul.”

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

“EVANGELISM – THE GIFT OF PEACE FOR A TROUBLED WORLD!!”

I pray this deepens your understanding of the heart of God through His gift of peace and deepen your reverence for His holy Name! I pray your devotion, commitment, and sharing of His mission will intensify, and that YOU “rest” in the confidence and assurance that His Word though you will find fertile ground in the hearts of troubled men that you touch!

CHAPTER ELEVEN

EVANGELISM – ANGELIC REJOICING

I don’t exactly know the time, maybe 15-20 years ago, Dwayne Weehunt and his wife, Leslie, and I, had felt led to travel to the most central city of India to lead a pastors’ conference. It was held in a large English Episcopal church, and we were thrilled to see 600-700 pastors in the meeting.

There was a local India music group leading worship – and for our first time we heard them singing “Hill Song” music out of England – and we were thrilled! We’d never heard “Hill Song” music in America but here we were in Central India hearing glorious song! In the middle of worship I looked to my left toward a side door, and there appeared a shadow of a 10-12 foot “Angel” looking over the packed church! I quietly turned to Dwayne and Leslie to say, “Do you see what I see?” And they said, “Yes!” I told them that presence of an angel was God’s assurance to us that we were going to have an awesome week! I must say to you that this has been, in my 77 years, the only angel I have witnessed, but I know Hebrews 13:2 is TRUTH: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.”

I just want you to know that there is nothing commonplace about being in the presence of God, but when “Angels” appear you have truly stepped into the Holy Presence of God Almighty that the angels bow before and worship! Angelic presence is the assurance that Holy God is at work near you, in you, through you, for His glory and honor.

Angelic presence is not happen-chance but I believe a divine appointment! And I surely don’t believe “angelic presence” is just man’s ‘active energy’ trying to express itself in redemptive fashion! Through angelic presence God Almighty is stamping His name, His purpose, and His calling upon the ‘chosen’s’ life! And many a man has witnessed personal life change because an angel of God appeared!

Omnipresence, though it needs no re-enforcement, is “super-charged” by the presence of God’s angelic armies! Isn’t it written that “He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”? And, I tell you, I’m convinced that “shadow of the Almighty” is a strong angelic presence!

There is much rejoicing when a man knows he is in the omnipresence of holy God “super-charged” by that, yes, presence of divine angels! That’s not the commonplace but the very celestial, not a deceiving presence but divine presence. If “the pure in heart” shall see God, is it His divine will that men see and receive angelic ministry?

John Calvin, in “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” wrote: “The angels are the dispensers and administrators of the Divine beneficence toward us; they regard our safety, undertake our defense, direct our ways, and exercise a constant solicitude that no evil befall us.” Amen?

Do you grasp one who is an “overseer”? The Random House Collegiate Dictionary defines an “overseer” as a ‘supervisor’ or like an ‘overseer of a plantation’ – and it’s sure God wants you super-productive in the “fruit of the Spirit” – so He assigns us an angel or two!

In Genesis 28:10-12 we read about Jacob: “Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”

Question! A dream or a divine visitation by holy angels? An assurance of God’s oversight through the angels or just fictitious imagination? Jacob named the place Bethel which means ‘house of God,’ but you’re unsure the ‘house of God’ houses angels?

If you haven’t learned it yet in your own life, you need to hear it now! God is intent in watching over you, protecting you, yes, even fighting for you at times in spiritual warfare that you, more than likely, were totally unaware! If man was made ‘a little lower than the angels,’ are they high enough over us and strong enough to protect, even if we don’t know they’re there in our time of trouble?

I love what John Milton wrote in “Paradise Lost,” [Book VII, L. 569]! He wrote: “For God will deign to visit oft the dwellings of just men Delighted, and with frequent intercourse Thither will send His winged messengers on errands of supernatural grace.”

In Isaiah 40:1 God says: “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God; and do you believe that included in the command of holy God is instruction for the ministry of angels? If a word of encouragement is needed on the spot, in the height of an anxious moment, as his people are being squeezed by the powers of darkness, or stress on the job or in the marriage, does God send an angel to you?

In Psalm 91:11 the Holy Word says, unbeliever, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Interference just may be divine interference from God for the saving of your soul, your marriage, or even maybe your ministry!

Do you remember or recall Daniel in the lions’ den? Daniel was not a weak man but strong in his faith, and even though in that lions’ den, there was a calmness and a peace because of assurance that God was with him and stronger than any earthly lion he faced. But weak men are not confident but fearful, not troubled by shallow regrets but assured of holy presence, not at peace but living in an agitated state explained by the absence of God in their lives, and, certainly no angels to help! But Daniel 6:22 says, “My God has sent His angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me…” That’s why Hebrews 11:33 tells us: “Through faith…shut or stopped the mouths of lions.”

In Maclaren’s “Exposition of Holy Scriptures,” including Daniel, [pps. 82-83], Maclaren writes: “Faith may or may not bring external deliverances, such as it brought to Daniel; but the good cheer which this story brings us does not depend on these. When Paul lay in Rome, shortly before his martyrdom, the experience of Daniel was in his mind, as he thankfully wrote to Timothy, ‘I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.’ He adds a hope which contrasts strangely, at first sight, with the clear expectation of a speedy and violent death, expressed a moment or two before (‘I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come’) when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver me from every evil work’; but he had learned that it was possible to pass through the evil and yet to be delivered from it, and that a man might be thrown to the lions and devoured by them, and yet be truly shielded from all harm from them. So he adds, ‘And will save me unto His heavenly kingdom,’ thereby teaching us that the true deliverance which carries us into, or something nearer towards, the eternal home. Thus understood, the miracle of Daniel’s deliverance is continually repeated to all who partake of Daniel’s faith, ‘Thou hast made the Most High your habitation…you shall tread upon the lion and adder.’”

This isn’t ‘personal wisdom,’ but a partial insight that he stood upon, and, as a result birthed full faith to face in peace even the wild beasts! But I know you are aware that many men will not allow themselves to be: “Touched By An Angel”!

I was reading Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem, “The Two Voices,” in his “Tennyson’s Works,” [p.31]; “I said, ‘When first the world began, Young Nature thro’ five cycles ran, and in the sixth she moulded man.

‘She gave him mind, the lordliest proportion, and, above the rest, dominion in the head and breast.’

Thereto the silent voice replied: ‘Self-blinded are you by your pride; Look up thro’ night: the world is wide.

‘This truth within your mind rehearse, That in a boundless universe Is boundless better, boundless worse.

‘Think you this mould of hopes and fears Could find no statelier than his peers in yonder hundred million spheres?’

It spake, moreover, in my mind: ‘Tho’ you were scattered to the wind, Yet is there plenty of the kind.’

Then did my response clearer fall: ‘No compound of this earthly ball Is like another, all in all.’

To which he answered scoffingly: ‘Good soul! Suppose I grant it to you, Who’ll weep for your deficiency?

‘Or will one beam be less intense, When your peculiar difference is canceled in the world of sense?’

I would have said, ‘You cannot know,’ But my full heart, that worked below, Rained through my sight its overflow.

Again the voice spoke unto me: ‘You are so steeped in misery, Surely t’were better not to be.

‘Your anguish will not let you sleep, Nor any train of reason keep; You cannot think, but you will weep.’”

And as I read this ‘poem’ of Tennyson, I wondered, “how many men ‘cannot know,’ ‘will not know’, because one becomes cemented in fleshly reason rather than divine revelation?” “How many worldly men will entertain “demons” but deny angelic presence around them?” How many men, yes, worldly men, will shun angels and entertain the demons of Hell? Sadly, even in the ‘church’, supposedly ‘godly men’ will welcome the devil and in a pretense and sham and false profession deny the Savior and close the door on Him! Didn’t Jesus say to some churches, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock”? Why? Because some prefer the demons over the Divine Jesus – their profession is a sham and a pretense and counterfeit acknowledgement!

But not the angels! In Revelation 5:11-12 we read, “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”

And the Worthy Lamb makes available to you multitudinous blessings as an overflow of His mind and heart for you! And if it’s true of Jesus and us, is it true of the angels and is it their desire, their mission, their ministry, to pour out on YOUR LIFE power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing out of the very overflow of God’s heart?

Revelation 7:9 tells us of the heavenly host – and I have no doubt it is the enormous number of born-again believers through the blood of Christ, but also a host of angels who celebrate Christ Jesus! “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands..” And they’re blessing Jesus!

Do you even sense or believe that Almighty God is concerned about you after you die? “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment.” But listen to Jude 9! “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke you.” Yes! Angels even contending and protecting our dead bodies – they’ll not be defiled by even a touch of the devil or one of his demons! Spurgeon said that “the guardianship of the bodies of the saints by angels proves that they shall rise again from the dead,” and raising our bodies from the dead to receive glorified bodies puts true believers in the praise and worship mode! Without Christ as Lord and Savior unbelievers receive the cruelty of the devil and his demon powers! That is not a good thing!

Why? Matthew 25:41 is Jesus telling us why one should not desire death as an unbeliever but a true believer washed in the blood of the Lamb. Jesus describes what is ahead for one who denies Saving Faith, Divine Grace, and Amazing Mercy: “Then he says to them on his left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

The devil and his angels? Remember! They rebelled and appointed themselves to be the head and the fallen angels controlling eternal hell! They reign in eternal pain, eternal darkness, eternal fire…and not a word of protest is allowed! A fallen angel and an unbelieving evil spirit share an eternity in a forever suffering mode!

In 2 Peter 2:4-14 the anointed disciple has shared a strong word for fallen angels and unbelievers! He wrote: “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those afterward who would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) – then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.”

Have you come to a full understanding of what it means, even if you were angel-like, to hear those painful words? “Depart you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels?” How scary to me, how frightening – yes, a divine ‘wake-up’ call! But many ignore Holy Scripture, ignore the words of Jesus, and ignore the evangelists’ powerful voices and words!

I close this chapter with words from the great English preacher of the past, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” [pps. 274-275],

“Many of you will go away and laugh, and call me, as I remember once being called before, “a hell-fire parson.” Well, go; but you will see the hell-fire preacher one day in heaven, perhaps, and you yourselves will be cast out; and looking down thence, with reproving glance, it may be that I shall remind you that you heard the Word, and listened not to it. Ah! Men, it is a light thing to hear it; it will be hard enough to bear it. You listen to me now unmoved; it will be harder work when death gets hold of you, and you lie roasting in the fire [and cannot, will not die, forever!!]. Now you despise Christ; you won’t despise Him then. Now you can waste your Sabbaths; then you would give a thousand worlds for a Sabbath if you could but have it in heaven. Now you can scoff and jeer; there will be no scoffing or jeering then; you will be shrieking, howling, wailing for mercy; but: ‘There are no acts of pardon passed in the cold grave to which we haste; But darkness, death, and long despair, Reign in eternal silence there.”

Where? There! With Satan and his demon-angels! With Satan in eternal darkness in the death that will not die!

But in Christ Jesus, as one is translated into His eternal Presence, there is the hosts of heaven filled with born-again believers and ten thousand times ten thousands of thousands of angels – and you, in Christ, celebrate with them!

Shakespeare, in “Hamlet,” [Act V, sc.2, I. 371] wrote: “And flights of angels sing you to your rest!” Yes! In “Hymn to the Beautiful” Richard Henry Stoddard wrote:

“Around our pillows golden ladders rise, And up and down the skies, With winged sandals shod, The angels come, and go, the Messengers of God.” Amen?

What did Hebrews 13:2 tell us? “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”!!**

CHAPTER TWELVE

EVANGELISM – HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTING

There are two quotes that I want to begin this chapter with because wiser men than me have witnessed the awesomeness and compassion of the Holy Spirit in mighty ways. The first quote is Henry Ward Beecher who once wrote: “I should as soon attempt to raise flowers if there were no atmosphere, or produce fruits if there were neither light nor heat, as to regenerate men if I did not believe there was a Holy Ghost.”

The second quote is E. Paul Hovey’s writing: “The word “comforter” as applied to the Holy Spirit needs to be translated by some vigorous term. Literally, it means “with strength.” Jesus promised His followers that “The Strengthener” would be with them forever. This promise is no lullaby for the faint-hearted. It is a blood transfusion for courageous living.”

My heart literally breaks because I sense in the Church in America an almost complete abandonment of evangelism through, yes, a refusal to accept and be led by the Holy Spirit! Many believe the “Spirit-filled, Spirit-controlled life” is something freakish that they want no part of!

In Acts 19:1-6 we learn about religious men who were void of a Spirit-filled life! It says: “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with other tongues and prophesied.”

The Holy Spirit? We serve a Triune God! God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit! Same God but expressed in three powerful ways: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit? J.B. Phillips, in “Plain Christianity,” [p.104, Epworth Press, 1957], wrote: “Every time we say, ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit,’ we mean that we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.”

But one of the early tragic words about the Holy Spirit is found in Genesis 6:3 where God speaks: And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh [or fallen sin nature!].” And I wonder now, in the 21^st Century, what God is presently saying as He looks down on a world of rebellion and disobedience, multitudinous lives void of Saving Grace and the in-filling and anointing of the Spirit of God! Will He still strive with humanity?

Also one wonders about even the ‘Church’ in these last days. Are the spiritual movements of today really the signature of the Holy Spirit or simply the best efforts of religious activity? Please, please, tell me of the supernatural, the heavenly anointing, the miraculous activity of the Holy Spirit who is truly welcomed!

In John 16:13-15, Jesus is speaking: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”

I WANT YOU TO SEE FIRST THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO CONVICT US OF SIN FOR WHICH CHRIST DIED! Earlier in John 16 Jesus said the following: Verses 5-11, “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

Do you understand that when Jesus spoke these words He was fully aware of the sin nature in us all that weakens, destroys eternal intent in us, and causes that sin nature to put the sentence of death upon us all? And around you is a world filled with the walking dead – spiritually – who desperately need re-birth into Christ’s Kingdom! Romans 6:23, “..For the wages of sin is death..” Front row of a church, platform, hospital, university, high school, grammar school, busy business, the athletic fields of endeavor – “the wages of sin is death!”

In Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.248], he wrote the following: “The pietistic movements of today have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them; there is nothing about them that needs the Death of Jesus Christ; all that is required is a pious atmosphere, and prayer and devotion. This type of experience is not supernatural or miraculous, it did not cost the passion of God, it is not dyed in the blood of the Lamb, not stamped with the hall-mark of the Holy Ghost; it has not that mark on it which makes men say, as they look with awe and wonder – ‘That is the work of God Almighty.’ That and nothing else is what the New Testament talks about.”

Have you come to an understanding of “the blood Atonement”? In I John 1:6-7 we read: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Oh, and then verse 8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Are you walking in darkness or have you chosen to walk in the Light? Darkness hides – Light reveals! Darkness deceives – Light unveils the Truth! Darkness binds – Light releases! Darkness enslaves – Light opens the prison door! Darkness binds – Light frees! Darkness declares fleshly perfection, no need of a Savior – Light declares ‘You shall know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free!’

THE “OIL” OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OURS FOR HEALING GRACE! In James 5:14-16 we read: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

I do not know how one who has been healed body, soul, and spirit, has nothing to rejoice about. Healing grace is the handiwork of God through His Holy Spirit! In Psalm 45:7b, the psalmist said: “Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than your companions.”

Our bodies are not for selfish purposes, but for saintly praise! Our bodies are not for our fleshly conveniences but for Godly glory and honor! Our bodies are not for the housing of selfish ambition but for the Savior’s exaltation! Our bodies are called in the Word as “the temples of the Holy Spirit”! And He doesn’t abide there for our convenience but for Christ’s glory, honor, and praise!

In Romans 8:26 God’s Holy Word says, “We know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.”

And His purpose through us is “Healing Grace”! Are you “God’s House”? But Jesus said to some, “My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

The body of Jesus was bruised, broken, beaten, and bled – and the Spirit of God comes to anoint us with that oil of gladness for healing grace for all those around us. We’re not freed by His blood to live in self-determination, self-will, or self-initiative, but redeemed to spread the oil of gladness and healing to a sick society! God’s intent through the death of Christ on the Cross, through His Resurrection, and through the coming of the Holy Spirit, was to take us, transform us, and shape us in the perfect Image of Christ as ‘Healers” through the power of His Holy Spirit!

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO ANOINT US AND UNVEIL FOR US THE VERY WISDOM OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF A CLUELESS WORLD!

In I John 2:20 we read, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” We know ‘all things’? I’m afraid I haven’t arrived there yet, but I am on a journey, and day by day the Father unveils for me His good, acceptable, and perfect will.

Sometimes we don’t know because we never ask! I was a football player in high school and college – and I’m telling you, if a player didn’t know but he asked the coach, he got the good answer!

In John 14:25-26 we read, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Have you felt in your seeking, in your walk toward Christ, a sensitiveness concerning your witness to others, and then all of a sudden there is a prompting of the Holy Spirit, and you know what to say and what to do in touching others with God’s grace and mercy? Your walk as a witness in a clueless world is not through self-effort but Spirit-anointing!

You do understand – a “witness” to the lost that is fruitful is a witness empowered by the Holy Spirit like a rushing mighty wind! It is Holy Presence, Holy Power, and Holy Purpose! The wisdom of God leads one to a life of witnessing grace and mercy.

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO ANOINT US AND EMPOIWER US AND TO LEAD US IN BIBLICAL EVANGELISM AND GRACED WITNESSING!

In Acts 1:8 we read: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

We read in Acts 2:32, “This Jesus God has raised up of which we are all witnesses.” And biblical witnesses of His saving grace are not well-trained actors but truly “rivers of living water” that flow through them to the thirsty, the dry, the spiritually lifeless, the alienated and separated from God, who need a “saving witness”!

True disciples are not those who live unto themselves but understand “living sacrifice,” “living witness,” “living representative” of the Resurrected Christ! Hear me! I know that many, many churches never train their followers to be witnesses, to evangelize, to share their redemptive faith with others. If so, seek help! If so, reach out! If so, pray through! Whatever it takes for you, be the witness of reconciliation power!

Will you be ‘broken bread’ for the unsaved? Will you be the poured-out wine of redemptive grace and mercy to others? What did Jesus say in Matthew 10:27? “What I tell you in darkness, that speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach that upon the housetops.”

In I Corinthians 1:17 Paul tells us, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” That’s to announce the good news. That’s to proclaim redemptive Truth. That’s the commission as His ambassador to represent Him in hostile nations. That’s to reach out to the one lost in total rebellion to God, hostile to Christ, resisting the church – that’s the ones disillusioned by religious activity, the ones unmoved by one’s devotion to Christ and His Word, yes, even totally untouched by the Gospel because they’ve never heard it!

Do you understand those “outside the camp”? I want to remind you that the way to Calvary’s Cross was by way of Gethsemane, by way of hostile city streets, by way of denouncers, by way of individuals whose aim was to resist Christ Jesus, not rest in Him – but some did!

But you as a “believer”? You, we, all disciples – “We are laborers together with God!” We’ve put our hands to His plow, and we won’t look back, stand aside, or refuse to do His bidding! We are His servants, we are His people, we are His family, and we are His earthly representatives, yes, extensions of His Life, expressions of His love, and the very proof of His power! We are His!

We’ll not deny our ministry, we’ll not refuse His command, we’ll not evade our field of work, we’ll not be AWOL from the field of battle, we’ll not divorce our Lord’s will for our lives as living witnesses!

If I said to you that it is not easy being a witness in and of yourself – and I don’t believe that’s our Lord’s plan anyway, but it’s Christ in us who is the hope of glory – not us! But we make ourselves available to Him as empty vessels and we ask Him to fill us up with all we need to be that faithful witness! And it’s true as Seneca said: “Gold is tried in fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.” The furnace of adversity is an unbelieving world into which our Lord leads us to be His witness!

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO SO FILL REPENTANT BELIEVERS WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT THEY BECOME INTERPRETIVE EXAMPLES TO ALL UNBELIEVERS THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH!

Paul lays it out so clearly for us in Ephesians 5:15-21 when he wrote, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; BUT BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

Interpretive examples are not believers acting impulsively but believers who are inspired, infused, and in-flamed by the Holy Spirit to touch unbelievers they are sovereignly led to witness to about “Amazing Grace”. It is not one being ‘heroic’ to witness to unbelievers but one being ‘obedient’ to Him because of our Lord’s compassion being expressed through us!

The supreme privilege of discipleship is that God has chosen to express through redeemed believers His great love for the unredeemed! “God so loved the world” that in and through His Son and the Savior’s disciples the Holy Spirit would bear witness of one being delivered from the guilt of sin, delivered from meaninglessness, delivered from darkness and overflowing with Light, bringing them to that holy place of glorying only in the Cross of Christ!

What did Paul write in Romans 8:16-17? “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Do you understand it? Do you receive it? “The Spirit bears witness…”! If we determine to ‘witness’ apart from the Spirit our witness bounces off deaf ears, but if the Spirit witnesses through us, unbelievers have their ears and eyes opened to the Eternal Truth. We are not to be highly educated witnesses in the flesh or witnesses through our common sense or just natural abilities of well-trained flesh, but truly Spirit of God anointing with the Spirit Himself bearing witness through our spirit to unbelievers! “New creations,” anointed by the Spirit, become announcers of God’s great love, and share with alienated people how to be reconciled to God through Christ’s shed blood, and the witness of the Holy Spirit convicting them of sin, righteousness and judgment to come.

In I Corinthians 9:22 Paul said, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” He then said, “Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

This is why in John 20:21 Jesus said: “As My Father has sent Me, even so send I you.” Here’s how Oswald Chambers interpreted this verse in his famous book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.222], “When looking back on the lives of men and women of God the tendency is to say – ‘What wonderfully astute wisdom they had! How perfectly they understood all God wanted!’ The astute mind behind is the mind of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God’s wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God.” Amen?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

EVANGELISM – BECAUSE OF A WORLD CULTURE CAPTURED BY SATAN

In Acts 26:12-19, Paul the Apostle shared his testimony with King Agrippa after his accusers had told him that Paul was not fit to live any longer, basically because he had turned from Judaism to salvation in and through Christ Jesus. He said:

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. ‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, AND FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision..”

I know you didn’t miss it! The world, fleshly men, unbelievers, who have chosen independence from God are under full control of Satan and the powers of darkness, and if you didn’t know who these powers are, you need to know their Satan’s army called ‘demons’!

Evangelism – Because Of A World Culture Captured By Satan! And that’s a meaningless, unimportant statement to you, just one of those ‘religious lies’ you refute and deny? Remember, the day is coming when you will stand before Holy God, before the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, to give an account of your denial of His saving grace and an account of your disbelief in Satan’s power, yes, to deceive even you!

You don’t believe that the world around you, the world you are a part of, is a battle-field of devilish, demonic activity? In John 10:10 our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, said: “The thief comes only TO STEAL, TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY!” The thief is Satan and his demon powers!

In Mark 5:1-16 there is one of the most sobering sections of Scripture you’ll ever read! The translation I’m using is Peterson’s “The Message.” He wrote: “They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes. As Jesus got out of the boat, a madman from the cemetery came up to Him. He lived there among the tombs and graves. No one could restrain him – he couldn’t be chained, couldn’t be tied down. He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but he broke the chains, snapped the ropes. No one was strong enough to tame him. Night and day he roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming out and slashing himself with sharp stones. When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before Him – then bellowed in protest, ‘What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don’t give me a hard time!’ (Jesus had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, ‘Out! Get out of the man!’) Jesus asked him, “Tell Me your name.” He replied, ‘My name is Mob. I’m a rioting mob.” Then he desperately begged Jesus not to banish them from the country. A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs so we can live in them.” Jesus gave the order. But it was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned. Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in the town and country. Everyone wanted to see what had happened. They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man.” Madness through Satan! Mercy through Jesus!

Do you remember Jesus saying to Simon Peter in Luke 22:31, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat?” And there’s been a whole lot of “sifting” going on! The thief (Satan) comes to kill, steal, and destroy! It happened to Jesus Himself. In Luke 4:1-2 the Word says, “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL.” And you think you don’t have to be concerned about devilish influences coming against you?

Paul told the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:3), “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” If there is no devotion to Christ in YOUR earthly walk, be assured you’re under the control of Satan himself! Have you ever witnessed one led astray by the powers of darkness? Then in verse 4 Paul laid it out how some, through the craftiness of the devil’s deception, embrace “another Jesus…a different spirit… or a different gospel.”

John described this battle-front like this, (Revelation 12:15-17), “And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman (Bride of Christ!), so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood (a flood of words, speculations, doubts, lies). And the earth helped the woman and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

That flood out of the devil’s mouth is the perverting of the holy truths of God’s Word. It’s a flood of denials about the need of blood redemption: “You’re not ‘lost’; you’re not ‘separated from God’ in your sin; you’re not depraved in your nature; you don’t need the Lamb of God – you’re a winner, you’re smart, you’re an elite rendition of perfect manhood; you don’t have to look to Jesus – look inward to yourself!”

This is why Paul wrote the Corinthian church (2Corinthians 4:3-4), “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” In fact, the beloved John wrote (I John 5:19), that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” THAT’S THE DEVIL HIMSELF, THE DECEIVER, THE DESTROYER – YOUR ENEMY! And he rules over “the domain of darkness.”

It was Cotton Mather in “A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World” who wrote: “That there is a Devil is a thing doubted by none but such as are under the influences of the Devil. For any to deny the being of a Devil must be from an ignorance or profaneness worse than diabolical.”

I often feel or sense in my spirit that far too many Christians ignore the spiritual warfare of faith. I believe it’s why Paul warned the church at Ephesus, (Ephesians 4:27), “and do not give the devil an opportunity, or area of occupation, or ‘toe-hold.’” And in the context of that verse, before and after, Paul talked about lying, anger, stealing, rotten words out of the mouth, unforgiveness, slander, grieving the Holy Spirit! And we don’t see how “the Thief” operates?

Hear me! Hear me with all your heart, soul, and mind! There is “Victory In Jesus”, victory over your arch-enemy, the devil and his demons! You ‘in Christ’ are more than conqueror through Christ! In Hebrews 2:14-15 we read, “Since then the children share in flesh and blood [covenant], He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

Did it say that Jesus rendered powerless the one who had the power of death? Did it say that Jesus delivered men and women of faith from spiritual slavery to Satan? In Christ Jesus you have Victory over the Devil!

There is that ‘invisible war’ going on right now! The ‘hellish’ forces wage war against the Lamb of God and His faithful ones. But the Lamb of God, the blood of the Lamb of God, overcomes His enemies because “He is Lord of lords and King of kings.” The eternal battle is finished – Christ is Victor over the Devil!

In Revelation 12:9-11 we read, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Yes, you may be concerned about your own welfare concerning your warfare with the Devil, but understand he is a defeated foe – there is NOTHING Almighty about the Devil! He may possess an infectious, sick spirit, but our Healer, the Lord Jesus, possesses the divine prescription, His own precious blood! God has given us the victory over the Devil through the person of Christ Jesus – He is more than conqueror!

Oh, the Devil will accuse you, but the accusations about you from the Devil were washed clean by the blood the Lamb. Satanic accusation is unceasing but we walk in a new and living way, boldly entering the presence of the Almighty, brought near by Jesus’ shed blood. Our foundation of faith has provided a divine fountain of fire-power over devilish activity and a saving shield of security over any devilish accusation. Again, what is our victory over the Devil? “The blood of the Lamb and by word of their testimony, and they don’t love their lives even to the death!”

It was C.S. Lewis who once said: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because of it I see everything else.” And certainly the Devil comes to us in distressing disguises but the Spirit of Christ exposes him instantly for us to view his defeated status!

Satan will cast doubt on the Word of God but God’s Word is eternal! Satan is, yes, even a stickler for legalism apart from grace, mercy, and love! Satan promotes your hopelessness but Romans 5:5 says, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Satan denies your ‘election’, accusing you of falling short, defining you as chief of sinners, yes, even when you’ve been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb! Satan confesses “lies” not eternal truths, Satan twists the Truth and misuses Holy Scripture; Satan fights for what he “thinks” is his, he induces embittered souls to embrace sadness before they find joy, he’s the master of anxiety, worry, fear, and discouragement; Satan majors on shifts of spiritual eye-contact from Christ Jesus to one’s self; Satan promotes meriting – and you don’t measure up; Satan majors on thorns, briars, unplowed, unseeded fields; Satan is so filled with such displeasure when one begins to speak about the love of God, BUT…

Romans 5:8 declares for you and me, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I John3:8b says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

In Luke 10:17-20 we read, Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Hear me! It’s not big words of big talkers that ought to impress you, but big deeds of denying Satan’s influence in your life and daily being one who lifts high the precious Name of Jesus, the name above all names!

In I Corinthians 1:4-9 we find such important words of encouragement for every true believer! It says: “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, EVEN AS THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST WAS CONFIRMED IN YOU, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

It is unceasing from an unbelieving world, from intellectual arrogance, and, yes, from Satanic attacks, that men and demons devise all sorts of treacherous lies to assault your faith, even calling believers, true believers, who’ve bound the Gospel of Christ to their minds and hearts, men who are filled with vanity and pride to their own detriment! Not so! But in Christ, day by day, even though attacked, assaulted, and abused by Satan and the powers of darkness, you can honor the Lord and Savior by fresh power and anointing in and through the abiding presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

When the writer wrote, “God plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm,” I’ve often wondered if he was writing about having his own footsteps planted in that stormy sea of Satanic opposition, assured of victory through the finished work of Christ at the Cross, and so blessed that God is able to see him through Satanic storms!

Demonic assaults can alter one’s outer countenance because it is a life or death war that one is waging. Someone wrote, I do not know who, the following words: “If on my face for His dear name, Shame and reproach shall be, I’ll hail reproach and welcome shame, For He’ll remember me.”

In Christ, you are a child of the King! In Christ, you are a son or daughter of the Holy Family of God Himself! In Christ, willingly you’ve become His servant to serve, His soldier to fight, his soloist to sing the high praises of God!

And if the Devil himself were to decide to oppose you personally, be assured in Christ you are the Winner of any battle you have to wage against Satan and his un-royal family of hellish deviates!

If you’ve been sorely wounded because you crossed into enemy territory and suffered serious consequences, Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [or sorrows].” And many a man has been broken because of sin, rebellion, and giving himself over to that Satanic attack – and it is not the Devil that heals your wounds, but Jesus only who is truly the Great Physician of the hurts, wounds, sickness of a sin-filled life! Jesus is your Healer, your Deliverer, your Savior, and the Lord who loves you!

On down in Psalm 147 we read verses 10-11, “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EVANGELISM – BECAUSE DRY BONES ARE LIFELESS

In Ezekial 37:1-10 there is such an anointed, enlightened, uplifting word from the Living God! It says: The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’” So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.”

The Spirit of the Lord asked Ezekial, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekial wasn’t sure! But God told Ezekial, as He does each one of us reading this book, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves…!”

Spiritual death is real! Alienation from God is real! Not life but ‘living death’ is real in every unbeliever! Human nature lives constantly under the cloud of death and separation from God! In fact, in Romans 7:13-24, Paul shares his life story before Christ raised him from spiritual death! He said:

“Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. FOR I KNOW THAT IN ME (IN MY FLESH – one’s old sin nature!) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” And he said in verse 25, “I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” AMEN?

The ‘grave’ of my dead spirit-life has been revealed! But God tells us, “I will open your graves…!” And all around you are “the walking dead,” dead to God, dead to the Savior, dead to the Holy Spirit, dead to eternal purpose, dead to honoring God through a surrendered life, dead to the high praises of God, dead to rejoicing in Him but so alive in serving the ‘flesh’ and the old sin nature, so pleased to live independently of Him but living so selfishly and, yes, fully for the dark sides of life!

In 2 Kings 7:3-9 is the story of four leprous men which I personally think represents fallen humanity, those alienated and separated from God, those diseased in spiritual death, hungry with no certainty of physical life in their tomorrow! They decided to go into the Syrian camp with the attitude, if they let us live, we live, but if they kill us, we die. But the Syrians were not there and they found food aplenty, silver and gold, treasures they couldn’t ever imagine having in their possession. Then something, yes, eternal began to work in them: “We are not doing right. This is a day of good news, and we remain silent.” They left their self-centered lifestyles for a selfless expression of concern for others other than themselves! That’s “the walking examples” of Christ-like compassion!

The 2 Kings passage so illumines for us our understanding of leprous men in the spiritual realms of life who ‘come to life’ concerned about others. These were ‘weak’ men who came to a life of concern and compassion for others because they were confronted with the truth: “This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent.” It could have been lives perpetuating the spirit of self-preservation, but for them they wanted to help others. It could have been lives overcome by the me, my, mine philosophy, but they realized the death in selfishness.

It would have been so easy for the four leprous men to continue their “leprous ways,” of total unconcern for others – “we’ve got enough trouble on our own without caring for others!”

And how many do you know who live under a dark cloud of ‘self-worship,’ ‘self-fulfillment,’ ‘self-pleasure,’ that thinking and caring about others is the furthest thing from their minds? We may have been redeemed from among men and called out to follow Christ alone, but our Lord certainly never meant that His people were to remain aloof from that world of sinners or as the elect family of God in Christ to be so led out of the dark world they couldn’t take the Light or so concerned about the contamination of evil people and evil surrounding them that compassion, ministry, and witnessing, was excusable! No, a thousand times, “NO!”

God’s people in and through Christ are called to be ‘salt in the earth’ and lights on the hills of the city! In Luke 7:19-23 we read: And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

What have you seen and heard? What is the message you’ve responded to? What is “the right” that YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE A PART OF? Is there such a ministry of “opening the graves” in that walking dead man’s life? Can we truly see “dead men’s bones” coming to Life in Christ? Or do modern-day ‘believers’ compromise biblical truth and ignore “raising the dead”?

Compromising for ‘believers’ is partial obedience that avoids responsibility for a caring ministry like Jesus! Compromising is decaying obedience that brings on even moral deterioration and ministry denial! To compromise is to invite on one’s ‘life of faith’ an absence of blessing, anointing, dreams and visions, and the very voice of Him who says, “Follow Me.” Compromising is ‘death to life,’ steps to rebellion and disobedience, doubts that what Jesus did back then He doesn’t do anymore and “especially through us or me,” and even sure of the cross of Jesus but unsure of me taking up my cross, denying myself, and doing what Jesus did!

Do you remember Jesus’ prayer to His Father in John 17? A portion of it in verses 15-19 tells us: “I do not pray that You, Father-God, should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify [or set apart] them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

The very prayer of Jesus for believing witnesses is to be “in the world” as a witness but not of it. His prayer for believers is “a setting apart” of every believer’s life as His ambassador, His witness, yes, His earthly soul-winner! We have a call on our lives as believers to touch our world with His grace, His mercy, and His love, preaching Christ as a lost man’s only hope!

We’re not religious people – we’re disciples of Christ Jesus! The false religion of even much of what is called “Christianity” is what Spurgeon said: “..religion.. based upon self-will, pride of intellect, and worldly conformity. The world’s religion is as evil as the world’s irreligion.”

But the Christian faith birthed by Christ, by the Holy Word, and by the Holy Spirit, is a spiritual wedding of the Bridegroom, Jesus, and His Bride, the born-again, new creations, sons and daughters, of the Most High God, re-born, washed in the Blood of the Lamb, enveloped in the fullness of Resurrection life, resurrection power, and resurrection hope! To be wedded to Christ is to be married to the very conqueror of death, to be united in the fullness of the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit! To be wedded to Christ is, having been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, to be filled to overflowing in the very cloud of heavenly glory!

When the four lepers looked to themselves they saw the “marred,” the unkept, the hungry, the thirsty, the deprived and the depraved, unfit, unworthy, unwilling to be ‘religious,’ but in God’s faithful provision they found hope, they found purpose, they found an ample supply – and they reached out to their city!

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” Have you looked around you intently to see if those you see can live in Christ? Have you examined your apartment complex, your own up-scale neighborhood, your university campus, your city leaders, your famous athletes, your medical community, your ‘street-walkers,’ your pimps, your drug addicts, your alcoholics?

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” Have you witnessed to the ‘compromising’ preacher or worship leader? Have you challenged the careless seminary professor? Have you reached out to touch with a word of grace the state national leader who has so miserably missed Christ in his walk to prominence?

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” Do you grasp it? Upon you reaching out to someone, death and hell itself hangs in the balance! Have YOU understood? The eternal future and destiny of your closest friend hangs in the balance between heaven or hell!

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” It’s absolutely distressing to me to contemplate believers who never reach out to unbelievers, or never prays for their salvation, or never gives a dime to world missions, the local church, or the prison-jail ministry!

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” We’re not, in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, weird beings and strangers to eternal truths: “Born-again life,” resurrection from the dead, joint-heirs with Christ, ambassadors, witnesses and missionaries and soul-winners – that’s not some off-the-wall idle tale of a twisted mind, but words from God Himself!

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” I believe a very significant question is in order! Are you personally free from responsibility concerning the souls of men, women, boys, and girls that surround you? In Acts 8:4-5 we read, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” “I’ve been born-again – and others around me need to be born-again! I’ve been washed in the blood, freed from the penalty of my sin, indwelt by the resurrected Christ,” but those around you don’t need the message of redemption?

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” The ship of their very life, their marriage, their family, their business, their health – it’s all failing! And for them there is no hope? YOU KNOW BETTER! I’m telling you, their very spirits can be renewed and their suffering souls made glad in the Lord!

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” Luke 8:43-44 is such a powerful word for those whose lives hang between Life or death! It says: “Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of Jesus’ garment. And immediately her flood of blood stopped.” Imagine this situation! She’s been dying for twelve years! But she’s healed!

What about the hopeless one today – not sick of a sickness but sick of an incurable disease called sin that ravages the human life! “Might as well check out – no spiritual hope for me!” But they hear of Jesus! They hear of sins forgiven because of His shed blood! They hear of release from behind spiritual prison bars – chains of enslavement can and will be broken because of His sacrifice at the Cross! Glory!

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” A despairing soul finds hope, a discouraged wife finds help, an addict finds the spiritual power of liberation from addiction, the leprous finds the Great Physician, the enslaved, unregenerate, poisoned adulterer or homosexual or prolific liar or drunkard believes it’s the nature of a soul-disease that has no cure but then hears of God’s mercy through Jesus Christ and is liberated! If you haven’t heard it, you’ll hear it now!! God’s Holy Word holds no hope for hopelessness if one turns and has no desire to burn!

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” The sullen, silent, self-condemned suffers in wave after wave of the stormy sea of guilt fighting valiantly to keep his head above water, struggling, resisting as best he knows how, not knowing God is saying, “Let go! Let Me have My way in your life!” He’s been living under the dark cloud of a destructive delusion that there is no hope for him. But in Matthew 12:31 we read, Jesus speaking, “Therefore I say to you, EVERY SIN AND BLASPHEMY WILL BE FORGIVEN MEN, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.”

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” In Revelation 2:12-13 we read: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: ‘I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” Do you believe you are exempt from living “where Satan dwells”? He’s still around seeking whom he may devour! But “bones live” because we hold fast to the Name above every name; we have not, will not, deny the Savior’s gift of faith, and we will not hide when faithful martyrs are killed!

“CAN THESE BONES LIVE?” Isaiah 33:14-16 is a sacred word of such hopefulness! Yes, these bones will live! It says: “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has seized the hypocrites; Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil. He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks [starting with the Rock of Ages!]; bread will be given him [the Bread of Life?], his water will be sure [the Living Water?].”

Let me close this chapter with a few words from Spurgeon: “A life in which we have shunned the cross of Christ will lead to a state in which we shall miss the crown of glory.” I pray that’s not YOU! I pray you’re one who knows dead bones can live the divine life in Christ fully, victoriously, sweetly, and in a way that gives honor to Him alone!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

EVANGELISM – BECAUSE OUR GOD IS MILITANT!

Do you believe God is militant? Is He a true warrior in the battle for the souls of men? Is Holy God truly aware that men are captives of the powers of darkness and He wants them free, willing to pay the Ultimate Price for their freedom – the Blood of Christ shed at the Cross?

You know it’s true, but maybe at this time or stage of your life you’d rather be a ‘captive’ than “fight the good fight of faith”, and certainly not be a soldier in God’s army to seek to set fleshly captives free from devilish and demonic control!

In I Corinthians 9:7 Paul asked, “Who ever goes to war at his own expense?” And it’s certain in the spiritual war of the ages it cost the Lord Jesus, not us initially, but because He is militant Himself, and He comes to live in YOU, we become “soldiers of the cross”!

Isaac Watts composed the hymn, “Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?” It says: “Am I a soldier of the cross – A follower of the Lamb – And shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His Name? Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease; While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas?…

Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God? Since I must fight if I would reign, Increase my courage, Lord; I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Your word….

Your saints, in all this glorious war, Shall conquer though they die; They view the triumph from afar, And seize it with their eye. When that illustrious day shall rise, And all Your armies shine, In robes of victory through the skies, The glory shall be Thine.”

I know that fallen humanity does not accept the ‘eternal warfare’ for their souls, but from the very moment of the first breath until they’re about to take their last breath, the war for their souls goes on! And, sadly, they’ve not learned that “The Lord God omnipotent reigns!”

In the midst of His omnipotent reigning, a “WAR” is going on! In I Peter 5:8 Peter wrote: “Be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR adversary THE DEVIL walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Then in verse 9 Peter tells us, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

But you are totally unaware that God Himself is militant and has been at war with Satan since he rebelled in Heaven before the world was ever created? You are blind to what goes on before your eyes and you have no discernment about spiritual warfare? Yet there are others around you so alert in their minds, so brave in their spiritual constitutions, that you sense in them “boiling blood” concerning the on-going warfare with the powers of darkness!

Do you understand the valiant in spiritual warfare? Do you sense God giving “medals of spiritual honor” because there are those who display constant deeds of true heroism? We’re not to be disciples of Christ with a chameleon heart and mind easily swayed, changing colors for our moments of self-indulgence!

It was Spurgeon who wrote: [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol.13, p.207], “Unless we deny ourselves, and lay violent hands upon the impulses of our nature, we shall never come to the place where the crowns are distributed to the conquerors.”

To arise with “new life” in Christ is to declare that one is the true “soldier of the Cross,” willing to fight the spiritual powers of darkness until you’re translated into heaven itself! But at the same time there does occur the reality of POW’s, at least for a period of time, and I wonder how many you know who are willing to be chained because of their allegiance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I have no hesitation in saying to you that one of the strangest things of a believer’s fleshly sins is a dislike of witnessing or evangelism. At the same time, I’m sure, that the beginning of true spiritual life is not only trusting what Christ has done for us but standing upon what Christ desires to do through us: “Touch our world with saving grace!”

Colossians 2:15 is so very clear: “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [the Cross!].” That means: “It is finished!” Or, Satan and his demons are to have no power, influence, or disturbance of any true believer’s life! It’s why we hear the inspirational word: “O death! Where is your sting; O grave! Where is your victory?”

I love what David wrote in Psalm 18:28-30, “For You will light my lamp; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” When David speaks about a ‘troop’, he’s referring to well-trained, experienced personnel, who know how to war, yes, against men of faith who are surrendered to the Lordship of Christ! In Christ, you’re marked! In Christ, you’re well-known! And as a result you’ve become the devil’s enemy!

Do you remember the Word telling us, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson”? And just as surely it’s true, “Satan is after you, disciple; the demons are on the move against you, disciple!” Have you ever doubted that Paul was at times sorely troubled because he was a target, and at times, greatly distressed, greatly oppressed?

In Romans 15:30-32 Paul sent a request to the church in Rome: “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.”

If you’re unaware of stress in a true disciple’s walk, I’d question whose ‘gospel’ you signed on for! If ‘trouble’ is a strange word to your walk of faith, I’d examine what I’d been told by that false witness! If heartache because of rejection of your testimony comes your way, be assured – you are on the right path!

If you have a heavy, heavy heart because your witness is resented by a religious establishment around you, if anger is expressed toward you because you exalt saving grace through Christ alone, if you’re taunted by the “spiritually elite” in your community, yes, even denominational hierarchies, take your “rest” and lean on Jesus!

Give consideration to Paul and his passion for the salvation of Israel’s Jewish community who pushed hard for our Lord’s crucifixion! In Romans 10:1-3 read him carefully!

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

Israel’s “zeal” crucified the Lord of glory! Israel’s “zeal” was blind allegiance to untruths rather than allegiance to “THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,” even our Lord and Savior! But Paul’s prayer was intense! He prayed with all his heart for people who were zealous in their thinking but void in their hearts of true grace and mercy. Though they were zealous for God, He knew they’d taken a wrong turn and missed “The Promised Messiah”!

“Established their own righteousness?” “Ignorant of God’s righteousness”? Spurgeon said: “Self-righteousness is bound up in the heart of man as folly or foolishness in the heart of a child.” He later said: “The death of Christ upon the tree was an extravagance – a needless extravagance, if men can be saved without it..”

I pray you’re not one who is out to prove himself to man and God – your militant spirit, without Christ, will get you a ticket not to heaven but Hell itself! I don’t hear too many popular songs being sung about “My Way To Heaven – Me, My, and Mine” – but if you do, those ‘singers’ bust Hell wide open!

God is certainly militant concerning redemption in Christ, but the Devil and his followers are militant in their ‘dominions of death,’ determined to sidetrack anyone hungering after God through Christ! In the same way, worldly people ruled by their old sin natures, are front-line soldiers in the armies of our Lord’s enemies. And many of them surely resent Christ Jesus, targeting Him and His followers, because they’re angry, resentful, deceived, even determined to do as much harm against Christ and His church as they can. But guess WHO comes out the “Winner”! The very Prince of Life, the Resurrected King of kings and Lord of lords, yes, the Eternal Ruler of the ages – His name is Jesus!

In Revelation 12:7-12 we read, “And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Notice out of this Revelation passage you just read God’s militancy! Now salvation and strength have come, the Kingdom of God IS established, the power of His Christ has come, the accuser of the brethren has been cast down, and “WE” overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by our “new born” testimony, not even loving our lives unto death if called for by Holy God!

“In Christ” the repentant, true, re-born, Spirit-anointed, son or daughter of God has prevailed against the very power of Hell himself, the Devil! Do you remember or have you forgotten that the devil couldn’t come against Job without asking permission of God Himself?

James 4:7-10 tells us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

“Big sinners”, encountering and turning to and relying upon “Big God”, find grace and mercy and love stronger than Satan’s accusations and words about you as a hopeless case! What did Isaiah the prophet of God tell us in Isaiah 61:1-3? “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness [or depression]; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

That’s “trees of His righteousness,” not ‘self-righteousness,’ but that which is imparted, implanted, imputed, because of the shed blood of the Lamb of God! That’s God’s war weapon – the blood of Jesus!

The prophet told us in Isaiah 1:18 the words of the Lord Himself, “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Fanny Crosby wrote these famous words, [words copyrighted by Fannie T. Doane ], “Jesus, keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain, Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary’s mountain..

Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and Mercy found me; There the Bright and Morning Star Shed His beams around me..

Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day, With its shadows o’er me. Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden strand, Just beyond the river..

In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.”

The militancy that some folks walk in is that style of ‘faith’ that they hold to that isn’t worth preaching about, dying for, and certainly not worth paying for in total allegiance and surrender!

But God’s militancy? The very death, burial, and resurrection of Christ! It was Raymond MacKendree in “Queens’ Gardens” who wrote: “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our hope today. It is our assurance that we have a living Savior to help us live as we should now, and that when, in the end, we set forth on that last journey, we shall not travel an uncharted course, but rather we shall go on a planned voyage – life to death to eternal living.” Amen?

This is why we in faith and trust lay hold of that eternal hope set before us which is our true anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast!

I’m sure if you are a student of the Word that you are dramatically and powerfully moved by John 17:20-26! Jesus said:

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in you; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

God the Father evangelizes because He is militant! Jesus the Son evangelizes because He is militant! The Holy Spirit evangelizes because He is militant! And His people are to evangelize because, yes, they are militant! “Fight the good fight of faith!” “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”

War may be considered by some to be “the devil’s madness,” but in the journey of life in Christ in the midst of alien people to God and hordes of demons behind them spiritual warfare is essential – it’s not an option! And it is sure the Devil and his demons are ‘foreign’ to God and His people. Be as militant as God!

I close this chapter with brilliant words from Charles Spurgeon, [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol. 17, pps.87-88], “How came all this which we now see and hear? Why this creation? This fall of Adam? THIS REDEMPTION? This church? This heaven? How came it all about? It needed not to have been, but the Father’s love made him resolve to show forth the glory of his Son. The mysterious volume which has been gradually unfolded before us has only this one design – the Father would make known His love to the Son, and make the Son’s glories to appear before the eyes of those whom the Father gave Him. This Fall and this Redemption, and the story as a whole, so far as the divine purpose is concerned, are the fruit of the Father’s love to the Son, and His delight in glorifying the Son. Those myriads, those white-robed myriads, harping to music infinitely deep, what do they all mean? They are the Father’s delight to the Son. That He might be glorified for ever, He permitted that He should bear a human body, and should suffer, bleed and die, so that there might come out of Him, as a harvest comes from a dying and buried corn of wheat, all the countless hosts of elect souls ordained for ever to a felicity exceeding bounds. These are the bride of the Lamb, the body of Christ, the fullness of Him that fills all in all. Their destiny is so high that no language can fully describe it. God only knows the love of God; and all that it has prepared for those who are the objects of it.”

Do you begin to sense fully why God is so militant? And this is why in I Corinthians 9:22 Paul said, “I am made all things to all men, that thereby I might by all means save some.” And we can be assured, “Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and diffuses through us the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” AMEN?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

EVANGELISM – BECAUSE EYES ARE BLIND, EARS DEAF, MINDS COLD!

What is it that so exalts flesh against the Spirit, the temporal against the Eternal, and “every high thing” that lifts fallen humanity against the Living God? There are those things in a man’s sin nature separated from God that so easily erupts in him in opposition to Holy God. He is easily identified as “fallen away” FROM God by an undisciplined human nature. There are deep, deep ditches in the human experience of his natural life that keep him from climbing up and out of his antagonistic entrenchments against the very name of God.

Romans 5:12 defines fallen man’s dilemma. It says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned..” And at the heart of a man’s sin is the determination that he is his own god with “me, my, and mine” as his true boss, doing as he pleases, but of course alienated and separated from Holy God. Idol worship may be a good definition but the idols fallen man worships are self-centered independence, willful rebellion, and an unholy obstinacy.

In Luke 12:15 Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” And He then defined “the rich man” who said in verse 18, “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and goods.” But in Verse 20 God spoke: “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” Then our Lord said, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Fallen humanity is “married” to its flesh [or old sin nature!] with all of its affections and lusts – and married to that old sin nature, too many men are not willing to die to, forfeit, or separate from their independence from God because they love self-rule!

Self-rule births self-righteousness, so why do fallen men hold onto that which is not of God? Because in Jesus only “God made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” And men in sin more often than not have no desire to be free from their sin to become earthly representatives of Holy God! It’s true! Men in the flesh have eyes that are blind, ears that cannot hear, and minds that are cold to biblical Truth!

I want you to look carefully with me concerning EYES THAT ARE SPIRITUALLY BLIND! I’m sure that when you read God’s Word and He mentions ‘blind Israel’ that that spiritual state of mind and heart related not only to physical Israel but to every man, woman, boy, or girl who “will not see” spiritually because they were ‘spiritually’ BORN BLIND! Romans 11:8 says: Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see..”

In I John 2:16 we read: “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, THE LUST OF THE EYES, and the boastful pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.”

In Mark 8 Jesus had given His disciples a serious charge in verse 15 when He said: “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began to try to reason in their childish minds to the point that Jesus said in verse 18, “Having eyes, do you not see?”

I’m sure that you are aware that most men around you have perfect natural eyesight in the 20 – 20 range, but spiritually are totally blind! What is perfect natural eyesight if spiritually you are blind because of spiritual feebleness and tragic unbelief in Holy God and His eternal Word?

In Luke 14:11-14 there is a serious contrast between friends of the world and a friend of God. It says: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the BLIND. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

This is what Paul was talking about in Ephesians 1:18 as he instructed true believers in praying for spiritual wisdom: “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..”

And what about John’s writings in I John 1:1-4! “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life – the life was manifested, AND WE HAVE SEEN, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us – THAT WHICH WE HAVE SEEN and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

I can say to you without hesitation that I have personally witnessed a man and a woman in India who were both physically blind yet they possessed perfect spiritual vision! Spiritual eyesight is true Christ-consciousness! Perfect physical eyesight, 20-20 physical vision? Yet one is “blind” about Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Christ, the Savior of the world?

In Luke 2:25-35 is an amazing testimony of one who “waited for the consolation of Israel..” It says: “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.” And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Have YOUR eyes witnessed Holy God’s SALVATION? But tell me about YOUR EARS! Is evangelism critical because of fallen humanity’s spiritual deafness?

In Psalm 115:4 the psalmist is talking about the futility of idolatry as opposed to one’s trust in Holy God. He says their idols “have ears, but they do not hear,” and then in verse 8 the psalmist speaks heavenly truth about the fallen, “Those who make them [idols] are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.”

This no doubt is why the wise man of Proverbs wrote in Proverbs 23:9, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” That’s a tough call when one realizes that all men determined to live without God are fools! I think we’ll understand this better when we read I Peter 3:12! “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,” and they keep on doing it! Why? Because they are deaf to God’s voice!

But God is so amazing and merciful! I read an anonymous statement today that was so on target: “Every day God makes silk purses out of sows’ ears,” and I don’t know any more ‘piggish’ people than those who shut their ears to our Lord and Savior!

It was Thomas Arnold who said years ago: “The distinction between Christianity and all other systems of religion consists largely in this, that in these others, men are found seeking after God, while Christianity is God seeking after men.” Systems of world religions are men with deaf ears who cannot, have not, will not, listen to the Voice of God! But possessing some religious feelings, they will, independently from God, close their ears to Him and listen to self-ordained thoughts about “my religion”!

Religions of the world are men pampering and adapting fallen flesh to a little higher ground of self-centered morality while the disciples of Christ are “hearing” Jesus say: “You must be born again!” Religions of the world ‘inform’ their collection of ‘believers’ while Christ Jesus transforms the old man to a “new creation,” and lifts that old man out of his deathly spiritual state into the “newness of life” in Christ granting him a “new spirit” in the body of a “new man.”

There is a prophetic word from the Coming Messiah 700 years before His birth! He said in Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. HEAR, AND YOUR SOUL SHALL LIVE; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you – the sure mercies of David.” Are you a “HEARER” of the Good News in Christ? Are you a “listener” to the Voice of the Almighty? Are you convicted because you “hear” your sin cost Jesus His sacrificial death on the Cross?

In Luke 22:53 we see or hear Jesus exposing hypocrisy because He loves us: “When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. BUT THIS IS YOUR HOUR, AND THE POWER OF DARKNESS.” Your hour? The hour of the power of darkness in you? Do you hear that convicting word?

In Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” [pps. 127-128], he wrote: “If you refuse to agree with the fact that there is vice and self-seeking, something downright spiteful and wrong in human beings, instead of reconciling yourself to it, when it strikes your life, you will compromise with it and say it is of no use to battle against it. Have you made allowance for this hour and the power of darkness, or do you take a recognition of yourself that misses out on sin?”

If one does not listen to God’s Word, if one does not hear Truth about his true identity apart from God, if one refuses to hear, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” he/she will find himself/ herself trapped by closed ears to heavenly truth and heavenly help! Are your ears closed to the reality that it was YOU and YOUR SIN that nailed Jesus to the Cross! Hear this!!

Hebrews 12:5-11 says: And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Question! Are your ears trained to “hear” the voice of Sovereign God in an explanation of what He is up to in your life? If there is no inquiry by you, I would assume you could care less whether He is up to disciplining you or not!

I give you a word of warning from Hebrews 12:17! “For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he [Esau] was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”

There is a third examination for us. We’ve seen blind eyes, deaf ears, but what about COLD MINDS TO DIVINE TRUTH AND THE LOVING VOICE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE PROMISED MESSIAH, EMMANUEL?

In Isaiah 26:3 we read, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You.” I do believe that God’s Holy Word is challenging all of us about a mind open to divine truth or closed because of that sinful nature and sorry ungodly professors! Is YOUR MIND stayed on Him?

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Paul writes, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..”

Have you ever given any thought at all to things of the Spirit-realm related to “spiritual starvation” because you’ve never considered the vibrancy or vacating of one’s mind? Spiritual mental aspiration is one of God’s greatest gifts, but sadly many never open the gift!

That gift is not opened by some because they have no desire to bring their thought life into obedience to Christ! Your thought life often is battered by crippling thoughts that come from the powers of darkness not the Lord. Often the thought life is governed by selfish dreams not divine revelation.

What did Paul say in Philippians 3:12-16? “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”

I want you to know that the mind of our Lord and Savior is a mind unafraid, undisturbed, at perfect peace – even as He went to the Cross and died in your place and mine!

Paul challenged us to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..”! Spurgeon said of some believers, “They have been almost powerless for usefulness because they have not taken care of their brains.” Tell me, how is your “brain” as you consider your usefulness to the honor and glory of Christ Jesus? Tell me, do you bring every thought to the obedience of Christ? Is it, “I know” or “I just can’t remember”?

It hasn’t changed. God said, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

EVANGELISM – BECAUSE THE KING OF GLORY COMES SOON!

When you contemplate “man’s ultimate destiny,” it would be wise to ask every man you know, “What then did YOU do with the Man called Jesus Christ?” David Livingston was a very wise man, and before his death he stated: “I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the Kingdom of Christ.”

It was Philip Schaff who said: “Without Christ life is as the twilight with the dark night ahead; with Christ it is the dawn of morning with the light and warmth of full day ahead.” The ‘dawn of morning with the light and warmth of full day ahead’ is our Lord’s precious promise that He is returning to earth the second time!

In Revelation 1:4-8 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia, wrote: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He IS COMING with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.”

If you seriously paused and reflected upon “end times” and began to consider the eternal fate of all men, one MUST settle in his own mind and heart his own readiness or not, but also evaluate whether he cares about others’ ultimate circumstance concerning their relationship to Christ and what their eternal destiny will be!

As I contemplated this chapter of the book you’re reading, I was moved by the Spirit to write these words:

“Glory to our bleeding Lord crowned with a crown of thorns, Beaten, bruised, and stricken brutally, struck with a reed of cruel misery…

Face and back torn, mercilessly shattered, spat upon filthily scattered; Glory to the Lamb so tender and comely, sacrificed faithfully by God so royally;

Raised to the brightness of Eternal Heaven, giving new life in divine leaven; Translated to the throne to represent His own, full-blown in glory, with Light and Life and Love the eternal story.”

In Romans 5:10 Paul was inspired to write this eternal truth: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” And my excitement over this word, (?), “..having been reconciled, we shall be being saved by His life!”, SHALL BE BEING SAVED through all of life here in bodily form and then in eternity continually shaped into His exact likeness and image!

In Romans 5:21 Paul wrote: “so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Peter was no dunce when it came to grasping eternal Truth and Hope. In I Peter 1:13 he wrote: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober [serious minded], and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation [or unveiling] of Jesus Christ.” Is your hope firmly set upon the unveiling of Christ through you?

In I Peter 1:3-5 he said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Did you catch that last statement in your heart as well as your head? “Through faith ‘for salvation’ ready to be revealed in the last time.” I believe our Lord is preparing us for phenomenal spiritual events to be revealed when Jesus COMES THE SECOND TIME!

Yes! In Christ the children of true faith are KEPT! Yes! In Christ the children of faith, though troubled often, prepare to meet Him! Again, in I Peter 1:6-9 Peter said, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved [distressed] by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.”

I love what Charles Spurgeon wrote: [“Spurgeon’s Sermons,” Vol. 17, p.235], “Until omnipotence can be vanquished, until immutability can be changed, until the immortal God can die, not one of His chosen people shall be destroyed.”

Our Lord, through Paul, gives us undying hope through our personal relationship to Jesus Christ! In Galatians 2:20 he wrote: “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” What a revelation about why YOU should be so hopeful in Christ’s return! YOU died with Him on the Cross, but you live, and that life living in you now is the very Life of the resurrected Christ! And He says: “I’m coming back!”

I think more often than not many believers miss what the Lord was saying about partaking of the “Lord’s Supper.” In I Corinthians 11:26 we read: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” He is coming again! Do you proclaim the Lord’s death TILL HE COMES? AND HE IS COMING AGAIN!

Jesus told us in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” What an unveiling of eternal joy!

But didn’t we read earlier that “all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him”? What is this mourning all about? You do understand that there is the reality of a godly sorrow for even true believers, but the “mourning”, I believe, is about one’s un-readiness for Him to come the second time! God’s Word tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength, but if the reality is, “His coming is not for me,” then ungodly sorrow rides in one’s saddle, and it irritates and introduces an unceasing pain as the result of one’s unbelief.

But in the ‘eternal saddle’ of repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross, one is prepared, ready, anxious to meet the Lord face to face, while riding in the saddle of unbelief, one mourns the coming of Christ! The saddle of unbelief is the shell of one’s independence from God, willing to pay the eternal price of forever separation from the lover of one’s soul – and the world is filled with them!

Do you understand ‘world dominance’? In I John 2:15-17 the beloved disciple wrote: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Follow carefully I Corinthians 15:20-25! “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order; Christ the firstfruits, afterward THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S AT HIS COMING. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.”

The Kingdom rule of God has always been, and now is even in an earthly domain, and is forever established in Heaven, plus will be easily recognizable when Jesus comes to earth the second time! This is why Jesus said, “Except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Are you aware of Kingdom-rule around you, but more importantly in you?

How does one really know that Christ is King of one’s heart now and that he/she will reign with Him forever in His eternal Kingdom as He comes back to this earth? Paul put it like this in Galatians 5:24, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” How clear is that? A crucified life in preparing for our Lord’s earthly return and preparing to reign with Him is the daily sentence of death to the flesh with its affections and lusts!

Listen to Oswald Chambers! [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p. 256], “It is the things that are right and noble and good from the natural standpoint that keep us back from God’s best. To discern that natural virtues antagonize surrender to God, is to bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us debate with the sordid and evil and wrong, but we do debate with the good. It is the good that hates the best, and the higher up you get in the scale of the natural virtues, the more intense is the opposition to Jesus Christ. ‘They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh’ – it is going to cost the natural in you everything, not something.”

In Hebrews 10:12-14 we read, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified [or set apart].” And YOU are, in Christ, being set apart for His honor! YOU, in Christ, are being prepared, equipped, trained, informed that your Master, your Lord, your Savior, your King is coming soon!

Examine and evaluate your response to Revelation 3:11-14! “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. ‘And I will write on him My new name.’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In Matthew 24:29-31 Jesus tells us of His Second Coming: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Jesus then said in Matthew 25:13, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

I pray you’re brave enough, spiritually stout enough, determined in true heart hunger to know the Truth, and willing to seriously reflect upon Matthew 25:31-46!! Jesus again is speaking:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. [I guess you ought to consider right here: Am I a sheep or a goat?]. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’”

In James 5:8 the brother of Jesus wrote: “You also be steadfast [patient]. Establish [make to stand] your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

I know that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, IS “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” That’s what Peter tells us in I Peter 2:8! But the last part of that verse says, “They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they were also appointed,” and I was brought to a crossroads in understanding and questioning! “…to which they were also appointed”? Is ‘free will’ out the door? Is ‘personal choice’ down the drain? Has the ‘will’ of lost men been savaged? Has that ‘will’ been overruled and men do not choose, but God does?

I Peter 2:7 has interpreted for us Verse 8 when Peter stated a word about “such as disobedience” – All who basically reject God’s Word, all who deny His promises, ‘smash against the Word by being disobedient.’ Yes, individuals stumble against, reject, deny Christ’s word that He brought, and THEY ‘disbelieve’ and appoint themselves in the disobedient state which has a result.

It’s their rejection of Jesus that brings on an eternal result! Luke 2:34 says that Christ Himself is “set for the fall of many, a sign which shall be spoken against” in total unbelief. Unbelief brings on condemnation and one assigns HIMSELF a place in Hell with unbelievers and demons!

But if Jesus is “set for the fall of many,” He is also truly “set for the rising of many” in the fullness of His Resurrection Life, Power, and Hope! Are you steadfast? Have you set yourself to LOOK for His Coming? Will YOU be ready?

And what about those that you know God has assigned to your care? I ask you, right now, remind yourself of Isaac Watts’ words in the hymn “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?” It says:

Alas! And did my Savior bleed? And did my sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?

Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut His glories in, When Christ, the Mighty Maker, died, For man, the creature’s sin.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay The debt of love I owe; Here, Lord, I give myself to You, – It’s all that I can do.”

Just a passing thought! How does the fullness of Christ-realization occur in one’s life of faith if they never consider Christ’s return? Do you even consider “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”? Do you build up “Christ in you the hope of glory”?

From Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.140], read it prayerfully: “The initiative of the saint is not self-realization, but towards knowing Jesus Christ. The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular and sacred; he sees everything he is dumped down in as the means of securing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is a reckless abandonment about him.” Tell me about your “reckless abandonment” in preparation of meeting Christ face to face in His bodily return!

CONCLUSION

This has been quite a journey over the last month or so as this book was being birthed within me. [Ask my wife, Sue!]. When the Living Lord moves on a person with a weighty responsibility, it’s not taken lightly!

Prayer is a heavy part, an attitude of listening to His Voice is Big, watching for His leading is major, hearing Him speak through others, even casually, is masterful revelation and unveiling of His leading!

And when you know that Jesus said the following in John 17:3, your heart beats a rapid beat because you know He’s appointing YOU to take this eternal Truth into a lost and dying world! “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent!”

Remember, as Luke closed out His Gospel, He quoted Jesus in Luke 24:48-49 saying, “And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

I’m so struck with awe as I read Acts 2:1 where the Word says, “When the Day of Pentecost had come [and it has!], they were all with one accord in one place.” To every pastor and every disciple, I tell you, one-accordance births divine opportunity in any local church. And that one-accordance is: “It’s our responsibility to touch our world with the message of repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ!”

Are there still those who say: “Here am I! Send me!” Oh, I truly believe it will happen; I truly believe pastors will once again disciple believers to be “soul-winners”, sharing the love of God in a needy world.

It’s my heart-felt prayer that in these “last days” we’ll see a resurgence of equipping and training and penetration of our needy world!

Doesn’t Acts 2: 47 challenge you personally as a believer and follower of Christ? “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

“You SHALL BE witnesses unto Me…” Is your life fully surrendered as a believer to be His witness? No compromise, no doubt, no fear – just unbridled devotion to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Dr. E.T. Cassel and his wife Flora wrote an old hymn entitled “Loyalty To Christ.” It says:

“From over hill and plain There comes the signal strain, ‘Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ; Its music rolls along, The hills take up the song, Of loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.

O hear, you brave, the sound That moves the earth around, ‘Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ; Arise to dare and do, Ring out the watchword true, Of loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.

Come, join our loyal throng, We’ll rout the giant wrong, ‘Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ; Where Satan’s banners float We’ll send the bugle note, Of loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.

The strength of youth we lay At Jesus’ feet today, ‘Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ; His gospel we’ll proclaim Throughout the world’s domain, Of loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.” AMEN?

By J.Farrell Fisher

July 6-8, 2017

There’s an interesting question Jesus asked while here in His earthly body in Luke 18:8b, “…when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” I’m sure, as a student of the Word, that you’re familiar with Jesus’ words about Old Testament Judaism coming to a close, and how there would be times of great deception, times of great open sin, but it would be foolish to say that Jesus wasn’t concerned about anytime but then when He asked that question!

“Will Jesus, when He comes again, find faith on the earth?” In our time period of human history, are there “good souls unredeemed”? Are there those who’ve never been confronted with why they’re here and why Christ died for them particularly? But we certainly know there are billions of people through history up until now who by His grace, mercy, and love, and through their repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross, have been “born again”, becoming a child of the King, “Godly spirits washed in Christ’s blood”!

Unredeemed souls or Godly spirits washed in Christ’s blood? Flesh-bent or Spirit-birthed? Here-and-now citizens of their fleshly kingdoms or the born-again into the Eternal kingdom of Christ? Devotees of the ancient who live in unbelief or the cherished sons and daughters of faith who live in the “washing”? Devotees of the ancient fallen world loving it more than God or the “renewed spirits” of grace and mercy living, yes, in the eternal in, with, and through the Resurrected Christ and Reigning God Almighty on His Throne? The ‘self-serving’ of the immediate present or the “selfless, crucified with Christ” and living to His glory in the here-and-now, AND to celebrate after earthly death in His eternal Presence around the Throne of God?

Unredeemed souls? Good souls as well as evil souls? “Flesh-achievers” who see no value in you as a believer looking to “Another”? “I believe in the supremacy of my existence without any concern about ‘His supposed plan for my life’?” It’s not a ‘modern-movement’ but birthed when Adam and Eve listened to Satan more than to the God who birthed them! Look through human history – you’ll be shocked by the number of people who lived “dreamless existences” apart from the “dreams of God-blessed, eternal meaning and reality, through the “blood-sacrifice” of the Son of God”!

Unredeemed souls? God-less existence? Masters-of-science but void of THE Master of life? Atheistic and atoned for but an believing one content to live ‘life’ apart from Holy God’s intent? It’s amazing to me what I read in Genesis 9:12-17! And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for the perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant (the rainbow) which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Yet how many godless souls are there who never consider the Sovereignty of God and His mercy toward them, yes, “drowning’ in the flood waters of sin and unbelief? How many? Merciful God is ignored, denied, cursed, and unbelievers live in carnal, self-composed, self-centered, self-absorbed thoughts about their ‘fleshly existence’ without a concern at all for the love, grace, and mercy of God! Godless souls, many of them, will live their lives in ‘fleshly, respectable goodness’, while also there are the evil, the morally wrong and shameless, like many known by “their evil dispositions”, unaware of the extent Satan will go to destroy them and all around them who need “blood redemption”! There ARE the “extremists”, yes, even of loyalty to their fallen sin natures!

Unredeemed souls? Some live with an attitude of despicable meanness while others live ‘peaceably’ with their absence of faith; some live, so at peace, with their ‘self-intent’ that they easily develop a ‘fetish’ and ‘worship’ and ‘allegiance’ to their ‘godless ways’! Unredeemed souls seldom, if ever, have any thoughts or inspirations about ‘reliance upon God?’- why, they’ll ask! “You don’t know me or my natural instincts, my incredible virtues, my self-centered personal impulses and incredible inner strengths – who needs your God?”

Unredeemed souls? Their ‘common sense’, besides Satan himself, is their worst enemy! Their ‘common-sense-carelessness’, related to eternal intent, becomes their strong foundation of infidelity, blinding themselves to the fact that their cares of their worldly dreams are as strong and blinding as Satan’s intent to sidetrack them to devotion of the Living God and Loving Savior! Have you ever witnessed in the faithless the despair which erupts when all they’ve worked for becomes meaningless to them? I’ve heard of some of the wealthiest men in the world, when it came time to die, who said, on their deathbeds, “What I worked for, what I gained, what I have now, means nothing to me as I face the grave.”

But it’s more than ‘a grave’ that one has to face! What does Proverbs 11:31 tell us? “If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” My Holman Study Bible, NKJV, footnote says, “But if God’s impartial judgment begins with the righteous, then the sinner will not escape” his own day before Holy God to give an account of his/her spiritual stupidity! Peter, in 1 Peter 4:18, quoted Proverbs 11:31!

Unredeemed souls? You’ve witnessed it: unredeemed souls walking with a ‘spiritual strut’ in self-pride and arrogance that breaks God’s heart! They major on the ‘common sense of godlessness’, majoring on ‘ordinary wits’, and blinded to the snares of Satan concerning the Lord Jesus’ vicarious intercession at the Cross and His victory over that which keeps unbelievers in their ‘graves of sin and death’!

