ONE OF LIFE'S GREAT SECRETS

 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again...Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand...Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise.

(Prov. 24:16;Psa. 37:24;Mic. 7:8)

THOUGHT

The disgrace is not so much in the fall, but in failing to get up again, when Jesus is offering you His hand.

POWER TO BECOME

“...to them gave He power to become...”

(Jn. 1:12)

I have been spending some time now in the book of John in my devotions. I’ve been impressed with three words in the above text, “....power to become.” The writer John could certainly attest to this fact. Jesus took a hothead (Mk. 3:17) and a hardhearted young man (Lk. 9:54-55), and made him into a sweet and loving old man (1 Jn. 4:7). In later years he was not what he was in earlier years. He could say, “What I was is not who I am.” Can we honestly say this of ourselves?

This is not only true of John, but also of other of the Lord’s followers. To Simon he said, “Thou art...thou shalt be,” (Jn. 1:42). The Jewish evangelist, Hyman Appleman once told his wife he wanted a little girl, three years old, like one child whom he was taken up with in one of his meetings. Her reply was, “Hyman, children don’t come that way.” As another has said, “We are what we’ve  been becoming.” A good illustration is the caterpillar becoming a beautiful butterfly.

“Dead things don’t grow, only living things.”

(rds)

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMB

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.”

(Acts 8:32)

“And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.”

(Matt.27:14)

If ever a person lived that had a right to speak in such a situation as He was, it was Jesus. Lies, lies, and more lies against the only TRUE ONE that ever graced this earth. The wisest Man of time and eternity, who had the wise man of Ecclesiastes pen, “… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” followed His own teaching. He knew He would ultimately have the last word (Psa. 2:5). God has a way of vindicating His “Silent Lambs” in His time.

The “Lord of our lips” (Psa. 12:4) will teach us when and when not to speak, if allowed to. There is such a thing as getting the last word by silence. One of my wife’s favorite scriptures was the last line in Titus 2:9, “Not answering again, which she was an expert in doing. She, as David of old, had asked her Lord to, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips," (Psa. 141:3). I think it wise for us to follow such a Godly example.

“If you can’t take words back, then don’t give them away.”
(rds)

STAYING CLOSE TO GOD'S MERCY SEAT

He [the High Priest] shall take of the blood of the [sacrifice] and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat...And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat...Moses... heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat...Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh...Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

(Lv. 16:14;Ex. 25:17,22;Num. 7:89;Heb. 10:19-20;4:6)

THOUGHT

“Take notice of not only the mercies of God, but of God in the mercies. Mercies are never so savoury as when they savour of our Saviour."

(Ralph Venning, Puritan)  

IT'S RELEVANT

“And if a kingdom (Nation) be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”

(Mk. 3:24)

I, like A.W. Tozer, have a distaste for some of the popular sayings used in our modern-day vernacular. Just to cite one case, speaking of a person or thing, is the word awesome. Personally I reserve this word only for God! David stood in awe of God and His Word.

In this article, I want to discuss another of these worn out words, I refer to the word irrelevant. Meaning: something that is not connected or unrelated with something. The Bible, especially the teachings of Christ, are presently believed to be so with many.

The words of Jesus Christ are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago, when first spoken. He tells us the philosophy of the enemy of Eden is, “Divide and conquer.” Whether it be a divided house, or nation, such says He, “...cannot stand.”

A casual observer is conscious that our beloved nation is in such a quandary at this time in history; and if continued in, is set for a fall. But good news—the One Who brought divided Israel back together again, as one nation, can do it again! (Ezk. 37:16-19,22)

“One of the first acts of God in creation was making two become one.”

(rds)

RESTING IN THE LORD

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him...ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls...And it shall come to pass ...that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve...Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls....Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee...For we which have believed do enter into rest. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his...the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest

(Psa. 37:7;Jer. 6:16;Isa. 14:3;Matt. 11:28-29;Psa. 116:7;Heb. 4:3-10;Isa. 63:14)

THOUGHT

“We enter into His rest not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.”

(Hudson Taylor)

Jacob's Well v. Jesus' Well

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water... The woman saith unto him...Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

(Jn. 4:10-14)

Thirsty at the well? Mark it down, you will always be thirsty at the world's well; it only gives temporary satisfaction. Only Jesus’ eternal artesian well can give everlasting gratification. Jacob’s well may help you physically for a brief time, but only at Jesus’ well will you find permanent spiritual fulfillment.

