THAT AWESOME CHOIR IN HEAVEN

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy...for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation...And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."

(Rev. 5:9,11-12)

*please read all of chapter five

 It is said of Samuel Chadwick, a great Methodist preacher of bygone years, that for forty years he commenced each Sunday service by reading Revelation chapter five. 

The evangelist Billy Graham had some gigantic choirs in his day, but all are dwarfed to almost nothing next to this awesome heavenly choir we read of in our text. 

All my family are singers, my son Andrew and I being the exceptions. But although Andrew may not have the best voice for solos, I have never heard a more robust voice in congregational singing; his voice excels them all. And for me, as my song leader used to say kiddingly, "Brother Sandlin will not sing in heaven. For the Bible says,'There will be no more suffering there.'"

I have been brought to my feet on occasions while listening to some church choir at the climax of the song. But in heaven there will be an “eternal climax”! Think of that in any down times that you may experience. Earth is only our "warming up time," so to speak. Paul and Silas in Acts 16 started early on their songs of praises while on earth. So they fit right in when entering heaven. 

My son Andrew is masterful in English, while his sister Leah Beth, is as a mathematician. I texted her this morning on our main text, verse 11, asking her help. The following is her answer.

"Well the 10 thousand times 10 thousand equals 100 BILLION (100,000,000) ...and the rest is a guess because it says ‘thousands of thousands’ which is an indefinite number. So if I add even just one thousand times one thousand,  that’s an additional 1 MILLION (1,000,000) ... so at the BARE MINIMUM it's 101 BILLION (101,000,000) and probably  much more since the word ‘thousands’ is plural!"

Contrary to my late friend's jest of me, I am going to join that choir as soon as I get there! I might not sing well, but I can..."Sing aloud ... make a joyful noise unto God...."

By An Old Disciple

WHEN YOU FEEL CAGED IN

"They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in."

(Ex.14:3)

God may allow us to be boxed us in, but He will never put a lid on it. At such times when we are hedged about with circumstances above and beyond our control, and we cannot find any way out, it is important to realize the way out is up. He shut Noah in, but He made sure there was an upper window.

When we feel the walls are closing in all about us, and we’re suffering from spiritual claustrophobia, like our modern planes, there is fresh air just above our heads. Celestial air will always revive the fainting saint.

The important thing is to not panic when, like David of old, we are “…shut up and…cannot come forth.” As C.S. Lewis wrote, "We can beat our wings, all ways, and flutter within our cage, but this doesn’t get us out."

Madame Guyon said it best when she penned from her prison cell:

A little bird am I

Shut out from fields of air,

Yet in my cage I sit and sing

To Him who placed me there,

Well pleased a prisoner to be,

Because, my God, it pleaseth Thee.

O, it is good to soar

These bolts and bars above,

To Him whose purpose I adore,

Whose providence I love,

And in Thy mighty will to find

The joy, the freedom of the mind.

By An Old Disciple

ARE YOU LISTENING- TODAY?

"For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart...Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest...Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts...To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts... To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

(Psa. 95:7-8,11;Heb. 3:7-8,15;4:7)

However the above passages may be interpreted, one thing none can deny: God intends for His people to have daily communion with Himself, "to hear His voice."  The results of not doing so are, to say the least, devastating! We're told in the context that it leaves one with a hard heart, a granite attitude, and the absence of a restful soul when they depart from a living God. To depart from life is certain death.

We are told of Saul, in the Old Testament, that he inquired not of God; the result being that God ceased to speak to Him. If you're not interested in talking to God, neither is He interested in talking to you! The result of Saul's muted fellowship with God is seen in his conversation with the witch of Endor for guidance. The Blessed Man never seeks ungodly counsel, but the Lord's. God is a great conversationalist. He is always ready to talk to one who desires to talk to and obey Him.

God still speaks, maybe not audibly, but most certainly through His Word! The old song has it right, "And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own."

I was basically raised by my mother; we were very close. She lived alone in her later years in a two-room apartment. She once told me that when my late wife, Salle, and I were gone on revival meetings, she would call our house daily. She said, "I knew I would only get your voice on the answering machine, but I just love hearing your voice everyday." ENOUGH SAID!

By An Old Disciple

HOW FAR HAVE YOU COME?

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

(2 Cor. 10:12)

This past Easter Sunday I was able to drive (about an hour) to my son Andrew's home. We had a delicious meal followed by Holy Communion. I enjoyed so much seeing my daughter-in law, Sharon, along with my granddaughter, Glory Anna, and her four children-- especially being able to meet the newest, Phoenix Joy. 

