GOD-A LIVING REALITY!

“As the Lord liveth…”As God liveth…”

(Text- many)

Those who have read the Word in its entirety are familiar with the twin texts mentioned above; they are used throughout the Bible. The common thread that characterized every saint in scripture, regardless of his or her station in life, geographical habitation, age in which they lived, or intellectual aptitude was that in each life God was a living reality. 

A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes to our minds when we think of God is the most important thing about us.” Our conception of God shapes our lives. A god molded, mentally or manually,  from our own imagination will invariably take on the likeness of its designer (Psa. 115:8). Aaron created a god likened to an animal, for the Jews acted as such.

You will be hard pressed to find anyone in the scripture arguing God’s existence; the lives of His people were proof enough of His being! A life without God was inconceivable to them. “Should anyone,” says Martin Luther, “knock at my heart’s door and ask, ‘Who lives here?’ I should reply, ‘Not Martin Luther, but the Lord Jesus Christ.’”

Everything in Bible saints’ lives revolved around God as the center. Their entire personalities and activities were under His control. “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).

Personally, in my own life, I find a continued appropriation of God and all He is, is becoming more and more the norm of my life. And as one olden T.V. personality used to say, “HOW SWEET IT IS!”

An Old Disciple

THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO EARTH

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me...I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also...For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God...He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

(Jn. 14:1-3;1 Thess. 4:16;Rev. 22:20:)

THOUGHT

“It [the second coming of Christ] is the medicine our condition especially needs.” 

(C.S.Lewis)

THE HOUR OF DECISION

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision...”

(Joel 3:14)

William James wrote, “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.” I have personally observed that a life of neutrality leads to no place. Passiveness causes spiritual paralysis. The oldtimers would tell us, “Make a decision even if it’s wrong; God can correct a wrong decision but He can’t correct no decision.” In Acts 16 God corrected Paul on two wrong decisions; then he got it right on the third.

The worldly idiom, “Between the devil and the deep blue sea,” put simply means:  you are in a difficult situation where two possible courses of action or choices are equally bad. This is never the case in a believer’s life; there is always God’s way! I generally counsel saints to deal with any known sin in their lives, make sure God’s Will is pre-eminent,  claim by faith the fulness of the Spirit, then do what you want.

  

Who better can decide right than the above mentioned? One thing you can be absolutely sure of is: God’s way never leads out of the way of holiness. When Paul was stopped by the Holy Spirit from pursuing the two avenues mentioned previously, his honest intent was to please his Lord and glorify Him. The hardest decision is not between right and wrong, but best and better. Best is never as good as better! A random reading of the book of Hebrews proves this to be so.

Some of my readers need to make their long overdue decision by taking the first step. Then to continue putting one foot in front of the other. As you walk, be sure to tune your ear to that still small voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

An Old Disciple

THE ACCUSER AND OUR ADVOCATE

“...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan…the accuser of our brethren...accused them before our God day and night...My little children...if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

(Rev. 12:9-10; 1 Jn. 2:1)

We have an advocate (lawyer) on call 24/7. The reason for this necessity is because our adversary, the devil, accuses us before our God day and night. One would think he would cease after 2000 years of losing every case he fought in the Supreme Court of Heaven! 

Jesus is the great Satan Silencer! You remember when the Devil tried our Lord, he gave up after three attempts, “Then the devil leaveth Him…” (Matt. 4). He has always left God’s courthouse with a drooping head. What a joy, both to the defense lawyer and accused, when hearing THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH SAY, “NOT GUILTY! AS CHARGED."

Arise, my soul, arise,

shake off your guilty fears;

The bleeding sacrifice,

in my behalf appears;

Before the throne my Surety stands,

Before the throne my Surety stands,

My name is written on His hands.

My God is reconciled;

His pardoning voice I hear;

He owns me for His child;

I can no longer fear

With confidence I now draw nigh,

With confidence I now draw nigh,

And "Father, Abba, Father, " cry.

THE APEX OF THE WORD OF GOD

“...for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy name.”

