THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit."

1 Pet. 3:18

Most certainly, as the scriptures record, Christ came to die for sinners, destroy the works of the devil, give us life more abundant, heal the brokenhearted, deliver captives, open blind eyes, set at liberty those who are bound, etc. But the one ultimate goal in all of these was that He might bring us to God, His and our Father.

 

When He died the veil of the Temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, opening a way for man to approach a Holy God directly, without fear. The writer of Hebrews tells us that veil was a picture of Christ' flesh, that we can now enter into God's presence boldly, through His blood. 

The writer goes on to say it was, "a new and living way." Just as it was "new" to the Jews of that day, it is "new" to many today. I say this reverently, but they stop short at the veil. Jesus intended for us to enter in, not stand at the opening. Some think the hallmark of spirituality is stopping at Jesus, but everything He did was designed to bring us to the Father. He Himself said, He came to glorify God and bring us to Him. Interestingly one will be hard pressed to find anyone praying to Jesus; they prayed to the Father through Him; He is the Mediator, not the end! 

The reason some Christians reject this is because they don't understand there is no jealousy in the Godhead. Jesus desires, unlike many children, to share His Father with His other brothers and sisters, in spite of the fact we were adopted. When He taught prayer, He told them to say, "Our Father..." And when He left them to go back Home he said, "I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God." 

In dark Gethsemane our Lord cried out, "Abba Father." And some years later Paul writes twice, "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father… And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

Let us each come to our Father and God through our Lord Jesus Christ! And in coming bow down and worship HIM! This pleases the Son.

By An Old Disciple

WORRYING ABOUT THOSE WASTED YEARS?

“I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten…” 

(Joel 2:25)

Who among us does not regret having some wasted years in our lives? But the God of all Grace promises those who humble themselves and who admit they were the cause—a bumper crop. It will more than compensate for the loss. You will find, "He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think!"

Spurgeon said, “There is a strange and wonderful way in which God can give back to you wasted blessings.” No past famines can make future blessings impossible. All our losses can be restored. He can give fullness for famine, and replace poverty with plenty. It is never too late to make a new start, no matter how hideous the sin, or how many years have been abused and misused.

And because He does these things for us we may say, “Praise the name of the Lord [our] God that hath dealt wondrously with [us]” (Joel 2:25-26).

Remember; He is the Lord of the locust-eaten years.

WHEN IT SEEMS THE SKY IS FALLING IN ON YOU

"And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken."

(Mk. 13:25)

I imagine that most, if not all of us, have either heard or used the proverbial saying, “I feel like the sky is falling in on me.” In my reading of Job recently, I wondered if the old patriarch was not the originator of this adage. For in the very first chapter we find everything falling in on this precious saint, whom we are told, is to be our example in suffering.

The account goes something like this: In one twenty-four hour period we are told one messenger after another brought Job news of the sky falling in, so to speak. The first bearer of bad news told him the Sabeans “fell” upon his five-hundred yoke of oxen, his five-hundred she asses, and had taken them away, slaying also the servants. While he was delivering his distressing report, a second showed up telling of the fire that had “fallen” from heaven and burned up his seven-thousand sheep; consuming also the servants. But, can you believe a third shows up on his doorstep? This man informs him that the Chaldeans “fell” upon three-thousand camels, carrying them away, after killing his servants. And to add sorrow upon sorrow, the fourth and final dreaded news comes. A great wind came from the wilderness, and the house in which all of his children were feasting, “fell” upon them, killing the ten of them. It is mind-boggling, is it not, ten funerals in one day?

What in the world could be the purpose in all of this? I believe it is found in verse 20 of this first chapter. After hearing all the tragic and heartrending news, we are told, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and “fell” down upon the ground, and worshipped.” O, dear child of God, if everything seems to be falling in on you, then fall to your knees and worship the One who gave, as well as the One who takes away. And remember, the end cannot begin to be compared to the beginning!

By An Old Disciple

CONCRETE OR FLUID?

"[Jesus said] ... for all these things must come to pass ... But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day."

(Matt. 24:6,20 cp. Mk. 13:18; Lk. 21:9)

Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are all prophetic chapters. As I was studying these recently I noticed most of the things mentioned are set in concrete, but not all. Some things, as they say, are fluid: that is, subject to change. The great time of distress coming upon all the world is set; the weather conditions and day connected with them are not. Those things, says Jesus, can be prayed about. That is, if it ain't nailed down-PRAY!

