OUT OF AFFLICTION

Jesus told us that in this world we would have tribulation.  But we are to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world.  (John 16:33)  As Christians we are not promised a life without difficulties.  Psalm 34:19 states, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”  We can be assured of God delivering us out from the difficulties, but not to keep us from entering into difficulties. 

We see in the situation recorded in Daniel 3, in which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace they were not in there alone. There was a fourth person in there with them.  They came forth from that fire that had killed the men who threw them in, without even the smell of smoke upon them.  They were not alone, nor will we be left alone in our time of affliction.  (Hebrews 13:5)

Isaiah 43:2-3a When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. ³ For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:

MAIN DISH OR SIDE DISH?

Jesus desires to be the main dish of our life, not just a side dish.  Too often we partake of Him as a side dish and think we are doing well.  Sometimes we think that we are doing good because at least we are partaking of Him, unlike many others around us, even those within the body.  But those who compare themselves with others are not wise.  We must measure ourselves with the plumbline of God’s Word, with the plumbline of the commands and expectations of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Especially during this holiday season with all the hustle and bustle it is so easy to not keep the main thing the main thing and push Jesus aside until we get to the other side of this season.  Although there are seasons in God putting Jesus aside and making Him a side dish even for a season is not a good thing. 

Is Jesus your main dish or a side dish, as you go through this season? 

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Mark 12:29-30 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ³⁰ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

WHAT ARE YOU EATING?

We have all heard the phrase “you are what you eat.”  If we eat a healthy diet we will be healthy and if not, we won’t. This applies both in the natural and the spiritual.

Sometimes I have thought it was not fair that certain people could eat as much as they want and not gain weight.  Or that some people can eat a very unhealthy diet and yet not seem to suffer the consequences.  Yet it seems that if I even look at something sweet I gain weight. Or if I am not careful about my diet I soon suffer the consequence of increased pain or an acidy stomach. No matter what it seems like now, there are consequences, if not immediately, there are long term consequences in relation to what we take in.

The same is true of our spiritual man.  Daniel and his friends chose not to partake of the foods of the Babylonians that were offered to them.  They chose not to defile themselves with those foods. (Daniel 1:8-20)   The result was that they were ten times wiser than the others.  John the Baptist was in the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey, certainly not the normal diet of the day. (Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6) Although this refers to their natural diet, I believe it is an indication of their spiritual diet as well. 

Ezekiel and John were both admonished to eat the book. (Ezekiel 2:8-3:3; Revelation 10:8-11) I believe God is saying the same thing to us today, “eat the book.”  That is, do not just read the book (Bible) but take it in. Meditate upon it. Let it become part of you.  As it was for both Ezekiel and John it will certainly cause a certain amount of discomfort at times, but the long term affects will be glorious. 

Jesus told his disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood.  This caused a great many to walk away from Him. (John 6:51-69)  Jesus is asking us today to partake of Him as well.  It may be offensive, but as Peter stated only Jesus has the Words of Life.  We partake regularly of the bread (His body) and the wine (His blood).  As we do we are remembering His death and ultimately His resurrection.  We are partaking of Him who is life.  In Jesus is life.  The life is in the blood.  Jesus is the bread of life.  Partaking of Jesus consistently will have a glorious result in that day when we stand before Him. 

So I ask, What are you eating?

 

WORDS OF LIFE

Yesterday as I was reading through a portion of Acts and this verse stood out to me.  Acts 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Many people were being healed and many people were being saved.  The apostles had been put in prison by the religious leaders because they were jealous of what the apostles were doing.  During the night the angel of the Lord came and freed the apostles from prison and told them to go into the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.  They were to preach life eternal through Jesus Christ to the people stuck in the dead religion of that day.  The very religious leaders whom Jesus called whited sepulchres (Matthew 23:27) were at it again..  These that looked good on the outside and yet were dead on the inside are the very ones who crucifed the Prince of life. (Acts 3:15) These same spiritually dead people were trying to stop the ones who now had the Holy Spirit of the Prince of life living within them.  Gamaliel was a wise man when he counseled these spiritually dead ones to let the apostles go for if this was truly of God they would not be able to stop it and they would find themselves fighting against God Himself.  There is no way to stop the Prince of life.

I don’t want to be a whited sepulchre.  I want to be one preaching the words of life.  Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.  In Jesus is life and that life is the light of men. 

Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

We Must Stand

I believe we are in a time in this country when we as Christians are going to have to make some tough choices and we are going to have to band together like never before. Our battle is not with human beings, but with spiritual forces.  The body of Christ is going to have to truly become the body of Christ. We need to pray for one another, that we may boldly stand for Truth clothed in the full armor of God and having done all to stand.  We must stand together.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 Daniel stood firm for God in the midst of a spiritually dark nation.  No matter what happened he stood firm in his relationship with God. As a young lad, when he was first taken to Babylon and was beginning his training there he refused to defile himself. (Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.)  This set the tone for his many decades of leadership within the spiritually dark nation of Babylon, even after Babylon had been taken over by the Medes and Persians.  During those years God caused him to have favor and spoke a clear word through him to the leaders. 

Daniel always remained humble and dependant on God, realizing where his help came from.  When the decree was signed that would mean his death if he prayed to his God, he went and prayed to his God like he always did.  Even in the face of death while headed to the lion’s den, Daniel’s trust remained in his God.  (Daniel chapter 6, espec. vs. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. )  In Daniel 6:3 we are told that “an excellent spirit was in him.”  And I pray that the same could be said of me and you in the days ahead.

WHERE ARE WE?

...from bondage to spiritual faith;
from spiritual faith to great courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance;
from abundance to complacency;
from complacency to apathy;
from apathy to dependency;
from dependence back again into bondage.
Life Cycle of Nations by Alexander Tyler, 1750 
 

After studying the history of many nations and noticing the life cycle that nations went through Alexander Tyler, laid out the cycle noted above. We can see where our natin has been.  But we can also see where our nation is now.  Unfortunately, I believe the USA  has moved from apathy into dependency and are on the edge of bondage.  Actually in some ways we have already headed into bondage.  The bondage into which Israel was taken was God’s judgment, out of which they cried out to God and were restored to spiritual faith.  We see this cycle over and over in the Bible, especially in the book of Judges.  I believe, from what I see in the scriptures, that God’s judgment is redemptive.  God’s judgment is for the purpose of turning hearts back to Him.

The United States has for several decades been telling God we do not want Him involved in our lives.  As a nation in a lot of ways we have turned our backs on God.  We have allowed prayer and Bible reading to be removed from our schools. The occult is being embraced more and more. Just look at the movies, TV shows, and books that are popular. We have allowed the killing of millions of unborn babies within their mother’s wombs. Across the country the homosexual lifestyle is embraced, even within churches and by our president. For these things alone we deserve judgment as a nation

You may say, but we are in the end times and these things are supposed to be happening.  That may be true, but I don’t buy that as an excuse to not stand as Christians.  I don’t believe just because we are in the end times that the church is supposed to just give up ground to the enemy and just wait to get out of here. This is a time to stand firm and fight.  This is a time to allow God to work in and through our lives as never before. I, like many others, am looking for an end time harvest that we have not yet seen, and then the end will come.

JEHOVAH-JIREH

Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

 Jehovah-jireh means “God will see” or “God will provide.”  The God who sees the end from the beginning makes provision in advance for whatever need He knows that we have.  Provision comes from “pro” which means “before” and “vision” which means “seeing.” So we see in provision, “seeing beforehand.”  God sees beforehand. When we pray the answer is on the way in advance because God has already seen beforehand, both the need and our prayer.  How great is our God!

But I think we make this name of God way too narrow. I have most often heard “Jehovah-jireh” in relation to financial provision or provision for some natural need.  Yet the context in which God was revealed to Abraham as Yahweh-jireh was a prophetic picture of Jesus becoming the sacrificial lamb for all mankind taking our place on the altar of the cross, that we may be redeemed from our sin. It was on Mount Moriah, where Abraham took Isaac to offer him on the altar as God had commanded, that God provided Himself a lamb for the sacrifice.  God had seen in advance that in obedience Abraham would go to that place with his son and He had the ram there to take the place of Isaac on the altar.  In the same way God saw down through time and saw my need for a savior and has provided Himself a Lamb for me.  He is indeed my Jehovah-jireh.  He is the provision for my greatest need….redemption.

Genesis 22:7-8 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? ⁸ And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Righteousness does indeed exalt a nation.  We are praying for righteous leaders to be elected to places of leadership within our government.  That is a very good thing.  I am greatly encouraged to see the number of prayer initiatives from various Christian groups leading up to the election, because we have realized that our country is in great trouble.   I am joining my prayers with those of the multitudes of others across the nation. 

But I believe God is looking for righteousness not just amongst our leaders in government, but for righteousness amongst those in leadership in the church and amongst all of us who are called by His name.  