Show me what a man or woman constantly thirsts for and I’ll tell you, with almost certainty, in which direction they’re eternally headed. The man after God’s own heart said, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God...my soul thirsteth after thee.” Time doesn’t change this!

My pail I’m often dropping

Deep down into this well,

It never touched the bottom,

However deep it fell;

And though I keep on dipping

By study, faith and prayer,

I have no power to measure

The living water there.”

WHAT PAUL SAID ABOUT JESUS' TEACHING

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing…”

(1Tim. 6:3-4)

There are those who tell us we are to go strictly by Paul’s writings to the exclusion of Jesus’ teachings. Paul would not agree! To do this is to build a structure without a foundation. The Gospels are foundational and the apostles’ Epistles the framework. Paul originate nothing but unfolds everything. We need both, like a bird does her two wings.

I have found more than a few of these misguided folk generally tend to carry themselves like they are a notch above us commoners. They like to come off as spiritual intellects. But Paul says of such “they are proud,” that is, puffed up; or as my kin in Kentucky would say, “They’re full of hot air.” They know nothing, but think they know everything.

The doctrine of Christ produces piety, godliness if you please. Today's carnal Christians seem to be interested in biblical statistics more than our blessed Savior; diddies more than Deity; and being happy more than holy. Paul admonishes the saints of his day to, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” I’d strongly advise my readers to do the same.

Someone has said, “Jesus’ words were the words of a gentleman.” NO! Jesus’s words are the Word of God!

(rds)

Waiting to Hit Bottom

The world’s little clichés and philosophies often sound good at first, and even reasonable, until they’re scrutinized by the scriptures. One such erroneous saying, held by many, is that there is some kind of charm about hitting bottom. That one automatically starts up again after this sudden, jarring stop in their lives. You know, "Once you've hit bottom the only place to go is up."

Two things come to mind when I hear such a statement. First, numerous souls die before hitting bottom. David says some men do not “live out half their days.” And secondly, many at the bottom do not ascend, but rather descend further down. As Amos tells us, they “dig deeper into hell.” During the Second World War, the enemy made our boys dig their own graves, but the people I refer to are not coerced to do so.

Scores of parents, loved ones, and friends feel responsible for these self-appointed “destructees.” Don’t be; they are natural born grave-diggers. With all our short-comings, most of us did our best in raising children and being a friend! Pray tell me, what more could you have done than you have done? Or as God says to His wayward people, “What could have been done more…that I have not done...?”

We are what we have been becoming!

BAREFOOT AT THE BUSH

“And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”

(Ex. 3:5)

Some Experiences You Never forget

Eighty years after these happenings in Exodus chapter three, while blessing the twelve tribes before his death, Moses mentions his experience at the bush, Deut. 33:16. It was possibly the highlight of his life.

A Burning Bush For A Burnt Out Man

Forty years prior to this unforgettable event Moses had burnt himself out, so to speak. He took things in his own hands and, as always with those of us who do, made a mess of everything. Now, for those past many years his life was nothing but ashes: an ash heap. But he was to soon find out that God was going “to give unto [him] beauty for ashes.” What an exchange!

Soiled Shoes Or Sanctified Feet

If he was going to approach God the first thing he must do is discard that which was man-made and soiled by the world. He must come naturally, not in another's garb, as David found out in wearing Saul’s armour. He too had to “put off,”  before being used of God. A natural man can only become a spiritual man when he is willing to confess to his naturalness.

Why So Few Bush Experiences Today In The Life of God’s Elect

God doesn’t speak to those who admire Him from a distance. He speaks to those who turn aside, having a holy curiosity. To those who draw near to God He promises, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you,” Ja. 4:8. Once we do this He, like in Moses’ case, will call us by name.

Come To God As You Are At This Very Moment

Moses didn’t approach God  with his royal upbringing in Pharaoh’s house, his Egyptian scholarship, nor his manliness, or any other attributes. But he came as a colossal failure in life. He came just as he was, as the song says.

“At the end of self you’ll find God!”

(rds)

A Day I'll Not Forget

Beloved,

I want to take this time to praise and bless my precious Lord for the mercy He has shown to me. Five years ago, on this date, I had my heart attack. It was three days after my 80th birthday. The result was open-heart surgery with five bypasses. It was rough going all the way, with a few discouraging setbacks involved. But it was one of those "needs be" the scriptures speak of.