Unredeemed souls? You are aware that Christ Jesus ‘chose’ the twelve disciples, not because He saw in them superb, ingrained natural abilities able to help Him in His task, but ‘vessels’ to be washed in His blood, crucifying all that they, and us, are in our ‘flesh’, resurrecting “the twelve” and you and me, designating US as “temples” in which His Presence can be manifested, honoring and glorifying His Father!

In Luke 18:31-34 we read, Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them (and to you and me?), “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. (Oh, really? But modern-day folks? Neither do they know or understand the things which were spoken!

“They understood none of these things”? Oswald Chambers in “My Utmost For His Highest” (p.159) wrote the following: “God called Jesus Christ to what seemed unmitigated disaster. Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death; He led every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. Jesus Christ’s life was an absolute failure from every standpoint but God’s. But what seemed failure from man’s standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God’s because God’s purpose is never man’s.

Chambers continued: There comes the baffling call of God in our lives also. The call of God can never be stated explicitly; it is implicit. The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him. It cannot be stated definitely what the call of God is to, because His call is to be in comradeship with Himself for His own purposes, and the test is to believe that God knows what He is after. The things that happen do not happen by chance, they happen entirely in the decree of God. God is working out His purposes.”

Yet how many surround you in your modern world who have no grasp at all of what Holy God had planned through their available lives as they lived unavailable to Him for only what “pleases my flesh”! At the same time, are you aware of those who “pump” their flesh-mindedness of “how pleased God must be to have me with all my talents and gifts available to Him”! Really? Or is it, “They understood none of these things”?

I’ve often wondered how many ‘church folk’ live with a true passion and concern about living out their ‘life in Christ’ in such a way that all honor, praise, and thanksgiving goes to Him because they chose death to their old man and rejoice in the miracle of God’s grace that their “new man in Christ” has become His holy tabernacle and temple through which He’s allowed to be Himself in “vessels” of earthly bodies as the faithful take the sentence of death daily unto themselves that His resurrection life will be manifested in and through their mortal flesh – and that has nothing to do with one’s talents, one’s mind, or one’s willful determination to “be a good Christian”.

Again, Oswald Chambers said: (p.158), “The bravery of God in trusting us! You say – ‘But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing in me; I am not of any value.’ THAT IS WHY HE CHOSE YOU! As long as you think there is something in you, He cannot choose you because you have ends of your own to serve; but if you have let Him bring you to the end of your self-sufficiency then He can choose you to go with Him to Jerusalem, and that will mean the fulfillment of purposes which He does not discuss with you.” (Aren’t you thankful that He only uses ‘empty vessels’ with nothing to brag about but Him?)

“Good Souls Unredeemed Or Godly Spirits Washed In Christ’s Blood”? I’ve always appreciated John Wesley’s writings of great Hymns. One entitled “O For a Thousand Tongues” says in the fourth verse, “He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me.” But you hear the proud unredeemed souls asserting, “Your Savior (?) talks about the power of canceled sin when I don’t have any sin? He sets the prisoner free? I’ve never been in jail! His blood makes the foulest clean? What an insult! His blood was availed for ME? You Christians are mind-warped, brainless, and ‘charmed’ by a charlatan!” That’s many in modern-day America! They have no shame spitting on Christ Jesus, THE Savior and Lord, THE Redeemer, yes, THE ‘restorer’ of men’s souls!

In Psalm 23 David sang: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He RESTORES MY SOUL; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You (Lord Jesus) are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Do you see, celebrate, rejoice in, rest in, rely upon “The True Shepherd” who restores your soul to eternal intent, with the never-ending promise, “of goodness and mercy following you all the days of your life, assured you’ll dwell in the house of the Lord forever”?

Good souls unredeemed are blinded, by choice, to the declaration of Sovereign Care! Good souls unredeemed are ‘satisfied’ with ‘wilderness wanderings’ rather than “Promised Land Blessings”! Good souls unredeemed are ‘far from Holy God’ constructing their own ‘idols’ of imitation living! Good souls unredeemed make God’s desired plan of heritage an abomination! Good souls unredeemed walk after, live in, invest their lives in that which is actually consuming them with no eternal profit to the honor of God existing for them!

God said, in Jeremiah 2:11-13, “Has a nation (Israel) changed its gods, which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate,” says the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns – broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

And how many do you personally know whom “Loving God” led them ‘in the Way’, but they forsook Him and drifted into the wilderness of wickedness, unbelief, and ‘self-idol’ worship – degenerate plants of alien vines, ‘washing themselves in iniquitous soaps thinking they can fool God’, ‘playing the harlot,’ with their backs turned from the only Savior and Lord!

Again, in Jeremiah 2:19-22, God unveils not only Israel, His initial ‘chosen people’, but all men in every nation of the world who live, many, “compromised lives” before Him, and the “many” professing allegiance but are nothing more than “degenerate plants of an alien vine”, so foreign to the nature and character of Christ Jesus!

God’s Word came to Jeremiah saying, “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you,” says the Lord of hosts.

For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; and you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ when on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down, playing the harlot. Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine? For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord God.

I want to close this message about “Good Souls Unredeemed Or Godly Spirits washed in Christ’s Blood” with words from Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 1:17-24! The Apostle Paul said: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ (Prudent? ‘Self-figuring of what’s important to them from the best of human nature, but void of God’s Presence within them!). Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe (trust in, rely upon, adhere to). For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God AND the wisdom of God.”

BY

J. FARRELL FISHER 2013

PAGE OF DEDICATION

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION by Farrell Fisher

Chapter OneThe Drama Unfolds

Chapter TwoThe Divorce Occurs

Chapter ThreeDisciplines Birthed

Chapter FourA Disappointing Summer Chapter FiveA Successful Fall, Scholastics & Sports Chapter SixNew Year’s Nightmare

Chapter SevenIntervention Time

Chapter EightBasketball Heaven

Chapter NineBig Joe’s Troubles -Winter & Spring Chapter TenPressures Mount

Chapter ElevenLaying The Groundwork of Deception

Chapter TwelveTarget Time

Chapter ThirteenLate Spring "Fling of Faith"

Chapter FourteenDavid’s Dream Shattered Chapter FifteenSheriff Gets A Call Chapter SixteenThe Care-Givers Rally Chapter SeventeenLost Year or Life Gained? Chapter EighteenSenior Year -No Tears

Chapter NineteenCollege Bound -More Sound Chapter TwentyCareer Goals? Saving Souls? Chapter Twenty One Married His Bride – God On His Side Chapter Twenty Two Torturous Time, David’s Parents Die Chapter Twenty ThreeBabies Birthed – Golden Worth Chapter Twenty FourGifts Abound -Ever So Sound Chapter Twenty Five Tragedy Strikes -Ministry Alights Chapter Twenty SixCareer Clear – Stardom Near

Chapter Twenty SevenWife Dies -Faith Defies

Chapter Twenty Eight Funeral Dirge or Disciples Celebrate Chapter Twenty Nine. Military Hears -No Fears

Chapter ThirtyOrganization or Organism? Chapter Thirty One.Children Emerge – Quite a Surge

Chapter Thirty Two. Military Ministry, Master-Piece Painting

Chapter Thirty ThreeTwo Widowed United

Chapter Thirty Four The Bell Sounds -The Angel Calls

PAGE OF DEDICATION

One of the greatest privileges a pastor or missionary has is to walk beside a man of faith who exemplifies the Spirit of our Lord and Savior. I have had that privilege, especially for a period of eight years, as I lived next door to Doug and Guyan Wood in Belton, Texas. Doug is a Baptist pastor and counselor.

In those eight years Sue and I had the blessed opportunity to learn from a man who truly is a modern-day Job. I do not know of a man who has suffered more in his life than my brother in Christ, Doug Wood. Over those years we encouraged one another, prayed for one another, challenged one another.

When Doug was a sophomore in high school, having broken both ankles pole-vaulting

for the track team, home from school, he was the victim of a horrible fire that destroyed the family’s two-month old home. Doug was burned over ninety per cent of his body. They didn’t move him from the hospital in Dumas, Texas, because the doctors told his mother and step-father he wouldn’t live through the night.

At that time none of the family were Christians. In fact, the step-father would not allow

any Christian radio or TV in the home. Doug only had one scene indelibly placed upon his mind, when on one occasion, he saw a pastor lay hands on another man and say, "Jesus loves you and wants you well." Suffering through that tragic day, weeks, months before him, what Doug heard over and over was, "Jesus loves you and wants you well." Two years later he came to faith in Christ on his own. No one witnessed to him, no one led him to faith in Christ, but Jesus led Doug to Himself!

Having come to Christ, he felt led to go to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. There he met his beautiful wife, Guyan, who gave Doug two sons and two daughters, and all of these many, many years has stood by him faithfully and lovingly. Together they have been through trauma after trauma after trauma, still standing in full faith in the faithfulness of God to see them through.

Even after thirty-five years Doug still bleeds from the burns. I came home from India many years ago deathly ill. I told Sue to go next door and ask Doug to come and pray for me. He had been out to dinner with his wife. When he came into my bedroom with his white pants and black shirt, he got on his knees, laid himself across my chest, and began to pray. I don’t know how long he prayed, but when he got up his knees were red in blood. I said, "Doug, what is wrong?" And he responded, "It’s from my burns in the house-fire that have never healed."

After he left I broke out in ferocious sweats, and in thirty minutes I was healed, by the

grace of God and "Prayer-Warrior" Doug Wood.

Doug inspired this fiction book called "Job’s Journey," and I have written it to honor my friend and inspire others to "Look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Amen?

 INTRODUCTION BY FARRELL FISHER

Disrupted families, tormented souls, sick societies, wounded children, aimless men and women, heartless and heavy-handed disciplinarians, mean-spirited parents, evil-at-the­ core moms and dads; these seem to be sadly the rule rather than the exception of what, at least at one time, was a ‘sane society,’ or at least was hidden behind closed doors. But now that ‘sane society’ seems to be deteriorating rapidly into an ‘insane society.’

Are you alarmed or shocked when you read in newspapers or watch on television the report of another parent killing her child or children?

 Does it alarm you when you read of more and more one-parent families? How frightened do you become when you witness or learn of parents abandoning their children for the grandparents to raise? What about young teenagers killing their parents or carrying guns to school to gun down their classmates? Does it shock you when you read of parental child molestation or the priests taking advantage of their altar boys? Are you scared when you learn statistically more than half of our high school students are sexually active and do not plan on ceasing even if they become pregnant? More than half of the marriages in America end in divorce -does that trouble you?

And in the dark horizons of sick societies is there a ray of hope? When life could not be more troubling, are there those, maybe even a few, who surmount their personal torment to soar above tragedy, and not only survive, but conquer; who not only escape but create; who not only fight off that intent of personal destruction but somehow, some way, some­ ‘Who’ become a celebration of a worthy life not a wilted life, a celebration of conquest­

-not defeated; a celebration, not of ‘made it on my own,’ but one impacted by the few

who know "This young man is intended for better things than he’s experienced through his family!"

This is not a ‘personal story,’ although experiencing a family split; it is an overview of similar sorrow and pain, an understanding of "David’s" troubles and heart-aches, a picture of "like" doubts and fears, a re-run of opportunistic discovery, "I was meant for something different- I don’t know what!"

There is the reality of"Job’s troubles" lived out on various stages of life, lived out for

boys and girls somewhere on God’s green earth, lived out in secret, lived out totally defeated or lived out on the screen of one’s life, "Job’s Journey."

It is my desire to touch the chords of someone’s heart who has lived David’s story, never

knowing there is the hope of different determinations than sordidness, sorrow, pain, frustration, despair, a giving-up-on-life attitude, but a "more than conqueror" spirit! It is my desire to see, even one, who has lived in the dark shadows of despair rising to the ride of his life on the beautiful clouds of personal discovery, "I can overcome! With God’s help, I can be more than I thought I could!"

"JOB’S JOURNEY"

 CHAPTER ONE THE DRAMA UNFOLDS

Most people are not unfamiliar with the name, Job. The world is aware of Job’s sufferings!

In the Bible, Job 1:1, speaks of this man from the land ofUz, "and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil." The biblical Job lost

his property, lost his children, lost most of his friends, and almost lost his wife -she was ready for Job to "Curse God and die!"

But Job of the Bible was a man of total trust in God Almighty, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." He knew he came naked from his mother’s womb and that naked he shall return there. It was, in Job’s faith, the Lord who had given him life, and the Lord was taking it all away. And all Job could do was to say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

That our world today could view a modern day Job! That our world today could see

before their very eyes a man who is not overwhelmed by suffering but overcomes it! That our world today could be educated and encouraged and inspired and uplifted by a man who will not succumb to life’s tragedies but bears witness of a triumphant spirit "through it all.!"

There is such a man. It all begins in the beautiful Tennessee Valley of East Tennessee

where no one would ever expect beauty to be the birthplace of blight, where no one would ever imagine that behind the doors of a beautiful home death reigned, where no one could even begin to fathom the depths of suffering family life could sink to, even for the children, where sane society (if there is such a thing) begins to sink because it witnesses the quagmire of emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual heart-ache and despair, where evil takes on a new face when everything appeared so good.

The Matthews family, strong in cultural and community involvement, even the big city

church, was led by a Dr.Jekyl/Mr. Hyde man who possessed two faces -one to the community and church, and the other to the family behind closed doors. He was a leader in the local civic club, chairman of the board of a strong local bank, and he was an elder in his local church.

At home Vestal Matthews, husband and father, was a man tormented by his own special demons. The only explanation for his sordid, sick lifestyle behind closed doors was an unregenerate, fleshly, immoral, out-of-control soul dominated by the "foul spirits" of lower earth. He truly hated himself, hated his wife, hated his children, hated his pretense, hated his totally split personality, hated what he did in the light, and hated what he did in the darkness. He was a hopeless man convinced there was no help for such a sick soul. Vestal was not an expert in the choice of his women in life, before marriage, or as a result of his marriage. His wife of twenty-five years, though from "the other side of the tracks," was a social climber without any social skills. She was of the sort, "Whatever it takes for me and Vestal to succeed, I’m willing to do!" And sadly that led her down many dead­ end streets and darkened alleys.

Vestal was a wife-abuser in every way- emotionally, physically, mentally, sexually,

financially- a ‘pro’ at "dumbing down" his wife especially but even his children. He had two daughters and two sons.

From about eight years of age onward he began to sexually abuse his two little girls. That lasted until his two daughters schemed of escape when they were in their late teen years, never to be heard from by the parents again, at least the dad. In their early teens the two girls even discussed killing the father but were never able to follow through with it. They endured weekly abuse from a man the social community considered making "Father of the Year." Thank goodness, that proposal failed!

When his twin boys reached thirteen years of age, he knew it was time for them to become real men, and he traveled to the nearest big city to find a brothel where his two boys could "become real men." He didn’t want someone else to indoctrinate his boys in the "ways of the world;" he was determined to do it himself!

 The twins were totally different in their responses. Don, even at thirteen years of age, was evil to the core, just like his Dad -overjoyed at the step down into the dark world of prostitution. David, on the other hand, was not of the same ilk. He was upset, he was angry, he was defiant, and refused to participate in his father’s "foolishness." There was something about David that neither his father, Vestal, understood or his mother, Vera. These were parents oblivious to divine destiny- and though David himself had no comprehension of what was going on within him, he knew there was a different life or lifestyle ahead for him -not like his parents, or his brother, Don, or even his two sisters that fled the home. But something was going to happen, in a redemptive way, and he knew it, not understanding what would be happening in the years ahead.

David had only a vague knowledge of God, a lesser knowledge of Jesus, and was

certainly illiterate concerning the Bible. But one day soon he would learn Jeremiah I :4 was also about him! The word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you ("Marked out"); Before you were born I sanctified you ("Set you apart"); I ordained you a prophet for the nations (Appointed you with a heaven-sent responsibility)."

David was one of those young men who would one day say, "I never knew God cared

about me! I never knew His eye was on me! I never knew he had a greater plan, eternal plan, more enriching plan for my life! But now I know!" That day did come, and it can come for you. The God of the Bible is no respecter of persons -what He does for one, He’ll do for all!

For David it was as if every step was a step down a trail of desperation that finally broke

through to the Valley of Hope, but he didn’t know it and could not comprehend it all at this early stage. Beyond his understanding his eternal life was being shaped and fashioned by Unseen Hands and a Loving Heart called God Almighty! Flood waters would rise around him, and he feared of dying! Troubles would explode, and he felt he was about to implode. Loneliness, aloneness beckoned, and he often wondered if anyone cared. Tears were easy in the bed alone at night, but never for public view -for those around him he was stoic and quiet while within he was a raging volcano of varying emotions. Did anybody care? Were there really "friends" in his world? Was there truly a purpose to life he had yet to discover?

 CHAPTER TWO THE DIVORCE OCCURS

Vestal and Vera come to the end of the road in their marriage. Divorce is the path they choose to take- "greener grass on the other side of the fence!" You’ve heard it! Then after awhile they realize that that grass on the other side still has to be mowed! Same circle around the same mountain -neither learned, and suffered as much in the next marriages as previously.

Don chooses Daddy! Surprise, surprise! And David chooses Vera, in his teen-age eyes, "the lesser of two evils!" And the interesting thing is that David, never again, hears from his father or brother. But the divorce opened a door for David and his mother, Vera, to be reunited with Marian and Misty, his two older sisters. Though David never lived with them, he was able to have a semblance of healthy contact with his two sisters, who genuinely loved David and wanted nothing but the best for him.

About one year later Mama Vera begins to visit the bars -frequently. She begins to

 drink like she never has before, and then is introduced to drugs. Her "boyfriend" is the local "pusher" and pimp. Oh, he’s making "good money" and Vera and David, she believed, would be well taken care of if she married Big Joe Hestert. You’ve seen him – tattoos on both arms, black leather jacket, red bandana on his head, leather britches, black boots with shiny ornaments and silver-toes, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth all the time, a constant odor of nicotine, if not booze and drugs, long hair, full beard, and a foul­ mouth! Oh yes, just exactly the new father David needs, right?

And it happens -the wedding takes place. And Vera becomes Vera Hestert. At least Big

Joe had a house! He even had about 150 acres that he tried to farm. He ran cattle and had a number of fine Tennessee walking horses, very expensive!

It’s been about a year since their marriage and Big Joe has decided he needs to build a

show-place barn to take care of all the hay he was producing for the horses for the winter. He needed plenty of stalls for the horses also. He wanted a vet’s office, surgical wing, exercise pool for his fine horses, and big enough barn on the ground floor, wide­ open space for barn dances. So Big Joe convinced Vera to sign onto his bank note for

$400,000 for his show-place barn! He had his stable of Tennessee Walking horses

insured for over $1,000,000.

During this time David has had a spark of interest in sports. He’s growing, he’s maturing, and a lot of his new friends are athletic. He’s not a speedster for track, or strong for what can be called "brutal, violent football," but he’s good at basketball. He picked it up from the goal Big Joe hung on the garage. David began to love that sport. Early in the morning, after breakfast and before the school bus arrived, David would shoot and shoot and shoot; he’d dribble and dribble and dribble, at first with one hand, then both hands -and he

was becoming highly proficient shooting the 3-pointer and foul shots.

For some it’s amazing that sports can be a young boy’s salvation in his early years. He’s certainly not learned anything helpful from Vestal Matthews, and Big Joe Hestert is not providing skills for life success in a difficult world. But Coach Stephens has had his eye on David, takes him under his wings, and begins to impact him positively, not only in basketball skills but life skills. Coach Stephens is more than a friend -he’s a father­ figure. The coach is a family man. He knows how to truly love his wife well. He knows

how to motivate, inspire, and discipline his children. He knows how to interact effectively with his fellow teachers and administrators. And he knows how to love and inspire young men like David to reach beyond what they think they are capable of! The coach sees his role as placing vital stepping stones for young men in their pilgrimage of life. He’s not afraid to confront when confrontation is called for. He doesn’t find it

difficult to "praise" when praise is so deserving. And he doesn’t find it out of his realm of

responsibility to speak words of wisdom to a David when wisdom is what a David needs to learn and discern.

Even Big Joe Hestert is pleased with the new direction of David’s life because it has

 opened a new market for him in both drugs and prostitution. He’s excited for David because of what David is going to do for him, though David is unaware that Big Joe has set his sights on the high school campus that David is becoming an important part of. It hasn’t hit David yet that a man would use his family to further his corrupt plans! Big Joe has already sensed that it’s not David that he can use to infiltrate the high school campus, but David’s questionable friends and teammates that have no desire to learn from Coach Stephens and his "style of life." In so many young people around David there are those "bent downward," there are those who major on experimentation, there are those willing to be used as "practice dummies" by others who have no desire to bless them but to curse them, there are those whose motivation is to "fit in" when that only means doing that which is illicit, destructive, stealing any virtue that might have existed from family, church, school, or civic influence.

But it was not only Coach Stephens who had a positive relationship with David; there

were some quality teachers and outstanding students who had not sold their souls to fit in to the downward spiral of moral and spiritual vacuums; they were bright and shining lights that touched David like the bright rays of sunlight warming, not his body but his soul! Godless governments and compromising school boards may have their "bans" – but the countenances and convictions and commitments of great souls cannot be

muzzled! Caring kids and adults can penetrate war zones and bring opportunity for a

confused "David" to find hope. Kind words can soothe crippled emotions. The "oil and wine" of good friends can touch wounded kids and see amazing healings. Standing for the "right" can bring inspiration and instruction and identity to one consumed by the "wrong" around him, with most kids like that feeling they caused it! Words of compassion and counsel and challenge to "rise above" are often the saving words of grace to sustain a troubled teenager like David -and there were many of those words of sustaining strength from many of his high school family.

Because of the horrific example of his former Dad in the matter of church relations, David was always skeptical of ‘church folk.’ He tried to keep them at a distance, but was being dramatically impacted by some teachers and classmates that caused him to ask regularly, "Do they have something I don’t know about? What makes them so distinctively different? Why does peace and blessing and joy seem to permeate them and not others?" David would find his answers in time!

 CHAPTER THREE DISCIPLINES BIRTHED

Though Dad Vestal had been a successful businessman, for some unknown reason, that success standard was not translated to home and family. Vestal was totally disinterested in "training up" his daughters and sons -he was more interested in using them. Mama Vera was empty of parental instincts, concerned only about her interests and her

satisfaction with her fleshly desires. Even in her second marriage, though she had custody

 of David, there was no motherly ambition to "raise him right." Her distance from her own son was emotionally and mentally damaging to David -worth, self-esteem, value, significance, purpose were absent from his young life. It was if he had the weight of the whole world pressing down upon him, and he never believed there was much hope for him. His time alone at his own basketball goal his freshman year in high school was

about the only sense of success he saw. But it was a start.

 Then there’s Big Joe Hestert, David’s step-father, drug pusher, pimp, and part-time farmer. And isn’t it amazing! At least in that area of farm interest there were vital lessons David would learn and needed to learn through Big Joe. Big Joe is one "tough hombre"! At least his soldiering produced a little bit of true manhood in him. He knew about discipline, hard work when he’d set his mind to it, the little things that would help him hopefully make some profit on his 150 acre farm. And he knew he had a farm hand whether David wanted to do it or not. From Big Joe’s perspective his "training" of David was strictly with himself in mind -not David.

Daniel Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines discipline as "to instruct or educate; to inform

the mind; to prepare by instructing in correct principles and habits; as to discipline youth for a profession, or future usefulness."

David’s step-father was not instructing or educating for David’s benefit; he wasn’t

informing David’s mind so it would be better equipped to succeed in life; correct principles and habits were far from Big Joe’s pattern of living; and he certainly didn’t have in mind David’s future profession or usefulness -he could care less!

Webster’s definition of "undisciplined" fits Big Joe’s lifestyle: "Not disciplined; not duly

exercised and taught; not subjected to regularity and order; raw; as undisciplined troops; undisciplined valor." For him there was no regularity and certainly no order! And to see him with your own eyes, "raw" is a perfect description!

But his desire to "use" David built into David’s life certain characteristics that would help him positively in future days. It was David’s responsibility, every day, to feed the chickens and gather the eggs; it was David’s responsibility, every day, to make sure the prized horses had plenty of hay and water in the barrels; and, every day, David had to make sure that around the immediate barn-yard, it was clean. And once a week he had to clean the chicken yard! Not his favorite responsibility!

Then there was spring and summer; and especially while he was still in school,

availability to help Big Joe, was limited to Saturdays and Sundays. There was no modern farm equipment for David to use, so when the time came to prepare the fields for the corn planting, David was trained to plow behind mules -row after row after row! David was never excited for those spring days to rise up! It was strenuous, tiring, demanding -but he had to do it. Then there was the planting of the corn seeds by hand and covering the

 seeds over with a shovel. And without that modem farm equipment David, with the other farmhands, used burlap bags with strong straps, and row by row by row handpicked each ear. When the bag was getting heavy, they took it to a farm wagon and emptied the bag, then back to it!

When it came time to cut and bail hay, again, no modem equipment like a tractor-just

those mules! And after the hay was cut, there was the raking, tossing onto a wagon, taken to the barn, and lifted to the second store for winter feed. Demanding? Certainly. But David actually loved the smell of new-mown hay, he loved the physical labor making him more fit for his love of basketball, and he loved the fact that he was learning and discerning things that would have life-long benefits for him. And especially he loved the creek in front of Big Joe’s house and the plunge into the one deep area of the creek with the other farm hands that helped with the harvesting! It was a blast!

But one of the most appreciated blessings for David was the main farm hand of Big Joe, a black who lived on the farm in a small shanty hut with his family, his wife and two small children, a man in his late thirties and a man who loved to sing his spirituals of faith and tell David of his "loving Savior." David had never, ever, been around a man who so radiated his faith with a loving countenance like Samuel Etheridge! Samuel was certainly a "spiritual seed" planter who really believed there would be a harvest of faith in David’s life someday. In fact, Samuel prayed for him daily. One of Samuel’s favorite people was Ethel Waters, the beautiful lady who sang so many times for Billy Graham’s crusades.

Her favorite song was "I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free; for His eye is

 on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!" And Samuel sang it frequently while working with David. Ethel used to also say, "Now, boys, God don’t sponsor junk. You’re special." Samuel would say to David, "Now, David, God don’t sponsor junk. You’re special to Him," although at this point David didn’t understand- he’d seldom heard the name of Jesus, "Who is He?" David would ask. But those seeds were being planted. With the other few hands Big Joe employed for spring or summer jobs, David got a huge education from those who’d rather play than work, lazy bums who needed a few dollars, procrastinators waiting around for David and Samuel to do the bulk of the work, and as a result, for David, pictures of choices for him were getting clearer about a good "work ethic." Samuel used to quote to David regularly that verse that says, "Now, David, if a man will not work, neither shall he eat!" David did like to eat.

And then there was Coach Stephens who was the right hand glove of inspiration about discipline just as Samuel had been the left hand glove of motivation concerning disciplines that David needed built into his life whether he knew it or not.

A neighbor of David’s, who had been a former basketball player himself, came to Coach

 Stephen’s office to tell him to keep his eye on a freshman named David Matthews whom he’d seen shooting the basketball on a garage-goal. "He’s young, Coach, but he has potential. He’s doing some things with the basketball in his hands that I’ve seen very few freshmen do."

Coach Stephens was very thankful because graduation was depleting some good players

from his team. He decided to follow up immediately without David’s knowledge and see if David was someone the coach should really invest some time in.

But as the coach surveyed and inquired about David, he knew it was for more than developing a good basketball player, but to be an important part in developing a godly young man.

The coach went to the home of David, his step-father and mother, to ask permission to help David with his basketball skills. It certainly was favorable to Big Joe because those dollar signs for drugs and prostitution flashed before his eyes. Mama Vera was pleased that someone really showed interest in her son. And David was ecstatic, overjoyed, thrilled that he really might be able to play basketball! The fall and winter active season for the team is over which leaves the spring of David’s freshman year quality time with Coach Stephens. And the disciplines begin!

When school finished at 3:00pm, David reported to the gym by 3:15, dressed with his

 gym clothes and new tennis shoes. He was so excited, but not fully aware of the physical demands getting ready to be put on him by Coach Stephens! His new coach is quality personified -body, soul, and spirit. He’s demanding but gentle; he’s insistent yet understanding of the learning curve for a new prospect; he’s an appraising coach but at the same time one who applauds good effort; he’s a stickler for team-play but a promoter of leadership by the development of individual skills and strengths; and his aim is for personal excellence, body, soul, and spirit!

Because it’s the spring Coach Stephens has a good eight weeks before final school testing

begins. It’s his desire to really work his new team hard getting ready for the next winter basketball season, and David Matthews is a new part he wants to work in.

And the disciplines begin, every afternoon for an hour and a half. David is so amazed. He’s known hard work on the farm, but the strenuous times on a gym floor are something new for him. Coach runs them and runs them and runs them! It’s his contention games can be won or lost in the fourth quarter dependent upon a team’s conditioning.

The drills are numerous, consistent, and beneficial -ball-handling, dribbling, two on one, three on one, defense, full-court-pressure, set plays, foul shooting, the three­ pointers, rebounding, full speed, slow-down game etc.

And Coach Stephens is thrilled by what he sees in young David Matthews, rough edges,

of course, but basic, fundamental skills that can make young David an important part of next winter’s team. David is already standing at six feet and one inch with more growing time ahead! Good hands, good foot maneuverability, good eyes, good instincts, and a great determination to succeed- he’s going to be a special addition on this young team! David can play guard or forward depending upon what other team members are able to contribute or not. He’s an excellent ‘fit’ to Coach Stephens’ philosophy of basketball. Scrimmages have been very important in the young team’s development, even if it’s only for twenty minutes each practice, but the coach knows his boys must get used to the floor as a team.

To end the spring practice Coach Stephens decided to hold an intra-squad game. And it

was an eye-opener for a lot of people who came to watch because young, sophomore, David Matthews scored 21 points! His team won by ten points.

CHAPTER FOUR

A DISAPPOINTING SUMMER

Summers are for vacation times, right? Summers are for play, relaxation, fun-times with friends, right? Summers are to be break-times from school, team, and home disciplines­ everybody just has fun, right?

It may be for some, but not for young David. His summer is heavy-duty work on Big Joe’s 150 acres! It was not a possible expectation -it was a requirement for young David. He really thought as he was growing up the summer disciplines on the farm would lessen. But they didn’t; they intensified. Big Joe put more and more demands on David’s time with very little time to practice his favorite sport.

But it was not only the work load that stressed David out- it was the major

disappointment of not being allowed to go to a one-week summer basketball camp with most of his team members. The University of North Carolina held these camps for young high school teams to get a first-hand look at potential prospects for college ball. Coach Stephens made the request, but Big Joe refused permission for David to attend. He needed David on the farm!

It was really interesting for David what the Coach had to say to him after this huge

disappointment. "David, summer camp at the university would really be healthy for you, But more important is your attitude toward Joe -not resentment, not bitterness, not anger, but ‘Yes Sir; whatever you’d have me to do, I’m willing.’" That was a total shock to David but he appreciated the assessment Coach Stephens made concerning David’s attitude.

At this time in David’s life he’s really made some good friends, quality young people

who are aware of "the higher calling." They are Christians, church-attenders faithfully and regularly. But there’s a problem-David’s mother has no desire for spiritual matters, and Big Joe is an unannounced atheist. When David requested permission to attend a church service with some friends, his parents said ‘no.’ When David asked, during the week, to go to a friend’s home for a mid-week Bible Study and prayer meeting, his parents said ‘no.’ Even invited to Coach Stephens’ home for a youth get­ together, his parents said ‘no.’

This is the summer before his sophomore year in high school. David really wants to build

 some strong ties with young friends who can show him more of a quality life than he’s found before now. He desires a "barn-sleep-over" with some of his teammates so they can get better acquainted, but especially to take them swimming in the creek! You know the answer.

Marian and Misty, his two older sisters, are not very far away from the Hestert farm.

Both are married now and doing very well. The two sisters married men who are not spiritual midgets, but men on ‘the grow’ with their Lord and in their businesses. Marian and Misty know how meaningful it would be for their husbands to build a relationship with David. But Big Joe has no interest in David spending time with ‘squares’; he has no interest in their family lives, their jobs, and especially not their churches. When David sought to bridge the opportunity to spend time with his sisters’ families it was a resounding ‘no.’

The summer has been moving very fast, but not moving is David’s opportunity to be stretched in many ways. ‘Disappointment’ is a word that leaves a bitter taste in him, and Coach Stephens has seen it.

At least the Hesterts will allow Coach Stephens to take David out to dinner one night a

week. And what a divine appointment that came to be for a struggling high-school-er who hadn’t ‘found’ himself yet. He was so encouraged by his coach every time they got together. David could ask his coach anything and the coach would not be surprised or upset or disappointed, whatever David asked, with a young man who had no home guidance. Coach gave David advice that was so sound, so sure, so strengthening, so stabilizing. It was words right out of heaven itself- and someday David would know where it came from. Sound words from a loving friend are like a soothing ointment on sore wounds of the soul. A substitute father-image has been the salvation of many young men who wondered growing up if anybody cared -and then, here comes "Coach!"

And then, what a disappointment! David asked Coach Stephens about dating girls, and the coach’s response was totally unexpected: "David, my teen-agers don’t date. They have no desire to date at this point in their maturing process because they clearly understand how "glands" are not the determining factor of a healthy dating relationship. Our kids, with our encouragement, are waiting to much later to look for their mate, not their playmate!" Disappointment? To a degree because David hungered for

companionship, relationship, someone who cared, someone who would validate his worth and value and importance to the world he was so much a part of. Disappointment? David wondered what it would be like to hear someone say to him, "I love you. Yes, David, you are loveable!" He’d never heard his Dad say, "I love you;" he’d never heard his mother say, "I love you." He’d never had a friend who said to him, "David, you’re my brother­ and I love you." But he was beginning to understand, through his clouds of uncertainty, "There is a coach who loves me, whether he tells me or not. I know it!"

Disappointment? He thought he ought to have a car, even at just fifteen years of age. His parents could lie about one year. But it didn’t happen -David was not the owner of even his own ‘junk-heap.’ He would have to do riding on the back of Big Joe’s motorcycle to get to school or back home after school was out.

Disappointment? Projections are his high school basketball team will be low-man on the

totem-pole of district play because Coach Stephen’s team had been so depleted. That didn’t sit well with David because of a burning attitude within himself to succeed, to be a winner, to be the best. He really wanted to help build a strong team.

David translated discouragement into opportunity and potential to be more than anyone

thought he or Coach Stephen’s team could be. Discouragement was David’s door-opener to success. He would not settle for less!

CHAPTER FIVE

A SUCCESSFUL FALL, SCHOLASTICS AND SPORTS

What an absolute delight to David that the summer was over and his ‘fall’ had begun! He was thrilled! No more plowing, no more baling, no more picking ears of corn, no more dirt and grime from field labor. Sweat was no problem for him when it came from the basketball court in fall practice. He loved it. But sweat in the farm fields was not ‘sweat equity’ for David’s young mind. There was something instilled within David that he was ordained for success, and he would not settle for less than that.

 Coach Stephens confirmed it for David as they looked to the fall season of his sophomore year. Coach Stephens had checked the records, evaluated the psychological profiles, witnessed a unique work ethic, and had resolved within his own heart that David had

been set aside, by God, for greatness.

As they met together with the school counselor, Coach Stephens felt it to be very important that they pray, even about David’s six classes and his basketball practice session. They did and the counselor was not opposed to inviting God in to the planning of David’s fall schedule. It was an awesome time for David-he was beginning to sense that there were those who were genuinely concerned about his welfare, body, soul, and spirit. This wasn’t ‘ego’ pump time -this was a precious time of assurance that God Himself was in on what David was to be about in his earthly life. It was a spiritual stroke of genius for David -he didn’t become arrogant, he was humbled.

His schedule was planned with college in mind. Coach Stephens genuinely felt David would be one of the few he coached who could go to college with the potential of even the NBA! That schedule included mostly college preparatory courses even as a sophomore. David was pleased because he loved being challenged and stretched. Then, of course, there was after-school basketball practice that would take David up to about 5pm when Big Joe would take him home.

Of course with college preparation in mind, David was heavy in his schedule on math and

science classes. That was no problem for him; for David, the tougher the better. He loved being challenged. And then there was English, history, a foreign language with Spanish his choice. He couldn’t wait for the first day at school -he was so excited, because he also knew fall basketball practice was just around the corner.

 It amazed Coach Stephens and his high school counselor that David was so focused, so eager, so determined to make this school year his best ever. David really didn’t know what his enthusiasm was all about but he was beginning to grasp that "God?" meant him to be more than he ever thought he could. A fabric of faith was being sewn into David’s life though as yet the Gospel of Redemption had not been fully explained.

David, in his young years, had been a part of two dysfunctional families, and there were

very few outsiders who really took the time to invest themselves in David’s life. But the few who did were making a profound difference in David concerning ‘life purpose.’

One month of the fall schedule has already past; and now, October 1, David is so thrilled

that basketball practice has started. His grades are excellent, his study habits far beyond most of his classmates, and his excitement about basketball practice beginning, sheer delight.

David’s math and science teachers had told Coach Stephens they would keep him posted as to David’s progress -and they raved about his maturity on the learning curve. He is doing so well that his teachers call on David to assist the strugglers which he is always happy to do. He is truly a friend’s friend. Even as young as he is David loves to help others and will either get to school early, miss his lunch break, or meet someone after practice. His compassion for others calls for unselfish commitment to help those who need it.

And then it’s fall basketball -and David is ready for the fun times to begin. He practices as if he’s playing for an Olympic ‘gold medal.’ His enthusiasm for the game calls out for the best, even in the three seniors on the team. The younger players are drawn to him like a magnet. And Coach Stephens is thrilled. He told one of his close friends that David Matthews, already, was probably the best basketball player he’d ever coached. Coach didn’t know for sure what God’s ‘life plan’ for David was, but he knew his young player would impact many lives.

Within the first two weeks of fall practice it was Coach Stephens’ intent to have a

 scrimmage with a team from another community close by. In fact the coaches agreed to play at the other school in less than two weeks from their first scrimmage. The visitors were not scheduled to be the State Champions, but Coach Stephens knew that team would give anybody a run for their money. He knew it would be a good test for his youngsters.

In their first meeting David and his team kept it close but lost that scrimmage by ten

points. David scored sixteen points in that first scrimmage. Second-time around there was a dramatic turn-around. Coach Stephens saw his team blossom faster than any team he’d ever coached. They won by twenty-two points, and David scored eighteen points in a very strong effort -scoring, rebounding, defense -he showed he was ready for a good year.

After that unofficial win Coach Stephens sat the team down to temper their enthusiasm

and put it in balance concerning the rest of the things they were to be majoring on. He said: "I couldn’t be prouder than I am right now. Your play was excellent. But one thing I must remind you of- basketball is temporary, your studies are for the long haul. And I want you to know that I am in touch weekly with your counselors, and if I see or hear of any one of you slacking off on your studies, the bench will be a good place for you to catch up. Do you understand what I’m saying? Your studies and grades are more important than how many games we win this late fall and winter. Agreed?"

The team knew what Coach was saying to them. They received his encouragement to be a

better student than basketball player! With that intent the coach with the help of counselors enlisted top students in their studies to assist his players in doing well with their studies. One night a week, after practice, the top students were present to give the team one hour of their time to help them smooth out any rough areas in the players’ studies. And for a few, it was extremely helpful, but for David? He was helping the top students!

Basketball kicked off after Thanksgiving and how excited Coach Stephens and his young

team was. They knew they had about three weeks, playing twice a week, and then the Christmas -New Year’s tournament, in preparation for three more intense months of play. Coach Stephens’ team won the tournament with four straight wins, but the last finals’ game went into overtime over the projected district and regional favorite. And it

was David Matthews who hit a long jump-shot at the buzzer to win it for his team. The school, the crowd at the game, the city went into orbit celebrating one of Coach Stephens’ biggest wins ever.

The coach understood clearly how big this win was for the team and the school, but as a new week began and school had re-started, Coach called in the counselors for an evaluation of his team’s grades. His starters had far succeeded his expectations, but of the remaining seven on the team, two were very low.

As Coach Stephens met with the two with low grades, all evaluations had been completed. He let the two team members know how vital they were to the team’s success or failure. He had to know, "Are you guys on board for our team’s success on and off the court? Are you willing to pay the price to pull up your grades while, at the same time,

we’re going through our toughest basketball schedule ever? Do I need to call your parents

in or should I look for two on the junior varsity to take your place?"

It was the shock therapy that these two team members needed. They were very apologetic and even asked for permission to speak to the whole team before practice started. And with their apology the team rallied around to guarantee next report date would see these two succeeding!

Team sports is often seen about what team members do on the court or on the field, but

not for Coach Stephens. It was his philosophy that to be a good coach you majored on both the court and the classroom. His philosophy was beginning to pay major dividends! He was far more interested in building character in his players than good statistics on the court. And the one thing he was so thankful for was a young man like David Matthews who exuded such confidence, commitment, and self-control on and off the court. What David did in the locker-room was as important to Coach Stephens as what David did on the court.

CHAPTER SIX

NEW YEAR’S NIGHTMARE

 There was a New Year’s party David was permitted to go to because Big Joe and David’s mother had planned a party of their own. It was not what David had hoped for because he knew Big Joe’s friends, and David did not want to be around. The ‘fall’ experience for David had been excellent, and the friends he had made were of a totally different variety than Big Joe and Vera. At least in David’s circle of friends it was not "anything goes,"

but a circle of friends that majored on moral and spiritual excellence, a strange outlook in the ‘post-modern’ world especially among youth with indifferent parents.

David informed his mother where he would be and gave her the phone number of the parents hosting the teen party. He informed his mother he’d be home a little after midnight, but that he would not be coming into the house, he was planning on sleeping in the barn. He had no desire to be around the crowd that would be in their home probably until daybreak. It was OK with Vera.

Big Joe’s crowd was made up of his ‘business associates’ in the drug and prostitute arena

plus the ‘rough and tumble crowd’ from around the county and neighboring counties. It was really a sad gathering of a very successful criminal element of East Tennessee, including a mayor of a neighboring city who called a lot of the shots in the illegal drug trade. He was a ‘big hitter!’ He and Big Joe had run together for a very long time, and the two of them were basically the ‘mob bosses.’ Nothing illegal happened in their areas that did not have their stamps of approval plus a ‘cut.’

David’s party is in the home of the parents of one of the juniors on the basketball team.

They were great parents that were examples to other parents plus an inspiration to their own son, his friends, and his teammates. The food, of course, was what the growing teenagers really enjoyed, and the McAllen family did it up right. There was just about anything the teenagers desired and loved to eat. They all ended up stuffed to the nth degree.

Games were also fully available, whether a pool table in the basement area to volleyball

in the back yard, or different card games the kids were into.

 But what amazed young David was what took place between 11pm and midnight. All the chaperones, some parents, and the teenagers gathered in the big living room of this plush home, and under the direction of a local Youth Minister, they began to sing their favorite Christian songs, choruses, and hymns. David had never been a part of anything so moving, so enriching, as hearing teenagers sing from their hearts testimonies of faith. Then there were those pre-arranged to share what Christ Jesus meant to them. Several, with tears running down their cheeks, thanked the Lord God for the saving grace

extended to them. David didn’t have a clue of what they were talking about, but it was

recorded in the deeper recesses of his brain!

 Oh, but then this house full of people began to "pray in the New Year!" They were giving God His rightful place in their hearts and homes; they were thanking Him for past blessings and future blessings; they were praying for one another and for their own families; they were praying for the New Year to be a year of spiritual breakthrough in their community and high school; they were praying for ‘the lost’ or ‘unsaved;’ they were praying for the teachers and coaches to be a godly witness wherever they walked.

And all David could say was, "What are these people all about?" David knew about ‘plowed fields’ but he knew nothing about the plowed field of his heart. And the spiritual plow was going deep into David’s heart getting his field ready for the planting of spiritual seeds. A spiritual harvest was on the horizon in David’s life.

David’s seeing in the New Year was not the nightmare but a celebration. And it’s so amazing that this young man, on one hand, can experience a dynamic, God-honoring time, while not far away, in fact in his own home, the Nightmare begins. Approximately forty people were anticipated to be a part of the Hesterts’ New Year’s party. Approximately half the group was married and the other half were just dating partners, playmates, shared social junkies, and a few were picked up from the local bar before joining the house party.

It started rough and it stayed rough. Drinks were like the bursting of a dam and the

 following flood. Illegal drugs were available upon request. Gambling was big on the dining room table with thousands of dollars flowing on any hand. The bedrooms of the Hesterts had "Do Not Enter" signs posted when a man could sneak a playmate away for the satisfying of his personal drives for illicit sex. Certainly this was not the place or events David Matthews should enter.

At about 12:45a.m. of New Year’s morning, David was dropped off near the barn and away from his family’s home. He didn’t want the friends who brought him home to lmow anything about what was going on at his family’s party.

But as he entered the barn he knew this might not be a restful night for him even though

he’d always loved sleeping in the hay. David kept two blankets rolled up by hay’s edge to keep him warm. He tried to lie down, close his eyes, go to sleep, but the noise from his house was loud, scary, and pain-filled. He knew, "Somebody is going to get hurt

tonight."

David did finally drop off to sleep, but it didn’t last long because all of a sudden he heard what seemed to him to be an explosion -glass breaking, doors shattering, curse words like drunken sailors but these folks are just rebels to the core, screaming from women, and then a gun shot. And David was chilled to the bones with fear. He didn’t know what to do but to keep quiet and let the mayhem cease!

He heard cars screeching off wildly from his folks’ driveway- and then there was

 silence, total silence, and in pitch-black darkness he felt so afraid and so alone. He didn’t move for hours, and of course, could not sleep. He waited and waited and waited -then finally at daybreak David decided to go to the house and check on his mother and Big Joe.

He could not believe what he saw as he entered the rear door to the kitchen. Food was

scattered everywhere from shattered platters and plates. Drink glasses, he knew, must have been used to toss as weapons. The swinging door to the kitchen had been broken off its hinges, windows were shattered by someone tossing chairs through them, beds were broken, books became ammunition, liquor and beer bottles must have been like grenades, and there was blood everywhere!

David was so shaken. Then as he paused, he thought, "Where’s my mother, and where is

Big Joe?" He went to the only bedroom he hadn’t checked, and there he found Big Joe on the bed totally out of it either from drugs or liquor or both. David could not rouse him. He wasn’t sure what to do, then finally decided to ride his old bike to the neighbors and call Coach Stephens. He would have been surprised if the neighbors had not heard what he

heard! Surprisingly, they only were awakened by cars blowing horns as they sped past their home.

And of course the coach was more than willing to come to David’s aid. He was always

available to his boys, whatever they encountered on their journeys. As Coach Stephens arrived at David’s home, David met him out front because he wanted to explain to Coach what he’d found.

This was not an easy time for David; he was ashamed; he was fearful; he was so unsure

about what to do. The coach was an adult who couldn’t be shocked by anything David would tell him or show him. Over the years of his coaching career, he’d been around this mountain a number of times. He’d seen the best-he’d seen the worst.

David tried as best he could to explain the last five or six hours to the coach, and then, led him into the home through the shattered front door. They went directly to the bedroom where Big Joe was still passed out. Coach told David to wet a towel with cold water and bring it to him.

As the coach covered Big Joe with the wet towel and rubbed it around his head, Big Joe

began to arouse. David began to yell at Big Joe, "Where’s my Mom? What happened to my Mom?" And Big Joe said, "She went home with a friend who had been beaten up by her husband for trying to make out with a stranger!" At least David was relieved that his mother was alive!

 CHAPTER SEVEN INTERVENTION TIME

In the modem days of the twenty-first century, television audiences are able to watch a show that does "Horne Makeovers," which relates to the old houses that someone longs

to see made new. But for several thousands of years there are those who major on "Horne Makeovers of the Heart and Spiritual Health of families." This has being going on behind the scenes for centuries because of a genuine love of the faithful for the fallen.

 Coach Stephens said to Big Joe, "Joe, I’m not here to embarrass you but to embrace you; I’m not here to shame you, but to share with you, "There’s a better way of living;" I’m not here to single you out and come down on you harshly, I’m here to say I am available to you, to Vera, and to David, to help your family be all God wants you to be."

Big Joe responded, "Coach, I’m glad you’re here, and especially for David’s sake. And David, I’m sorry for what you’ve had to be a part of the last few hours. Things just got out of hand and violent men did violent things in our house. I hope it never happens again."

At this point all David wants to know is name and address of where his mother is located.

 Big Joe told him, and David asked the coach if the two of them could go find her. They left Big Joe to try and start the clean-up so they could learn if David’s mother was OK. She was not "fine as wine in the surnrne1tirne," but she was glad to see David and Coach Stephens. She also was very apologetic but sadly without the ring of sincerity. Traveling back home she said to David, "I’ll try to see this never happens again in your young life!" As they arrived home Big Joe was sitting in the swing on the front porch. He was not a "happy camper;" what happened in his house the last few hours was not anything he expected. It was not that he was disillusioned about his friends or what went on, but upset that they just trashed his house!

As the four sat together , David was the first to speak: "I’ve heard your home is supposed

to be a haven but you all allowed it to become a hell-hole. I’m ashamed of what I know went on in this place the last few hours. What am I supposed to do, give you my OK that everything is alright? It’s not alright, and I don’t know that I can stay here."

Coach Stephens interrupts David to say, "Joe, you and Vera do understand why David is

upset, don’t you?"

Vera responded quickly because she’d learned the trade of getting along even if you had to fake it! "Coach Stephens, Joe and I are so sorry you had to be here on New Year’s day when you could be with your family. I know it means a lot to David to have you here. And Big Joe and I will try to see something like this never happens again."

"Yeah, Coach, Vera and I hate the party got out of hand; we’ll do better next time." That

was Joe saying, "Things might change -but only a little bit."

David responded, "A little bit? Is that all you can say? Our home is filthy because of what went on here last night. And what went on in my bedroom? It looks like trash was

dumped from a dumpster!" His mother said, "David, I’m sorry; I’ll clean it up."

Coach Stephens stepped in "where angels fear to tread!" "Joe, Vera, I’ve been around for a long time. I’ve witnessed a lot of families with disappointment, heartache, frustration, doubts and fears, uncertainties as to the next step. And I want to be available to the whole family. What I’d like to suggest is a ‘cooling-off period,’ maybe a clean-up time, a rest

 for a day or two, and then let me come back with two friends, one for you, Joe, one, for you, Vera, and one for David -and let’s put it all on the table and see if we can help each other. David needs to get this behind him, not only for the winter push of basketball but his school grades also. And Vera, as a mother, I know you want what will help David through this difficult time. Joe, would you agree for me and two friends to come to your home Wednesday night?" Joe agreed- reluctantly.

David walked Coach Stephens to his car, so appreciative of what Coach had done. He couldn’t thank his coach enough. And the one thing Coach wanted to leave with David was, that out of the worst of circumstances, some good can come. He told David, "Please, David, don’t be angry with Joe and Vera. Don’t take the offensive against them. Let’s let the next two days "cool" them and yourself. It’s not going to accomplish anything to intensify the war that seems to be raging. I just want you to know that I’m praying for the "peace that passes all understanding" to wrap itself around the Hesterts and you."

David was so appreciative of that and promised Coach he would zip his lips! He said,

"Coach, I cannot tell you how thankful I am that Joe agreed to meet Wednesday night. And I believe it will be a healthy time for all."

Coach Stephens left prayerfully in his heart for David and the Hesterts. He longed for

divine guidance, and as he headed home his automobile became a prayer altar. It was his specific request, "Lord Jesus, who is it I should involve in this intervention?" And without hesitation the Lord impressed upon his mind and heart Richard and Patty

 Sullivan. Richard owned the local building materials and hardware store and Patty was an elementary school teacher. Both were about the same age of Joe and Vera. Their hearts were ministry -oriented with great compassion for the troubled. In fact their home church had developed a ministry to troubled families and both Richard and Patty were heavily involved. When Coach Stephens called them after he arrived home they were more than willing to be a part. Their church family had an intercessory prayer ministry and they gladly contacted that team without names being involved but were encouraged to pray about a "home and family intervention" scheduled Wednesday night.

It also tells you a lot about the Stephens family also. When he arrived home his wife, two sons, and a daughter were having a late breakfast. They were anxious to know what had been going on with their husband and father. And though he didn’t go into graphic detail, he told them enough that they were as vitally concerned as the Sullivans. Around the breakfast table they had an old-fashioned prayer meeting, confident in their hearts that God is still "the God who answers prayers."

At the Hestert home it’s walking on pins and needles. Nobody is happy or celebrating the

New Year. Mom Vera wanted to fix her boys some breakfast, but with what? Then she explodes, "Why did we allow this white trash into our home? How could we have ever promoted something so vile? Joe, is this what you want our home to be like from now on because if you do, David and I are out of here!" That’s Mom hoping to make a few points with David when in her heart she was in her radical element, just frustrated at the mess she’s got to clean up!

Then Big Joe is hot! "These aren’t just my friends -you invited most of them. And so,

they made a mess! I’ve seen worse. At least no one is dead! Some of these were my business partners and they will be back, but I’ll just carry a bigger stick if have to." David remembered Coach’s words and just "cooled his jets!" More than that, without a word, David began in the kitchen with all the broken glasses, dishes, and platters and

began to clean things up. It took about an hour with brush and broom to clean the floor and counter-tops and, yes, wash what few dishes were remaining, unbroken.

Vera and Joe began to assess the damage in the other parts of the house with Joe knowing he must get the windows and doors repaired before it turns really cold. New Year’s Day was not going to be an easy time to get new glass, doors, and hinges, but maybe he could call in a few favors by using businessmen who used his services! Vera wanted the beds and bathrooms cleaned, so she started her mammoth project. Within seven or eight hours, they finally felt like they may be able to stay in their own home on New Year’s Night. As they came to the end of the day, that nightmarish time period, especially for David, they sat down together in the living room, subdued but not quiet. And surprisingly, Joe was

the first to speak. "David, I really want to thank you for your attitude about all this. I have to tell you, as a young man your age, I would not have done what you did today. I would have said, ‘You made the mess-you clean it up.’ I want to thank you."

Here comes Vera, "Joe, he’s my son. I’ve really sought to raise him up right. David is a good boy." (Here we go, Mom trying for a few points with her ‘sweet boy.’ Help us, Jesus!)

Then David calmly said, "It will be good to have Coach Stephens and his two friends to

come Wednesday night and give us a hand. The family that says that it has truly "arrived" is probably the family who needs help the most. But we haven’t arrived and we do need help."

And Big Joe said, "David, I will welcome them into our home. You won’t be ashamed." David responded," Big Joe, I really am thankful for your attitude. It says a lot about what is going on within you."

Of course, from Big Joe’s perspective it was a business move, an opportunity to learn

about expanding his frontier of involvement in the school and county with his ‘trade.’ Early afternoon Coach Stephens called Joe at home. "Joe, Richard Sullivan owns the local building materials store and hardware in the city. He and his wife, Patty, have agreed to come Wednesday night with me. But Richard says if you need anything today that he will go and open his store for you."

"Coach, that means a lot, but we’ve got so much clean-up to do, tell him I’ll come by tomorrow. I’ll just use card-board over the broken windows. Thanks."

It’s now Wednesday night, 7pm, and Coach Stephens and the Sullivans arrive at Joe and

Vera Hestert’s home with a great determination to be vessels through which God Himself reaches out.

After the introductions Coach Stephens asks if he might begin with a word of prayer. Big

Joe was agreeable. "Lord Jesus, we come into this home tonight in Your name. It’s our desire to bring Joe, Vera, and David into Your presence. Lord, the three of us are not healers, but You are the great Healer; we’re not their saviors, You are the gracious Savior and Lord. We bow before You tonight and ask You to wrap this family up in Your great arms of love and mercy. Amen."

"I think that Richard, Patty, and I would like to begin on an individual basis. Would that

be OK with you? Richard, how about you and David go to the kitchen? Patty, you and Vera go to a bedroom, and Joe and I will stay right here." Agreeable to all.

As Coach and Joe settled in to the living room, it was surprising for Joe to ask to speak

first. He was very bold as always saying to Coach Stephens, "I’m glad you came with the Stephens tonight, Coach, and especially for David’s sake. But one thing I want you to

understand, I’m not interested in this Jesus stuff, never have been and never will be. I can make it on my own. But you are welcome to speak about what you think Vera and I need to hear in order to help David."

 Coach Stephens wasn’t shocked or surprised or upset about Joe’s attitude. In fact he anticipated it. "Joe, the Sullivans and I are here for family intervention. We’re here to make ourselves available to the three of you. We’re here to hear you, help you, hold you, and lift you up wherever you need to be lifted to. I am not embarrassed to say to you that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. If He were not that to me I doubt I would be here tonight. The world attitude is, ‘every man on his own, his way, or the highway.’ But I believe we’re a fabric being sewn together and we need each other. Someday you’ll know how valuable you are to God, because if you were the only man who ever lived, what Jesus did at the Cross 2000 years ago, He did just for you alone. My question to you

• tonight is, how can I genuinely help you and Vera and David? I know this is a tough

time; there’s a big fracture in your relationship, and healing is needed."

Joe responded, "I believe that tonight about all we can say to one another is, "I’m sorry." Then maybe we can begin to better our family relationship." Coach replied, "I believe that’s a good beginning. Let me pray for you again." And he did.

Patty and Vera are in the master bedroom and quickly Vera takes the reins, "Patty, Joe and I are glad you all are here, and especially for David’s sake. I hope you understand that I’ve ALWAYS been a Christian and church-goer until I married Joe. But his influence has not been good for me or David. I let him pull me down. But I want to do better, I want to be a good mother, and I want to be an example."

And Patty is thinking to herself, "Then what about the first marriage and the second marriage -the fractured relationship, the poor witness. What really has your ‘faith’ done for you?" But she didn’t!

"Vera, this is intervention time for the specific purpose of helping you and Joe and David, but I must tell you there can be no intervening in family ruptures without the Lord’s help. You must open up the door of your heart wide, repent, and give Jesus His rightful place in your heart and home." And of course Vera responds quickly, "That’s what I want," when she has no intention of such a thing!

This is Richard’s first time to sit down with David also, but he had met him through school functions and basketball. He’s excited about David. And he knows enough about David’s background to settle on "plowing the field, planting, watering, and hopefully getting the harvest of his soul in time." But David also takes the initiative:

 "Mr. Sullivan, I know you haven’t known me very long, but this is my mother’s second marriage. My father was a successful banker, church leader, strong civic supporter, but a devil in disguise. I had to be in church with him and Mom but never listened. If what they had was real, I didn’t want it! And I’m not sure now except for the fact that the few years here has cracked the door a little bit. I see a lot that I don’t understand and can’t explain, but I know you’re a part of something different. Be patient with me."

Richard responded, "David, I know it’s been tough for you growing up. This has not been

God’s choice for you in family lifestyle, but you and your family, like mine and Coach Stephens, we were all a part of the fabric of fallen family humanity. We all were in on the fall in the Garden with Adam and Eve. We took on the curse, not the blessing. But God is our Rescuer in Christ at the Cross."

David interrupted, "Can we move on to where we are tonight? How do I relate to Joe and my mother in this horrible nightmare?"

Richard does not hesitate: "David, on the Cross of Christ, He looked down on those who

abused Him, accused Him, cursed Him, spat upon Him, stripped Him naked, and helped to crucify Him, and said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And I say to you, David, that you must learn to walk in forgiveness right now. Unforgiveness is like personal suicide -it will get you nowhere but dead! Forgive Joe and forgive your mother."

As the six re-assembled in the living room, in spite of all, it was a very moving time.

David took the lead and asked for Joe and his mother’s forgiveness for becoming so angry with them. He cried, not as a little baby, but a broken-hearted son- and it genuinely moved Joe and Vera.

There was a hugging-one-another time, and Coach and the Sullivans knew it was time

for them to leave.

 CHAPTER EIGHT BASKETBALL HEAVEN

 January and February are the months of preparation for "March Madness" even in high school basketball! It is so intense because every school, coach, and team want to make it to the top-tier championship game. Coach Stephens is no different, and the players know when that first winter practice begins it’s going to be ‘serious,’ very serious. It is his responsibility and personal desire to get the most out of his players taking them to the highest rung of their potential. He wants them well-trained, skilled in all areas of basketball, physically fit for the full four quarters and beyond, a team welded together as a unit that can play with anybody across their State. He knows he lost a few key seniors through graduation and that the new group coming in must meld quickly. He saw through December great potential from this group, and, of course, he’s really high on the sophomore, David Matthews.

Only three days of practice in the New Year and they take on last year’s District

Champions that went on only to lose in the Regional Finals. This is going to be a big test for this year’s team, but Coach believes they are ready for the challenge.

Practice majors on the picks, the rolls, the fast-breaks, and strong ‘in your face’ defense. He knows his team must score and score often, yet at the same time hold his opponent below their season average. And again, he majors on sprints after sprints after sprints because his team must be in better shape than their opponents.

At the end of every practice, before showering, the team must each do 100 foul shots with

a teammate spotting under the basket to hopefully help point out any mistake in a missed shot. He wants them helping one another.

It’s Friday night and the gym is jam-packed! People are as close to the out-of-bounds line the referees will allow them to sit. It’s a boisterous crowd as the teams come to tip­ off!

And Coach Stephens planned a pick and roll on the tip-off because he knew his center

could out-jump and put the ball where he wanted it. And quickly the Stephens crowd is up on the Browder crowd. The team is sharp, quick, on the money with their shots, and by halftime are up by ten.

But that’s not the way it will stay. Quickly Coach Browder made some major changes in

 defense and by midway of the second half has his strong team even. With a vital timeout Coach Stephens makes his own adjustments and shifts the major scoring to David. His teammates know he’s strong on the three-point, strong on driving the middle and picking up fouls, and soon the local team is back on top by ten as David picked up four three­ pointers and four points on fouls -16 points in the last ten minutes. Great win to start the New Year!

Before the Christmas break, Coach Stephens’ team, Altoona High of Altoona, Tennessee, were 4and 2 in the first three weeks, losing to a AAA division school by 15 points and a AA division school from another district by 11 points. Then they won 4 straight in the Christmas -New Year’s Tournament to go 8 and 2 for the new beginning. They win the first game of the New Year and go to 9 and 2. The local paper is ecstatic as they promote "maybe Coach Stephens’ best team ever!"

But the Coach has a good philosophy -he tells his team members to stay away from news articles until after the season is over. "Let your Mama cut out clippings and save them for you to read when the season is over." He didn’t want them influenced with prideful words or words of condemnation. They were to focus on the Coach and team alone!

Over January they go, in the last four weeks, 6 and 2, with an overall record of 15 and 4.

Their two losses were again to AAA teams but not by much. In February they had two weeks of play before the District Tournament and they won all four AA games to go 19 and 4 for the season.

David Matthews was such an integral part of the success of the team. He’s going into the District with an 18 point average with one big game of 28 points!

It’s good that this year’s district play is in Altoona. And they have a good seed and will

have to play only three games to go all the way through. And they do with no pressure at all -it was a breeze through to regional play where it will be much tougher. Three of Coach Stephens’ players make All-District including David!

They get another good break with a good seeding in the regional tournament and have a huge game the second night of the tournament. They must play Klinton High who only lost their district finals by one point to probably the best team in both districts. It was a ‘barn-burner’ with Altoona High winning 82 to 80 after David Matthews stole the ball

for a lay-up as the buzzer sounded- a great, great win! Their next two games are just as tough but Altoona wins the regional tournament and is headed to State next week!

The city of Altoona is so thrilled with this young team. This may be the year for their first

 State title. They go to Nashville and Vanderbilt University gym to take on a team from Memphis the first night of the tournament-Memphis Tech High School! The gym is packed -Altoona must have uprooted the whole city and traveled to Nashville. This is their year.

But sadly they are shocked in defeat by the Memphis team by 20 points! Now they

wonder about next year. Will they improve? Will they find another young David Matthews? Will their record be better than this year’s record?

Coach Stephens is not disappointed. Of course he would have loved to go deeper in the State tournament than they did, but he is pleased with this year’s team -and he knows the junior varsity will help next year and there is one or two freshmen who may blossom. He’s ready for a break, and then spring practice!

David was disappointed in their State play, but he knew this was a good year for Altoona

High and for himself. He rang up both District and Regional honors! He cannot wait for next year, he is so excited about his basketball future!

CHAPTER NINE

BIG JOE’S TROUBLES -WINTER AND SPRING

Big Joe’s troubles are so far beyond what happened New Year’s Eve in his home. That was certainly a ‘nightmare,’ but Joe’s troubles had been mounting behind the scenes by poor ‘business practices’ and poor oversight. He is in debt enormously and knows that something must be done to help him get out of this bind.

Joe’s "friends" aren’t about to help because if he fails that opens the door for more business for themselves! Even his close friend, mayor of another city, refuses to help Joe out of his financial crunch because he considers Joe to be a very poor credit risk. He’s not about to get in the middle of Joe’s "woes."

There was a strong consideration by Joe to put his prized horses out on the market for sale, but it’s a down market at this particular time and Joe cannot afford to take a big hit or loss on his horses. He’s got to hold onto them at least until the market turns upward again.

Joe even considered down-sizing both his prostitution ring and drug ring, but that only

makes the noose tighter around his neck. That is not an option. Plus the guys and girls that have worked for him have stood by him in other down times and he has no desire to cut the strings with his business associates.

Then Big Joe decided to call together his inner circle and lay everything on the table. He wants to pick their brains about how and how quickly he can solve his financial crunch. One said, "Joe, we’ve done it before and we can do it again -what about robbing a few banks? Will that be a good option? We have some experience."

But Joe says, "No go! We were younger, we had good training, and we had some success. But the problem is, a slip-up, and we all face 25 years or more in the penitentiary. I say, "No."

One of the other ‘hoods’ said, "It’s possible we could put together a strategy for kidnapping and a hefty ransom. We’ve got loads of wealthy East Tennesseans who would pay a small fortune to get a son or daughter back. And we have the caves around East Tennessee, Alabama, or Georgia; we could stash someone away unnoticed for a very

long time if necessary." And that at least caught Joe’s attention. But he needed time to work through it.

Vera is not aware of the financial predicament that Joe is in right now, but Joe knows she

must be brought into the loop. He’s not concerned about her reaction- she loves money and will do whatever is necessary to keep it flowing. Remember? "Whatever it takes, I want a pleasurable time in spending your money, Joe!" She likes the better things of life and doesn’t care what it takes to get whatever she wants! So Joe decided to set a time and bring Vera into this loop of strategy about financial recovery.

What a shock to Vera! She thought she’d arrived on ‘easy street’ with Joe because the

money flowed so freely before they married and right after their wedding. Vera never dreamed what signing a $400,000 bank note might mean to her personally. And she certainly never anticipated that the money Joe had allowed to slip through his fingers would come back to haunt her. Joe is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, the cash

flow has shrunk dramatically, there’s the big bank note on the new barn, and pressure is mounting from the Columbian drug cartel that has carried Joe’s indebtedness for months and months!

 Joe wants to be as gentle as possible with Vera and not over-sell the dilemma he’s now facing, but he’s got to have her on his side without hesitation. She came into their marriage with at least a half of a million dollars from her divorce settlement from Mr. Matthews, the banker. And she has held on to it with a stout hold. Maybe, just maybe, he can persuade her to release those funds and at least get him half-way home of his debt. But Joe is not surprised, shocked, or alarmed -Vera isn’t using her funds to cover his poor practices! That will never happen. She trusts herself to manage her own money and Joe will not get one dime from her. Vera is making certain she and David have something to "bank" on if the Hestert marriage doesn’t make it.

Joe has no desire to bridge with her what some of his friends suggested concerning a

bank robbery or a kidnapping because Vera never knew the depth of Joe’s criminality from the past although she was fully aware of the prostitution and drugs. That part didn’t seem to be a problem with Vera.

 Then they turned to the farm itself and possibly selling off those beautiful Tennessee Walking horses valued and insured for more than a million dollars. Joe has to tell her of the down market on horse prices right now and rules that out of bounds for consideration. They discuss selling acreage off the farm and at least stop the ‘blood flow’. But Joe says, "We’d never get the value for what it’s worth now, plus, with the $400,000 mortgage on the new barn, most folks will run from it as fast as possible!"

The one conclusion they both realize, "We have a major problem!" I guess you would

 call it that if you are about $800,000 in the red! And, of course, Big Joe just can’t understand how it happened! He knows he has a few months before the ‘big squeeze’ comes, and he cannot postpone figuring out how to solve his problem. Vera said to Joe, "Will you please keep me in the loop and please tell me if those you owe start to come against you? I don’t want any more surprises." Then, of course, she began to reflect upon the possibility that this criminal element Joe is involved in could come against her or David or both. Now, she’s really on edge!

Sleepless nights begin to be a pattern for Vera -and of course she has a solution, just

take all the sleeping pills you need! That really alleviates her problems, right? Then she begins to take those pills with Vodka so Joe wouldn’t know she’s drinking, as if she could fool him.

Peace is not a description of the Hestert household right now. "Troubled waters" is a

better description. There is such an air of uneasiness, a tension as thick as butter itself, an attitude of doubt and fear, almost like a haze or fog that has settled over the two. And, sadly, there is no such thing as saving or redemptive faith in their marriage. They are not individuals who have chosen to walk with God, led by the light of a holy sovereignty over their lives. They are in control and they handle their own problems! They call the shots, make the decisions, devise their own plans, and solve their own problems! Oh, sure, and how blessed they appear to be! Aren’t they a picture of married bliss, the modem example of holy matrimony, the academy award of enriching love, faith, and hope? No, their relationship is cheap, cosmetic, corrosive, corrupt, and crumbling. What is in store for Joe and Vera with David surviving because of his studies and his love of basketball, but what does tomorrow hold?

CHAPTER TEN

THE PRESSURES MOUNT

Juan Cruz is not a name that many East Tennesseans find familiar. But of course Big Joe knows him because he is the distant front man for the Colombia drug cartel. Big Joe knows him quite well! But that is the only name he has had ever heard relating to the drug business.

Juan Cruz is a Miami resident who travels frequently throughout the Southeast. That area is his zone of operation. And over the years he has miraculously stayed under the radar of the Drug Enforcement Agency. He’s never been arrested. He’s never been approached by the DEA-he’s ‘clean’ in the southern drug business.

Juan met Big Joe in Daytona at a big "Bike" rally as thousands and thousands of bikers came to Daytona to visit with their friends and acquaintances, make their business contacts, build their networks for drug and prostitution, and "party!" That certainly has been Big Joe’s life-style mode -party, party, and more party. This was before he and Vera married.

It was in "The Cowboy Saloon" in Daytona where Juan and Big Joe met, at the bar, as they shared a drink. Juan is always so very, very careful as he sizes up potential dealers, and it doesn’t take long to believe Big Joe will be a potential client. But he certainly isn’t ready to bridge that possibility just yet -time will tell. Juan is really interested because of the Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Nashville triangle with Memphis as an add-on. Juan was amazed that Big Joe was so upfront about his prostitution ring. In fact, it was a negative for him as he thought about bringing Joe into his loop of "drug service."

But then there is a major and dangerous eruption of their conversation as a bar fight

breaks out, and this is no place for a ‘foreigner’ as the fists fly, bottles break, blood flows, and gunshots ring out! Big Joe doesn’t hesitate -he covers Juan and leads him out the back-door into an alley where for the present moment he’s safe. Juan was not frightened because of what he had witnessed before in the Miami area, but he was certainly appreciative of Big Joe’s quick thinking and gushed with many thanks for getting him

out. A bond is made.

After the bar room melee is quieted by Daytona police, Juan and Joe decide to meet for lunch the next day at a local cafeteria. It’s a good place for Juan to really question Joe and see if there is a ‘fit’ with Juan’s business -or should I say again the Colombian drug cartel. This will not be a quick decision on Juan’s part -the final decision rests in Colombia by bosses that he cannot even name. The cartel is smart, savvy as to good personnel, separated in a way even the CIA or FBI would have a hard time in identifying any of the ‘owners’ by name.