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This verse is the basis for the prayer that is being sent up across this land.  God is looking for more than just petitions for a change in our land. God is looking for a change in our hearts, then He will bring a change in our land.  We are to seek His face and turn from our wicked ways.  As we seek His face we will see things in our lives that are not in alignment with His heart and His ways, that we must do something about.  That is part of humbling ourselves as we pray.  We must repent of our own wicked ways and not just pray about the wicked ways of some in our local, state, or national government. Then righteousness will lift up our nation from the place it has fallen to.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: ²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

There Is A Harvest

There is a harvest that God desires to bring in across this nation of the United States of America.  Because things do not look so good in this nation right now I hear many saying they think it is not long until the Lord returns, which may be the case. But quite frankly, I personally believe we have many years yet before the Lord returns.  Whatever the case may be there is much more to be done before His return.

It is not a time to just wait around to be “raptured” out of here. I get the sense that many are just waiting to be taken out of here before it gets really bad here in the USA. I don’t understand why people think that just because things are getting a little rocky here that it is time for the rapture.  It has been pretty bad for a long time in many other countries. 

Now is the time to take a stand and to bring in the harvest.  It is time to intercede for the harvest to be brought in.  It is time to work in the harvest fields as diligently as we ever have.  So when things get bad or we are “raptured” out of here more people are ready.

Matthew 9:36-38 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; ³⁸ Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

I think the conditions that Jesus saw as recorded here…multitudes were tired and scattered about as sheep without a shepherd…..describe much of the USA, even within much of the church.  There is a plenteous harvest to be brought in and I believe the admonition of the Lord is the same today.  Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.   Then be ready to be one of those laborers, because we see in the next chapter Jesus empowering and sending his disciples out into the harvest fields.

 

FELLOWSHIP

1 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 cleanseth us from all sin.

2 Corinthians 6:14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:  for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion hath light with darkness?

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

I have heard fellowship described as, at least two fellows in the same ship going in the same direction.  Fellowship means to share things in common with another.  Only Christians share Christ in common and the life lived because of the Spirit living within us.  I think that is what is described in the above scriptures. 

A person who is a believer in Christ cannot have real fellowship with someone who is not a believer in Christ. A person living a righteous life cannot have real fellowship with someone who is living an unrighteous life.  As a believer you are part of the kingdom of light and as an unbeliever is part of the kingdom of darkness.  So the believer and unbeliever are really part of two very different kingdoms that are at war with each other.

When we walk with Jesus, who is the light, we can only have true fellowship with those who are also walking in that same light. This does not mean we cannot have friendships with or reach out to those not walking in light, otherwise we would not have any contact with unbelievers to share the light of the gospel with them so that they can be delivered from darkness. The light in us should overcome the darkness in them.   

A Son of Encouragement

Recently I looked into the life of Barnabas. I would like to be more like Barnabas. I think I would like to have known Barnabas while he walked on the earth and look forward to meeting him in heaven.

Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus. His name was Joseph but he was called Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” (Acts 4:36) This alone tells us that he was a man that encouraged others. He was one who could see the best in others. He would come alongside and help them on the path that God had for them. He did this most notably with Saul/Paul. When we think about the New Testament church we mostly think of Paul. But had it not been for Barnabas, we may not have known much about Paul.

Barnabas was the only one in Jerusalem initially who believed that Saul had a real conversion experience. While others were still cowering in fear of Saul, Barnabas took him under his wing and introduced him to the church leaders in Jerusalem. (Acts 9:27) Later when Barnabas was ministering in the new church in Antioch, he went to Tarsus and found Saul to enlist his help. (Acts 11:25) Barnabas obviously recognized that Saul had the necessary teaching gift for the work needed. From Antioch they were sent out together as missionaries. (Acts 13:1-3) In the early part of their ministry together Barnabas was listed first in references to them, indicating that he probably had a more prominent role. He did not seem to mind eventually taking the “lesser” role in the team. To me this shows humility.

Later Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement about taking John Mark along because of his failure to remain with them on a previous journey. Barnabas chose to work with the young John Mark and let Paul go on with someone else in ministry. (Acts 15:37-40) Again we see the willingness of Barnabas to work with someone that another would not and encourage him in his ministry calling. And again I wonder what may have happened to Mark, had Barnabas not stood with him and had just went on with Paul and left Mark by himself. Would Mark have become the man he did without the support and encouragement of Barnabas? Would Paul have become the man he did without the support and encouragement of Barnabas? It causes me also to wonder if there are people that I have not given a second chance or just wrote off that their lives may have been different had I acted differently toward them.