I want to personally tell each of you who prayed for me during this great trial in my life how very much I appreciate you. And of course that girl who was, and is, the love of my life, Salle Jo. She was by my side caring for me every step of the way. It absolutely took all her strength, which she never fully recovered. As most of you know it was only, I think, about three years or so after that that doctors found she had pancreatic cancer. The doctor told her the traumatic pressure of looking after me no doubt hurried her condition prematurely. "Greater love hath no man," says The Man Christ Jesus!

I don't know about tomorrow but I know He'll be there, for all my tomorrows. Bless His Name.

Brethren, Pray For Me,

An Old Disciple

THE SAINTS PARADOXICAL LIFE

1. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

   (2 Pet. 3:18)

   “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

   (Jn. 3:30)

   
   

   One of the definitions of the word “paradox” is: a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. The Bible is a paradoxical book; therefore, those who follow its precepts will seem to be the same. A good example of this is Paul in 2 Cor. 6:8-10. Peter speaks of those who wrest Paul’s writings, 2 Pet. 3:15-16. The natural and carnal man still do. They call it contradictory.

   
   

   From our two main scripture references we see this paradoxical truth played out. Generally, growth carries the thought of getting larger, but growth in the saint’s life means just the opposite. He or she grows smaller if they are growing in the Lord.  A Bible illustration of what I’m attempting to get across is found in the Psalms 58:8. There David speaks of how “A snail...melteth.” As it goes forward, it gets smaller.

   • • 1. Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow
          That a time could ever be,
          When I proudly said to Jesus,
          “All of self, and none of Thee.”
       2. Yet He found me; I beheld Him
          Bleeding on th’ accursed tree,
          And my wistful heart said faintly,
          “Some of self, and some of Thee.”
       3. Day by day His tender mercy,
          Healing, helping, full and free,
          Brought me lower while I whispered,
          “Less of self, and more of Thee.”
       4. Higher than the highest heaven,
          Deeper than the deepest sea,
          Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
          “None of self, and all of Thee.”

DEUTERONOMY

“It is written...It is written...It is written.”

(Matt. 4:4,7,10)

Deuteronomy is the fifth book in the Bible, and last in the five books of the Law. Interestingly, after Jesus fulfilled the Law, by His death on the Cross, He had five holes in His body.

When our Lord was tempted there was only one Old Testament book He quoted to overcome Satan - Deuteronomy! Like the verse in Martin Luther’s song, A Mighty Fortress, “One little word shall fell him.”

Out of David’s five smooth stones it only took one to bring down that Satanic giant. It doesn’t take many Scriptures to bring down your adversary; one arrow will kill a man, if your aim is straight.

NOTE: This will be my last article for a few days.

DEVOTIONAL DIRECTIVES

“And David said...I cannot go with these [Saul’s armour]...And David put them off him.”

(1 Sam. 17:39)

The song says, “Dare to be a Daniel.” How about, “Dare to be a David?” The leader, Saul, tried to get David to do things the way he did: the accepted way, the norm. But David was not comfortable doing things that confined and limited his life, that voided his liberty.

Many well meaning leaders attempt to dictate how other Christians should have their devotions. In my sixty-plus years of ministry I do not know of a subject I have given more time to in study than the saint's devotional life, the exception being the Life of our Lord.

I once heard it said every believer should read his or her Bible three times a year. How foolish to tell a new mother this, or a man who works a twelve hour day with a family, etc. In these instances it is wrong to teach one to exceed their grasp. Legalism is its end!

It is not how many times we go through the Bible, but how many times the Bible goes through us. I held a meeting for a pastor that boasted he’d gone through the Word seventy-eight times. Soon after I heard he had left his wife for another woman.

I like the story about the eating of the Manna as found in Ex. 16:18, “He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.” EAT TILL YOU’RE SATISFIED! That is, full. This was Jesus’ way (Lk. 9:17).

GIVING GOD OUR CLOCKS AND WATCHES

“My times are in thy hand.”

(Psa. 31:15)

When I was just a boy there was a fairly popular jazz song, the singer was Rudy Vallee and was accompanied by his orchestra, “The Connecticut Yankees.” It was first sung by him in 1929, but still played in the 30’s and early 40’s, during the Big Band era. The title was, “My Time is Your Time.”