As the luncheon began Juan was up front with Joe assuring Joe he’d already checked him out through crime contacts in the Tennessee area and that he was not hesitant in possibly offering Tennessee to Joe, based upon mutual agreements finalized by the top echelon people in Columbia.

And, of course, Big Joe is interested because prostitution alone does not provide him with

the big bucks he really wants for himself. He knows if he can tie into the drug cliental in a big way he’d be set for life. But Juan wants to know, "What is your tie-in to local law

enforcement? Will they be a problem? Joe is able to assure Juan that it will cost him a percentage personally but there are those who will ‘turn the other way,’ be blind to what Joe does, as long as their share is fair. That’s sweet music to Juan’s ears -he loves having local law enforcement hungry for money beyond their salaries!

But, of course, there is the huge discussion about money and Juan doesn’t hesitate in saying to Big Joe, "Your cost is higher initially, but as you prove yourself trustworthy you get a bigger share. Do you understand that?"

And Joe asks, "What is my testing time?" Juan responded, "We adjust at the end of one year, depending upon your payments, your volume, and your non-identity. Can you personally stay under the radar with the DEA?" Joe has no qualms in assuring Juan he ill run the cleanest operation in the U.S.A.!

Now, Juan must explain to Joe that Joe’s connection is dependent upon the Columbia

 drug king-pin. And it takes time because there are so many loops to jump through. Juan tells Joe, "I do not have a single name in Colombia. Everything is hush-hush. It will take at least a week to get an answer, another week to set up payment plans, and another week to establish the pipeline that protects everyone." And Juan wants to know how long it will take Joe to establish his ‘up’ and ‘down’ line.

Joe assures Juan he’ll be fully operational within a month. And it happened big time. Joe became one of the leading producers for the drug cartel. He did it year after year.

Then, of course, because of a flawed character to begin with, Joe began to skim more and more off the top for himself. He became one of "the big-time spenders" and began to get behind his drop payments in Miami to Juan. It hasn’t been day after day or month after month, but has stretched into well over a year that Joe falls behind.

This does not sit well with Juan or the Colombian ‘big dogs!’ Juan had to make a special trip to Tennessee to set up a personal meeting with Big Joe. It’s all on the line, and Juan’s bosses have said to him, "Give Joe four months, and if he is not debt free with us, he will be indebted, and that’s not a good place for Joe Hestert to be! Make sure he understands –

– ‘we mean what we say!’ "

There is one thing Joe clearly understands: "He’s in major trouble and what he just heard he understands puts his very life on the line!" And the one thing Joe understands is, he cannot turn this problem around in four months without a major cash infusion. Where does it come from? That’s his dilemma. Now he must come up with a huge web of deception and ease his own pain.

That certainly shouldn’t be a problem because Joe has never been an honest or honorable

man-he has thrived on deceit and doesn’t see it as a character flaw, just a way of life in the rough and tumble world he’s been a part of all his life! His philosophy is, "Everybody is a cheat-look at how they ‘cook the books’ with the IRS!" He sees no wrong in prostitution, no wrong in mistreating his employees, no wrong in the use of illegal drugs, no wrong in robbing banks -he’s a modem-day ‘Robin Hood,’ taking from the rich to give to himself! He sees no wrong in cheating on his wife! Joe is a cheat! He sees no wrong in using young university girls in prostitution or supplying drugs even to Middle Schools!

But now there is a ‘higher power’ over his life, and it isn’t God for him, it’s the

Colombian drug cartel! And their judgment day is about to come for Big Joe, unless he can scheme his way to debt relief. What will he do?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK OF DECEPTION

It’s early March into the New Year and Joe knows his problem must be solved between mid-May to June 1. Time is short, the clock is running faster than Joe wants it to, and he knows he must make a decision quickly about easing his financial pain.

It’s also time for Joe’s inner circle to meet and resolve what Big Joe will do to remedy his situation. Joe has three former "Hell’s Angels" that he’s known and worked with over the last eighteen to twenty years. They basically have grown up together in the crime world with Joe being "the cream that rises to the top." It’s no problem for the other three because they have been treated fairly by Joe and have more than just enough to eat.

Of the three, one has overseen the prostitution in Chattanooga, one in Knoxville, and one

in Nashville. It has been a thriving business in each city, but even with their success, it was never enough for Joe. When the drugs entered the picture, the same three looked after their own city area, but of course required additional leadership in a dangerous business.

And, before, they had never witnessed Big Joe skimming off the top for himself and delaying payment to the ‘bigboys’ in Miami and Colombia. This became a different ballgame than any of them were used to, but Joe had been their huge ‘financial cow’ and they were not going to abandon him.

The four meet in Gatlinburg for a weekend of hammering out whatever plan Big Joe came up with. Whatever he decided, they were on board, and they would carry out his plan to the minutest detail. They know, whatever, it’s going to be risky for them all, and

they must cover every possibility thoroughly. They also understand that whatever plan is settled upon, it must look like an out-of-state job with no way to trace any activity to the

four of them.

Joe had made his decision before the meeting was set up, and the other three knew it was not open for discussion. As the meeting was opened in Gatlinburg at their hotel, Joe was certain he had made the right decision, but it was going to take meticulous planning. He wanted no slip-ups, no leaks, no strangers involved in the event, and absolutely rock­

solid protection for the four of them.

Joe establishes a budget of $100,000 to carry out his plan. Each of the four would have

$25,000 a piece to fulfill whatever role they played, and, the less they spent on others or materials, the more for their own pockets.

Here’s the plan: They are going to devise a plan to blow up Joe’s new barn which cost

him $400,000 to build, insured for about $600,000 with insurance on his dozen and a half horses at $1, 250,000! Joe’s only problem will be the replacement of his horses on down the line, but with insurance money he can rebuild plus pocket about $200,000. With the insurance money from the horses, he can pay off the drug cartel and still have over

$500,000!

The three team members are ecstatic -they believe it can be done easily without great

risk to any of them. They do know the care that must be given for the selection of an out­ of-state bomb maker and how he’ll propose to do it. Joe let’s them know it is their responsibility in selection and financial payments out of the $25,000 he’s given to each

 one. Out of Joe’s $25,000, he’ll use it to lay the groundwork of deception, pointing everything away from the four and on to someone in Colombia with Juan kept out of the loop along with those who lead the cartel that he doesn’t even know by name. Joe has planned a trip to Miami to draw Juan in to help him establish people that Joe will be able to blame the bombing on. It may cost him $10,000 -$15,000 for Juan, but it will be worth it in the end.

Before they leave Gatlinburg, they’ve narrowed down "the bomber" to a few former soldiers, now retired, in Columbus, Georgia. There are at least two men that they believe will work together to see that the barn comes down and burns with no way for the horses to survive. These guys were in the army together and even spent time in the brig for their brawling fun with young, immature soldiers. They were close and feel the door will be open with the right dollar amount. The three responsible for this part figure they’ll start at

$10,000 and limit it to no more than $15,000. That’s only $5000 a piece out of their

$25,000. They’ll have expenses in travel from Tennessee to Georgia, but they ought to come out with at least $17,000-$18,000 each.

 The three associates pre-arrange a meeting in Columbus, Georgia, at the Holiday Inn the following weekend. The Georgia boys are alerted to the significance of the meeting and to not call attention, in any way, to this meeting. It will not be a problem because these guys are not on anybody’s concern list. For the criminal element, they are trustworthy! When the meeting begins that Friday night, on the way down, Joe’s three front men get greedy and decide they’ll keep their financial offer at $8000. When the two former soldiers hear that figure, they get up to leave. Of course, it was a bluff. The "bombers" insist that $8000 is not worth the risk, plus they’ve been informed, whatever price they settle on, these two must pay for the materials needed to bring down an 8000 square foot barn! It doesn’t settle in at the top dollar of $15,000-the three finally agree to $18,000. The price is set, the agreement is made, and they target the barn for destruction on May 25! It is settled that there will be absolutely no contact between Joe’s three point-men and the bombers. They do settle on the blast taking place at 4a.m. The guys who devise the plan will do it remotely after they’ve wired and set up everything the previous evening by 10:30 pm. They want to be able to set it up, drive a good ways away from the barn, and then at 4a.m. make the call that will set it off. Everybody agrees!

Big Joe is going to Miami "on vacation," and, of course, without Vera! He only plans two

or three days there to convince Juan and drop a "bundle" on him for his help. He flew, and then took a taxi to one of the best hotels near the airport. After a good night’s rest, he planned a breakfast meeting with Juan.

As he laid out his plan for securing the funds he needed to settle with Juan’s bosses in

Colombia, Juan was not shocked but a little surprised. He didn’t know the depths of depravity Joe would sink to solve his financial woes. But it doesn’t bother Juan, he’s always liked Joe and wants to help him any way he can- for a price!

Juan responds, "How can I help you from Miami carry out what is going to happen on

your farm in Tennessee?" Joe is clear and to the point, "I need your help in setting up a fall guy, someone who knows nothing of the barn’s destruction, but is in the area with plans to rob my home. He comes in at least a day and a half before May 25, in a Florida tagged automobile, he cases out the farm, and has instructions to rob my safe in the house on the morning of the 26th before noon when everyone will be out of the home. Your associates will have placed into the trunk of his car in a way that he cannot find it, wiring,

 some ammonium nitrate, and whatever else would link him to the explosion! The police will be alerted after the morning of the bombing about a strange car in the area the last two days with Florida tags. And, of course, you cannot be identified with him. Keep him far away from you. My max financially for you and him will be $20,000, but you could work out with him funds up front and then a cut of what he was supposed to take from my safe. That won’t happen so you may be able to get by with a few thousand dollars up front. Just be sure he’s the one you don’t like and you’d like to see him in prison for the bombing!" Juan says without hesitation, "It’s Eduardo Montoya! I don’t know him personally but my bosses in Colombia say he’s been a thorn in their sides!"

Juan responded to Joe, "What should he be told about what is in your safe?" And Joe

says,

"Get the word to him there will be $250,000 cash and jewelry worth $100,000, monies that I have saved from my two businesses. Whoever is your front man will work out an agreement of a fifty-fifty split. OK?" Also Joe insisted that the front-men be Colombians who would gladly go back there until the smoke clears. They agreed.

Juan wants to know how long he has to set up Montoya? And Joe says, "Only one week,

because if you can’t lure him in, we’ve got to move in another direction." If the two retired soldiers are in, Joe will get materials from them to plant in Eduardo’s car.

It’s settled with Juan and the plan is in full motion. But now Joe must sit Vera down and let her know what is about to happen. He has no qualms about the barn and horses being gone.

As Joe sits down with Vera, she had heard a lot of the potential options that Joe had, but

when he laid out the "bomb blast", Vera was elated. She saw the plan down to the

minutest detail- and she sees it as fully safe for herself, David, and Joe. For Vera, it’s a "thumbs up!" She lets Joe know that David will not be in any danger because he will be away about two and a half days on a school "Faith" retreat. He’s scheduled to be home by noon on May 26.

Now, Joe’s biggest challenge is deceiving local law enforcement and other agencies that

Joe is in danger, that he’s been receiving anonymous phone calls with threats on his life, that he has an enemy he knows nothing about, and that more news about his demise will be coming soon!

Through Juan Joe had pre-arranged for the mailing of a death threat on his life, the threat

coming from someone in Florida, and that it would happen by June 1. The locals go to work trying to discover who is behind the threats but it is a cold trail; they are not able to find even a small crack of opportunity telling them who is behind this. Juan and Joe have covered themselves well!

Chapter Twelve TARGET TIME

It’s really amazing how this web of deceit is unfolding. Remember, two retired soldiers are on board to carry out the bombing, and Eduardo Montoya is set up to be the fall guy. Columbus, Georgia, is the city-location for Fort Benning, the largest army facility in the nation. And, of course, many soldiers retire there when their career is over simply because of the commissary and the tie with war buddies and their families.

 Retired sergeant, Steve Lowery, and retired Lt. Colonel Jim Fingers, are the two men that Joe’s buddies have lured into the circle of criminal activity once again. The brotherhood of crime is strong, and these two guys are also bored! They want "on the edge" again; they want to be tested; they want to see how far they can go without being caught; they want to see the law officials baffled, scratching their heads, and wondering who could have pulled off a horrific bombing! There is no question that they’ll be fully involved.

But they began to have questions among the two of them: how do we bring that barn down, how do we make sure the horses don’t get out, what materials do we use, how long will it take for us to get set up, what is the trigger mechanism, any chance we could be identified? It was day after day that they sought to hammer out their strategy. They definitely knew they had to sneak around Joe’s farm and barn; they knew they had to

have everything pre-set; they knew they had to be far way when the explosions took

place; and they knew what ever materials they used could not be traced to them. They ARE soldiers, and they plan well.

How careful these two planners are! They know the materials they must use and they

know that not even a wire, a timer, or inflammatory materials can be traced to them. They understand they’ll have to use some form of backpack to hold the inflammatory

materials, and that becomes a major concern. How easy would it be to trace four or five backpacks with maybe name labels on them, or trace wiring? They realize they have their work cut out for them. Even the purchase of ammonium nitrate could be traceable.

They come to the conclusion that everything they use will have to be stolen and taken somewhere a great distance from Columbus, Georgia. They began to use maps, they began to check out businesses that use materials they need, and they know wiring and timers will be a key element. Colonel Fingers is sure he can build the timers with untraceable materials and find essential wiring without any problems. They also decided they’d take sports backpacks from a school far away from Ft. Benning. This is really coming together and they are well pleased!

Of course, they are going early, well before their target date to survey the situation at Big

Joe’s farm. They’ll do it quietly in the middle of the night, mapping out every detail of timer location etc.

Then, there is Eduardo Montoya. And he has his own plan to devise, not knowing he will

be the fall guy. But he is a covetous man, and when he learns of a big heist in a home, he is ecstatic! He’s sure this is going to be the easiest robbery he’s ever been a part of. He doesn’t even need a helper -this will be a "piece of cake." But he’s never been in the

exact area where Big Joe lives in Tennessee, and he knows he must make a scouting trip before the target date.

In Miami Juan’s distant helpers have drawn the noose tight around Eduardo. They will plant strong incriminating evidence against him in the car or van he uses before he leaves for Tennessee the second time. Everything matching the soldiers’ materials will be in Eduardo’s car or van. He won’t have a chance of missing arrest!

Eduardo gets all the information he needs to locate Big Joe’s home and farm. As he drove toward Tennessee he made his list of everything he’d need to blow a small safe. It’s possible he can pick up his materials in Atlanta going or coming.

 When he arrives in Joe’s city, for some unknown reason he is emboldened to check into a local motel with a restaurant attached. And, of course, the motel manager recorded his license plate number, but Eduardo is only thinking, "This is about eight weeks away. No problem in recording my information."

The next morning he drives to Joe’s farm, checking mileage and time factors. When he arrived at the farm, he checked the best location to park his car near the home, but far enough away not to be spotted by anyone traveling by.

He’s been told where the safe is located in the house so he is not going to make a home invasion at this time. He’s measuring time and miles and the route to get him to the interstate highway as quickly as possible. He doesn’t know he will never leave his motel the morning of the bombing because the motel manager, having heard of the bombing that fateful morning, will call the sheriff’s officers about a suspicious individual!

As Eduardo was driving back through Atlanta, he remembers an old buddy living in

Atlanta who had been a part of several ‘jobs" and would know the availability of materials to blow a safe. He finds out his old friend’s address and drives to his home. Anesto is glad to see Eduardo but surprised he is still interested in blowing safes! He felt sure that Eduardo was way beyond that, but is convinced this is something he’s going to do and opens the door to a supplier in Atlanta who can meet Eduardo’s needs and keep quiet about it. It will cost him but is not a big hit into what Eduardo will make for himself. He’s set.

Arriving in Miami he continues to plan, plan, plan. He wants no slip-ups on his part for pulling off a heist worth at least $250,000, not counting any jewelry or other valuables in Big Joe’s safe.

Now it’s focusing in on what, at one time, he did with the greatest of ease. He studies any materials he could locate, even through his local library, on safe-cracking. When the time comes he knows he’ll be able to do it with the greatest of ease.

Eduardo is so arrogant he begins to consider safe places of investments with a good return. He is planning on a generous retirement fund and this job is a huge contribution to his future. He is smart enough that no one from Miami is brought into the loop, only the guys from Juan’s camp. This is "sealed lips" time, and Eduardo is a master at that.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

LATE SPRING "FLING OF FAITH"

Not many schools are blessed with such a strong contingent of Christian coaches and teachers; in fact the school principal is a faithful believer. Everything is voluntary but there is a huge response from cheerleaders, team members, and coaches of all sports. They begin on a Thursday night and finish the retreat with lunch on Saturday.

It’s really interesting that David Matthews has never had any interest in the Christian faith because of what he experienced from his father in Vera’s first marriage. His ears have been closed to any Christian motivation. But Coach Stephens passionately encouraged every basketball team member to participate. They were not going to lose a position if they didn’t attend, but David knew Coach really wanted him there. The clincher that convinced David he should attend was when he saw Paula Pressley was going to be singing!

Paula is a sophomore like David, a cheerleader, strong student, and vocalist for the school

choir and her church choir. David has never known Paula on a personal basis -they’d pass in the hallways and David would notice her cheering at his games. He’s motivated to attend strictly because he may be able to get acquainted with her.

Also there is a professional football player speaking one session and then a University of

Tennessee college basketball player that has set a few records at UT. He’s going to give "a personal testimony." David doesn’t know what that is, but he decides he needs to attend the "spring fling of faith."

Big Joe purchased an older car for David after his good play in basketball and David was excited that Joe and Vera allowed him to drive it to the retreat with another friend riding with him.

Thursday night, May 24, and the retreat is on. The popular youth leader from one of the

growing churches in the city is the master of ceremonies, the music leader with a high school group from the band plus a choral ensemble lead the worship. There is over one hundred athletes, boys and girls, from the high school in attendance. David is not only unsure about his presence but uneasy because something is happening, (good for the

glory of God!), but not good as David sees it. He wonders how many hypocrites there are

in attendance like his father!

 Oh, but then the youth leader introduces Paula Pressley to sing before the UT basketball player gives his testimony. David had heard Paula in the school choir but never singing a solo. The choice she made was the song, "The King Is Coming." And the saying, "She sang the stars down," was really how David felt when he heard Paula singing. And to himself he said, "I wonder if Paula would ever have any interest in me?" There was one thing he knew -he must get to Paula when the night service is over and let her know how much he appreciated her singing.

The UT player shared his testimony, but David really didn’t understand what the young

man was saying, or more honestly, didn’t want to know what he was saying. Coach Stephens was asked to close the first night’s service in prayer, and it struck a chord with David, but he wouldn’t admit it.

 Coach prayed, "Lord Jesus, thank You for this first service of the "Spring Fling of Faith." We know you sovereignly led every one of us here tonight. This is Your divine appointment with many, many young people. Like Jeremiah, You are drawing them to Yourself with Your lovingkindness. Thank You for those already saved, thank You for those whose hearts you are touching for the first time, thank You that You knock on the doors of all our hearts wanting to come in. Give grace to many the next few days so that they will understand what You want to do in and through their lives. May they sense Eternity in their hearts over these days and understand You made them, lost them, but You bought them with a price, the precious blood of the w01ihy Lamb of God. Amen." Immediately after the closing prayer David made his way to the front of the auditorium where Paula was standing. He had to get in line, but it didn’t matter to David, he would stand there all night if he could just introduce himself to Paula.

Finally, he’s there, in front of Paula, and with a smile he said, "I know you don’t know me, Paula, but I’m David Matthews, and I loved your singing." Paula responded, "David, you don’t have to introduce yourself to me. I know who you are. And I love the way you play basketball- and someone told me you are an ‘A’ student in your classes. That’s great."

Sheepishly David dismissed himself from Paula’s presence with a glimmer of hope, "She

knows who I am!" It was hard for David to fall asleep that night because he had Paula "on my mind." He couldn’t wait for the morning session to start because he knew he’d see Paula. And he was wondering, "I wonder if she would sit with me if I asked her." But David couldn’t or wouldn’t bring himself to ask her. He thought, "Maybe she’ll have lunch with me, but again he was too shy to be so bold!

But something else was really bothering David. The music, Paula, the UT player, the high school classmates and teammates seemed to have something David had been running

from all his life. He wouldn’t admit it, but the Lord Jesus was making deep and strong strides into his mind and heart; and at this point, David did not like it.

David didn’t even look for Paula, not only for lunch, but for an afternoon walk. He just wandered around the campgrounds wondering if he could even handle the night service, but he wanted to see and hear Paula sing again.

The night service was a joyous "blast" but David could not bring himself to join in

though he really wanted to. He knew nothing about Holy Spirit conviction, wooing him, drawing him to Christ Jesus. He resisted strongly.

The planners had invited a very strong youth choir from another city to sing three songs

in the early part of the night service. They were outstanding, and David could not grasp how so many young people could be so "deluded." Then after more group singing the host introduces Paula again. David was awed by what he heard, Paula singing, Sandy Paty’s "We Shall Behold Him." She was so free, so angelic, so certain that what she was singing was true, and it threw David for a loop. He didn’t know how to respond. He only knew he couldn’t stay around for the late-night commitment service. When the first session was over he went straight to Paula. "Paula, your singing really touched me. I’d love to hear you sing again sometime. Is it possible I could take you for a milkshake sometime?’

And she agreed! David was ecstatic, but had to say to her, "I can’t stay for the late night

service, but I’ll see you at school Monday." Paula was disappointed, but told David she’d look forward to the milkshake.

It’s about 11:l 5p.m. when David leaves the campground. He decided to stop by a quick­ serve and get a hamburger before he goes home. It’s about midnight when he arrives on the farm, all the lights are out, and so David decides to sleep in the barn and not disturb Joe and Vera. He spread out his sleeping bag and slept on top of it on the hay. It’s been a very long day and David has no problem falling asleep.

 CHAPTER FOURTEEN DAVID’S DREAM SHATTERED

Of course David is totally unaware that the retired sergeant and colonel are in on Big Joe’s scam with the intent of blowing up the barn at 4 a.m. on May 25. The two had already been to the barn several hours ago and had placed each backpack where they needed to be, wired the timers and set each to go off at that early morning hour. The two retired soldiers are long gone -no one saw them enter and no one saw them leave.

In the mean-time Eduardo had checked in again at the same motel with attached restaurant. "No problem -They won’t know what I’m in town for." His target time is twelve noon to rob Joe’s safe, but Joe and Vera are going nowhere.

Eduardo does not know that in the tire well Juan’s associates had placed wiring, an extra timer, and scattered a little ammonium nitrate. He is set up for a downfall!

At 4 a.m. the timers go off and there is a huge explosion and fire that rages throughout

the barn. David is thrown from the upper barn hay-storage area, losing his right arm and right foot and was burned over about 70% of his right side. He miraculously landed in the shallow end of the horses’ swimming area, the place they walk into to get their pool exercise. He also never lost consciousness and was able to turn himself over, lying in shock on his back.

Samuel Etheredge was the first on the scene followed closely by Big Joe and Vera.

Samuel was horrified, with his big spotlight, to go right by the pool and see David lying in the pool. He carefully pulls David out of the water just as Joe and Vera arrive. They are shocked, horrified that David was home and in the very heart of the blast. The barn is collapsing, the fire is raging, a few of the horses survived the initial blast, but soon there is no sound of horses crying within the debris.

Big Joe yells at Vera, "Get to the house, call for an ambulance and a fire truck, then call

the sheriff’s office. Tell them to get here fast.

 Samuel finds some clean rags tossed out of the vet’s office and begins to press them around David’s right shoulder area where the limb was ripped off and over the foot area that had been tom away. David was in excruciating pain from the tom two limbs and the bums. He goes in and out of consciousness before the EMT’s arrive. They are about fifteen minutes away, and Samuel and Big Joe do all they can to keep David comfortable. In fact, Big Joe sits on the ground and carefully pulls David toward him. He held him tenderly, and for probably the first time in his life as an adult male he cries over David. "David, David, what were you doing in the barn. We thought you were at a retreat!" But David couldn’t answer. The shock was really taking hold.

Finally, the EMT’s arrive and Joe and Vera are so thankful. They do everything they can

on site before getting him in the ambulance and speeding to the local hospital. The EMT’s instruct Samuel, "Get some help and at daybreak see if you can find David’s arm and foot." But it didn’t happen- at daybreak the barn was now just smoldering ashes. All the horses were killed and very little of the barn remained.

Joe encourages a sheriff’s deputy to get word to Coach Stephens at the campsite where

the retreat was being held. He had to awaken a number of people before he found out where Coach Stephens had bunked. But when he found him, awakened him, and told him of David’s condition he wept like a baby as he awakened other coaches and drove to the

local hospital. David was one of the few "once-in-a-lifetime" players a high school coach has the privilege of coaching, but now he knows basketball is not one of David’s options!

When Coach Stephens arrives at the hospital, he quickly finds Joe and Vera and the three embrace and weep together. Coach asks, "Will he make it?" And Vera says the doctor on duty says it is likely he’ll make it but with a very long recovery.

After several hours of emergency care, Joe and Vera are allowed in to see David, but only

for a short visit. They have David heavily sedated to ease the pain. The bleeding from his lost arm and lost foot has stopped, and his burns have been cared for as much as possible. The doctor tells the family and Coach that David will eventually have to have a large number of skin grafts, but that will be sometime way ahead before they can start.

David is not conscious enough for them to say anything to him, but the three stand around his bed with tears streaming down their faces.

At breakfast at the "Fling of Faith," the news is shared, and it is a sad and somber morning. The organizers decide that they will have a major prayer session for David and then dismiss them to go home or whatever. And after the prayer meeting over a hundred teenagers and leaders go directly to the hospital. Of course they can’t get in to where David is, and so they stand around in small groups continuing to pray for David. Coach Stephens came out when he learned the students had come and shared with them David’s condition. He urged them to continue praying.

 Paula Pressley caught the coach before he was back inside the hospital. "Coach, David asked me last night if I would go with him for a milkshake. I told him I would. Can I go with you to tell David not to stand me up with the milkshake invitation?" Coach Stephens said, "I’ll see if they will let you in. But are you sure you can handle his condition?" And Paula said, "I have to handle it for his sake." And the two of them head to intensive care. Coach Stephens introduces Paula to Joe and Vera, and Vera said, "Paula, David has spoken of you often. I’m so glad to meet you. But are you sure you want to go in – David is burned over about 70% of his body and he lost his right arm and right foot."

Paula responded, "I’ll only stay a minute. I want him to know when he’s able I’m

bringing him the biggest and best milkshake in town."

Paula is allowed in for only a brief time and Coach goes with her. David is barely alert but he knows them and begins to cry, "Paula, you shouldn’t see me like this." And she responded, "Oh, yes, I should because I’m holding you to our shake date, and when you’re able I’m bringing you the biggest and best milkshake in town. OK?" David just continues to cry. He’d hoped Paula might be the love of his life-but now?

The city and the school rally to David’s support with a constant 24-hour prayer chain. They rally to Joe and Vera and food is provided in their home day by day. They organize supporters to be at the hospital day and night to do whatever Joe and Vera might need. They reached out to Samuel Etheridge and his family because they knew how much Samuel loved David.

The next evening Coach Stephens is back at the hospital to relieve Joe and Vera and

spend time with David. As the coach entered intensive care, David was elated to see him. He told Coach Stephens, "Coach, last night I had a dream. Jesus appeared to me standing before a bridge that spanned a deep chasm. He said, ‘David, follow Me.’ What was He telling me, Coach?" And Coach Stephens responded, "David, God loves you more than you love yourself. He sent Jesus to tell you He took your place and mine on the Cross

 because of our sin. His invitation is forgiveness, and a bridge over that chasm of suffering, shame, and our sin. He takes us unto Himself and leads us in His life, not our own." And David said, "I want to follow Jesus. Will He have me like this?" And Coach responded, "David, I can’t wait to see what God will do through you. It’s going to be miraculous, melodious, and moving, for all to see what He can do through one life." And right there Coach led David in the sinner’s prayer! When word gets out, the city rejoices! Oh, but the next night Coach is back. David was so anxious to see him. "Coach, the Lord Jesus came to me again in another dream! He was standing in front of a beautiful mansion with the front door open. And Jesus asked me again to follow Hirn. He walked up a beautiful, flowing set of stairs to an upper level. Then He stood by what looked like a throne. And He said to me, "David, come and be seated here!" What does that mean, Coach?" And Coach Stephens began to weep, then gained control of himself, and said to

David, ‘David, in corning to Christ, He raises us up to be seated with Hirn in the heavenly

places. The Bible says, ‘As He is so are we in this world.’ He’s given you His throne­ seat, His heavenly authority, His ministry of laying down your life for others, and His inheritance. You are joint-heir with Christ!’ He’s going to raise you up to more than you ever thought you could be!" Hearing that, David peacefully falls asleep.

After one week in intensive care, and probably five to six weeks more, Paula asked the

 doctor if she could bring David a milkshake. He gave his permission as long as she kept his intake minimal and her visit minimal. David was so appreciative of what Paula had done and kept thanking her over and over, then said, "When I’m over all this can I take you out for the milkshake I promised you?" And Paula said, "I can’t wait. But you must do all the doctors and nurses tell you so you can speed up the process. When you’re ready, I’ll pick you up at your home and we’ll go get that milkshake like you promised." David had to share with his mother and Joe the two dreams he’d had about Jesus corning to him. It wasn’t easy because of their longtime resentment of anything spiritual. But after several weeks David felt he was up to it and boldly declared his allegiance to Christ

Jesus. They weren’t surprised nor alarmed but a little aloof about it. "David, we want you

following your heart." That’s all they could say, but deep down David hoped he’d at least planted a few seed to germinate in their hearts.

Three months have passed and the doctor says to Joe and Vera and David, "I believe

David can go home. But you do understand he is going to have a tough year ahead of

him. There will have to be a series of skin grafts, but at this point there isn’t much we can do about his arm replacement and foot. That needs to come after the skin grafts have properly healed. I’m suggesting that you talk to school authorities immediately and arrange for at least David’s junior year he be tutored at home." They understood.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN SHERIFF GETS A CALL

It’s early morning, after the bombing at Joe Hestert’s farm, and the news is out, including what happened to David Matthews. The local motel owner has a suspicion about a guest, Eduardo Montoya.

Hurriedly he calls the sheriffs office that he believes he has a suspect registered in his motel, and he hasn’t checked out. He informs the deputy that this man, from Florida, was also checked in five or six weeks ago. He believes the man should be checked out.

The deputy informs the local sheriff and immediately he sets in motion the local swat

team. But first the sheriff has his office personnel to put in a request to Florida law enforcement any information of an Eduardo Montoya from Miami. They arrive on the scene in a matter of minutes and cover the motel front and back.

Then the leader, having been informed of Eduardo’s room number, goes to the door with

several officers and knocks. Eduardo opened the door surprised that a swat team was standing at his door with guns drawn. Immediately he’s put on the floor and his room is searched. He then asks Eduardo which is his car and does he give them permission to search it. He does because his safe-cracking materials had been left outside the city well­ hidden. He doesn’t have anything to worry about, so he thinks!

 The officers swarm over Eduardo’s car, front and back. Nothing is found up front that heightened any suspicion, but when the trunk was opened and the tire well searched they found incriminating evidence: a timer, wiring, and traces of ammonium nitrate. Immediately Eduardo was placed under arrest and read his rights. He was shocked, argumentative, insistent that he knew nothing about what the officers found in his car. When he was booked and jailed the sheriff read the information sent from Florida about Montoya. He was suspected as a drug dealer with ties to the Colombia cartel, but had never been arrested. He had served eight years of a fifteen year sentence for robbery, paroled on good behavior.

It didn’t take long for officers to begin questioning Montoya intently. Without a doubt

they were confident they had their man. They had "the goods" on Eduardo!

But then he insisted he was being set up. He wasn’t there to blow up a barn! Then he told them that he planned on robbing Joe Hestert’s safe with $250,000 cash and jewelry worth

$100,000.

Oh, but here’s the clencher for the investigators: They had the note sent to Joe Hestert

threatening violence if he didn’t pay up, and on the paper was a fingerprint of Eduardo Montoya, with the envelope mailed from Miami.

But Montoya doesn’t give up so easily. He identifies two men in Miami who recruited

him, but they are no longer in the country. He told them where he had hidden his safe­ cracking tools and even offered to guide them there. They agreed; and at least on one count Eduardo proved to be right.

It didn’t in any way change or alter how the investigating officers felt about the man they

just arrested. They have their man!

As the day progressed the officers felt it to be very important that they get Joe aside and let him know about the arrest. They want to know if he has any idea about who Eduardo Montoya is, and Joe insists he’s never heard of him. They also want to know what he has

in his safe in his home, and Joe again insists, "I don’t have a safe! I sure don’t have

$250,000 or $100,000 worth of jewelry! It’s preposterous!"

 They then inform Joe of what they found in the tire well of Montoya’s car. Joe is relieved that they found their man so quickly!

It happens two years later, but Eduardo Montoya is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison! No tie was ever made to the Colombian cartel, their point-men, Juan, or Big Joe Hestert. Montoya takes the hit!

And the sergeant and colonel, retired soldiers who carried out the bombing? They were

back in Columbus, Georgia, before the bomb blast, and by noon were on a plane to Barbados for vacation with their wives!

The local motel owner who called the police the morning of the bombing is honored by the city with a commendation. He was key in so quick an arrest.

 When David was able to ask questions and talk to Joe and Vera about what had happened, Joe was able to let David know it was an attack on Big Joe for debts owed.

David had no problem understanding that -he regrets leaving the retreat early, but in all things he understands God has worked it for His good, and He has a new, devoted follower named David Matthews.

The sheriff and swat team leader came to the hospital early in the following week and

received permission to visit David in intensive care. They presented David with a deputy’s badge and a swat team jacket.

The next day Coach Stephens brought the basketball team, and with the doctor’s permission they were allowed for a brief moment to visit David also. They had a plaque "For The Champ" naming him honorary team captain for the next two years! David wept

-and the team wept with him.

Later in the week the youth leader David had so much respect for came with Paula to present David with a new New American Standard Bible. David tried his best to say "Thank You," but it was just too difficult. It eased for him when Paula said, "As soon as you are out of intensive care, I will be here after school to read to you from your new Bible." THAT was Kingdom of God therapy for David that no doctor could do with medicines!

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE CARE-GIVERS RALLY

The Hesterts are awed by the community commitment to work with David as long as needed. The school board is totally behind the community in providing whatever care David needs to get by the next few years.

One of the amazing things for the Hesterts was the fact that the city and surrounding areas raised the necessary funds to see that David’s college education is fully provided for. The funds will be in a savings account for the two years of David finishing high school, so he should have extra funds to make it easier for him.

A very successful car dealer in the county has volunteered to give David a new car as soon as he is able to drive. That may be at least a year because of the numerous skin­ graft operations David will have to undergo.

Retired teachers lined up to volunteer their services for David’s education. Over the next school year he has a different teacher for every school day of each week. They will work in cooperation with the scheduled classes and subjects that David would be covering through his junior year.

Classmates have volunteered on a rotating basis to help David with any homework assignments. Of course, Paula was the first volunteer.

 When David was able to go home after three months in the hospital, nurses from the surrounding area volunteered both day and night to assist Joe and Vera with David’s care. Concerning meals and David’s feedings, the community worked out a three-month meal preparation schedule and volunteers to assist Vera in feeding David each day.

All of this was astounding to Joe and Vera -they couldn’t figure out "the servant spirit"

thing that was so pervasive. They couldn’t relate a "Christian spirit" to their attitudes about helping others. Joe would always volunteer to give a few dollars, but time, energy, effort?

On one occasion as Coach Stephens was visiting David after he returned home, Joe was scratching his head about all the volunteers and he asked Coach why. Quickly, Coach Stephens took David’s new Bible and read to them from Philippians 2:5-8,

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." "That’s why, Joe; those who have come to Christ have taken on His nature and character, and servanthood is their way of Life. The night before our Lord died He was at the Table with His disciples, but they didn’t "serve" Him, He served them. He took a bowl of water and a towel and washed the feet of His disciples –

and we are those who take on His "foot-washing" Spirit! It has everything to do with the Christ within us, not us!" Big Joe is still scratching his head!

Coach Stephens knew he had a tremendous opportunity to impress upon the mind and heart of Joe and David the spirit of Jesus. He said, "Let me give you a quote from Frederick Robertson: ‘It is not the possession of extraordinary gifts that makes extraordinary usefulness, but the dedication of what we have to the service of God.’ The people you have witnessed through the hospital and your home are ordinary people

consumed by the passion and love of God to be your servants. David, I know from your English class you remember Shakespeare’s word in "Henry VIII," "Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, he would not in my age have left me naked to my enemies." The Lord God Almighty is clothing you, David, in the most beautiful attire you could ever clothe yourself with, the servant spirit of Christ. You didn’t know it, but even before you came to Christ, He was already preparing you and clothing you in His own servant spirit. God is going to use you in amazing ways. You are destined for greatness in the servant spirit of Christ."

David’s first response was, "How will He be able to use me in the shape I’m in?" And Coach responded, "David, only when Jacob’s hip was out of socket was God able to use him powerfully! Only out of the failure of denial did Peter become a vibrant witness! Only through multiple sufferings did Paul become the strongest New Testament witness! Your life of service to honor Christ will flow out of your tragedy as He makes you a triumphant witness!"

Joe’s attitude had always been, ‘what you gain makes you great,’ not what you give. He really has a hard time with a ‘servant spirit,’ even though he has seen its vibrant witness in ministry to David and to Vera and himself.

Coach said to David: "David, it was John Greenleaf Whittier who said, "If but the least

and frailest, let me be evermore numbered with the truly free who find Your service perfect liberty!" You are a young man who will know that ‘perfect liberty,’ and will daily lay your life down for the glory of your Savior and Lord." To that David said, Amen!"

 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN LOST YEAR OR LIFE GAINED?

The summer is over, David is home after three months in the hospital, the new school year is beginning, and the question is, ‘Can David handle the recovery, the skin graft operations, school work at home with someone different every day?’ Will Joe and Vera receive with class the many offers to help? Is this going to be a year before David that he loses hope or will it be a young man surmounting and overcoming adverse circumstances in his life? Lost year or life gained?

And you know the answer! The flood of compassion, devotion, service in the spirit of

Christ, has opened David’s eyes to ‘life in the Spirit’ like he never knew before. His coach was more than a God-send- he was like a substitute father! The youth director that David had admired so much became a vital friend and companion. And Paula Pressley was "the shining light" for David as faithfully she took David’s new Bible to read him vital words for his maturing faith.

The volunteer teachers were superb. They did not push David in any way, but allowed

him to do what he could do without overly tiring him out. Of course, he cannot write – he lost his shooting arm for basketball and his writing hand. The teachers used tapes for David to speak into as he was able to do the schoolwork; then the tapes went to the high school teachers to grade. David did amazingly well under the volunteer-tutelage.

As honorary team captain for this year’s basketball team, David was really anxious to progress by December to the point, at least in a wheelchair, that he could go represent the team he’ll never play for again. They set a target date, depending upon David’s progress, for the Christmas tournament. David’s only comment was, "Don’t schedule another skin­ graft around tournament time. I want to be with my team."

One night a week the school chorus came to David’s home to serenade David. They were

a talented singing group and always sang outside David’s bedroom window. David was always overjoyed every time they came.

Occasionally David would be surprised by the cheerleaders as they would come by to

have a rousing pep rally for David. Paula was a part of that group and, of course, really encouraged the cheer group to do this for David.

Every month his scheduled classroom teachers came as a group to update David on his

class studies. They were all so pleased that David was doing as well as he had with his limited motion. He always commented, smiling, "My brain wasn’t seared!" And the teachers would smile with him.

It’s Christmas season, and David cannot wait to hear all the beautiful music about the

season. His favorite was "Joy To The World, The Lord Has Come!" And David knew the Lord had come to him.

And Christmas season brought on the Christmas basketball tournament. The city knew,

the school knew, the team knew, "David is coming to the first game, but will be in a wheelchair." There was excitement all over the city. The radio broadcast the news every day, "David will captain his team!" There wasn’t even standing room -the gym was packed! When David was wheeled in by his team members and Coach Stephens, there was a deafening roar of applause, and then all of a sudden, total silence, until Coach announced the starting five with David Matthews serving as honorary captain, and the

 gym erupted again in applause with tears flowing on almost every face. Paula led the cheerleaders in pushing David to the center of the gym where flowers were presented to David with an honorary plaque designating him team captain. Then Paula kissed David, and he began to weep- the crowd was hushed, stilled, teary, and then the choral group sang the national anthem. Again, a silence was over the huge crowd as they stood in awe of the moment; then David said, "Thank you!" And the crowd erupted in applause as David was pushed by Paula to the bench of his teammates. And his team scored a runaway victory! He was too tired to come back again, but his team made it to the finals again before losing out.

In the fall of the year David had two skin-grafts scheduled, but from January 1 through

May 31, his doctors have scheduled three more. That doesn’t make it easy for David’s studies, but David is so determined to score well in class that his teachers are amazed. He’s still an excellent student.

Even more daunting is David’s growth spiritually. Between Coach Stephens, the youth

director, and Paula, David is growing spiritually in a dynamic way. Paula has him memorizing scripture and David is loving it. One of his favorite verses was Romans 8:28, "And we know that all thing work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose." David was learning that he was ‘the called’ according

to God’s purpose, and it was to his good and God’s glory. He was so anticipatory of what

God was going to accomplish through him!

David really wanted to be baptized, but the doctors told him it would have to be after the last skin-graft had healed.

The spring is a rich time for David. He loved being in a rocker on the front porch on the warm days. He loved the sound of the birds around him. He was thrilled to see the grass beginning to turn green. He loved watching Vera put out new flowers. The spring aroma gripped him and especially as he watched the sun set. David was beginning to be deeper in love with life than he’d ever experienced before.

But the summer was not an easy time for David -the heat seemed to be against him. The doctors had warned he may have a problem with sweat glands, but they provided medication to ease the stress .Also many of the helpers had scattered with summer vacations in front of them. But there were a few who would not let the summer interfere with their ministry to David: Coach Stephens, the youth director, and Paula. They were around, not every day, but almost.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN SENIOR YEAR-NO TEARS

It’s been over a year since the bombing, and David has made tremendous strides. The skin-grafts are finished, and now he’s in the healing mode plus the doctors have said they are ready with prosthesis for both arm and foot. David is extremely excited about that.

For now he’s using a small motorized wheel-chair.

Also he’s been given permission to return to school, but only for an evaluation of how he does. He may stay in all five days or possibly Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. After two weeks the doctors decide he can stay every day. David is thrilled.

David’s experience his senior year with his presence in daily classes has not been "pump

my flesh" time; David is so beyond that. He sees his role now as a ministry to other youth as Christ’s ambassador! He is thrilled that one on one or in a group setting he can share boldly what Christ Jesus means to him. This is a young man that has truly experienced resurrection Life and is glad to shout about it.

After David had adjusted to his new experience as a student after a year’s absence, the

 principal asks David if in November, right before Thanksgiving break, if David would like to have a chapel program to share with the student body all that he’d been through. David was like a rocket just shot off from Cape Canaveral! He couldn’t believe what he’d just been offered, but of course he accepted it with great joy. His only request was that

his favorite youth director lead the school in singing, that the school choral group be allowed to sing strong gospel music, and that before he spoke Paula Pressley be allowed to sing, "We Shall Behold Him." The principal agreed.

Of course, it was voluntary, but the entire school showed up. Not one student or teacher

was absent. And, "Heaven Came Down," could not adequately describe what the service was like. The youth director was superb, the choral group was given a standing ovation by the student body, Paula Pressley hit a "grand slam," and David poured his heart out from the pain to the gain, from the suffering to the celebration, from the "Why me?’ to "Thank God for what He has shown me "Through It All."

Christmas will be very special for David this year -because of his new-found faith, his

prosthesis for arm and leg, his captaincy of the basketball team for the Christmas tournament, plus a growing vibrant love for Paula Pressley who also senses a divine love for David growing in her heart. David has a hard time believing it -he’s so scarred on his right side and face, she’s so beautiful, body, soul, and spirit, "and she loves me!" He has no hesitation in believing Paula is His second most perfect gift outside of Jesus!

It was no surprise to David that his high school team that he captained won the Christmas

tournament in a big way. Everyone was surprised because of David’s absence from playing, but with two new transfers as juniors who had been excellent players where they came from pushed Coach Stephens’ team well beyond what everyone expected.

Now begins for David the push for his final semester in high school. He really wants to score well because it would help with scholarship funds even though his community raised enough for four years of his college education. With scholarships, the monies raised still belong to David. And the interesting thing is David and Paula are the top two seniors in grades!

It is a very competitive winter-spring semester between the two seniors who study together regularly.

One of the things that has been a highlight for David his senior year was the time he made available for younger struggling students. He helped them with their study habits, but also built a bridge every week in sharing his faith with younger students. He looks upon this now as more rewarding than winning basketball games. And the younger students know they have a true friend in David Matthews.

Also a highlight for David his senior year was spring break when Joe and Vera decided to take David and Paula to Florida. The two seniors had a week to relax from the school

grind, enjoy one another’s company, grow in spiritual grace, and even have an opportunity to witness to Joe and Vera. Vera and Paula roomed together and Joe and David. Paula made tremendous inroads with Vera, but Big Joe is still Big Joe and nothing has really humbled him.

When graduation time comes David finished one grade point ahead of Paula and was named Valedictorian of the senior class and Paula Salutatorian. It was a rich testimony to the whole city, but especially rewarding to the high school students and junior high students to witness a godly, pure love between classmates!

Back in the winter the two of them had decided they definitely wanted to be at the same

college. It was not a hard decision for them because they wanted to attend a Christian­ centered college and they settled on Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

When the decision had been made and acceptance granted, David was contacted by the

basketball coach there wondering if David would consent to be honorary captain . He was elated! And then the cheerleader overseer contacted Paula urging her to try out for the squad. She made it!

The summer was so different for David than the summer two years before. What a

struggle then through that hot muggy summer after the bombing. But now David lives with keen anticipation for his future. He doesn’t know all that it holds, but he knows Who holds his future, and he is at peace.

As David reflected upon the last two years, he remembers the time Coach Stephens sat

him down after David had received Christ as his Lord and Savior. Coach said, "David, people all over the world are searching for happiness. But I want you to know and understand the great difference between a man’s ‘achieved happiness’ and the joy of the Lord. Happiness depends upon circumstances and are so fickle. But the joy of the Lord is permanent and abiding. The Lord’s joy never changes, and it is your strength." David knew and understood "peace that passes all understanding" more than most adults!

After graduation David was highly sought after for summer youth camps all over the

 South. He accepted as time allowed but conditional on Paula coming also to sing before he spoke. Every camp leader agreed. It was a busy summer for the two of them made easy in travel by the local automobile dealer that had given David a new car.

 In their travels together to and from the camps they had lots of time to talk. Both knew they wanted to share their entire lives together. They didn’t want to be immature and rush in to marriage and a family, but they agreed to sit down with both sets of parents and talk it out. They had decided that their desire was to marry the summer after their sophomore years in college. The parents agreed. What a celebration for two young people passionately in love with each other!

 CHAPTER NINETEEN COLLEGE BOUND -MORE SOUND

It is amazing to so many people that David and Paula walk through his pain and suffering together and come out of it so mature in their pilgrimages. There is such a depth to their faith that it radiates in even their physical countenances. One former teacher said, "To see Christ on earth, look at the relationship of Paula Pressley and David Matthews!" They were such a strong, vibrant, dynamic witness of saving grace.

 It was Robert Leighton who wrote: "Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with." That would sum up the walk David and Paula shared through their last two years of high school as the fires of trouble and the furnace of affliction brought them through with the quality of pure gold -the act of God upon both their lives.

 You cannot look to these two young people and talk about belief apart from behavior. That’s hypocrisy or play-acting, and that could never be said of these two precious young people. The story of their beautiful walk with Christ is summarized by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, in Rhyme of the Duchess May, when she wrote: "And I smiled to think God’s greatness flowed around our incompleteness, -Round our restlessness, His rest."

To David and Paula behavior was not suppression but expression of the crucified life. They understood taking their cross unto themselves that the resurrection life of Christ could be expressed through them. They knew the wars, the battles, the fights with old sin natures, but they also knew the divine reality of walking "by the Spirit" and not the best efforts of their flesh. They knew the difference between walking in grace or striving by grit!

 It was the famous India missionary, E. Stanley Jones who wrote in "The Way," (Abingdon Press), "Grace binds you with far stronger cords than the cords of duty or obligation can bind you. Grace is free, but when once you take it you are bound forever to the Giver, and bound to catch the spirit of the Giver. Like produces like. Grace makes you gracious, the Giver makes you give." And these two young people had given themselves unreservedly to God because of His grace fully expressed in Christ -and as a result they were not only bound to the Giver, but bound to lay their lives down in the true spirit of Holy Grace.

College bound-more sound! One of the great lessons learned through ‘lived-out-grace’

is the reality of a healthy soul and spirit. That God has two residences is fully understood when one concedes Heaven is God’s dwelling place but also the home of the heart where, because of their love of Jesus and His Word, Holy God with His Son feels "at home"

with David and Paula. And when that assurance and confidence grips the hearts of devoted young people, nothing is a barrier to their walk of blessing, peace, and contentment. They are fully His!

Alonzo B. Bragdon, in "When the Day is Done," wrote these words long before David or Paula had been conceived in their mothers’ wombs, but it is so expressive of their faith: "From fibers of pain and hope and trouble and toil and happiness, -one by one,­ Twisted together, or single or double, The varying thread of our life is spun. Hope shall cheer though the chain be galling; Light shall come though the gloom be falling; Faith will list for the Master calling our hearts to His rest, -when the day is done."

 Young people called of God, and assured of it, walk in boldness, confidence, and overcoming faith of any boulders placed in front of them on life’s highway. They serve the God who lifts them over highway boulders!

David and Paula had understood and grasped that their love of their Lord and Savior, their love of each other, and their love for the ‘lost’ was because they saw Heaven’s grafted love in them like a natural spring of those ‘rivers of living water,’ and the longer it flows in them the deeper that love grows for all around them.

College bound- more sound! They know their covenant marriage is two years away, but they clearly understand preparation time, with God’s help, for the cutting of that covenant with one another. Paula had found a statement by Benjamin Franklin that she

felt she and David should use as a spiritual guide in their preparation. Franklin said, "God governs in the affairs of man; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?" Paula said to David, "My beloved, my heart-felt desire for our future marriage is that all around us they say, "That’s a God-thing!" And David said, Amen! Marriage -an Empire of God!

College bound- more sound! David asks, "What’s our direction? What is the goal we

want to have accomplished after four years of college? In what type service area do we want to commit ourselves to? What will our degrees be in?" And the truth is both had genuinely felt they should be school teachers or coaches or both. The one thing they knew was that their Lord would give them clear direction, and every day, every year, His calling upon their lives would be clearer with that peace in their hearts ‘passing all understanding.’ When David spoke to Paula about their goals, he said, "I’d like to be another Coach Stephens!"

College bound- more sound! The two of them remembered English and reading Elizabeth Barrett Browning in "Aurora" when she wrote, "I felt so young, so strong, so sure of God." What a holy place to be when in the freshman year of college two youth like David and Paula are young, strong, and so sure of God!

College bound -more sound! A heavenly race, a sure place, a saving grace. "Grow in

grace and in the knowledge …of our Lord and Savior." Grow in the graces, which is the outworking on the indwelling Christ. There was a call upon David and Paula to grow in wisdom also because Proverbs 9:10 has told them, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." And they understood the holy calling of God upon their lives.

College bound- more sound! Philip Doddridge wrote: "Awake, my soul! Stretch every

nerve, and press with vigour on; A heavenly race demands your zeal, and an immortal crown." They knew there was a crown before them, and they longed for it!

 College bound- more sound! These were two young people committed to each other, committed to their Lord, committed to be equipped in education to help other youth face their futures with confidence and assurance, and committed to be all God had foreordained them to be for His glory and honor and praise.

 CHAPTER TWENTY CAREER GOALS? SAYING SOULS?

There is not a young person who comes to Christ without reservations who does not consider, "Should I be a missionary? Am I called to be a pastor or a pastor’s wife? What is ultimate service to Christ that honors Him the most?"

 And though David and Paula had seemingly settled it in their hearts to be teachers, there were still nagging questions in their hearts the first two years in college. They decided to seek counsel with their favorite youth leader, with Coach Stephens, and with Paula’s pastor.

They took a weekend to travel back to their home community, having pre-arranged with

 all three, to counsel them on Saturday. It was interesting that all three of the people they had the most confidence in shared the same verse of Scripture as they closed out each counseling session. It was Colossians 3: 15 from the Amplified translation: "Let the peace of Christ act as umpire in your hearts, settling with finality all questions or decisions that arise in your minds." How awesome that was for the two of them! All three encouraged David and Paula to pray daily for sovereign leadership in their hearts.

After several months of prayer it was their conclusion, with peace, that they were originally on track in determining that they were to invest their lives in teaching. But in that two-month period it was also confirmed to David that he was to go on into graduate school and get a higher degree in school administration. And Paula confirmed it and assured David as soon as she finished her under-graduate degree she would begin teaching until he had finished. She wanted him to stay until he’d finished his doctor’s degree.

Career goals? Saving souls? Both knew God’s calling to be His ambassador, His witness,

His evangelist, the bearers of Good News to all around them. That spirit never diminished in their hearts. In fact, each summer they were booked all over the nation for youth camps and youth rallies.

On campus they were both graciously confrontational -no one was exempt from a witness! Campus Crusade ministry was a big help to these precious witnesses plus they also were tied in with the Navigator’s ministry for discipleship training. They understood "making disciples, teaching them all things."

Both were well-grounded and growing in their own faith and spiritual understanding. And they were fully aware of the need of birthing the babes of faith but not leaving them in cribs under-nourished and under-fed!

In Exodus 31:2-3 it speaks of Bezalel and God says, "I have filled him with the Spirit of

 God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship." This is how David and Paula saw themselves, two young people who were daily being equipped by God concerning their life calling. They understood being clay in the hands of the Potter. Both thanked God for the college education they were both receiving, but they clearly understood that was not enough in qualifying them as ministers of Christ, priests in the kingdom of God, or witnesses to a lost and dying world. These were qualities of character only God could birth within them. Their hearts and minds were blended as one in the goal, not of being a ‘success,’ but of being of eternal value to God!

It was Robert Southey who so wisely wrote: "It is not for man to rest in absolute contentment-he is born to hopes and aspirations as the sparks fly upward, unless he has brutified his nature and quenched the spirit of immortality which is his portion." God filled David and Paula with holy desires, eternal purposes, and the never-dying aim of honoring Jesus in all things.

There was seldom a weekend the two of them had free in their first two years of college. Somewhere, every weekend just about, they would travel, Paula would sing and David would testify! They saw hundreds coming to Christ because of their witness.

Each of those first two years in college, with their favorite youth director’s help, they led one weekend a year what they called "Youth In The Crossroads." It was usually held in a local civic center that would hold up to 2000 youth. With the cooperation of youth

leaders all over their area, they filled the centers each year, and hundreds more came to Christ.

"In everything God works for good, to those who love Him, and are the called according to His purposes!"

 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE MARRIED HIS BRIDE -GOD ON HIS SIDE!

For two long years David and Paula had waited for this historic day when they entered in together to the covenant of marriage. Their parents had given their consent for their union after they finished their first two years at Carson-Newman College. And for the first two years of college they prayed, counseled, and labored over their wedding plans.

Paula was a very gifted girl and decided to make her own wedding dress with her mother’s help and a few friends who were good at sewing. It was an arduous task but Paula was up to it. She wanted to surprise David that her dress was her own creation. The two of them did much, much reading about marriage and family, recommended by their three favorite people outside of family, the pastor, the youth director, and Coach Stephens.

Even before counseling, the pair of precious lovers believed marriage was for life, just

like their union with Jesus!

David found a powerful quote from Edmund Burke and shared it with Paula in one of their many discussion times about their coming marriage. Burke said: "The Christian religion, by confining marriage to pairs, and rendering the relation indissoluble, has by these two things done more toward peace, happiness, settlement, and civilization of the world, than by any other part in this whole scheme of divine wisdom." They knew what they were becoming part of, and their marriage would be to the glory of God and the honor of Jesus Christ!

In their devotions together recently they were reading Ecclesiastes and came to chapter

four, verse 12: "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." They saw themselves as the two, and then, with joy, they celebrated that God Himself was the third strand of the strong cord of holy marriage!

They understood marriage and union, marriage and celebration, marriage and maintenance, marriage and the miracles of child-birth, marriage and spiritual maturity, marriage and mutual honor and blessing, and marriage to show forth the Bridegroom and the Bride! These two were not immature children trying to act like adults -they were maturing adults entering a God-ordained relationship.

As often as possible they met with their pastor in their hometown and home church where

they would be married on June 15. It was such an enriching time for them. The pastor always gave them reading assignments to cover between visits, but while they were with him in the counseling sessions he would major on one particular phase of the marriage relationship.

Without hesitation the pastor always discussed the foundation necessary for a blessed marriage -the foundation of Christ alone. He emphasized that Christ is not only Lord over the Church, Lord over life, but also Lord over the home.

The pastor was also adamant about ‘role’ ministry in the marriage with the husband interpreting Christ and the wife interpreting the Church. There was major emphasis on the husband and father as ‘spiritual priest’ over the family- not ‘boss,’ not dictator, not

ruler, but one who walked in the servant-Spirit of Christ Jesus. The husband is to love his

wife as Jesus loved the Church!

The pastor majored also on finances because he had witnessed over the years stress upon marriages because of irresponsibility with money. Of course he emphasized the tithe and giving beyond that. Of course he majored on budget accountability to one another. Of course he majored on savings as a way of life for the long haul. It was truly rich for both David and Paula.

The pastor majored on the marriage relationship of sex as God’s covenant blessing, how "Marriage is honorable and the bed undefiled." Too many young people in their day and time had had that beautiful relationship colored by off-color comments even from parents! The bold pastor said to Paula, "Paula, you are to be a lady in the living room, but when it comes to marriage, you are to be a passionate tigress in the bedroom." And David smiled!

The pastor even majored on child-rearing. It certainly was in David and Paula’s hearts to have three or four children. And they so appreciated the pastor’s efforts in equipping them to be godly parents who truly loved, taught, disciplined, equipped, encouraged, and motivated their children to honor God with their lives.

The pastor majored on God’s Word as being so vital to their individual faith, but also their family faith. Together they should rally around the Word for the health of their marriage and as their children came to teach the Word to them.

The pastor majored on "forgiveness." "Kids, I want you to know that, in Christ, God sees us as finished products, complete in Christ lacking nothing. But in reality and experience we are babes, adolescents, young adults, and maturing adults. None of us ‘have arrived.’ There will be those moments when you will need to walk in forgiveness with each other. Alice Cary wrote: ‘Nothing in this lost and ruined world bears the meek impress of the Son of God so surely as forgiveness.’ "

Both David and Paula wanted to be intimately involved in the planning of the wedding. They asked the pastor if it was OK if they wrote their own vows and then he could adapt them to the spirit of his own heart as he led in the ceremony. He was happy they wanted to be involved. Their one theme about their ceremony? Christ-honoring in all things. Though she had not talked to David about it, Paula wanted to sing a love song to David at some point in the ceremony, and she thought, "Maybe while the unity candle is being lit, by video!" She was excited!

Both had concluded, four ushers and four bridesmaids, with best man and maid of honor.

David wanted Coach Stephens to be his best man and Paula wanted her mother’s closest friend who had been a mentor to Paula to be her maid of honor. David was adamant that Samuel Etheridge would be one of his ushers along with three former basketball teammates. The bridesmaids would be four former high school classmates, dear friends of Paula.

Here’s the exciting thing for David and Paula: Vera, David’s mother, the weekend before

the marriage told them, because of the spirit of their lives, she had committed her life to Christ and would be baptized the Sunday night before their wedding! What a gift! They were like a new spaceship launched off the pad! They couldn’t wait for the whole city to know! They were so excited for Vera and witnessed before their very eyes true life­ change! Vera was a joy to be around.

David is really going to be surprised because Paula will be singing to David by video a

love song of her choosing as they are lighting the unity candle! She’ll video-tape it in her handmade wedding dress that she personally made! What a beautiful wedding gift for

David because he so loves Paula’s singing. Oh, but here’s the kicker- David has been secretly taking voice lessons at college, and he follows her with his own song, love song of devotion to his bride! And neither knows what the other is doing!

It was a beautiful wedding service that truly honored the Lord Jesus. The music was superb and so heart-warming. The pastor touched God’s throne with great words of wisdom. The vows of David and Paula challenged every couple already married and the young people who were looking forward to their day. The exchanging of the rings was so uplifting as they fully surrendered themselves to one another. The unity candle was being lit -and down comes the video screen with Paula singing to David as they held each other’s hands and watched the glow of the one candle:

She chose Irving Berlin’s song "Always." It says -"Everything went wrong, and the

whole day long I’d feel so blue -For the longest while, I’d forget to smile -Then I met you. Now that my blue days have passed, Now that I’ve found you at last, I’ll be loving you, ALWAYS, with a love that’s true, ALWAYS. When the things you’ve planned Need a helping hand, I will understand, ALWAYS, ALWAYS. Days may not be fair, ALWAYS, That’s when I’ll be there, ALWAYS -Not for just an hour, Not for just a day, Not for just a year, But ALWAYS." [Irving Berlin Music Corporation, 1650 Broadway, N.Y. 19, N.Y.] And it’s over. Right? Wrong!

A new video begins to play, and there on the screen is David singing to Paula Carrie

Jacob’s-Bond’s song, "I LOVE YOU TRULY!" And the words brought a thousand people to tears as David sang to Paula:

"I love you truly, truly, dear, Life with its sorrow, life with its tear, Fades into dreams

when I feel you near, For I love you truly, truly, dear. Ah! Love, it’s something to feel your kind hand, Ah! Yes, it’s something by your side to stand; Gone is the sorrow, Gone doubt and fear, For you love me truly, truly, dear."

What an explosion of true emotion between David and Paula, the wedding party, the

pastor, his best man, her maid of honor, and the whole church! And then the two kneel together at the altar and Coach Stephens, Samuel Etheridge, and their favorite youth director come and lay hands and pray prayers of dedication and blessing upon this union. Then the pastor introduces Mr. & Mrs. David Matthews, and the church erupts in applause as they make their way out! What a wedding celebration!

 CHAPTER TWENTYTWO TORTUROUS TIME-DAVID’S PARENTS DIE

Eduardo Montoya has never been a man to roll over for anybody. He knows he was set up by someone, but he doesn’t know who. He’s been in prison now for about two years. It’s never an easy place to live when you’ve had such a rich, indulgent lifestyle from his criminal ways. Every day he is determined to find out who set him up. The authorities were no help: "We got our man." But we know they didn’t get the right man.

Gangs operate in the prison system just like they operated on the streets of most

American cities. Eduardo found it easy to move between gangs in prison. He wasn’t afraid or alarmed about what might happen. He knew fertile ground for the knowledge he needed would most likely filter through some gang member. That’s why for two years he quietly moved through different gang elements building confidence in them.

He also had access to plenty of money through his natural family and his criminal "family." He began to lay the ground work of his own investigation in the prison. It was perilous work but he was good in building bridges to criminal contacts. He knew what motivated them, and he understood after a period of time they would be putty in his hands, and especially because of "big bucks!"

Montoya has been in prison now for a little over two years. In his immediate family visits

he’s been able to share his desire to settle the score with whomever. He knows he’s not going to be out of prison for a long time. He told his father and his wife on the last visit that he must have funds made available to the one who will point the finger at who is responsible. They agreed. The father was ‘mob boss’ in Miami for years and is very wealthy. He told Eduardo, "Whatever it takes, you’ll have the money."

The Tennessee prison has one gang that was tied to a southern motorcycle gang. These

were tough men without consciences. They had been in crime most of their adult lives. One particular inmate came from around the area where Joe Hestert’s barn had been blown up. Montoya took a special liking to this inmate and felt, maybe, "I’ve found the man I need to tell me info that will explain why I’m here."

Over a period of three to four months, having already made his acquaintance, Montoya

began to really befriend the Tennessee inmate. And finally the inmate told him, "Big Joe Hestert paid a lot of money to have his barn blown up with the Tennessee walking horses in it for the insurance money, but there is no way to prove it. They set you up from the ‘get-go’ because of your Miami connections! He owed a lot of money to the Colombian cartel."

Eduardo said to him, "I know you’re getting out soon. What would it take for you to get

yourself on your feet quickly by killing the Hesterts after you get out?" His fellow inmate said, "I’ll do it for $50,000! No one will ever know. But how will you pay me in such a way neither of us will have the finger of law enforcement pointing at us?" He was

assured that Montoya’s father would put it in an off-shore account under a false name the

inmate would decide. The agreement was made-honor among thieves!

The inmate knew exactly where the Hesterts lived, how they lived, even with unlocked doors day and night. He had assured Eduardo that he would use a silencer and that both of them would be dead within two weeks of his dismissal. It would be a clean hit with no chance of survival.

David and Paula have been so pleased with Vera’s growth as a Christian. The mother had seen the dynamic changes in her son’s life and had a godly desire to share in what he had to grip Vera’s heart. She had that passion to grow as David had grown. What was about

to take place had never entered Vera’s thought processes.

She and Joe had had the insurance companies to settle many months ago, the Colombian cartel had been paid off, and Joe had enough to build a new barn and begin to buy horses again.

 David and Paula were settled in at Carson-Newman and were diligently studying in their junior year of college. They were so happy, so blessed, and were being so fulfilled in

their marriage and their Christian walk and ministry.

The prison inmate Montoya had bonded with was Ed Smith. He didn’t live where the Hesterts were located, but in the past ran in the same crowds as Big Joe. Years and years before Big Joe had stiffed Ed on a drug deal and he’d never been repaid. No one knew of this but the two of them, so Ed Smith felt extremely safe. He was very careful in

planning. It took him three or four days to lay out his plan. Then the time came. Ed Smith

knew that the two Hesterts were home and tucked in for the night.

He waited until about two o’clock in the morning, made his way quietly into the home, and found his way to their bedroom. Both of them were in a deep sleep and never knew what hit them. Ed Smith fired two shots in each one, one to the head and the other to the heart. He made sure they were dead, then made his way back to his hidden car.

When he arrived home he called Eduardo Montoya’s father to let him know the job was finished. He’s now $50,000 richer than he was when he got out of prison.

It was Samuel Etheridge who found the bodies because early that morning he and Joe

were going on a buying trip for supplies for the farm. He went to the house; both cars were still there; he knocked on the door -no answer; he opened the door and called their names -no answer; and then he knew he must enter and check on both of them. And the shock of his discovery crippled Samuel for a few moments, and then he ran to the phone to call the sheriff.

What a debilitating shock to David and Paula when the college chaplain called them out

of classes and broke the news. They both wept and wept and wept! Then, of course, they made their way back to their hometown and to Paula’s parents. They had to make funeral arrangements and then later follow up with settling the estate.

David and Paula wanted to sit down with the sheriff and find out what he knew, but sadly

the sheriff told them both this was a very cold trail. Law enforcement have no clues concerning who could have carried out this horrible crime. All David could say to him was, "Check out any information you have on the drug dealers and their backers." But no doors were opened there.

The funeral was at David and Paula’s church with their pastor conducting the service.

The church overflowed with a cross-section of the city including a long line of motorcyclists who wanted to be a part of the funeral procession. It was a very sad time for two beautiful young people, but they reached way down in their hearts for divine strength -Paula sang at the graveside and David gave a strong witness of saving grace to the many that gathered around the grave site. His last words were, "Vengence is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord!

 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE BABIES BIRTHED-GOLDEN WORTH

[TWO YEARS LATER]

 It’s not only college graduation time but time for the birth of twins to David and Paula, a boy and a girl! They have been so excited that their first are twins. At the same time they are preparing for graduation with the news David is valedictorian and Paula salutatorian! It’s been a phenomenal six years from pain to gain in the lives of these two precious young people. It’s been years of caring, years of spiritual growth, years of marriage love and maturing, years that have brought them not only to college graduation but to the birth of a growing family.

And they make the graduation event before the birth of the twins. They were glad though it was not easy for Paula. Their graduation speeches were so heart-warming and Christ­ honoring! These two will be long remembered by the faculty, classmates, communities that they’ve touched, and the camp-settings where they’ve deeply implanted a living, abiding, conquering faith.

But now, ten days after graduation, Paula gives birth to Mark and Mary Matthews, beautiful twins five pounds each! What a thrilling time for David and Paula’s parents, Coach Stephens and his family, and the pastor and youth director, and a few close friends, when they see the babies rolled out from the delivery room!

David began to weep and to say to those around him, "With God’s help Paula and I will give our children a home that is a haven of rest, a heaven on earth, and a witness of saving grace and triumphant faith. Coach, would you offer a prayer to that end?" And he did.

Then David had the privilege and blessing, with the nurse, to roll them into Paula’s room

and rest her new-born twins in her arms. Then David bent over to kiss his beautiful bride and the mother of his children. They cried together, between tears, saying, "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Davis said to Paula, "I want to pray to our Lord and Savior and thank Him for the gifts of our beautiful children." Which he did:

"Father God, Lord Jesus, Paula and I thank you for drawing us together as brother and sister in Christ, as man and wife, and now as parents to Mark and Mary. You’ve been so gracious to us. You’ve stood with us in tragedy and triumph, and now you stand with us as parents. We dedicate ourselves afresh and anew to love You, to serve You, and to

bless You as we commit ourselves to raise our children on the foundation of saving grace.

We commit ourselves to honor You as loving, caring, responsible parents who will seek to reflect You in all we do with our children, Your gifts of grace to us. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen."

Soon they are back to their campus apartment with their twins. This is not an easy

arrangement, but they haven’t had time since Joe’s and Vera’s deaths to really think about better home arrangements. There has been so much to do, yes, over two years in settling an estate, trying to wrap up their last two years of college, preparing for the births, fulfilling their commitments in testifying and singing. But now they know something must be done.

They don’t want constant distractions from their responsibility of caring and nurturing their children. That is uppermost in their thoughts.

 So with their children in mind they began to wrestle with the possibility of even moving back to the farm that David inherited. It would put Paula near her parents, back in their home church, and even nearer to a university where David could finish his Masters and Doctorate programs in school administration. Money is not a consideration because of the amount Vera never dipped into from her first divorce. It had grown to over $600,000 and was left to David. Even Joe, after paying off his drug debt, left over $600,000 to David, plus the farm and the home. They decided to totally renovate the home on the farm and make that their personal residence. David even received a substantial settlement from insurance after the bombing, so they are well-set for many years. Plus, David would be able to have a day to day relationship with Samuel Etheridge and his family. He longed for that, and so did Paula. She wanted their children raised under the powerful witness of Samuel. She wanted her children to hear him sing to them, "His eye is on the sparrow,

and I know He watches me!"

It was Horace Bushnell who once wrote: "A house without a roof would scarcely be a more different home, than a family unsheltered by God’s friendship, and the sense of being always rested in His providential care and guidance." Their lives were "covered" by God’s grace and mercy- David and Paula knew that! Their lives were being built on the Godly foundation of Christ alone. They were encircled by His loving, protective arms.

 They were blessed as "chosen vessels," aware of His ultimate intention and eternal purpose. They hadn’t sold out to a world culture, but sold out to Christ alone. Their choices were not for the ditches of fleshly life but the Highway of Holiness. There was no desire to bear the marks of worldly imprints, but only the brand-marks of Christ’s nature and character. And they knew it was their life responsibility to build that into their children’s lives as they walked, talked, and taught them the Living Faith. What a joy and what a delight!

There are those where homes have been nothing more to them than the "graves of the

heart" when God intended it to be The Divine School Of Eternal Life And Purpose. Daily David and Paula prayed that they might not fail their children but feed them the faith of loving God and a caring Savior.