After the separation from Paul we don’t really hear much more about Barnabas, but I am quite certain there is much more to his life than is recorded here. We will just have to wait to talk to him about it on the other side. I would also assume that we would find more that he encouraged along the way than just Paul and Mark.

We also see from what is recorded in Acts 11:23-24 concerning his initial work at Antioch that “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And so a large number of people was brought to the Lord.” He seemed to have pastoral heart and successful evangelistic outreach. Also according to Acts 13:1, he was considered amongst the prophets and teachers in Antioch. So he really functioned in several different "offices."
In addition Barnabas was one of the early church members who sold property and gave finance toward the work of the ministry. (Acts 4:37)  We see in this also a generous heart

A Mature Body

Sometimes I have a tendency to think that other people are just like me or that they should be just like me.  Obviously this is not good for several reasons.  One is, if they were like me there would be no need for me.  Every one of us is unique and necessary.  God made all of creation with great purpose and variety.

Only God can expect people to be like Him.  He created man in His image and likeness.  (Genesis 1:26-28)  The fallen creation has the potential to be restored to what God has originally created us to be.  That is why Jesus came to the earth, was crucified and raised from the dead to make a way for us to be freed from sin and the effects of sin to make the way for that restoration.

All of God’s creation is so amazing.  Such beauty! Such diversity and yet unity of function!  God created each human body with such intricately designed diverse parts and yet these parts have a unity of function.  The different parts or systems need each of the other parts to function appropriately, so that the body is healthy and can perform at peak capacity. 

In the same way the church, the body of Christ, is composed of many different parts.  There is a great diversity.  If each part is allowed to function as it is supposed to there is a great unity of function resulting in the shining forth of the beauty of the character of Christ and the furthering of His kingdom on the earth.  The church, the body of Christ is headed toward the fullness of this becoming a reality. 

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The five fold ministry is given until the mature body comes forth manifesting the fullness of Christ.  In order for this to come about we must learn to function appropriately allowing and encouraging each member to find its place of function to bring forth an effective, healthy, and mature body.  Each part must be allowed to be who they were created to be and do what we were created to do. (Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.) Then a mature body can come forth. God is looking for a mature body that willshow forth  the fullness of Christ.

LET PEACE RULE

When Jesus comes to rule on the earth there will be peace on this earth.  But we do not have to wait for His return to have peace. We can let Jesus,the Prince of Peace, rule in our hearts now and allow there to be an ongoing increase of His government and peace in our individual lives.  Jesus came to bring peace into the hearts of men. 

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

We can let the peace of God rule our hearts now.  This means that we let the peace of God be the governing or arbitrating force within our lives.   

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit that lives inside of us.  So we can choose to let that fruit have rule.  We can do that by submitting to the Spirit inside of us and letting Him be the ruler, governor of what we do or don’t do throughout the day.

Galatians 2:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

PURSUE PEACE

Recently I was listening to Henry Gruver (http://www.joyfulsoundministries.com/ ) talk about getting started in prayer walking and how God lead him in it.  He was saying that God told him to be mindful of His peace.  Henry was instructed that when he lost the peace he was to go back to where it was lost.  I think this is a good guide for our daily lives, follow God’s peace and when we lose it back up to find where we lost it and make a course correction.  That correction could mean repenting of something, forgiving someone for something, or changing what I am doing.  It could mean any number of things.  But we can let the peace of God be our guide.

Around that same time I was also reading an article by Sharon Carlson, of International Accelerated Missions (http://www.iamoutreach.org/ ).  The title was “Go After the Ark.”  Joshua 3:3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. (KJV)

The Ark of the Covenant represents the presence of God.  This admonition is appropriate for us today.  Pursuing the presence of God, staying where He is can be a key for our lives.  When I feel the manifest presence of God it is generally in the form of overwhelming peace. For me the peace of God and the presence of God go together.   So I guess I could say by pursuing the presence of God I am also pursuing peace. 

Today I have that Presence living inside of me.  Yet often I don’t acknowledge Him nor follow after Him.  Too often I go on about my day without paying much attention to the Presence within me.  I think if I paid more attention to the peace of the Presence within me I would be better guided through my day.  When I sense His peace I need to just keep going.  But being aware of when that lifts and turning to Him for guidance to get back to the place of His peace could be a great guide.