Some saints worry themselves in prayer as to what is fixed and what is fluid, causing them to hesitate in asking things. I heard an old country preacher when I was just a novice say, "There are preachers who tell us some promises in the Bible are for us, others are not. I didn't know which was which, so I've just claimed every promise I come across, as I've read the scriptures. I didn't get everything I claimed, but I sure got more than I would have had I not asked.” "Ye have not, because ye ask not," Jam. 4:2.

In 2 Sam. 12 there is an enlightening illustration of what I've been attempting to get across. David had sinned with Bathsheba and Nathan the prophet delivered God's message to him that the baby she would bare unto him would die. The babe thereafter became very sick. Upon hearing this, David fasted and prayed for the child's recovery for seven days, after which the child died. When David was aware of the child's demise, he arose, washed and anointed himself, worshipped God, and afterward ate a meal. His servants did not understand the great change in him and asked him concerning it. David replied, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?" (V22) In other words, who knows? David felt it was worth the try. DO WE? 

By An Old DIsciple

The Garment of Praise

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion...the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...that he [God] might be glorified.”

(Isa. 61:3)

I think most of us do not realize just how important praise is in the life of a Christian. It is not sufficient it play a little part in our lives; it is to play a “big” part! It is what we will do throughout eternity, therefore, wise is the man or woman who is familiarizing themselves in the practice of it prior to entering the City of our God. As C.S. Lewis writes, “If we cannot praise God on the lowest plane, how can we praise Him on the highest plane?”

We are told the Jewish people had different garments and ornaments for various festivities and events. Those for rejoicing and for mourning, much like our weddings and funerals. The prophet Isaiah tells us the Lord was going to give His people a change of garments. He was going to replace those which represented mourning and a heavy spirit with a garment of praise. And the reason for this? That He might be praised. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me,” saith the Lord.

It has been said, “A gloomy believer is surely an anomaly in Christ’s Kingdom.” And Matthew Henry states, “Zion’s mourners weep in secret.” It is not those who complain about the dark hours, but those, who like Paul and Silas, praise God at midnight, that bring about a shaking and an awakening. It was not their preaching, but their praying and praising at the dark hour that had such a strong influence on those bound in chains.

Another writer penned, “There is something in each one’s experience that another cannot borrow.” This is why God made us all different and deals with us accordingly. Each of His children can praise Him in a particular and peculiar way that another brother or sister can’t. This is why it is imperative for each to praise God in his or her own way. If we do not, something will be missing. The praise songs of heaven are written in different parts.

“Christ had a delight in praise, possibly because it was a kind of echo from heaven. It reminded Him of the scenes He had left.”
(Andrew A. Bonar)

An Old Disciple 

OVERWROUGHT: BECAUSE IT IS NOT OVERNIGHT

"...as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how."

(Mk. 4:26-27)

Have you recently made some type of decision or commitment to Christ concerning your spiritual life? Have you seen very little change in the area you desired to see transformed? Are you tempted to give up because of the thought you will never be able to obtain the thing you longed for?

What is the problem with people in such a predicament as the likes of us? It’s quite simple. I will grant that some changes in the Bible are radical and instantaneous, but, generally speaking, most come slowly, over a process of time. We need to learn to be patient, not only with God, but ourselves.

A good Bible illustration of this is found in 2 Samuel chapter three verse one. “Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul weaker and weaker.” Here we see David did not become overnight what he later became. Notice, it was a long process of personal battles before he achieved it!

As the Chinese proverb that I quote so frequently says, “A thousand mile journey was started with one step.” If you have started yours by faith, don’t stop or turn back; you’ll always arrive at the right place if you’re on the right road. Ask Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress.

"The Christian Life is about putting one foot in front of the other."

(rds)

       BY AN OLD DISCIPLE

AN EVER-PRESENT GOD

"I AM THAT I AM."

(Ex. 3:14)

"I AM" is most definitely in the present tense. God gives Moses a double-barrel truth to convey to His people. "I AM...I AM," says the LORD. Not was, will be, but AM!, always present. The One who is, was, and which is to come, is ever present at any of these stages in time or eternity. He is not mentioned in the book of Esther as being present but He can be seen working behind the scene. As the old camp meeting preacher once said, "When you can't see Him you can track Him."