As always, my son and I ended our time together discussing the scriptures and life itself. In the conversation, I commented on a principle I have incorporated into my life for some years now. That being, "You don't judge a person by how far they've come, but how far they have come from where they started." And I might add, taking into consideration the baggage they've had to tote all those miles; and also making inquiries to the conditions of the road and their personal circumstances. For instance, did they have a limp or need to use crutches? 

Some carnal saints who have magnified themselves against such people haven't even come far enough to break a good spiritual sweat themselves! There is a vast difference in taking a two-hundred mile journey in a 2020 Cadillac and driving it in an old clunker with threadbare tires.  Family and friends can sometimes be very cruel in judging loved ones. If the shoe were on the other foot, some would not have even started the journey; much less gotten behind the wheel of the rattle-trap. The next time you're in the presence of someone who has traveled a far piece with everything against them, and they're making it, how about an old-fashioned pat on the back.

"I find it always refreshing to rethink the story of the 'Tortoise and the Hare,'

from time to time."

(rds)

By An Old Disciple 

Educated Husbands

“…ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge.” 

I’ve met scores of knowledgeable men, throughout these many years, who didn’t know the slightest thing about their wives. They were completely ignorant to their needs, moods, feelings, fears, hopes, desires, and problems.

No husband’s education is complete if he doesn’t know his wife. He should make a lifetime study of just knowing her. I don’t know about you, but I found my wife to be one of the most fascinating and interesting, as well as enjoyable, subjects I have ever studied in the school of life.

Any educator or student realizes you fail if you don’t know your subject. Knowing your wife is a major, not a minor. You can’t get by without a passing grade on this subject. You’re headed for failure if you don’t know this important subject.

A knowledgeable husband knows his wife’s physical needs as well as the spiritual ones. “He that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife."
There used to be a secular song entitled, “Little Things Mean A Lot.” It doesn’t take a lot to please a good wife, if she knows some thought has gone into what her husband does for her.

By An Old Disciple

THE BLANK SPACE

“If the Lord be God____” 

(1 Kgs. 18:21)

As I was reading through the book of Kings awhile back this portion of scripture captured my attention. So much so, that I wrote an article on it. Allow me to polish this little nugget up once again.

Our pastor, along with his preaching, uses fill-in sheets. And, I might add, he does it very effectively. I, personally, don’t feel comfortable with this style, and am sure I would fail in attempting it. But, though I would not be successful following this method, I have had success using it when I pray.

Do you think it may be a good idea each morning, when we awake, to say to ourselves, “If the Lord be God,” then____; and I fill in the blank. For example, “If the Lord be God,” then____  I have nothing to fear; I need not worry about my needs; my children are  in safe hands; I can do today what’s right with God's help; etc.

 Let's all give it a try in the morning, it won't hurt anything; but it may help a great deal. You fill in the blank space. “If the Lord be God,” then_____.

If He is “the God of the living,” then, let’s get on with it!

(rds)

By An Old Disciple

PROPHECY AND NORMALCY

"...false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."

(Mk. 13:22)

At midnight on March 21, 1842, William Miller, along with thousands of his followers, waited for the Second Coming of our Lord. He had predicted it, not only to the year and day, but to the very minute. It seems his kind have not passed away. Even among Fundamental and Evangelical brethren, who should know better, we are still plagued with date-setters. I’ve observed that predicting prophetic events can be a profitable business, for these prophets.

As far as I can see, the Scriptures teach against setting dates. “All things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” is the testimony of a lost world prior to His coming. Our Lord Jesus said it will be “as it was in the days of Noe,” and “as it was in the days of Lot.” He was not mainly referring to the sinful conditions associated with their days, as many prophetic teachers preach today. Read the context in Luke 17:26-30. He is referring to normalcy in both their days. “They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day...” Of Lot’s days He added, “They did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded, But the same day...” You see, in both cases, people were living their normal, everyday lives. “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” 

It is well to remember that some prophetic events will only be realized after the event has occurred, "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe." Jn. 13:19;14:29 That is, in hindsight.

During the ordinary, everyday affairs of this life, this great extraordinary event will take place. As the little plaque on the desk of  the late M.R. DeHaan, radio and prophetic Bible teacher said, "PERHAPS TODAY!" Which is also inscribed on his tombstone.

"If you cannot pray, from your heart, 'Come quickly, Lord Jesus,' you have a hidden agenda."

(rds)

An Old Disciple

HEAVEN — A CONTINUATION

"… as in heaven, so in earth."

(Lk. 11:2)

There is not an great deal of information on the subject of heaven in the scriptures; much that is written and preached is speculation, to be sure. A number of years ago I came to the conclusion from my personal Bible study, that heaven is much more like our abode here on earth than many think. The greater has everything the lesser has — except sin!

