A Marvelous Meal From Meager Means

My wife belongs to that elite remnant, but vanishing breed of women, who bear the indelible marks of an old-fashioned country girl. One characteristic is, she can take a few scanty things of this and that's and make a meal for her entire family. I've seen this extraordinary feat preformed on more than one occasion, especially in our younger days; our four grown children can attest to this fact.

Our blessed Lord, in a much greater way, prepared miraculous meals for the multitudes. But He also did it with it with skimpy things available at the time. We're told He took "a few little fishes," and seven loaves and fed four-thousand men, beside women and children. And this was not an isolated case. Most certainly, we can understand the song writer's mind when he wrote, "Little is much, when God is in it."

I doubt whoever caught those "few little fish" and the "few small fish" had any idea what a blessing his or her limited contribution would mean to so many hungry people! I'll just bet you, after Jesus blessed and multiplied their meager gifts, they were glad they didn't throw the little fish back in with the smaller ones. Let none of us be among those, "who hath despised the day of small things."  

Every Which Way

The little idiom, "every which way," can certainly be used properly when applied to the learning process. That is, there are various approaches to the subject. One can learn by instruction, experience, or choose not to learn at all. I refer to them as the easy way, the hard way, and no way. 

It is a popular saying, but an incorrect one, that experience is the best teacher. NO! Instruction is the best educator. Ask the little boy who laid his hand on a red-hot stove after being told what the results would be. Sorry to say, most of us go the little urchin's route, and we have the scars to prove it.

The wise man wrote both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, the former being the book of instruction, the latter, the book of experience. This man of wisdom had tried them both and repeatedly tells us in the first book (Proverbs), instruction far outweighs the painful way of the second.

Timothy is a good Bible illustration of learning from instruction. He didn't have to carry any regretful scars through life. Simon Peter, on the other hand, learned the hard way from a rough and tough teacher: experience. And as a result, although freely forgiven, carried a marked-up life to his grave.

I would be amiss in not mentioning the fact, some never learn at all, whether it be instruction or experience. Pharaoh, for example, was both instructed and had humiliating experiences, yet never learned a thing. What a pitiful portrait of a human being!    

That Old Serpent

"And the great dragon...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world..was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone...and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

When the old-time evangelist, Billy Sunday, was asked if he believed in a literal devil, personified in one person, he answered, "I sure do, I've done business with him." He went on to say, "If there is no devil, who is behind all the devilment in the world?" From Genesis to this last book of the Bible, all Bible Christians believed in a real, literal devil. Like Billy Sunday, many of them had up-close and personal dealings with him. He tempted Jesus face to face and was constantly punching Paul around.

John the Beloved refers to Satan as, "That old serpent," on two different occasions in Revelation. He is the only writer in scripture to use this term. Tradition tells us John was an old man at this writing, in his nineties, no less. Interestingly he calls his, and our, arch enemy, "Old." At this writing the apostle traces the serpent back four-thousand years, to the Garden of Eden and the Fall. We can follow that slimey path of heartache and destruction back over six-thousand years of human history. 

Thank God, we're told there is coming a day, soon I pray, when all evil will be destroyed permanently from the universe! And while Satan and his cronies are suffering the torments of the damned forever and ever, we, the children of God will be experiencing eternal bliss with the KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS, and Lover of our souls! They have a place prepared for them and so do we: in the arms of God. 

Some of you might want to try what I do when I am severely
tempted. On the authority of the Word of God I remind Satan and all the evil spirits that may be involved in my sifting at the time, of their future eternal incarceration and suffering, and of my joy, both now and forever, with my Father!  

HOW TO PRAY

On Kindle search, I brought up How to Pray. They listed 575 books on this subject alone. I'm sure most of the authors are well intentioned, like myself. But I'm just as convinced, after one reads each book, they'll find a vast number of ways given in accomplishing this most important feat. Because of this, many of us common Christians can sometimes be more hurt than helped. To the sincere seeker, all these different voices can be confusing. Like on so many other important subjects, our hearts cry out "Who's right?" 

Most certainly, on many important doctrines there is not a multiplicity of ways but one, and one way only, salvation for example. But this does not hold true on other subjects, such as witnessing, giving, administration, etc. There are a number of ways these can be approached and accomplished, each with God's blessing upon them, if done with the right motive. 

And so it is when we come to the subject of how to pray. We need to keep in mind, each of us have different temperaments and come from a variety of religious backgrounds. And also, whether we like it or not, the intellect enters into this equation. All these things flavor how we do many things in our Christian life, and especially is this true of how we pray. For example, the Cornish preacher, Billy Bray, the uncouth and unlearned converted coal-miner, would not pray like the learned and cultured English pastor and theologian, Doctor Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Yet both were used of God! 