When God clothed Himself in flesh and came into this world, He tried to tell the world who He was, but like now, they just couldn't, or wouldn't, get it. Jesus said, "I AM the bread of life; I AM the light of the world; I AM the door of the sheep; I AM the resurrection and the life; I AM the good shepherd; I AM the way, the truth, and the life; I AM the true vine; before Abraham was, I AM." Jesus was the Great I AM of the Old Testament. When the soldiers came to the garden to arrest Him and asked concerning His person He answered, "I AM HE." At this statement they all went backward and fell to the ground! The God that spoke from the bush now speaks from the flesh, of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Even His name "Emmanuel" gives Him away; it means, "God with us." O, how He wants us, His people, to know He is ever present with us. His promise is that "He will never leave nor forsake us." He is in the boat with us, He rides the storms with us. And yes, stills them at His pleasure. Dear child of God: He is with you right now, at this very moment of time! BLESSED BE OUR GOD!

By An Old Disciple

THE WORST CASE SCENARIO

“We despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.”

(2Cor. 1:9)

A definition for the idiom used in our title is: the most unpleasant or serious thing that could happen in a situation. Paul was far from being a pessimist, but he was a realist. The Apostle always, as they say, “hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst.” His was not a foolish faith.

One area where this principle is applicable is prophecy. The fact that our Lord is coming back to earth a second time is settled in concrete, but the particulars surrounding it have been debated by good and godly men for more than two-thousand years, and will continue till He comes.

There’s several views of the events associated with Christ’s historic return. Some are easily digested, while others are hard to swallow. So much so that many simply refuse to consider them; for if found to be true, they would have to go against their long held prophetic beliefs. Plus experience the unpleasantries connected with that particular position.

Many years ago I stood by the hospital bed of a young, newly married, eighteen-year-old girl. She had been in a horrific car accident, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Everyone, understandably, was praying for her healing, that she would walk again. I then did the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I said, “Tina, if you walk again, we can easily work that into your schedule. But life in a wheelchair? You’ll need to prepare for that.” She did! And now, after these many, many, years is still serving God; in her wheelchair. Alongside her precious and beloved husband, John.  

The moral of this story? We need to prepare for the worst thing that could happen to us, prophetically speaking; if it doesn’t come to pass, we can work that in.

By An OLd Disciple   

GOD DETERMINES THE EXCEPTIONS

"It is appointed unto man once to die.... Enoch was translated that he should not see death...."

(Heb. 9:27; 11:5)

Enoch did not choose to be the exception to the rule. He was strictly God's choice. And so it is throughout the scripture. David when in need, along with his band of followers ate of the shewbread which was not lawful, but for the priests only. But God made an exception in his case because of the legitimate need. And what of Hosea marrying an harlot, which was forbidden, but in this case God wanted to illustrate something to His people Israel, so He makes an exception to the rule? The list goes on and on.  It's good to always remember — God wrote the rule Book! Therefore, He only has the authority to make or permit the exception.

Most all of us will never be in the exception category. It's a humbling thing to wake up to the fact that you are and always will be, just one of the gang; if that is too crude for the soft-skinned, you can insert the word “group.” 

There is a great danger in a man or woman thinking and acting as he or she must be the exception to the rule. Peter thought he could never do what others could, thus imagining  himself the exception. Those who do so are prone to take liberties not permitted them by God. Saul of old found this to be true, and he lost it all for his refusal to obey like all others. 

In my way of thinking doing exceptional things for God is a vast cry from making oneself an exception in the things of God. The first in the Bible to attempt the latter went by the
name Lucifer! 

By An Old Disciple

IT'S A BIG STEP

“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”

(Ja. 4:8)

If we will take the first step toward God, He will take the second toward us. And remember, God’s steps are bigger than ours. No matter how far away you may feel from him today, if you will take that first step toward Him, you’ll find after He takes His, you will be face to face with your God!

It is a wise person who seeks and does those things that are good for them in this life. David said, “But it is good for me to draw near to God.” The text suggests that even the “sweet psalmist,” the one called “a man after God’s own heart,” was not always near to his God. This is implied in the words, “draw nigh.”

The song writer had it right when he penned the words, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” Don’t you think he must have read the statement in the book of Jeremiah, where speaking of God’s elect says “Thus have they loved to wander.”

By An Old Disciple

FAULTY VESSELS/GREAT FAITH

"[Abraham]...against hope believed in hope...And being not weak in faith...He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God...And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform...Now it was not written for his sake alone...But for us also..."

(Excerpts Rom. 4:18-21;23-24)

Those familiar with the Old Testament and the life of Abraham, as recorded there, are aware of a seeming discrepancy when compared to the New Testament, as we find in the above portion of scripture; that is, if one is a spiritual thinker. The fact is, Abraham staggered like a drunken man, outwardly, when it came to his faith. Like so many of us, he (and his wife) attempted to help God along with His promise, so to speak.