Jesus taught His disciples the will of God on earth is to be the same as that of heaven. Heaven and earth in the Holy Writ are closely connected, you might say inseparable. Speaking to Israel Moses said, "That your days may be…as the days of heaven upon the earth." There is a continuity between heaven and earth, an unbroken connection.

Our continuation with material things will be the same; our fellowship with loved ones and friends the same; and most definitely our relation with Jesus will continue, the same. I say, "The same," but in reality, much, much greater. So much so it is indescribable! Or as Paul said when caught up to the third Heaven, paradise: it is "unspeakable."

My next major stop will be heaven and the New Jerusalem. I don't think the surroundings: streets, fruit trees, people, animals, mansions, etc. will be unfamiliar to me. But the grandeur of everything will be, to say the least, awesome!  Nevertheless, when I behold my Shepherd-King's face, for the first time; all else, as wonderful as they may be, will be dwarfed!

By An Old Disciple

INSATIABLE

“And what shall I more say..?"

(Heb. 11:32)

The words of our text above remind me of a line from the song, How Firm a Foundation. “What more can He say than to you He hath said/ To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?” Within the pages of God’s Holy Writ there is everything we need to know about how to live in this life and prepare for the next. Anything not recorded, God deems unnecessary for us at this time. It is futile to look for answers God hasn’t given.

Philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates spent a lifetime seeking for the hidden things of God, while neglecting those things that God did reveal for both us and our children. These wise men should have heeded the wisdom of the old man (Abraham). His words to one who sought something apart from God’s revelation were, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded…” And neither will we, my friend.

Be satisfied with what God has revealed, or spend your life seeking unanswerable questions.

(rds)

By An Old Disciple

Our Todays and Tomorrows

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day..."

(Matt. 6:34)

“And his allowance [was] a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life,” (2 Kgs. 25:30).  Charles Spurgeon says in his devotional book Morning and Evening, “A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow’s supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet.”

The trademark of the Christian life lies not in its tomorrows, but in its todays. “Give us day by day our daily bread,” is how our Divine Teacher instructs us. You need not fear at the close of today you have scraped the bottom of the barrel dry; it has a strange way of replenishing itself (1Kgs.17:16). Whether it is grub or grace, there will be a sufficiency of both on a daily basis. “Yesterday He helped me, today He did the same, how long will this continue? Forever, praise His name.”

"It is only possible to live happily-ever-after on a day-to-day basis".

(rds)

By An Old Disciple

TRACKING YOUR ORDER

"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day ... thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days..."

(Dan. 10:12-13)

For several years now, every morning, I take about 4 ounces of Aloe Vera liquid for my stomach and all around wellbeing. Because of the present situation in our country I ordered a gallon of it online, rather than acquiring it from the store. They sent me a tracking order that I could trace it, if I so desired. After an extended period of time I checked to see the reason for the lag, and I found it was lying in a warehouse in Sacramento because of the dire condition of the state of things. I now know there is a good reason it hasn't arrived yet.

And so it was with Daniel: he found there was a legitimate  cause for his prayer not being answered within the time he thought it should be. He came to realize a delay doesn't necessarily mean denial. The three weeks of mournfully waiting paid off! During the time of a silent heaven, and seemingly no answer to his prayer, he is told three times he was, "greatly beloved” and that from the very first day of his petition he was heard. Then he was told the reason for the prolonged wait. There was nothing wrong he had done! 

And so it is with you, dear saint. If you will track your stalled request you will find the heavenly hinderer is most likely the cause of the hold up. The whole armor of God spoken of in Ephesians six is associated with our prayer life. There is a spiritual wickedness attempting to thwart our every request. We're told in Psalms, by darling David, how he waited patiently for the Lord and He answered his prayer. As I often tell you, my readers, I believe the most difficult and agonizing thing in the Christian life is waiting.

I believe the answer's on the way;
I believe the Lord has  heard me pray,
"Cast not away you confidence,"
Saith the Lord our God.

Now by faith in Him alone I stand,
Firmly held by His almighty hand;
Fully trusting in His promise,
Praise the Lord!

By An Old Disciple

THE UNPROFITABLE WORD

" ...the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith..."

(Heb. 4:2)

The writer of Hebrews, speaking of Old Testaments saints, tells us the Word of the Gospel did not profit them because they had left something out of the mixture: faith! He tells those of his day, and us, it was the same Gospel, the same Word he was preaching to them. 

I used to have a book entitled, "Profitable Bible Study." But there is such a thing as unprofitable Bible study, and reading: if you do not believe it. The Bible is not a magical Book wherein something supernaturally happens when you read or hear it.

Paul, writing his new converts at Thessalonica said, "...when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." Belief makes it work!