The bottom line is this: read all the books on how to pray you'd like, not for emulation, but rather for education. After I read books on our subject, I always say to myself at the end, "PRAY AS YOU CAN AND DON"T TRY TO PRAY AS YOU CAN't." (J.I. Packer)     

Do Something!

"And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me...She hath done what she could." So says our Lord of those who attempt to do anything for Him, whether small or great. He defends and commends any and all who do so. Whatever is done for Him, in His name, does not go unnoticed in Heaven. Even the most menial ministries   are not wasted, if done on and for Him.

Through the years there have been some of God's choicest saints who have helped us but, because of the circumstances of life, it was not in the way they would have liked. I always send them a note of thanks with the following scripture quotation:
"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."  

We can all do something. Most of us are called to keep our brethren on the firing line. I just watched the western, "Crossfire Trail" again. At the conclusion there is an exciting showdown. There is a older couple, proprietors  of the town store, who watched from the sidelines. Finally the storekeeper took rifles and ammo to the good guys. In doing so, the old man was wounded in the leg. At the end, as his wife was helping him up, he said, "We did something, Melissa!" To which she answered, "Yes we did."

May God help each of us to remember when doing something for God and His kingdom, "Something is better than nothing."  

The Wonder of the Worm

“Fear not, thou worm Jacob...I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains..” (Isa. 41:14-15). What a way with words the Word has! God takes a delicate worm and makes it into an instrument with teeth. This impotent worm becomes a terror to its terrorist enemies. It is now one that can break, but cannot be broken. Such is the contrast.

God can take the weakest and endow them with Divine strength so that they leave a noble mark upon their generation. Behold the wonder of the worm: so low, so little, so weak, so defenseless, so despised, trampled under the feet of others. When God Almighty picks up this creature of the dust to use as one of His Divine tools, none can withstand this weak worm.

Jacob’s King (Jesus) calls Himself, “a worm and no man.” How we worms should take heart at the thought that our God is the God of the worm.

“Thou shalt thresh the mountains...” No matter how big the circumstances, the highest, strongest, and most stubborn of difficulties will be cut through by this weak instrument of iron.

“Fear not, thou worm..I will help thee, saith the Lord...”

No Excuse For Not Making It

“Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.” Joseph is sending his brethren to his and their father. They are in a strange land, and the journey will be long and difficult. So he gives them ample provisions for the way.

It takes little spiritual insight to apply this to God’s children today. As we travel this foreign land on our way home to the Father, our Elder Brother has provided us with everything we’ll need to make a successful journey. We can make it safely to our Father’s House. There is no excuse arriving home, like the prodigal, undernourished and penniless.

We have the Bible to instruct us (11Tim.3:16); the Holy Spirit to empower us (Zach. 4:6); the Blood of Christ to cleanse us (1Jn.1:70; the Church to ground us (1Tim.3:15); the brethren to encourage us (Acts 28:15); the armour of God to protect us (Eph.6:11-18); and the Grace of God to sustain us (11Cor.12:9). Tell me again the reason you don’t think you can finish your course with joy!

“Who would mind the journey if the road leads home.” 

(Song)

The Judgement Seat of Christ

When I was younger, I could tell you all about God's judgement of His children. But now that I'm an old disciple, and had the air let out of my balloon more times than I 'd like to admit, I'm not so sure on all the particulars. One thing I do firmly believe is that motive will play a great part in this awesome time of our accounting to the Lord. 

God's smile will not go exclusively to those who accomplished much for His Kingdom, but also those of us who would have but could not, (because of God's plan for our lives). You see, God knows what we would have done if we could have done it! Intent plays a  major part in God's judgement of a person!

An example of this is David. He wanted to build the Temple for God, but because he was a man of war, it was given to his son Solomon, a man of peace. Yet God told David, "Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart (motive)."

Had I my own way, I would have lived and died in China as a missionary. I've prayed for that people regularly for 56 long years. I like to think, at the judgement bar, God will summon some people around me, and just maybe, with a little squint to their eyes and a smile on their faces, they will say, "Thank you brother!" 

Or possibly in their tongue, 谢谢哥哥. No matter, one way or the other, IT WILL HAVE BEEN WORTH IT ALL!

Spilt Milk

Note: Seven years ago I wrote this article. It is also the title and part of my first book. For some reason I have a very strong impression to post it today.

rds

"We...are as water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again." So says the wise woman to King David. How many of us try to undue things that the past has already absorbed. There are two kinds of problems: those we can do something about, and the ones beyond our control. We are to concern ourselves with the first and leave the second alone.