(Psa. 138:2)

I find the few commentaries I possess tiptoe, so to speak, around this text. But, as the old preachers would say, “It says what it means and means what it says.” We’re told by Paul that God has magnified Jesus’ name above every name (Phil.2:9). Our text doesn’t belittle that blessed truth, but rather guards and protects it. For without THE final authority in ALL matters, a person could do with His Name whatever suited his fancy, as many have done in history and in our own day.

God didn’t hand down to His people an imperfect BOOK, but a Book in which He preserved all His Words (Psa. 12:6-7). To the English-speaking people, it is to be found in the old A.V. 1611, King James Bible. As to arguing for other nationalities, God will take care of them. At Pentecost we are told well over a dozen nations were  present; all with different tongues (languages), “...every man heard them speak in his own language...And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (Acts 2:6,8) An imperfect Book produces an imperfect faith (Rom. 10:17).

Without an authoritative Book, to be sure, “...every man will do that which is right in his own eyes”; and who is to say his word is not as good as yours? There are many translations today all professing to be the Word of God. They do this, not by comparing theirs to the previous translation, but to the 1611 K.J.V. HUMMM! There is a vast difference between

containing the Word of God and being the Word of God! 

The ETERNAL WORD (GOD), is not 99% perfect; the LIVING WORD (CHRIST), is not 99% accurate: nor the WRITTEN WORD 99% correct: they are ALL 100% PURE!

I hear someone say, “I don’t believe there is ONE BOOK in which God preserved ALL HIS WORDS.” I ask you, “Who told you that? The Holy Spirit?

An Old Disciple

All In Good Time

"To every thing there is a...time to every purpose under the heaven." 

(Eccl. 3:1)

I remember my dear Granny saying,  "All in good time." This is what the wise man is teaching in Ecclesiastes chapter three. He tells us, from birth to death and all in between, there is a time element involved in the things of life. As I have often mentioned, one of the most important, if not the most important, words in the Christian faith is, "wait." God's promise to all who do so is, "None that wait on thee [shall] be ashamed." 

No one ever had reason to blush who waited on their God. He always comes through, though admittedly, most of the time, it's at the nail-biting last minute. There were no red faces on the likes of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Zacharias, as well as scores of others who waited long for God to fulfill His promise to them. And I can assure any and all who may be reading this article, who have been patiently waiting for their Lord to keep His Word to them, He will never cause you any embarrassment!

"[At] an appointed time...though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
(Hab. 2:3)

An Old Disciple

ALMIGHTY GOD-DO YOU KNOW HIM AS SUCH?

“And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty…”

(Ex. 6:3)

Question, “Do you know Almighty God?” 

Answer, “I know God.” 

Questioner, “I didn’t ask you that. I asked, Do you know ‘ALMIGHTY’ God?” 

The godly trio mentioned in our text could have answered this inquiry in the affirmative. Acquaintance does not guarantee apprehension. A child may know his or her father and yet be unaware of his power — being a black-belt karate expert.

Abraham knew God’s Almightiness by the fact that He took a humanly impossible situation and made it possible; Isaac knew his Almighty God in the case of Him blessing his sowing by giving him returns of one hundredfold (the only person this is said of); and Jacob, what did he know of Almighty God? He saw Him take a life that others would have given up on and make him into a Prince with God!

God was never hesitant to say of these men, in spite of their human frailties, “I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB.” As the writer of Hebrews tells us of the likes of these saints, “God is not ashamed to be called their God.” Why? Simply because such are not ashamed of Almighty God! They believe, within the confines of His Will and Word, there is nothing too hard for God! They, like David, believe the adage, “The bigger they come the harder they fall.”

An Old Disciple

    

ALWAYS GO TO THE ROOT

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

(Rev. 22:16)

John was the recorder of Revelation, the angel the messenger, but Jesus was the author. He likens Himself to the brightest star announcing the arrival of a new day. When He returns the second time He will do just that: shatter the darkness of this world by ushering in the dawn of a new and glorious day. ETERNAL LIGHT! The saying is, “He will outshine them all.”