What is the answer to this supposed contradiction? Simple-he had a strong faith but a weak flesh. We are like the buoy; it may be tossed to and fro on the surface but below the surface it is sure and steadfast (Heb. 6:19). Jesus taught this principle to His disciples when telling them that the Spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. Paul understood this truth when he mentioned earthen vessels with a treasure within (2 Cor. 4:7).

Read that well-known chapter on faith as found in Hebrews chapter eleven, if you have any doubts as to how a great faith can dwell in a faulty vessel; the chapter is God's portrait of men and women who, in spite of human frailties, accomplished astounding things, by faith, for God's glory. Marred vessels have been known to possess uncanny faith, both in Bible times and Church history. Faith can have and do anything within the will of God, no matter where it is found!

"With faith, all that a person ought to be, they can be; and all that they ought to do, they can do."

(anonymous)

By An Old Disciple

LEARNING FROM OUR AND OTHERS’ AFFLICTION

"And unto Abiathar the priest said the king [Solomon]...

thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father [David] was afflicted."

(1Kgs. 2:26)

Afflictions come to all God's elect, whether a king and leader as David, or a faithful follower as Abiathar, a priest; none are exempt, including the Man Christ Jesus, Isa. 53 :7. The question is: have we learned anything from our own or others’ afflictions? 

Old Dr. Bob Jones Sr. used to say, "No matter how bad or bitter the experience, if we learn from it we will be the wiser." The first thing to ask ourselves in our or anothers affliction is, "What lesson is in this for me? What is God teaching me?" Some learn nothing. (Ezk. 23:11- see context).

David said, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn..." (Psa. 119:71) In my study, I was amazed at how often the word “afflicted” and its like is used in Psalms as well as throughout the rest of scripture. When held in the stocks of affliction, it is only human to wish things were otherwise. At such times, God does not ask us to feel everything is for the best, but He does expect us to believe it! 

Andrew A. Bonar wrote, "We have got more from Paul's prison-house than from his visit to the third heaven." He goes on to say, "It is worthwhile being wounded to have the hands of the Great Physician upon you." 

"I have learned more about scriptural truths, as well as life itself, from a saint in a wheelchair than any scholar in an armchair . "

(rds)

By An Old Disciple

THE CATEGORIZATION OF GOD

"...God is not in all his thoughts...In all thy ways acknowledge him..."

(Psa.10:4; Prov.3:6)

I have spent much time in both pondering and discussing with those who don thinking caps how one would characterize our particular generation of professing Christians. My personal depiction of it, if it be worth anything, and if asked, would simply be to boil it down to four words, “The Categorization of God.”

God, it seems to me, is no longer the whole of the Christian’s life, but rather only a part of his or her life. They fit Him into their things-to-do list, like going to the grocery, dropping off their cleaning, getting the car serviced, and showing up at church each week. It is like their lives are divided into rooms. When leaving the one, they close the door to the previous, until next time.

This, no doubt, answers the question as to why there lacks conviction when they commit such sins as adultery, drunkenness, drugs, etc. That is another room, not the one which they are in presently. Each room is a life of its own, and whatever happens in that particular room stays in that room and is separate and independent of the others. Wherever they are, whatever they do, and whoever they’re with, they are always in character. I think the word I'm looking for is chameleon.

By An Old Disciple

IT'S GONNA GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
(2 Tim. 3:13)

Such phrases as, "day by day," carry with them the thought of routine. But "worse and worse," of degree. The former stays pretty much the same, the latter progressively moves downward. Examples: the woman with the issue of blood, "...was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse"; and the man out of whom went an unclean spirit and upon returning, "...taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself...and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

Don't allow some politician or religious leader, whether they be sincere or a charlatan, lead you astray in this matter. Prior to the First World War, many prophetic students believed the world was getting better. Since then, their breed has noticeably thinned out; though, like always, there are a few dyed-in-the-wool hangers-on. Most certainly, there have been times of, call them what you will, revival, refreshing, renewal, awakening. But none have lasted. Like every dispensation, age, or time period in the Bible, all ended in apostasy.

To say Christians are going to bring in an age of righteousness through the power of the Holy Spirit, in my humble opinion, is sheer nonsense. The props for that theory were knocked down at Pentecost. If ever a Utopian age was to be brought in without the personal, physical presence of Christ, it was then. To say the world is going to get so good it will usher in the return of Christ, is like me saying I am going to get so good, God will save me.

I realize this article will not be accepted or received by some, any more than Jeremiah's message to the people of his day, when he told them, things were going to get worse before they got better. 

When Jesus comes He is not going to find a fruitful age but a faithless age! "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Lk. 18:8

By An Old Disciple