Some spend a lifetime crying over spilt milk, not realizing that in many cases, the milk was spoiled. There are times in our lives when God is responsible for turning over the glass and not we ourselves. Therefore, our disappointments can be, in reality, His-appointments. In God's infinite wisdom and love, rather than letting something sour enter into our lives, He prevents us from tasting of it. We do not know sweet milk from the sour, but He does.

One thing is for sure; whether it is God or we who spills the milk, there is nothing we can do once it's done. The wisest thing is to go on with our lives. After all, there are other glasses of milk that will not be spilled, and we can enjoy them.

Don't cry over spilt milk; your Father will pour you another glass.

THANKS!

Dear Readers,

Just a line to say, "THANKS!" I appreciate so much your prayers and support. But what struck me while praying for you today was your notes of encouragement; sent from time to time. They keep me wanting to feed you full. 

Love in the Lovely Lamb,

rds

"...a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" 

Blame Enough to go Around

"...ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy." 

About 50,000 Jews returned to their homeland from their seventy-year captivity in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had completely destroyed Jerusalem, the temple, and all the temple furniture. The first thing the remnant did was rebuild the altar for worship. Then came the laying of the foundation of the new Temple, of which our text speaks. We're told the younger generation, who had not seen the first Temple, "...shouted aloud for joy." And that the older ones who remembered the grandeur and glory of the first, "wept with a loud voice." For in their days, the Temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. And this new Temple fell short of the one in their day.

It is possible to get trapped in the "good old days" of the past and miss what God is doing today. On the other hand, we can get caught up in all trendy modern methods of today and fail to see what great things God did for our fathers in the past, which is for our learning. We can be haunted by the past or haughty in the present. But it is possible for each to learn from the other! The "shouters" and the "weepers" can unite if each will give a little. It is easy to err on either side of the issue. Those who looked back failed to move forward, and the others, excited about what God was doing now, didn't follow through with the work. They left it for some fifteen years. Both squandered the opportunities the Lord had given them. 

The "ancients," like some of us older folks today, evidently forgot it was the sins of their generation that brought about the fall of the Kingdom to begin with. Plus, although the present Temple was not as great as the first, God promises, “The glory of this latter house will be greater than the former.” God fulfilled Haggai's prophecy, for it was in this Temple that our blessed Lord Jesus walked in His day. This should be a lesson to all of us elderly, and a blessing, encouragement, and challenge to a younger generation.

Characteristics Christians Should Cultivate

To my readers: The following is from a sermon series, God in His grace, mightily used over these many years. 

1. Learn to blame yourself.

2. Finish the job.

3. You are either master or mastered.

4. Do right at all times.

5. Take care of little things.

6. Cultivate a spirit of gratitude.

7. Learn to say, "no."

8. Function according to your ability.

9. Do best at what you dislike most

10. Keep getting up.

11. Make your stumbling stones your stepping stones.

12. You can do what you ought to do.

A Discarded Faith

We saints, for the most part, have abandoned personal faith for a public one. What I mean is this: we'd rather publicly display before others a faith that removes mountains, rather than a faith, in secret, that removes minuses in our lives. 

David killed a lion and a bear in private before defeating a giant openly. We attempt to master any and all visible things in life, except those pertaining to self and our closet. We need to learn to walk on land before we trying to walk on water.

If you're familiar with Paul's writings, you are aware of the fact, he primarily stresses an inward faith that subdues personal (fleshly) desires that are harmful to us, both spiritually and physically. He is not a big advocate of a "fanfare faith," so to speak. 

Samson, we're told in Hebrews, was a man of faith. But it only involved the external, not the important internal things in his life. He was like the wise man in Ecclesiastes, "And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them." The man who carried the bars of the gate to the city on his shoulders, was held captive with the bars of sin around his soul!  

A wholesome faith is one that believes Romans six and has crucified by faith unhealthy and sinful appetites, both in their spiritual and physical lives! 

The Power of Right Words

"How forcible are right words!" Nowhere, I believe, is this truth more authenticated than when a child of God speaks a word of encouragement to a downtrodden brother or sister. How often have I seen, like the sun-flower, the drooping head of a saint lift his or her face to the "Son" again, after a cheerful word of optimism from the Bible.

People are not soon to forget the encouragers who have crossed their paths in life. I know in my own case I can go all the way back fifty-six years ago to that first precious saint who said to a young preacher boy, "You keep going, Brother Richard, don't give up. God's going to use you mightily!" That was a word, as Isaiah puts it, spoken in season to him that [was] weary. 