By Christmas the farm home had been totally renovated and the family was able to move in. David had not planned on enrolling in graduate studies until the family was settled in to the farm home. They were so pleased that they had decided, at least through the graduate programs, to live on the farm raising the children of "golden worth."

The ties of true family faith are not ties void of love, devotion, discipline, inspiration, encouragement, the validation of worth and value proven by Christ’s death at the Cross as if they were the only family to ever live, but for that one family He would lay down His life. They didn’t teach their children to be overly introspective but only Holy Spirit convicted and led. In their relationships with others they were not to be exclusive but inclusive teaching them to care for others as their Lord cared for them In their walks, even as children, they taught them the higher calling of divine providence and their submission to it. Their one desire was not to raise children who emotionally remained in

 ‘baby beds’ or nurseries, but children who knew the risk of the reach for the higher things of God.

 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR GIFTS ABOUND -EVER SO SOUND

[TWO YEARS LATER]

David has finished his Master’s Degree at the University of Tennessee. He’s so excited to make this tremendous stride in his educational goals. He wants to be so prepared in

strong development of educational advances for youth, like his own children someday. And he does get accepted for the doctoral program at UT, another three years of advanced studies.

 Paula is expecting the birth of their third child and it’s only a week away. They know it’s going to be another boy, and they’ve decided to name him David Matthews Jr. They are on pins and needles expectantly awaiting the birth of David Jr. The twins are now two years of age and excited they are going to have a baby brother. Can you imagine the great times these three children are in for as they grow up together? Already there is such a strong bond between Mark and Mary, even at only two years of age. They love each other so much!

 Gifts abound- ever so sound! Ephesians 4:7-8 says, "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: ‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."’ That’s men inclusive of women also! Why? Because God spoke through Paul in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Is that clear in your family of faith or do we substitute men’s interpretations for God’s revelation?

 David has been blessed of our Lord, having blessed him, as well as each of us, "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." He’s blessed with ‘the word of wisdom’ far beyond his age both naturally and as a child of the King. The word of knowledge flows through him like spiritual giants of the past with multitudinous years of experience. He flows in the gift of evangelism without a calling on his life to be a Billy Graham. But even more than all that, his giftings of the Spirit flow in "the best or greater gifts," which are faith, hope, and love! Even now, at twenty-four years of age, his ministry is so widespread as time allows. But remember, his first time priority is with God, second with his wife and children, third with his job or studies, and fourth with his church. Out of those priorities he flows into his world with grace and mercy and love – and the world around him becomes a better place!

Being in graduate school has opened doors of witness with both faculty and students and, yes, especially basketball athletes, both young men and young women. David has been sponsoring weekly Bible studies and prayer meetings that has grown to about two hundred in attendance every week. When she’s able Paula has come to share her testimony and to sing and sometimes to teach.

But Paula’s primary ministry has been to really young marrieds, some of them teen-age

mothers who had to get married because of unexpected pregnancies -so much to deal with there because of grave and serious immaturity. And, of course, David was involved with young marrieds who hadn’t planned on it, but at least stepped to the plate to marry the one they impregnated to give their child a name. This was not an easy ministry for either one of them, but they knew someone had to care and reach out to those in desperate

need with words of hope and encouragement. Paula’s mother got involved often to either help in teaching or babysitting her twin grandchildren. In Paula’s ministry to the young, immature married women, as it expanded to the young husbands, she began to develop a curriculum. It all revolved around the Word of Christ as Lord, laying down their lives, ministering and caring in the nature and spirit of Jesus as a servant.

To those young men she developed a number of ministries: The diaper ministry, the

dishwasher ministry, the devotion of commitment of time so the young wife and mother could have ‘alone’ and ‘rest time,’ the discipline of date-time with his young bride, the determination ministry of leading his wife in Bible study and prayer, the dare-to-be­ strong ministry of faithfully standing upon Christ Jesus as their ‘sure foundation.’ Every week it seemed as if her ministry was growing in spiritual depths and new young families. And David was a central figure in it all as it continued to expand.

Gifts Abound -Ever So Sound!

 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE TRAGEDY STRIKES -MINISTRY ALIGHTS

David had finished his Master’s program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and when in the first year of his doctoral program tragedy struck the faculty of the university. Three professors were traveling to a continuing education seminar in another state when a semi-truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and crossed over the median hitting the professors’ car head-on, killing all three instantly. These were three of the finest college professors UT had on staff, greatly loved by all the other faculty and students.

 The university president called, not only upon pastors of these professors, but he asked David if he would reach out to the grieving wives and children, and, also, if he would speak at the president’s convening of a special chapel service in memory of these three professors. Of course, David wanted to be a part, but was a little shocked when the president asked him to make the main speech. He also requested David to speak on the theme, "From Tragedy To Triumph." It was something David had experienced in his young life, and the president knew it would be words of great encouragement to grieving families, faculty, and students. There were nearly 10,000 in all who gathered in the university gym for this special service.

One of David’s strongest words was the fact that in the blackest darkness God’s greatest

"Light" shines. He knew that when Samuel Etheridge pulled him from the shallow end of the horses’ swimming area that it was God’s hands through Samuel that wanted to save him for a better tomorrow. David had learned as a teenager that God whispered so quietly in the bright days with soothing grace but shouted so loudly in the midst of David’s pain and suffering and sorrow.

To that sorrowing audience he quoted Romans 8:22-25, "For we know that the whole

 creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly awaiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." Then he quoted Romans 8: 38-39, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present not things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Out of the pit of sorrow and suffering, God raised David to a new platform of ministry

opportunities especially with men in higher education and the business world around Knoxville and with high school coaches, teachers, and administrators.

Over the next few years Almighty God exploded within David various phases of ministry. Here’s a select few of ministries God birthed within David’s heart, mind, and spirit":

"Hip socket out of place" ministry!

"Sitting by a well or seeing the burning bush" ministry! "Denial of our Lord or returning to bless others" ministry!

"Saving your life for yourself or If I Perish, I Perish," ministry!

"No one stood with me, but the Lord stood with me and strengthened" ministry!

"Killing the babies or saving the child in the womb" ministry! "Losing the lonely or finding the lonely" ministry!

"Personal withdrawing or pressing in to Jesus" ministry!

"Weary with the wounded or witnessing, touching, interceding for the wounded" ministry!

"The greatness of our God worthy ministry of praise, worship, and adoration"! "Time alone with God" ministry

"Wounded wing and missing foot" ministry!

"Prayer alone for world redemption" ministry!

"The Christ alone" ministry for divine forgiveness and fulfillment!

"The blessing of the husband and father upon his wife and children" ministry!

Are you getting the picture? Are you capturing the Spirit of what God is able to do through one available life to ALL God IS?

In Matthew 23: 11 Jesus speaks: "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." That is the picture the Master-Painter was stroking on the canvas of David Matthew’s life, and he was truly reflecting the glory of Christ who was our servant, laying down His own life in our behalf at the Cross!

It was John Greenleaf Whittier, in "What of the Day?" who wrote: "If but the least and

frailest, let me be Evermore numbered with the truly free Who find Your service perfect liberty!" The true testimony of David Matthews in his "Hip out of socket" ministry!

But of course David had major responsibilities in completing his doctoral program in

education. It was a demanding responsibility. He had a required seventy hours to be completed, internship, plus his doctoral thesis. David faced a wide-range of courses to be completed, he hoped, in three years.

There were courses in the foundations of education, education developmental stages,

leadership supervision, the history, philosophy, and ethics of education, statistics, school law, research developments in education, advanced curriculums, counseling, and a variety of other essential courses.

He was a top level student always setting the curve in most courses. And because of his

Master’s degree, he was called upon often to assist professors in their classes, grading, and planning, even doing some of the teaching occasionally

 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX CAREER CLEAR- STARDOM NEAR?

[THREE YEARS LATER]

David has now finished his doctoral program in school administration, and there were those saying, "David’s "star" is about to rise in the skies around us." But they didn’t understand the full work of sovereign, saving grace already at work in David’s life because of that true commitment, that repentant heart, the mind of faith that brought David to the place of so desiring to "become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom [David] shines as a ‘light’ in the world, holding fast the word of life.." [Philippians 2:15-16] The exciting thing before David now is the job offer of associate professor in the department of education at UT in the school administration division. This is so advantageous for David and Paula because, from the farm home, David is in driving

distance daily to UT. They don’t have to move! Both are extremely excited because they

truly wanted to raise their children on the farm near their church, friends, Paula’s family, and schools they had been so much a part of. David accepted the position after he and Paula had prayed it through and knew that "peace that passes all understanding." They had learned from reading John Bunyan that "Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised." And they saw, through prayer, God Himself opening the door to the UT faculty!

It was President Theodore Roosevelt who made a speech in New York City, December

 30, 1900. He said: "The true Christian is the true citizen, lofty of purpose, resolute in endeavor, ready for a hero’s deeds, but never looking down on his task because it is cast in the day of small things; scornful of baseness, awake to his own duties as well as to his rights, following the higher law with reverence, and in this world doing all that in his power lies, so that when death comes he may feel that mankind is in some degree better because he lived." Theodore Roosevelt did not know he was speaking prophetically about David Matthews, but he was! Lofty of purpose, ready for a hero’s deeds, following the higher law, so committed to making a difference in the world he was a part of by laying down his life for others as Jesus did for David Matthews!

The lofty purpose of David Matthews is the recognition, by the grace of God, that Holy

 God has placed David in a unique position and place of redemptively influencing hundreds and hundreds, even thousands, of students who will become teachers and administrators, impacting their lives with a true sense of divine destiny and sovereign purposes as "chosen vessels" to touch young lives with grace.

 Since his conversion, his transformation, his salvation experience, David has not been a young man cloaked in an unholy web of self-importance, but a young man who has grown into "Master" manhood, going into his world to honor his Lord and Savior. For him it was not larger influences through him because of his educational status, but the reality of a simple man who walks with God and makes himself available to all God is and desires to do through David Matthews.

It was Elizabeth Barrett Browning, in "Content in Service," who wrote:

"I was too ambitious in my deed,

And thought to distance all men in success,

Till God came to me, marked the place, and said, ‘Ill doer, henceforth keep within this line, Attempting less than others’ -and I stand

And work among Christ’s little ones, content."

David was that young man who so desired to "keep within this line," the line God had graciously drawn around his life and to His eternal purpose. He stood content to pour his life of faith into God’s "little ones."

 There are so many things David has had to work through in his "liberal education" framework which every true disciple must do. One of the biggest dilemmas he had to face was "education apart from Truth," "education apart from the Author of Truth," and "education apart from a biblical foundation," which is the direction a godless world and godless governments want to lead a faithless society. That was not David Matthews. He knew what the end result was of nations that forget God, that place earthly wisdom in direct opposition to divine wisdom, that place independence of men above dependence upon God alone! And sadly, this will cause trouble for David on down the line, but it doesn’t concern him because he is a young man sold out to Truth and Him alone.

It was Horace Mann who wrote long before David’s time: "Keep one thing forever in view -the truth; and if you do this, though it may seem to lead you away from the opinion of men, it will assuredly conduct you to the throne of God." And that’s where David wanted to live and teach and educate and point young lives always to The Greater Truth!

CHAPTER TWENTY- SEVEN WIFE DIES – FAITH DEFIES [FOUR YEARS LATER]

 [Sarah Doudney, "The Christian’s Goodnight," "Sleep on, beloved, sleep, and take your rest; Lay down your head upon your Savior’s breast; We love you well, but Jesus loves you best- Goodnight! Goodnight! Goodnight!"]

It’s been such a blessed time for David and Paula. The twins are now nine years of age and David Jr. is seven. They are growing up so quickly it seems. All three love school so much -they are like sponges absorbing water!

David now has four years behind him as professor, still assistant, in the School of Education at UT. He has been fast-becoming one of the students’ favorite professors. They genuinely love and adore this professor who loves them more than they love themselves! They know his heart is building into them more than foundations of education but also foundations of faith. They see him genuine in his faith through and through.

Paula’s ministry to young marrieds has continued to explode! David has even been able

to help her open more doors in the university, schools around Knoxville, and churches. Now Paula sponsors a quarterly retreat for either the engaged or newly-weds. It has been so very healthy for these young people as they hear from someone like Paula who has walked out her faith in her own marriage relationship. Knoxville television stations have given her and David quality time to promote their caring ministries.

Paula’s parents, Paul and Brenda Pressley, have been such a huge part of David’s and Paula’s lives, along with the children. Paul, like Coach Stephens, has been a true father­ figure to David, and Brenda has been ‘true-blue’ mother to both Paula and David. They have had such a rich, rewarding relationship, and especially sense they are so close to the Pressleys’ home.They eat together several times a week.

Paula and Brenda do a lot of shopping together, share often in grocery shopping, and, of

course, Brenda is a huge help when Paula has to take all three children to the doctor. There is such a strong bond between mother and daughter, and, yes, between grandmother and her grandchildren. But also they are partners in ministry. Brenda has been made such a vital part of what the Lord is doing through Paula. And their openness with one another in the conferences and retreats they do together has built such a great desire among young wives to reach out to their own mothers and mothers-in-law and to build great lines of communication and respect.

Brenda is a great grandmother. She dearly loves her grandchildren and would do anything

in the world for their health, strength, education, and witness of a maturing faith in them. That’s what these last few days have been about. School is out for the summer and Morn and Grandrnom have been on a shopping spree for the kids for the summer.

They were in two cars because Brenda had to go early into Knoxville for a personal

check-up with her doctor. Paula met her for lunch at the mall with her three children and then the two of them would pick out new summer clothes for the three children. It’s now late afternoon and they know they must wrap up the shopping and then drive home from

Knoxville, get supper ready, and relax for the evening.

 Grandmother wants Mary to ride with her and Paula wanted the responsibility of two busy brothers! They began the ride home, about twenty miles, and Brenda would drop Mary off before she went on home.

Mark and Daniel are in the back seat of Paula’s car, a little on edge with each other, tired, bored, picking at each other as brothers sometime do -and Paula reached around to make sure their seatbelts were fastened, but she had to release her own to do it.

 Another scene began several years ago but is just now playing out on this two-lane road that Paula is driving on. Her mother is about a quarter of a mile behind her. Coming from the opposite direction at a very high rate of speed is an eighteen year old young man who has been on drugs for several years. He had quit school as a Junior, he had no job skills, he’d been involved in home burglaries, his girl-friend had just kicked him out of her home, and he was extremely high on drugs. And his decision? "I might as well be dead, I’m a loser."

As Paula turned around, without her seatbelt on, the young man headed his car straight at

Paula’s car. She swerved to miss him but he caught her almost head on. Paula’s car was spinning around and around as the result of impact and she was thrown from the car. She was killed instantly and the eighteen year old also died. Miraculously the two boys, in the back seat, stayed in their car-seats although bloody from flying glass.

Brenda witnessed this tragic accident and saw her daughter fly out of her car. She was

screaming with emotional pain not knowing the end result of this horrific crash. She called 911 immediately, told Mary to remain in her seat-belt, cried to the boys, "Mark, David, stay in your seatbelts. I must check on your Mother!"

And when Brenda saw her on the ground she knew Paula had died! She knelt down and

pulled her beautiful daughter close to her and wept uncontrollably. Then she went to the young man’s car to check on him- and she knew he was dead. She didn’t know he had committed suicide and taken her daughter with him.

She called her husband to come as quickly as possible and as she hung up she saw

David’s truck driving up because he heard the crash from their farm. "Oh, David, David, please don’t look. Please take care of the two boys and let me get Mary. David, please don’t look."

But David could not avoid what he knew has happened. He went straight to Paula and

cradled her broken body in his arms and wept. "My Bride, My Beloved, no, no, it can’t be! You can’t be gone!" But she was.

As sheriff’s deputies, ambulance, and EMT’s arrived, David gently laid Paula down for

the workers to do whatever they needed to do. David went to Brenda’s car where his three children sat in shock, weeping and crying, and not fully realizing their Mother had died. But precious David cuddled all three and wept with them, and then had to say, "Mother is gone. She died, she’s now resting in the bosom of Jesus."

Paul arrived very soon after Brenda had called. He couldn’t believe what he saw, but it

didn’t take long for it to sink in as he watched David and Brenda try to console Mark, Mary, and David Jr. Paul stepped in to take control of his family. He knew they needed to get the children away from this tragic scene. David and Brenda agreed and David said, "I’ll take the three children in my truck. You all follow. And, Paul, please call the pastor and youth director and Coach Stephens for me. OK?"

 When David arrived at the farm Samuel was in the front yard mowing the grass. David had to tell him that Paula had died in a car crash. They stood with their arms wrapped around each other, weeping and crying, as three children held tightly to Daddy’s legs. Paul and Brenda arrived in the cars and joined the circle of mourning.

Samuel Etheridge began to pray over the family, "Lord Jesus, we are Your children. We’re the children of faith, but we don’t understand this. But I know You promised the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. You said He would comfort us in all our tribulation. Holy Spirit, please touch David and the children. Please touch Mr. Paul and Mrs. Brenda with Your comforting grace. I don’t understand, Father-God, but I believe out of this tragedy You will honor Your Son and our Savior. In Jesus’ Name, Lord, release Your healing grace upon us. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen."

And they all stood together in a circle of sorrow and wept.

It wasn’t long until David’s three mentors arrived at the home. To say they were shocked is an under-statement! They were broken also! In Paula they had witnessed God’s maturing grace, raising a daughter of faith to a plateau of ministry and service seldom seen. They saw a depth of love of a wife for her husband and children and others on a plateau that you see very infrequently. Paula was a model of ministry in every facet of her young life, and because of it, with David, had touched thousands of lives. And they know, "People are going to be asking, ‘Why? Why?"’

 And David’s comment to his family and friends? "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!" Only a deep, abiding faith can sustain a man in the greatest hour of pain and loss, and that faith was David’s in abundance. Already he is a tower of strength through his tears. Already he walks with a thankful heart for the many years he shared with Paula, for her love and devotion to a young man who so easily could have gone another way, for her superb devotion to her marriage vows, to her husband, to her children, to her friends, and to those God was most concerned about who could have been left in ditches, except for Paula’s sacrificial love. Already David’s life is permeated with, not only overcoming grief, but overcoming faith, trust, and dependence upon the God who sovereignly brought David and Paula together.

David then asked for time alone with his three children. He took them to his bedroom and

sat down with them to pray over them, to console them, to cry with them, to build, yes, even a stronger faith in the Lord in them, to take his Bible and read the resurrection passage from John 11. And wherever allowable he put Paula’s name in that resurrection passage and assured his children, "One day we will see your Mother again. And she’ll greet us with open arms."

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

FUNERAL DIRGE OR DISCIPLES’ CELEBRATION?

[Thomas Carlyle: "He who has no vision of eternity has no hold on time."]

 So many people across our world face death and seek to frame it in the immediacy of the moment-David’s one desire was to frame Paula’s death in the Eternal! He mentioned to his friends Shakespeare’s statement about those who "sells eternity to get a toy." That was certainly not Paula nor David. The two of them had resolved their marriage vows with the Eternal in view- and Paula’s funeral would not be that sad song, but disciples’ celebrations of the glory of God and a saving faith that transcends one’s death!

 As David met with the church staff in planning Paula’s service of commitment to God for His glory and honor and praise, it was his desire that a large choir be available to honor Paula’s Lord through music. Of course the pastor will preach, and David said, "Preach Christ crucified, Resurrected, and Coming Soon!" The choir will sing right before the pastor preaches. He asked that the huge choir sing, "Peace! Be Still!"

"Peace! Be Still!" which says:

 "Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! The sky is over-shadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh; "Do you not care that we perish?" How can You lie asleep, When each moment so madly is threatening A grave in the angry deep? "The winds and the waves shall obey My will, Peace, be still!" Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea, Or demons, or men, or whatever it be, No water can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean and earth and skies; They all shall sweetly obey My will; Peace, be still! Peace, be still! They all shall sweetly obey My will; Peace, peace, be still!"

David also asked that two hymns be sung with Coach Stephens reading scripture between them. The first song to be sung is "All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name!" And the second hymn is "We’ve a Story To Tell To the Nations."

The pastor said to David, "David, it is not possible anywhere in our small city to contain the crowds that will be here for Paula’s funeral. I do not hesitate in saying that there will be between 5,000 to 10,000 people who attend this service. I’m suggesting to you that we hold the service at UT in an auditorium that will hold up to 10,000. David agreed.

David had two other suggestions for the service: One, as the family leaves first, I want the congregation to sing, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again!" Second, I want Samuel Etheridge to speak at the graveside and you, Pastor, have the final prayer. Is that OK?" And the pastor responded, "That would please Paula so very much. Of course, I want Samuel to share."

The pastor asked, "David, on the back of the program I want to have printed the words to

a very old hymn written by Katharina von Schlegel. The hymn says:

"Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to Your God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly Friend, Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God does undertake To guide the future as He has the past. Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the winds and waves still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord, When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last." David responded, "I genuinely pray that those without faith will have faith birthed within them as they read these words. Thank you, Pastor. The hymn says so much that I need to be reminded about."

Arrangements were made at the university in Knoxville. There is an auditorium there that will seat up to 10,000. Newspapers, radios, television stations have majored on Paula’s tragic death and the death of the young man who hit her almost head-on. The news goes out about the 3pm Sunday afternoon service at UT’s auditorium. David had asked for "no flowers," but gifts for Campus Crusade and the Navigators.

The funeral home provided a limousine for David and the children, Paul and Brenda, and

 Samuel Etheridge’s family. At 2:30 pm they arrived at one of the side entrances to the auditorium and made their way to a small lounge area. There the pastor, Coach Stephens, and a few other close friends met them to pray together before the actual service started. Organ music and piano accompaniment had already begun. By 3pm someone told them that a crowd between 8000 to 10,000 had assembled!

It was a glorious hour, as David had requested, centered on Christ Jesus because his Lord and Savior, and Paula’s, had led them in a victorious walk together. Nothing would

please Paula more than pointing to Jesus, uplifting His name, rejoicing in His saving grace.

 The congregational singing was heavenly. The choir was angelic in its ministry of music as they sang "Peace! Be Still!" Coach Stephens, before he read the scriptures out of John 11 said, "Paula Matthews was a chosen vessel of God’s grace and mercy. Her faith was not something she simply believed in her mind -her faith gripped and guided her walk. She had a divine, eternal mission in her life, and she walked it out every day as she laid down her life for others. In all of my years of working with students, seeing them in the age of discovery and days of demonstration, I don’t know anyone who walked with such integrity, with inspiration, with holy ideals birthed so practically in how she cared for others, especially David and her children. Her countenance reflected faithfully the nature and character of Christ. She loved God’s Word and desired it daily for her family and friends. She didn’t idolize the Word, but inspired devotion to that which is "living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." And then he read John 11 and turned everyone’s attention to the reality of Resurrection Life, Hope, and Power.

Paula’s pastor was moved with deep emotion and heartache. The one he was to eulogize had touched the chords of faith in his own heart so deeply. He was like Coach Stephens, "In one’s pastoral ministry there are usually only a few who touch a pastor and a church and a community as deeply as Paula touched us. We’ve been so blessed of God to

witness a dynamic woman of faith who lived out what she believed." And then he poured

out his heart with Paul’s word, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." He knew Heaven had a standing ovation for Paula as the angels escorted her through the Pearly White Gates into the presence of her Lord and Savior!

And then at the end of this memorial service, as the family was ready to leave first, behind the casket, the congregation sang, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." When they came to the graveside with a huge crowd of several thousand, (they’d pre­ arranged for sound equipment), Paula’s pastor introduced Samuel Etheridge to the huge gathering. Samuel was as confident as a Billy Graham as he stood to share his heart. He’s

not a preacher but a disciple deeply in love with his Lord. For years he’s been pouring his

faith into David. What a celebration, even through tragedy, when he saw David come to Christ. And he knew Paula had played such a huge role in David coming to Christ.

As he stood by that graveside with the microphone in front of him, all he wanted to do

was to pray:

 "Lord Jesus, Author of healing grace, I come to You alone in the time of our need. You alone are our salvation; You alone are our purpose; You alone are our freedom and deliverance from everything and anything that would sweep us away from Your loving care; You alone are our comforting grace because You tell us to come to You and You’ll give us rest. Father, David and his children are not strangers to You -You are their Eternal Friend. You are not their cruel task-master, but their sure salvation. You are not the hammer to crush them, but The Holy One to comfort them. You are not dogmatic

God to whip them into line, but the Holy Spirit of comfort to ease the pain of their loss of

wife and mother. You are not mean but merciful; You are not dictatorial but disciplined in Your grace and mercy; You are not angry with them and Paula, but You are their advocate, atonement, and eternal aim of blessing and fulfillment. Dear God, touch Your children with comforting grace. Touch them and draw them into Your arms of love. Touch them with the Eternal, and give them eyes to see beyond this grave. Let them know "Your Eye is on the Sparrow, and You care for them."

And then Samuel began to sing over the family and the large crowd, remembering Ethel Waters as she sang this song at Billy Graham’s crusades often:

"Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He;

His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I

lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path He leadeth But one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me."

David and the children arose from their seats before Paula’s casket, went to Samuel, and

embraced him and cried with him as he broke down with many tears following his ministry song.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE MILITARY HEARS -NO FEARS [FOUR YEARS LATER]

It seems impossible that Paula has been gone from the family four years, but it has. With Brenda’s help David and the children have survived. David has been a very devoted father who has not hesitated to love his children well. After Paula’s funeral he knew the weighty responsibility that was his to nurture his children in a way that would bring healing to their hurting hearts.

In that stretch of four years, not only have the children been blossoming, but David’s educational career made major strides. He was promoted to full professor two years after Paula died. In that four years David leaned more and more to the counseling ministry God had put on his life. It even fit well in UT’ s Department of Education. In that four years David even began to take more and more counseling courses as his counseling ministry increased across the South.

 Then comes a very interesting call from Washington, D.C., and the office of Chief of Staff for the military. The chief of staff, General Michael Montgomery, was on the line with a very specific request. "Dr. Matthews, our office has had its eye on you for quite awhile. We have been deeply impressed by what we know is a ministry more than educational requirements. We’ve seen the large sphere of influence you have from Junior Highs through universities and beyond. The Joint Chiefs have asked that I invite you to Washington to sit down with us and see if we could work together in ministering to wounded soldiers, physically, emotionally, and mentally with the target including their wives and children. Would you consent to come?"

At first David was shocked, but then he reminded himself, "I’m not in control. God opens

doors and He closes them. At least I need to make a step to see if my Lord is in this." And he did. His one request was that he be able to fly his three children with him for the interview. The General told David that he would personally see that David’s children had the best tour guide in Washington! The twins are thirteen years of age and David Jr. is eleven. This will be a great trip for them with their father even though they are unsure of all its implications.

They left from the Knoxville airport for Washington on a Joint-Chiefs’ small jet arriving

in about an hour in Washington. Their hotel reservation was in one of Washington’s finest hotels. They flew in on a Friday morning and were scheduled to fly back on Sunday afternoon.

The children were chaperoned by two young officers, one male and one female, and had

the time of their lives seeing all of Washington’s historic places. Dad David had interviews scheduled for Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. On Friday night David and the children were scheduled for dinner with the Joint Chiefs. David felt blessed of God having himself and his children eating dinner with these famous men and their wives.

In the Friday afternoon interview General Montgomery shared the vision of the Joint

Chiefs. They have been so concerned about their soldiers’ mental, physical, and spiritual

health. David’s ministry across the South and beyond caught their attention. They’ve

been following his ministry for years and are one hundred per cent committed to establish a ministry to soldiers and their families out of the overflow of David’s ministry educationally and spiritually. It’s their desire to establish at Ft. Benning, Georgia, a training center, under David’s supervision, that would include officers and chaplains and others as the vision grew, equipping men and women to reach out and touch those in

need. They know the loss of limbs that David experienced through the bomb blast at the barn, they know his conversion experience, his education, his marriage, and his ministry. They want David to establish and build both curriculum and facilities.

 They told David he would be well-paid beyond a UT professor, insurance, retirement, a beautiful officers’ quarters home, education for his three children in the best Christian academy in Columbus, Georgia, and ample time for his own ministry outside Columbus. He wanted to share the proposal with his children after dinner tonight and then would come back Saturday morning for whatever else they had to share plus any questions that were flowing through him. The children were overjoyed with their Washington experience and especially meeting all the generals and admirals! David and Paula had built into their children’s lives a great respect for the military.

Now, it’s crunch time! David must share the new job opportunity, the possibility of moving to Columbus, Georgia, a new school, new friends, a good distance from their home in Tennessee and their grandparents, and many other things. But as David shared the Chief Joints’ vision he was amazed at his children’s maturity and spiritual insight. It was if they understood God planning for their father to lead in a healing, counseling ministry with soldiers and their families. They were genuinely excited for their father and the opportunity for them to be educated in a very strong Christian school that majored on college preparation.

On Saturday morning David called General Montgomery to see if it was OK for his

children to be with him, and of course it was OK. As they met David had numerous questions but he knew they didn’t have all day. Questions? Project launch time, budget, staffing, curriculum, and one other vital question -"Would I be restrained in my Christian approach in any way?" And the Joint Chiefs assured him his faith and ministry were what led them to David!

As they came to the close of the morning session, David said, "Please give me one week to pray about this with my family and friends and I’ll then get back with you with my answer." They agreed.

After a week in prayer with family and friends, David agreed to accept their offer and to

be in Columbus after spring semester had been completed and he and the children had their vacation. David does not have to move his furniture because the beautiful home they are providing is fully furnished. His one request of the Joint Chiefs? "I want Coach Stephens to be my staff leader under my authority. I know of no man better suited to help me get this program off the ground." Coach Stephens already had enough years in for early retirement from the school system -this will be icing on the cake for him. And the Chiefs agreed. It’s David’s call.

Mark and Mary and David Jr. are really excited. They sense so maturely the God-given

gifts in their father, and they believe this is going to be a good fit with the military community. And they are thrilled about Coach Stephens and his family being a part of this new adventure.

 CHAPTER THIRTY ORGANIZATION OR ORGANISM?

It was George Eliot who once wrote: "It is vain thought to flee from the work that God appoints us, for the sake of finding a greater blessing, instead of seeking it where alone it is to be found- in loving obedience."

 You will no doubt remember Saul of Tarsus and his Damascus Road experience. We know it was true conversion when Saul asked Jesus, "Lord, what would You have me to do?" And without any reservations, when David Matthews heard from his Lord, he promptly obeyed! It was letting "peace act as umpire" in his heart "settling with finality all questions or decisions that arise within one’s heart." (Colossians 3:15, Amplified Bible)

Now before David there is the challenge of putting together a ministry team that is

infused with the very Spirit of the life of Christ. That is his desire, his goal, his plan. He does not want an organization but an organism that breathes the Lord’s nature, spirit, and character. He understands how vital his department is to the health of soldiers and their families mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. He knows the best of medical doctors and nurses will be taking care of them bodily, but he has the responsibility of soul and spirit.

 Coach Stephens and his family were thrilled to join David in this new phase of his life and theirs. The coach believes, without a doubt, he can be a major contributor to what David wants to accomplish. The coach’s wife will also truly be a great helpmate. Her heart and spirit was so much like Paula’s in reaching out to young marrieds and youth. Temporary offices were set up at Ft. Benning, but plans are to use a huge, unused hangar and convert it to David’s offices. It will be nice because it is big enough for all of his team and big enough to hold conferences or retreats.

Of course, another huge responsibility is putting together his team. The Joint Chiefs gave him a free rein in the selection process with a more than ample budget to meet his staff needs.

He and Coach Stephens had begun to evaluate their needs even before they arrived at Ft.

Benning. It became a huge prayer priority because they both understood the vastness of this division’s responsibility. They begin at Ft. Benning but then expand across the U.S. and even to military bases overseas. It is a massive endeavor. It is definitely a multi-year development.

David had come to the conclusion, at least on a temporary basis, that he needed a team of at least 28-30 people who worked with him daily in initial development. All of these leaders were to be strong Christians with a shared vision of "touching their world with grace." This did not include secretaries etc. David and Coach Stephens knew it would take a number of months to finalize who they wanted and where they would be situated with offices, strategy rooms, training facilities, and conference rooms. But they had finalized their plans:

Four chaplains from various military services, four pastors from four different regions

from across the U.S., four men or women with doctorates in counseling, four counseling­ degreed military wives, four grass-roots military personnel (not officers of high rank), four sports leaders, four medical doctors, and two professional children’s workers.

These would form the initial nucleus of David’s ministry team. The Joint Chiefs were ecstatic with David’s plan and endorsed it unanimously.

 Over the next six months, having settled into their new homes, the Matthews and Stephens were getting acclimated to their new responsibilities. David’s children were thrilled with their new school and new friends, so many of them from military families.

The recruiting process had begun intently, and both were thrilled with the quality of

people available to them in the selection process. Of course, there were those David knew personally that he wanted on his team. The question was, did they share his vision?

 It was James L. Christensen who wrote many years ago, "The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life." David had certainly not avoided difficulty in his life -he suffered through traumatic events, much like Job, but came through triumphant because of the witness of others in a saving, redemptive, transforming faith. By God’s grace divine character was being shaped in him like clay in a potter’s hands. He knew the God who was given His rightful place in David’s life could do the same in anyone’s life. Already David’s Lord and Savior was building into his life a deep, rich, abiding love of the soldiers and their families. It was his one desire to see men and women and families becoming vitally connected to Christ. Daily the staff prayed together before assuming their individual responsibilities. David was so strong concerning the prayer ministry of his team. It was not an option they had; David considered it a divine imperative. Jesus had said, "Men ought always to pray and not to faint!" And David believed Him.

Many of his new staffers were strong in the ministry of prayer and others were learners. Some were intimidated by strong prayers and had to learn from David that their prayers were not measured by a certain degree of eloquence but by the passion of earnestness; it was not what one called "artful monologue," but a child’s vocal and heart-felt dialogue with his Father in heaven; it was not a determined drawing down of God into our situations but an aligning of our hearts to God’s eternal purposes; it is not "gimme, gimme, gimme," but "God, as your ambassador in this world, what are Your orders for me today?" David’s thrust in prayer is and has always been dependence, the need of direction, the determination of God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will, and the discipline to stand in faith until God alone answers. That spirit of prayer ingrained in his associates leads this new ministry to great heights. They are touching so many lives!

Someone asked Henry Drummond, "Why do you believe in miracles?" Drummond

answered, "Because I see them everyday in the changed lives of men and women who are saved and lifted through faith in the power of the living Christ." David would only add, "And because someone prayed believing for another’s salvation, healing, and deliverance!"

If this ministry impacted the military positively, it is because team members prayed and

prayed and prayed. David was a leader who groped "for the keys of the heavenly harmonies." [John Greenleaf Whittier]

 CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE CHILDREN EMERGE – QUITE A SURGE

You know the depths of a parent’s true love when you see their passion for their children’s spiritual success "in the Lord." Too many parents are overcome with desire for their children’s earthly success without any consideration of their children’s intimate. personal relationship with God. Because many parents don’t live with a consciousness of God’s presence with them, in them, over them, around them, they don’t encourage their kids in the greater knowledge and wisdom.

But David’s fatherly passion for his teenagers was a home that was God’s workshop in developing love, faith, and hope within them, developing a deep hunger to honor God in all things, to develop Christ-like aims and purposes with Eternity in view. They’ve already learned the uncertainty of time as they witnessed their mother’s death. And they’ve witnessed God at work in their father’s life. They want a similar testimony!

 The twins are almost fourteen and David Jr. almost twelve. And what a major responsibility for him now that Brenda is six hours away! Coach Stephens’ wife will be available some of the time, especially "crunch time," but David has the weight for his children’s training. He understands the next few years are not going to be easy, but, with God’s help, he’ll see his children through! He knows his family was ordained of God, and He will not leave David hopeless. He knows his major ministry is training up his children well. The Word will be so very imp01iant in their young lives in the immediate years ahead of them, and David understands his "priestly ministry."

It is not in God’s will to isolate children from the world, but to insulate them from the

world’s ways by his example, teaching, and majoring on the Word in their daily lives. Psalm 119 was one of the major passages that David used for the next several years. He always brought them back to that powerful word about the importance of the Word in their walk with Christ. He had them reading one chapter from Proverbs over and over, month after month, and year after year. They did "Word" studies in the New Testament. They had memorization responsibilities. I and II Timothy were major with David and his children. He understood God’s Word will "make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." [II Timothy 3:15]

Mark Matthews is going to be one tall dude. And, he takes after his Dad in his passion for

basketball. Though only fourteen in his first year at the Christian school, he will no doubt be a team leader his four years there.

Mary Matthews wants to be a nurse, but also she has a passion for music just like her mother, singing in the school chorus and church youth choir, plus singing on her own as a soloist.

David Jr. is a very strong student with a desire to get a medical degree and care for

people’s needs. He isn’t "nerdy" but borderline.

The interesting thing is that Mary and David Jr. want to go back for university studies at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Mark has his eyes set for West Point and a military career.

It’s not coincidences that David’s children are finding their way in academic circles.

Father David always majored on "The Virtue of Vocation." It wasn’t incidental to him, but fundamental, "If a man will not work, neither shall he eat!" Is that clear to you?

But the major reason David’s children were so stable, so sure of their identity in Christ, so settled in life’s purpose was the regular "blessing" David placed upon his children’s lives by his verbal expression of his love for each of them, by his prayerful intercession daily for them, and by his "laying on of hands" with a spoken blessing of God on their lives.

You’ll remember Isaac’s blessing upon Joseph and his sons found in Genesis 48:15-17! In earlier verses Joseph had brought his sons before Israel and Israel "kissed them and embraced them." Then in verses 15-17, (Read carefully and thoughtfully!), "And he blessed Joseph, and said: ‘God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, The Angel who has redeemed me from evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."

One of the explosive dilemmas David Matthews saw around him was fathers who did not

truly love nor bless their sons and daughters. The Jewish community understands obedience to God’s Word, and you do not find many criminals in prisons across America who are Jewish because the fathers still "bless the lads."

David Matthews knew, without a doubt, that one of the major responsibilities he had was leading soldier-fathers to bless their children. He knew it was a mandate from God, and that faithfully and regularly he was to encourage fathers to bless their children.

David’s children grew in blessing because David understood "The Virtue of Vision."

 And it always came back to Saul of Tarsus’s spirit, "Lord, what would you have me to do?" That became a key component to the children of David Matthews in their walk with Christ. David understood "vision" (from God) was the key that unlocked the door to heaven’s blessing upon one’s life; he understood it was that kindling flame that lit a fire in one’s heart and mind that could not be put out; he understood ‘vision’ diminished darkness in one’s mind and let "The Son" shine in; he knew vision cemented wings in one’s life that helped him soar in the heavenly places; he understood "vision" was the overcoming spirit of death itself granting resurrection life and hope in any circumstance; And David understood "vision" birthed an untiring, undying spirit in one’s life that raised him from the ordinary to the extra-ordinary, from the natural to the spiritual, from the temporal to the eternal. His children had that lovingly taught by their father in both example and rote memory!

David also majored with his children upon "The Virtue of Victory." How omitted this is

 in most modern-day circles of those called Christians! David regularly took his children to Colossians 2:9-10! This was a "mirror verse" for them constantly. It says, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; AND YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM …" David taught his children that victory in Jesus is immediate because of His finished work at Calvary; that God sees each of them complete in Jesus, lacking nothing; and that, in Christ, they are "more than conquerors!" He understood "Identity" from God’s point of view. The sad thing is Satan himself fills the minds with doubts and fears and untruths. David also majored with his children on "The Virtue of the Virgin-Spirit!" David had been blessed by those who faithfully discipled him in the Word of God. He grasped

Paul’s explanation of the adulterer in Romans 7 who lived for the "flesh" though married

to Christ! But that struggling disciple found in Romans 8 the victory that comes through yieldedness to the Spirit. He understood "the Virgin Spirit" that enters in because of their

faithfulness in keeping their lamps alit by the infilling of God’s Holy Spirit! That’s Matthew 25:4 where Jesus speaks of "the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Jesus also spoke of the foolish who delayed preparation for the coming of the bridegroom, and in verse 10 of Matthew 25, Jesus said, "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut."

Mark, Mary, and David Jr. rejoice with their father in the awareness they are "chosen vessels" in the plan of God to touch their world with the amazing love of God and allow Him, through them, to reveal the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. They celebrate the fact regularly, as a family, that they are instruments in God’s hands unveiling the resurrected Savior and Lord of life who leads and guides and directs the very footsteps of His children of faith.

It was William Paley in "The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy" who wrote:

"Virtue is the doing good to mankind in obedience to the will of God, and for the sake of everlasting happiness."

David and his children are totally yielded to being vessels of honor to the glory of God

because of His saving grace and because of the example of their Lord in laying down His life as a servant unto others. They long to live a "footwashing" life in caring for others. One other thing that David instilled within his children as they came to the teen years. He said to them often, "God was gracious to me in that He led me to your mother and your mother to me. It was His will for the two of us. You must remember that, even now, you pray regularly for Him to lead you to His choice of a mate to share your life with. Marriage is of the Master, not simply ‘glandular gladness!’ Protect your heart, your spirit, your soul for God’s plan of marriage in the Spirit!"

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

MILITARY MINISTRY-MASTER-PIECE PAINTING

No one should ever assume that any calling on one’s life from the Lord comes easily or without opposition or suffering through intense times of frustration. Satan is never pleased when someone steps to the plate and can hit a homerun to the glory of God, or stands before the easel of life to stroke a masterpiece to the honor of one’s Lord and Savior, or reports for duty before the ultimate "Commander-in-Chief," ready to fulfill His good, acceptable, and perfect will, understanding opposition will arise.

David Matthews knew he was under unsealed orders from the headquarters of God

Himself! There was never any doubt in his mind that he was on a mission to honor Christ. He had that peace that passes all understanding because of his submission to this calling upon his life.

But he clearly understood opposition. There would be those opposed to Christian

involvement in the military, whether Army, Air Force, Marines, or Navy. He also understood divine support and disciples’ commitment to walk with him through the mine-fields of explosive resentment.

Paul had been an example to David and his teenagers as he majored, with them, on Paul’s writings to Timothy. There were those moments when Paul saw no one standing with him. He knew the reality of co-workers, friends, and fellow disciples forsaking him. But David learned through Paul, "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom." On that Word, David stood strong also.

Over the first four years of military ministry, David’s department had mushroomed all

over the United States. Now there are four regional offices scattered across the U.S and even offices across Europe and into Asia. It has been such an accomplishment that all can only say, "This is a work of Jesus Himself!"

 That was truly David’s heart, spirit, vision, and personal desire: "All glory to Him alone." His team knew that, the Joint Chiefs understood that, the military leaders and families knew that, pastors and churches all across the U.S. knew that. The Lord was being honored and glorified as David stepped further and further into the background. His team of visionaries were coming into their own under the Lord’s permissive and perfect will. Time and space does not allow even attempting to enumerate the vastness of ministry opportunities that had been birthed through David’s humble beginnings at Ft. Benning. But regional events are happening on a monthly basis; local events in military areas on a weekly basis; national events on a quarterly basis; and, yes, even conferences all over the world.

Chaplains and pastors are front-men in every area where the department ministry has

penetrated. Under regional directors these men and women pray regularly together for the guidance of God. They pray, ‘brain-storm,’ deliberate, discuss, form, and carry through those ministries that God births within their hearts. Of course, David makes himself available for, not only regional meetings, but sometimes local meetings at military bases or churches.

There are times David takes his three teenagers with him to deal with grief and sorrow,

one-parent parenting, teenage wars and battles that must be fought, the "fleeing" call

upon every Christian teenager’s walk, praying for the godly mate, resolving inter­ relationship problems of brothers and sisters and friends, learning communication skills with parents etc.

But as David has entered into his fourth year with the military, he’s beginning to sense a ‘wind-change.’ He begins to contemplate if this is the "Wind of the Spirit" with that moving cloud by day and fire by night.

On one of the last trips when his three teenagers were with him, he began to talk with them about what he was feeling. "Is my time with the military coming to a close? Can I say God is through with me in this role and is opening another door? Is this a selfish thing or the sovereignty of God in operation?"

 And all three kids said, "What do you believe the Lord would have you to do’? Are there many doors open or do you sense only one door?" David responded, "At this moment I want to go home, to the farm, to Paul and Brenda, to Samuel and his family, to our church and friends, and maybe to the University of Tennessee if they’d have me." The children were absolutely elated! Mark is going to West Point, Mary is going to UT, and David Jr. would have two years in his Dad’s high school before he would graduate. Nothing would please his children more than "going home."

Then David said, "There is another reason why I am considering this, and it relates to

someone I have met through the military ministry. She is a military widow that I met over a year ago in a conference. She was sharing the weekend I was there. She is from Knoxville and has recently been employed by UT because of her doctorate in counseling and her experience through the ministry at military bases. I want you to know we are only friends now, but I sense it may become more than that." The children? Ecstatic! "When

do we get to meet her? What is her name? Who is she?" And David said, "Ginger Granger. That’s all you need to know right now!"

And David decides, "This is a done deal. It’s back to the farm and hopefully UT staff." He contacts the administration at UT and receives a positive endorsement. No interviews necessary, only, "When can you begin?"

Employed by the university in Knoxville, David submitted his resignation to the Joint

Chiefs and encouraged Coach Stephens be appointed his successor. And it happened!

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

[One Year Later]

TWO WIDOWED UNITED

How great is the God of the Matthews and the Grangers! There is no doubt that God sealed something in David’s and Ginger’s hearts the very first time they met. There was a connection that was more than physical -it was spiritual, a divine endorsement, "This is of God!" Ginger had had no children but was thrilled that she was going to become substitute Morn to David’s children although two were already in college.

Though having met several times when David was attending military conferences, and

having arranged to see each other when possible, the intenseness of the relationship grew when they both settled around Knoxville and began work at the university. Their dating was on the fast-track almost immediately.

Mark was the only one of David’s children who hadn’t gotten acquainted with Ginger

because of his move to West Point, but Mary and David Jr. kept him filled in week by week. By the end of their first six months at UT, David and Ginger announced their engagement. There was great joy in both households, and, yes, even with Paul and Brenda. They fell in love with her the first time they met her and were delighted for David.

This gave them six months to plan their wedding which was not going to be a huge event

but actually a small family and close friends’ wedding at the farm. They had decided that was where they wanted to live.

But David had a surprise for Ginger and his three kids. He wanted to give to Samuel

Etheridge the home he and Patty had renovated for Samuel’s own home with a few acres around it, and then build a new home on a special place on the farm where he felt the original farm-house should have been built.

That thrilled Ginger, David’s three children, Samuel and his family, and anybody else

 who’d been a part of the Matthews life. They began immediately, and the builder promised he could have the new home finished within six months. It was David and Ginger’s commitment that this would be their retirement home though both had many, many years before them before retirement became a reality. They wanted a home big enough for David’s three children to feel they still had a bedroom of their own during college vacations. Other than that David gave Ginger a free hand in designing their new home. It was a blast for her, but at the same time she always sought David’s approval. One of the things David requested was a big back yard with a huge patio, a big swimming pool, and lots of gardens for beautiful flowers, shrubs, and roses. He wanted his grandchildren to have great memories about granddad and grandmama’s home!

 Ginger not only met with the architect and builder, she also met regularly with David’s pastor because he was going to do the wedding. They had to fit the ceremony in around Mark’s, Mary’s, and David Jr.’s college schedule, but it all worked out to everyone’s satisfaction.

The wedding is scheduled for June 20 which fits into the children’s summer schedule to

be at home. David and Ginger wanted to make sure they’d be a part of the ceremony. It’s interesting that Ginger had no problems at all in having Patty’s best friend to sing at the

wedding. She was excited that Coach Stephens would again be David’s best man. David had no problems with Ginger’s former mother-in-law being her maid of honor. Head usher? Samuel Etheridge!

The wedding event is scheduled outdoors in a beautiful, beautiful setting, but they did add a tent for the reception and back-up just in case it rained. They invited about two hundred people to the wedding. Afterwards a full course dinner was planned for everyone.

Following the wedding David and Ginger planned their first night of the honeymoon in a

hotel in Knoxville and then planned to fly to Florida for the rest of their honeymoon. These two are deliriously in love -so thankful to God for bringing them together. They have a strong commitment to the Lord, they love the ministry of counseling, they love reaching out to youth and young adults with the claims of Christ as the sure foundation of good marriages, and they love sharing weekend conferences together.

It was William Shakespeare, in "Henry V," (Act V, sc. 2, 1.799) who wrote: "God, the

best maker of all marriages, combine your hearts in one." And that is so true of David and Ginger! They were one in the Spirit of Christ, one in vision of ministry, one in the understanding of "chosen vessels," and one in purpose of being examples to David’s children and others about a fulfilling, prosperous, Christ-honoring marriage.

 They had such a rich, rich time on the honeymoon. Both had been so deeply wounded years ago over the loss of their marriage partners. But after years of aloneness and the healing grace of God, they were ready to find someone to share their lives with. Divine appointments are truly a reality if one has the spiritual eyes to see! And David and Ginger "saw." This wasn’t a David and Bathsheba kind of thing but a David and daughter of God experience!

After a week in Florida they were anxious to get back to their newly completed home and

to Mark, Mary, and David Jr. They did not know it but the three kids planned a small "Welcome Home" party with close friends. And the three kids planned the meal, prepared it, and served the newly married couple and guests. The dinner was served on the new patio around the beautiful new pool.

Before serving the meal Mark asked for a few moments to share the hearts of him and his

brother and sister:

 "As you know Mary, David Jr. and I have the greatest Dad in the world. We thank God every day for a father who cared for us more than he cared for himself. There was never a day any one of us doubted his love. And we had the greatest Mom in the world, for a very short time," hesitating as tears began to well up in Mark, "but I want you to know that the three of us are so very blessed to have Ginger as our Mom now, and we thank God for bringing her into our Dad’s life. Ginger, thank you for loving us and welcoming us into your life. We bless and honor you as our divinely appointed Mom. To God be the glory." And the small crowd stood and clapped and cried as David’s three children embraced him and Ginger. It was a sweet, tender, touching time for all who were there.

Mark then asked Samuel Etheridge to come and pray over David and Ginger and the

three kids and then bless the meal. What a moving prayer as Samuel prayed the stars down! There was a deep awareness of a "glory-cloud" all around that patio as Samuel committed David’s and Ginger’s marriage to the honor of Christ Jesus.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

THE BELL SOUNDS – THE ANGEL CALLS

[FIFTEEN YEARS LATER]

 Someone wrote the following words anonymously: "Some day the bell will sound, Some day my heart will bound, As with a shout that school is out, And lessons done, I homeward run."

 These are not words of a troubling dream, a delusional nightmare, the figments of one’s imagination, dark thoughts of a divided mind, or a funeral for faith and hope -they are words of one who knows the earthly journey is complete and the heavenly journey is on the horizon. They are not words of hopelessness but the words of satisfaction of a job "well done" and words of peaceful rest, "My eternal home awaits me."

Jesus gave us luminous footprints through the dark, cold grave that each man faces to the

Light of the eternal treasures of faith fulfilled, hope completed, and love enriched in the grandeur of the glory of God and the graciousness of His sweet embrace with His words, "Welcome Home, My child," as one rests in the bosom of Jesus.

It’s been a blessed, fulfilling fifteen years of marriage for David and Ginger. Their commitment to one another was in the treasure of desire to honor their Lord in their relationship -and it was so evident. Both were professors at UT, highly respected, even honored by the university; both were still growing in their faith and understanding of God’s call upon their lives; both still walked in that servant spirit imaging their Lord and Savior; and both were still highly active in the Christian retreat and conference ministry for youth and young marrieds.

One year ago David was asked by his pastor to share what was on his heart in a Sunday

morning service. For days and days he prayed for guidance from Christ Jesus and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. He so wanted his words to minister Life to the hearers. When that morning came David had been deeply moved by the Spirit of God in what to share. For one of the first times in speaking David was uneasy, even teary, but deeply confident in what he was to say. It was recorded. Listen to David’s words:

"A tragic, traumatic childhood can be the springboard into hellish living or the stepping stone into the very garden of God where He walks with me and talks with me.

Living in a family without faith can become a life void of the richness of relationship with a personal God or the awareness that there’s something more for me my earthly family could not provide.

The emptiness of parents who refuse to acknowledge the need of God in their lives can either become the confidence of rebellion in their children or the conviction of the need of "the risk of the reach" in reaching outside a child’s life to the God of revelation. Homes that are not a taste of heaven can lead one into deeper bondage and captivity or lead one to cry out for something or Someone the present home knows nothing about. There are families that are nothing more than a gathering of natural seed or they are families of the gift of the spiritual Seed.

There are families that truly love this world and all that it has to offer or families that

truly love God and all He has to give to them in a victorious faith and an eternal reason for living to the glory of the Redeeming God of Calvary.

There are families totally committed to see that their children are educated and validated as a member of family faithlessness, rich in what the dying world has to offer but bankrupt in the significance of eternal purpose and bankrupt in the need of Dad and Mom and sons and daughters reconciled to God.

But there are those who know "faith living;" they know the reality of repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ; they know the reality of regenerative grace; they comprehend ‘reconciled to God;’ they experience "born from above, born of God, born of the Spirit, born the second time" by the gift of God’s love, grace, and mercy.

I came out of the heartache of a broken family. I lived through the emptiness of a God­ less family. I was, as a child, the recipient of parents who were ‘play-actors’ concerning faith and a right relationship with God. If anyone has ever experienced ‘hell on earth,’ they understand my first fourteen years of up-bringing, which was an attempt to bring me down.

Divorce occurs, separation is a reality, questions abound about what life is all about, and

then Mother steps from the frying pan into the fire.

Love is absent and lust becomes the calling card of debased living. Alcohol and drugs become "the milk of godless living." Abuse, verbally and physically becomes the primary activity of loveless living and loveless marriages.

Then comes the heartless bombing where a sixteen year-old loses an arm and a foot,

burned over seventy per cent of his body. But he gains a spiritual family of faith, he gains a substitute father rich in faith, he gains a youth leader who truly cares, and he gains a young lady who knows my only hope was ‘in Christ.’

 She became my Bride, the mother of my children, having led me to an intimate relationship with Christ Jesus, and what was God’s true intention in the love of a husband and wife.

Paula and I were married, God gave us three beautiful children, and we were living our

dream. And then, she’s gone- struck down by a young man who wanted to end his own life in a head-on collision, not knowing what he was stealing from me.

The children and I survived together by the grace of God and with the help of family and friends. The children have matured so much in their faith and their walk with God; they know their identity in Christ and their eternal purpose as "chosen vessels."

It hasn’t been easy for Dad; there has been such a void in my heart and life; the woman who taught me true love and devotion was translated into God’s eternal presence, her heavenly home and eternal family; and for years there has been a deep well of emptiness within me.

But then God led Ginger Granger into my life. She was a military wife who lost her

husband through war. Now she’s Ginger Matthews, my Bride who has restored light in my inner man. I continually thank God every day for His gracious gift to me in Ginger. The last fourteen years have been so rich for both of us.

We’ve seen Mark finish West Point, presently serving as Lt. Colonel Mark Matthews,

stationed in Germany. He’s married to a beautiful, strong Christian young lady who has given him two beautiful children.

Mary is an RN, her heart’s desire from childhood. She’s Mary Alford and the mother of

three children.

David JR. is a medical doctor, always his life’s ambition, majoring in orthopedic surgery, and anxious to create a better arm and foot for his Dad, married to a doctor who shares in his practice of orthopedic surgery. They have two children.

And now, here I am, fifty years of age, wondering what tomorrow holds. I don’t know of a man on the face of the earth that has been more blessed than I’ve been blessed!

I am the richest man on the face of the earth in the things that truly count for eternity’s sake and the glory of God alone -but there’s a rumbling within my spirit, a restlessness about what tomorrow holds, a questioning in my spirit about whether or not my earthly usefulness is coming to an end.

Ginger and I have talked about this openly. We know "three score and ten," the "long life" promise of Scripture to the man of faith, but I also understand life’s uncertainty, even an indefinite tomorrow, and I wonder if God is saying to all of us, "Time is short, closing time is near, eternity is about to dawn experientially for you."

I don’t fear death- I embrace it, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain."

I’m not running from death -but resting in faith. I’m not resisting death but putting my arms strongly around the Life of Christ.

I don’t know or understand fully what this pulling is within me, but I believe God is saying to each of us, "Look up for your redemption is drawing near."

I know He is saying to me, "Live every day as if it were your last." He’s saying to me, "Listen for the music of the angelic chorus." He’s saying, "Get ready- I’ve got a new robe, a ring for your finger, new shoes, a fatted calf, and the party-band is playing. This

is your Heavenly Father speaking, and I say, Get ready- it’s about time for you to come home."

It may be that my early life was like Job’s journey, but the majority of my life on earth has been a journey with Jesus. It’s been a full and rich life, not under the curse but under the blessing. It’s been a life in the blessing of the Holy Spirit, not a life in the futility of the flesh or the old man or the domination of that old sin nature.

It’s been a life, not with the falseness of Satan and his friends, but a life rich in the

fullness of God-like friends and companions.

I pray that you understand, know, and experience the life of blessedness that I have known and experienced for over thirty years -and Heaven awaits my arrival!

Look to Jesus! Lean not unto your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him. Give Him His rightful place in your hearts and in your homes, and He will guide your every step."

And when David finished and sat down, there was total silence. No one moved. For a

long time the pastor sat in his chair on the platform. Then he arose to stand behind the pulpit. He began to weep uncontrollably. He fell across the pulpit stand continuing to weep. One by one the congregation stood and then made their way to the altar. Many were weeping also.

And then someone cried out, "Oh God, that we all might be ready to further our journey

with Jesus beyond this fleshly life into the region of eternal, holy presence with You and Your angelic chorus!"

One year after this historic night of David’s testimony, at David’s funeral, having

dropped dead from a massive heart attack, the pastor reminded the family and friends of, what he called, "David’s prophetic words about himself." He reminded the multitude,

"No one was more prepared to die than David Matthews. Are you prepared to die? No one truly lives who is not prepared to die!"

Hundreds stood beside the gravesite as the casket of David Matthews was brought in. The pastor had shared the Holy Scriptures and given last words of encouragement to Ginger, David’s three adult children and David’s grandchildren, and friends. And then he asked Samuel Etheridge if he had words he wanted to say before the pastor prayed the closing prayer. Samuel started to sing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," but he broke into tears again and just sobbed. But David’s children and grandchildren, with Ginger, picked up

 Samuel’s desire for that song and began to sing with the hundreds gathered around the family. It was a touch of heavenly grace poured out on the mourners! To God Be The Glory!

Then Samuel, composed in heart and mind, shared for a moment: "David’s departure from this earth has left us so lonely for his presence, his goodness, his witness, and his love. But he has climbed the mountain and looked beyond. He has seen that land of promise, and guided by the love of God and graced in the wisdom of God, he said to His Father, "I’m coming home." David has climbed the celestial stairs, knocked on the Pearly Gates, and heard that holy angel say, "Come on in, David Matthews; we’ve been waiting on you." And my brother in Christ said to the angels, "Lead me into the presence of Jesus

and let me love Him for about ten thousand years; then I’ll look for Paula and I’ll look for

my Mom. Then, I’ll wait for Ginger and my kids and grandkids while I rest on the bosom of Jesus, looking for those blessed companions of the past from my yesterdays and longing with anticipation for the reunions of tomorrow. Death may be a stepping stone we cannot avoid, but eternal Life in Christ is an empty tomb we joyously walk through. Rest, my brother, David, rest in the arms of Jesus."

 Several weeks later, when it came time to read David’s last will, the attorney shared that Ginger, Mark, Mary, David, and Samuel Etheridge shared equally in his estate with forty acres for Ginger and their home of the last fifteen years, and the three children forty acres each of the family farm, and Samuel Etheridge forty acres around David and Paula’s original home already given to Samuel, plus a five-way split of David’s monies. Ginger was well-cared for in both of David’s retirement incomes from education and the military. This all had been worked out between David and Ginger long before his death. And the spirit of David’s sacrificial service was carried on!

John Bunyan said it so dramatically and true when in "The Pilgrim’s Progress" he wrote:

"My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder. When the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the riverside, into which as he went he said: ‘Death, where is your sting?’ And as he went deeper, he said: ‘Grave, where is your victory?’ So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side."

OMNIPOTENT PRESENCE AND PEACE?”

BY: J.FARRELL FISHER, Sept.8, 2017

A number of years ago, visiting a church and faithful friends of the Body of Christ in Utah, my wife and I found an old book store in Salt Lake City. Browsing, I saw a very old book someone had purchased in 1910. It was a book entitled “The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning of her poetry from 1826-1844! I’ve treasured it over the years since I studied some of her writings in my English class at Baylor University in the mid to late 1950’s.

The last poem in the book, page 400, is entitled, “Weariness”. She wrote: “Mine eyes are weary of surveying The fairest things too soon decaying; Mine eyes are weary of receiving The kindest words – ah, past believing;

Weary my hope, of ebb and flow; Weary my pulse, of tunes of woe; My trusting heart is weariest! I would – I would, I were at rest!

For “me”, can earth refuse to fade? For “me”, can words be faithful made? Will “my” embittered hope be sweet? “My” pulse forego the human beat?

No! Darkness must consume mine eye – Silence, mine ear – hope cease – pulse die – And o’er mine heart a stone be pressed – Of vain this, – “Would I were at rest!”

There is a land of rest deferred; Nor eye has seen, nor ear has heard, Nor Hope has trod the precinct o’er; For Hope beheld is hope no more! There, human pulse forgets its tone – There, hearts may know as they are known; Oh, for dove’s wings, your dwelling blest, To fly to You, God, and be at rest!”

Dare I tell you? Believe I will! That, my friends, is one awesome piece of poetry! She faced the reality of life with its pains and sorrows, with its curses and its blessings, with its “ups and its downs”, with its wrongs and its rights, with its distresses and its deliverances, with its hopelessness and its Hope!

Is it “reality in life” that, at times, there ARE “overwhelming distresses”? I, personally, would be sincerely shocked if someone said to me, “I’ve never faced a ‘troubling’ day in my life,” or, “Overwhelming Distresses may exist for some, but for me, my family, my friends, we’ve only experienced ‘bliss’, not any ‘heavy burdens’,” or, you’ve heard it from some spiritually egotistical ‘believers’ (?), “Overwhelming distresses are for the worldly but not for believers,” and I want to “throw up!”

In Psalm 25:14-21, an inspired, Spirit-anointed word, from King David says: “Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged; (Are ‘troubles’ an instrument, yes, of Holy God in eternally equipping us for more of life’s pending events to come?), bring me out of MY DISTRESSES! Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins.

Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.”

OH, then look at Psalm 30:7, when David also cried out from the midst of a troubled heart, “Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.” Yes! THERE ARE DARK MOMENTS IN A REDEEMED SOUL’S HEART AND MIND when it “seems” he/she has been totally forsaken by his/her Savior and Lord! Troubling times do come to true believers!

It’s why, in Psalm 46:1-7, a song of Korah, the Holy Word becomes so important in strengthening the “troubled” in their, yes, “moments” of despair and heartache! It says: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.

There IS a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. (Do you understand, “in Christ”, YOU are now the ‘holy place’, the Temple, the Tabernacle of the Most High God, yes, the Resurrected Christ living IN YOU?). God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is WITH US; the God of Jacob is our REFUGE.”

But, at times, “overwhelming distresses” occur when one of the faith “drifts” or “falls away” from devotion to his/her Lord and Savior, or experiences ‘on-slaughts’ from the powers of darkness, and, as a result, Proverbs 25:26 says, “A righteous man who falters before the wicked IS LIKE a murky spring and a polluted well.” Have you affirmed that word disastrously in your own walk of faith at times or witnessed it in those you love and care for, but willing to alert, warn, and inspire others to BE the true witness in troubled times?

In 2 Corinthians 4:5-16 Paul, inspired in the Spirit, wrote: “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.” God does, at times, ‘command light’ to shine ‘out of the darkness’ one has walked in or even presently is walking through? And Paul explains why in Verses 7-16 he wrote:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. WE ARE hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore we speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things (DON’T DARE MISS THIS!!) are for YOUR SAKES, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound TO THE GLORY OF GOD. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

Could it dare be that Holy God Himself allows, ordains, or opens the door to “Overwhelming Distresses” that you, as an immature child of faith, may be brought into His permissible will to perfect in you His Perfect Will, the door closed on you, but then opened to the glory of the Christ in you for the world around you to also discover Christ? Holy God is not interested in YOUR ‘house made in the flesh’ – He wants it gone, so that the Temple of the Lord may be established in you and through you! Amen?

The prophetic word in Isaiah 32 is so vital in understanding God’s intent in releasing, allowing, even ordaining “Overwhelming Distresses”! In Verses 1-15 the prophetic Word is unveiled! “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, (Is that King Jesus?), and princes will rule with justice (Are You a ‘prince’, a ‘priest’, the bodily temple of the Resurrected Christ?). A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

The eyes of those who see will not be dimmed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.

The foolish person will no longer be called generous (or noble), nor the miser said to be bountiful. For the foolish person will speak foolishness, and his heart will work iniquity: to practice ungodliness, to utter error against the Lord, to keep the hungry unsatisfied, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

Also the schemes of the schemer are evil; He devises wicked plans to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks justice. But a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand. (The “standing-generosity-givers” are God-birthed, redeemed, and the reconciled invaded by the Resurrected Christ!). Rise up, you women, who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. In a year and some days you will be troubled, you complacent women; for the vintage will fail, the gathering (of the “fruit” of other redeemed lives through these women’s example or witness!) will not come. Tremble, you women who are at ease. Be troubled, you complacent ones; Strip yourselves, make yourselves bare, and gird sackcloth on your waists.

People shall mourn upon their breasts FOR the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city; because the palaces will be forsaken (that’s like the U.S. House and Senate, present, but vacant in heart and mind, because, yes, the majority, both democrats and republicans have forsaken God saying He has no place or part in human government! How stupid have they become!!), the bustling city will be deserted.

The forts and towers will become lairs forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks – UNTIL the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.”

Can a life, can a marriage, can a family, can a state or nation, can a ‘cold’ or ‘Spirit-less church’, truly become, by God’s grace and mercy, productive, God-honoring “fruitful fields”? Absolutely! Absolutely when they die to ‘self’ and are “raised” “In Christ alone”!

But, I have to tell you: I’m not sure how many ‘at-large’ churches “LIVE IN OMNIPOTENT PRESENCE AND PEACE” (OR “OMNIPOTENT POWER”)! I wish I could say, “They DO!”, but, sadly, in many fellowships, it’s fellowship without power – and, never a concern about the ‘empty container’ of the church of the “Released Presence of Spirit-Anointing and Empowerment”! And for some, it’s not only the Spirit’s “absence”, but a blindness and deafness and voluntary “abstinence” of “Spirit-Anointing” because it scares them or they witnessed “Spirit-abuse” in some ‘deranged disciples’ (?)!

The “abundance of grace” is not only seen in the purifying through the blood of the Lamb, but also in the ‘circumcision’ of the heart by the Spirit, born-again by the Spirit, equipped by the Spirit, and, yes, ANOINTED IN THE SPIRIT to fulfill one’s calling, not be “best effort” but by the “Blessed Spirit”!

What did Paul write in Romans 8:12-17? “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For IF YOU LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH YOU WILL DIE; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE SONS OF GOD.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Are you aware of “the supply of the Holy Spirit” as His gracious Gift to His children? God knew we needed a “tutor”, He knew we needed a “guardian’, God knew we need a daily instructor and protector, God knew we’d need the Spirit “to pick us up” at times, God knew we’d need the Spirit “hovering over us and in us and through us” because of stormy waters at times, and God knew, in His birthing of humanity and touching His “new world” with grace and mercy, even in His giftings, that all the Body of Christ would need the Holy Spirit who fills us with wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and, (Get this!), in all manner of workmanship!”

Do you think God knew ‘humanity’, whether they loved and served God or not, needed the Holy Spirit to “gift”, “design”, “create even basic needs for all humanity”, plus God knew apart from Holy Spirit conviction there’d be no desire to know Him, serve Him, or follow Him, so He sent the Spirit!

But, there are natural men doing natural things on their own without any need of God or the Spirit, but there are spiritual men doing spiritual things, and they understand, “It’s not MY “best effort”, but the manifestation of the Spirit in me and through me!” And in Joel 2 God said: “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; (does that mean ‘all flesh’ having God’s Spirit poured out on them will receive it and yield to the will of God? I don’t think so!). Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams”. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” Then God said: “I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath…”, and whether in the high heavens of spiritual identity or simply “the streets of a daily walk, the Spirit of God is going to manifest the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”!

Have you ever sung the old hymn entitled “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”? The last verse of that hymn says: “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being Absolute sway! Fill with Your Spirit Till all shall see Christ only, always, Living in me!”

I believe it needs to be a “new day” of refreshing, renewing, re-empowering and anointing of the Mighty Holy Spirit to honor and unveil Christ through you and me! Amen? Omnipotent Presence, Omnipotent Peace, Omnipotent Power! Will you receive Him and walk in Him?

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER,April 24, 2019

Sinners, willing to remain as they are, but pleased to ‘acknowledge’ Jesus Christ, profess ‘faith’, and join a ‘church’ ARE ‘flawed professing disciples’ asserting their ‘completion’ “in Christ”, when HE, the Resurrected, Reigning King of kings and Lord of lords, ‘knocked’, but wasn’t allowed to enter with the gifts of a “new heart” and “new Spirit” with the ‘professors of faith’ continuing on deceiving and being deceived! “Christ (alone) in you IS the hope of glory”, but, IN truly “Repentant minds and hearts”, willing to indeed be dead to themselves daily, IS His Resurrection Life manifested in mortal flesh!!

I’m sure you’ve heard it said: “Oh, I ‘believe’ in Jesus, as long as He allows ME to be myself. I want to be with Jesus, but if I must die to myself, to my old sin nature, and to my devotion to my world philosophies, and even enjoy it at times, and yes, my devotion to Satan’s false assertions, and to the desires of fleshly demons in me to remain themselves, I guess I’ll just have to pay the price for a stubborn heart, mind, will, and life, and say: ‘good-by, Jesus’!”

Sinners, willing to be believers remaining as they are, but pleased to acknowledge Jesus, ‘profess faith’, and join a ‘church’, ARE ‘flawed disciples’ asserting their ‘completion in Christ’ when He is not around to “bless and claim as His own the ‘pretenders’”!

Are you aware that there are ‘pretenders’ who are not “servants in and through and by Christ Jesus”? Are you aware of many who ‘join a church’ yet never died to the old ‘self-nature’ that His Resurrection Life might find a ‘temple’ or ‘tabernacle’, but live ‘professing’ apart from being possessed by Christ Himself through His “blood purchase” at the Cross?

There is such a vast difference between ‘world-followers’, deceived by the powers of darkness and, yet “religious believers”, who’ve declared allegiance to a ‘pretending savior’ but know nothing of the “Prince of Peace who, yes, sacrificed His divine life that fallen men could be reconciled to Holy God through His shed blood, merciless death, then burial, but resurrected on the third day as reigning Lord over sin and death and separation from Holy God, ascending to Heaven’s Throne where He still reigns!” But ‘pretenders’ know nothing about “taking the sentence of death daily to themselves (knowing crucified with Christ)”, that Jesus’ Resurrection Life could, would, was, is, after true repentance and “rest-filled faith”, reconciling them to Him with, in, and through His Resurrection Life, Resurrection Hope, and Resurrection Power, and His Life then expressed daily in the life now ‘dead to self, dead to their old sin-nature, dead to the unbelieving world around them, and dead to Satan’s impotent armies of fleshly deceit, fleshly expression, and fleshly control, living only to, yes, please the Lord in a daily ‘laid-down-life’ to LET HIM BE JESUS IN THEM AND THROUGH THEM!’