But He also, in His personal description of Himself, includes two other characteristics. He tells us He is David’s root and offspring. The first refers to His Deity, the second to His Humanity. The former speaks of the Creator, the latter has to do with His royal rights to the Crown! And He has every right to our crowns also: ask the four and twenty elders. Rev. 4:10; 5:5

If David were ever tempted to take pride in the fact that Jesus was his offspring, I’m sure he would be reminded, “Boast not...But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.” Rom. 11:18 The Jews of Jesus’ day prided themselves they were of Abraham’s seed, but Jesus told them, “Before Abraham was, I am.” Jn. 8:58 Paul writes, “He’s before ALL things.”

The Self-help Guru tells his followers to go to the root of their problems, to fix them. When we saints go to our ROOT He fixes our problems for us!

An Old Disciple 

PROPHETIC NOVELTIES

“ Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

(Matt. 24:26-27)

Beware of teachers with their prophetic novelty doctrines. These are not only found among the apostates and heretics, but also in the Evangelical and Fundamental movements. I can understand a novice falling for these novelty foretellings, but not a seasoned saint. Yet, to my chagrin, many do. 

As I have mentioned a number of times, much of today's literature on prophecy should be placed in the fictional section of Christian bookstores, not on the prophetical shelves. Novelty has replaced orthodoxy. 

These prophetic imposters are not difficult to spot: they emphasize a kingdom over its King; their affection is more on earth than Heaven; and signs are more important than to Whom they point. Those Christians who are duped by their jargon put down their books or go away from their meetings without being changed, in spite of the fact that each time, in his writings, that Paul mentions Christ coming, holy living is in the context. These prophetic pretenders take the blessing out of the Blessed Hope!

It cannot be contended, prophecy is an essential doctrine in the Word of God; but it is not a basis for fellowship. Those who argue the opposite end up producing more friction than light. It is of utmost importance that students of the Bible keep in mind many passages of scripture which promise or foretell the Lord’s return, have in them an element of obscurity. When on earth Jesus foretold certain happenings, He gave this warning to His followers, “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he” (Jn. 13:19). The implication is that they would understand the full significance of the prophecy only after it had been fulfilled. 

“I care little about the luggage, friends, or means of transportation connected with His Coming; I’m excited about seeing HIM!”

(rds)

An Old Disciple

THE VERSATILITY OF PRAYER

“Praying always with all prayer...”

(Eph. 6:18)

The above scripture along with companion texts as: continue in prayer; pray without ceasing; instant in prayer; praying night and day;  etc. show prayer can and should be made anywhere and everywhere. Without argument we should have a regular place of prayer, but it is not to be thought of as limited only to our closets. Prayer is adaptable to unlimited geographical spheres. Wherever we are, whatever the condition, we can pray. Pray not only on your knees but on the go.

You can pray standing in the marketplace (grocery); at the well, as Abraham’s servant (at a water fountain); on a sickbed, as Hezekiah (in the hospital); in prison, as Paul (shut-ins); sitting in your home, as David (in your rocking chair); even when hanging on a cross! Wherever you are, prayer is! George Mac Donald writes, “Never wait for fitter time or place to talk to Him. To wait till thou go to church or to thy closet is to make Him wait. He will listen as thou walkest.”

“Had Peter waited to pray for a better place, he would have drowned in despair.”

(rds)

YES! YOU CAN CHANGE

"All…were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed…” 

(Acts 9:21)

What do you mean, you can’t change? Was there ever a man such as Saul, who was filled with more hatred and destruction of all that was good in life? This human serpent, who breathed out cruelty toward everything that was truly decent, would be considered, then and now, unchangeable by the masses.

Yet in just one day, yea, in a split second, he was forever changed for the good. This complete 180-degree turn-around was a direct result of the beginning of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There was a complete change in his attitude and actions; a new principle had entered his life. People and things around him didn’t change, but his outlook on them did. Drastically, I might add.

When Lordship is settled, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do”; you too, my friend, will experience the metamorphous life! Hurting will be turned into helping, loathing into loving; and all the bitter waters of life, become sweet. You need not be knocked off your high-horse and humbled in the dust as Paul. God doesn’t use a ballistic missile on fleas; a pea-shooter does for the likes of us.

Whoever you are, wherever you’re at, will you now, at this second, acknowledge and submit to his Sovereign right in your life? If so, arise and go in peace, and know a life that passes anything and everything you could ever imagine!