One of the great and memorial events in a saint’s life is when he or she gives Christ all their time. Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year, until we enter a timeless eternity! When time shall be no more. There, you’ll find, are no hands on God’s clock.

Time is a rare and precious commodity, created by a timeless God and once used can’t be gotten back. To exclude Him from our lives is
wasted time, which spells a wasted life. Our Lord does not mind us enjoying the things of life, family, friends, events, etc., as long as He shares those times with us.

Jesus wants to be an intricate part of all we think, say, and do. Any time spent without Him is valueless. It adds up to less than nothing! The context of Jesus’ saying, “ Are there not twelve hours in the day?” is making our days count. He who made our days is worthy to be glorified each of those days!     

“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”

(Mal. 3:16)

Wearisome Worriers

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows.”

(Psa. 127:2)

There is nothing wrong in early rising or sitting up late at night provided one is not filled with anxiety, worrying about the day ahead or the previous day’s activities. It is vain (pointless, useless) to do so. Depressed Job speaks of wearisome nights and days without hope. ”  We who are prone to worry, more so than the average, can give testimony that often our desire is that mentioned in Deuteronomy, “Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning!” Around the clock worry.

Worry can whittle an individual down to the point where he or she almost becomes a nonentity. Is there any ray of hope for such miserable, imprisoned souls? Thank God, there is! I think a wall plaque I saw recently, says it best, “My Worries Are Few Because My Blessings Are Many.” Putting your manifold blessings along side your problems will dwarf the former every time. It dawned on me some years ago that worrying is telling the devil you believe him. We can’t worry and say we believe the promises of God. It is unconscionable!

“ What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”

(Psa. 56:3)

THE TRIUMPHANT CHRIST

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war...And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean...And He hath on his vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

(Rev. 19:11,14,16)

With a guaranteed  promise such as the above there is no room in a Christian’s life for gloom and doom, no matter what the present discouraging  conditions of the world may be. Apathy, like our own day, seems to have been the widespread norm prior to His first advent both in the secular and religious worlds. They were taken completely off guard; only a small remnant were looking for Him, such as Simeon and Anna (Luke 2). They were watching and waiting!

At His first coming He rode on the back of a colt, the foal of an ass but at His second appearing, sitting on a white charger, a war horse, if you please! And with Him “ten thousands of His saints.” The greatest military encounter this world has ever seen is when the heavens open and are filled with God’s army, with His blessed Son, the Captain of our salvation, leading us on to victory. Crowned, not with thorns, but a diadem of jewels. He told Peter to “put up his sword” ; but He will soon unsheathe His!

“See the ransomed millions stand,

Palms of conquest in their hand;

This before the throne their strain,

“Hell is vanquished, death is slain;

Blessing, honor, glory, might,

Are the Conqueror’s native right;

Thrones and powers before Him fall,

Lamb of God and Lord of all!”

Hasten, Lord the promised hour;

Come in glory and in power;

Still Thy foes are unsubdued;

Nature sighs to be renewed.

Time has nearly reached its sum;

All things, with Thy bride, say “Come”;

Jesus, Whom all worlds adore,

Come, and reign forevermore.

Josiah Conder

1789-1855

ONE WAY AND MANY WAYS

“I am the way…

(Jn. 14:6)

“He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”

(Is. 2:3)

If the Bible  teaches anything, it teaches only one way of salvation, and that is by and through the Lord Jesus Christ! Yet, at the same time and without contradiction, there are many ways in which God leads His children in accomplishing His will. There may be only one way into a store but many isles in which to walk, each taking the one that suits his purpose.

All of us, the elect of God, has his or her function in the Body of Christ. And as we fulfill that particular purpose we may do things different and contrary to the ways of others. The norm is not the normal for all of God’s servants. It may be most comfortable for one and accepted by the brethren, but it is not God’s way for that individual.

I think most, if not all, ardent Bible believers would’ve had a problem with Isaiah’s antics recorded in Isaiah 20:2-3, where God used him as an object lesson. In our day he would have been censured by us unmercifully, I think. I hear someone saying, “Yes, but he was an exception to the rule.” Exactly! That’s what I’m attempting get across to you, my readers.

I leave you with two scriptures we all need to ponder. The first is found in John 20:21-22, “Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him...what is that to thee? follow thou me.” The second is in Matthew 20:15,“Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?” Our “Potter” can do with His vessels as He pleases.

“DARE TO BE DIFFERENT”

Not for your sake, but for His sake!

(rds)