In Matthew 10:1, Verses 7-8, 16-20, 22-26, 28-34, 36-40, we read about “sent ones loyal to the Savior and Lord”! Matthew 10:1 says, “And when He had called unto Himself His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Verses 7-8 says, And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give.

Verses 16-20 follows, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

And you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them, and the (unbelieving Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak, For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you.

Verses 22-26, “And you shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake; but he that endures to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee you into another: for verily I say unto you, You shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. (His Resurrection Presence!! Glory!!).

Verses 28-34 then says, “And fear them not them, which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him, which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without the Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear you not therefore; you are of more Value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Verses 36-40 then says, And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he that loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that takes not his cross, and follows after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that finds his life shall lose it; and he that loses his life for My sake shall find it. He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me.”

What an awesome, challenging, enriching ‘Life-changing Word’ for every repentant heart and soul, but, yes, a scary, ‘fear-full Word’ for every unbeliever, every pretender, and, yes, every ‘kingdom’ of man’s building that wants no part of Holy God and His merciful Savior and Lord!!

‘World-followers’, ‘imitating, pretending, church followers’, possessors of ‘fervent lips but divided hearts’, willing to ‘hear the Word of God without obeying’, even making long prayers, but according to 2 Timothy 3:5 have ‘a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof; from such turn away’, because You will be in danger of ‘getting scorched’!

“Remaining ‘flawed’ though ‘professing faith”? How ‘strange’ that some disciples are seen as ‘professing faith in Christ’ yet holding on to a past life of the world, the flesh, and Satan himself, sadly, with no desire to be ‘sanctified ‘wholly’ rather than fully freed in Christ’s Indwelling Life’ victorious over the powers of darkness!

I was so impressed recently when reading Oswald Chambers’ book entitled “My Utmost For His Highest”:, (which I read regularly with the Word, yes, over and over again and again – a ‘wise, Spirit-anointed preacher!’ from England a long time ago’!),majoring on a disciple’s ‘fleshly exhaustion’ by quoting Isaiah 40:28, “The everlasting God…faints not, nor ever grows weary,” saying, (p.29), “Has the way in which you have been serving God betrayed you into exhaustion? If so, then rally your affections. Where did you start the service from? From your own sympathy OR from the basis of the Redemption of Jesus Christ? CONTINUALLY go back to the foundation of your affections and recollect where the source of power is. You have no right to say ‘ “O Lord, I am so exhausted.” He saved and sanctified you in order to EXHAUST YOUR JOY IN YOURSELF. Be exhausted ‘for God’, but remember that your supply comes from (and “in Him”!), “All my fresh springs shall be in You.” Amen?

The continuing, disappointing, ‘falling-short’ philosophy, of many ‘trying-disciples’ is, “Do your best”! NO!! Ten thousand times, NO!!” True disciples DAILY “take the sentence of death daily that the Resurrection Life of Christ may be manifested in them and through them as they yield to the Holy Spirit to continually guide and express “Jesus Only”” through them!!”

Self-assertiveness in a ‘professing disciple’ is a big nail that gets stronger and stronger in place of their “hope of glory”! One “in Christ” doesn’t need the ‘nails of devotion to his/her old flesh-nature’, but the “new-life” only in and through His Resurrection Presence, being Himself eternally the same, even in opposition to the demons and Satan himself who hang around!

Tell me! “Why do some ‘professing believers’, crucified WITH Christ, still ‘think’ that they are ‘the ones able’ WHEN He nailed their ‘sinfulness and able-ness to His Cross’ thousands of years ago?

‘Self-consciousness’ and ‘self-awareness’, living as ‘professing disciples as servants of Christ but in, of, and for themselves, ignoring His Resurrection Presence if truly ‘born-again’, ‘think’ that their ‘self-obsorbed- life’ that they hold onto can adequately unveiled Christ’s presence, when all it does is ‘shame’ Christ’s completed work through the Cross and His empty tomb!

‘Self-consciousness’ professing Christ is a curse, not a blessing! ‘Self-consciousness’ is a ‘noose around the neck’; not the “new creation reality of His indwelling Presence”! ‘Self-consciousness’ of ‘professing believers’ never gives ‘confidence’ in a compromised believer’s walk, but only a ‘leaking life of limited expression’ of the True Christ! Again, “Christ IN YOU IS the Hope of Glory!”

If Christ Jesus “gives ‘rest’”, why do so many “try-ers” live unfulfilling lives as ‘professing disciples’, yes, unaware ‘possessed disciples’ ARE viewers of God’s amazing grace as Jesus is Himself in them and through them even conscious that it’s Him, not them that honors God the Father?

Again, Isaiah 40:31 says: “But they that wait upon the Lord, (letting Him be Himself in them and through them!), shall renew their strength (which IS their faith in His bodily presence and bodily participation THROUGH THEM, not by them at all!); they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

WHAT AN AMAZING TRANSITION FROM ‘SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS’ INTO “CHRIST-AWARENESS, AVAILABILITY, AND HEAVENLY ACTION” THROUGH “CHRIST-RELEASE OF HIS RESURRECTION –PRESENCE THROUGH YOU”!! Are YOU the “poor in spirit” who know HOW to let, “Jesus, BE Jesus in me, no longer me but Thee, Resurrection Power fill me this hour, Jesus, be Jesus in me”?

The promised ‘life in Christ’ was never intended to be the new believer trying and trying! No! Every day, as your days begin “in Christ”, must be days when the “It is finished” proclamation includes “finished with myself so Christ Jesus can be, is, and forever will be, “my ALL IN ALL”!!

“REMAINING FLAWED” OR, “FAITHING THE FINISHED WORK” BY CHRIST JESUS ALONE! Are YOU “crucified with Christ”, and the life in Him you now live is the daily dedication of ‘death to self’ that His Resurrection Presence might be expressed through you?

It was P.P. Bliss, in the old “Broadman Hymnal”, that wrote the words to the hymn, “That Will Be Glory For Me”. It says:

“I know not the hour when my Lord will come To take me away to His own dear home; But I know that His presence lightens my gloom, And that will be glory for me.

I know not the song that the angels sing, I know not the sound of the harp’s glad ring; But I know there’ll be praises to Jesus our King, And that will be glory for me.

I know not the form of my mansion fair, I know not the name that I then shall bear; But I know that my Savior will welcome me there, And that will be glory for me.

And that will be glory for me, Oh, that will be glory for me; When I stand in His presence, and like Him shall be, Oh, that will be glory for me.” In Luke 24:32, as the true disciples had been with Jesus, and then He was gone, say: “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?”

Question! Do YOU live with a “burning heart” in you because of His Abiding Presence that never leaves you? Are YOU ‘professing Him’ but living without expressing His promise, “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you?” “Burning hearts”? Is that the testimony of your earthly existence as a redeemed disciple of King Jesus? Sadly, many live countless lives of unawareness, not “shining lights” rejoicing in His abiding presence! Again, Oswald Chambers, in his book “My Utmost For His Highest” wrote: (pps. 58-59), “Much of our distress as Christians comes not because of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own (spiritual) nature. For instance, the only test as to whether we allow an emotion to have its way is to see what the outcome of the emotion will be. Push it to its logical conclusion, and if the outcome is something God would condemn, allow it no more way. But if it be an emotion kindled by the Spirit of God and you do not let that emotion have its right issue in your life, it will react on a lower level.

That is the way sentimentalists are made. The higher the emotion, the deeper the degradation will be, if it is not worked out on its proper level. If the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many things inevitable as possible, let the consequences be what they will. We cannot stay on the mount of transfiguration, but we must obey the light we received there; we must act it out.”

SO…. When the temptation, the ‘testing’, the ‘trial’, comes by the demons, LET THE KINDLING SPIRIT OF THE HOLY GHOST be loosed in you to ward off any satanic, worldly, OR fleshly desire! CHOOSE DAILY TO HONOR KING JESUS!! AMEN?

By J.Farrell Fisher, April 5, 2017

There’s an interesting Verse of the Holy Word found in Genesis 15:12 that says, “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him;” but then Verse 13 says, “Then He (God) said to Abram…”!

It is “horror and great darkness” when a man decides “There is no God”, and lives in a state of life with no faith or trust in the “All-Loving and All-Caring God” who made them, lost them, and then bought them at a high price, even the shed blood of the Lamb of God at Calvary’s Cross! Yes, there are those who don’t even acknowledge the reality of Holy God, or if they do, there are those who assert He doesn’t see them, know them, or care for them, when in reality and the historical event of Christ’s birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, God declared, “I love the worst of sinners with an everlasting, unending, unconditional, powerful love!”

GOD IS NOT BLIND CONCERNING YOU BUT ALL-SEEING, ALL-KNOWING, ALL-LOVING, YES, EVEN OF THE GREATEST SINNER OR THE ONE THE FURTHEREST THROW AWAY FROM HIM! “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes (trusts in, relies upon, adheres to) in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17).

As the Lord spoke of Israel, His people, so that word for them speaks loudly today of those who are ‘blind themselves’, not God blind to them! In Isaiah 43:24b-28 God, our “All-Seeing Holy God”, said: “…But you have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities. I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” And if one’s sin and sin nature was crucified with Christ and one’s transgressions blotted out, what is their “now” problem of separation from God? It’s their unbelief, their continuous rebellion, their refusal to give Him His rightful place on the throne of their hearts – they “love” Him, but still live in their sins and fleshly pleasures! Like the religious priests of Isaiah’s day, they still ‘worship’ in the Temple as they, at the same time, celebrate and indulge their old sin-nature!

And, no doubt, this was what Samuel was inspired to write about as he called to the Lord in 1 Samuel 12:18-25, So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.”

Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, BUT serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it pleased the Lord to make you His people.[Insert? And it pleased the Lord to call you as a follower of Christ – and He sees YOUR every step!].

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly (people of God!), you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

How many “people of God” have you witnessed who “turn aside” and “go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver”? Yet we read Paul challenging the Galatians and us today when in Galatians 1:15-17 he wrote: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.”

Question! “Is it the purpose of God TO REVEAL HIS SON IN YOU”?? If so, has there been in you, or even around you, people who spend their days and hours being fully introduced to and empowered by the Spirit as to their ministry and calling as “ambassadors of Christ”? AND, are there those around you “glorifying God” because THEY SEE “CHRIST IN YOU”?

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me…?” ETERNAL LIFE PURPOSE “IN CHRIST”?

There is an awesome unveiling of God’s divine intent in and through Christ through repentant, re-born, reconciled sons and daughters of true redemptive faith in Colossians 1:16b-23a – Paul wrote: “…All things were created through Him and FOR HIM. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, THAT IN ALL THINGS HE MAY HAVE THE PREEMINENCE.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

And YOU, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight – IF indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…”!

“Blind God OR All-Seeing God?” In my Holman “New King James Bible”, Acts 15 has a title: “Conflict Over Circumcision”. It reads: Verses 6-29, Now the apostle and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, WHO KNOWS THE HEART (of ALL men!), acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

But we believe that THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WE SHALL BE SAVED in the same manner as they.”

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.’

Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.’

Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. They wrote this letter by them:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law – to whom we gave no such commandment – it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you do well.”

“Blind God? OR All-Seeing God?” And Holy God is not blind concerning man’s heart and mind, not blind to the flesh’s chosen remedies of ‘religious shortcomings’ or ‘alternative measures of one’s desire to at least be god-like’ – or, and I believe I understand Trump’s earthly assessment about America, but only a temporary ‘help’ if Holy God is not the source of national ‘fixing’ – “The world is a mess, and we’re going to fix it.” But, sadly, personally and nationally and worldwide, most are blind to the “salvation of God”!

An affront to fallen humanity, to the alienated and separated from God, to sinners who live as if their style of life is normal and natural, is an affront to the God of love, mercy, and grace! Again, Paul nailed it when he wrote in Galatians 1: 15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me,” but that doesn’t include you or me? Oswald Chambers wrote: “ God gets me into a relationship with Himself whereby I understand His call, then I do things out of sheer love for Him on my own account,” SO, I hear His calling, I understand His mission in me and through me, I’m aware of His presence in me – SO, I choose to daily serve Him to His glory, honor, and praise!

“Blind God? OR All-Seeing God?” It’s not that Holy God is blind, but the truth is, men without Christ are veiled to the reality and glory of God Himself, but through repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross, then the ‘veil’ is removed, and we’re able to discern God’s intent for our lives in devotion to Him! 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 tells us, “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED into the same image FROM GLORY TO GLORY, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

It’s not God who is blind but those who live with unbelieving, unrepentant, unreconciled testimonies of their godlessness! In 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Paul said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. FOR IT IS THE GOD WHO COMMANDED LIGHT TO SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS, who has shone in our hearts TO GIVE THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST!”

“Blind God? OR All-Seeing God?” Do you remember some asking Jesus in Acts 26:15, “Who are You, Lord?”, with Christ Jesus responding in Verses 15a-18, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” Who is ‘blind’? God or unbelievers? God or the unrepentant? God or the worldly who do not see “the kingdom of God”? God or the “flesh’s perverted pleasures? God or those who count their lives dear to themselves – their desires, their wants, their dreams, with not a silly, minor meter of consideration of God’s eternal intent for their earthly presence?

Again, it was Paul who understood that God WAS NOT BLIND, but fully aware of His intent for every true believer’s life! In Acts 20:20-24 he alerts us to the All-Seeing God’s intent for born again believers! He said: “How I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Did Paul say, “but none of these things move me,” chains and tribulations, with Paul saying, because, “I don’t count my life dear to myself”, fully yielded for the honor of Christ alone even if he was assassinated? Yes, he did! But, what about YOU?

It was Oswald Chambers, in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.46], who said: “It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common-sense basis.”

In 2 Corinthian 1:9 the Apostle said, as a living testimony for every true believer, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,” saying also in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY.”

For you, is it the ‘daily drudgery’ of trying or the day by day discipline of death to yourself that the Resurrection Life of Christ may be manifested in your mortal flesh? Sad testimony of some in John 6:66 where John recorded, “From that time many of His (Jesus’) disciples went back and walked no more with Him.” How often have you witnessed it, when convinced you’ve seen others around you, serving a “Blind God”, and walking away as a ‘deserter’? But the ‘sons of Korah’, in Psalm 87, sang, Verse 7, Both the singers and the players on instruments say, “All my fresh springs are in you,” as the Holy City of Zion!

No doubt this is why God said, in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” WOULD YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FUTURE AND YOUR HOPE?

OF

REDEMPTIVE FAITH

BY

J. FARRELL FISHER

Charles Wesley, in “Free Grace,” wrote: Jesus, “Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race.”

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE: “EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH”

CHAPTER TWO: “LIBERTY IN CHRIST OR A LICENSE TO SIN?”

CHAPTER THREE:”UNFORGIVENESS – UNFORGIVEN OR TRUE FAITH AND FOREVER FORGIVENESS?”

CHAPTER FOUR: “ABOUNDING MISERY AND CHAOS OR ADVOCACY PEACE AND BLESSING?”

CHAPTER FIVE: “WORLD PHILOSOPHERS OR WILLFUL PROMOTION BY GOD?”

CHAPTER SIX:”CHILDREN OF THE FLESH OR CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE?”

CHAPTER SEVEN:”SELF-EFFORT RIGHTEOUSNESS OR SOVEREIGN-IMPLANTED RIGHTEOUSNESS?”

CHAPTER EIGHT: “DARK NIGHTS – BRIGHT LIGHTS”

CHAPTER NINE: “HOW’S YOUR FAITH?”

CHAPTER TEN: “VOID OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH”

CHAPTER ELEVEN: “FAITHFULNESS OR DISTRESSING DISGUISES?”

CHAPTER TWELVE: “FAITH AND ITS FRUITFULNESS”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: “FAITH AND ITS FIGHT”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: “FAITH AND ITS OVERCOMING POWER”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: “HIDDEN SINS – FAITH’S EXPOSURE”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: “FAITH AND ITS STRONG FOUNDATION”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: “HALTING OPINIONS OR HOLY FAITH?”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: “TRUE FAITH – BY LEGALISM OR LOVE?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN: “A DESPISING OF FAITH OR THE GOODNESS OF TRUE FAITH?”

CHAPTER TWENTY: “FAITHLESS INDIFFERENCE OR REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S CELEBRATION?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: “A FLESHLY TENT OR FAITH’S MOUNTAIN-MANSION?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: “REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S FINAL DESTINATION”

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

“Evidences of Redemptive Faith”? It was written anonymously, but I found it to be a strong statement as a foundation in introducing this new book. Someone wrote: “In all His dispensations God is at work for our good. In prosperity He tries our gratitude; in mediocrity, our contentment; in misfortune, our submission; in darkness, our faith; under temptation, our steadfastness; and at all times, our obedience and trust in Him.”

But I pray that as you begin this journey with me in this new book that you clearly understand it’s content has been, will be, for the purpose of unveiling “Redemptive Faith” – not ‘failing faith’ or ‘wilting faith’ or a ‘worked-up faith’ that so easily wears out because the ‘gift of God’s redemptive faith’ is absent!

There is a man’s mental faculty that some call ‘faith’, and assume it even rises above human reasoning, but it falls far, far short of “Redemptive Faith”! In his writing entitled “Things New and Old,” Robert Collyer said, “Faith makes the discords of the present the harmonies of the future,” and I couldn’t help but ask myself, “What kind of faith is that? Mental faith, philosophical faith, ‘flesh’-mastering faith? Is God’s “Redemptive Faith” simply to bring one to singing better songs with better notes? Or are the “Evidences of Redemptive Faith” for the purpose of ‘birthing’ “new men,” “new hearts,” “new relationships” with Holy God?” What about YOUR life?

CHAPTER ONE

“EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH”

Allow me to lay, I pray, a strong foundation in the very first chapter of the book that I have entitled as “Evidences of Redemptive Faith.” Book Title and Chapter One Title! Why? Because of what I wrote in the introduction about “faith” in many men that has nothing to do with “Redemptive Faith”!

I’m sure I’ve used it in another book or sermon some time ago, but I knew I had to use the statement again in beginning this particular journey! “A true hero of saving faith is a man whose heart’s desire is to honor his Master and Lord and Savior and Redeemer through his awareness that Christ’s work of Redemption is God’s willingness to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth through your repentant heart, becoming God’s gathering of born-again believers whose very lives become God’s Throne on earth!”

But there is a hesitancy in many hearts because, like the publican in Luke 18:13, we know what we have been in the ‘flesh’, so opposite to the nature and character of Christ Jesus! The tax collector said, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” Jesus then said in Luke 18:14, “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.” [New Living Translation or NLT].

Think about the tax collector for a while. Give serious consideration of the awfulness of his occupation as he took advantage of people, even with Roman approval! He easily with governmental approval could take advantage of widows, the poor, the uninformed, and, yes, ‘steal’ from them to enrich himself as well as the government’s requested taxation. Who would ever know he was a ‘crook,’ a ‘thief,’ a ‘robber’ of the general public? HE KNEW!!

Sinful minds and hearts are cruelly equipped to take advantage of people to pump up their own bank accounts without one thought of its evil ways, intent only in enriching themselves at the expense of robbing others!

The Pharisees? One author described them as men “with eyes turned up to heaven with a sanctimonious gaze of hypocrisy,” but not the ‘tax collector’ – the weight of guilt has finally broken down the inner man even to personal despair, fear, and heart-ache! He KNOWS that he IS the SINNER, and he knows he needs the mercy and forgiveness of Holy God.

Are you aware of how many lost people, totally unaware of the evidences of redemptive faith, feel helplessly and hopelessly bound up, enslaved, captured, and cruelly accused by the devil himself of their unworthiness, stifled of any feeling of even ‘fleshly’ importance, convinced by the devil that they are the number one enemy of God and have no place in the gathering of true believers in the Body of Christ known as ‘the church’?

Do you have any understanding of what it means for a life to be totally spiritually bankrupt before Holy God? Are you aware also that at the same time one can be surrounded by people who make ‘professions’ of a faith that have no biblical substance at all – professors of certain ‘religious truths’ (?) someone fabricated but only seen by God as “pretense”?

In Matthew 23:13-16a (NLT) Jesus said: “How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. HYPOCRITES! For you won’t let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won’t go in yourselves. Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him twice the son of hell as you yourselves are. Blind guides! How terrible it will be for you!”

Divine truth, eternal truth, biblical truth, redemptive truth, will always call for the “laid-down-life” of Christ before Holy God, and if ever, and it does happen, that one or many decide to no more follow His Lordship, disobedience becoming a death sentence spiritually, and they are “walking no more with Jesus,” (John 6:66), making themselves slaves of Satan, and, again, enemies of the love of God and the Cross of Christ!

Oswald Chambers wrote in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.270], “We are apt to lie back and bask in the wonderful experience we have had. If there is one standard in the New Testament revealed by the light of God and you do not come up to it, and do not feel inclined to come up to it, that is the beginning of backsliding, because it means your conscience does not answer to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you for going on as a more true disciple of Jesus Christ or for going back as deserter.”

“Lord, help us! Because there are many without evidences of redemptive faith!” As we begin this journey of examining evidences of redemptive faith, WE MUST BEGIN WITH THE WORDS IN JOHN 3:1-9 WHERE JESUS BEGAN TO DEFINE THE REALITY OF THE “NEW BIRTH”! The Word of God tells us:

After dark one evening, a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to speak with Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “we all know that God has sent You to teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you.”…

Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the kingdom of God.” “What do You mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”…

Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water [the Word] and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don’t be surprised at My statement that you must be born again…

Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” “What do You mean?” Nicodemus asked.

Did Jesus say, “unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God”? That’s John 3:3! In 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 Paul instructs us as to the necessity of the ‘second birth’ when he wrote: “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.’…

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, and His Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us His Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us…

When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means…

We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. How could they? For, ‘Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give Him counsel?’ But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”

The older King James Version of Scripture says of 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him.”

Natural man or “new man”? Adamic nature or divine nature? Fleshly driven or Spirit-directed? Temporal or Eternal? Best efforts of human endeavors or blessed by Holy Spirit habitation in us and through us?

In Galatians 6:14-16 [NLT] Paul tells us: “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead…

It doesn’t make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God’s mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God.”

Confronted by the Resurrected Christ, whether in the Holy Word or through the witness of the Holy Spirit or the spiritual “aliveness” of friends or family, one is brought to the “valley of decision” – allegiance to Christ or devoted to ‘best effort philosophies,’ glorying in the Cross or ‘banking’ on my ‘counterfeit’ interpretation of surrender, understanding without hesitation God’s verdict on my sin and sin nature in its death on the Cross through Christ or void of any view that my sin nailed Jesus to the Cross, captured by the awareness and reality that my ‘sin nature’ placed Jesus as my substitute for the consequences of my sin on that Cruel Cross, nailing my old sin-natured man with Him at Calvary, God identifying “me” with His suffering, pain, and death, OR ignoring any interest in Jesus’ “shed-blood-sacrifice” to atone for my sin?

“New birth” is “new life” as the gift of God’s love, grace, and mercy! “New birth” is the “new day oneness with God Himself” with His Promise of Eternal Presence and Eternal Blessings! “New birth” is the declaration of one whose life was crucified with Christ, “and your real life is hidden with Christ in God”! Glory!

Oh, and then Paul said in Colossians 3:4, “And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.” What an amazing revelation!

“Natural man” or REAL LIFE IN CHRIST? “Life-enslaved attempts” or CHRIST-FREEING ATONEMENT? In David Wilkerson’s book entitled “Victory Over Sin and Self,” in his introduction he wrote: “This book is for those seeking true peace of mind and freedom from a life-controlling evil. Even swingers have to face their lonely selves after the music stops. When the bars and discos close, the blues come rolling in. And for millions, Sundays are real downers. Somewhere along the line, the truth about ourselves has to be faced.”

And ‘the truth about ourselves’? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And through Christ’s shed blood your sins are washed away, the old life put to death on His Cross, and His Resurrection Life abiding in and through your “new man”!

SECOND TRUTH OF EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH? WE RECEIVE THE MIND OF CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EXPLAIN TO US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW!

In 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 God’s Word trains us: “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.’…

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, and His Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us His Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us…

When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit…

It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. How could they? For, ‘Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give Him counsel?’…

But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” [I don’t mind at all saying to you that, more likely than not, one’s lack of understanding of God’s will and God’s Word for a life is because of the absence of the Holy Spirit, revealing the need of the “new birth”! The inner presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life is evidence of “new birth” and God’s provision of the Spirit to guide us in all of God’s revealed Holy Truths! His absence? “You must be born again!”

THIRD TRUTH OF EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH? ONE UNDERSTANDS THE SPIRITUAL NUTRITION OF THE WORD OF GOD AS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY IN ONE’S DAILY DIET!

Isn’t it amazing to you? As Jesus began His public ministry, the devil came to Him, challenging Jesus. And in Matthew 4:4 Jesus told the devil, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread [physical bread] for their life; they must feed on every word of God.’”

Thank God for ‘fathers of the faith’ like Paul who poured out his spiritual journey to others, like Timothy! In 2 Timothy 3:12-17 Paul wrote: “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived…

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive that salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus…

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”

It was Spurgeon who preached: [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol.7, p.149, Memorial Library], “He who takes the naked word of Christ to be the basis of his hope, stands on a rock while all other ground is sinking sand.”

“Nominal ‘Christians’, ‘professing believers,’ ‘self-assertive church members,’ ‘self-indulgent, self-righteous’ church crowds whose “righteousness” definitely exceeds the righteousness of the Old and New Testament scribes and Pharisees but absent of Jesus’ imputed, imparted, implanted divine righteousness, vowed their loyalty to the ‘church’ but have no understanding at all of the crucified, resurrected, victorious life God’s Word reveals’!

If a supernatural revival is needed today in America, and it is urgently needed, God must super-impose in all church crowds a massive, moving, mountain-ascending hunger for His Holy Word! When the Holy Word of God tells us in Luke 11:28, Jesus replying to a woman talking to Him about God blessing His mother, He responded: “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Blessed are the Word-hungry, blessed are the obedient to the Word, blessed are those true disciples who live daily with the attitude, “His Word – my command, His Word-my daily bread, His Word – my eternal spiritual sustenance, His Word – my shout of Victory as I see the “walls of Jericho” coming down, His Word – my freedom from fleshly prisons of the spirit-man, His Word – my principality and power of Heaven’s divine order, His Word – my never-ending prescription to transform one’s self-effort to divine occupancy, sin-sickness to Holy Health in the fullness of His grace, mercy, and divine power, His Word – God’s eternal healing for our sick world’s disturbing pain and distressing shamelessness.”

Adam ‘lost us’ but the Word says, “Jesus found us;” Adam ‘hid us’ but the Word says “Jesus uncovered our hidden identities;” Adam ‘betrayed’ God’s calling but the Word tells us Jesus entrusted Himself in us; Adam, by his sin, blinded us all but the Word tells us Jesus gives us new vision; Adam escorted all mankind to a dark valley of oblivion to Divine Truth, hidden away in graves of deceit, unbelief, and spiritual death but the Word tells us that “Jesus came that we might have LIFE and have it abundantly!”

In John 14:15-21 our Lord tells us all about the vital importance of His Word, God’s Holy Word, the Sacred Scriptures, and how we all should be [being] obeying it! It says:

“If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads you into all truth. The world at large cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him, and doesn’t recognize Him…

But you do, because He lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans – I will come to you. In just a little while the world will not see Me again, but you will. For I will live again, and you will, too. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you…

Those who obey My commandments are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal Myself to each one of them.” And that Eternal Truth has not changed!

At 79 years of age, as of June 12, 2015, since early childhood in Sunday School and church, the Word of God has been my faithful guide. Psalm 119:9-19 tells us:

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your Word and following its rules. I have tried my best to find You – don’t let me wander from Your commands…

I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your principles. I have recited aloud all the laws You have given us. I have rejoiced in Your decrees as much as in riches…

I will study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways. I will delight in Your principles and not forget Your word. Be good to Your servant, that I may live and obey Your word…

Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your law. I am but a foreigner here on earth; I need the guidance of Your commands. Don’t hide them from me!”

FOURTH TRUTH OF EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH? “THAT IS TO LOVE THE LORD OUR GOD WITH ALL OF OUR MIND, HEART, SOUL, AND STRENGTH, AND TO REACH OUT TO TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH GOD’S GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE, AS JESUS TOUCHED US, TRANSFORMED US, TOOLED US, AND TRIUMPHANTLY TABERNACLED IN US FOR THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF REACHING OTHERS THROUGH US!”

In the spiritual journey of faith we’re not alone but so blessed with His Holy Presence, empowered by His Holy Spirit, watched over by God our Father, and motivated by His eternal desire to touch our world through us, and instructed, equipped, and trained us as a missionary in a world desperately needing God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Mighty Holy Spirit – the Blessed “Three In One”!

In Romans 8:27-30 Paul unveiled further our eternal partnership with God in His evidences of Redemptive Faith. He wrote: “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them…

For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And He gave them right standing with Himself, and He promised them His glory.”

Are you aware God has a plan for every true believer’s life, calling, mission, and ministry? Do you understand God KNOWS YOUR NAME, YOUR IDENTITY, and He certainly knows HIS OWN ETERNAL DESIGN IN HIS BLUEPRINT OF YOUR LIFE, JOURNEY, AND MINISTRY?

There is not a believer, a born-again believer, anywhere on our planet who exists without Eternal Intention! God knows YOU, God has equipped YOU, God has empowered YOU, and God has promised YOU His glory, His honor, His eternal ministry – and if YOU are in Christ and Christ is in YOU, your circumstances of existence are ordained of God to uniquely work through you to touch your world with mercy and grace and love.

‘Happen-chance’ is a language that God does not speak! But our Lord clearly understands “ordained by God”! Oh, ‘coming upon you unexpectedly,’ from your point of view, can surely occur, but God is faithful in expediting His eternal mission through your life!

In fact, Romans 8:28 in the older King James Version of Scripture says, “All things work together for good to them that love God” – and I would assume if love of God is absent that ‘all things’ for you could be good, bad, insignificant, if you’re the master of your own destiny! But if God Himself sits on His Throne IN YOU, then hold on, get ready, be prepared, because Heaven is about to break loose in you and through you to His honor, glory, and praise!

In 1 Thessalonians 3:2-6 Paul had sent Timothy on an important mission. What is God saying to you as you read this Holy Word? “and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our co-worker for God and our brother in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from becoming disturbed by the troubles you were going through…

But, of course, you know that such troubles are going to happen to us Christians. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come – and they did, as you well know. That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the Tempter had gotten the best of you and that all our work had been useless…

Now Timothy has just returned, bringing the good news that your faith and love are as strong as ever. He reports that you remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you.”

Holy servants of Christ live daily with divine opportunities to touch their world with God’s grace. Oswald Chambers called all Christian workers as “a sacramental ‘go-between,’ to be so identified with his Lord and the reality of His Redemption that He can continually bring His creating life through him.”

Are you available to Jesus for His faithful ministry through you to others? It was George Eliot who once wrote: “It is vain thought to flee from the work God appoints us, for the sake of finding a greater blessing, instead of seeking it where alone it is to be found – in loving obedience.”

I close this first chapter with words from Christina Georgina Rossetti’s “From House to House”:

“Although today He prunes my twigs with pain, Yet does His blood nourish and warm my root; Tomorrow I shall put forth buds again and clothe myself with fruit.”

Are YOU acquainted with “the fruit of the Spirit?”

CHAPTER TWO

“LIBERTY IN CHRIST OR A LICENSE TO SIN?”

It’s really amazing when you come to John 8 and read about Jesus talking to those who “believed in Him.” Verses 31-48 says, Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free?’”…

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you…

I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered and said to Jesus, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham…

But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.’ Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one father – God.”…

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from [or ‘out-of’] God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word…

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it…

But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell you the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words. Therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”…

Then the Jews answered Him and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

“Liberty in Christ Or A License to Sin?” You do understand that in a lot of churches across America today, and, yes, even across the vast world of ours, there are those who publicly teach and believe that “Christians” can’t do anything but sin until they get to heaven!

I just pray you hear Jesus for yourself saying, “I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” He does sin and he keeps on sinning, he does sin and he keeps on sinning, he does sin and he keeps on sinning – that’s the nature of a man who has fallen away from God, regardless of his ‘profession’!

In 2 Peter 2 Peter has been illuminating “the danger of false teachers” as we read Verses 12-22: “But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

And will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; [Numbers 22]; but he was rebuked for his iniquity; a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”

John 8:34? Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”

Would you dare consider slavery and bondage to a government that spurns God Almighty? And yet, the majority of our world is enslaved to godless governments – with or without people’s approval! Would you dare even look at or examine ‘religious traditions’ that have no relevance to revealed truth? Just think about those unreservedly committed to an Old Testament tradition that has already been fulfilled in the Resurrected Life of Christ!

Has ‘self-righteousness’ played a role in the bondage and slavery of men to themselves and what their ‘flesh’ dictates? Have you ever considered, thought about, entertained, dealt with the demonic bondage you’ve been a part of your whole life up until now? If you didn’t know it, Satan owns you and comes after you every day to fulfill his godless purposes!

In Job 1:6-22 we read: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the works of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away – indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

You do realize, you know, that every individual without the Lord and Savior in their hearts and minds, belong to Satan and the powers of darkness – they are enslaved, they’re bound with spiritual chains they can’t even see, and are imprisoned by him in a “slavish” state obeying the dictates of their ‘lord’ and ‘master’!

What about the real bondage and slavery to unbelief of the historic Christ and His able-ness to forgive you, set you free, and to fulfill God’s eternal destiny of your life? Enslaved to godless governments, enslaved, yes, even to some religious traditions, to ‘self-righteousness,’ to demonic bondage; what did Jesus say in Mark 4:15? “The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but SATAN COMES AT ONCE AND TAKES IT AWAY FROM THEM.” Bondage then – bondage now!

In 1 Timothy 5:15 Paul spoke of some “professors” who had no true possession of the title deed of their lives to place in Jesus’ hands: “For some have already turned aside after Satan.”

In Isaiah 61:1-3 the prophet informs us of Sovereign God’s eternal plan as he speaks of the Coming Messiah: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Do you truly understand ‘liberty’ or ‘freedom’? Without a doubt it is the liberty and freedom to totally ignore God and make a mess of your life and surroundings with a sad eternal consequence or the liberty and freedom to let God in Christ Jesus have His way in your life forever!

I found William Cowper’s statement to be so fundamentally true. He said: “To die for the truth is not to die merely for one’s faith or one’s country; it is to die for the world. Their blood shed is shed in confirmation of the noblest claim – the claim TO FEED UPON IMMORTAL TRUTH, TO WALK WITH GOD, AND BE DIVINELY FREE.” And if you didn’t know, Satanic freedom is greater bondage and enslavement! But (John 8:36), “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Liberty or liberated or liberation or freedom – tremendous words for every man regardless of his residence or rank or realm! That relates to personal liberty, national liberty, or even marital liberty in the sense that mates don’t enslave but free a partner to become highest in God’s determination for a husband or a wife in the mutual submission in the very fear of God!

Liberty or freedom is best understood as a person who has truly been in bondage in his/her past but who now is no longer in the chains of relationships but free and certainly able to respond to God for every choice that one makes.

Liberty or freedom is clearly revealed as the defense of the freedom of discovery of who God intends that man/woman to be and intends for that man/woman to do what honors God the most through his/her life, even at the point of suffering, or sacrifice, or the choice of death to himself/herself in every circumstance or situation.

But you ask: “What is liberty?” It is the eternal license of Heaven to honor God in submission and obedience. Bondage comes when the sin nature reigns, disobedience is the constant of one’s life, and a phony license of satisfying one’s ‘flesh’ or ‘old sin nature’ is a constant and even favored by the fallen majority.

I’m telling you without hesitation: one of the most God-honoring things a man can do is to shed his own blood in behalf of divine truth, in behalf of the all-out commitment to walk with God, and to exemplify freedom even as one is crucified for the redemptive faith in Christ alone!

Liberty in Christ overrules, let’s say, ‘freedom in America to determine one’s destiny’; there are literally millions in our nation who experience degrees of political freedom but are in bondage concerning their sin natures and rebellion towards the God who made them, lost them, and bought them with a price! Divine freedom, spiritual freedom, is so far superior to one’s political freedom. In fact, for a true believer, a loving smile will even be extended to his executioner as his head is chopped off! That’s true freedom and heavenly liberty!

What did Isaiah say, again, in Isaiah 61:1? “He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”

Alexander Maclaren, in his “Expositions of Holy Scripture,” [Vol.10,John 1-10,p.349], said: “But when once you get to understand the depths of your own need, and the depths of your brother’s need, then nothing less than the Christ who died to solve the problem, insoluble else, of how to emancipate the soul and the world from the tyranny of sin, will be enough for you.”

John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” In Romans 6:15-18 we read: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that THOUGH YOU WERE SLAVES OF SIN, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. AND HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN, you became slaves of righteousness.”

There’s no greater word in the English language than the word “free” – and there’s no greater man on earth than the man who spends his life for the freedom of others. That’s Jesus!

Governmental bondage is for those who see no significance to the Godly-rule whose leadership is spiritual freedom that cares about, commits to, and continually seeks after setting captives free! And I firmly believe eternal honor is given to those who expend their lives to free others from the chains of civil bondage and are committed to seeing that men are possessing and enjoying God-given rights. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and blessing is not intended to be a USA only principle!

The chains of religious superstitions and demonic philosophies are violations of the very nature and character of God Himself! There are dark and deadly influences that will overshadow, shut down, oppress, and even enslave sincere but unsuspecting souls who are not rooted and grounded in God’s Holy Word!

The bondage of carnal desires and instinctive, fleshly, sin-anointed inclinations are abundant, taking one further downward than he/she already is, blackening the heart more, corrupting the mind unmercifully, rotting one more and more with the bad fruit of a deadly spiritual virus and disease, enslaving one more and more and more with the devil’s yoke of bondage.

But have you also become aware of the “time-bomb” of self-reformation and self-improvement and self-adulation as one promotes himself/herself and pats one’s back for that ‘fleshly’ accomplishment? Transformation is God’s business alone – ‘flesh’ improvement is the devil’s corner of our world! “Born again” is Jesus’ miracle of grace and mercy – acceptance by an unbelieving world is Satan’s push through you of his prominence and perversions and demonic pride.

Also, what about chained to the hurts and pains of the past? And one refuses to deal with it, expose it to the Light, forgive it through the Savior’s blood, and find reconciliation where needed? Some just blame God and never consider that their pains of their past was a ‘masterpiece’ of the devil himself! The devil is a ‘master-strategist’ and he knows how to capture, deceive, and embitter folks, certainly promoting unforgiveness and promoting ‘self-protection’ against what pains you, not realizing or knowing that exposure of past hurts can be Heaven’s help in holy healing!

Far more and deeper darkness and greater bondage is one’s, yes, ignorance of his/her spiritual death before God! It’s clear: Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…!” But how many do you know who would laugh at you because you quote them God’s Truth, and then pass you off as a religious ‘freak’? Others know their spiritual depravity, their present awareness of “guilty before Holy God”, and sense for themselves a spirit of hopelessness – “God’s love can’t be that extreme and unlimited to forgive me!” Here’s the Truth:

1 John 1:5-10 declares: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Again, John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” The Son? That’s the Son of God! That’s Emmanuel, ‘God with us’! That’s Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, who willingly chose the Cross for Himself for our Redemption and our Release!

There’s no true freedom apart from Christ Jesus! The highest intellectual, the most brilliant scholar, is destined for the emptiness of divine recognition without Christ as Savior and Lord of his life! Self-effort righteousness is vain, slaps God in the face, and is a curse upon one’s life while Sovereign-implanted righteousness in Christ is one’s saving grace, Masterful mercy, and eternal likeness, liberty, and the loving stamp of God’s approval and our God-like identification!

Do you even understand your redemption and freedom and liberty was planned by God even before the world was created? In Revelation 13:8 we read, “All who dwell on the earth will worship, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.”

There’s several vital Truths I want to emphasize before I close this chapter. ONE, YOUR SALVATION SOVEREIGNLY PLANNED, PERSONALLY IMPLEMENTED, AND WILLINGLY CHOSEN BY JESUS WHO IS THE ETERNAL LAMB OF GOD! Isaiah 53:4-10 tells us,

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was lead as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked – but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”

TWO, YOUR SALVATION SACRIFICIALLY PURCHASED! In 1 Peter 1:18-24 we read, “KNOWING that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

Listen to Spurgeon!! [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.8,p.201]: “You go free (clear of your sin debt) because He bore your burden (your sin-burden and guilt) for you. See Him bear His agony – ‘crushed beneath the millstone of the law, till all His head, His hair, His garments bloody be.’ See Him yonder, dragged to Pilate’s hall, bound, whipped like a common felon, scourged like a murderer, and dragged away by hell-hounds through the streets, fastened by those cruel fetters which went through His flesh to the accursed wood! See Him yielding up His liberty to the dungeon of death! There the Mighty One sleeps in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb. Dearly did He purchase with His own bondage the liberty which He so freely gives.”

THIRD, YOUR SALVATION SWEETLY PRESENTED! In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus, Lord and Savior, speaks to us ALL: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and 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.”

Jesus doesn’t come to you with a big stick but with open arms! He doesn’t come in anger but with mercy and grace! He doesn’t come in an accusatory tone but with holy admiration and heavenly love. He sees us as slaves to the world’s darkness and offers us His Eternal Light, He sees us imprisoned in the chains of sin and death and offers us forgiveness, freedom, and a forever relationship.

He comes to us and knocks on our hearts’ door because the truth is, no man has ever sought God on his own merit but only because of the Master’s mercy! That man in the deepest darkness of a hellish existence, alienated and separated from God, is offered an open door to Heaven, an eternal relationship with the Son of Light, and, yes, given us a mission responsibility of touching the unworthy around us with God’s Calvary Love!

FOURTH, YOUR SALVATION IS A PRESENT POSSESSION! There’s an interesting verse that David gave us when in Psalm 27:4 he said, “The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His Temple.”

But a new day has dawned, a new event has occurred, a new residence has been established by God – and your redeemed, regenerated, re-made, restored to eternal intent body, has actually become the Temple of the Lord, His earthly dwelling place, His, yes, desired residence on this earth – and it’s IN YOU as a redeemed son or daughter of God!

Examine 1 Corinthians 3:16-17! “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

Do you receive God’s Eternal Truth? Do you walk in it? Does Holy Scripture guide your life? Listen to 2 Corinthians 6:16-18! “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD! As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” In Ephesians 2:22 Paul reminds us, “in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Does the “building inspector” put His ‘OK’ on your life?

FIFTH, YOUR SALVATION IS A PERFECT PARDON! I love what Paul wrote to us and the Philippian church when he said in Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Do you understand, live by, grasp the truth every day that Holy God is, does, and will complete His good work in you, and that, really, His perfect pardon inspires YOU more and more to honor and bless the Holy One who has touched you with His grace and mercy and called you: ‘another son, another daughter, just like My Eternal Son, Jesus Christ’?

In Matthew 18:3 Jesus clearly said: “I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“A perfect pardon”? That’s as a baby, a growing infant, a maturing child is totally dependent upon his parents, so our perfect pardon is our Lord and Savior overseeing our lives of faith as we grow and mature in Him – we’re birthed in the Kingdom as if we’ve already finished the race – He sees us as “complete in Christ” lacking nothing!

A hardened, godless heart, encountering Christ and surrendering to His Lordship and His salvation as the Promised Messiah and Savior, finds a new heart of total

Tenderness and love, like a stony heart that now beats with the heart-beat of Christ every moment since the moment of divi9ne conversion!

It was John Keats, in his “Letter to J.H. Reynolds,” who said: “There is an awful warmth about my heart like a load of immortality.” That’s so amazing, so true, and so encouraging and uplifting!

Hear the Word! “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY!” What does the Holy Word say to us? “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” Maybe these newly composed words will encourage and inspire you:

“Free from bondage because Christ paid the price, Free from the devil because our Lord broke his chains, Free to live victoriously because it’s King Jesus who reigns…

From God’s throne grace reigns, and Jesus shed His blood and there is remission; Because He paid the price of sin and death, there’s no condemnation – He’s given us a perfecting salvation…

His glorious calling will never be amended because Jesus’ sacrifice was holily attended – blood shed, LIFE DIED, but in God’s power our Lord was resurrected…

Self-effort is vain and always the same, but Jesus in His sacrifice glorified God’s Name; though troubled by the Cross He never saw it as His loss, but lifted up, He drank the cup of suffering and death to clothe us in God’s amazing grace.”

In John 11:25-26 Jesus told Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

There are such blessed, inspired, heart-warming words that Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-6! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…”

Follow Alexander Maclaren’s words in his “Exposition of Holy Scriptures”: [ John 1-14, pps.349-350], “And, brethren, just as the ignoring of the fact of sin makes the real understanding of Christ and His word impossible, so it makes the real reception of Him for ourselves impossible. Many men are brought near to Jesus by other roads; thank God for it! There are a thousand ways to the Cross, but it is the Cross that we must clasp, if any in true sense we are to clasp Christ. And there is all the difference between the superficial, partial, and easy-going profession of Christianity which is so common among us today, and the life-and-death clutching and clinging to Him which comes when, and only when, a man feels that the tyrant whom he served as a slave is close behind him, and that his only chance of freedom is to hold fast by the horns of the altar of the sanctuary, and to cleave to the Christ in whom, and by whom alone, we are free indeed.”

1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily” – Is that YOUR testimony? 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead…”

What did Paul tell us in Galatians 5:1? “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of bondage.”

Many years ago Samuel Francis Smith wrote the song, “America”. One of the verses says: “Long may our land be bright With freedom’s holy light; Protect us by Your might, Great God, our King.”

Freedom! It’s “the pearl of great price” given to us by Christ alone through His shed blood at the Cross – and through the Cross, we’re set free to be free to choose daily to live only in and through His Resurrection Life and Hope!

CHAPTER THREE

“UNFORGIVENESS-UNFORGIVEN OR TRUE FAITH AND FOREVER FORGIVENESS”

It sounds like an extremely harsh title of a sermon or teaching, but His Word is truth and that is what His people are to stand upon. And I’m convinced, whether husband and wife, pastor and people, employer and employee, friend to friend, God’s Word is clear.

Come first to Matthew 6:12, 14-15! Get ready! Verse 12, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Verses 14-15, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Please look at the nature and character of Christ as you read Luke 23:33-34, “And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Sinless Jesus nailed to a Cross as a common criminal, but He said, “Father, forgive them.’” Holy Jesus, crucified as an unholy man, but He says, “Father forgive them.” Pure Jesus brutalized as an impure sinner, but He says, “Father, forgive them.”

There are some things you must wrestle with and come to a clear understanding about: Forgiveness is far better for any man than bank accounts filled with earthly riches – especially the forgiveness of God – but unforgiveness is self-imposed personal bankruptcy!

Forgiveness is of the spirit and nature of God Himself, while unforgiveness reveals the frailty and failures of fallen flesh. Forgiveness is a revelation of the indwelling nature and character of Christ, while unforgiveness is the unveiling of the malignant sick nature of “the old man”, the “first Adam,” “The fallen sinner” at odds with God Himself.

Forgiveness is freedom in and through the indwelling Holy Spirit, while unforgiveness is the living picture of a despairing soul, locked in a self-imposed cage of vanity and vindictiveness.

Forgiveness is peace and the portrait of the indwelling Christ, while unforgiveness is an enslaved, dying sinner, maybe even with sorrow and remorse but dreading to face the prospect of their future because they have an inkling their attitude is horribly wrong and even inexcusable, and even sense a bleak, dark future if things aren’t made right!

I read Spurgeon recently who said, because of unforgiveness: “You will bewail in everlasting misery the mercy that through your willfulness was unavailing.”

Religion without reality is, yes, a professing believer walking without eternal purpose to be conformed to the image of Christ but captured by his old sin nature and willfully walking in unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, resentment, holding grudges and determined to have his selfish way and refuse to bear witness to the spirit of Christ and His saving grace!

Relationships – and it doesn’t matter what the relationship is: marriage, business, church, friend to friend, family member to family member, parent to child or child to parent – relationship is not a matter of winning or losing, BUT…is God glorified in any of this or ‘flesh’ magnified? – what matters is whether or not we decide to walk in the nature and character of Christ and glorify Him in the good and the bad, in the down and the dirty, even ‘flesh’ activity or ‘Spirit’ activity.

Sometimes I wonder if God allows, permits, yes, difficult events or circumstances, to expose us as to how and where and why and with whom we choose to walk: with the forgivers or the unforgivers, flesh folk or Christ’s fullness folk, sweet Jesus or sour grapes? And Lamentations 3:32 gives us a challenging word: “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”

Oswald Chambers really hit a ‘grand-slam homer’ when he wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.241]: “Beware of the pleasant view of the Fatherhood of God – God is so loving and kind that of course He will forgive us. That sentiment has no place whatever in the New Testament. The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favor is through the Cross of Christ, and in no other way. Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony of Calvary. It is possible to take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification with the simplicity of faith, and to forget at what enormous cost to God it was all made for us.”

Hear me! Forgiveness is the testimony of the Cross, the unveiling of the indwelling Christ, and the power that transforms circumstances and sets the captives free!

Unforgiveness denies God, closes the door on eternal relationships, honors the devil, and blemishes the name of Jesus!

I know you’re familiar with Stephen and his prophetic stand and preaching to Israel. Acts 7:51 says, Stephen speaking, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”

And remember, they took him out of the city and stoned him, as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then in Acts 7:60 it says that he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

True believers walk in forgiveness. True believers choose the attitude and actions of their Savior and Lord because to do otherwise shames the holy name of Jesus. They’d rather take stones snuffing out the breath of life than deny the Lord’s spirit and grace and mercy.

And the one thing I want you to see out of Stephen’s testimony is its impact on one called Saul of Tarsus. After the stiff-necked Israelites stoned Stephen to death, Acts 7:58 says, “And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Acts 8:1 says, “Now Saul was consenting to his death.”

But then Saul met our Lord on the Damascus Road – he was redeemed, saved, transformed, set aside as a mighty witness of the Faith. In 2 Corinthians 2, the converted Saul, now Paul, had to deal with the church at Corinth in exercising church discipline but then failed to walk in loving forgiveness toward the brother. Look at 2 Corinthians 2:1-11,

“But I determined this within myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent – not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Does Paul talk about forgiveness exercised in church discipline? You need to realize ‘restoration’ is always God’s intent in the necessity of church discipline.

My wife Sue and I celebrated our 50^th anniversary June 10, 2006. Friends from Temple, Texas, came to our celebration and gave us a print that said: “A successful marriage is the union of two great forgivers.” We loved and still love that gift! I’m SURE if I allowed Sue in on the writing of this chapter she’d say: “We never thought about divorce – the word ‘divorce’ was never allowed to be mentioned by any of our four children! But murder? That is on the table!”

Daniel 9:9 says, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.” And that’s true – but don’t stop reading there! Look at Daniel 9:10-13!!

“We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws [His Word], which He set before us by His servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.” [Is that a relevant passage for today?]

A number of years ago my son, Scott, and I were in the Phillipines doing pastors’ conferences and on a weekend an open-air crusade right outside Manila in a city park. Before the service our Filipino organizer asked me, “I know you’ll give an evangelistic invitation after your message, but will you also pray for the sick?” And, of course, I said “Yes”.

There were four Americans and four Filipino pastors that formed eight lines to pray for healing grace on the sick. A young mother stood before me after I’d prayed for several others. When she came I said, “Young lady, how can I help you?”

She said, “I’ve been sick for several weeks but I don’t know what it is.” Immediately I heard the Lord say, “Ask her about her husband.” And when I did, I saw the demons manifest all over her – her face began to contort, her teeth began to grind back and forth, anger began to boil over – and she said: “My husband left me and our three children three weeks ago for another woman – and I hate him.”

I said, “Young lady, I’d like to pray for you, but I can’t. God will not heal your sickness by accepting your hatred, bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness.” It rang a bell within her! She said, “What must I do?” And I said, “If you promise me, after I pray, that you’ll go find your husband and ask his forgiveness for your hatred and anger and unforgiveness toward him, I’ll pray for you – and God will heal you.” She said, “Yes”!

I prayed – brokenness came, tears began to flow, Christ Jesus began to be radiated all over her and in her. Though I never saw her again, I believe her new-found spirit and attitude even brought a wayward husband home to a new wife and his three children!

Come to Matthew 18:21-35! “Unforgiveness – Unforgiven!” Read it carefully at least five times! Forgiveness is the heart-cry of Jesus for Peter and all disciples! It’s not an option! I see several vital, important, life-altering truths from the lips of Jesus:

• Forgiveness is without limit! Matthew 18:22 2) God Himself settles accounts – there is a reckoning! Matthew 18:23

3)God calls a ‘spade’ a ‘spade’ and nothing less than what it is! Matthew 18:32, “wicked servant”!

4) There’s things God is ‘angry’ about and unforgiveness is one of them! Matthew 18:34

5) An unforgiving servant of God causes God to deliver that one to ‘the torturers’ – that’s delivered over to the demons, the powers of darkness, for hopefully correction, forgiveness, and a God-honoring life. Matthew 18:34

6) Because of unforgiveness God reinstitutes the debt! Matthew 18:34

7) God gives an unfailing promise – if one does not forgive from his heart his brother, God will not forgive us. Matthew 18:35

It’s important that you see how God uses the Deceiver, yes, the devil, the demons, the powers of darkness to discipline and hopefully bring correction to His own children. Come first to Isaiah 5:24-30:

“Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend as dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them, and the hills trembled.

Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, [“THAT’S THEM – the demons!], and will whistle to them from the end of the earth; surely they shall come with speed, swiftly.

No one will be weary or stumble among them, no one will slumber or sleep; nor will the belt on their loins be loosed, nor the strap of their sandals be broken; whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent; their horses’ hooves will seem like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind. Their roaring will be like a lion, they will roar like young lions; Yes, they will roar and lay hold of their prey; they will carry it away safely, and no one will deliver.

In that day they will roar against them like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, Behold, darkness and sorrow; and the light is darkened by the clouds.” What an awesome passage!

But look also at Isaiah 7:18-19! “And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will “WHISTLE” for the fly that is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Syria. They will come, and all of them will rest in the desolate valleys and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all thorns and in all pastures.”

How illuminating is God’s Holy Word!! See if you’ve seen before or witnessed in churches what Job saw in Job 12:16-25! “With Him are strength and prudence. THE DECEIVED AND THE DECEIVER ARE HIS. He leads counselors away plundered, and makes fools of the judges. He loosens the bonds of kings, and binds their waist with a belt. He leads princes [priests, preachers, pastors] away plundered, and overthrows the mighty.

He deprives the trusted ones of speech, and takes away the discernment of the elders. He pours contempt on princes, and disarms the mighty. He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light. He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations and guides them.

He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. They grope in the dark without light, and He makes them stagger like a drunken man.” Oh, God, help us!

One last Scripture: Come with me to Joel 2:4-13, and Verses 25-29! God tells the prophet about a people coming, great and strong, then He tells the prophet what’s coming down the pikes of life! “Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like swift steeds, so they run. With a noise like chariots over mountaintops they leap, like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.

Before them the people writhe in pain; all faces are drained of color. They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; every one marches in formation, and they do not break ranks. They do not push one another, every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down. They run to and fro in the city, they run on the wall; they climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief.

The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it?

Now, therefore, says the Lord, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.”

Verses 25-29, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust. And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel; I am the Lord your Gods and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

And why is this? What’s the difference between the Isaiah passages we read and the last few verses of Joel we just finished reading?

Because we choose to walk in FORGIVENESS, not unforgiveness; we choose to walk in the Spirit, not futile flesh; we choose to die to sin, not celebrate it as under the blood, so we can live and act and do as we please!

Let me close with an awesome story. I was in Madras, India, now Chennai, India, having finished a pastors’ conference during the week, then preaching on a Sunday morning for the host pastor, Pratap Singh, a graduate of Lee University in my hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee. Pratap is a visionary and our Lord has blessed his ministry phenomenally and powerfully!

I preached that morning on “How Shall We Escape If We Neglect So Great A Salvation?” When I gave the invitation, a man in his mid-forties came forward, absolutely broken, weeping uncontrollably.

As Pratap was taking me to my hotel after the service, I said, “Pratap, tell me about the man who was so broken at the invitation.” He said, “He’s married to one of the ladies in our church with two grown children – 13 years ago he left his wife and children to go to California with a new engineering job. In 13 years he never talked to his wife or children, never sent one dime of support. In that 13-year period he lived in an adulterous relationship.

His wife never ceased to love him or pray for him. She went back to school, finished her degree, became a teacher, taught the children daily to pray for their father, honor him, love him, because one day he was coming home. She taught only love, respect, and confidence in God to hear and answer their prayers.

Pratap then said that last week the husband and father called the wife from the States to see if it was alright for him to come home to see the children. She said, “Oh, yes! They are going to be so happy and pleased that you are coming home. You are most welcome!”

He came – and they received him as if he’d never been away! When he came during our invitation time after I had preached, he told Pastor Pratap, “Please tell me of this Jesus who built such a loving, forgiving heart in my wife and children!” SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD – because of a wife who walked in forgiveness!

It was about 12-13 years ago I had returned as interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Winter Haven, Florida. I told Pratap’s story. Next morning my fishing buddy and I had launched our boat in a prime lake for big bass. I was ready to catch my lunker. About 30 minutes into our fishing extravaganza, I heard crying in the back of the boat!

“Bob, what’s the problem?” Bob Davidson said, “Pastor, I heard that story yesterday – I haven’t spoken to my 80-year-old-father in over a year. Sorry, but we’ve got to go in – I need to be forgiven and reconciled to my father!” We did – and he did – and God was honored!

Have you seen the picture? Unforgiveness – unforgiven! Forgiveness – forgiven! What will YOU do?

CHAPTER FOUR

“ABOUNDING MISERY AND CHAOS OR ADVOCACY PEACE AND BLESSING?”

I really don’t know for sure the public’s response to the Scripture I’m about to share, but I sense in my inner man an awful rejection of the Scripture. It comes from John 3:36 when John said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

I’d personally say that what we’ve just read is a frightening and future event that you’d think most people would like to avoid! “The wrath of God abides on him!”

In Jeremiah 45:5 our Lord spoke: “And do you speak great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord, “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”

The last part of that verse reminds me of “I must decrease – He must increase.” But the first part is about those who have not believed, trusted in, or relied upon, will not believe, and, as a result, the wrath of God abides on him.

“Abounding Misery and Chaos or Advocacy Peace and Blessing?” Jeremiah 32:38-40 speaks of those who enter an everlasting covenant with Holy God. It says: “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.”

But I want you to know that much or most of what Jeremiah wrote, he did so from behind prison bars! His devotion to Truth and its Author cost him dearly! At the very same time as he was writing from behind bars God was at work establishing the door to Advocacy Peace and Blessing! In fact, Jeremiah 33:30 tells us, God speaking to Jeremiah, and us, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Jeremiah didn’t know and never would know if Almighty God had not opened his door of understanding to “Advocacy Peace and Blessing” – he would have, as most men, only known “Abounding Misery and Chains.”

Godless, the majority of men know only “abounding misery and chaos,” while the few, broken by Holy God, discover “advocacy peace and blessing.” Show me a man of peace and eternal blessing and I’ll show you a man who’s been to the Cross of Calvary, to the very Cross of our Lord’s crucifixion!

It’s not a reason to rejoice at all, but in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Paul wrote: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the [exact] image of God, should shine on them.”

A ‘veiled gospel’ that has erupted in “abounding misery and chaos” and they don’t even know they are enveloped by it? Death is already at work in them!

Do you understand someone speaking of “a soul as base as mine”? That’s a picture of one “abounding in misery and chaos” who know nothing about amazing grace and eternal peace through Christ alone! They know and understand the paralysis of sin and the pulverizing power of a dead conscience, basically powerless to believe in Christ’s shed blood of the Atonement shed fully at Calvary’s Cross! Their own sin overpowers divine grace [or they choose that position] and fills them only with despair because they are turned totally inward! It’s as if the powers of darkness instill within unbelievers a deadly disease called ‘sin’ that breeds despondency, discouragement, doubts and fears, and cements their minds with lies that God Himself couldn’t help them, and all of a sudden they seem to be emotionally, rationally, and mentally paralyzed with hopelessness.

But if Jesus says, and He does, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest,” what He did 2000 years ago, He still does today! But people who are ‘heavy laden’ are acutely anguished, body, soul, and spirit, and add more ‘weights’ trying to overcome on their own with their burden of sin growing stronger with despair and discouragement intensifying.

Have you heard the defiant to ‘saving faith’? “If I try harder, I’ll find the peace I’m looking for.” “If I earn my place on an athletic team, I’ll quiet my demons.” “If I earn a lot of money, everything will be OK.” “If I make a name for myself, I’ll adjust the mental, moral, and spiritual problems.” “If I stay busy, busy, I won’t have time to worry, worry, doubt, doubt, or be afraid, afraid.”

Above all, they want to ignore God’s knock at the door of their heart. They want to totally shut out any references to the Cross and Christ’s shed blood. They want to refute the necessity of repentance and faith because that speaks of accountability before Holy God!

Opposite of self-effort and fleshly intent to be an overcomer of sin and death in and through one’s self is Jesus as He faced the judgment of unbelievers and the Cross, praying to the Father in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” So true, because every willful sin represents the nails in our Lord’s body!

In fact, in Matthew 24:12, Jesus said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” But ‘cold-hearted’ people need to know that the Holy Word of God tells us, in Romans 5:20, “…But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,” Verse 21, “so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And I believe that our Lord is telling us that the person who is the furtherest throw away from God is His target with the arrow of grace, mercy, and love – and though they’ve abounded in misery and chaos, our God is ABLE through advocacy peace and blessing, to birth new life, new hope, new purpose, with God glorifying Himself through a transformed sinner to a Heavenly saint!

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 speaks so clearly, hopefully, and powerfully about those who had abounded in misery and chaos, sinners separated, bound, hopeless – but they meet the Resurrected Christ and are ‘comforted’ by God! It says:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God…

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation…

And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”

Abounding misery or Advocacy Peace? Abounding chaos or Advocacy Blessing? Tribulation or consolation? Trouble or comfort? Hopelessness or steadfastness? Sufferings or eternal salvation? Bondage or liberty and freedom? A sin-bound life of death and separation or sainthood by the Life and oneness with Christ? A paralysis of sin and guilt or the pleasure of forgiveness and freedom through our bondage-breaker, Jesus?

And the amazing, life-changing truth? Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Do you long for the Lord’s nearness to you? In Psalm 34:18 David said: “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite (or crushed) spirit.” David didn’t stop there but went on to say in Verse 19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Advocacy peace and blessing reigns supreme! Years ago Andrae Crouch wrote and sang the song entitled “Through It All.” It’s a spiritual classic! It says:

“I’ve had many tears and sorrows, I’ve had questions for tomorrow, there’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong…But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation, that my trials come to only make me strong…

I’ve been to lots of places, I’ve seen a lot of faces, there’s been times I felt so all alone. But in my lonely hours, yes, those precious lonely hours, Jesus lets me know that I was His own…

I thank God for the mountains, and I thank God for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He brought me through. For if I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know God could solve them, I’d never know what faith in God could do…

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God…Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.”

No doubt this is why David wrote in Psalm 32:7, “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” Do you believe, trusted in, relied upon, adhere to the Living Lord, experiencing the reality of the God who “gives songs in the night”?

Reading through Acts recently I came across Acts 16:25. “But at midnight Paul and Silas [imprisoned] were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

I’m telling you: Dark nights are our opportunities for “songs of light”! A night of sorrow may be your hallowed moment of Holy Presence like you’ve never known before! It may be in “the dark” when your enemies come to arouse and threaten you, but then Holy God steps in in the Light of His Glorious Presence! It may be a dark night of fear and doubt but Holy Truth raises you above it! It may be a dark night of worrisome anxiety but Holy Peace stands up in Holy Promises! And the dark night becomes your “song of light”!

Out of “The Mourning Bride,” William Congreve wrote: “What do the damned endure, but to despair?” Despair or to delight, sorrow or to celebrate, assaulted by the powers of darkness and the enemies of God or to be affirmed by our Advocate of peace and blessing?

It was John Calvin, in his “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” who wrote: “God foreordained for His own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.” Are you the “called” or the “cursed”?

Can you believe it? Jesus dared to say, [Matthew 23:33], “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” I love what Thomas Scott once wrote when he said: “No affliction nor temptation, no guilt nor power of sin, no wounded spirit nor terrified conscience, should induce us to despair of help and comfort from God.”

Why? How? Who? Because His Word says: “Whosoever will may come.” That tells me of God’s pardon and forgiveness, not of His penalty and unforgiveness! What does Revelation 22:17 tell us? And the Spirit and the Bride say “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

Acts 2:21 tells us, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And how could even one resist the words of Jesus in John 11:25-26? “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” “Believe”? That means “trust in,” “rely upon,” “adhere to!!” Is that YOUR testimony of belief and trust and surrender to His Lordship? Do you really have a mind and heart yielded and trusting in Him?

It was Horace Bushnell who said, “Trust God for great things: with your five loaves and two fishes, He will show you a way to feed thousands.”

ABOUNDING MISERY AND CHAOS OR ADVOCACY PEACE AND BLESSING? I’m sure you understand that a Christ-less life is a life of continual, addictive sin but when we come to Christ as Lord we hear Him say, “Go and sin no more.”

But the beloved John tells us in 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” John then said in Verse 6, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked,” and He never walked in sin but He went to the Cross to die for your sin and mine!

And before Father-God we see Jesus, our advocate, representing us before Him because of our faith and trust in our Lord and Savior’s atoning work in our behalf as our “legal attorney”!

I don’t know who wrote it but the words are so encouraging: “We have listened to the preacher – Truth by him has now been shown; But we want a Greater Teacher, from the everlasting throne: APPLICATION is the work of God alone.”

In 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 there’s powerful statements of encouragement by Paul. It says: “You are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober…

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation…

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

Both the above Scripture and words by Spurgeon really challenge all true believers of their personal ministries! Spurgeon said: “As the spiritual guide of the flock of God along the intricate mazes of experience, it is the duty of the gospel minister to point out every turning of the road to heaven, to speak concerning its dangers or its privileges, and to warn any whom he may suspect to be in a position peculiarly perilous. Now, there is a portion of the road which leads from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, which has in it, perhaps, more dangers than any other portion of the way. It does not abound with lions; there are no dragons in it; it has no dark woods, and no deep pitfalls; yet more seeming pilgrims have been destroyed in that portion of the road than anywhere else, and not even Doubting Castle, with all its hosts of bones, can show so many who have been slain there. It is a part of the road called Enchanted Ground. The great geographer, John Bunyan, well pictured it when he said:

‘I then saw in my dream that they went on till they came into a certain country, whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy, if he came a stranger into it…’And here Hopeful began to be very dull, and heavy of sleep; wherefore he said unto Christian, I do now begin to grow so drowsy that I can scarcely hold up my eyes; let us lie down here, and take one nap…

‘Christian’: By no means, said the other, lest sleeping, we never awake more.

‘Hope’: Why, my brother? Sleep is sweet to the laboring man; we may be refreshed if we take a nap…

‘Christian’: Do you not remember that one of the shepherds bid us beware of the Enchanted Ground? He meant by that, that we should beware of sleeping; wherefore, ‘let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”

And Spurgeon went on to speak “concerning the condition of the majority of churches in the present day.” He said, “they are lying down on the settles of LUKEWARMNESS, in the Arbors of the Enchanted Ground. There is not that activity and zeal we could wish to see among them; they are not, perhaps, notably heterodox; they may not be invaded by the lion of persecution, but they are somewhat worse than that – they are lying down to slumber, like HEEDLESS and TOO-BOLD in the Arbor of Sloth. May God grant that His servants may be the means of arousing the church from its lethargy, and stirring it up from its slumbers, lest haply professors should sleep the sleep of death.”

What was the verse that inspired that? 1 Thessalonians 5:6, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober [self-controlled].”

Advocacy peace and blessing does not breed abounding misery and chaos – but sin and self-abandonment to sin does just that! Sin and self-abandonment to sin breeds a person so insensitive to the things of God, making a person so subject to satanic deception, breeding spiritual paralysis concerning the things of God, and depriving one of true security but basically spiritually producing one so insecure of who he is and what he’s about! But I pray, not YOU, as you read this writing!

CHAPTER FIVE

“WORLD PHILOSOPHERS OR WILLFUL PROMOTION BY GOD”?

There’s an interesting couple of verses for you to examine carefully as you look at Psalm 75:6-7 where the psalmist says: “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; He puts down one, and sets up another.”

In Psalm 147:6 it speaks of God’s Word AND His providence: “The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.” All world philosophers are not “wicked”, but the majority are “too smart in themselves” to ever see God as necessary in their lives!

Didn’t Paul tell us 2000 years ago, in Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ”?

Acts 17:16-21 is about philosophical “new things” in opposition to the Eternal Truths of God. Follow it: Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit provoked him when he saw that the city was given over to idols…

Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshippers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there…

Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection…

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”

For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.”

And if you follow it carefully, you’ll discern that ‘world philosophies’ are devotion to “wise things” that really have nothing to do with the heart – it’s all mental and divorced from the spiritual nature of fallen men!

Participants in world culture of which we all are a part does not mean we deny Him but affirm, surrender, and yield to our Lord and Savior who IS the King of kings and Lord of lords! It doesn’t mean we’re “not at home” unless we sell our souls as the majority of the world, but we recognize our “worldly home” is in need of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

World philosophers or willful promotion by God Himself! Read carefully Oswald Chambers in his writing, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [pps.175-176], “Beware of not acting upon what you see in your moments on the mount of God. If you don’t obey the light, it will turn into darkness. ‘If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is the darkness!’ The second you waive the question of sanctification [it means: ‘set apart to the glory of God only’!] or any other thing upon which God gives you light, you begin to get dry rot in your spiritual life. Continually bring the truth out into actuality; work it out in every domain, or the very light you have will prove a curse…The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the smug satisfaction of an experience to which he can refer back, but who is not working it out in practical life. If you “say” you are sanctified, “show it”… Beware of any belief that makes you self-indulgent”! What’s that? What pleases me and doesn’t line up with the Spirit of God who sacrificed His all!

World ‘philosophers’ are so adept at convincing people that belief, trust, repentance and faith in Holy God is so unnecessary for the ‘smart folks’ – yet the educated crowd can center their lives in the darkest darkness and call it ‘light’!

It doesn’t take long to discover the worldly, self-righteous individual, or the ‘professor’ of self-satisfaction – and if you stay around them very long you sense a spirit of discontent with all they know and an uncertainty of mind as unbelief always brings on fractures in what they really think.

So often when the Holy Word and the convicting Holy Spirit is shared with a world philosopher, you’ll see and sense degrees of dismay in many because they’re on the threshold of discovering their lost condition and separation from God!

In life as a believer, transformed by the grace and mercy and love of God, aren’t you shocked at times when you see the worldly crowd comfortably seated at a worldly table, easily laughing at any worldly, gutter, dirty joke, when in the innermost heart is a person at war with Holy God, embittered by their own set of circumstances, AND WILL NOT LOOK UP TO THE CARING THRONE OF GOD AS THE GOD OF CALVARY’S CROSS?!?

Psalm 4:2 says, “How long, O you sons of men, will you turn My glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?” You realize there are “sons of men” and there are “sons of God”! You understand that there are those whose hearts are cemented in ‘earthly, fleshly values’ that are worthless in comparison to the heavenly treasures that increase in worth and blessing and true enrichment more and more!

In 2 Corinthians 4:1-4 Paul lifts the worldly veil that blinds or hinders true spiritual understanding of the gospel of Christ. He wrote: “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart…

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God…

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

And that will break your heart if it hasn’t already because there are those whom you know whose hearts are ‘veiled’ to truth and whose minds are ‘blinded’ by the god of this age – they at least feel comfortable in their spiritual state of lost-ness because they are not alone; tragically, they’re blinded to the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, not knowing they reflect the darkness of the devil himself!