GIVING YOUR GIFT

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another…”

(1 Pet. 4:10)

While a I was teenager in junior high, my buddy and I were invited to a birthday party for a girl in our class. My mother gave me sufficient funds to buy her a nice gift. As my friend and I were shopping we got to thinking it was a big party, and our reasoning was, who would miss our presents? So we spent it on ourselves. You can understand the horror that came over us when the entire group gathered in the front room for her to open the gifts, and her thanking each person publicly as she did. To be sure, our day is coming.

God meant for the gift(s) He bestows upon each of His children be ministered (given) to others, not squandered away. In Hosea we have a good Bible illustration of this. It is about prostituting God’s gifts on this this adulterous world. Sad to say many professing saints have done the same, giving their gifts and talents to the ungodly, and not to their brothers and sisters in Christ,  for whom they were intended. When offered an operatic contract Bev Shea chose gospel singing. I’m so glad for that! 

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 

(Prov. 17:8)

A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. 

(Prov. 8:16)

WORTHY WORSHIP

“[They] fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts.”

(Matt. 2:11)

When sinners come to God to be saved, they are to come empty-handed. When saints come to worship, there is to be something in hand. The old gospel song which says, “Nothing in my hands I bring” has reference to sinners, not saints. It’s paying our respects, so to speak.

 “David tells us how to come before God in worship, “...bring an offering and come into His courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psa. 96:8-9) There are certain elements which must be present if worship is to be in Spirit and Truth. One involves self-sacrifice, self-denial.

 Such a gift will personally cost us dearly. But worthiness never deserves worthlessness! Mary forever showed us this truth with her alabaster box. And so with the window by giving her last two small mites. Cheapskates are forever excluded from authentic worship! 

Even a poor person can present that which God treasures most— our hearts! Jeremiah was with the poor remnant of God’s people when he said, “Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” (Lam. 3:41) It is far easier to give the material than the man.

When we offer such an interior sacrifice, our God, who sees in secret, will reward us openly. To be sure, with such sacrifices He is wellpleased. As my dear mentor used to say, “When you give God your mind, you give Him half a man; when you give Him your heart, you give Him the whole man. 

The wise man said it to his son, and God still repeats it to His:

“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

(Prov. 23:26)

THE EASY YOKE

“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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

(Matt. 11:28-30)

THOUGHT

We are yoked, as we plow through life, with One who is “Stronger than an ox.” He is more than capable our pulling our load. Let Him!

FOUNDATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ...But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we..” 

(1 Cor. 3:11; Heb. 3:6)

The four gospels are foundational and absolutely essential in the Christian’s life. Paul’s letters, on the other hand, are structural and just as indispensable. There is in the Bible such a thing as progressive revelation. And Paul, without controversy, was the custodian of such. Some feel they’re more spiritual if they only adhere to the gospels, but these misinformed saints are on the wrong side of Christ’s tomb. 

“The days of His flesh” are behind us and we are to “go on to perfection” (maturity). Apollos was a mighty man in the scriptures, but knew only the baptism of John and preached faithfully the light that he had. But Paul’s two companions, Aquila and Priscilla, who were husband and wife, took him aside and expounded to him Paul’s teachings concerning the crucified risen Christ. After this we read he was even more greatly used; and others were blessed abundantly.

To know of the historical crucified Christ is imperative, but now we have entered into a new relationship with the risen Son of God. To worship only the Babe in the manger is to remain one yourself. We are presently a part of a new creation, thus everything has become new! Our view of Christ, ourselves, others, the world, and yes life itself, is seen in a different light. We’re now to see everything from heaven’s perspective. 

Warren Wiersbe writes, “It is unfortunate that too great an emphasis is given in music and art on ‘Christ after the flesh.’ The facts about the earthly life of Jesus are important because the Christian message is grounded in history, but we must interpret the manger by the throne. We do not worship a babe in a manger; we worship a glorified Saviour on a throne.” To be sure, to know the heavenly Christ is heavenly!

HUNGERING FOR GOD

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger.”

(Jn. 6:35)

When Jesus mentions never hungering He is speaking of another kind, not of the same kind. Yet the Bible is replete with examples of God’s people being filled with God and still hungering after God. 