One of the greatest and most lasting things Moses ever did is little spoken of, if at all. It concerns a young man who had a gigantic task before him, "But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him." This "old man," Moses, accomplished some great things in his life, but none I imagine as great as this. I wonder how often Joshua, in his life, thought back to it.

Why not start today to look for some downcast soul and speak a good word to them?

"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!"

The Wisdom of the Wise

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. " I like to say the New Testament is naked truths and the Old Testament the wardrobe by which they're clothed.

Solomon's a perfect example of this. God gave him opportunity to ask whatever he would and it would be granted. Instead of putting his desires first, he gave God's interests top priority in his life. And as a result, got not only what he requested, but was granted all the things he gave up for God. We need to learn, "things" are additives for putting God first in our lives!

That great and blessed singer, Bev Shea, gave up an operatic career

for singing gospel for his Lord. The rest you know; it's well known history. He has a testimony akin to that of David: "[I] have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth." In both Bible and Church history, God honors them that honor Him!

C.S. Lewis says, "When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased." He also said, "To put second things first, you lose both!"  

Those New Worship Songs

A few months ago, I was searching the Web for Fundamental and Evangelical churches in our area. I came across one strict Fundamentalist who advertised: "No worship team!; No worship leader!; No worship band!; No worship songs!" I thought to myself, "Yes, and I just bet, no worship!"

I am not attempting to convince or sway anyone on either side of this controversy. I will say that both contemporary and traditional have much to be desired in some of their music. I've heard cheap, shallow songs, from both sides. On all issues, be careful you do not throw out the baby with the wash. The truth is, some of our modern-day worship songs glorify God as much as the old ones do.

I have found through the years most who argue for their side, are unfamiliar with the contrasting side. In a meeting, years ago, my wife sang the song, "Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy." Afterward, a lady approached her and said, "Don't get me wrong, dear, I love your singing, but I really like the 'old' songs better." The song was first published in 1759.

I wonder if some who just like the old, will be happy in heaven? We are told in Revelation, "And they sing the song of Moses." That's about as old-timey as one can get. But John also tells us, "And they sung a new song." Jesus tells us in God's Kingdom there is both old and new. 

It is profitable for all to remember, everything was new at one time.

Overwhelmed By the Bible

There are those in this life who cannot do anything half-way. Whatever it is,has to be done 100%. They (we) must jump in with both feet. There can be no middle ground. This can be admirable and at the same time, if not checked, cause one to be miserable. 

This is true as it relates to the Bible. The "all-or-nothing" kind of Christian soon finds the Bible to be overwhelming. They can't stay up with it; they are always lagging behind. There is no catching up, as it were. Its vastness, length, depth,width, height, and commands are too much for them to master.

They do not realize God never intended for His people to swallow the whole bail of hay at one time, so to speak. He gave the Manna daily, in fact He gave them opportunity to rest one day. We need to heed the words of the wise man, "Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

God's commandments are exceedingly broad, He gives us elbow room. You know, He gives "wiggle-room." His commandments are not grievous; His yoke is easy. He remembers we are but dust, and at our very best are vanity. He knows what we would do if we could do it, if it were not for this weak flesh! Willing but weak, says the scripture.

Therefore, as to keeping His Word, it is generally my habit to concern myself with obeying it at any given moment. That is, how it relates to what I'm doing and where I'm at, at the present. Like an instruction manual, I take it a step at a time. In other words, I DO THE NEXT THING!

" When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." 

Spiritual Highs

Peter had a glorious mountain-top experience and like many of us, wanted to "park there," so to speak. It's understandable; who wants to leave such to go down into the valley of a demon possessed world that lieth entirely in wickedness? But every saint needs to learn, God is just not the God of the mountains, but of the valleys also. For every mountain, there is a valley.

Many saints of our day are addicted to "spiritual highs" to keep them going. They are constantly attending revivals, camp meetings, deeper-life conferences, etc. They're always searching for some new book that will be a "quick fix" in their hour of spiritual depression. To them, Christianity is fun and games. They love, says Matthew, to play in the market place.

Descriptive words that come to my mind if asked to characterize the Christian life: routine, daily duties, same old same old. Those stalwart saints of the past were pluggers-along; they needed no frills, chills, and thrills to keep them going. They had an artisian well within them, better known as the Holy Spirit!

Unforgettable Spiritual experiences are prayed down, not worked up. Paul and Silas incarcerated at the dark hour of midnight, with feet in stocks, and their backs beaten bloody, prayed and praised God. It was then God began to shake things up, if you please. And that is when it will happen for us also!    