“World philosophers”? It was Paul in Colossians 3:2 who said, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” And because you received the death of Christ and your crucifixion with Him, and you died, with the result that your life is now hidden with Christ IN GOD, verse 5, “therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

An ‘idol worshipper’? That’s the worldly ‘dude’ who has saved his life for himself because he loves the world and all that it offers, not God! I know that you are not totally ‘brain-dead’ because you look at our world today and you witness ‘civilization catastrophes’ that grow more corrupt and, yes, ‘sinful’, world-wide!

“World philosophers” certainly major on ‘riches’ any way you can get it! But they are void of understanding about what ‘great gain’ is all about. In 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Paul advised his spiritual son, saying: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out…

And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition…

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” When did that change? I believe when the author of Proverbs 14:24 spoke of “the crown of the wise”, he certainly was not speaking of “the crown of life” or “the crown of glory” because wisdom apart from God’s wisdom and revelations is a false righteousness that does not lead to repentance and true faith. It says: “The crown of the wise is their riches, but the foolishness of fools is folly.”

In Proverbs 1:28-33 the ‘wise-man’, inspired by God Himself, gives us ALL a word of warning: “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord…

They would [have] none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof…Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices… For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them…

But whoso hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”

“World Philosophers or Willful Promotion By God?” Oh, I tell you, God’s Word is so rich and man’s worldly philosophies so bankrupt! Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Led by the world or led by God Himself?

What did Paul say in 11 Corinthians 4:3-5? “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who arte perishing, whose minds the god of this age [the devil] has blinded, who do not believer, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”

Willful promotion by God? Bound in the flesh to the world philosophies, ideals, earthly gains, human pride in self-effort, but freed in Christ to divine life, eternal principles, heavenly blessings, holy privilege in sharing God’s faithful provisions, joy in the Lord forever not fleshly happiness, and a crown of glory and rejoi9cing that does not fade away, with an eternal family under the Fatherhood of God and His Sovereignty!

Willful promotion by God? We’re no longer “slaves of Satan” bound in satanic chains – in Christ we’re “sons and daughters of God” in the Heavenly Family! We’re no longer ‘flavorless’ but we’re the salt of the earth! We’re no longer ‘darkness’ – we’re light in the Lord! We’re no longer empty in the inner man, but filled with the Holy Presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!

We’re no longer of the unrighteous descendants but men and women who through repentance and faith in Christ have been declared righteous in the very righteousness of God imparted and implanted in our washed vessels of trust in Him! We’re not the “happy hour” crowd – we’re the eternally blessed members of the Royal Family of God! Our identity is no longer slaves of Satan, but now the very children of God! We’re not ‘impersonators’ of our Lord and Savior, but possessors of His Resurrection Life, “vessels of the Victor”!

We’re not distant stars blinking in the darkened nights of men’s souls but “lights” on a hill that cannot be hidden!

Robert Browning, in “Paracelsus”, wrote: “If I stoop into a dark tremendous sea of cloud, it is but for a time; I press God’s lamp to my breast; its splendor soon or late Will pierce the gloom; I shall emerge one day.” And even when destiny brings us temporarily to a “dark tremendous sea of cloud,” WE WILL EMERGE BRIGHTER THAN EVER BEFORE!”

We’re sons and daughters of God’s eternal faith, and though doubt, at times, will try to rob us of light’s glow and meaning, and even when I find myself in my darkest moment as a follower, I choose to rest in Him!

I found it so interesting that the agnostic or atheist, Robert Ingersoll, at his brother’s funeral, spoke and said: “From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word. But in the night of Death, Hope sees a star, [but for him it was not the Bright and Morning Star whose name is Jesus!] and listening Love can hear the rustle of a wing.” Oh, that somehow he learned of the Love of God but I doubt he ever did!

If God gave you “existence”, did He do so apart from eternal purpose? Of course not! His one beckoning call is, “Be reconciled to God,” and in that ministry of reconciliation, the blood of Jesus takes center-stage, first place, the only door through which we can walk into the presence of God! It’s why in Matthew 5:8 Jesus said: “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.”

It was Thomas a’ Kempis who said: “simplicity reaches out after God; purity discovers and enjoys Him.”

I so appreciate Noah Webster’s description of ‘providence’ in his 1828 Dictionary. He said: “Providence – in theology the care and superintendence which God exercises over His creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies a ‘providence’, involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence…By divine providence is often understood God Himself.”

The God who made you, is He unable to save, sustain, and complete you to His good pleasure? In Romans 3:24-26 God’s Holy Word tells us: “being JUSTIFIED FREELY by His grace through the resurrection that is in Christ Jesus…

Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Thank God for Chambers’ insight! Listen to what he wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest”: [p.247], “The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the revelation which it brings is not palatable. There is a certain pride in man that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom, I will give myself in consecration, I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.” BUT THAT’S IT! IT’S ALL OF HIM and not of us in the matter of our redemption, our re-birth, and our reconciliation!

He said a few sentences later, “He can do nothing for us if we think we are sufficient of ourselves, we have to enter His Kingdom through the door of destitution.” WOW!

Oh, I’m telling you: Jesus is to every repentant believer the complete and whole treasury of God!

Remember – we’re looking at “World Philosophy OR Willful Promotion By God”! And when “world philosophy” begins to surface strongly and willful promotion by God takes a backseat, you begin to sense a sad decaying of true faith, an allegiance to the flesh [your old sin nature – so anything goes!], even church attendance by many who have no intention of denying self and taking up His Cross [and our own], and suddenly the Word of God is set aside, truth is left outdoors, and doubt about the veracity of God’s Holy Word takes over the pulpit and the church pews and the classroom!

Philosophy may give a few insights or thoughts, but Christ Jesus births “new men”! It was the German theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, who said: “Not until man has become so utterly unhappy, or has grasped the woefulness of life so deeply that he is moved to say, and mean it: LIFE HAS NO VALUE FOR ME – NOT TILL THEN IS HE ABLE TO MAKE A BID FOR CHRISTIANITY.”

AND ALMIGHTY, HOLY, WISE, LOVING, CARING GOD STEPS UP TO REVEAL HIS UNCHANGING LOVE AND MATCHLESS MERCY TO WOUNDED HUMANITY BY OUR SELF-INFLICTED SIN NATURES!

John 3:14-18 illumines Heaven on earth! “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Paul built out of the Cross of Christ and His Resurrection eternal truth!! Look at Romans 5:6-11!! “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die…

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be [being] saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life…

And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

There’s an old hymn entitled “Grace Greater Than Our Sin.” It says: “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt…Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled…

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, Threaten the soul with infinite loss; Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can we do to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, Brighter than snow you may be today…

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within, Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.”

World philosophers or Willful Promotion By God? It’s your choice!

CHAPTER SIX

“CHILDREN OF THE FLESH OR CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE?”

Please, with all of your mental and spiritual feelings and faith and faculties, read Romans 9:1-5 with an alert mind and heart! It will reveal where one truly is in his/her faith walk of compassion for others or a lack of it. In Romans 9:1-5 it’s as if my aged Bible has been drenched again and again with tears of sadness. Paul wrote:

“I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh…

Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”

Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, came through the “seed of Abraham,” but not all of Abraham’s descendants became “children of promise”, but only children of flesh, because that was their level of commitment, living only with a desire to be “religious” apart from surrender to obedience to God’s Holy Word!

In Romans 10:1-4 Paul went on to write: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge…

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Paul clearly understood, was spiritually heart-broken over the Israelites who had a “zeal for God”, but not according to the revelation Truth of the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the True, Eternal, and Historic Christ that they never saw with spiritual eyes, understood, or comprehended, but willfully rejected Him, ignored Him, and, yes, willingly had Him crucified!

Most Israelites denied Jesus Christ, deplored His presence in their Holy Book, denounced His preaching, and declared His worthiness only of the Cross. They had no sorrow, but in the prophetic passage of Isaiah 53:3 we learn of Christ Jesus, “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.”

I recently found a writing by Harriet Beecher Stowe that speaks of sorrow: “Sorrow is divine. Sorrow is reigning on all the thrones of the universe, and the crown of all crowns has been one of thorns. There have been many books that treat of the sympathy of sorrow, but only one that bids us glory in tribulation, and count it all joy when we fall into divers afflictions, that so we may be associated with that great fellowship of suffering of which the incarnate Son of God is the head, and through which He is carrying a redemptive conflict to a glorious victory over evil. If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.”

Do you see and sense Paul’s sorrow over the Israelites denial of Jesus to be “that great fellowship of suffering” that you as a true believer in Christ Jesus share in? I have no hesitation in saying to you that grief, sadness, or sorrow are but the shadow of God’s Holy Presence over and around your life! It was Edwin Hubbell Chapin who said, “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars; martyrs have put on their coronation robes glittering with fire, and through their tears have the sorrowful first seen the gates of heaven.” Glory!!

And we’re examining “children of the flesh” or “children of the Promise” with Paul as a child of the Promise willing to forego His place “in Christ” if His Israelite “family” could take his place! But it doesn’t happen, can’t happen – before Holy God every man stands alone before Him to answer for himself – “What then did YOU do with Jesus called the Christ?”

Listen to Romans 9:30-33! “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone…

As it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

The unbelieving Israelites “stumbled at the stumbling stone and stumbled over the rock of offense” [whose name is Jesus, the Promised Messiah] because they substituted self-effort for the Savior and Lord, and, yes, attempted self-improvement by trying to keep the Law given to expose their need of a Savior, and revealed by their disobedience to God’s revelation that they would establish their own righteousness and crucify God’s righteousness – and things haven’t changed thousands of years later!!

Have you forgotten or omitted what Isaiah had to say at least 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ? It’s reported by Paul in Romans 10:16-17, “But they [Israel] have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Yes, the majority of Israel, then and now, have rejected God’s compassionate heart and redemptive Way, going about to establish their own worthiness and ability to “do right”, failing to understand from Adam and Eve onward, God determined all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are unworthy, taking us all, yes, ALL, and CRUCIFYING US ALL WITH CHRIST!!

What did Paul tell us in Galatians 2:20? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Verse 27, I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

JESUS DID NOT DIE IN VAIN – He died in “VICTORY”!! Yes, He was then raised, by God, from the dead three days later, continuing to live in and through repentant, trusting, surrendered, believing “sinners” who by their repentance are now declared “saints”, servants of Christ, ambassadors of our Lord and Savior, messengers, earthly “point-men” of the Resurrected Christ, witnesses of His winning Way that in “death” there is the new reality of “Life in Christ” alone! In Galatians 3:26 Paul tells us, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

And, having been crucified with Christ, birthed into the Kingdom as babes in Christ, indwelt by His Resurrection Life and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, it doesn’t mean that “babes in Christ” attain to instant adulthood in the faith, but we learn! It is why in Galatians 5:1 Paul wrote to us, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Have you ignored the Word in your daily walk? I remind you that Jesus tells us, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” I’ll guarantee you that most men eat physically three meals a day with snacks in between – but, please, tell me how spiritually the Word of God sits on a table and you only occasionally open it? You “LIVE” by the Word of God, you are to “HUNGER” for the Word of God, you “MATURE IN FAITH” by the Word of God!

Look at Colossians 2:9-10! “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him…” Oswald Chambers made a statement that aroused concern in me for “believers” who take lightly the importance of “studying to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed…” He said: “Disobedience in mind to the heavenly vision will make you a slave to points of view that are alien to Jesus Christ.”

Chambers wrote about a half-paragraph later: “We are apt to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we have had. If there is one standard in the New Testament revealed by the light of God and you do not come up to it, and do not feel inclined to come up to it, that is the beginning of backsliding, because it means your conscience does not answer to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you for going on as a more true disciple of Jesus Christ or for going back as a deserter.”

What do we find in John 6:60-68? It’s a startling revelation for some! It says: Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life…

But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”…

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of life.”

Disciples who “went back and walked with Him no more?” Was that “professors” who never fully surrendered to our Lord’s Indwelling Life? Was that “followers” who had never been freed from spiritual bondage? Was that sympathizers with a “cause” who never understood “divine change” from the old man to the new man, from the sinner to the “saint”, from the fleshly to the Spirit-led, from a temporal devotion and not eternal surrender to the Lord of all of life?

Too many ‘church-goers’ are those really who’ve never put their hands to the plow of the Lord in preparing the “fields of their lives” for His seed, fruit, and harvest! Too many so-called “believers” are just like Pharoah on a fleshly pursuit religiously for Moses, but Holy God had removed their ‘chariot wheels’ and Pharoah drowned in the deep waters without a “Life-Preserver” whose name is Jesus Christ! Too many “scribes and Pharisees” impose ‘traditions’ apart from Truth and so burden the people trying to seek that they only are able to talk about their tiredness, their futility, their sadness, their darkness, and not the “Light of the world” whose name is Jesus!

“Children of the flesh” or “Children of the Promise”? What was Paul’s Prayer in Romans 10:1-3? “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

“Children of the flesh”? Without hesitation they are usually led by people who are “ZEALOUSY WRONG – EVEN OPPOSED TO THE REVELATION, UNVEILING, AND ACTUAL PRESENCE OF THE SAVIOR, LORD, AND REDEEMER, WILLING ONLY THAT HE BE CRUCIFIED!!”

That is a world of people who surround you totally indifferent to the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God to cover and wash away their sin and guilt by His precious blood! There is a world oblivious to His grace, mercy, and love! Oh, yes, some have a “zeal” FOR GOD, but they don’t even know, understand, or have a true desire to be reconciled to Him and under His Sovereign Rule as Lord, Savior, and Master!

Have you ever been around those absolutely “zealous” for their ‘church’ but void of redemptive love and a desire to truly honor the Lord and Savior through a surrendered walk to His Lordship? Have you ever been around those so vocal, so aroused, but off-base in every scriptural truth, and you wonder: “How many have bought the lies, misinterpretations, deceptions, and been led astray?”

But what about those who, yes, kill the opposition to their radical, devilish, unsound, ‘screwed-up’ teachings? It was Jesus Himself who said in Matthew 23:34-36, “Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”

You are aware that there were those, are those, who are so warped in their “religious minds” that they believe and believed that they were anointed servants doing God’s service killing others! How would you describe those unredeemed “scribes and Pharisees”? Would “self-righteous idiots” even get close? How about “spiritual ignoramuses”?

What was it Paul said in Romans 10:2-3? “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

Fleshly righteousness or divine righteousness? The sinners’ righteousness or the Savior’s righteousness? Self-righteousness or God’s righteousness? Self-improvement righteousness or Sovereign-declared righteousness? Ignorant righteousness or Spirit-inspired, implanted righteousness? A righteousness that declares one “guilty” before Holy God of a cheap imitation or Jesus’ righteousness that declares one eternally innocent before Holy God? “Fig-leaf righteousness” or “tree of life righteousness”? “My own estimation” righteousness or God’s robe of righteousness? Head-strong righteousness or the “new Heart” righteousness? God-insulting human attempts or God-inspired finished work? Righteousness by hook or by crook or righteousness in and through Christ alone? Feverish attempts tirelessly or the faithful Atonement truthfully, refreshing us without end? Righteousness in what we do for our own salvation attempt or righteousness because of Who Jesus IS and what Jesus did 2000 years ago on the Cross? Salvation by man’s grit or salvation by the Master’s grace? Salvation by one’s “best efforts” religiously or salvation by the willingness to rest in the “Blood-bought” release from guilt and eternal separation and “death” by the sacrifice of Christ in “my,” “our,” “your,” behalf! DO YOU SEE, UNDERSTAND, RECEIVE, REST IN BEING “A CHILD OF PROMISE”?

I close this teaching with words from Oswald Chambers in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.271], “The sign that God is at work in us is that He corrupts confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but remnants of what God created man to be. We will cling to the natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us into contact with the life of Jesus Christ which can never be described in terms of the natural virtues.” Dare I tell you? “Christ Jesus crucified your worst and your best” so that you, as a child of promise could live by the Life of Another, yes, Emmanuel, “God With Us,’ “God in us,” and “God through us”!! That’s “children of the Promises”!!

R. Kelso Carter wrote the old hymn entitled “Standing On the Promises”. It says:

“Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring; Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God…

Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God…

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God…

Standing on the promises I cannot fall, Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call, Resting in my Savior, as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God.”

Tell me: What or Who are YOU standing upon?

CHAPTER SEVEN

“SELF-EFFORT RIGHTEOUSNESS OR SOVEREIGN_IMPLANTED RIGHTEOUSNESS?”

I want to lay a clear and solid and life-changing foundation for you out of Genesis 15:6 where the Holy Word tells us: “And he [Abram] believed in the Lord; and He [God] counted [credited, accounted] it to him for [or as] righteousness.”

But, fallen, faithless men are so assertive that they say: “I don’t need God because I can become righteous on my own – I’m able!” Faithless, or men of self-imposed faith, or ‘grand-creators’ of ‘self-effort religiosity and self-determined righteousness’ is a ‘sham’ with Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary saying of ‘sham’: “False, counterfeit, pretended…” And that is so on target!

It was Sir Francis Bacon who once said in the “New Atlantis,” “The reverence of a man’s self is, next to religion, the chiefest bridle of all vices.” Oh, how true is that!?! I was really shocked when I came across a statement By Benjamin Franklin: “God helps those who help themselves.” And I had to put a huge question mark by that statement! No! God helps those who empty themselves and trust God to fill them with Holy Presence through the Resurrection Life of Christ Jesus!

Yes, it’s the Cross of Christ before which lost men are to bow, but also one better would be placing his ‘self-effort’, his ‘self-promoting fleshly faith’, on the Cross of Christ or their ‘self-effort righteousness’ becomes a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the heart and mind, which leaves one eternally separated from Holy God!

Aren’t you aware of “pumped-up flesh” or “man-made principles of achieving, fleshly faith” that so easily identifies one as a ‘slave in bondage’ to “self-effort righteousness”? In Exodus 6:9 the Word says, “So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.” They weren’t even aware of their spiritual condition but had become ‘self-effort faith and righteousness’ even in their chains.

Do you remember Galatians 4:3 when Paul said: “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.” That’s ‘self-effort’ righteousness – no freedom but only bondage and slavery to a world culture.

I’m sure you’ve at least read Colossians 2:8 where Paul said: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” He later said in Colossians 2:23, “These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Self-effort righteousness is the constancy of self-enslavement. Self-effort righteousness is pulverizing pride with an awareness of its damage to one’s mind, soul, and spirit; it is one puffed up in himself just like Satan himself in opposition to Holy God. Job 35:12 speaks of those who at least ‘cry out,’ “but God does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.”

Listen to Proverbs 1:24-33! “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you…

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke…

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of evil.”

Oh, but notice Isaiah 54:17! It says: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, AND THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FROM [OR OUT OF] ME,” Says the Lord.”

Aren’t you aware of the great difference, the chasm, between “self-effort righteousness” and “Sovereignly-implanted righteousness”? A purchase price was paid for that “Sovereignly-implanted”, and the price paid was our Savior’s blood shed on the Cross! Is it ‘either-or’? Of course, it is – it always has been! Self in opposition to God, my righteousness to God’s righteousness, righteousness earned or His righteousness implanted? That’s you proud in yourself or you humbled by the awesomeness of God’s love, grace, and mercy!

You do understand, from earthly beginnings through Adam and Eve, until this present generation, the powers of darkness until now are out to sell Satan’s lie: “You can sin and not die!”

You and I have an enemy whose goal and ambition is spiritual blindness, eternal deafness, to the will, mind, and heart of Holy God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the voice and intimacy with God’s Holy Spirit! But His Word speaks louder, plainer, to the point of our Lord’s love, grace, and mercy – and if one listens and responds, he/she walks away from the bondage of self-righteousness and walks free in God’s Sovereign-implanted righteousness, a new man!

Self-effort righteousness is one’s self-determination of what gives him/her satisfaction or happiness. It’s fallen man/woman living by self-rule to give ‘peace’ to his/her passions as he/she settles in to satisfying the flesh [or old sin nature]! What or who controls my passions, my desires, my longings, my temptations, my fleshly fulfillment? “Whatever silences ‘the demons’ within and gives me a sense of reward for my ‘fallen-away-from-God’ decision!” Really?

Horatius Bonar put it like this: “No man can quench his thirst with sand, or with water from the Dead Sea; no man can find rest from his own character, however good, or from his own acts, however religious.”

Why? Because ‘self-effort righteousness’ is counterfeit, counter-productive and addictive like an illegal drug, not honoring God or giving glory to His Name! “Self-effort righteousness,” “self-control programs,” “self-attempts at being religious,” “self-mastery over sin and death and alienation and separation from God,” are attempts at a “new birth” that proves deathly at its inception! What’s a “good thought” if Truth is absent? What’s a “passionate prayer” if all you’re doing is indulging and promoting and calling attention to yourself, and even the name of Jesus is completely omitted?

Robert R. Brown once said: “It is part of our human nature, but there is that within us which always wants to make self the center of its own universe and, in that selfish way, wants to tear God from His throne and deny his brother and advance his own ambition.”

I love what Sir Walter Scott wrote in “The Lay of the Last Minstrel,” VI. He said: “The wretch concentered all in self, Living, shall forfeit fair renown, And, doubling dying, shall go down To the vile dust from whence he sprung, Unwept, unhonored and unsung.”

I’m telling you ‘self-mastery’ in one’s own determination of self-righteousness is Satan’s number-one achievement in your life if your only goal and ambition is to think well of yourself!

But I want you to look carefully at the eternal reality of “SOVEREIGN-IMPLANTED RIGHTEOUSNESS”! In 2 Corinthians 5:21 our Lord opens the heart and mind of true understanding and saving faith when He said through Paul: “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Oh, what a strong, redemptive revelation!

Speaking of the passage in 2 Corinthians 5:21, Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.224], “The modern view of the death of Jesus is that He died for our sins out of sympathy. The New Testament view is that He bore our sins not by sympathy, but by identification. He was ‘made to be sin.’ Our sins are removed because of the death of Jesus, and the explanation of His death is His obedience to His Father, not His sympathy with us. We are acceptable with God not because we have obeyed, or because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and in no other way. We say that Jesus Christ came to reveal the Fatherhood of God, the loving-kindness of God; the New Testament says He came to bear away the sin of the world. The revelation of His Father is to those to whom He has been introduced as Savior. Jesus Christ never spoke of Himself to the world as one Who revealed the Father, but as a stumbling block (see John 15:22-24).”…[In closing out his understanding of 2 Corinthians 5:21, Chambers said: “It is not Christ “for” me unless I am determined to have Christ formed “in” me.”]

Don’t ever forget or even overlook Isaiah 54:17! Remember, God said, “…This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from [out of] Me,” says the Lord!

Spurgeon preached on Isaiah’s word for us: [Spurgeon’s Sermons,” Memorial Library, Vol.2, p.164], “Now, if I wished to test you all, and might ask you only one question, I would ask this: What is your righteousness? O, I am as good as my neighbors. Go along with you; you are not my comrade. What is “your” righteousness? Well, I am rather better than my neighbors, for I go to chapel regularly. Off with you, sir; you do not know the watchword. And you next; “what is your righteousness? I have been baptized, and am a member of the church.” Yes, and so you may; and if that is your hope, you are all in the gall of bitterness. Now you next; what is your hope? O, I do all I can, and Christ makes up the rest. RUBBISH! You are a Babylonian, you are no Israelite; Christ is no make-weight – away with you. Here comes the last – What is your righteousness? My righteousness is filthy rags, except one righteousness which I have, which Christ wrought for me on Calvary, imputed to me by God Himself, which makes me pure and spotless as an angel. Ah, brother, you and I are fellow soldiers: I have found you out; that is the watchword. “Your righteousness is of Me, says the Lord.” I do not ask whether you are a Churchman, or whether you are Methodist, or Independents, or Baptists, if you do but know this watchword – ‘Your righteousness is of Me, says the Lord.” I can forgive all those other minor things, if you can sing: ‘Jesus, Your blood and righteousness, My beauty are, my glorious dress.”

Again, Isaiah so truly educates, informs, instructs, and inspires us as he tells us in Isaiah 64:6, us apart from saving grace and mercy, “But we are ALL like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”

And when one becomes so aware of that true condition of unrighteousness, is graciously exposed to true righteousness, and knows without Christ’s shed blood washing his life, he’s hopeless, and, yes, begins to cry out, “God, be merciful to me THE sinner,” then and only then does the repentant heart begin to experience and appropriate and stand in with eternal confidence the righteousness of God!

Don’t you find it so amazing that Almighty God, author of His Holy Word, God of the Cross, practically informs us of who true believers are, and gives us a picture of both the righteous and unrighteous? For example, Jesus tells us about a wedding in Matthew 22 and opens our understanding of who is refused entrance for the wedding and who enters! This is Jesus telling, informing, revealing, yes, the ‘righteous’ who enter the wedding and the feast: Verses 11-13,

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Tell me about your preparation of attendance at that awesome, glorious, sacred, celebrated wedding of Christ Jesus and His bride! Are you the called, the chosen, the true faith-full bride of Christ who daily prepares for the wedding celebration? Or do you “seek to enter” on your own terms?

‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And you’re unsure what it is? Do you even consider, think about, put on, God’s gift of mercy and grace? But, you are aware that the independent soul takes on Frank Sinatra’s famous song, “I did it my way”? “Your way” is that distinguishing mark that shuts the door to your entrance to the eternal wedding!

‘Friend, you are not clothed in a wedding garment! Is there no respect, no acknowledgement in you, no desire to honor the King of kings and Lord of lords, or no appreciation of submission to His way?’

‘Friend, this is the prince’s wedding – not yours.’ And the wedding we’re seeing is a picture of Christ and His bride, but the ‘friend’ came dressed in rebellion, in disobedience, self-assertion, a breed of independent walks of life that only pours out contempt on the Crucified Christ and spits on His empty tomb!

Consider also that many are of the opinion that there’s more than one way to find acceptance with God – and multitudes are of the opinion’, “it’s what I believe, it’s how I feel, and God should accept my offering and share my way with His way!”

Where in God’s Holy Word do you ever find reconciliation with Him by man’s activity through that man’s personal wisdom, practical efforts of flesh driven self-effort being the sole remedy of his ‘salvation experience’ which is better called ‘evil evolution’!

I remind you again of what Paul preached in Romans 10:2-3! “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

Are you familiar with the terms, IMPARTED, IMPUTED, IMPLANTED righteousness which comes out of the mind and heart and will of God only? Have you failed or neglected to read the words of God Himself through Isaiah the prophet? Isaiah 1:18-20 tells us: “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; through they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword;’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Oh, how powerful, but look also at His convicting word in Isaiah 1:27-28:

“Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents with righteousness. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.”

Spurgeon spoke of “the insolence of self-righteousness” which so easily, emphatically, denies the righteousness of God through Christ! Oh, and then, of the ‘self-righteous’ religious crowd, he said: “Spiritually he [they] is a very well washed corpse – that is all.”

Haven’t you witnessed it, seen it, been astounded by the discomfort and denial of the chorus that speaks of: “Oh, the blood of Jesus” – and many want no part of it because it doesn’t highlight “what I do, what we do”!! And that’s outward religious appearance without an inner-heart change! “Born again” to them is offensive bible-babbling!

Irving Peake Johnson once wrote: “Righteousness as exemplified by Christ is not merely the absence of vice or the presence of virtue. It is a consuming passion for God which sends you forth in His name to establish His kingdom.”

Church attendance without recognizing your calling to establish His kingdom, bow to His rule daily, and practically to embrace Him in submission to His eternal purpose of reconciling a fallen world to Holy God, and seeing yourself brought in to His divine intent in YOU LIVING THROUGH HIM A RIGHTEOUS LIFE, and touching our world with His grace and mercy, is to be a participant on a playground pretending to be something or someone we’re really not!

In 1 Corinthians 15:34 Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote: “AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” And have you overlooked Romans 5:17? “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more, those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

He went on to say in Romans 6:13, “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Oh, I pray, that you’ve rested in Paul’s words in Romans 10:9-10, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” YES, a heart matter! And one “believes unto righteousness, not “I’m able”!!

Self-effort righteousness or Sovereign-Implanted Righteousness? In Philippians 3:8-10 Paul defines the surpassing value of knowing, receiving, and resting in Christ Jesus: “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, NOT HAVING MY OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THE LAW, but that which is through faith in Christ Jesus, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” WOW!

In closing, remember that “wedding” garment? Revelation 19:5-9 tells us, Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS.” Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

True sayings? IMPARTED, IMPUTED, IMPLANTED RIGHTEOUSNESS or your works of the flesh?

CHAPTER EIGHT

“DARK NIGHTS – BRIGHT LIGHTS”

I’ll never forget a “dark night” event in my home when I was about eleven to twelve years of age. I HAD GONE TO BED EARLY BECAUSE MY MOTHER AND STEP-FATHER WERE HAVING A PARTY. It was late, late, past midnight, maybe 3-4 a.m., when I was awakened by loud noises of things breaking, people screaming, as a drunken brawl occurred in the home. I was so frightened I just hid under the covers of my bed until about 5 a.m., and after I braved getting out from under the covers, I looked around to see devastation; all were gone including my mother, but my step-father was passed out on the bed in the guest room.

It was pitch-black night as I made my way to my grandparents’ home, so afraid, plus I had to go down an unlit alley-road to get to their home. I felt so safe when the lights came on and they opened their door to me. Needless to say, I never again experienced that ‘dark-night’ of the soul! [And you should know that, finally, within a few weeks of his eighty-ninth birthday, my step-father asked me to explain the Gospel of Christ to him once more – and he prayed to receive Christ! Weeks later, he died, a definitely changed man so at peace with our Lord and Savior! The nursing home that cared for him were shocked by his change!]

Jeremy Taylor, in his “Holy Living” writing, [p.259], said: “A man may be damned for despairing to be saved.” Thank God, my step-father finally saw, not “dark nights” but “bright lights” for his eternal journey with his Lord and Savior!

Dark nights? Leo Tolstoy, in his writing entitled “The Kingdom of God,” [ch.12], said: “The only significance of life consists on helping to establish the kingdom of God; and this can be done only by means of the acknowledgement and profession of the truth by each one of us.” But you do realize that darkened hearts, minds, and free wills delight in the fallen nature of men alienated and separated from Holy God! Their fleshly pleasures become deadly poison – and they’re so unaware of that dark night of the soul.

I love what Spurgeon wrote in “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” [Memorial Library, Vol.9,pps.176-177]: “He [God] makes not the child of God to be a serf, a slave, in fear of punishment, but he so changes the nature of men that they turn away with loathing from the things they once delighted in, and can no more indulge in the sins which were once sweet to them, than an angel could wallow in the mire with the swine. Oh! This is a gracious work, and this is a blessed covenant in which it is promised that we shall be taught to know and love and do the right thing with a willing mind.”

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines ‘darkness’ like this: “Absence of light; a state of being intellectually clouded; great trouble and distress; calamities; perplexities; empire of Satan; land of darkness – the grave.”

In John 3:19 we read: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.” And even though Joel wrote prophetically to alert the people of Israel in his day, the prophetic word has relevance for today just as it did then! Joel 2:1-2 says, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains…”

Later, in Joel 2:25, God spoke about a land or a life that experiences “swarming, crawling, chewing locust.” God said, “So I will restore to you the years the swarming locust has eaten…My great army which I sent among you.” Why? Because His created people chose ‘self’ over God’s saving grace! They chose the fallen spirit over the Holy Spirit! They chose futile flesh over divine will, purpose, and power! They chose fleshly pleasures over the Holy Spirit! AND GOD SENDS THE LOCUST!

DARK DAYS? LET’S LOOK FIRST AT THE ‘LOCUST’ OF PERSONAL DESOLATION. Matthew 23:37-38 tells us, Jesus speaking, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you DESOLATE…”

Men actually, personally, choose to live an uninhabited life without God’s Presence. They choose ruin over His royal throne to bow before. They choose a ravaged, ruined, neglectful life of yieldedness to the Lord who loved them, laid His life down for them, and only desired to bless and fulfill their existence with divine presence! And the result? Micah 6:13-14 says, God speaking, “Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you, by making you desolate because of your sins. You shall eat, but not be satisfied; hunger shall be in your midst. You may carry some away, but shall not save them; and what you do rescue I will give over to the sword.”

How do you feel when you read a word like Isaiah 1:7 where it says: “Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; strangers devour your land in your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.”

DARK DAYS? SECOND, LET’S CONSIDER JOB 38:2 when God confronted Job and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” Hear me! “If man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” then how truly wise are those who “darken counsel by words without knowledge”?

Oh, there are those who seek counsel because they want to hear what they want to hear apart from the Word of God! Proverbs 12:5 clearly says, “…the counsels of the wicked are deceitful…”! But in Jeremiah 7:23-24 we read, God speaking, the Lord of hosts: “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.”

You’re either pressing in to the Lord or you’re falling away! You’re either found in the Light or bound in the darkness! You’re either made well in His Light or bound a prisoner in the darkness! You’re either made well in His Light or sickened by the devil’s darkness, being made ready with his demons for an eternal Hell of Light-absence!

THIRD, DARK DAYS? SPIRITUAL SIGHT AND INSIGHT OBLITERATED BY DISTRESSES! I love Psalm 107 because it is so informative and illustrative of a life with God or a life without Him. Psalm 107 challenges us to see life’s “troubles” as a “door-closer” to God or a “door-opener” to Him.

Four times in Psalm 107 the Word tells us: [Verses 6,13,19,and 28], “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.” And some choose, yes, choose to live in their ‘distresses’ without ever crying out to the Lord! But for the true believer, he/she understand “in the world you will have tribulation.” Consider Paul. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Can you say: “Yes! Amen!!”

FOURTH, DARK DAYS? WHAT ABOUT EXCESSIVE AND BURDENING DISCOURAGEMENT OR DISAPPOINTMENT? As we consider the matter of discouragement or disappointment, is it possible that regardless of circumstances some would be unhappy if God gave them an unlimited inheritance or share of His abundant blessings?

But be assured, in this very historic moment of your life, if you have not yielded in repentance and faith in Christ alone, you have one choice to make of two opportunities: 1) You may find yourself under the dark shadows of judgment, separation from God forever, and a Hell with your “guilty” past or 2) You’ve chosen to walk in the Light of God’s love, grace, and mercy, with an eternal residence in our Lord’s Holy Presence!

The children of Joseph said to Joshua, in Joshua 17:14, that they were those whom “the Lord has blessed us until now”! Walking in our walk with the Lord is not a walk of discouragement but of blessing! Have you forgotten or overlooked Roman 8:16-17? “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Some have come to faith and then experienced the reality of persecution and isolation and are disenfranchised by family and friends, and were never of, yes, it’s pain and suffering at times. In Philippians 1:27-30 Paul wrote the Philippians and us!!, the following: “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not be terrified in any way by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you, it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict you saw in me and now hear in me.”

FIFTH, WHAT ABOUT THE DARK DAYS OF DISILLUSIONMENT OR DISPLEASURE OR DISAPPOINTMENT? My prayer for all of God’s people is for a true spirit of discernment as they engage a world of needy people around them. It’s so true that the God we serve is the One True and Living God who is moved with compassion for the wounded, the grief-stricken, the man or the woman overwhelmed by the awareness of their guilt and separation from God and that their sin nailed Jesus to the Cross!

Psalm 147:3 is so very clear: “He [the Lord God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [or sorrows].”

What a magnificent and beautiful world our God has created – and yet beyond our small little world are universes of omnipotence, galaxies of divine glories, habitations of Holy Presence – yet He has time for the bleeding, wounded heart, the broken marriage, the lost and wandering son or daughter of faith – and especially does the Lord God Almighty sense the suffering, serious wounds of open rebellion, scarred hearts, and captive wills – and “the Great Physician” reaches out to touch those wounded hearts and sin-stricken souls, speaking “Peace” and healing grace and abundant mercy!

There’s an old U.S. African-American spiritual that says: “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There’s power enough in heaven, to cure a sin-sick soul…

Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain, But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again…

If you cannot sing like angels, If you can’t preach like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus and say He died for all.”

In Luke 12:8-9 Jesus said: “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”

From “Dark Days”, let’s look joyfully at the “BRIGHT LIGHTS”! In John 3:18-21, 35-36, John said: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Verses 35-36, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him.”

It’s so interesting, convicting, and illuminating that James 1:17 tells us that, “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

God the Father is the Father of lights without a doubt, and Jesus the Son IS the true light of the world. And in John 8:12 Jesus spoke saying: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” He’s not a liar, He’s not a lunatic, He’s not a deceiver, He’s not an evil spirit masquerading as Truth – HE IS THE TRUTH! He is the WAY! He is the Author of RESURRECTION LIFE, POWER, and HOPE!

If you are an unbeliever, a doubter, a denouncer of Christ, if you’re so sure and certain, then stand openly before the Cross of Jesus Christ and tell Him you’re an atheist, an unbeliever, an agnostic, a doubter – and you refuse to bow before God’s sacrificial Lamb who DIED FOR YOU, that you’re willing to live without Him because you choose to not live for Him so you can revel and rebel in your fallen state – and then just go to Hell forever with the devil and his demons and all your atheistic, agnostic, unbelieving ‘sinners’!!

Yes, Jesus IS “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD”! But beyond the reality of His eternal resurrection life, is the story of true believers! In Ephesians 5:8-14 we see unfolding the historical truth of “children of light”! The Word says: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep,, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’”

How did that happen? In 1 Peter 2:9-10 Peter tells us, “But you [in Christ] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

Jesus always had a passion for the true disciples to understand their role of oneness in Him. In John 12:35-36 He said, Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Did you see it? Repentant, faith believers BECOME “SONS OF LIGHT”!! It was John, later, who wrote 1 John 1:5-7, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” GLORY!

Are you familiar with the “New Jerusalem” which I truly believe to be present – not a future possibility, not a geographical location, but “Holy Presence” in and through the Resurrected Christ in a truly born-again believer? Revelation 21:22-27 tells us, “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

We’ve seen “the Father of lights, the Savior of Light”, the “sons of light” – let’s look now at His Holy Word, the Bible, God’s revelation or unveiling of Himself and us! Let’s examine Psalm 119!!

Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Psalm 119:14 says, “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.”

Psalm 119:18 says, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”

Psalm 119:24 says, “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.”

Psalm 119:25 says, “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:28, “Strengthen me according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:37, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.”

Psalm 119:54, “Your statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage.”

Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.”

Psalm 119:72, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”

Psalm 119:92, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.”

Psalm 119:101, “I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.”

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Psalm 119:111, “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.”

Psalm 119:120, “My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.”

Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of Your words give light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

Psalm 119:133, “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.”

Psalm 119:140, “Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.”

What did Jesus say in John 8:31-32? “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” So that leads me to:

“The church,” the local “assembly of believers,” “the functioning body of Christ visibly,” is to be a “Bright Light”! In Ephesians 5:22-32 Paul compares the husband and wife relationship as a picture of the church both universal and the local body of believers where one lives out his/her spiritual marriage to Christ! It says: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and bones.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

There is no doubt that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the flocks of God. But there are ‘under-shepherds’ assigned by God in caring for the local flocks of His sheep. In Christ, we are ‘gathered sheep’ under the oversight of a Christ-like, caring, under-shepherd who knows how to feed sheep, shear sheep, and guide them by the Word and Spirit to grow and mature and, yes, reproduce themselves to the honor of Christ!

Jesus Himself said in John 6:37-40, giving each repentant follower true hope: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

But I pray you remember that Jesus also said, “I didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to give My life a ransom for many.”

In the same chapter of John 6, verses 47-58 Jesus also said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven – not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

To be a part of a local church fellowship is both an honor and a calling – representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ looking out for others more than we look out for ourselves! The local assembly is “mutual submission”, yes, in the fear of the Lord, because it is to Him we each are held accountable as to our devotion or lack of it.

After 79 years of my life affiliated with a local church, I can say, even with a few “horror” stories, that I’ve been eternally blessed and seen birthed all around a sense of true brotherhood.

In John 17:20-23 Jesus prayed to Father-God: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Hear Charles Haddon Spurgeon in his “Spurgeon’s Sermons”: [Memorial Library, Vol.18 “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” p.64], “Christians are not a miserable company of restless spirits; they are not a pack of dogs howling at one another, and smarting under the keeper’s leash; but they are a flock feeding in happy communion, while Jesus in their midst finds for them a place where they may rest at noon. He so loves His own, and so reveals Himself to His own, that they are a happy [blessed] people highly favored, and greatly honored. God has blessed them, and they shall be blessed, let the world say what it will concerning them.”

Timothy Dwight and Aaron Williams wrote the old hymn that needs a resurrection! It says: “I love Your kingdom, Lord, The house of Your abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.

I love Your Church, O God! Her walls before You stand, Dear as the apple of Your eye, And graven on Your hand.

For her my tears shall fall; for her my prayers ascend; To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.

Sure as Your truth shall last, To Zion shall be given, The brightest glories earth can yield, And highest bliss of heaven.” Amen?

Henry Ward Beecher made the following statement about the church: “The church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.” Why not join the training and equipping as a “soldier” of the Cross?

Do you remember Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane? Matthew 26:39 says: He [Jesus] went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “Oh, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” And He went to the Cross – not sure momentarily it was where He wanted to be but where He needed to be, laying down His life in behalf of us!! Is that your prayer, your decision, your commitment to honor Christ through your “laid-down life”?

CHAPTER NINE

“HOW’S YOUR FAITH?”

It’s, yes, astounding to me that as I read Spurgeon for his pastoral insights and phenomenal handling of God’s Word, I came across statements that birthed a new direction of preparation in preaching or teaching God’s Word. He said, [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.19,p.274], “The flesh sees honey in the drink, but faith at once perceives that there is poison in the cup.”

And there certainly is an eternity’s difference between man’s ‘flesh’ [his old, fallen sin nature] and God’s biblical faith. Spurgeon spoke about ‘flesh’ or ‘This sin is a very pleasurable thing, why should I not enjoy it? Surely I may eat this fruit which looks so charming, and is so much to be desired.” And you realize:

‘Flesh’ is blind to God and His Word. ‘Flesh’ is blind to sin, twisting Truth, distorting human personality and divine potential, grieving and gripping the inner man in Satanic slavery, promoting self-potential apart from divine intent, brutalizing divine purpose and plan, enslaving the ‘flesh’ to a godless life, omitting FAITH as THE DIVINE REMEDY OF AN IMPRISONED SOUL, substituting sin as the open door to true freedom when in reality it leads to chains and bondage and a cell or existence of fleshly limitation. “FLESH’ IS LIFE WITHOUT GOD, THE OLD MAN, THE FALLEN SIN NATURE!

Spurgeon went on to say so profoundly: “Faith spies the snake in the grass, and gives warning of it. Faith remembers death, judgment, the great reward, the just punishment, and that dread word – eternity. Faith sees the end as well as the beginning. Faith, while the feast is going on, reminds the revelers of the reckoning. Faith feels that she cannot buy the transient joys of the earth at the countless cost of an immortal soul. “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Blindness to God and His salvation is hopelessness with faithlessness as the uncertain foundation of one’s existence. Self-trust, self-determination, self-will, and self-rule are the four cornerstones of one’s empty dwellings but faith is the solid and sure foundation.

Without biblical faith, one is void of the understanding of the very heart of God. In Ezekial 18:31-32, God speaks today to you personally: “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die…? For I have no pleasure in the death of the one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”

That’s the very heart of the Lord God of Eternity – and He knows you, loves you, and wants you to be one with Him! It was John Calvin, in his “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” who wrote: “Faith is a knowledge of the benevolence of God toward us, and a certain persuasion of His veracity.”

It was Edwin Hubbell Chapin who said: “Skepticism has not founded empires, established principles, or changed the world’s heart. The great doers of history have always been men of faith.” So true!

And when it comes to human existence that is passionate for more, it’s only by faith that human existence is changed by Divine Presence through repentance toward God and FAITH in the finished work of Christ at the Cross! Truth-faith is “looking up to God,” “looking in to one’s heart-need,” and “looking around as to where one is to settle in serving and sharing our Lord and Savior”!

But, of course, multitudes live by ‘superstition’ rather than faith in God’s finished work. Others live by their mental superiority to the less fortunate, because it’s at least to them, ‘education’ that makes a man – not repentance and faith! Others have settled in to proving their own worth and value by what they do – not what has been done at Calvary’s Cross. It was Napoleon Bonaparte who once said: “All the scholastic scaffolding falls, as a ruined edifice, before one single word – faith.” It was Jesus who said in John 20:29, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.”

Faith! What an intriguing, inspiring, entrusting word, that calls by personal examination, inward acknowledgement, and mind and heart full surrender to the God who blesses one with SAVING FAITH! Look at Ephesians 2:8!! “For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…”

Romans 1:16-17 is so clear! It says: (Paul speaking), “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew fist and also the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just [or justified or ‘just as if I’d never sinned’] shall live by faith.”

We WERE dead in our trespasses and sins, the Gospel is preached, the Spirit convicts and convinces, and by grace through faith, repenting, believing, and trusting, we are born to new life in Christ!

It was J.P. Scholfield who wrote the hymn, “Saved, Saved!” It says: “I’ve found a friend who is all to me, His love is ever true; I love to tell how He lifted me And what His grace can do for you…

He saves me from every sin and harm, Secures my soul each day; I’m leaning on His mighty arm. I know He’ll guide me all the way…

When poor and needy and all alone, In love He said to me, ‘Come unto Me and I’ll lead you home, To live with Me eternally…

Saved, by His power divine, Saved, to new life sublime! Life now is sweet and my joy is complete, For I’m saved, saved, saved!”

We’re SAVED BY FAITH, but I believe also that there is SECURITY IN FAITH! How could one ever believe that “God saves,” and yet His salvation is ‘insecure’? [Oh, I know there is a possibility of one who “falls away” – what a tragedy, but it has happened and, sadly, will happen! There are those who “take their eyes off the prize” and do “fall away”, a sad, serious, sinful consequence of disobedience or rebellion or defiance! Look at Hebrews 6:4-8, plus Luke 12:41-46!]

It may be Old Testament scripture but it is the Word of God, and the prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 26:2-4, said: “Open the gates that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. YOU [God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord is everlasting strength.”

In John 17:3 Jesus prayed to Father-God for us! He said: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Oswald Chambers, in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.93], wrote: “God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of those spots in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours…The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.”

For the true believer there is to be that steadfastness of hope in us that what God has started, He will finish! In Job 13:15 Job told his ‘friends’: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” The process of faith requires the patience of faith, yes, patience with yourself!

Robert Browning, in “The Ring and the Book,” wrote: “There is but one way to browbeat this world, Dumb-founder doubt, and repay scorn in kind – To go on trusting, namely, till faith Move Mountains.” That means “hold on” in the journey of faith; “don’t let go” in the stressful times; “eyes on the goal” as you press in to Jesus!

In Revelation 3:10-13 Jesus speaks to us who are in His ‘church’ today: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

WE’RE SAVED BY FAITH, WE’RE SECURE IN FAITH, BUT ALSO THE JOURNEY OF FAITH IS A TEST OF CHOICE IN BEING EITHER INFLUENCED BY THE WORLD AROUND US OR OVERCOMING, YES, WORLDLY TESTS AND TEMPTATIONS BY EITHER REFUSING TO INDULGE IN THE FLESHLY STANDARDS IN THE WORLD OR TO LIVE SURRENDERED DAILY TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST! AND, I’m sure it’s both!

In 1 John 2:15-17 the beloved John challenges every believer: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…

For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

It’s really interesting that Paul challenges all believers in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” when sadly, too many professing believers will yield to a world spirit that will dishonor Christ, but the Holy Spirit emphasizes one daily being transformed “by the renewing of the mind.”

There is a vast difference in human existence between those enslaved to their old sin natures or freed by the blood of Christ and birthed into “a new creation” that is, yes, divine in nature! In Ephesians 2:1-3 Paul described those in bondage to the “old man”: “And you He made alive, who were dead [spiritually dead to God] in trespasses and sins,

In which you once WALKED ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Among whom also WE ALL ONCE CONDUCTED OURSELVES IN THE LUSTS OF OUR FLESH, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

The ‘world spirit’ IS demonically inspired in powerful, tempting, lying, attractive and addictive with deadly alternatives and outcomes, enslaving, binding and bruising, contagious, producing sick spirits in the mind and heart, destroying, poisoning, entrapping, stripping of even common decency, which is what Paul was describing to Titus when in Titus 2:12 he spoke the opposite of worldly teaching that ‘covers’ or ‘denies’ ungodly and worldly lusts, but that true faith, saving faith, transforming faith, teaches us “to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Worldly people are aware of ‘spiritual failure’ or ‘spiritual darkness’ or ‘spiritual emptiness’ which drives them to find ‘something’ or ‘someone’ to fill them up with something, but what they seek and find never satisfies because true satisfaction in life only comes by our Lord’s Resurrection Presence!

And guess what? His Holy Word tells us: 1 John 1:7, “If we walk in the light as He [Jesus] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.” GLORY TO GOD!

I love Oswald Chambers’ statement in “My Utmost For His Highest,” when he said: [p.268], “The evidence that I am delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me.” And, of course, we know, yes, we were “crucified with Christ,” sin, sin nature, and all contrary to the nature and character of God Himself!!

WE’VE SEEN THE FACT THAT WE’RE SAVED BY FAITH, WE’RE SECURE IN THE FAITH, WE FACE A TEST OF CHOICE IN OUR WALK, BUT ALSO WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO BUILD OURSELVES UP ON “YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH,” WHICH IS JUDE 20-21! It says:

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most Holy Faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life…”

You do understand “new birth” which tells us there are infants in the faith walk, children learning about the faith, teenagers tested about their allegiance to Truth, young adults, maturing adults, senior adults, all growing in grace and gripping the truth practically of a sanctifying faith, understanding maturely they’ve been “set apart” in honoring our Lord and Savior, and growing more in eternal love for their Lord and Savior!

I’m sure that much of our salvation-walk as infants in the faith and energetic children of faith is based upon, mostly, head faith, but as one matures in the faith-walk a person begins to discern ‘heart-faith’, that is, one willing to be led by the Holy Spirit of God and matured by faithfulness in and to God’s Holy Word.

No doubt this is why Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Saving, sanctifying faith is not in what I do, but what has been done through the sacrificial life of Christ and my absolute certainty and acceptance of His finished work on the Cross where he took me to the Cross with Him, and I was there crucified with Christ, and now He lives again and through my available body! It’s not “us” – it’s “Christ in us the hope of glory!”

There is such an illuminating word Jesus spoke in Luke 21:16-19. It says: “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience [steadfastness, disciplined walk] possess your souls.”

Does that relate to believers “putting on the whole armor of God”? Does that mean “seeking,” “searching,” “claiming,” “dressing,” “receiving,” all that our Lord has promised? I love Chambers’ words when he said: “Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love.” WOW! What are you building your life upon?

The journey of faith is a joyous journey, but sometimes there are those who “depart from the faith” – and it’s you and Jesus only! In 2 Timothy 4:16-18 Paul told his spiritual son, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be fully preached through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

In the previous chapter, Eight, you read “Dark Nights – Bright Lights.” Redemptive faith is not a dark night, but the “Bright Light” of Jesus Himself – and His Light never grows dim!

I pray you understand that at times a militaristic call to arms does arise for true believers, but without a doubt, I believe, Paul is talking here about a war against your own flesh, a war against the world spirit of unbelief, and a war against Satanic and demonic activity!

Discern Matthew 24:3-14 as you personally choose to do so, but don’t ignore or try to ‘sugar-coat’ our Lord’s words as He talked about the signs of the times and the end of “Israel’s age”! Jesus said: Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the ends of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you…

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet…

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another…

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

I hope you understand that what has been spoken by Jesus is to alert ALL of “perilous times.” Our Lord and Savior high-lighted some very vital truths about these particular times called “last days”, which, no doubt, related to the rebellious nation, Israel, called “God’s Chosen People,” but a people who stubbornly rejected “Truth”, living “religiously” but “unsaved” or “born-again”!

Jesus said several things about those end times, and I believe also ultimately every nation’s “end-times”! Jesus said:

• It will be a time of great deception. Verses 4-5. 2) It will be a time of great conflict. Verses 6-7. 3) It will be a time of great suffering. Verses 8-10. 4) It will be a time of open sin. Verses 11-12. 5) It will be a time of great opportunity. Verses 13-14.

Are you prepared? Are you alert? Are you well-trained? Are you equipped? Are you prayed up? And, I would ask, ‘Are you ready to die for your faith?’ In Ephesians 6:16 Paul tells us, “above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

LASTLY, HAS ‘YOUR’ FAITH LED YOU TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO STAND FAST AND STRONG? In Galatians 5:1 Paul wrote: “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

You do know that if Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed – no more bondage, no more slavery, no more chains, no more fear of an eternal Hell, no more entanglements of poor choices!

It was Robert J. McCracken who wrote: “We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.” Oh, that once again true American history be restored to our classrooms!

Again, Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” I’m telling you, “standing fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,” is why John recorded Jesus’ word for us in Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

It’s more than enduring and persevering – it’s standing tall before Holy God with a heart of thanksgiving and joy for His gift of FAITH!! “For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves, it is THE GIFT OF GOD!” GLORY!!

Ray Palmer and Lowell Mason wrote the Hymn, “My Faith Looks Up To Thee.” It says:

“My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!…

May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!…

While life’s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside…

When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o’er me roll; Blest Savior, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove, O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!”

CHAPTER TEN

“VOID OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH”

Reading the Book of Hosea recently, I came across an interesting, sad verse of Holy Scripture. Hosea 8:11-12 addresses ‘Ephraim’ but speaks of the very apostasy of Israel! It says: “Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin, they have become for him altars for sinning. I have written for him the great things of My law, but they were considered a strange thing.”

Are you aware of even America becoming a “strange thing” related to its avoidance of God’s historic, anointed Word? I know that Herrick Johnson wrote the following words many years ago, but it is so up to date with a nation that is being consumed with the spirit of ‘worldliness’: “Buying, possessing, accumulating, this is not worldliness. – But doing this in the love of it, with no love to God paramount – doing it so that thoughts of God and eternity are an intrusion – doing it so that one’s spirit is secularized in doing it – this is worldliness.”

A nation consumed by the spirit of worldliness? Yes, a people living a thankless existence, a people captured in the spirit of ungratefulness, a people that vainly shuts the door to God’s will and purpose for their very existence, a people imprisoned to the world, the flesh, and the devil, a people that “sing” the “songs” of “freedom”, not knowing the chains that bind their hearts and minds to Holy God and pump rebellion and disobedience through mortal ‘flesh’?

Would you dare agree with me that “brain-fed” men and women who major on “closed doors” to God Almighty uphold allegiance to their “common sense” and profess devotion to their “brilliance” as better service to themselves than the “redemptive faith” and shed blood of the Lamb of God for their sins and sin nature?

I pray that you clearly understand that Satan himself had a disrespect of Godly control and was consumed with the desire for ruling control over himself and the world as he saw it under his evil domination! As a result, we know the devil is the birther and author of lives consumed by deadened consciences ‘he promotes’! His ‘kingdom’ is this fallen world plagued by “religious activity void of the Holy Presence of the Resurrected Christ”!

The ‘kingdom of darkness’, authored by the devil himself, is rabid resistance to anything, anyone who has a relationship with Holy God – if you belong to Christ, you have an enemy who promotes spiritual death to Holy God! The devil is not interested in “redemptive reconciliation” with Holy God through the blood sacrifice of Jesus – so he sends out his army of demons and fleshly slaves to turn you away from Christ Jesus!

In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Paul wrote: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”

And I tell you: THERE IS NO LOYALTY TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST APART FROM HIS BLOOD REDEMPTION AT CALVARY’S CROSS!! What did Paul tell us in Galatians 3:26? “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

But, sadly, in John 5:39-47, Jesus exposed ‘religious Jews’ who rejected His blood redemption! Jesus said: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life…

I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive…

How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and you do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you before the Father; there is one who accuses you – Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My word?”

Follow carefully Hebrews 10:19-23!! “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God,…

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” How blessed are these words to spiritually needy hearts!?!

If it’s in a man’s mind and heart to please God, what is the end of that journey of faith? But if it is not in a man’s mind and heart to please God, what doors has he opened to missing out on oneness with Christ Jesus and eternal blessings? Read with me Hebrews 6:1-6!

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits…

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

There are no doubts in my mind at all about those who’ve been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, partaken of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, because my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, does not “die” again on the cruel Cross, and allow Himself to be put in “open shame” – He is now exalted at the right hand throne of God as King of kings and Lord of lords!

I choose resurrection life, resurrection power, and resurrection hope! But to choose to set aside Christ Jesus is to choose a path “Void of Faith”, embracing self-righteousness, self-will, and self-destiny! And the results of that choice?

FIRST, VOID OF FAITH IS THE CHOICE OF THE ABSENCE OF DIVINE LIFE. Are you aware of our Lord’s anointed word through Paul in Galatians 5:24? “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” But ‘void of redemptive faith’, many choose the ‘death-walk’ of the flesh [old sin-nature] over “resurrection life in Christ!” They ‘love’ the flesh with its passions and desires!

Galatians 5:19-21 illumines, I pray, a fallen man’s deathly path! “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Are you at all familiar with one being eternally banished from the presence of Holy God? Do you understand the healthiest physical specimen on the face of the earth without “eternal hope” because he/she lives with the absence of redemptive faith, having the physical desire only to satisfy his/her lusts, with no desire at all to be one with God, know Him, or please Him, but ingrained to honor the very worst of fallen humanity’s grave sin-sickness?

If the Holy Word challenges us with “without faith it is impossible to please God,” [Hebrews 11:6], is it because fallen mankind feels he can decide what God should accept from him, even if it comes from a selfish heart, selfish life, and selfish motive? You do understand that much of ‘religious faith’ that is not ‘redemptive faith’ can capture people to the point they become ‘self-determining’ of what should please God!

And my text here, Galatians 5:24, reveals, yes, the necessity of flesh crucified with its passions and desires if we are to become partakers of His “resurrection life, power, and hope”! I thank God for the precious privilege of witnessing world-wide people who conduct their own funerals of death to the old man, death to the old sin nature, and gladly accepting the eternal truth of them being “crucified with Christ”, and glad of it!

Void of faith is the absence of divine life? In Matthew 16:24-26 Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, or loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

One void in redemptive faith is one in perverted ‘love’ of his sinful self, his shell of fleshly domination, denying the need of divine life, in ‘love’ with self-will, self-pleasure, counterfeiting ‘lust’ as true love, and declaring self-achievements as true offerings to a God he/she has no desire to honor or serve or bless! And what did Jesus say? “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself”?

SECOND, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. In Philippians 1:9-11 Paul shared his prayer for all true believers. He prayed: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ Jesus, to the glory and praise of God.”

Oh, in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, I believe Paul, by the Holy Spirit, reveals why many in the lost world without Christ don’t know or understand because many, commissioned by Jesus as “ambassadors”, are not fulfilling their calling as true “witnesses” of the living, redemptive faith! He said: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In Christ, partakers of the very righteousness of God! Did we just read, “For He [God!] made Him [Jesus Christ!] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”? What did Jesus say in John 15:4? “Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

And just how spiritually enriching is Galatians 5:22-25? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Are you a “spiritual fruit-bearer”? In John 15:5 Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.”

THIRD, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF ETERNAL PURPOSE. As Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian church fellowship and us, he so longed for them and for us to be spiritually alerted to eternal purpose. But sadly I’m not sure this awareness is faithfully taught by most of the churches today!

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:19-21, “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

A ‘living faith’ IS “the Indwelling Christ” – and the victorious warrior lives by the “life of Another – even by Jesus only!”

In Colossians 1:26-28 Paul highlights God’s “eternal purpose”: “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” What an amazing Word from God to us who repent and trust in Christ’s eternal purpose!

In “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.249], Oswald Chambers wrote: “There is only one relationship that [eternally] matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.” Amen?

FOURTH, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF BIBLICAL AWARENESS. In Matthew 4:1-4 we read about Jesus in the wilderness, “led by the Spirit …to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew said, “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But Jesus answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

But are you aware that many “professing believers” live on a starvation diet when it comes to the Word of God? In John 6:63 Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Then in Verse 64 Jesus shared, “But there are some of you who do not believe.” And Jesus was talking about those who seldom, if ever, put their feet under the table of the Lord, feeding faithfully, daily, off His life-giving Word!

Is it a stretch for you that “you cannot believe and respond to the Word you do not know”?

Also, after saying in John 6:63-64 that, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life, But there are some of you who do not believe,” in Verses 66-68, we read, “From that time ‘many of His disciples’ went back and walked no more with Him. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”

‘Void of faith is the absence of biblical awareness?’ Follow with me 1 Corinthians 2:9-12!! But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!

FIFTH, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF HEAVENLY PLEASURE. As Jesus continued to minister and equip His circle of disciples, He said to them in Luke 12:31-32, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Are you aware of “God’s good pleasure”?

In Hebrews 11:24-27 Moses was a man of God with a consuming passion of being a recipient of God’s heavenly pleasures, not ignoring them, but faithfully appropriating them to the very honor of God! The Word tells us: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

Did you notice “the passing pleasures of sin”? That wasn’t Moses’ desire or ambition or purpose! His holy purpose was “the Father’s good pleasure”! What blesses God? What honors the Son? What gives glory to the Holy Spirit? Heavenly pleasure to God, through YOU, is YOU led out of yourself to dying to yourself that the Resurrection Life of Christ be manifested in and through your mortal flesh!

Do you understand abandonment to fleshly pleasure and so “all in” to God’s pleasure becomes your earthly ambition to His glory, honor, and praise? But if you are ‘void of faith’, your earthly existence simply produces headaches and heartaches and certainly gives you no lasting pleasure that brings glory to Him through your earthly walk!

Last, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF THE PASSION TO KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS. Or, I might explain my intent here in a better way by asking, “Is there a ‘counterfeit’ of outward allegiance apart from the desire to truly be one with God?”

You do understand that it truly is in a man’s mind and heart to decide if he’s even interested in the things of God – he will either open or close that door!

It’s more than mental assent – it’s heart surrender, full surrender, to the honor and glory of God alone! In the old “Broadman Hymnal” of 1940 there is a hymn written by W.S. Weeden and J.W.VanDeVenter entitled “I Surrender All”. It says:’

“All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow; Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit – Truly know that You are mine.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Your love and power, Let Your blessing fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

Is that true of you? Have You truly taken hold of Him who is Lord, Savior, Master of all? Have you ventured your all on Him? It was Spurgeon who once said: “I shall not be delivered from the wrath to come, by believing that His atonement is sufficient; but I shall be saved, by making that atonement my trust, my refuge, and my all.”

Tell me about YOUR “Redemptive Faith” – a void, a vacuum, or a Victorius Faith because it is faith in the finished work of Christ alone?!?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“FAITHFULNESS OR DISTRESSING DISGUISES?”

I don’t know how you’ll respond to the title of this message because only you really know the secret chambers of your heart and mind. Why? Appearances can be deceiving; outward ‘show’ can be simply fictitious, uneventful heart-change, or a desire not to be exposed to what one really believes.

It was C.S.Lewis who once wrote: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because of it I see everything else.” But then in a real world of life and death, success or failure, blessing and disappointment, true examples and pretenders, wise or blinded, divine fruit or diseased or dis-eased citizens, people will either “press in to Him” or fall away by their own free will – “nothing to do with Jesus – I have my own religion!”

Don’t you find it interesting, convicting, and challenging, that in Revelation 2:10b, Jesus tells us: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”? Is it possible that some begin the walk of faith, are faithful for a period of time in what they know, and then walk away? “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Are bad turns made away from the highway of holiness that lead to ‘dead-end’ places? Does disappointment in one’s self or others mean, “I choose to be disappointed in Jesus also”? If a ‘Texas dust storm’ can restrict your vision, can a believer’s storm of doubt cast dark shadows on one’s devotion and allegiance and all-out surrender to the King of kings and Lord of lords?

Oh, and hear me – can a preacher-pastor’s ‘falling away’ be the ‘straw that breaks the camel’s back,’ and you decide, “I want nothing more to do with ‘phony Christianity’?”

In Ezekial 18:23 God spoke: “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” And whatever is opposite of the Word and the will of God and His ways is determined wicked and brings a judgment of death – and God says, “turn from YOUR ways and live!” He went on to say in Verses 31-32, “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord. “Therefore turn and live!”

I know, and I assume you also know, that there are “distressing disguises”! It’s so evident by spiritual blindness, unholy hearing, willful rejection, painful indifference, yes, even deeply-wounded scars from spiritual events of the past that one holds on to, residence in a jail of unforgiveness because someone, somehow, somewhere led them down, they believe, to a place, a practice, a persuasion that didn’t line up with the desire for a ‘godly lifestyle’ but an ungodly lifestyle even when the Word declared and still declares ‘separate from sinners.’

I’m really sorry, but I do not see projected in God’s Holy Word ‘comfort’ or ‘comfortable’ or ‘pleasurable for the flesh’ in a world where Holy Truth is seen as needed to be suppressed and certainly worthless in schools, universities, or any governmental institution locally or nationally!

How dangerous is it for men of all standings, places, rankings, abilities or, education or the absence of it, to find themselves in a place they don’t feel comfortable, identifying themselves as men unreservedly sold out to Christ so they ignore the church Jesus loved and gave Himself for, going the way of “silent allegiance” when Jesus instructs us to identify ourselves as His true followers and devoted to build up, strengthen, and, yes, laboring for His church-body’s success?

“Distressing disguises”? Are you ever confronted by those who once have known Truth and then, all of a sudden, because of multitudinous fleshly crises, the door was opened to cast doubt on the Word of God? Sadly, I’ve known men over the years who so devotedly shared God’s Holy Word, but crisis came from business, family, spiritual family, resulting in undefinable criticism, and like a wounded ‘puppy’ they crawl away from upholding Truth!

“Distressing Disguises”? Are you aware of those who have been ingrained with partial truth and they profess “Peace, peace! When there is no peace”? [Jeremiah 6:14]. It’s as if the ‘gospel’ they held onto was ‘peaches and cream’ without Jesus’ word, “In the world you will have tribulation!” I would urge every disciple over the next three to four months to devote himself/herself to the four gospels and determine if Jesus ever talked about a ‘trouble-free walk of discipleship!’

“Distressing disguises”? Do you remember in the Gospel of John Jesus telling the scribes and Pharisees that denying Him was the result that they never knew the One True and Living God? In John 8:13 they told Jesus, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” In the eighth chapter alone Jesus told the ‘religious crowd’ about 4 times, similar to Verse 21, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

“Distressing disguises”? I hope it doesn’t seriously offend you if I tell you that there are “sticklers” for legalism apart from God’s grace, mercy, and love! On the tablet of stone God carved out and imprinted Ten Commandments that exposed men as true ‘law-breakers’ in need of mercy, grace, and love, but deception blinded men to their true need of God because they graded by the ‘curve’, wanting acceptance by self-effort rather than acceptance through the finished work of Christ at the Cross, with God then writing His love, His law, and His liberty on a redeemed heart! How about your devotion? Is it by law or the very love of Calvary’s Cross and the reality of Jesus’ empty tomb and present residence in Heaven at the throne of God interceding in your behalf?

“Distressing disguises”? Have you not wrapped your mind around the fact that fallen humanity is fully absorbed in the mind-set and heart- absorption of materialism, and the more one has, the nearer he/she is to God? Yet, our Lord and Savior and True Master of all of life has said, Matthew 16:24-26, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life [for himself] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

“Distressing disguises”? You’ll remember as Moses was leading Israel to the Promised Land there came a time when he went up on the mountain for an alone-time with God that became a long time – and his people became anxious.

They went to Aaron and told him, Exodus 32:1, “Up, make us gods which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what is become of him.” Verse 4 tells us that he, Aaron, received golden earrings from the people, and fashioned it with a graving tool into a “molten calf”; and the people said, “This be our gods who brought us out of the land of Egypt.” Then the end of Verse 6 tells us, “and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” God then told Moses, “your people, Moses, which you brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them.”

Has anything changed? What is it that has become your own ‘distressing disguise’? Reality speaks so loud and clear as when Samuel said in 1 Samuel 10:19, about some in Israel, “And you have this day rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to Him, “No, set a king over us!”

At least David had the sane attitude of brokenness, repentance, and turning from that which scarred him and others so deeply. In Psalm 25:17-22 he prayed: “The troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”

I’m sure you’ll remember Paul challenging the church at Corinth when he said in 2 Corinthians 6:12, “You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.” And he paid a heavy price for standing in truth! He said to the Corinthians and us in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE. For when I am weak, then I am strong [in Him].”

Paul further testified in 2 Corinthians 13:4-6, “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.”

In Christ you are made to soar, not to sink; you’re a new creation in Him to live victoriously, not defeated; in Him you overcome the devil himself and his temptations, not swallowed up in a sea of denial of truth or ocean depths of drownings in deceptions opposite of Holy Revelation, Eternal Truth, and His ever-abiding presence in you!

“Distressing disguises”? I picked up again recently Mark Levin’s book entitled “LIBERTY OR TYRANNY,” sub-titled “A Conservative Manifesto.” I read it several years ago, but on the back cover of his book he had a statement of Abraham Lincoln, spoken in 1864. Lincoln said, “We all declare liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men’s labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name – liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names – liberty and tyranny.”

Do you remember the unbelieving Pharoah of Egypt? In Exodus 5:1-2 we read, “Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharoah, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ And Pharoah said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.’”

It’s certainly not always true, but it seems, for some like Pharoah, that ‘wealth’ or ‘riches’ lead an awful lot of people to bow down in idolatry and not live in worship, praise, or thanksgiving, with adoration, exaltation, submission, and loyalty to the God who laid down His Son at the Cross! “That’s not MY calling!” – have you ever heard that? “I serve the Lord who blesses me,” yet the Lord God Almighty, Emmanuel (“God With Us”), Savior and Lord, Master of all of life, said in Deuteronomy 30:14-20, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, THAT YOU MAY DO IT. [“Why, You legalistic God! Who would want to submit to Your Word, Your Will, Your way? Not me!”] See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God WILL BLESS YOU in the land which you go to possess. BUT IF YOUR HEART TURNS AWAY SO THAT YOU DO NOT HEAR [and some choose, ‘I don’t want to hear what God says!’] and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today THAT YOU SHALL SURELY PERISH; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

[And just as a reminder if you have questions about what you just read and its spiritual relevance to New Testament disciples, John 8:56 says, Jesus speaking: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”]

“Distressing disguises”! I pastored a church many years ago in which a very visible leader became involved in an adulterous relationship with another church member. In my office he denied it and assured me it never happened.

A few weeks later I received a late night call to hurry to a particular home where the police had already arrived. The church leader was in the home of his adulteress mate with an irate, almost uncontrollable husband.

The church leader had lied and then resigned his visible office in the church. I advised our church officers or deacons that this situation required church discipline, but they ALL said, “He’s our friend, and it won’t happen. He deserved better than having to care for a sick wife!’ Within a short time, God moved our leadership role as pastor elsewhere!

When open sin is ignored it manifests itself in abundant rebellion to God’s Holy Word – I heard years later that adultery, broken marriages, and a suffering church had about died, until several pastors later God placed His new man in a strong place of leadership – now, the church prospers spiritually.

“Distressing disguises”! I was reading Spurgeon recently. [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.15, pps. 78-79]. He said: “Is it so, that because you are yourself a member of a flourishing church, and because you enjoy all sorts of Christian privileges, you therefore harden your heart concerning dying churches and desponding saints? Do you imagine that the body can be sick, and yet you as a member of it will not suffer? I tell you, if the church of God goes aside it will be to your injury; if the truth of God be not preached you will be a loser; if a Christian life be not vigorous you will be weakened.” (p.80), “If you are not creating a holy warmth, the chill of sin is freezing you.”

‘Ice-berg city’ – the gathering of chilled believers! ‘Ice-berg city’ – the union place of divided allegiances! ‘Ice-berg city’ – the creeping sickness of unconscious allegiance to self-birthing of paralyzed infants who don’t know where they came from or where they are headed. The Lord Jesus said in Revelation 3:11, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” [It would be worth your effort and time to research about “your crown.”]