I think A.W. Tozer illustrates this truth best. In his younger years he sold peanuts on a train. He said when the passengers got settled in he would pass up and down the aisles giving out a few free peanuts to each, then he would wait for a time before he’d go back through each car selling peanuts. He said he always sold out. The principle? they did not hunger after another kind, but the same kind.

Once one truly acquires a taste for God he or she can’t get enough! Jacob, David, John the Beloved, Mary Magdalene, and Paul all had an insatiable hunger for God. They had such spiritual appetites for God that only He Himself could satisfy. Their desire for larger portions came after consuming their present meal. Please don’t misunderstand me, but they were gluttons for God! He was their portion. And they wanted larger portions with each helping.

It’s paradoxical: that is, a seemingly contradictory statement that when investigated may be well founded and true. When it comes to the Lord, we are satisfied yet always wanting more.

The mixed multitude longed for the leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt. They didn’t have an appetite for the sweet Manna from heaven—the Lord Jesus. 

An Old Disciple        

CHRISTIAN CHORES

“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

(Lk. 17:10)

In the day which I was brought up, the term “doing your chores” was a common remark. Both adult and children had, as did the Old Testament priest, their “daily duties” to perform. By today’s standards the word “chore,” I think, has become archaic— that is, outdated. But any adult brought up on an old-fashioned farm will tell you that in their young years, there could be no personal enjoyment till their chores were completed.

A good definition of the word chore is: “a duty or task you’re obligated to perform, most often one that is unpleasant but necessary.” For example, washing dishes, doing homework, mowing the grass, etc. Character comes from doing best those things you dislike most. Many parents and grandparents give in to some little three foot tall terror when hearing the words, “I DON’T WANT TO!” It’s then that principles of a lifetime are discarded. 

Life is not all fun and games, nor is it living on a spiritual mountaintop; its doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done, no matter how unpleasant it may be. Whenever each individual in a family or church fulfills his or her individual chores then there is completeness all around! We depend on each other. When we drop the ball, others are affected, not just us. Do your chores; milk the cows; others in the family will profit.

“Drudgery can become delightful when you put Deity into it- you know, ‘For My Sake’.”

(rds)

An Old Disciple

JESUS-THE MAN OF PRAYER

“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”

(Matt. 14:3)

I used to think, when younger, that in my latter years I would like to teach novice preachers in a Bible institute somewhere. The subject matter would have been the Life of Christ. Although this never came to fruition, I have just begun a personal study on the Person of Christ. At the very outset of these studies I am struck by the fact that His entire life could be summarized as a life of prayer; The Man Christ Jesus was preeminently a man of prayer. If He then—who knew no sin—prayed, how much more should we— who know nothing but sin— pray?

We think erroneously that our Lord’s humanity was sustained by His divine nature. But a few examples show this not to be: His Divine nature did not help in His anguish in Gethsemane; His suffering hunger, thirst, and weariness was not aided supernaturally; and the pain of Calvary was not lessened by Him being God in the flesh. We are told, “He was crucified through weakness.” (2 Cor. 13:4); that is, the weakness of the flesh. (Mk. 14:38) He was, like the weakest of His followers, dependent upon God for everything. He used the medium of prayer to achieve these things.

Oswald Sanders shows from Luke’s gospel that there were nine occasions when Jesus prayed: at His baptism, 3;21; after a day of miracles, 5:15-16; before choosing the twelve, 6:12; before the first prediction of His death, 9:18; on the Mount of Transfiguration, 9:29; before teaching the disciples to pray, 11:1; when the seventy returned, 10:21; in the garden of Gethsemane, 39-46; and on the cross, 23:34,46. He prayed in the mornings and in the evenings. He prayed before great achievements as well as after. He prayed in life and He prayed in death!

Of all His characteristics, the one it seems that impressed His disciples most was His prayer life. They did not ask Him to teach them to preach, teach, or heal but, “LORD TEACH US TO PRAY.” 

My prayer is, “Oh, dear God, forgive me my wicked sin of prayerlessness. And please, Lord, work in me a divine desire to pray! I beg you, grant this for Jesus’ sake!

An Old Disciple