Unlikely Possibilities

Jesus said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” There is a little saying when something difficult or beyond our human reasoning is presented us; we respond by saying, “It’s not likely.” When this happens, we have lost the possibilities of the unlikely.

It was not likely that a lad with five loaves and two fishes could feed five thousand. It was not likely a shepherd boy could kill a giant with one stone from his sling. It was not likely that an unlearned and ignorant fisherman could write two books of the New Testament, without any literary flaws whatsoever. But they did. Why? Because God can take the unlikely and make it a reality. Our Lord goes into the waste places and does the unlikely. “In the wilderness shall waters break out.”

He can see a saint in an unlikely, disregarded publican. He can see a diamond in the soot. He can see radiant glory in a rough, unpolished gem. God help us to have spiritual discernment to see the possibilities of the unlikely. May He help us to see a person’s possibilities in the blackness of their present shame—to see the future best in the present’s worst. Amen!

Take Your Medicine

“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thy often infirmities.” Some pertinent truths are missed in this text simply because of two factions trying to prove their position on wine.

First, Good and godly people, as Timothy, have sicknesses.

Second, we see that some infirmities are on-going.

Third, God uses means to temporarily relieve our discomforts.

Fourth, whatever the medication, it is to be used in moderation.

Fifth, he does not tell young Timothy to pray, be anointed, or to claim healing by faith, (all of which are legitimate), if God so leads. In this case he is simply to take his medicine. Doesn’t sound very spiritual, does it? But it seemed to have worked.

Sixth, we see progression of certain truths. Early in Paul’s Epistles he looked for the Lord’s return in his day. But later on his position seemed to have changed from an immediate coming, to an imminent one. So it was with healing. In his latter ministry, rather than using his apostolic gift, he left one brother sick at Miletum, and another, in prison with him, had been sick unto death. And, of course there was Timothy.

Seventh, for any super-saints reading this, who are tempted to look down on those who visit a physician in their sickness, it might be well to remember, Paul’s constant companion was Doctor Luke, the beloved physician. Also, the Great Physician Himself told us that sick people need a physician.

An addendum- I question seriously if the reference to wine was grape juice, if so, I doubt he would have cautioned him to use it moderately, “a little...often."

Someone Has To Do It

"But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab." When a young man, I asked my dear mother, who was soaked in character, why she cleaned toilets and scrubbed floors for others. This wise woman, with that eternal twinkle in her hazel-green eyes said, "Someone has to do it, Son." Malchiah was such a one, his job like my Mom's, was a humbling one, but it was his lot in life. Who of us would not like to be standing at the "east gate" when He returns? But we who are hid away need not fear. He knows where we are, and we can be sure He'll look us up. He knows where all his precious jewels are hid! They sparkle even from seclusion.

These ten gates of Jerusalem are an interesting study in themselves, for example. When you left the "old gate" on the west side, and continued downward (south), you came to the "valley gate." Then at the very bottom, before starting upward, was the "dung gate." The spiritual lesson is obvious to the enlightened mind, after you put the old behind you, you pass by the valley. Then comes the "dung gate," where all the filth, trash and refuse is carried out and burned. It is then, on your journey, you start upward, and the next gate you come to, after leaving all the garbage behind, is the "fountain gate," where one is refreshed and cleansed. Everything is downward until we leave the, shall I say, "dumpster gate."

Man's Chief End (part two)

"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever," so it is written in the Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1647. In a previous article we wrote on the glorifying of God in our lives; in todays writing I want to deal with the latter remark, enjoying God forever. There is no possibility of one experiencing this second blessing, of enjoying God, who has not fulfilled the previous act of glorifying God in their everyday life. It seems to me that many today have as their chief end, not the enjoyment of God, but rather their own lusts.

"Enjoying spiritual communion with God is a riddle and mystery to most people. Everyone who hangs about the court, does not speak with the king," so pens Thomas Watson. The enjoying of the pleasures of this world, without the enjoyment of God, is like drinking from a golden chalice with no wine ("that cheereth both the heart of man and God") within it. They have full coffers but empty lives. When the earlier and latter rains come from heaven, they are but dust (Deut. 28:24). 

How anyone can think or say he or she will enjoy God in heaven for eternity who do not enjoy Him in their daily lives now, is way above, as they say, my pay-grade in understanding. It is a great day indeed when we prodigals, who have spent our all on this world, return to our Father to enjoy Him, and Him alone. 