“Distressing disguises”! It was so interesting and challenging recently when in Luke 16:1-13 I read about the parable of the unjust steward. Read carefully and consider your walk as a professing disciple of Christ! Jesus also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.

So he called him and said to him, “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.” [I pray you realize “stewardship” has much more to do in your walk than what you “give” in money!]

Then the steward said within himself, “What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.” So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Is Jesus teaching us about faithfulness in ‘little things’? Is He teaching us about money and its blessing or curse? Is He informing us about faithfulness in what belongs to another man? But now, let’s transition from “distressing disguises” to “FAITHFULNESS”! We’ve just witnessed Jesus talking about “faithfulness” in three ways. Is there more in His precious and powerful Word we should discern and apply?

It’s not difficult to grasp or understand or comprehend the subject of “faithfulness” – the battle comes when faith and faithfulness must be exercised and YOU must discern for yourself, ‘a walk of fleshly sight and its desires OR a walk of faith and faithfulness to honor the God of the Cross and the empty tomb and His eternal reign!

I do not know or understand how a person reads or hears read Ephesians 2:4-8, 12-13, and determines to walk away from saving grace! It says: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…Verses 12-13, that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH AND BY FAITH ALONE! That’s what you just read!

WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH! Examine Romans 3:19-26 very, very carefully: “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Do you remember the lame man outside the temple asking alms as Peter and John were about to go in? Follow Acts 3:6-16, 19-20, 23, 26:

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them – walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Soloman’s Porch, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pontius Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.

But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know.

Verses 19-20, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before…

Verse 23, And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people…Verse 26, To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

WE ARE TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH. In Acts 14:21-22 Paul was endeavoring to build a solid foundation in new disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. The Word says: “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND, RECEIVE, WALK IN THE WALK OF OUR HEART, MIND, SOUL, AND SPIRIT PURIFICATION BY FAITH. Acts 15:6-9 says: Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” [Don’t ever overlook, minimize, or ignore God saying, “..by faith”!! Which leads us to:

WE ARE TO WALK IN THE PEACEFUL REST OF FAITH LIKE ABRAHAM. In Romans 4:1-8 we read of the faith of faithful Abraham: “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

WE ARE TO BE EMPOWERED BY FAITH – NOT IN THE EARTHLY WISDOM OF MEN. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 instructs us: Paul speaking, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

WE ARE TO BE AT PEACE IN OURSELVES BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST AT THE CROSS. Galatians 2:20 illumines our minds and hearts as Paul tells us: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh II live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Verse 21, I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

WE ARE TO BE DILIGENT TO THE END BECAUSE OF OUR INHERITANCE OF GOD’S PROMISES. In Hebrews 6:11-12 we see our calling as true believers: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

WE ARE TO BE WELL-TRAINED, PERSONALLY DISCIPLINED, AS A TRUE SOLDIER IN GOD’S ARMY, NOT GIVEN AN ‘AWOL’ SPIRIT, BUT DEVOTED TO HIM AND THE CHURCH JESUS LOVED AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR AND THE WORLD MINISTRY OF EVANGELISM HE INSTILLED! Paul wrote young Timothy as a wise spiritual father, 2 Timothy 2:1-4, “You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

Earlier, in 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul told Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

You do understand that we serve a God and Lord and Savior who is so ever faithful to us! In Lamentations 3:22-27 Jeremiah shared both a broken heart because of Israel’s sin but also a peaceful heart and soul because he knew the faithfulness of God’s compassion:

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!! ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.”

And I have no doubts that this is why Isaiah encourages us in Isaiah 25:1 because he knew God’s faithfulness: “O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”

Because of our Lord’s faithfulness, His people sprout and bear His fruitfulness! Because of our Lord’s faithfulness to us, our faithfulness to Him is not to be a probability but a sure certainty! Because of our Lord’s faithfulness, we don’t enlist for a seat in a church pew but a place in the front-line of a holy war! Because of our Lord’s faithfulness, we’re not to be inventers of simply religious activities but fully surrendered lives available to His presence, power, purpose, and promises to be expressed through our available lives!

It was the old “The Defender” who had this quote: “Faith is dead to doubt, dumb to discouragement, blind to impossibilities.” How true!

Off-key lives are invaded by the “Master-Tuner” and discords vanish and perfect harmonies erupt! When repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross finds a permanent home, empty barrels become the overflowing presence of His never-ending LIFE!!

Faithfulness is not a philosophy but Divine Presence, holy certainty, continual blessing, and a sacred marriage of eternal bliss!

Faithfulness is the Shining Sonlight of the resident Christ within, the evidence of God’s Holy Presence, and the certainty of the Holy Spirit’s fulfilling ministry in sons and daughters of faith.

It was B.B. McKinney who wrote the old hymn, “Have Faith In God.” “Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely, He sees and knows all the way you have trod; Never alone are the least of His children; Have faith in God, Have faith in God.

Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered, Your earnest plea He will never forget; Wait on the Lord, trust His Word and be patient; Have faith in God, He’ll answer yet.

Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow, His heart is touched with your grief and despair; Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him, and leave them there, oh, leave them there.

Have faith in God though all else fail about you; Have faith in God, He provides for His own; He cannot fail though all kingdoms perish, He rules, He reigns upon His throne.” AMEN?

CHAPTER TWELVE

“FAITH AND ITS FRUITFULNESS”

Faith? Mental assent but no moral change? Best effort or dead to self, alive in Christ? Fleshly efforts or Master-Full Presence? Self-discipline or divine provision? Carnal creativity filling one full of fleshly pride or spiritual awareness of God’s Holy Presence honoring Himself through you? Faith? Pats on the back for one’s fleshly ambition and determination without God’s help or the “pity-me-awareness” that “I didn’t think I needed God’s help, but I do”?

Do you remember John the Baptist’s statement or declaration in John 3:30? “He must increase, but I must decrease”? I was reading this Scripture in Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.60], and inspired for this chapter when he said, “Over and over again, we become ‘amateur providences’, we come in and prevent God; and say – “This and that must not be.” Instead of proving friends of the Bridegroom, we put our sympathy in the way, and the soul will one day say – “That one was a thief, he stole my affections from Jesus, and I lost my vision of Him.”

But it’s not only ‘lost visions’ and ‘stolen affections’ – it relates heavily to fleshly indulgences, inordinate affections, inspired ‘self-awareness’, and a scripture-less absence of divine, eternal intent and purpose as a vessel through which Christ is Himself!

True biblical faith is not faith in ourselves or a mindful determination of our personal ‘qualities’ that can help the cause of Christ in our world today – it’s the “crucified life” made available to His “Resurrection Presence” in us and through us!

So much of ‘religious activity’ today relates to promotion of self or the dedication of the ‘old man’ with all of his natural abilities, personal instincts, human strengths and resources, that many ‘offer’ to God, when in Romans 6:13 Paul wrote wisely: “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

How futile for fallen men to consecrate their fallen sin natures to God’s glory! I hate to tell you, but God is not interested in you presenting your “old man” on an altar of dedication – 1 Peter 1:18 speaks of “your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers” when God tells us of the “precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” given to resurrect us all from the dead and bringing us into true “Faith and Its Fruitfulness”, not in aimless conduct but atoned creations!

But there is no fruitfulness apart from redemptive faith! In Romans 6:15-22 Paul instructs us all in “Faith and Its Fruitfulness”: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness…

I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, “you have YOUR FRUIT” to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

Did you catch it? In the “old man” walk, “what fruit did you have in the things of which you are now ashamed”? But, if Christ IS your gift of eternal life, tell me about your becoming “God’s slave” and now your “fruit to holiness”!! The “old man” walk is “bad, unacceptable, and imperfect” while the true walk of faith is “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The lack of redemptive faith in one’s life is the evidence of ‘self-assertion,’ the evidence of unwillingness to be ‘ruled over’ by Holy God, the evidence of selfish ideals, strong self-wills, fleshly idols, sinful entrapments, even contentment in falling short of the glory of God!

But early in this chapter I pray, yes, you’re convicted that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!” And I assure you that “Faith and Its Fruitfulness” is a vital part of understanding God’s “Master-Full” purpose in the salvation event that begins your journey into “the glory of God”, granting you, like Paul, “the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ”!

In Romans 8:27-30 we read: “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit of God is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose…

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [predetermined] to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” [Can you say, “Glory”?] Do you know what Hebrews 2:10 says? “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, ‘IN BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY’, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

Are YOU really aware of God the Father’s purpose in “bringing many sons to glory”? It was Peter who wrote in 2 Peter 1:2-4, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Would you dare highlight what Peter tells us about “WHAT GOD HIMSELF HAS DONE IN OUR BEHALF”? Multiplied grace and peace, granted us the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord, divine power granted us all things relating to life and godliness, expanded to us the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, He personally called us to Himself, He gave us great and precious promises, He opened the door that we might be partakers of, yes, the divine nature, and granted us the way of escape from corruption and lust that is poisoning the world! “Amazing Grace”!!

Thank God for men like Paul who interceded for both the Ephesians and us today when he wrote in Ephesians 1:15-21, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus [where is YOUR “faith” placed?] and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

“Faith in the Lord Jesus”? But you do realize that many faithless, unbelieving, self-centered individuals, reject ‘biblical faith’ and pour themselves into cynicism, a radical faith in themselves without God, and void of any answers for their guilt, their emptiness, their skepticism, their soul-darkness, their constant, off-key discords, trying to live their best on their philosophical probabilities, their false pride, and even their vain, irrational belief in “life’s success” without God!

This is why in Romans 1:16-17 Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew and also for the Greek. For in it [in what?] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.” And that’s “FAITH in the finished work of Christ at the Cross of Calvary and nothing else!”

You are aware of many people who deny saving grace and redemptive faith and are out to prove by ‘self-effort’ they can ‘redeem’ themselves from their fallen sin natures, which is so utterly ridiculous! I high-lighted in the previous chapter Romans 3:19-26, which I urge you to read again right now before continuing, but beyond that passage, wrestle with Romans 3:28,31-32,and Romans 4:1-8!

Paul emphasized “faith accounted to him for righteousness.” Faith in what or who? In Romans 6:4-11 we read, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life…

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, KNOWING THIS, that our old man was crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin….

For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him…

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. LIKEWISE YOU ALSO, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” DO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT BE WHY PAUL SAID: “I DIE DAILY” – or “I take the sentence of death unto myself that the resurrection life of Christ might be manifested in my mortal flesh!”?

“FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION”! That, my friends, is “the finished work”! It’s more than rational what Jesus did in obedience to the Father – it is historically, eternally revelational and divinely regenerative, making all things new! This, no doubt, is why Merv Rosell once said: “Faith is saying “Amen” to God!”

Faith IS heaven opened daily to see and know and converse with and surrender to God the Father seated on the Throne of Glory, Christ Jesus seated beside Him, and the Holy Spirit enveloping the Godhead in His Crown and Cloud of Glory, and those of redemptive faith singing our hymns of praise and adoration – and that’s already begun even before we get there!

Faith is God’s gift of eternal light that never dims, but even when times and spaces experience darkness , His gift of faith never is overwhelmed or overshadowed by that darkness because His gift of light and faith extends our vision and understanding even beyond what we can see with the naked eye!

Faithlessness is ‘out of harmony’ lives producing ‘off-key’ results, but redemptive faith is experiencing daily God’s “Hallelujah Chorus”! Faithlessness IS the very absence of God in one’s life continually producing for eternity’s sake the spirit of hopelessness, but ‘in Christ’ one lays hold of the hope that never dies!

It was Robert Cecil who once said: “Faith makes all evil good to us, and all good better; unbelief makes all evil good, and all evil worse. Faith laughs at the shaking of the spear; unbelief trembles at the shaking of a leaf, unbelief starves the soul; faith finds food in famine, and a table in the wilderness. In the greatest danger, faith says, ‘I have a great God.’ When outward strength is broken, faith rests on the promises. In the midst of sorrow, faith draws the sting out of every trouble, and takes out the bitterness from every affliction.”

I find it so strange and bewildering that faithless men have no understanding or comprehension of God so loving the world at large, and that lost man in particular, to the point that He desperately wants him and will not be satisfied or blessed without him – so He demonstrates the depth of His love for that, yes, one lost sinner, by sacrificing His Son on the Cross! He, the God of Calvary’s loving sacrifice, is passionate for fallen mankind to be “partakers of His divine nature”!

The salvation work of faith is not a matter of personal ‘reformation’ or the best effort of personal ‘refinement’ or even personal ‘restructuring’ of one’s priorities, but understanding and resting in the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross in our behalf! In Acts 2:36-39 we read, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’…

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and [because you have repented] let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…

For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

And I guarantee you, “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and faith in Christ alone!”

That’s repentance and faith and obedience publicly exercised! And one becomes the literal vessel of God’s Holy, Resurrected, Indwelling Presence!

Now, as a result of true redemptive “faith”, one begins the redemptive walk and journey in “fruitfulness”! In fact, in Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus instructs us in how we discern “false prophets”! He said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS…

Do men gather grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit…

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

Are you aware that in the walk of biblical faith that there must be also the walk of discerning men producing “bad fruit” and men producing “good fruit”? Didn’t Jesus Himself say, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them,” evil men or godly men! ? !

Thank God, our Lord and Savior, by His Holy Presence in the lives of truly repentant and born again men, produces “fruit” to honor and bless the Living God and Father of us all! Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

Understanding God’s creation, we know from Adam’s story in the birth of humanity that Almighty God revealed to him a choice between “the tree of life” which is very God of very God, or the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It was Watchman Nee who wrote in his “The Normal Christian Life,” [pps.80-81], “He [God] planted two trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…These two trees, then, typify two deep principles; they represent two planes[plains actually] of life, the divine and the human. The ‘tree of life’ is God Himself for God is life. He is the highest form of life, and He is also the source and goal of life…If Adam should take the tree of life, he would partake of the life of God. Thus he would become a ‘son’ of God, in the sense of having in him a life that derived from God. There you would have God’s life in union with man; a race of men having the life on God in them and ‘living in constant dependence upon God for that life.’ But if instead Adam should turn the other way, and take of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, then he would develop his own manhood along natural lines apart from God.”

And the result of ‘life’ apart from God? That’s fallen countenances, fallen-away minds and hearts, failed inheritances, spiritually dead bodies wandering in life apart from eternal purpose, fallen away sickness of sin and its consequences,, fallen away from heaven on earth, Truth fallen away, “crowns” fallen away, fallen away from divine Presence and divine blessing, fallen from holiness and sinking in to the depths of sin and death, fallen into a deep sleep, and fallen away from grace, mercy, and love!

Oh, but look at the Eternally blessed Word of God in John 1:12-13! “But as many as received Him [Christ Jesus], to them He [God] gave the right to become children of God to those who believe [trust in, rely upon, adhere to] in His name; who were born, not of blood, not of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” The question of eternal significance for you? “Have you truly “been born again, the second time, born from above, born of God”?

You’ll remember that in Matthew 7:17-20 Christ Jesus told us: “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

It was John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, who said in Matthew 3:8, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…”, indicating “good fruit” that comes out of the overflow of a "new,” “born-again,” “repentant,” “reconciled to God individual”!

Holy God does not send out His “messengers”, His “ambassadors”, with a message of ‘reformation’ or re-construction or re-adjustments, but a message of the second birth; “Tell them, ‘You must be born again!’”

When you study intently Jesus’ words about new disciples and their ministries, you learn about ‘soil preparation, seed planting, and, yes, harvest of the fruit that comes out of good trees,’ and in the spiritual realm, that’s lost life soil preparation, that’s planting the ‘seed’ of the Word of God, and seeing birthed through your witness redeemed lives! And Jesus tells us “the fields are already white, ready for harvest”! Are YOU harvesting?

Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” But that wise ministry of winning souls to Christ is not by the best of human effort but availability to the Holy Spirit! Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

One of those “redemptive evidences” of true faith is found in John 7:38-39 when Jesus said: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.184], “Think of the healing and far-flung rivers nursing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up marvelous truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is an indication of the wider power of the river He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has nourished in you mighty torrents of blessing for others.”

I don’t know how you’ll respond to it, but I want you to consider very seriously the words of Proverbs 12:14a and Verse 17-20! “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth…” Verses 17-20, “He who speaks truth declared righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.”

“A redemptive evidence”? In Galatians 5:22-25 Paul tells us: “But the fruit of the Spirit [compare that with the fruit of the flesh!] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Thank God! Jesus was exalted to the right hand of Father-God, and the Holy Spirit was sent to crown Jesus in us as King of kings and Lord of lords, and to be God’s provision in us and through us to honor Christ Jesus in our daily walks and eternal ministries! Thank God! The Holy Spirit is God’s gracious gift to every redeemed believer!

Richard A. Kelly wrote the hymn, “Holy Spirit, Lead Us,” in the early 1940’s (I think!). It says: “O Holy Spirit, lead us, we pray, We need Your guidance all through the day; If You but teach us to know Your ways, We follow gladly and sing Your praise.

We need Your power along life’s way, Come, gracious Spirit, abide today; Endue with love, You Mighty One, Oh, help us now to say, “Your will be done.”

Comfort our hearts, hear, us, we pray, Give us Your strength from day to day; If we but follow, make You our Guide, Your peace will be ours, and joy abide.”

Receive Jesus’ words about the Holy Spirit in John 16:12-14! “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine, and declare it to you.” Amen?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“FAITH AND ITS FIGHT”

James, the brother of Jesus, asked an interesting, intriguing question in James 4:1 when he said, “Where do wars and fights come from among you?” And it’s really amazing what he had to say when in James 1:2-3 he wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials [troubles, testing, turmoils etc.], knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Joy when you’re going through “a state of great commotion, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; agitation; disquietness; [even] turbulence, disorder, uproar?” [That’s the Random House Collegiate Dictionary!].

And that can relate to “Faith and Its Fight”? What did John say in Revelation 1:9-10? “I, John, both your brother [in the faith!], and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience [or steadfastness] of Jesus Christ, was on the island of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet…” These are amazing words of revelation because the Beloved John had been imprisoned for proclaiming the faith!

Have you ever considered through ‘history’ that the blowing of the trumpet was the announcement of entering the battle? And, sadly, far too many “professing Christians” don’t even know of the warfare that concerns “Faith and the Fight”! To come to the Lord Jesus Christ in humble faith and surrender is to report for “warfare duty” in and for the Faith! One does not usually expect that the acceptance of the grace of God is a release to lifetime spiritual warfare – but it’s the open door in a “warfare” that can be physical or spiritual or mental or moral!

How do you respond or react to Paul’s words in Romans 5:10? “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.” Your coming to Christ in true redemptive faith and repentance is the offering of your life as a living sacrifice, ready for the battles that surrender to Jesus brings on.

And as a “soldier of the Cross,” what about the daily discipline of preparation to fight the good fight of faith? There ARE great enemies to one’s very life of faith in Christ! In Luke 21:19 Jesus very clearly said: “By your patience [steadfastness] possess your souls.” Would you think Jesus was telling disciples, “Prepare your souls for the warfare of the faith?”

Spiritual warfare is a daily experience of every true believer that relates to the world, the flesh, and the devil! Our fellowship-church this past Sunday sang a song about, “Every high thing must come down, every stronghold shall be broken!” Every habitual sin will be uprooted out of your life, if YOU belong to Jesus! There will be a shattering of fleshly pride and flesh-pumping promotion! God intends every ‘house-desolating’ to come to an end, home deception rooted out, and family desecration healed!

There is even a major war in the business-world area; I don’t believe you’d be shocked by ‘commercial corruption’ or ‘banking frauds’ or even ‘medical malpractice’ by deceitful doctors! How evil can even some governmental leaders become as they deceitfully use ‘public funds’ to enrich themselves or betray their oaths of office or dishonor Holy God before the public they are supposed to be ‘serving’? I’m sure this general warfare in life, in relationships, in families, in governments, was a part of what Peter was talking about in 2 Peter 1 and the end of Verse 4 when he spoke of “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”!

Didn’t Peter also expose the danger of false prophets in 2 Peter 2 with their “destructive heresies”, and in Verses 1 and 2 enlightening us about them: “even ‘denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.’”

Peter spoke later in 2 Peter 2:13b-15a saying, “They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray…loving the wages of unrighteousness.” Does that sound familiar, or ring a bell, or sound an alarm or a ‘wake-up call’? But it’s not only that men have “forsaken the right way and gone astray,” or men “carousing in their own deceptions,” or men “having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin,” or men who “love the wages of unrighteousness” – in Acts 17:22, Paul said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious,” but they didn’t know the King of kings and the Lord of lords! And Paul preached to them “Christ Jesus” because “in Him we live and move and have our being”!

He then said, Acts 17:30, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent!” Why? Because, “He [God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

LET’S EXAMINE FIRST THE REALITY OF GOD JUDGING THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE MAN WHOM HE HAS ORDAINED! In Psalm 9 there are several verses I want to use in laying the foundation of God’s “judgment” – and here, it is the judgment of the “world”! Psalm 9:7-8 King David wrote: “But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.”

In Psalm 9:15-17 the inspired Word of God is so clear! It says: “The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. [Meditation]. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Oh, and then in Verse 20, David wrote: “Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men.” So true of men – but God IS Holy God, and Holy God judges “the world.”

Thank God for the prophetic Word of God that can be, has been, and will be for those nations and individuals who “have ears to hear”! Isaiah 13:11-13 no doubt was a direct Word to “faithless” Israel, but it certainly extends to all nations and all peoples! God said, “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will move out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of His fierce anger.”

God told Jeremiah to “prophesy against them all these words, and say to them: [Jeremiah 25:30-33}, “The Lord will roar from on high, and utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise will come to the ends of the earth – for the Lord has a controversy with the nations; He will plead His case with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword,’ says the Lord. Thus says the Lord: “Behold, disaster shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the farthest parts of the earth. And at that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground.”

I have no doubts that God intended through His ‘world creation’ including man was to be a place of true spiritual life, not a place of the reality of spiritual death in the lives of fallen humanity! I’m convinced His intent in and through the world was for it to be truly a house of praise, but it became for mankind a place of death, a prison for the rebellious, and a hospital for the spiritually sick and the mentally insane who chose the powers of darkness over God’s Kingdom of Light!

It was Robert E. Lee in a “Letter to his Wife” who wrote: “What a glorious world Almighty God has given us! How thankless and ungrateful we are, and how we labor to mar His gifts.” And, no doubt, this is why the beloved John, in 1 John 2:17, wrote: “The world passes away, and the lust thereof.”

Wasn’t it Tennyson who spoke about “this gross, hard-seeming world [being] our misshaping vision of the Powers behind the world, that make our griefs our gains”? And, without a doubt, is it not fallen mankind that so disquiets, disturbs, even disrobes, or tries to, God’s glorious Creation, making it an abode of snared lives rather than the people of love, grace, and mercy?

There is an interesting passage in Luke 18:31 when the Word says, “Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, [and He unveiled all that was to happen to Him and even to His disciples!]…with Verse 34 saying, “But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.”

And, sadly, many, many believers have never come to an understanding of “laid-down-lives” to make eternal difference in a dark, lost, unbelieving world, and that as Jesus chose the Cross for Himself, so do true believers in laying down their lives in witness to the world!

In 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Paul said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.”

In Christ, YOU are ushering in to a darkened world the very “Light of the world” whose name is Jesus Christ! You “have this treasure” in an earthen vessel so that through you men witness “the excellence of the power of God,” and what has made the difference in your life can make the eternal difference in their earthly existence also! Witnesses to the world!

“Faith and its fight?” SECOND, LET’S EXAMINE THE REALITY OF AN ENEMY OF CHRIST AND OURSELVES CALLED THE “FLESH”, YOUR OLD SIN NATURE, FALLEN ADAM, THE OLD MAN. If Jesus says, and He does, “That which is born of flesh is flesh,” has that unveiling of man’s fallen sin nature changed? “Flesh IS flesh” – and if there is a change it is because of one’s birth in the Spirit!

In fact, in John 3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” adding in Verse 5, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water [water of the Word implanted] and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” What an awesome revelation!

In Peter’s epistle, 1 Peter 1:22-23, Peter enlightens us, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, [purified by the blood of the Lamb!], having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever..”, then saying in Verse 25, “But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Paul wrote a very vital word for us in Ephesians 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

“Sanctify” is a word meaning “set apart for the glory of God”, with Paul adding by the Holy Spirit, “and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”! That ‘word’ is the God-inspired, God-breathed word!

The “flesh,” your own old sin nature, your ‘fallen self’ away from God, your “old man,” is the ancient heredity of sin and the sin nature of all mankind from Adam UNTIL the last born man on earth! I love what Oswald Chambers wrote: “My Utmost For His Highest,”[p.208], “The revelation of the Bible is not that Jesus Christ took upon Himself our fleshly sins, but that He took upon Himself the heredity of sin which no man can touch. God made His own Son to be sin that He might make the sinner a saint. All through the Bible it is revealed that Our Lord bore the sin of the world by “identification”, not by “sympathy”. He deliberately took upon His own shoulders, and bore in His own Person, the whole massed sin of the human race – “He [God] has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin,” and by so doing He put the whole human race on the basis of Redemption. Jesus Christ rehabilitated the human race. He put it back to where God designed it to be, and anyone can enter into union with God on the ground of what Our Lord has done on the Cross.”

In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” And that’s because of our Adamic, fallen, sinful, away-from-God choice! Fallen mankind finds ‘temporary’ pleasure in rebellion to Holy God! Natural mankind reflects the nature, character, instincts, obstinacy, fleshly pride, willful rebellion against God and His Holy Word, declaring independence from God, disobedient, disconnected from holy guidance and amazing grace, determined to deify the soul and live separated from Holy God!

Oh, but then because of God’s eternal love for all mankind, Isaiah 7:14 reveals, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” And that birth was with eternal purpose because through Christ the ‘rotten flesh of sinful man’, by God’s grace and mercy, can be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, with the door being opened in every repentant heart, where Paul tells us in Galatians 4:19, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” And as Christ is being ‘formed in me’, God begins the work of sovereign grace to “work through me in exalting and glorifying Christ on earth as He is glorified in Heaven!”

And because our faith and hope is in and through Christ Jesus, in Galatians 5:24, Paul challenges every born-again believer, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” We love Him because He first loved us – and in this ‘love relationship’, who loves in rebellion, disobedience, and disfigurement of the One who loves you more than you love yourself? Look at the Cross!

THIRD, CONSIDER CAREFULLY YOUR “MAJORITY” ENEMY CALLED SATAN OR THE DEVIL! In 1 Peter 5:8-9 we find highly important and valuable words about Satan we all must receive! Peter said: “Be sober [‘serious-minded’], be vigilant [‘on guard!]; because your adversary [your enemy] the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

How important is a disciple’s understanding of his spiritual warfare with Satan? It is so interesting to read a very short verse in Ephesians 4:27 when Paul said: “nor give place to the devil.”

It was Jude, in Jude 9, who wrote “to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ,” saying, “Yet Michael the archangel, IN CONTENDING WITH THE DEVIL, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” That sounds to me like, “when Satan comes against you, tune in Jesus only!”

Paul wrote to Timothy, in 1 Timothy 3:6-7, about ‘bishop’ qualifications, saying, “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

That tells me your “majority enemy” is out to entice you, entrap you, oppress you, deceive you, condemn you, possess you even with demon powers and forces, sow wild seeds in your life, grievously vex and torment you, even blind you to the reality of God’s great love for you demonstrated in Christ’s Cross! It was John Dryden, in his “Absalom and Achitophel, [Pt.1,l.79], who wrote: “When to sin our biased nature leans, The careful devil is still at hand with means.”

How vitally important is the Word of God concerning our understanding of the devil as our enemy, yet most of the world, even the unsaved, are fully aware of his destructive work all around! Even highly trained and mentally educated will admit to his existence because they see the evidence all around them!

Do you find it amazing that Christ Jesus, in confronting the “religious Jews”, said of them, John 8:43-45, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me.” With whom do YOU stand? With Satan or the Savior? I’ve never known a more accursed individual than that man who has voluntarily given his soul to the devil and the demon powers! He has no comprehension of the devil’s desire to control him, consume him, and destroy him! Even sadder when the major majorities of cities, states, or nations, are people who deny God His rightful place but will embrace and esteem Satan as he hand-heart-and-mind “cuffs” them as he imprints his ‘profanities’ upon them! Aren’t you aware of how easily he distracts men from the love of God as they embrace the lusts of Satan? Satan has no logic – he just majors on lust! This may be why in “Hamlet” William Shakespeare wrote: “and the devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape,” because he understands men major on “eye-sight” rather than true heart-motivation! He even mentioned another time about those who “sugar over the devil himself”!

And I hate to tell you, but Satan is “a cradle-rocker” and a youth contaminator, and an adult assassin, who is out to destroy, to denigrate, to infiltrate body, soul, and spirit; he assaults, he attacks, he aspirates any heart or mind turning toward “evidences of redemptive faith” or allegiance to Holy God in Christ! Oh, but he delights in “false religions” void of the love of God and Calvary’s Cross!

But John 12:31-33 tells us: Jesus speaking, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” And the Cross hasn’t defeated your enemy, Satan?

That’s the New King James Version with Satan called “the ruler of this world.” In other places he’s called ‘the prince of this world,’ but whatever you want to call him, “the devil IS the devil” and rules over “a hell of a place and people”! And isn’t it true that “their foolish hearts were darkened”, and if so, is it not the devil himself that ushered in “darkness”?

And, thank God, Colossians 1:13-14 tells us: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

You are aware of imitation, counterfeit, rotten ‘fruit’ that the devil strongly favors: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, idolatry, deceitful lusts, blindness of the heart, greediness, bitterness, wrath, anger, evil speaking, hatred or malice, unforgiveness, unbelief, lies, hypocrisy, disobedience – just a few characteristics to describe the evil nature and character of the devil who is out to enslave you to his domination!

In 2 Timothy 2:24-26 Paul has explained to Timothy how humble and patient true servants of Christ are to be with those captured by Satan! He said: And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

That, my friends, is an awesome statement unbelievers must be made aware of! Some do not even know that without Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior they are slaves to Satan and his horrific kingdom of darkness! Spiritual enslavement to the devil is a very dark place and position to live in! If you didn’t know it, a strong self-assertive will is nothing more than one who walks around in the devil’s prison-garb! Satan so blinds his ‘sin-slaves’ that they seldom ‘break away or break out’ of their grasp of understanding of “falling short of the glory of God”!

But what did Christ Jesus do in His coming? John 1:14 says, “And the Word [Christ Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” And what happens when we turn from Satan and to Christ Jesus? John 1:16 says, “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”

We ALL have a choice: remain a ‘son’ of Satan or “child of God”! John 1:12-13 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in [trust in, rely upon, adhere to] His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

It was Hattie E. Buell and Rev. John B. Summer who wrote the old hymn, “A Child of the King.” It says:

“My Father is rich in houses and lands, He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands! Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold, His coffers are full, He has riches untold…

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men, Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them; But now He is pleading our pardon on high, That we may be His when He comes by and by…

I once was an outcast stranger on earth, A sinner by choice, And an alien by birth; But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down, An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown…

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there; Though exiled from home, yet, still I may sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King…

I’m a child of the King, A child of the King; With Jesus my Savior I’m a child of the King.” AMEN?

I close this chapter with 1 Timothy 6:11-16! “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

Will you be exalted at the Throne of God with Christ because you fought the good fight of Faith?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“FAITH AND ITS OVERCOMING POWER”

1 John 5:4-5 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

How easy is it at times for one to be ‘overcome’ rather than being an ‘overcomer’ by the gift of redemptive faith and its overcoming power? I’m sure you’re familiar with the passage of Scripture in Luke 8:22-25! It says, Now it happened, on a certain day, that He [Jesus] got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

Most of unredeemed mankind today lives in an unconscious state of awareness of God’s presence in or around them when the storms of life arise, and they live in fear and trembling rather than in faith and its overcoming power! You are aware that there are those who look down on those who possess “faith in God”, perceiving it to be a sign of fleshly weakness rather than the blessing of faith in His overcoming power.

For example, are you aware that when the Word of God in Genesis 5:24 says “Enoch walked with God”, many will frown upon it as an insult to a man’s self-worth and self-strength?

The beloved John heard about things Jesus had been doing, and He sent two of His disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus, in Matthew 11:25, said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Verse 26, Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight.” It’s never easy for “the wise and prudent”, as they see themselves smarter than God Himself, but humble “babes” are reachable and teachable by the Master-Teacher!

And what about what Malachi wrote in Malachi 2 describing Israel like a husband “dealing treacherously with the wife of his youth,” saying Verse 16, “Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously,” with God Himself, followed by Verse 17, “You have wearied the Lord with your words…”?

No doubt that Jesus was talking to ‘the multitude’ in Israel, ‘religiously active’ but far from understanding Redemptive Faith, when He said in Matthew 17:17, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you [or put up with you].” In “Idylls of the King: Merlin and Vivien,” Tennyson wrote, “Faith and unfaith can ne’er be equal powers; Unfaith in aught [or nothing] is want of faith in all,” which for many means ‘no faith in God at all’!

I mentioned Enoch early in this chapter, but I want you to grasp also what was said about Enoch in Hebrews 11:5-6 – “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

But “self-faith” is not a rewarder but a thief that robs, based on ‘high’ self-esteem, ‘high’ personal importance, and a ‘low view’ of anyone who looks outside himself to the loving God!

At the same time, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul brings awareness to the table when “apostasy” surfaces! He said: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…” If there is a battle against one’s devotion to Christ, what are the Spirit and the Word telling us as to how we overcome? 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 says, “ – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead…” So why “self-faith” when one can be, has been, and forever will be choosing the sentence of death to the “old man” daily that the Resurrection Life of Christ Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body with the gift of everlasting life? Paul said elsewhere, “I die daily”! Do you? And that for the purpose of giving Christ His rightful place in us as King of kings and Lord of lords!

“Faith and its overcoming power”? Born of flesh is the “birth of spiritual death,” but born of the Spirit is the “birth of eternal life”! “Master, we’re perishing in the stormy sea of life,” and Jesus still says, “Where is your faith”?

And where is YOUR faith when you find yourself being assaulted by Satan and the demon powers of Hell itself? Let’s look at Jesus’ response when He was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.” It’s found in Luke 4:1-13. Verse 2b tells us, “And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” [That was a “fast”.]. And in that forty day period He was continually tempted.

Let’s examine the three primary areas that the devil will “tempt” YOU as he did Jesus!

• There is the temptation of the “lust of the flesh”! Matthew 4:3, And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread,” with Jesus responding to the devil in Verse 4, But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
• There is the temptation of the “lust of the eyes”! Matthew 4:5-8, Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

• There is the temptation of the “boastful pride of life.” Matthew 4:9-12, Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Then Verse 14 says, Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Let me give you a biblical word of encouragement in overcoming ‘temptation’ as your enemy comes against you! This is “Faith and its overcoming power” as it relates to a true believer! 1 Corinthians 10:13! “No temptation has overtaken you except as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

But beyond the devil’s temptations to lead you astray, are you aware of, yes, the horrific struggle that goes on as one is maturing in his faith, and battling between the ‘flesh’ and the Spirit, or the ‘old man’ trying to resurrect and be released in the “new man”?

In Galatians 5:24 Paul instructs us, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” We saw earlier in one of the previous chapters Paul affirming his death to himself daily and standing victorious in Christ’s Resurrection Life. In 1 Corinthians 15:31 he said, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY!”

If YOU belong to Christ, you understand spiritual warfare, whether you and the devil, you and the world spirit, but just as real, your battle with the old sin nature that is out to be resurrected through you! Jesus said to ALL, Matthew 16:24-25, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

The awesome warfare of the “new man” fighting the “old man” is not just a warfare of heaven against hell, but in reality at times the “born again” man has to face the “good, better, and best” in himself, shutting out Christ in him and through him, and in a spirit of unawareness, self-promoting the natural man and closing the door of heavenly presence in the supernatural!!

Oswald Chambers said in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.257], “If we do not sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life will mock at the life of the Son of God in us and produce a continual swither [swither meaning perplexity, confusion]. This is always the result of an undisciplined spiritual nature. We go wrong because we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves, physically, morally, or mentally. “I wasn’t disciplined when I was a child.” You must discipline yourself now. If you do not, you will ruin the whole of your personal life for God.”

“Where is your faith” as you fight the good fight of faith, “new man” versus “old man”? But also are you alerted to the very depravity and doom of “false teachers,” “phony preachers,” and “counterfeit disciples” or “shell churches” without “ANY Holy Presence”?

There are no doubts concerning faithful, God-honoring, holy men who were moved to teach and preach, moved by the Holy Spirit! But 2 Peter 2:1-20 majors on ‘darkened doctrines’, disobedient, foreign to God teachers, religious teachers with depraved minds and diseased hearts,, men blinded by the powers of darkness, diseased in their teachings, bound by the devil himself as his slave of corruption and indecency, even poisoning the minds of some believers!

Oh, and 2 Peter 2:21 says, “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” And that SURELY ought to “scare the Hell out of some people”!

“Faith and its overcoming power?” The church of our Lord and Savior had made inroads into Rome. Before Paul went there to die, he had written the epistle to the newly formed church or body of believers there. In Romans 12:9-21 the apostle shared a vital word to the believers there about brotherly love, merciful living, and the demonstration of overcoming evil with good. Follow his word:

Verses 9-21, “Let love be without hypocrisy [or “play-acting,” “stage performance or imitation”], Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality…

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion…

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will replay,’ says the Lord…

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Oh, how different is the ‘fallen family of humanity’ from the “Holy Family of God”! And when God says to all, “Choose you this day whom you will serve,” what is YOUR response? Far too many shy away from “Faith and its overcoming power” and succumb to faithlessness and its destructive influences! But, “this is the day the Lord has made”, and He’d be overjoyed to see you surrendering yourself to His sovereignty and His salvation blessing through His Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

In Revelation 2:7 John wrote: I believe Jesus speaking: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Amen?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“HIDDEN SINS – FAITH’S EXPOSURE”

Are you truly aware of how evil “hidden sins” really are? How do you feel when a “pretender” is exposed? A “pretender” is one who makes false confessions because he/she is so expert about lying and deceiving those around him/her! And there are “professional braggers” who are highly efficient in spiritual cosmetics that cover over “the real person”, at least for awhile. Can you comprehend a man so full of himself that he can’t begin to consider his need of God’s sovereign grace and mercy, and had rather ‘lie’ about how ‘spiritual’ he is when, really, he possesses a bankrupt spirit of faith?

Fullness of self is one’s prideful way of neglecting his/her need of saving grace! A comical, out-going extrovert is often the “crown prince” of self-deception! A man who is a “master” of self-control is often living on the faulty foundation of self-pride, self-awareness, and self-hate, without a clue of his/her need of saving grace.

Have you ever witnessed that man, that woman, who appear to place themselves humbly on an altar of sacrifice for others’ needs when it surfaces they were simply magnifying ‘self-love’ and hopefully drawing attention to themselves? How inconsistent do you find the ‘service’ of men who robbed God of His intent of “laid-down lives” caring for others more than caring for themselves, but selfishness overrules their ‘self-sacrifice’ and they go around patting themselves on their backs!

It was William Ewart Gladstone who once said, “Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race.” And if you didn’t know or understand: Selfishness is the curse of ‘self-centeredness’ dominated by the very fallen nature of sin instituted by devilish, demonic activity and control – and the more ‘respectable’, the greater bondage, and the higher – the prison walls!

2 Thessalonians 2 is Paul teaching Timothy, and us, about a “Day” of apostasy and a great falling away! Verses 3-12 enlighten us as to the dangers those “falling away” from Christ will face:

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved…

And for this reason God will send them strong delusions, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

What fallen man, what unbeliever, what rebellious sinner, do you know that doesn’t “take pleasure in unrighteousness”? What man, captured in all unrighteous deception, do you know who has no desire to hear from you sharing with him biblical truth? And certainly, they have no desire to hear Jesus Himself say to them as He did to “the scribes and Pharisees,” Matthew 23:33, “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”

“Serpents, brood of vipers”? And who is that? That’s those who have no interest at all in the death of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross – their interest, their consuming motivation, their ‘self-professed motivation’ is nothing more than their fleshly desire to please, enjoy, celebrate, and live by their sinful natures, their worldly pleasures, their ‘ecstasy indifference’ to the will, the Word, and the pleasure of God in all His heavenly desires for them!

There is such a powerful, convicting, encouraging word that God gives us through King David in Psalm 19:7-14! Rest in it! The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether….

More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? CLEANSE ME FROM SECRET FAULTS…

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

“Hidden sins – Faith’s exposure”! Do you think David had a clear understanding of what it meant to him, and us, about “Cleanse me from secret faults”? You’ll remember that in Genesis 6:5 “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” and God was so sorrowful over His creation of man that He was ready to destroy them, but the end of Verse 7 tells us, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” and the earth inhabitants were spared.

Enter Abram! And in Genesis 15 we find a covenant relationship between Abram and Holy God with Verse 6 telling us, “And he [Abram[ believed in the Lord, and He, ‘God Almighty’, accounted [or credited] to Abram’s account God’s righteousness!,” and through human history, though the “many” hide their sin and ‘pretend’ everything is ‘OK’ as they intentionally break God’s Law, a ‘remnant’ of humanity become living witnesses of the redemptive faith God has given us, while a fallen world goes on in its “hidden sins” but with more and more open rebellion and an unashamed spirit of their Godlessness!

In Jeremiah 32:19 the prophet addresses the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, saying: “You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.”

It was the great English preacher of the past in England, Charles Spurgeon, who once said: “The sins that we see and confess are but like the farmer’s samples which he brings to market, when he has left his granary full at home.”

Are you aware that multitudes who live in “open sin” and rebellion to God’s Holy Word, seldom admit what they do is sin and defiance of God, but there are those who know it’s sin, and being ashamed, will cover it over, even denying their fallen state before Holy God! It might be good for you to be asking yourself and others why it is they like things to take place in “the dark of night” or why it is their wicked choices are “in secret”!

Sadly, most enslaved to their sin nature, and ashamed of it, need to be challenged again by what we just read from the prophet Jeremiah three paragraphs ago, who said in Jeremiah 32:19, “You [God] are great in counsel and mighty in work, FOR YOUR EYES ARE OPEN TO ALL THE WAYS OF THE SONS OF MEN, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.” [Do you know the biblical difference between “good fruit” and “rotten fruit”?] And there is nothing “secret” to the eyes of Holy God!

Do you remember Sarai’s servant named Hagar who bore Abram a son? In Genesis 16:13 we read: “Then she [Hagar] called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, ‘Have I also here seen Him who sees me?’”

There is no “hiding” from God, yet in this day and time of modern history, far too many are unashamed of their sinful ways and could care less if God sees or doesn’t see what they “enjoy” temporarily – and it is temporary enjoyment with His guarantee of eternal punishment if there is no repentance and turning from their SIN to the Savior and Lord of a blessed life!

What are we learning concerning “Hidden Sins – Faith’s Exposure”? It’s for sure, we are fully aware that nothing is hidden from Holy God! We are fully aware that before man came into existence God knew of the necessity of “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world!” We are fully aware that God the Father was out to birth a new “family of faith” through His blood redemption at Calvary’s Cross!

In 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Paul declared under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Does that mean that now since Jesus paid the price for man’s forgiveness that ALL MEN ARE NOW SAVED?

Of course not, which is why Paul added, in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, “Now then, we [of repentance and true faith] are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf [His earthly representatives, ambassadors], be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Do you understand? You are either “the righteousness of God in Christ” or you choose to be the unrighteousness of the devil in your sinful self, though Christ Jesus paid your debt 2000 years ago!

“Hidden sins – Faith’s exposure”? Do you grasp the difference between “pretense” and “Holy Presence”? What about a “contradiction” and true conversion? Are there men who are perverters of truth rather than being men fully persuaded Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and they’re willing to die for Him and His unveiling of Eternal Truth?

“Hidden sins – Faith’s exposure”? If the God of Creation made us to honor and reflect Himself, how is it men so carelessly, recklessly, and proudly, walk this earth God made, as devils in multitudinous disguises, in rebellion, in disobedience, parading as ‘perfect sons’, when in reality, under their cloaks and masks, are marred men who are out to satisfy only their sinful lusts, their self-centered pride, and their strong attachment to the spirit of a fallen world – of Heaven’s God they have no interest!

But when “Faith” exposes not only their sinfulness, and then opens the door to heavenly living on earth through Christ Jesus, yes, if necessary, they are willing to walk with Him alone, even if no one else follows Him!

As Paul wrote Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:16-18, we find encouraging words! “At my first defense no one stood with me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

But, of course, many churches teach that if Jesus delivers us from every evil work and preserves us for His heavenly kingdom, that’s a future prospect not a present reality! And they ignore Jesus teaching His disciples to pray, as He said in Matthew 6:9-10, In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN…”, and Jesus ended “The Lord’s Prayer” in Verse 13b, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. [Or “So be it, Lord!”].

“Faith’s Exposure” is leading people out of darkness into His marvelous Light, out of separation from God to Oneness in Him, out of unbelief in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior to exalting Him in their hearts, minds, and homes, as our deliverance from bondage to freedom in Him with our chains broken, and then blessed and endued with power from on high, and that’s in “the here and now”, not when we get to heaven someday!

“Faith’s Exposure” was certainly intended for Jews first because the “Promised Messiah” was to come through them, but most Jews rejected Christ Jesus then and most Jews reject Him now because they loved or love their religious activities more than desired “saving grace and saving faith” – they desired only religious observances more than “new life in Christ” through repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at Calvary’s Cross!

Follow Acts 10:34-45 carefully!! Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Christ Jesus – He is Lord of all – that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree…

Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to those who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”

God the Father “anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power”, but not His disciples? And, yes, God DOES anoint every disciple, then and now, with the Holy Spirit and with power! Being one with Christ is to be endued with power from on high!

And that ‘anointing’ God releases in you enabling you to proclaim a mighty witness of the Lord Jesus! Isn’t that Acts 1:8?

That ‘anointing’ is also God releasing His power in you to live a holy life! In Romans 8:11-14 we read, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you…

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

Plus, the ‘anointing’ of the Holy Spirit upon and in you is God’s power unveiling in you to see and witness God manifesting Himself in mighty deeds and wonders! In 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 we read, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one as He wills.”

As I come to a close in this particular chapter on “Hidden Sins – Faith’s Exposure”, I must examine the danger of “faith-people” who choose recklessness in their walks as “professors of faith” and, yes, allow sin to begin dominating them rather than honoring the Indwelling Christ! [I know this irritates those who deny one can ever lose his/her salvation, but…].

Come, first, to Joshua 24:19-20, where Joshua said: “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will NOT FORGIVE your transgressions nor your sins. IF YOU FORSAKE THE LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.”

Oh, then Jesus comes along to shatter ‘safety and security’ in those who believe it isn’t possible in the New Covenant for Jesus to do His disciples harm and consume them! “Faith’s Exposure”? What does Luke 12:45-46 tell us, Jesus Himself speaking? “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and APPOINT HIM HIS PORTION WITH THE UNBELIEVERS.” [Check Jeremiah 34:18-20!].

It sounds to me like every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ should avoid “Hidden Sins” since “Faith’s Exposure” includes ‘believers’ compromising their professed faith in Christ Jesus!

I must have you to also look carefully at 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 where Paul alerted us, saying: “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us HOW YOU OUGHT TO WALK AND TO PLEASE GOD; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus…

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

If the will of God is “your sanctification,” how is it there are those in Christ who choose to exercise themselves at times in unholy fashion choosing immoral styles of life to satisfy their old sin natures? Sanctification IS unveiling Christ in and through us – immoral choices is resurrecting that which “died with Christ” on the Cross with, yes, the “penalty” – “the wages of sin is death”! When did that change?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“FAITH AND ITS STRONG FOUNDATION”

How do you look upon a ‘home-builder’ that you see beginning construction on the plans of an expensive home but you notice he doesn’t build a strong foundation first upon which to construct the home of someone’s dreams? Would you dare to construct, whether office building or home, without a strong foundation? Faith without a strong foundation is a mind and a life void of intelligent, biblical understanding, without an ounce of spiritual awareness of a relationship to Holy God.

Do you remember our Lord and Savior weeping over Jerusalem? In Luke 19:41-44 we read, Now as He [Jesus Christ, the Promised Messiah] drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes…

For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

What if there is a leveling of a life because that life never considered the vital importance of its “proper foundation”? It didn’t even consider the weakness of life without the foundation of God Himself! In Luke 6:46-49 Christ Jesus instructs us as to the results of ‘no foundation’ or “the foundation of a house built on the Rock!” It says:

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation of the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock…

But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

But you know as well as I do that Jesus was challenging us about “Faith and Its Strong Foundation”! A man without true faith and a Word-based foundation is a man who will know one day and forever regret his faithlessness that unveils for him only unfathomable sadness, a perturbed, troubled mind, and a morbid awareness of what he avoided in his self-centered life!

Faith is not weakness but eternally divine strength and confidence and assurance of one, yes, being “more than conqueror in and through Christ Jesus”! Faith is not an unsure foundation but full awareness of His ability, His promise, His assurance, His provision of His overcoming Life that never fades away or dies! If YOU fade in His faith, it’s your fleshly choice, not His divine promise or provision, because our Lord and Savior has revealed to us, RECEIVE JESUS’WORD!!, John 11:40, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

As you are studying with me about “Faith and Its Strong Foundation”, it’s my prayer that you are not a ‘modern-day’ unbeliever who has no desire to know what Jesus says, but that YOU are so convicted and so concerned about the right foundation for your life as you prepare for eternity! And without a doubt, you’ll not avoid ‘the sanctuary of your soul’ and its eternal dwelling!

In Hebrews 12:25-28 is a powerful word for the awakening of your soul before God if it’s necessary! It says: “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more ‘shall we not escape’ if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Is it YOU that Holy God will consume with fire?

So, I would challenge you initially in this chapter that “THE ABSENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN ONE’S LIFE THROUGH INDIFFERENCE OR AN UNIMPORTANT ATTITUDE” is of major concern. You’ll remember, I pray, what Jesus said to Satan when led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil in Matthew 4:4.

The first temptation was, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” And even as Jesus was training young disciples in the faith-walk, in John 6:63, He said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Before our Lord’s ascension to heaven, in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING THEM to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” [Or “So be it!]

Peter was a strong disciple as he matured in the Faith, guided by the Holy Spirit! In 1 Peter 1:22-25 he wrote: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Is an absence of the Word of God in one’s life an open door to spiritual malnutrition? How does one ‘obey’ what he/she does not know? No Word – no life; no Word – no growth; no Word – no spirit of discernment; no Word – no strong spiritual health; no Word – no unfolding of the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ; no Word – no calling or obedience in ministry and service; no Word – no grasping of “the Master-plan” in building a life and witness!

“Babes in Christ” are like observing that infant even learning to stand or how to take a step – and usually that’s with many falls. Babes in Christ usually have no understanding of ‘spiritual currency values’ and will waste rather than treasure what is of vital importance! Babes in Christ, maturing in their journeys, will often speak without even understanding what they’ve said or heard.

“THE ABSENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN ONE’S LIFE ALSO INVALIDATES ONE’S PROFESSION BECAUSE OBEDIENCE TO GOD”S WORD IS EVIDENCE OF THE HEART-SURRENDER TO THE WILL, THE WORD, AND THE WAYS OF GOD!!”

In Luke 6:46 the Lord Jesus asks, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do the things which I say?” The evidence of true faith? “Yes, Lord whatever You say, I receive and I will do. My faith will not be a philosophical indulgence or hidden vices that I hold on to – my mind, my heart, my will is more than a ‘profession’ of some religious beliefs – it’s the eternal POSSESSION of ‘Christ in me’ being released through me as I obey Your inspired revelation of divine purpose, plan, and power!”

Holy God, King Jesus, and the Eternal Spirit, have not called us to live on mental and even spiritual fiction, but divine revelation! Again, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do the things that I say?”

It was George Macdonald in his “Marquis of Lossie”, [ch.72], who wrote: “I find the doing of the will of God, leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.” Michael Eyquem de Montaigne once said: “The first law that ever God gave to man was a law of obedience; it was a commandment pure and simple, wherein man had nothing to inquire after or to dispute, for as much as to obey is the proper office of a rational soul acknowledging a heavenly superior and benefactor. From obedience and submission spring all other virtues, as all sin does from self-opinion and self-will.”

Just how convicting and how powerful and how instructive do you find 1 Corinthians 3:9-17?!? It says: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire…

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

SO…!!! Does this involve the “Master-plan” discovery, study, preparation, and execution, or is true discipleship just “wing it” the “best” you know how? Is Christ Jesus YOUR Lord and Savior and “boss” of your life, your walk, your testimony, your job description? And if He is, is obedience to Him the evidence of your laying down your life daily to submit to His every command?

If YOU are building or constructing your life to “house” the King of kings and the Lord of lords, how thorough and complete is your understanding of “crucified with Christ” so that the resurrection life of Christ is manifested in your mortal flesh? Spurgeon once preached, “If truth will carry you no further than despair, better that you stop in despair than gain a hope by a lie.”

Also, I want you to carefully sense through God’s Word “THE WISDOM OF A WISE MASTER-HOME BUILDER AND THE FOOLISHNESS OF AN UNWISE BUILDER!” “FOOLISH LIFE-BUILDING”? An unwise life-builder? Through Isaiah, in Isaiah 45:6-7, God spoke: “I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’” Oh, and then in Verse 24, for those who are unwise ‘life-builders’, God speaks: “To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him.”

It’s never changed: Psalm 14:1, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” And whether it’s the “fool” or an unbeliever who rejects saving grace, mercy, and love, all who fail to “look unto God Himself, and be saved”, have based their ‘decisions’ on human merit, basing even their appeal to God, if they ever had one, on fleshly worthiness rather than Godly conviction because ‘respectable goodness’ is what they see all men possessing, but not “sin natures” requiring repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at Calvary’s Cross!

“Foolish Life-Building”? That’s “enemies” of Holy God! Romans 5:10 declares, “For if when we were enemies…,” and how frustrating is that to a “foolish life-builder” who wants to serve God, if he ever does, on his own terms – and to declare him an enemy of God when he doesn’t even know or understand that it was HIS sin that nailed Jesus to the Cross, is ‘spiritual madness’, so he/she determines no relationship to “those brain-dead Christians”!

“Foolish Life-Building”? “Blood covenant relationship” with God absolutely builds resentment in multitudes who want a relationship with God on their terms! It’s why Oswald Chambers wrote: “Man has to go out of himself in his covenant with God as God goes out of Himself in His covenant with man. It is a question of faith in God – the rarest thing; we have faith only in our feelings. I do not believe God unless He will give me something in my hand whereby I know I have it, then I say – “Now I believe.” There is no faith there. “LOOK UNTO ME [God says], and be saved.”

Are you not aware of those who are willing to build a relationship with God on their terms but will frown on and fight against “His blood shed for me? I don’t think so – ‘godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation…?’ I don’t need to repent! If God wants me, let Him accept my effort, my worldly sorrow if He thinks I’ve done something wrong! But I don’t bend and I don’t bow and I’ll not be broken by your God humiliating people, or trying to, but your God doesn’t trouble me, impress me, or shock me into bowing down before Him, He ought to bow before me!”

“Foolish Life-Building”? Are you aware of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25? “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”

How familiar are you in this modern-day of television advertisements and what they put their emphasis on? Is it ‘common sense’ or “Holy scents and sense” that should direct, motivate, and inspire our lives? What motivates you and those around you? Earthly, fleshly satisfactions or Eternal, Faith-filled blessings? Foolish Life-Building blinds one to God’s heavenly intention and enslaves an unrepentant man to devilish and demonic bondages – and most of our world doesn’t even know there’s a difference because they are ‘foreigners’ to Faith, and satisfied in their ‘slavery’!

But Let’s Shift To “The Wisdom of a WISE MASTER HOME-BUILDER”! Luke 6:46-48 is so strongly evident as to spiritual, eternal, God-authored wisdom and understanding related to “Life-Building”! It says: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

Do you remember Paul telling the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:19), “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God”? And that includes the religious world of Judaism that ignored the prophecies of the “Coming Messiah” through them, even being that instrument of unbelief, denial, and crucifixion of the King of kings and Lord of lords! It’s why Jesus said in Luke 16:8, “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.”

You’ll remember Ezekiel 13:2 where God said, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and [Don’t miss this!!] say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’” And the ‘foolish’ prophets of Israel “follow their own spirits and have seen nothing”! God said a few verses later, “they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace.”

Ezekiel 13:22 God spoke then to Israel and speaks NOW to America, “Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life” – all of this because “they envision futility and practice divination”! [Was Jerusalem destroyed? Did God tell them the Old Covenant is gone and only the New, Blood Covenant in Christ remains?] Do YOU know that “GOD IS THE LORD”, and the God of saving grace through Christ alone?

Foolish men build foolishly – wise men build wisely! Foolish men craft lives to satisfy the old sin nature – wise men receive the gift of resurrection life, mercy, and eternal hope through repentance toward God and faith in our Lord’s “finished work”! Foolish men ‘bank’ on human wisdom as the ‘flesh-market’ crashes – wise men entrust themselves to God’s grace with eternal ‘interest’ and ‘profits’ forever multiplying! Foolish men base their lives now, future, and forever on what they “possess” – wise men rest in God’s declarations of who they are ‘in Christ’- His eternal identification of true identity!

It was Martin Luther who once said: “Riches are the pettiest and least worthy gifts which God can give a man. What are they to God’s Word, to bodily gifts, such as beauty and health; or to the gifts of the mind, such as understanding, skill, wisdom! Yet men toil for them day and night, and take no rest. Therefore God commonly gives riches to foolish people to whom he gives nothing else.”

What is it for you – riches of this world or the true riches of His eternal kingdom? Is it “treasures upon earth” that you are passionate for as moths and rust corrupt, and thieves steal, or truly “heavenly riches”? How easy is it for a worldly man to crave, to labor incessantly, to be absolutely crippled by the ‘desire’ to be rich, but sadly bankrupt in the desire to not only know God, but bankrupt in the passion, desire, and will to love, serve, bless, honor Him in who one is and fully aware of Who one serves? Fleshly men, intent on earthly wealth, are encumbered so strongly by earthly riches, that they are empty of eternal desire to know and serve God alone!

Trouble arises when a man makes earthly riches the driving force of his life and is void of desire to be rich in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ! God help us that we see in our nation, not an attitude that overvalues riches and wealth, but truly values submission to Christ the greatest of eternal wealth and the greatest of the riches of the rich!

The prophet Jeremiah heard Holy God speak: Jeremiah 9:23-24, Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

In Revelation 21:5 we read, Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And then He said to John [to us!], “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

What did the Beloved John write? Examine 1 John 5: 4-5! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes [relies upon, trusts in, adheres to] that Jesus is the Son of God.”

God says what? “Behold, I make all things new!” “New creations”? “New birth”? “New songs of praise and adoration?” “A new spirit?” “the blood of a new covenant?” “New man?” “A new nature?” “New calling?” “New Highway?” “New Testimony?” “New guidance – “The Lord led me!” “New power?” “New goals, purposes, and ambitions?” “New life-manifestations?” “New anointings, aims, and ambitions?” “New eyes that see as God sees?” “New confidence, trust, and surrender to God Almighty?” “New visions?” “New desires?” “A new heart?”

Though we were weakness incarnate, weakness manifested, old, self-centered, dominated by darkness, in Christ Jesus we’re made strong, old man crucified, new man birthed by His grace and mercy, from ‘self’ redeemed and new life through His regenerating power, though ‘darkness’, now made “Light”, though flesh-dominated through the Spirit made spiritually strong because as He is so are we in this world!

We were ‘flesh’, but now ‘in Christ’ we are in-filled with the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit! It was Watchman Nee who once wrote: “Living in the Spirit means that I trust the Holy Spirit to do in me what I cannot do myself.” Then he said, “not trying but trusting, not struggling but resting in Him!”

In Exodus 14:13-14 Moses said to his people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish FOR YOU today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you will see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

You saw in an earlier chapter that Jesus, led by the Spirit, went into the wilderness for a purpose – to be tempted, tested by the devil. And Satan came against Jesus in three distinct ways which were meant to bring Jesus to trust in Himself rather than God’s Word, trust in Himself rather than God’s angels, and trust in Himself rather than God’s Presence! And if Christ looked out, around, and up for God’s overseeing of His earthly walk, we should “Suck it up” without “looking up”?

1 John 5:11-12 tells us: “And this is the testimony: that God has [already, in Christ!] given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” I tell you, ‘Living on the growing edge of eternal life is living in total trust, dependence, and faith in Christ, who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think’!! Yes! We do not “suck it up” – we look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!

I have no doubts that this also is why Paul wrote 2 Corinthians 4:11! “For we who live [in the Faith of Christ Jesus] are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh…Verse 12, So death is working in us…” for the manifestation of His Life through us by the fruit of His Holy Spirit! “In Christ” we are not called to ‘best efforts’, natural strengths, or soul-dynamics – Jesus crucified all that with us crucified with Him on the Cross, your worst, your best, your in-between – ‘wake up’! Your ‘flesh profits nothing’, but “Christ in YOU is the hope of glory!”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“HALTING OPINIONS OR HOLY FAITH?”

1 Kings 18 is an awesome, convicting, convincing, converting passage of Scripture as one sees a prophet of God, Elijah, astounding vast numbers of Israel as he stood against 450 priests of a false god, just as ‘true prophets’ of God today stand against another ‘religious crowd’ in bondage to false teachings of false religions that some call ‘the elite of the Christian community’!

I’ve often wondered how God looks upon circumstances today like Elijah faced in his day, and is there a legitimate comparison between one true prophet of God and religious men today, about 450 in number against a ‘lone voice’? Two to 800? Three to 1600? Four to 2000? And you do understand: Mt. Carmel is visited by one true prophet, with 450 prophets also there to preach and defend their deceit, with Ahab calling for “all the children of Israel” also to assemble.

Most of the children of Israel were unsure where their devotion should lie – Holy God or Jezebel’s god, as the legitimate ‘fear of God’ in a lot of Israel was still in many minds, but Jezebel was demanding allegiance to Baal! A spiritual war has been going on for some time – and Elijah comes forward to challenge those WHO ARE “halting between two opinions”. True men of faith were not there!

In 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah takes a stand: “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word,” and I say to you, “Silence is not golden – it’s treason!”

It’s so interesting that even in the New Testament we find false allegiances! In Acts 13:4-12 we read about Barnabas and Saul “separated …for the work to which I have called them.” It says:

“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant….

Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulose, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God…

But Elymas the sorcerer, (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?…

And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

Remember, the ‘gathered crowd’ before Elijah was men, women, of ‘different opinions’, not the Solid Rock souls centered in redemptive faith!

Earlier, in Acts 8, before his conversion, Saul (to become Paul) had consented to Stephen’s stoning, even leading a great persecution of the church at Jerusalem. And though he “made havoc of the church” there, a major awakening was happening, with Acts 8:8 telling us, “And there was great joy in that city,” (Samaria)!

But beginning in Acts 8:9 we read about a ‘certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”…

And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized…

Then Simon himself also believed [mental consent apart from heart conversion?]; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done…

[It’s interesting as we come to Verse 14 and following that my new Holman Bible, NKJV edition, highlights the next section as “The Sorcerer’s Sin”!] Now when the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit…

For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying: “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”…

But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

Elijah was confronted by a ‘gathered crowd’ of people with ‘different opinions’, but no understanding of true “Redemptive Faith”! Where do we find ourselves today in the “gathered crowds” of settled opinions as they seek to build “their understanding” of ‘kingdom living’ but, sadly, apart from the “King of kings and Lord of lords”?

FIRST, GATHERED CROWDS TODAY HAVE DETERMINED FOR THEMSELVES WHAT GOD OR GODS THEY SHOULD SERVE AND WHAT SHOULD BE THE END RESULT OF DEVOTION TO THE GOD THEY CHOOSE TO SERVE.

In Matthew 6:24 the “King of kings and Lord of lords” clearly said: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” And I’m convinced Jesus understood the vast difference between true devotion to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and fleshly devotion and loyalty to the “false gods” of devilish activities in their “trumped-up faiths and demands”, like Jezebel and her bondage to Baal!

In Romans 3:23-24 Paul revealed by the Holy Spirit, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

A lost world “falls short of the glory of God;” world religions fall short of the glory of God; alienated, separated from God individuals, because of their sin natures, fall short of the glory of God; and, sad to say, there are many preachers today who have no clue of saving grace, and certainly operate in darkness rather than the glorious clouds of divine, heavenly glory!

Did you quickly pass over Paul speaking about “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…,” (Romans 3:24)? There is ONLY ONE “BLOOD REDEMPTION” that ushers in the glory of Almighty, Holy, Merciful God, and that is the precious blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ! When men sin, they forfeit, cancel, close the door of their hearts and lives to God’s eternal glory, remaining empty vessels, striving by the best of fleshly efforts, to bring them up to a point where God recognizes their fleshly, religious best, and He receives them because they show good effort – trying rather than trusting, believing but not re-born, religious but not redeemed, believers but not “blood-bought” sons and daughters of saving faith!

Receive Romans 8:12-17!! “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For is you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Gathered crowds determining today what god or gods they should serve and what should be the end result of devotion to the God they choose to serve? 2 Peter 1:2-4 tells us, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, [or to you, like Jezebel, does ‘Baal’ sound better?], as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, THROUGH the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

“Blood Redemption through Christ Jesus ushers in God’s glory?” In Exodus 33:14-23, we read about Moses’ encounter with Holy God! “And God said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”…

So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” And Moses said, “Please, show Me Your glory.” Then God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”

And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” [Old Testament limitation!] As great as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Isaiah, or any other prophet were, they lived in “shadows” of glory, but then Jesus came!

And our Lord and Savior taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, In this manner, therefore, pray: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN”

If Christ Jesus reigns today, and He does, thank Him that He ushered in God’s kingdom in heaven to its residency in the hearts and lives of His people! Jesus IS King of His Kingdom, and it is not future, it is present tense in the here and now. And the question is, “Are YOU extending His Kingdom Reign, expressing His Kingdom spirit, and constantly being energized through His Kingdom power?”

SECOND, GATHERED CROWDS TODAY HAVE IGNORED CHRIST JESUS AND HIS “GIFTS” OF THE SPIRIT AND FUNCTION BY THE BEST EFFORTS OF FALLEN, SINFUL, GODLESS ‘FLESH’! Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” So mankind faces a choice: A haughty spirit or The Holy Spirit?

What’s our theme in this book? “Evidences of Redemptive Faith”! And I don’t know of a better, more revealing evidence than the Very Presence of the Holy Spirit! But “gathered crowds” today, certainly captured by “the spirit of fallen flesh”, had rather ‘minister’ their lost-ness under the domination and manipulation of the devil who rules the kingdom of darkness and promotes loyalty to one’s sin-nature!

“Baal worship”, “haughty spirits,” “rebellion against God,” “motivation in and by one’s old sin-nature,” “unbelief in redemptive faith,” “guided by the ‘curse’ of Satanic lies,” “self-nature the principle of one’s falling away,” “bondage under the powers of darkness,” “captured consciences,” “attaining rather than atoned,” “self-justification,” “devilish and demonic deception”, “self-defense before the throne of God on judgment day self-assured He will be proud of our efforts at self-righteousness,” “confidence in self-determination to prove God wrong if there is a god,” “good conduct in my fleshly best – that ought to convince God,” “I refuse to budge away from my demonstration of prideful living,” “clean behavior is good grounds for divine acceptance – if not, it’s God that has the problem,” “trying is as perfecting as trusting,” “reaching from within a heart and mind of self-determination is as relevant as ‘resting’ in Another’s finished work!”

No, a thousand times no! “In Christ” we are not that ‘gathered crowd’ operating out of their ‘fleshly best’ – “In Christ” we are those “convicted by the Holy Spirit,” birthed to “new life In The Spirit,” set aside and dedicated and in-filled in our hearts with God’s love to be shed abroad through us by the anointing and in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), “sealed by the Holy Spirit,” “received of Father-God His promise of our gift of the Holy Spirit,” Jesus said, John 16:12-14, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

I love the dynamic word of God in Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Thank God for the Holy Spirit of God who makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God, but you’re unsure you’ll have God’s help in a disciple’s journey of faith?

The journey of a disciple certainly faces the battleground between ‘flesh’ and the Spirit! In Romans 8:12-14 Paul said: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but IF BY THE SPIRIT you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” The daily discipline of “living by the Spirit” is a discipline, sadly, many disciples have not learned about or been trained and equipped in – “Spirit-filled” is another gift of our loving Heavenly Father that many know nothing about “receive the Holy Spirit”!

Over my 79 years of life I’ve learned a powerful lesson: “Lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” I believe God’s Holy Spirit is our “Guide” in the spiritual world of discipleship! God redeems us as we are convicted by the Holy Spirit; God resides within us through Holy Spirit presence; God releases us to be His witnesses of the “Good News” of man’s redemption! In Acts 1:8, before His Ascension, Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Are you aware of Paul’s powerful word in Romans 8:16-17? “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, IF INDEED WE SUFFER WITH HIM, that we may also be glorified together.” What an awesome revelation, and even understanding, why many have little compulsion to be a ‘witness’ because fleshly opposition can even at times be vicious! I know this particular ‘word’ will not sit well with some ‘believers’, but here it is: “True faith is obedient faith, and obedience IS true faith!” Are you our Lord’s witness?

THIRD, GATHERED CROWDS OFTEN ARE THOSE ‘PROFESSING BELIEVERS AND FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST JESUS’ WHO “RISE UP” AND THEN FALL AWAY! Come with me to Luke 12:42-46, a passage of Scripture that ought to “scare the hell out of any professing believer” who “wanders away”! It says: And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. BUT IF that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” It’s really interesting that these same words are found in Jeremiah 34:17-20 as God reminded “falling away Jews” of what happened to them in their non-exercising-way-of-faith-and-obedience!

God said through Jeremiah: Therefore thus says the Lord: “You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,’ says the Lord – to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth. And I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts of it – the princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf – I will give them into the hands of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. Their dead bodies shall be for meat for the birds of the heaven and the birds of the earth.”

How is YOUR “blood covenant obedience in Christ”? In “My Utmost For His Highest” by Oswald Chambers, he wrote the following: [p.8], “If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it costs those who do not love Him a good deal. If we obey God it will mean that other people’s plans are upset, and they will gibe us with it – “You call this Christianity?” We can prevent the suffering; but if we are going to obey God, we must not prevent it, we must let the cost be paid.”

In Jeremiah, did God say, “You have not obeyed Me,” and a heavy price was paid for Israel’s disobedience? Chambers went on to say: “Beware of the inclination to dictate to God as to what you will allow to happen if you obey Him.” [You are aware: many “Christians” will say to you, “Obedience IS an option in the age of grace,” when true grace says, “Why do YOU call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” Enough said, again and again and again!!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“TRUE FAITH – BY LEGALISM OR LOVE?”

In Galatians 5:1-7 Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, clearly reveals one of spiritual life’s greatest battles between ‘Truth’ and ‘fleshly performances’! He said: “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”

It’s so amazing to me that the people God entrusted the birth of His Son to became the very ones to nail Him to Calvary’s tree! In John 5:36-40 Jesus spoke so powerfully exposing devotion to legalism over the fruit of faith and obedience. He said:

“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish – the very works that I do – bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You [in your legalistic frame of mind of loyalty to God’s law] have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

Could this be why Peter said in 1 Peter 4:17-19, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF GOD? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

“Straight-laced legalists” are powerful enemies of the Godhead, because their ‘faith’ is in themselves, and their ‘works’ crucify the Lamb of God! The love equation is totally lost in “self-performance”! Spiritual legalists are not interested in ‘professors of faith’ having to die to themselves – what for? Their lives, guided by human effort, they believe to be the greatest gifts God ever received from earthly mankind!