The gospel can blow the hinges off the doors of hell, once it is believed! It's God's dynamite. "The gospel of Christ...is the power of God...to every one that believeth..." Once we, by faith, plug into the socket, the power comes on, there is glorious light!

"Proof that we believe God is when He says it is going to rain and we start looking for an umbrella."

(rds)

By An Old Disciple

THOSE EARLY RISERS

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (go before) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first...."

(1 Thess. 4:15-16)

While meditating and praying about an article for this most important time of the year on our Protestant calendar, my mind went to my dear departed wife and the above text. She was among those blessed people who would be called an early riser. She rose from sleep the way she retired for sleep, joyfull! This is the way she died and I'm absolutely sure she will rise from the grave with that same gleeful spirit.

Concerning our Lord's second coming to this earth, He places great emphasis on the resurrection of those who have died in the Lord. His first concern seems to be the dead saints’ resurrection. They will be the first participants in this great event. In this case one might say, "The last shall be first." Our precious Lord, as He did while on earth, will make sure all His people are on equal footing as we are caught up to meet Him.

To me the resurrection is all about reunion! Reunion with our loved ones and especially with our LOVED ONE! Notice the word "together" and "be with," in the text of 1 Thess. 4:16-17. Also I call your attention to the fact He allows us to reunite with loved ones and friends first. How like Him this is, always putting others before Himself. My wife loved His high priestly prayer in John 17. Particularly verse 24, "Father I will that they ... be with me where I am." She is!

By An Old Disciple

A GRAVE, A GROAN, AND THE GLORY OF GOD

"Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad...

(Jn. 11:14-15)

At Lazarus’ grave, as in other Gospels, we behold both the humanity and deity of the Lord Jesus. Two times in this story we are told Jesus groaned (vv 33, 38), and twice we find the Glory of God mentioned (vv 4, 40). In vv 3, 5, 36 we're told how He loved Lazarus. And in (v35) how He wept. We see here the Son of God as well as God the Son!

In spite of His personal feelings for His dear friend (v 11), He tells His disciples He was glad for the death. I would never have said such a thing had it not been recorded in scripture; I would have considered it blasphemous. But, as in the case of His question to Philip (John 6:5-6), He knew what He was He going to do and the outcome before it happened.

How many of us are like those of that day who said, "Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Admittedly that would have been great, but to raise him from the dead was even greater; Jesus chose the latter. When we cease to dictate to deity, we too will see the greater!

There can be no resurrection until first there is a death. Paul said, "I die daily." Therefore, it goes without saying he experienced a daily resurrection. A preacher friend called another who was going through an agonizing time. He asked, "Are you dead yet," the reply was, "Yes!" My friend said, "Great, now you can be resurrected."

"God will not only be glorified in the future resurrection, but is glorified in the present when a lifeless life is brought back to life." 

(rds)

An Old Disciple

You Can't Undo God's Done

"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."

(Eccl. 3:14)

How many of us there are who attempt to undo what God's done. True, what God joins together no man can put asunder; but just as true is the fact, what God puts asunder no man can put together. It is futile and frustrating, to say the least, to try. As the children's story says, "All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again." And neither can we!

Tradition tells us, when the Lord did rend the veil of Temple in twain from top to bottom, thus making the way open to approach a holy God, the priests sewed it back up. For them to have endeavored to undo what God had done was to keep the greatest of blessings from them. We will never come to truly know God by undoing the things He has done in our lives. No matter how large the rend!

It is well to remember, whenever God seems to be "ripping" things apart before our very eyes, He is actually making a new and living way for us to approach Him that we had not experienced previously. 

God does not strip us so that we can graft back in the dead and rotting He took from us.

(rds)

By an Old Disciple  

Sleeping Under the Feather Bed

"For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."

(2 Pet. 2:19)

The word "circumstance" is derived from circum, meaning around, outskirts. This definition is seen in kindred words such as: circumference, circumvent, circumcision, circumscribe, and circumspectly. 

Circumstances can so encircle a person that before long, they feel they are on top of them. Hence the saying, "Under the circumstances." As Oswald Chambers quotes another, "Circumstances are like feather beds, very comfortable to be on top of, but immensely smothering if they get on top of you." Christ would have us to be always on top of any and all circumstances! 

Circumstance is not the cause that determines, but simply the condition that dominates. We may not have control over the circumstances in our lives, but we can control ourselves whatever the circumstances. The principle being, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." Our circumstance is not greater than Christ! Jesus Christ was born into a world where every circumstance was against Him, yet was victorious in all situations.

Circumstances may not change, but we can. And that my friend, is the victory that overcometh the world! 

By An Old Disciple