Man's Chief End (part one)

The Westminster Shorter Catechism was completed in 1647. The first question is, "What is man's chief end?" The answer: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever." It is these two most important aspects of life I will be commenting on in this article and the one that follows. I say boldly, it is better to have never lived than to have lived and not to have fulfilled and experienced these two Divine requirements and privileges. 

We are told in scripture to give God the glory due His name. I like the comment of one of our old Puritan brothers, "It's the yearly rent we pay to the crown of heaven." Many, I'm afraid, go through life rent-free! Is it not a shame that everything God created naturally gives Him the glory, except mankind? The heavens, the beasts of the field, all creation glorifies their Maker, but the worm known as Man. This one creature wants all the glory for himself. 

God has given us, His saints, many things, but says, "My glory will I not give to another." Like king Pharaoh, after giving Joseph his ring and golden chain, and putting all things in his kingdom under him said, "Only in the throne will I be greater than thou." God has entrusted to us, His people, His Glory. We can go through life either gratifying our flesh or glorifying our God. Peter is a good example. He started out doing the former but finally and joyfully submitted to the latter, "To him be glory both now and for ever," were his last words.

Let each of us, from this day forward, be God-admirers! Let's make God look good. May we be so taken up with God, so awe struck by Him, the world will take notice. And let our testimony be that of Paul, "They glorified God in me." This should be a life-long commitment, even to death. This was true of both Peter and our Lord. Jesus told Peter before his death how he would glorify God in it. So the old faltering disciple glorified his God right up to the grave. And just before His death, Christ prayed to His Father, "I have glorified thee on earth."

God Makes the Difference

C.H. Spurgeon said, "The possession of a God, or the non-possession of a God, makes the greatest possible difference between man and man. Esau is a princely being, but he is “a profane person.” Jacob is a weak, fallible, frail creature, but he has a God. Have you not heard of “the mighty God of Jacob?" 

I have an old sermon entitled, "When God Gets in It." Whenever and wherever He enters the scene, things begin to change. Water turns to wine, a common scrub bush is set on fire, a timid farm boy is transformed into a mighty man of valour. God always makes the difference!

If you have the Lord God Jehovah as your God, then as one old sage said, our whole history is covered; past, present, and future. God, from eternity past, anticipated every possible situation and circumstance we would find ourselves in while we sojourn on earth. And He prepared for every emergency.

We need never fear the storms of life, no matter how great the tempest, even when it seems we're sinking, if Jesus is in the ship with us! 

U-Turns

One of the common denominators in the ministries of Jesus, the Twelve, Peter and Paul was that each emphasized the necessity of repentance. They taught repentance leads to restoration of God’s favor, and impenitence to ruin. Thinking that we need not do a complete u-turn from vices in our lives, to practicing Godly virtues, is a destructive delusion.

Repentance is acknowledging and admitting we are rebels at heart, who must lay down our arms. True repentance is the right view of sin, self, and the Saviour. Real repentance is more than eating crow, it’s agreeing with Gods estimate of your sin. It is taking God’s side against the person you hold dearest: You!

It is shameful how many of us are so shameless today. In Ezra’s prayer he said, “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee…” I’m afraid we are more like the people of Jeremiah’s day, of whom it is said, “…they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush.” We need repenting that doesn’t need repenting of. There is far too much heartless repenting in each of us.

The old preachers used to preach there are three steps to Biblical repentance: First you get mad; then you get sad; but then you get glad.

God's Pathway To Citizenship

Our Lord often presented truths that had twofold meanings, both an earthly and heavenly. The following is my feeble attempt to emulate our Master . 

Although God's love is unconditional, His requirement for entering His Heavenly domain has stipulations. There are stringent rules prior to becoming a citizen of God's country.
Jesus said, "...that [whoever] entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." That is, those climbing over the wall and not entering the legitimate way, are law-breakers.

In the book of Ephesians chapter two, Paul gives a vivid picture of we Gentiles, who he refers to as, "aliens and strangers," having absolutely no hope of ever becoming citizens of Heaven, and there was a great enmity between those who were citizens and those who were not. But God made a gracious pathway to citizenship for us foreigners, if we would submit to His one and only way. 

And for all those who do adhere to God's rule, the Apostle tells us the glorious result: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." We become one people, one nation under God. And what divided us, is removed. Thus, doing things the lawful way, brings peace and tranquility for all concerned!  

Having the Spirit of Anti-Christ

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ [as] coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."

The term “antichrist” is used exclusively by John, and is found in his first and second epistles. He uses the term both in the singular (a person), and in the plural (persons). There are to be many prototypes; they existed even in John’s day. But all of these will be concentrated into one original in the latter times. Just as there are "many false Christs," imitating the one true Christ, so there are many "antichrists" emulating the one to come.  