Romans 14: 17-19 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸ For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. ¹⁹ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

2 Timothy 2:20 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful

Valley of Weeping

Psalm 84:5-7 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion. (AMP)

On our spiritual journey, a valley is a place to pass through, not a place to camp out.  But as we pass through these valleys they can be very fruitful places in our lives.  We see in the above scripture that the person is passing through the Valley of Weeping.  (Baca=weeping in Hebrew)  As they passed through this valley they make it a place of springs.  Other translations say wells.  When we dig these wells they  become places of refreshment for us and for others. We need to dig deep into God, press in not back off. When the rains come these wells are filled with the blessings of God. 

 

Passing through this valley we “go from strength to strength.”  There is a progressive growth and strengthening as we continue to move through the valley on your way to Zion the city of our God.  Our spiritual walk is to be one of progressive growth. 

 

If you are currently passing through a tough time, a Valley of Weeping, make it a place of wells and continue on through that valley.  The spiritual wells you dig during this time will be a blessing to you and to others in the days ahead.

God's Will

We often want to know God’s will.  This verse clearly spells out God’s will. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

This is one of the few places in scripture that specifically spells out what the will of God is.  Since this scripture was highlighted to me by the Holy Spirit recently I have been much more mindful of being thankful in all things.  I have also been noticing how much the Apostle Paul exhorted the churches to be thankful.

Ephesians 5:18-20 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Moving Forward

What we are moving into is a new thing.  But we do not throw out everything of the past.  The new thing is built upon the past.  It is built upon those that have gone before.  It is built upon what God has done in the past. 

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. RSV

But we do not want to get stuck in the past we need to move on into the new thing that God has prophesied. Sometimes we only recognize the new thing as we move into.  For example on the Day of Pentecost Peter stood up and declared, "this is that which was prophesied."  The Holy Spirit gave him a knowing that what they were experiencing was the prophecy that they were familiar with. That prophecy of Joel only had its beginning in that day and is continuing to have its outworking in our day.  It still has not come into its fullness.

Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

Many in Peter's day, in the early days of the church, were unable to accept and move into the new thing that God was doing and thus missed out on what Jesus had been preaching and what God had prophesied for a few thousand years.  I do not want to miss out on the thing that God is doing in my day or in the days ahead because I am stuck in the past.  But I do not want to throw out the past either.  It is a new day.  Each day is a new day and I will rejoice and be glad in it for it is the day that the Lord has made.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Just as those who have gone on before cannot enter into the fullness without us, we cannot enter in without what they have established before us.  We need to run the race set out before us.

Hebrews 11:39-12:2 ³⁹ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: ⁴⁰ God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Each generation was meant to build upon the previous. That is one of the reasons the heart of the fathers must be turned to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers.

Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: ⁶ And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Don't Look Back

Often we do not move forward because we are looking back to the way things used to be and are trying to reproduce it or at least have it happen again.  God wants to do a new thing and we are trying to enter into an old thing.  There are new paradigms of functioning in the Spirit that God wants us to move into. They are not new to God.  They are just new to us, because we have not passed this way before.  It is uncharted water.  This can be scary.  This is the water to swim in, where we are no longer in control. 

First Abraham was led out of the land of his family into the land of his inheritance.  Later the Israelites were led out of Egypt back into that land of promise.

The Israelites were always wanting to go back to the familiarity of the slavery in Egypt, when God had the land flowing with milk and honey waiting for them.  How often am I like that?  I would venture a guess that it happens way too often. 

Like the wilderness God has purpose in the journey.  And He has new things waiting for us as we press on into the land of milk and honey.

As they were passing into the Promised Land they entered into a new way of being led.  Up until this point they had been led by the pillar of fire and the cloud.  They had also had food provided daily in the form of many, now they were going to have to grow their own food and there were enemies to be driven off of the land that was promised to them.  They were transitioning into a new way of being led and provided for, as they moved into the Promised Land. Those transition points can be uncomfortable as we learn to function in a new place and a new way.

Genesis 15:7  And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

Deut. 4:37-38 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; ³⁸ To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.

Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. ¹⁹ Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Joshua 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore  --

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Present Tense God

Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? ¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

 Too often we try to live in the past or in the future, but all we really have is the present.  Something I recently read pointed out that our God is the ever present God.  He calls Himself I AM.  I AM is present tense.  Our God is a present tense God.  I have heard it said, God did not call Himself “I was” or “I will be” but “I AM.”

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  

Today is the only day we have to live.  Yesterday is gone and tomorrow has not yet arrived.  This is the day we have to live for God; moment by moment, saying “Yes”, to all that He has for us in this day.  May we live it to the fullest with our eyes fixed upon Jesus.   

Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We need to forget what is behind, both good and bad, and reach forth to that which is before.  As we reach forth and press for that prize, we can only do it in the present, one step at a time, one moment at a time.

Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

A Tribute To Wade Taylor

In February of 1979, I made my first trip to a small Bible school in the woods of upstate New York.  When my college roommate and I set out on the trip to visit her friend at Pinecrest Bible Training Center in Salisbury Center, NY, I had no idea how profoundly my life would be influenced by that place or through the life and teaching of the founder of that school.  The founder of that school was Wade Taylor, affectionately called Brother Taylor by many. 

 That weekend in 1979, I was given a small book titled The Secret of the Stairs.  Over the next several years I read and reread that book until it was falling apart.  The author of that book was also Wade Taylor.  Eventually Brother Taylor revised and added to that book, but somehow I kept being drawn back to the copy I was originally given, even though I bought some of the later editions.

Wade Taylor went home to his eternal reward yesterday.  That is the reason for writing this post in loving memory of a man whose life had a profound effect on many.  It is hard to put into words what I learned from him.  I believe the most important thing I learned was about having an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  I gained an appreciation for the presence of God, waiting on God and sitting in His presence.  Through this I have gained more than I could ever articulate. 

I gleaned much over the years listening to Brother Taylor speak, even when he shared the same thing over and over again.  I gleaned much through his articles in The Banner and his books.  I received much through his prayers for impartation. 

 

John 12:23-26 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. ²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ²⁵ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. ²⁶ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

   

I keep thinking of the above scripture in relation to Brother Taylor.  Jesus spoke this shortly before He gave His life on the cross.  What He had invested of Himself in others would live on in them and continue to bear much fruit.  There was a necessary dying that had to take place for the fullness of this to happen.  In the same way, what Wade Taylor has imparted into lives of others, through his ministry, will live on in the earth and continue to be multiplied into “much fruit.”  I have a sense that with his passing there will be a further maturing of the fruit that has come forth from his life.   Bro. Taylor served God for many years investing in the lives of others.  I believe God is honoring him today as he has gone to be where Jesus is.

 Thank you Brother Wade Taylor

CHRIST WITHIN

Recently I have being thinking a lot about Christ living within me and what that means as I go about each day.  Wherever I am and whatever I am doing I want to be able to let the Anointed One within me come forth and touch those I meet each day. 

 Here is a little prayer I wrote:

More of You and less of me…Divine Seed exert thy might

Come forth thou mighty Christ in me,

That others may see You and not see me

Light burst forth from within

Enlighten the darkness all around me

River of God flow out from me

Refresh all those in need

More of You and less of me….Divine Seed exert they might

Fruit of the Spirit from within, to the world be made known

Anointed One empower me to be Your hand extended

An instrument through which Your healing power and deliverance flow

For greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world

Not by might, nor by power, but by Thy Spirit

Shall each mountain be removed, every hindrance must go

More of You and less of me…Divine Seed exert thy might

Forgetting and Fruitfulness

Genesis 41:51-53 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. ⁵² And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.  (KJV) 

Note the meaning of the names that Joseph gave to his sons and there order.  Manasseh means "caused to forget."  Ephraim means "fruitfulness."  First he was caused to forget.  Second he was caused to be fruitful.  Sometimes to come into a place of fruitfulness we have to forget some of the things that have happened in the past.  Sometimes things from the past both good and bad can get in the way of pressing on into what God has for us.  Perhaps there is some baggage from your past that has kept you from being fruitful. I think each one of us need to seek the Lord to see if there are things we need to forget, so we can move forward into the place of fruitfulness God has for us.

Note also that it says “God hath made me to forget” and “God hath caused me to be fruitful.”  Forgetting and being fruitful require letting God do the work within us.  It requires our submission to Him and cooperation with Him.  Sometimes it is a quick work and sometimes it is a process.  Sometimes progress is made in large steps and sometimes in tiny steps.  The important thing is to continue moving forward.

Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus

Forgetting is not just pretending that something did not happen and just tuck it away somewhere in your subconscious, where we don't think about it.  It inolves forgiving and/or letting God heal the wound of the event so that it has no more pain or power within us.  For example Joseph still remembered what his brothers had done, but it no longer had power over him.  He had truly forgiven his brothers and had allowed God to heal the pain.  Joseph had come to the place of seeing how God had taken this painful event in his life and used it for the good of his entire family, for nation of Israel. 

Genesis 45:4-5 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. ⁵ Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 50:19-21 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. ²¹ Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.