They sure had a problem with Paul, and still do, when he said in 2 Corinthians 1:9-12, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death [that’s spiritual death!], and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons for the gift granted to us through many.”

“Trust in himself?” How foreign is that with the unveiling of liberty, freedom, and empowerment in Christ alone? No! Paul trusted in Christ alone, which is why he said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “…I die daily”!! And what did Paul say in Galatians 5:1? “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of bondage.”

Are YOU aware your old life was crucified with Christ? Are YOU daily, as a true disciple of Christ, accounting on the ledger sheet of your life, that, yes, you died with Him on the Cross, and have been raised by Him into “new life”, AND are you available every day to Him as you present your body as a living sacrifice, that the resurrection life of Christ may be manifested in your mortal flesh?

Romans 1:16-17 is so strongly enlightening and powerful and redemptive! Paul said: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

In my New King James version, Deuteronomy 32 is entitled “The Song of Moses,” and beginning in Verse 15 Moses sings a sad commentary on Israel’s rejection of Holy God: Deuteronomy 32:15-20, “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; you grew fat, you grew thick; you are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation [Christ Jesus, their Promised Messiah!]…

They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear…

Of the Rock who begot you [Christ Jesus their Promised Messiah], you are unmindful [of Him], and have forgotten the God who fathered you. And when the Lord saw it, He spurned them, because of the provocations of His sons and daughters….

And He [God Almighty that Israel rejected!] said: “I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children IN WHOM IS NO FAITH.”

They rejected the True Lamb of God; they rejected the very prophecy of the Coming Messiah; they rejected ‘a royal priesthood’; they wanted no part of the “King of kings and the Lord of lords”! I want you to follow with me Hebrews 10:1-4 initially,

“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they [Israel] offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered?…

For the worshippers, once purified, would have no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sin.”

Then the author of Hebrews, from Verses 7-10, tells us, Christ speaking: Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come – in the volume of the book it is written of Me – TO DO YOUR WILL, O God.’ Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

“True Faith – By Legalism Or Love”? And, I pray, you’ve already seen that it is of true biblical faith because of the “love of God”, not legally bound in an attempt to fulfill God’s law – the law was given to expose man’s inability to keep it, revealing the need of salvation through Christ with God’s law then written on the hearts of “new-born men”!!

True Faith? IT IS GOD’S GIFT OF DIVINE ABILITY THROUGH FAITH TO HONOR HIM, EXALT HIM, SHARE HIM, BLESS HIM, BELIEVE HIM, TRUST HIM, UNDERSTAND HIS COMING, AND WHY WE REST IN HIM! And I pray you see and sense and surrender to Him as you truly fathom in fullness what the “Living Faith” is all about!

God’s gift of faith is the sovereign gift of understanding of why Christ came, who He truly is, what He lovingly sacrificed on the Cross, enlightening the heart and mind of man to Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope in and through the Resurrected Christ Jesus!

God’s gift of faith is His unveiling of Himself on the throne of glory! Though He sits, He is not silent, nor is He separated from His Creation and you and me – He sent Jesus because “God so loved the world,” God so loved you and me as if we were the only ones to ever live, but He knew we had to be reconciled, and only God can bring divine reconciliation with lost sinners!

Trusting “in Him” is not enjoying a piece of heavenly cake as some would have you to think – “repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross” is a painful process because a man convicted and convinced by the Holy Spirit sees his “model life crucified,” his respectable status among worldly men shattered, the ‘re-birthing’ process never easy when “true confessions” are required, nothing hidden, especially since God knows it all about your “fallen-away-position”!

But “True Faith” your gift from God? Through all the painful exposure, the spiritual birthing process, the godly sorrow…do you remember 2 Corinthians 7:10? “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

“True Faith”? It is a mind-blowing, heart-explosion, spirit-eruption of the greatness of the God who has called us to Himself! I don’t even know how men ignore the Holy Word of God, BUT, “In the beginning God…” is enough for me to want to know Him as the God of Creation. But what about knowing the God of conviction who draws men to Himself? And, the Cross of Christ doesn’t faze you as you consider the eternal reality of Holy God?

“True Faith”? “God loves ME! He proved His love for me in while I was still the sinner He sent Christ to redeem me from my sins!” And true faith? It is “rest,” it is “trust,” it is the willing acceptance of my old life without God “crucified with Christ,” and “new life” graciously given to me as I repent and rest in the Resurrected Christ!

“True Faith”? IT IS GOD’S SOVEREIGN DETERMINATION OF THE WAY OF RECONCILIATION BECAUSE FLESHLY ATTEMPTS WERE PUT TO DEATH AT THE CROSS! Broken laws, broken lives! Rebelliously leaning, a reach-up impossible! Saved by positive mind-sets, “phony bologna”! Meritorious intent, not by seasoned law-breakers! Past defects, present bankruptcy! Good works, gross results!

No! “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God!” Salvation blessing is by the heart of God alone – and He desired our reconciliation! How would one even begin to consider possibilities when Sovereign God determined, “by the blood of the Lamb”? That’s pure, heavenly, kind, gracious, and merciful because it is the overflow of God’s Holy Love!

We don’t boast – we “rest” in God’s blessing! We don’t attempt to attain – we “rest” in His Atonement! We don’t brag that we can do better – broken by Spirit-conviction, we confess to Holy God!

We don’t stand before the throne of Holy God to assure Him that we are able – No! We stand, having repented of our sin, to thank Him and thank Him and thank Him and thank Him for His amazing love and grace and mercy in allowing His Son, our Savior, to take our place on the cruel Cross!

“True Faith”? IT IS DESIGNED BY GOD, UPON MAN”S REPENTANCE AND RECONCILIATION, TO EQUIP US IN HEAVEN’S BLESSING OF ETERNAL LOVE! Again, look at Galatians 5:6 where Paul said, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”

True faith isn’t dead effort – it’s heavenly wisdom, divine presence, eternal Spirit, and, yes, Holy Presence with the fruit of the Spirit blooming every day as one rests in Him!

True faith is divine ‘creation’ evidenced again of Holy God’s awesome blessings! In Galatians 5:22-25 we learn about the Holy Spirit’s presence and production in and through us: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

“God so loved the world…?” “God so loved the world that He gave…?” “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…?” “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall have everlasting life…?” Do YOU see it? True Faith is God’s gracious gift of the blessing of eternal love poured out in repentant hearts by the Holy Spirit to touch our world with God’s amazing love! Jesus even told us to “Love your enemies!” Which leads us to…..

“True Faith”? PRAISE GOD! IT IS DIVINE TRANSFORMATION FROM LIVES OF ASTOUNDING SELFISHNESS AND SOULISHNESS TO “NEW CREATIONS” IN CHRIST! In Ezekiel 18:4 God said through the prophet, “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.”

The brother of Jesus, James, tells us in James 1:21-27, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, [‘meekness’? Basically, a teachable spirit able to receive divine truth and apply it!], which is able to save your souls…

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was…

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty [the laying down of life in the Cross & receiving resurrection life, which is freedom and true liberty!] and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does…

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Do you see abandonment of the ‘old man,’ and acceptance of the ‘new man’ through Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 we , in a spirit of rejoicing and thanksgiving, read: “Therefore, if anyone is “in Christ,” he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus the Son] who knew no sin to BE SIN FOR US, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Oh, what an “exchanged life”! “In Christ” – free from the law of sin and death! “In Christ” – reconciled to Holy God! “In Christ” – freed from the sadness of fleshly selfishness and blessed with the joy of the Lord! “In Christ” – freed from the bondage of weak and beggarly elements that enslave, and filled with the release of all of Heaven’s blessings and rewards and provision!

Just a few thoughts erupting in me as I consider our divine transformation in and through Christ Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and coming, in and through the presence of the Holy Spirit to dwell with in us:

“Gone are the days of dismal darkness, birthed in me as a slave to ‘lost-ness’; Born in sin with no hope within, born as an alien and a stranger to promise, born without God in the world of the ‘flesh’, born by nature as a child of wrath, born to walk on the devil’s path…

Then Christ Jesus came, O bless His holy name; His coming so beyond a ‘door to Heaven’, Jesus came to bless us with new leaven. Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us, washed us and cleansed us, and planted us in “new sod”, that wherever we walked, we walked united with Holy God!…

The wondrous blessing, thank God for sins forgiven, But praise to Jesus for our eternal gift, Gathered to God by His gracious lift, raised by His power from a saddening rift; Love overcame one having to remain the same, so separated and alienated from Holy God, But Jesus came, shed His blood in Heaven’s “new flood”, bought sons and daughters of repentance and faith, opening for us Heaven’s eternal Gate!”

“True Faith”? IT IS THE DIVINELY DESIGNED ATTITUDE OF HEART AND MIND BY WHICH A LOST AND DYING WORLD WITNESSES THE LIFE-CHANGING “LET” THAT LIFTS ONE IN THE VERY BREATH OF GOD!

In Romans 3:4 Paul said, “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” And God IS TRUTH! “LET” True God speak His truth through you, which calls for “let-ting” God declare His Sovereign Word through you by His anointing!

2 Timothy 2:19 speaks loudly: “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” “LET?” Well, what about departing from iniquity?

Are you at all familiar with Isaiah 55:6-7? “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” “Let”? Open the door, man in need! “Let”? Surrender, guilty sinner!” “Let”? Yield to His Lordship, rebellious one – He died for you that you might be free from bondage!

“Let”? Oswald Chambers wrote: [“My Utmost For His Highest”, p.252], “When once you are rooted in Reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith; but nothing can ever upset God or the almighty Reality of Redemption; base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God.” Wow! What a powerful Truth!!

“Let?” In Psalm 68:1-3 is David’s song of appeal to God, which can be yours right now if YOU claim it for yourself and your family! “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. BUT let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.”

David mentioned God’s enemies, those who hate Him, the wicked, but when “God arises” and steps forth, the wicked perish at the presence of God! Is His presence in you? “LET Him loose!” Has Almighty God chosen you as His vessel of “Let-ting Him loose around you?”

It’s not always true but children can be, at times, strong demonstrators of the very spirit of “Let God be God in me!” At the same time there can be disastrous demonstrations of selfishness, rebellion, disobedience, even ‘horror’ stories of all-out opposition to Holy God in children. There is in the birthed human souls a spirit of “let me! let me!” That’s tyranny in, yes, childish “tanks”! And the spiritual warfare with eternal results is on!

Do you remember Jesus saying after He went into the synagogue in his ‘hometown’ of Nazareth on the Sabbath, as He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah, He found the place where it was written: [Luke 4:18-19],

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

After reading this glorious prophetic passage of One to come, Christ Jesus said in Verse 21, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” – and that got Jesus “thrust out of the city!” Later, the day came when the majority of Israel, including chief priests, scribes and Pharisees, and the general public, said: “LET Him be crucified!” And Jesus was nailed to the Cross because of your sin and mine!

Isn’t there a chorus being sung at times by the church that says: “He loved us, O how He loved us, O how He loved you and me”? It was James Rowe and Howard E. Smith who wrote the old hymn entitled “Love Lifted Me”. It says:

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I’ll cling, In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing. Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul’s best songs; Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs.

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey; He your Savior wants to be – Be saved today.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me!”

Lifted or drowning in the sea of your sin? Sorry if you’ve been ‘blinded’ to the love of God for you through the Cross of Christ – but there is no other way of reconciliation to Holy God – only through the blood of the Cross where the Lamb of God shed His blood for your forgiveness, and through the Master’s true Redemption are you reconciled to God! So, “Let God!!” For you: death or life?

2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“A DESPISING OF FAITH OR THE GOODNESS OF TRUE FAITH?”

Romans 2:1-4 is an illuminating of one’s despising of faith when Paul wrote: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

It was earlier, in Romans 1:20, that Holy God used Paul to expose ‘unbelief’ as an excuse for one’s sin, disobedience, and rebellion to Holy God! He said: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

Oh, but then in Verse 21 Paul stated why their guilt was and is today so real: “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

And as you continued in Romans 1, did you notice three times that the Word says in chapter one, Verse 24 first, “God gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie [“you can sin and not die!”], Verse 26 second, “God gave them up to vile passions, Verse 28 third time, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind…”

Now, I want you to come back with me to Romans 2 and follow what the impact is of “Not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance,” reading so carefully Romans 2:5-11! “But in accordance with your hardness and impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works for what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”

Did you notice as you read Paul’s writings his ‘personal’ indictments – not names but natures, not ineffectual rantings but sensitive revelations, not surface language that touches no one but powerful expressions of convicting truths that “hit home”, and one wonders, “What’s next as the preacher nails me?” Some will be so shaky that they wonder if there’s any possibility they’ll be able to escape God’s judgment!

Have you ever sensed “mass madness” as you publicly preached, maybe in an open-air evangelistic crusade as Billy Graham did superbly, and ‘murder’ becomes your possible demise at the hands of angry, rebellious, sin-managed men, which the Word of God so easily inflames defiance of Eternal Truth? I traveled over India for 25 years, preaching and teaching, and as a result was threatened many times with, “Come back here tomorrow night doing what you’ve been doing up until now, and we will kill you!” One time my Tamil translator called my hotel the next day saying, “Papa Farrell, what are we going to do?” And I assured him that we were going back to preach again in the same place! We did – and the two enemy leaders of a group of twelve received Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives! They had come with their machetes and clubs and left with a new “Master” and an eternal purpose of serving the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

Several truths we must wrap our minds and hearts around as we look at Romans 2:4 specifically! FIRST, THERE IS NO ESCAPING THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, WHETHER PERSONALLY IN THE WORLD HERE AND NOW, OR AT THE THRONE OF HIS ETERNAL JUDGMENT SEAT IN THE FUTURE!

Christ Jesus tells us in John 3:18-20, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; [belief being more than intellectual assent into His existence, but believing, resting in, adhering to, surrendering to His Lordship, and yielding to His control], but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

Understand! It’s ‘fallen men’ who “loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil,” and Paul amplified our understanding when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He [God] made Him [Christ Jesus] who KNEW NO SIN to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” And in YOUR UNBELIEF you reject God’s love, grace, and mercy, without facing God’s “wrath” and God’s “judgment”?

Your sin and mine nailed Christ Jesus to the Cross; Oswald Chambers once said very truthfully: “Other religions deal with sins; the Bible alone deals with sin.” And Christ Jesus who KNEW NO SIN took our sin natures unto Himself and faced the eternal judgment of Holy God in our place, He cleared the sin-debt by His precious blood, pleasing Holy God as repentant hearts and their faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross turned from God’s judgment to His grace and mercy.

IF “it pleased God….to reveal His Son in me,” what is that all about? In Hebrews 9:26b-28 we read, “…but now, once at the end of the ages, He [Jesus] has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation,” pointing you to “but after this the judgment”!

At the judgment seat of Almighty God – before death or after death? To the true repentant believer? 2 Corinthians 4:11 says, “For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” But without Christ Jesus? Manifestation of the Satanic spirit!

SECOND, A DESPISING OF TRUE FAITH AND GOD’S GOODNESS? ISN’T THAT BECAUSE FALLEN MEN CHOOSE THE HARDNESS OF HEARTS AND THE IMPENITENCE OF MIND, SOUL, AND FLESHLY, REBELLIOUS SPIRITS, INSTEAD OF THE LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY OF GOD? Are you aware of how obstinate many people become when “God” enters a conversation?

It was Thomas a Kempis who once wrote: “Were the works of God readily understandable by human reason, they would be neither wonderful nor unspeakable.” But we need to understand and grasp the eternal reality that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction,” [Proverbs 1:7], because “fools” despise “Redemptive Faith” and God’s treasured goodness!

A despising of true faith and God’s goodness? Have you ever been around those so expressive of their resentment of those who’ve chosen to stand on the foundation of redemptive faith? There are those constantly expressing what Oswald Chambers called “the despicable meanness of the miserable faith we have”, when Chambers went on to say, Christ Jesus is made unto us [of faith] “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” But there are haters of Biblical Truth because they are haters of God Himself!

In Isaiah 5:20-21 the prophet delivers words of “Woe”! He said, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” You are aware of those who live with a “mixture” of good and evil, and pat themselves on the back for being so benevolent with their understanding of their fallen natures! No! That’s not ‘understanding’ but the evidence of spiritual blindness! And there are many people who have decided “to do evil that good may come of it”!

It was Augustus Williams and Julius Charles Hare, in “Guesses at Truth,” [p.444] who wrote: “He who does evil that good may come, pays a toll to the devil to let him in heaven,” but the devil has no keys at all that will open the door of heaven for a ‘sinner’ to enter since he himself is eternally locked out, desiring to void the true Heaven and give you a free pass to his hellish dwelling!

I know nothing of Walt Whitman’s faith or lack of redemptive faith, but in a writing entitled “Roaming in Thought,” he wrote: “Roaming in thought over the Universe, I saw the little that is Good steadily hastening toward immortality and the vast all that is called Evil I saw hastening to merge itself and become lost and dead.”

A despising of true, redemptive faith and God’s goodness? It is a mental frame of mind, a darkened heart, and a deceived individual blinded in the reality of mental slavery to the knowledge of a fallen world, and an individual who substitutes moral mediocrity for the blessing of God’s presence Himself and His life-giving Word that never fails but only fills full!

But ‘blackened hearts’ and enslaved minds and wills to the devil himself and strongly controlled by a fallen world in rebellion to Holy God, have a hard time in surrendering to divine truth. Charles Spurgeon once preached in England, “We can learn nothing of the gospel except by feeling its truths. There are some sciences that may be learned by the head, but the science of Christ crucified can only be learned by the heart.”

A despising of true, redemptive faith and God’s goodness? ‘Enslaved hearts’? Didn’t we see earlier, Luke 4:18, Jesus identifying Himself as the One “proclaiming liberty to the captives”? Do you remember Paul reminding the Galatians, in Galatians 4:3, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world,”?

Elements of the world? In 1 John 2:15-18 the beloved John wrote: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world [in rebellion against God!], the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

I thank God for redemptive faith that conquers even the very ‘fear of death’ – I remember a friend many, many years ago, now at peace with the Lord, but then had a crippling fear of dying. But there is a “God-remedy” and His name is Christ Jesus! My friend, now, confidently has no fear of dying! Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

A despising of true redemptive faith and God’s goodness? Do you ever sense the despising of true faith and God’s goodness in its ‘zenith’ of hypocrisy? In Matthew 23:27 Jesus delivered a major blow to that spirit when He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Verse 28, Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Another few words I wrote as I was studying for this chapter: “Worldly men may cry Saved! Saved! at every turn, but unaware they’re candidates to burn; strong imitations as they play the ‘religious’ name, but in their hearts they and the devil play the same game!…

Pious ‘pretense’ makes no sense as pious pigs attempt to imitate sheep, never knowing what they face in eternity’s deeps; down, down, down they plunge into the pit of desperation, As God assigns men their eternal place of separation…

Rejecting true faith and settling in sin, men begin to consider “what might have been,” but rebellion is dark and its consequences the same, as one rejects Christ and bows before his own name! Beams in the sinner’s eyes is not a good disguise, though God is not impressed by one’s outward part, as God is intent on exposing the sinner’s heart.

Even devils quote Scripture when they want to deceive, and evil souls will foolishly receive a word to pump ‘flesh’ and imitate heaven’s ‘rest’, as day by day they attempt to ‘do their best.’ But ‘best’ is not better when God makes Atonement, holy desiring to wash away men’s guilt by the blood of the Lamb, with a new monogram: Son of God, daughter of faith, fully surrendered, and entering His gate!”

Let’s shift gears now from “reverse” away from God to the forward march of the true faith of God’s eternal “goodness”! In Psalm 25:4, above this verse, I had written: “Open the Way in which I should be walking!” Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day,” followed by Verse 6 which says, “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old.”

We’ve seen earlier in this chapter how some despise true redemptive faith and God’s goodness with the root cause being bound by one’s old sin nature and they ‘wall’ themselves away from God’s Presence and eternal provisions. Then, by God’s grace and mercy, they discover the entrenchments walling them away from God can be filled with His eternal love and blessed with His forgiveness, Presence, and eternal purpose!

And we learn quickly the “soldier of the Cross” must wage warfare with the old sin nature that tries to raise its ugly head and the forces of the powers of darkness! This is why Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but “mighty in God” for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

But fighting this spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil, it is not in independence from God, but total dependence upon “the God who is able!” Are you aware that Jesus Himself said, John 5:18-20, Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Christ Jesus, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.”

And we “marvel” at the works of God Almighty; we marvel at the works of Christ Jesus the Son; and you should marvel at the works Jesus desires to do through YOU!

I firmly believe Almighty God is on ‘tiptoes’ at times, looking down on you and me, to see if we, like Paul said, “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” In Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” he gives us convicting insight! [p.186]. He said, “It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not bringing every project into captivity, but are doing work for God at the instigation of their own human nature which has not been spiritualized by determined discipline…We are apt to forget that a man is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation; he is committed to Jesus Christ’s view of God, of the world, of sin and of the devil, and this will mean that he must recognize the responsibility of being transformed by the renewing of his mind.”

Has there been in you a rejection of true redemptive faith and the goodness of God in your walk of faith? Christ’s earthly walk was the walk of demonstration of what true redemptive faith is all about and demonstrating the awesomeness of the goodness of Holy God! Let me remind you of what Paul wrote in Romans 2:4! “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

The goodness of God? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes [trusts, relies upon, adheres to] in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Characteristics are more than one’s mental description of God – they are WHO GOD IS! “GOD IS LOVE!”

And I believe I understand a fallen world more each day as I learn of the depth, height, length of God’s love for us, and understand: Without God’s love, the fallen world we live in becomes more empty and more void and distant from the God of eternal love!

Martin Luther once preached, “Love is an image of God, and not a lifeless image, but the living essence of the divine nature which beams full of all goodness.” Would you ever try to say that you are a servant of God yet have no love for the least of those around you, or profess love for Him without one thought of how YOU can touch an unbelieving world around you? The goodness of God!

My “New King James Holman Bible” edition titles Psalm 23 as “The Lord the Shepherd of His People,” and I love it! Follow with an open heart the goodness of Holy God!

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake….

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over…

Surely “goodness and mercy” shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

I have no hesitation in saying to you that God’s pure love in the redeemed heart and life of a repentant man/woman is the actual crowning grace of Holy Presence! It’s His “goodness” poured out through human vessels willing to be daily on His altar of sacrifice and service, even a martyring like a beheading if it honors Him through our personal death!

Yea, there is a sustaining quality of the presence of God’s love in us that no action or attitude against us can ever quench. It was Thomas Traherne, in his “Centuries of Meditations” who wrote: “You are as prone to love as the sun is to shine; it being the most delightful and natural employment of the Soul of Man; without which you are dark and miserable. For certainly he that delights not in [God’s] Love makes vain the universe, and is of necessity to himself the greatest burden.”

I tell you: IT IS BURDENSOME TO BE WITHOUT THE LOVE OF GOD! It is cruel and enslaving to live apart from the goodness and love of Holy God! Didn’t Paul tell us in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,”? It was Samuel Johnson who once wrote: “The two great movers of the human mind are the desire of good, and the fear of evil,” but what about what moves the “new born mind” of the redeemed? It is not only the mind of a smart man, but a mind made over by the mind of God Himself! Do you comprehend the lost-ness, the sinful nature of fallen man, the warped will of self and ‘flesh’, the brain-deadness of one who calls evil good and good evil, and omits from his life the Eternal Word of the God of Redeeming Goodness?

I was reading again recently Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Aurora Leigh”, [Bk.1V, l.499], related to the subject of goodness. She wrote:

“Good critics who have stamped out poet’s hope, Good statesmen who pulled ruin on the state, Good patriots who for a theory risked a cause,…

Good kings who disemboweled for a tax, Good popes who brought all good to jeopardy, Good Christians who sat still in easy chairs, And damned the world for standing up – Now may the good God pardon all good men!”

Sorry! But “good men” apart from true repentance and redeeming faith will bust Hell wide open! But “good men” redeemed by the blood of the Lamb can glorify God on earth as He is in Heaven! Good and Godly and governed men, indwelt by Christ, can, will, and do, turn their worlds upside down and inside out to the Glory of God!

Daniel Webster once wrote: “Real goodness does not attach itself merely to this life – it points to another world. Political or professional reputation cannot last forever, but a conscience void of offense before God and man is an inheritance for eternity.”

William Williams and Thomas Hastings wrote the old Hymn, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.” It says: “Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim thro’ this barren land; I am weak, but You are mighty, Hold me with Your powerful hand; Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more…

Open now the crystal fountain From whence the healing waters flow; Let the fiery, cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey thro’; Strong Deliverer, Be forever my Strength and Shield.” AMEN?

CHAPTER TWENTY

“FAITHLESS INDIFFERENCE OR REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S CELEBRATION?”

In Numbers 23:21 God put a word on Balaam’s mouth, “He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them.”

It’s an amazing passage of Scripture when one learns “it’s God’s desire to be with him,” and “the shout of a King is among them.” Is King Jesus with and in you, and does King Jesus shout, rejoice, celebrate His presence in you, around you, above you?

Moses had died, and God spoke to Joshua about leading the children of Israel with confidence and assurance when He said in Joshua 1: 5, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Think of it! Yes, God with YOU by faith!

Do you remember or are you acquainted with God testing Abraham in Genesis 22? God said, Verse 2, “Take your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” They traveled together, Abraham taking the wood for the burnt offering, laying it on Isaac’s back. Isaac said to his father, Abraham, “My father!…Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

“My son, God will provide.” As they arrive where God told them to go, Isaac said to his father, ‘Dad, we have the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham responded in Verse 8, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Abraham built the offering altar, placed wood where it should be, bound Isaac to the altar, and then Abraham “stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. The Angel of the Lord (the Messenger! I believe it was Jesus!) called to Abraham and then said, Verse 12, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

The location was given a new name: “The-Lord-Will-Provide,” and then the Angel said, Verse 16, “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son – blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. Verse 18, In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Do you realize the insanity of modern-day men who definitely hear God’s call, but turn a deaf ear and walk away? And walking away from God’s witness to any man is utter spiritual disobedience, but Abraham heard the voice, responded in utter surrender and obedience, willing to put his only son on the altar, and I believe then celebrate because he believed, if God had him sacrifice his only son, God could, would, and did raise him from the dead! I tell you, Isaac was dead in the mind of his father as he placed him on the altar, and he gained a greater vision of God, no doubt even seeing Christ Jesus in all his experiences!

And do you remember that Christ Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he was glad”? It’s God’s remnant in Abraham’s day, the remnant in King David’s day, the remnant in Isaiah’s day, the remnant in Esther’s day, the remnant in Paul, John, and Peter’s day, and, yes, there is the remnant in our day! How do we know? As with Jacob, “The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of the King is among them!” Christ Jesus is the Angel who is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

PLEASE CONSIDER THAT GOD HIMSELF HAS PROMISED US, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” That’s Hebrews 13:5! Its author, responding to God’s promise, then said, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Does that mean we will never face opposition or be consciously attacked by the very demons of Hell or accused, abused, attacked by fallen men of an unbelieving world? In 2 Timothy 3:10-15 we read Paul’s enlightenment and encouragement of Timothy. He said: “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

But even with Redemptive Faith’s Celebration there is a world of “faithless indifference”! Some are even vocally indignant, willing to “curse God and die”! In Romans 2:8 Paul mentioned those “who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness…”.

“Faithless Indifference” is one of the side effects of the “disease of sin and death” that every man comes into God’s world with – oh, God gave Adam and Eve the right to decide, and they instituted “unrighteousness and unbelief” because they accepted Satan’s lie, “You can sin and not die”! And, sadly, in this dark day of modern-day America, we see for many, indifference to freedom and liberty in Christ, satisfied to live with the devil’s chains and bondage! That “disease” has symptoms, like ‘ungodliness’ and worldly lusts, and it grows and spreads and kills and destroys!

“Faithless indifference” can be a spreading contamination because of the “deception” of being guided by world opinions rather than Holy Revelation in and through God’s awesome Word and will.

Oh, and then, how do you define “Evil men and imposters” who grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived? They have NO discernment! Have you sensed danger for friends, family, or foes, and rather than them gaining insight by a spiritual awakening, they allow a ‘passing impulse’ and go on spiritually disintegrating?

In John 2:23-25 the Lord Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover. Follow what He witnessed! “Now when He [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” And He KNOWS what is in me, and He knows what is in you!

There is great insight from Oswald Chambers as we examine our dark world and ache for its coming to “the Light”. He said: [“My Utmost For His Highest”. P.154], “There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Why Our Lord is apparently so severe regarding every human relationship is because He knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no man, yet He was never suspicious, never bitter. Our Lord’s confidence in God and in what His grace could do for any man, was so perfect that He despaired of no one. If our trust is placed in human beings, we shall end in despairing of everyone.”

“Faithless indifference”? Has it come to be because some allow fleshly “doubts and fears” to dominate their daily existence? In James 1:2-4 the brother of Jesus wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ‘ask in faith’, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not THAT MAN suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a ‘double-minded man, unstable in all his ways’.”

“Faithless indifference”? Is there such a thing as ‘human ingenuity’ that takes the place in a lot of hearts over “spiritual surrender, trust, and salvation” through Christ alone? Is it that men become blinded to spiritual realities because “the cares of this world” take precedence and allegiance over reliance and trust in the eternal provisions and blessings of God Himself?

Are you aware of the consequences of faithless indifference? We saw earlier that “pride goes before a fall,” but do YOU even sense that self-conceit is probably the strongest and greatest curse that captures men’s minds, wills, and emotions? Do you sense in yourself at times or in others the reality of unrestrained passions and desires? And that is so injurious to fallen mankind, but they refuse to confront themselves and seek God alone!

Are there undesirable results of a Godless, faithless existence? No doubt it is a “lawless life” that has eternal penalties. “The wages of sin is death”, but that doesn’t trouble you? “Separated from God” is not a consideration for you? “Flesh,” the old sin nature, is pleasurable, even when the Holy Word declares the enjoyment is “the passing pleasures of sin,” [Hebrews 11:25]?

Charles Caleb Colton, in his day, made a wise, convicting statement when he said: “After hypocrites, the greatest dupes the devil has are those who exhaust an anxious existence in the disappointments and vexations of business, and live miserable and meanly only to die magnificently and rich. – They serve the devil without receiving his wages, and for the empty foolery of dying rich, pay down their health, happiness, and integrity,” and you can’t help but wonder about their wives, their children, or their friends!

Have you ever heard a friend or a neighbor or a professor or teacher say to you, “My greatest desire or ambition is to have, to have more, and to work harder and harder to accumulate a small fortune,” without understanding, that may ‘gain you the whole world’, but at the cost of “losing your soul”!

I must tell you, if you don’t already know, that living for this world without allegiance to Holy God, breeds in the human heart and mind what the author of Proverbs called “deceit” – Proverbs 12:20-23, “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace [with God] have joy. No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” And to say “faithless indifference” about the need of “reconciled to God” is justifiable is to identify one’s self as an enslaved, blinded, servant of Satan!

Paul’s anointed word in Romans 7:11 tells us: “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.” Deceit is such a poison to men! In 2 Timothy 3:13 we read, “But evil men and “imposters” will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

If you faithfully read and accept the Word of God, not as fiction but fact, I’m sure you’re familiar with Luke 8 and the parable of the sower, (Verses 5-8). From Verse 9-10 we read: Then the disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this mean?” And Jesus said to them, “To you [true disciples] it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” The parable was given to those who have chosen and continue to choose the pathway of “faithless indifference” to Loving God, His Holy Word, His loving Son, and His Holy Spirit.

In John 12:39-41 we read, “Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ‘He [God] has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.”

Paul had been a Jewish rabbi, even participating in putting Christians to death, but Christ Jesus met him on the Damascus Road and he came to Christ in faith and obedience. In 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 we learn of that gracious and merciful journey Paul had:

“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech – unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away [passing away of the Old Testament Covenant because the New Blood Covenant instituted by Christ was now present!]. But their minds were blinded {Israel}. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil was taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, [born-again, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb believers], with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Do you see, sense, and surrender to the “new-born life in Christ” and become a part of “REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S CELEBRATION”? Do you truly stand in awe with your unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord? Are you truly aware of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:8? “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”! Purity in the heart of a true believer is “washed in the blood of the Lamb,” “declared to be sons and daughters of God by grace…for obedience to the faith…among whom you [who are in Christ] also are the called of Jesus Christ,” “new creations,” “possessors of new, eternal, God-ordained purpose,” “singers of new songs,” “new names,” recipients of the “new and living way,” “new-born” as babes in Christ on the journey of faith and obedience, and you KNOW because you “desire the milk of God’s Word that you may grow thereby,” and YOU KNOW what it is to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit and to glorify Christ through you as He is glorified in Heaven!

For me, there is such an exhilarating word of God in Revelation 4:1! “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

Around the throne are those in worship, praise, and adoration, saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Oh, and before the chapter ends, the Word tells us, they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For YOU created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

It’s by the eternal will and His awesome power that the world and all its universes exist! It’s by the eternal will and His awesome power His Son, Christ Jesus, came, born of the virgin Mary! It’s by the awesome love of God, by His amazing grace, and His appointed Way, you and I are reconciled to Holy God through the Cross of Christ! And by His Sovereign assignments, having birthed us to new life in Christ, we’re appointed ambassadors of Christ with eternal representation of Holy God in our world that surrounds us!

But the blessed realization of “Redemptive Faith’s Celebration”? Discipleship is the walk of faith in oneness with Christ Jesus! 1 John 1:7 tells us: “But if we walk in the light as HE is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Walking in the light with Light’s Creator and Sustainer! Walking in the Light of His magnificent Presence! Walking in the Light revealing to others the True Light of their eternal Day! Walking in the Light of His commands! Walking in the Light blessed with the fruit of His Spirit! Walking in the Light as a soldier of the Cross, yes, and if necessary, laying down our lives even in death to honor Him!

To walk with Christ, as one, in “Redemptive Faith’s Celebration”, we walk worthy of Him in bearing His name and His mission. To walk with Christ, is to walk in the “ought-ness” of pleasing and honoring Him. To walk with Christ, is to walk revealing His name. To walk with Christ, is to walk as ‘children of light,’ not darkness. To walk with Christ, is to walk in the divine, agape love, as Christ loved us. To walk with Christ, is to walk in a worthy manner of Him, of our vocation and ministry of Christ, and to walk in a worthy manner lovingly unveiling His desire to see the whole world redeemed by His blood!

In Isaiah 49:7-13 is a prophetic word from God-appointed Israel who was ‘falling away’ and the people of the “new covenant” in Christ Jesus: Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers [that’s the Messiah, Christ Jesus!]; Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, because of the Lord WHO IS FAITHFUL, the Holy One of Israel; AND HE HAS CHOSEN “YOU”…

Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; that You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves,’ [Or “come to the Light”!!]…

“They shall feed along the roads [of life’s journeys], and their pastures shall be [even] on all desolate heights. [“I, God, will be there!]. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; for He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of [living] water He will guide them…

I will make each of My mountains a road, and My highways shall be elevated. [Do you walk with Him in His chosen “high places for you”?]. Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, and these from the land of Sinim [Aswan,Egypt].”

Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.”

Chosen of God, but you have nothing to “celebrate” about? Fed by God, but YOU have no spiritual food to eat? Thirsty, but you know nothing about “the springs of Living Water”? Appointed and anointed, but you know nothing about God’s eternal destiny, purpose, and plan for your life?

Do you know what Almighty God said about you in Isaiah 49:16? “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands!” OH, and then in Isaiah 49:26, God said, “I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Glory! Yes, Glory to Almighty God, because He authored “Redemptive Faith’s Celebration”, and Your and I were eternally appointed and anointed to be a part through our lives honoring Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“A FLESHLY TENT OR FAITH’S MOUNTAIN-MANSION?”

Paul, no doubt, in 2 Corinthians 5, used language referring to our eternal home though we are presently in an earthly body; but, at the same time, I see Paul also describing those who choose “flesh” over the Spirit, now-ness over the eternal, my building, my earthly house governed by ‘me’ over God’s gift of “Heaven coming down and glory filling my soul”, self-effort in establishing “my fleshly tent” or God promising YOU being the very habitation of God, yes, His earthly Holy Temple and dwelling-place: “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”!!

What did Paul say in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5? “For we know that if our earthly house, [or body], this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked…

For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”

And did you receive or just ‘fly by’ Paul telling us about “mortality being swallowed up by life,” which IS Resurrection life, Resurrection Power, Resurrection Hope, which IS the very oneness with and in Christ Jesus our Lord? In Verses 17-21 of 2 Corinthians 5 Paul added, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new…

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…

NOW THEN, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Without Christ living in us as Lord, Savior, Master of our lives, all mankind are nothing more than ‘fleshly tents’ when God’s desire is that we ALL through repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work on Calvary’s Cross are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, regenerated by God, filled with the Holy Spirit, given new names, new purposes, new identities, and being constructed by God Himself, we’re “Holy Temples”, “Faith’s Mountain-Mansions,” yes, residences of the living God! [2 Corinthians 6:16!].

“Fleshly tents”? I’m not sure if it’s true in every corner of the world, but in the U.S.A tents are temporary dwelling places, understanding your fleshly body is not that in which God desires to dwell! He loves YOU more than you love yourself, and His desire for you is a transformation of your life into a spiritual body, the eternal home of Holy God, the Resurrected Christ, and the powerful Holy Spirit!

It’s really amazing to me that there was a time in King David’s life that he had no understanding of the blessing of God in and through him as God’s dwelling! In Psalm 84:1-2 David wrote: “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God,” adding in Verse 10, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

And, of course, you know, or should know that Israel built an awesome tabernacle or temple that God never intended, because it was God’s desire that every repentant heart become His holy residence! Acts 7:47 says, “But Solomon built Him a house,” then telling us in Verse 48, “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands…”! If God is IN a church building, it’s because His people of faith are there! 2 Corinthians 6:16b, “For YOU are the temple of the living God.”

But it is not “fleshly tents” that are the dwelling place of God! Clearly, it is “born-again believers”, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, God’s “new creations,” men and women, and, yes, boys and girls, whose lives have been fully surrendered to Christ’s Lordship, with the Word telling us, “Your [redeemed] body has become the temple of the Holy Spirit, the residence of Christ, and the very throne of the God who rules!”

Receive Oswald Chambers’ words out of his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.233]: “When we preach the historic facts of the life and death of Our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words are made sacramental, [meaning: ‘powerfully binding’], God uses them on the ground of His Redemption to create in those who listen that which is not created otherwise. If we preach the effects of Redemption in human life instead of the revelation regarding Jesus, the result in those who listen is not new birth, but refined spiritual culture, and the Spirit of God cannot witness to it because such preaching is in another domain. We have to see that we are in such living sympathy with God that as we proclaim His truth He can create in souls the things which He alone can do.”

It’s so very clear what the Word of God declares, which is more than likely why a world of lost sinners ignore the Word – they have no desire to be confronted and challenged by the Holy Word! For instance, in Galatians 5:24 (NKJ VERSION), Paul wrote: “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Earlier, in Ephesians 2:11-13, Paul talked about Peter in his early spiritually immaturity, eating with Gentiles, but if Jewish leaders showed up, Peter withdrew and separated himself, “fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.”

Beginning in Ephesians 2:14-16, we see what so gripped Paul’s heart, even about “fleshly” compromise in immature, young disciples, not fully equipped as yet as examples of the indwelling Christ. He said: “But when I saw that they were not straight-forward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law “no flesh” shall be justified.”

It is not, never has been, never will be, allegiance to religious dogmas that brings salvation and reconciliation to Holy God, but by the “blood Atonement” of Christ Jesus through His sacrifice on the Cross! And again, Galatians 5:24, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Do you think it might be why Paul talked about “taking the sentence of death daily that the resurrection life of Christ might be manifested through mortal flesh?”

This is what our Lord and Savior taught His disciples, in Matthew 16:24-26, when He said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life (for himself) will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

A doctrine of fleshly living apart from redemptive faith? “Self-indulgence is the sacred right of every man!” That’s not God’s truth but a fallen man’s opinion! What did Christ Jesus say in Luke 14:26-27, and Verse 33?

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. [That’s “hate” by comparison to Christ’s love for us!] And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple…Verse 33, So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” [And ‘forsaking’ is also by comparison – what you have does not enslave you as a prisoner in bondage!]. That’s costly commitment to Christ that I’m not sure if a lot of “believers” truly understand!

“Fleshly tents”? It was Paul, former Jewish rabbi named Saul of Tarsus, who wrote in Romans 7:21-25 about how one can claim allegiance to striving to do “right” but experiencing the true bondage of doing “wrong”:

“I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.[Doing ‘good’ saves you, redeems you, re-births you?]. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, [without Christ!], with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Did you see it? “I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into the law of sin which is [was] in my members.” Earlier, in Romans 2:5-6, Paul said, “But in accordance with your hardness and impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’. Then Verse 8,… to those who are ‘self-seeking’ and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil…”.

Dare I tell you what ‘evil’ really is? It’s the absence of God from one’s life; it’s substituting ‘flesh’ for the Spirit; it’s the philosophical mind substituted for the very mind of Christ; it’s worldly allegiance to a flag but void of heart allegiance to Father-God through Christ; it’s devotion to sin-nature captivity rather than the freedom Christ brings; it’s the amplification and devotion to “me” and no devotion to the King of kings and Lord of lords; it’s imitation rather than the imparted life of Christ through repentance and redemptive faith; it’s selective allegiance apart from “crucified with Christ”; it’s human pride in surrender and personal imprisonment to the deification of the “old sin-natured man”, yes, in allegiance to the devil himself!

“Fleshly tents”? Godless men overflowing with devotion to self-interests, self-pride, self-indulgence, worshipping the works of their own hearts and minds, and building godless lives in abandonment of Holy Faith, erecting in personal glory that which soon will fall, fail, and go crumbling into Hell!

It’s one “keeping himself fit” for a lost and dying world with no allegiance to the One who made him, lost him, and then bought him by the blood of the Lamb at Calvary! His/her devotion is to “death”, not the eternal resurrection life of Christ; their devotion, apart from the Savior and Lord, is allegiance to an unholy dream and ambition that has no hope of eternal blessing; their ‘religion’ is “self-manipulation” with determination to be Hell’s top award-winner!

“Fleshly tents”? It was Augustine who once prayed: “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Self-vindication is the “fleshly tent” of a life that sees no evil living in man-made swamps that smell! Are you aware that masses in our world today have no conviction about living in the “darkness of unbelief” about God’s love, grace, and mercy?

Have you come across the passage of Scripture in Luke 19:42 when Jesus drew near Jerusalem and wept over it? Of course, today He doesn’t weep over cities because they ALL are so faithful to Him! Right? WRONG!! Jesus said then and now to the cities that reject Him,

“If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” And a verse later He speaks of the enemy coming and building a wall around them and an embankment, surrounding them and closing in on every side!

Are you alert to the “strange gods” that surround men today? Are “whited sepulchers” recognizable to you by what Jesus tells you? And personally, YOU – tell me about your prayer life because YOU have such great need of Him, or, is prayerlessness evidence of a “sham” faith? “Come to Me,” but you seldom do, because your ‘flesh’ determines, “You have no need of Him!”

“Fleshly tents”? They want no part of ‘suffering,’ or ‘faith tested,’ or ‘fiery trials,’ or ‘isolated by the world around you’ because of your faith-stand, because of your devotion to the Word of God without which a true disciple cannot live, because of a heart-felt desire and motivation to please and honor God in all things, and because you understand, true disciples ARE “living sacrifices”!

‘Fallen flesh’ really has NO spiritual thirsts for the truths of God; ‘fallen flesh’ has an idol it bows to, usually being one’s own self-image and devotion to satisfy its lusts; ‘fallen flesh’ is the vehicle they travel in, getting nowhere, but greater bondage to the devil and further away from God; ‘fallen flesh’ is a stubborn disease of spiritual death that will not die; ‘fallen flesh’ is more than personal prejudice – it is the demonic presence of spiritual darkness that refuses the very Light of one’s day!

Oh, but praise God! There is a way of escape from “fleshly tents” and ascending to the heights of “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”! What did Paul say in 2 Corinthians 5:1? “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

In Hebrews 6:17-20 the “wisdom-author” wrote: “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to ‘the heirs of promise’ the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us… This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Let me give you a glimpse of “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion” and the hope we have as an anchor to our souls! 2 Peter 1:10-11 says, “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Have you made your calling and election sure? Is YOUR anchor of hope submerged in the “waters of His Word,” anchored deep in the bedrock of His awesome promises, and tied strongly in the ship of your redemptive faith?

Sure? But didn’t the Hebrews passage also say “sure” and “steadfast”? In Colossians 2:5-7, Paul wrote: “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order “and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ”. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”

Now, as we look at “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”, let’s give ourselves serious consideration of what is vital for us in spiritual celebration of divine Truth! HOW COULD WE EVER CONSIDER a future home beyond this physical world we’re in if we never consider Christ saying, “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN”? That’s born the second time of the Spirit. That’s redeemed by the blood, regenerated by the Spirit, and recognized by Father-God as, “Yes, he/she is my son, my daughter, my child!”

What did Jesus say in John 3:3? To Nicodemus he said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

“New birth” by repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross as He shed His own innocent blood that your sins could be washed away, the gift of faith given, new life abounding, oneness with Christ assured, yielded to His calling and ministry through me, hungry for His Word, hungry for the fullness of His Holy Spirit, hungry for His purpose fulfilled through me as I present my life daily to Him on the altar as a living sacrifice to the glory, honor, and praise of Father-God!

But having been born again, the journey of faith had and has the certainty of a physical death for almost all true believers from the beginning of time to the present – the physical death of man is a certainty as long as our Lord extends our earthly journeys a few years, a hundred years, a thousand years, or ten thousand years – no man knows! The emphasis in this chapter is “the choice of life in Christ over the corruption of life in the “flesh”, or old Adam, or living in the temporary nature of sinful pleasure, WITHOUT GOD THE FATHER loving us, caring for us, providing for us as only He can do with divine blessings after divine blessings after divine blessings rather than spiritual corruption, spiritual sickness, and spiritual death!

No doubt Paul emphasized the reality of a believer’s physical death without one fear, one anxious moment, one “Oh, No”, because he understood translation, he understood “absent from the body – present with the Lord”! I believe if Paul had the muscular body like a “Mr. America”, there would be no pride in that but boastfulness in his “rest” in Christ, with no fear of the physical body seeking to exist because of his enemies! More important to him was preparation to meet Christ in “the heavenly home” as Christ is there preparing for Paul’s eternal home-coming!

At the same time there are many true disciples whose physical bodies are weak, at times physically ill, at times troubled by life’s stresses; at times there are true believers who live with on again, off again struggles; at times some believers’ lives are like the little children blowing bubbles, with the blown bubbles feeling so weak, so small, so susceptible to heavy, stormy “winds”, and they’re here, then gone!

Tell me, if you have the time, do you know about the spiritual stresses of a “laid-down life” to the glory of God, bruised, buffeted, battered by fleshly unbelievers or demoniacally inspired enemies of God, out to shame you, out to harass you, out to trouble you, discourage you, harm you, antagonize your devotion to your Lord and Savior! It does happen, but I believe I’m reminded of the Word in Proverbs 3:25-26, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.”

Though you may face troubling perils, our Lord and Savior gives us the peace that passes all understanding. Opposition to your witness may arise, even from “religious, modern-day Pharisees and scribes” who in their hearts are enemies of God, though professing their pride in their spiritual elite-ness!

The sin-infested, spiritually sick, blinded young man who killed with gunfire the pastor in Charleston, South Carolina, and seven or eight other church family in a prayer meeting back in the early spring of 2015, was disastrous, but not victorious, because true “born-again believers”, though the body doesn’t function, are “sealed” by the blood the Lamb, and NEVER DIE though the tent may fall down! I love Spurgeon’s comment about death: “Death, as it pulls away our sackcloth canopy, will reveal to our wondering eyes the palace of the King wherein we shall dwell forever, and, therefore, what cause have we to be alarmed at it?” [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol. 14, p.148].

“Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”? In Matthew 19:29, receive Christ Jesus’ awesome word of promise! “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, ‘for My name’s sake,’ shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”

The testimony of Paul the Apostle is so strongly earth-moving and self-shattering when one truly hears it! You are Now! In Acts 20: 22-24 we are so awed by his words of testimony: “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

“Faith’s Mountain-Mansion” inspires a testimony of great blessing to one’s self and to others, but be assured the glorious journey will often be thrust into some, if not many, diabolical situations! I’m not sure of the exact time period, but I would say about 30-35 years ago. I was pastoring, and toward the end of pastoring a particular church in a southern state, a diabolical situation began to break out, and tales were spread that were so false and foreign to me and to my wife, Sue. “The pastor is having an affair!” That was the falsehood being spread – untrue, because if true, I would have been dead! I may have mentioned earlier in this book or another I’ve written, when someone asked Sue if we had ever considered divorcing one another; she replied, “Divorce is a word never to be uttered in our home from us or our four children, but “murder”? Now that would be my choice!” I’m alive at 79 years of age, married to the same Sue since June 10, 1956!

It was so interesting that my daughter, Susan, was a PE teacher and coach in a local high school. [We had several hundred people who left our church and went to the local “First Church”.] A young man, co-teacher with Susan at her high school came to her one day, asking Susan, “How is your Dad and Mother?” and Susan responded, “They’re doing great,” which was so very true! The young co-teacher responded, “Susan you need to know that I was a part of the First Church my first years of life, schools, following my parents every Sunday. I learned something heart-breaking over the years: ‘If there was a pastor weak in the Word, ‘First Church’ loved him, but every pastor strong in the Word, they’d crucify him, lie about him, label him unworthy to be their pastor, isolate him, until he left the church. Your parents are truly blessed! And when I was on my own, I walked away from “First Church” never to enter its doors again. Let your parents know how blessed they are to be out of the lion’s den!”

Be assured! “Chains and tribulations await you as a disciple of Christ Jesus!” It was David, King David, who wrote “a declaration of faith” in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Verse 5 then says, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” Oh, and then Verse 10 says, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.”

And God the Father did just that! My father and mother divorced when I was three years of age. I was taken to my mother’s parents to live as she went to another city to work. My Dad remained in his hometown. I seldom saw either one of them for about ten years, my Dad only when I went, by bus, to his city and his parents. He was never in my home before or after I married Sue. My mother remarried when I was about twelve, and then I went to live with her and her husband, Frank.

I love Proverbs 11:8 which clearly states, “The righteous is delivered from trouble.” Triumphant over trouble is one of redemptive faith’s greatest truths! In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Paul tells us, from His Holy Spirit anointing, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”

I pray you grasp the significance of the Cross of Christ, not only His victory over our sin and death, but over the devil and his demon powers AND his “angels of deceit, darkness, and death,” even evil men and women so far away from Loving God! Colossians 2:15 tells us, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Fanny J. Crosby wrote the old hymn, “Redeemed.” The second verse of that strong “faith-song” says: “Redeemed and so happy in Jesus, No language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence With me does continually dwell…Redeemed, redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, redeemed, His child, and forever I am.”

IF “the righteous is delivered from trouble,” [by God Himself], why then, more often than not, are believers living in doubt or fear? In Psalm 106:44 & 47 the psalmist wrote: Verse 44, “Nevertheless He regarded their affliction when He heard their cry,” and Verse 47, they cry: “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles [strangers to faith and hope in Him!], to give thanks to Your holy name, to TRIUMPH in Your praise.”

It was Oswald Chambers who wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.109], “We act like pagans in a crisis, only one out of a crowd is daring enough to bank his faith in the character of God.”

Do you remember Jesus shortly before His crucifixion? “Father-God, if it’s possible let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not My will but Your will be done.” He went to the Cross, He suffered, bled, and died; He was placed in a borrowed tomb; three days later He arose from the grave! Triumphantly trusting even through troubling times or events!

“Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”? What about the life that you now live, having professed your faith in Christ Jesus? There are several verses I want you to see in Romans 6.

First, Romans 6:5-6, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”

Second, and last, Romans 6:10-11, “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Is Jesus YOUR Lord and Savior and the Master-Ruler of your life? Are you still “living” in a “fleshly tent”, subject to your ‘old-man inclinations’, Or have you died to that and ascended to “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”?

AGAIN!! “Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul!!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S FINAL DESTINATION”

To you, how vital and important are the words of Christ Jesus? Are His words true or untrue, right or wrong, of the very Spirit of God or the best and worst of a man’s fleshly nature? As you’re reading this chapter, as you’re examining your own mind and heart, as you’re weighing truth or fiction, I pray the passion of your soul is to know the difference between deception and divine revelation!

In Psalm 9:7-10 David sang: “But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

You’ve heard it I’m sure: “That’s Old Testament scripture that relates to the Jewish nation – New Testament truth has voided God ‘preparing His throne for judgment.’” Really?

In 1 Peter 4:1-5 Peter tells us, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God…

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you…

They will give an account to Him WHO IS READY TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.” But also examine 1 Peter 4:17-18 where Peter said also very clearly, very distinctly: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’” God’s Throne has been prepared for JUDGMENT!!

As I was reading 2 Corinthians 10 recently, I was spiritually awakened in “shock and awe” as I read Verses 4-5: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal [or ‘fleshly’] but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

You’ll find Psalm 46:10 an interesting Verse when God says: “Be still, and know that I am God.” In contemplation, in reflection, in evaluation, in reconciliation, there is a time to ‘be still, and watch God work,” but in spiritual warfare and eternal destiny, you better appropriate the weapons of your warfare that God provides the child of redemptive faith, and “fight the good fight of faith!”

In Revelation 12:7-11 God informs us of the war in Heaven before our world was birthed and built and blessed by Almighty God. There was ‘rebellion’ on Satan’s part. The Holy Word tells us: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him…And then in Verse 11 God’s inspired word tells us, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their own testimony.” It hasn’t changed because in Christ “we are more than conquerors,” we are victorious soldiers of the Cross through Christ’s eternal victory over Satan!

Satan has a residence – it’s formerly known address? “Hell” itself is his dwelling forever! It was Alighieri Dante, in his “Inferno”, who wrote: “Here sighs, pliants, [or bending and yielding], and voices of the deepest woe resounded through the starless sky. Strange languages, horrid cries, accents of grief and wrath, voices deep and hoarse, with hands clenched in despair, made a commotion which whirled forever through that air of everlasting gloom, even as sand when whirlwinds sweep the ground.”

And though many carelessly deny Satan’s existence, his “presence” is witnessed in “that air of everlasting gloom”! His ‘home’ or horrid place of residence? It’s ‘Hell,’ the place of absence and unbelief in Redemptive Faith, the location of “lost-ness” and denial of grace, mercy, and love, where ‘gloating’ in self-ability becomes eternally destructive in the death that will not die, “for the wages of sin IS death,” which the devil bathes in every moment of every day!

In 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 we find an alarming word that ought to “scare the Hell out of unbelievers”, but many just shake it off, denying their sin, guilt, and Satan! But hear God’s Word! “And then the lawless one will be revealed, [the unbeliever, the prisoner of Satan], whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason GOD WILL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE THE LIE, [Which is, “You can sin and not die,” the very Lie of Satan to Eve and Adam!], that they all may be condemned who did not believe the TRUTH but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Just how explanatory do you find that truth?

In Matthew 5:22 Jesus spoke of “the danger of hell fire”! Do you remember Christ Jesus condemning the scribes and Pharisees, leaders of Judaism in His day, in Matthew 23:31-33? He said, “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”

“Hell?” It’s the gathering place of the fallen man of good intentions, the gathering place of lust-filled and cheap imitations, the self-constructed ‘temple’ of ‘fleshly indulgences’ from which men try to explain that they didn’t want to be there, but they could do no other thing but sin recklessly!

“Hell?” Christ Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, “…for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”

“Hell?” Pains and chains imprisoning unbelievers in a death that will not die! It is a “fool’s” residence that has no light, no love, no liberty, and no chance of liberation! Hell is worldly pleasures that means wild decay and distress untouched by eternal grace and mercy! Hell is unbelief that blinds, and is ‘torture’ intended by Satan and never ending, day and night in the dungeons of darkness! Oh, and there reside blinded teachers teaching the devil’s ways without any spiritual sight or spiritual insight, with a constant burbling of drowning sounds that will not drown, except for the song and sounds of misery!

“Hell?” It’s a ‘prison’ with walls of a dungeon and ‘darkness’ as the residence of the devil himself with any ‘light’ being the eternal “fright-light” of demonic torture! It’s pictures on the walls of one’s prison-cell? Fleshly pictures of ‘love’ for the devil and all his demonic, demonized, destructive ravaging of ‘flesh’ that will not die!

“Hell?” Oh, so easy to descend! No way of escape, a constant abode of the Devil and Hell’s eternal rape and plunder! Zones of deep sadness and regret with no hope of any peace, shady light from Hell’s flames that never die out but reveal constantly sights of shame, sadness, suffering, spiritual sicknesses with no cure!

“Hell?” Joseph Beaumont once wrote: “Tell me not of the fire and the worm, and the blackness and darkness of hell. To my terrified conscience there is hell enough in this representation of it, that it is the common sewer of all that is abominable and abandoned and reckless as to principle, and depraved as to morals, the one common eddy where all things are polluted and wretched and filthy are gathered together.” I’d say here – “Enough of Hell! Tell me about Heaven!”

“Heaven?” In Matthew 8:11, Jesus tells us, “And I say to you that many will come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” Wow! The blessings and privileges of knowing that “in Christ” you have a seat in Eternal Heaven even sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!

It is “a place”, not a premise; it is “a location”, not an ‘imaginative dream’; it is “a heavenly promise”, not an “off-the-wall pipe-dream”! It is God’s after-life home forever for every true redeemed son and daughter; it is His “resting place” for the sons and daughters of faith who laid down their lives, having been ‘crucified with Christ’, and raised up in Resurrection power to serve their Lord and Master forever! In fact, Isaiah 28:5 speaks with a holy promise, “In that day the Lord of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people (true born-again believers!), with Isaiah 28:12 also revealing, To whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,” and yet only the remnant of Israel heard God’s promise! Do YOU hear Him today, looking forward to your eternal “home” in Heaven?

“Heaven?” Thank God for “eternal fellowship” beyond the here and now but forever with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; “eternal fellowship” with all the saints of all the ages, “eternal fellowship” with the angels who watched over us and cared for us, even when we didn’t even know they were around; and can you begin to fathom Heaven’s “redeemed choir” with their “Hallelujah” symphony of praise and adoration and blessing of God?

I cannot imagine a Heaven apart from fellowship with the Godhead, fellowship with family and friends, fellowship with the true Body of Christ, fellowship with the martyrs, the bruised, the broken, the battered, who were so blessed, fellowship with the stalwart servants of the ages who so exalted Him in their walks of faith, ministry, and service unto the Savior!

“Heaven?” I pray you didn’t miss our Lord’s intentional purpose in Matthew 8:11! Christ Jesus said: “And I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” How does even a “professing believer” think he/she can live without true fellowship in the here and now with the Word telling us, “forsaking not the assembling of yourselves ‘together’ as the manner of some is,” because the assembly around YOU is in need of you and the gifts He has given you for “body life” and “body ministry”!?!

“Heaven?” In Revelation 7:9-10 we read: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Oh, but that is not all! Revelation 7:13-17 we read: Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

“Heaven?” Its residents? It’s the imperfect declared perfect by their faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross; it’s the spiritually blind made to see by the ‘touch of the Master’s hands”; it’s the deaf who couldn’t hear a word of God but Christ Jesus majors on new hearing; it’s the enslaved to sin who have their chains broken by the Blood of the Lamb and they celebrate Salvation’s freedom; black, white, red, or yellow – applied grace, mercy, and the love of God, opened by God Himself are the “impartial gates of eternal life”; worthy enemies of God have met Him in resistance only to be broken, born-again, and blessed with presence in His eternal home; sad sinners broken by the devil are made to smile by God’s healing grace, and lifted from bondage to His eternal place; sorrow over sin and separation from Holy God, brokenness over personal shame, and rejoicing over the word “forgiven”, opens Heaven’s gates!

“Heaven?” The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The author of Hebrews said in Hebrews 10:34, “…knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.”

Samuel Rutherford wrote: “The hope of heaven under troubles is like wind and sails to the soul.” And often ‘troubles’, ‘trials’, and ‘tribulations’, are the stepping stones to Holy Presence! But in that walk of redemptive faith, often experiencing the sadness of the soul, that walk abounds in a spirit of rejoicing, even celebration, and the singing of praises to God, because you know you “never walk alone”! Though our steps of redemptive faith are often steps that would bankrupt others spiritually without Christ, to the born-again citizen with “dual citizenship”, earth and heaven, we fight the good fight of life bank-rolled with “the treasury of everlasting joy,” [Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part II].

“Heaven?” I may ‘limp’ in my earthly journey, but I guarantee you, when the door of Heaven is opened for me after my physical death, I’ll leap into His arms! At the same time, even in the earthly pilgrimage of a true disciple, birthed into the family of God, do you not ever taste Heaven’s divine pleasures and eternal joys? Are YOU “registered in heaven”? That’s Hebrews 12:23!

Oh, but hear me! What good is “Heaven” for you ‘then’ if Jesus Christ is not your “All in all” NOW? “Profession without His possession”? “Belief” in certain of His truths but void of His Holy Presence as “Christ in you the hope of glory”? “Belief”, but absent of Heavenly behavior?

Christ’s Holy Presence in you is evidence of His heavenly fruit through you! It was Leslie D. Weatherhead in, “This Is The Victory,” [Abingdon Press] who wrote, “The opposite of joy is not sorrow. It is unbelief.” And tragically many “professing Christians” [?] know nothing of “the joy of their salvation”!

“Heaven?” Have you ever heard “arrogant” preachers, some church folk, even highly successful businessmen or some athletes, “pumping their ‘flesh’”, promoting their ‘spirituality’, talking about their ‘Successes’, their achievements, their prosperity, knowing nothing about “forsaking all and following Christ”? They just may be “shocked” at what door is opened to them upon their deaths!

And many look to wealthy men across the world, whether those men are Christian or not, and see men who are without any consideration that heavenly wealth, Heaven’s treasures, more than likely are totally opposite or void of any heavenly meaning for them related to Eternity’s sake, or even value their wealth as a tool of God Himself to extend His Kingdom and express His love!

It was Thomas Dreier who once said: “All progress is made by men of faith who believe in what is right and, what is more important, actually do what is right in their own private affairs. You cannot add to the peace and good will of the world if you fail to create an atmosphere of harmony and love right where you live and work.”

“Heaven?” Redemptive Faith’s Final Destination? Can you imagine a man who thinks, believes, rests in, follows, or promotes the fleshly ideal that ‘heaven is a reward for those who do well on earth’? IT IS NOT ACHIEVEMENT THAT OPENS HEAVEN’S DOOR FOR ANY MAN – IT’S ONLY THE BLOOD ATONEMENT OF CHRIST JESUS THAT ALLOWS ANY MAN TO ENTER! It is not ‘merit’ but mercy; it is not self-determination, but dependence upon Sovereign God’s provision; it is not ‘trying’ but trusting in the finished work of Christ at Calvary’s Cross!

“Heaven or Hell”? Eternally real is both, one for blessing and the other the curse, one eternally joyful and the other forever sad and tormented, one the Living Water of the Eternal Word and the other the dry, dusty, dirty, Water-less desert, without any hope of eternal satisfaction or even provision to quench one’s eternal thirst!

And I remind you of what the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ Jesus, Emmanuel, had to say in John 3:19! “Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

My “NKJ” version entitles Psalm 37 as “The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked”, followed by Verses 1-9 which says: “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb…

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass…

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass…

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret – it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.”

Grant Colfax Tullar, with Mrs. Frank A. Breck, wrote the hymn entitled “Face to Face.” It says: “Face to face with Christ my Saviour, Face to face – what will it be – When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?

Only faintly now I see Him, With the darkling veil between; But a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen.

What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain.

Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face – to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.”

In your mind and your heart, do YOU know how much Christ Jesus loves YOU?

“Evidences of Redemptive Faith”? Washed heart, new mind, divine consciousness, peace passing all understanding, a love of God’s Word and devotion to it, abiding awareness of divine presence, the very fruit of the Holy Spirit, obedience to the Lord’s calling and mission, the able-ness of God in overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil, a full assurance of understanding, of the hope until the end, and the full assurance of redemptive faith, an awareness of beautiful feet busy about sharing the faith that saves, the soakings of the showers of blessing from heaven, the whitening of the Lamb’s blood that washes our hearts, “changes” in the twinkling of an eye, a spiritual “soldier” who knows how to fight the good fight of faith, God’s gift of the very crown of righteousness, deliverance – the demons had to leave, satisfied desires by the Desire of Heaven implanted within us, visible edification of Christ’s indwelling, the full assurance of faith and faithfulness, glory, glory, and more glory, genuine faith more precious than gold, the guarantee of the Holy Spirit as God’s gift, healing hands and helps, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away, joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, kept by the power, authority, and love of God, kingdom life, kingdom blessing, kingdom presence, kingdom keys, holy love, holy visions, holy victories, great mercies, rich mercies, faithful mercies, the oil of gladness, abundant redemption, faithful and full reconciliation, a renewed, steadfast spirit within, a crown of righteousness, a crown of glory, a crown of eternal richness , the Lord’s song, the Lord’s strength, the Lord’s authority, the Lord’s support, the True Light, the True Bread, the True Freedom, the True Love that never changes or dies!

But you believe your ‘savior,’ your ‘sponsor’, your ‘supporter’ has better, stronger, more satisfying and rewarding ‘helps’, when he’s a helpless, hopeless, hard, hellish representative? “Give me a break!!”

[The “Conclusion” follows on next page!]

CONCLUSION

“YOUR ENDING?” A toss-up or avoidance of any consideration of your ‘after-life’ or triumphant Truth that sees you through to everlasting Victory In Jesus?

For you, what will it be? Government over God, even self-government over His Sovereign Rule, rebellion over Revelation, or the “Curses” over His Blessings?

Do you sincerely believe ‘self-will’ tops Divine Will? Is it ‘Me’ over the Master, fleshly thoughts over Spiritual Truth, or spiritual death over Eternal Life?

For you, is it the prostitution of peace and life over the Presence of the Prince of Peace and Author of Eternal Living? Are you one who is so willingly defiant or are you the “Wonderful-ly Dependent” one accepting His Resurrection Life?

Are you ‘man-minded’ or Godly ministered to? Is it, for you, fallen ‘flesh’ or Victorious Faith, Sin-paralysis or the Savior’s Perfecting Gifts?

Do you follow the philosophical words of men or the Word of Truth of the Author and Finisher of Eternal Faith? Is it man-made successes you follow without honoring God or God-ordained and implemented victories that honor our Lord alone? Are you a spiritual gorilla of the devil’s army or a true soldier of Christ Jesus’ Heavenly Service of mercy, grace, and love?

Are you a part of the unbelievers who have made a mindless, heartless, sick choice of faithless living or a part of the family of believers who have truly repented of faithless living, of believers, true believers, who repent of their sinful natures before Holy God and rest in the finished work of Christ at the Cross, knowing and believing and trusting in the Holy Spirit’s ministry of eternal reconciliation to Holy God?

But, have you heard it? “Jesus was only a man”, when in reality He was and is Emmanuel, “God with us,” with the question every man will answer, “Is HE YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD AND REDEEMER?”

Is it man’s licentiousness or God’s Word that one is devoted to? Is it a government’s laws that should guide us or God’s true liberty that frees us? Is it even the religions of fallen men’s creation that calls one to observe and obey their rules or the Revelation and unveiling of God’s Eternal Truth and His Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ?

Is it man’s educational systems alone apart from divine conversion or God’s birthing of spiritual life, spiritual equipping, and spiritual training, that honors Him through their available lives to His glory? Is it man’s fleshly, selfish, sinful choices, or the Providence, Provision, Person, and Purpose of Almighty God?

Is it the ‘whims’ of fallen mankind or the eternal Wisdom of Almighty God? Is it what pleases, satisfies, proves what a sinful manhood is capable of or a redeemed life, ‘born again’, to share His Eternal Life, His Powerful Presence, and His Abiding Hope?

Is it self-indulgence to the extreme in satisfying one’s old sin-nature that has separated one from Holy God or the divine conviction of the Holy Spirit that turns one away from sin to a life of oneness with Christ Jesus who paid the price at Calvary to free us, forgive us, and fulfill us with His abiding presence in us?

“Everybody does it” is no comfort in the hour of holy judgment as one stands before Holy God at His throne of judgment, while the Holy Spirit strived to convict and convert one to profess “faith” in Eternal Life through the finished work of Christ Jesus at the Cross, illuminating us that we were crucified with Him, and raised up in His Eternal Life and His Eternal Resurrection Power to be His “new creations”!

“Fleshly successes” are not sufficient when it comes to reconciliation to Holy God – only the shed blood of Christ alone washes men from the guilt of self-love, self-indulgence, and self-rule and ruin – it’s only the Lamb’s blood that washes darkness from the ruined hearts of fallen men, giving them hearts washed as white as snow through Jesus’ blood sacrifice!

For you, has it been ‘self-promoted success’ in the place of Christ Jesus’ willing sacrifice, your ‘self-determination’ in the place of Jesus’ Selfless-Demonstration of true holy love, your ‘self-evaluation’ of what you determined should appease God in your rebellion, resistance, and disregard of the love of Calvary’s Cross?

You’ve heard it: “A man’s productivity should be enough to satisfy God’s displeasure; a man’s ‘performance’ should guarantee God’s standing ovation; a man’s achievements should show the Blood Atonement was unnecessary.”

Really? YOU really believe that? Man’s best in place of the blessing of God’s love, grace, and mercy? And you have no fear of Holy God?

In Luke 12:4-5 Christ Jesus said: “And I say to you, ‘My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; and I say to you, fear Him!” Amen?

By: J.Farrell Fisher, Sept. 2-3, 2017

I was deeply moved, reminded of, and, yes, convinced of “life experiences’ being either closed doors to the desire of God to “Bless” us or convinced “I’m on my own, and I’ll try my best to overcome all that I’m facing without anybody’s help, including your God!”

Life apart from trouble, heartaches, disappointments, producing frustrations like an explosive volcano, are at times seemingly out of control. And, of course, one has to ask: “Well, in this present life situation, who IS in control?” Do you understand, sense, and become aware of those who are ‘shaken’, yes, even in every good or bad moments of their lives and circumstances, and they crumble right before your eyes because they’ve never looked in to the heart and mind or UP TO THE LOVING GOD AND FATHER WHO’D LIKE TO INTERVENE!

Guided by present failures or disastrous events, the independent mind senses no need of God’s help or His people’s help – “I can make it on my own!” One thing is sure for me in Texas today in this time period of ‘natural disasters’, most Texans are thankful for His people’s help AND HIS FAITHFUL INTERVENTION AND BLESSING OF THE TROUBLED MINDS, HEARTS, AND FAMILIES WHO STAND IN NEED! And God arises!

In His “Rising Up” in the time of trouble, He calls on His people, whether some know Him or not, to hear the call to duty, to receive the rallying cry of ‘community cooperation’, to pause, reflect, pray, saying, “Lord, what would YOU have me to do?” In every life there are those life-circumstances where one must stop, ask Him, evaluate under His Spirit’s control and oversight, of what is necessary, what is vital, what is valid, and what is of most importance to ME as a vessel of His Holy Presence, fighting the good fight of faith, understanding and resolving what my present responsibility is – but is it to MY world, MY flesh desires, or even a ‘vessel’ of invasion by the powers of darkness that limits God’s Compassion, ignoring God’s eternal purposes, OR what is most important to Him and His ministry in, to, AND through me?!? Isn’t there historically present from our world’s foundation and creation the activity of God seeking to BE the difference in the betterment of human lives and human affairs? Yet many ignore or even buy in to Satan’s lies! “Has God really said…?” Isn’t that what Satan asked or spoke to Eve and Adam? And doesn’t Satan still continue to degrade, deny, or denounce His eternal Truth in the Word or in the Living Word of Christ’s Presence?