The prefix “anti” has a dual meaning. It can mean “against” or “instead of”. Taken together, it’s a counterfeit in opposition to the real thing, “The Lord’s Christ.” The spirit of antichrist then carries Christ’s label (Christian), while denying Christ’s ingredients (Deity). The spirit of antichrist is behind every false doctrine and every religion substituting itself for the reality of Christ.

The question to ask before, “Is the antichrist a real person?” is, “Do I have the spirit of antichrist?” That is, are you hostile toward Him, do you deny His claims of Lordship? If so, you may carry the name Christian, but in reality you’re antichrist. Anyone denying the true nature and character of Christ is antichrist! 

And please believe me, God is intolerant when it comes to slighting His Son. You’re either for or against Him, there is no middle ground. As someone has said, "If He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all."

A Family Rule

"Two are better than one....For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” 

As an excerpt from a famous poem goes, “No man is an Island.” Elijah thought he was, not realizing God had reserved seven-thousand to Himself, like Elijah. As a result "the loner" experienced a time of deep depression. Those who think they can go it alone, are in for a rude awakening. We all need a helping hand from time to time, as well as being one ourselves. 

Jesus sent His disciples out, "two by two." You'll remember Peter and John, though completely different temperaments, were constant companions; "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple." 

And what of Paul? He seemed to always have a "sidekick" with him": Paul and Timothy, Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Titus, Paul and Sosthenes." Maybe there should be an "and" after our names too. 

From the very beginning, God tells us, "It is not good that the man should be alone." It's a rule of the family, our Father would have us to take our brother or sister with us before we go out into the dark night of this world.

New Age, New Methods, Old Truth

"Then said H​e unto them​...​the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old."

The "New-Agers" greatest mistake is thinking because a new age brings new methods, it necessitates a new message. But the Bible teaches that although the age may change, and along with it the methods, the message stays forever the same. You'll notice when believers entered the New Testament era, with undoubtedly many changes taking place in all areas of life, the old, old gospel stayed the same. 

We have been sold the lie, by the progressives that if something is classified as "old," it is to be considered out-dated, antique, and has outlived its usefulness. But those of us who have experienced the life-giving, life-changing, power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, know better. It is as fresh and new to us who are believers as the day we first heard it, though that day may have been many, many years ago! Our theme song being-

"​I love to tell the story, 

for those who know it best 

seem hungering and thirsting 

to hear it like the rest. 

And when, in scenes of glory, 

I sing the new, new song, 

'twill be the old, old story 

that I have loved so long."

This blessed old gospel can be traced all the way back to Adam's substitutionary lamb in the garden; and also Abraham's day, when the gospel story was first preached to him on the mount, hundreds of years ago. Hence, each generation of God's elect will continue to sing, "It was good for our fathers, and it's good enough for me." I like that "Old-Time Religion!" Don't you? 

"That which is new in theology is not true; the gospel was​ of full stature at its very birth; no man can add to it or take away from it." (C.H. Spurgeon)

The One Cure-All

Anyone who has watched old-time westerns is familiar with the medicine man who came to town selling his (as he referred to it) "cure-all liniment." It was a guaranteed remedy, said he, for everything from baldness, to sciatica, to bunions, and all in between. And many a duped soul bought this cure-less solution only to be sadly let down and disappointed in the end.

There is a host today, many well-meaning I'm sure, who have a "quick fix" for all the world's many ills. Whether in the political, social, or religious realm, they claim they have the one antidote for whatever the ailment. This type of salesmanship can be very profitable for the seller, but unprofitable for the buyer. Putting band-aids on skin cancer only hides the problem temporarily; it doesn't treat the problem.

Throughout the New Testament, both writers and preachers, along with the common everyday saint, believed there was only one permanent scriptural curative for all earth's complexities, THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST back to this earth. Anything else they might have taught and preached was only a transitory restraint until THAT GREAT DAY OF THE LORD.

The Bible ends with an old disciple praying, "EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS." Is this our one main concern?             

Whose Side is God On?

"Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come."

Joshua found out something some of us die-hard's are still slow to comprehend and accept: God is on no one's side! Only in respect to our choosing God's side can it be said, "He is on our side." When David said, "The Lord is on my side," it was only because he picked that side. And when he wrote, God is for me, again, it was because he was for God. God did not side with, or was He for David in his sin.

God is not a Democrat or Republican; He is nether a

Fundamentalist or Evangelical; nor is He Conservative or 

Liberal, GOD IS GOD! The question is not, "Is God on our side," but rather, "Are we on God's side?" Moses put it very plainly, "Who is on the Lord's side?" The real question each of us must ask ourselves in this God-hating, God-defying, God-dishonoring world is, "Am I on God's side?"

If our answer to this question is in the negative, then we would be wise to heed Gamaliel's words to the council in Acts, "If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." To be on any side that opposes God is ultimately a losing battle. God always wins out in the end. Read the book of Revelation if you doubt me. No matter how it may look at any given time, victory is on the way.

I love the story of the little-leaguer, who was all hustle, in spite of his team being behind 23 to 0. Asked why he could be so upbeat he replied, "Shucks, Mister, we ain't even been up to bat yet!" THAT'S MY KIND OF KID!   

Stay Out of That Mess

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” No spiritually enlightened Christian would deny this world is in one tangled up mess. And, furthermore, it is no surprise to them. But, what is a shock is the fact that so many of God’s people are enmeshed in this miserable mix-up. Once these cares entwine a believer, their spiritual life will be choked out of them. So says our Lord.

What is the cure for not being caught in this web of the world’s cares? Simple; it’s found in pleasing Him who chose us. We are to be absorbed with Him. This, says Jesus, is the one thing that is needful. Then the Caretaker will take care of the cares.

All the things of this world are geared to divert our attention from Him. This is true both in the social, political, and many times, religious realms. Nothing in this life really counts if it is not directly associated with Christ. And those things that do are to be approached through Him, not apart from Him

Satan’s goal, like Pharaoh’s of old, is to get God’s elect entangled in the land.

Daniel and the Law of the Land

"Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

At this time in Daniel's life he was in his eighties. Even so, the old man was a threat to the crooked politicians of his day. He had a reputation for honesty; all knew him to be a man of integrity, even his enemies. We are told by the Holy Spirit, "He had an excellent spirit." And believe me, He knew! 

These one-hundred and twenty political assassins knew it was useless to attack his impeccable character, so instead, they went after his faith. They passed a law that went directly against his God-given scriptural convictions. They knew well that he would not do wrong, but they were also aware, he would always do right concerning his God. And it is this latter fact with which they hoped to bring him down. 

John Gill writes in his commentary, "If therefore they could get an act passed, and signed by the king, which would any ways affect his religion, or any branch of it, or prohibit the performance of it for any time, they hoped to get an advantage of him, knowing that he would not on any consideration forsake or neglect that; which being said by his enemies was greatly to his honour."

What is one to do when the law of the land conflicts with the Law of God? It is plain throughout the Bible. As the early Believers told the authorities of their day when they were ordered to submit to laws contrary to their faith, "We ought to obey God rather than men."  And this they did, even at the expense of bodily suffering. 

And so it was with Daniel. He continued doing what he had always done in spite of the unscriptural law of the land. It could be said of him, as David wrote of the righteous man in Psalm 37, "The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide."  

 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

Reformation or Revival, Which?

To put it simply, revival deals first and foremost with the internal, reformation with the external. The former begins in the heart and works its way out; the latter never gets past the first layer of skin. George MacDonald writes, “Nothing is so deadening to the divine as a habitual dealing with the outside of holy things.”

What today’s “religious moralist” wants is an outward religious and political change, not an inward conversion. Reformation is merely a demon leaving his house briefly, while a new coat of paint is being put on the exterior of things, only to return to it with seven of his worst kind of friends. Reformation has to do with respectability, revival with nobility. Dry-rot on the inside doesn’t concern the moralist.

I am not an authority on revival, but I did spend the biggest part of a fifty-plus year ministry as an evangelist and in revival work. I got in on the afterglow of the forties revival, which was simmering and went out in the fifties. God allowed me to see enough in my meetings to cause me to thirst after a real revival. I’ve seen people pass out and have to be carried to an altar. On numerous occasions there have been four hour invitations, which I did not give, where the people just wanted to repent and worship God. I’ve seen a Lutheran pastor tear his collar off and cry out for God to save him.  There was a youth camp where the youth would wake at three in the morning screaming for God to have mercy. In one large church, so many were getting right that they had to use the restrooms for inquiry rooms, because all the Sunday School rooms were filled  There were many, many more experiences like these, but I trust these will suffice to prove my point.

Yes, many good people long for revival and are praying for one, but on their conditions. And that is why revival will never come to them. Let’s face it; a Bible revival would scare the majority of today’s Christians half to death. It would reach far beyond their elitist group, and things would happen that their human reasoning could not explain. And may I add this note to many of you pastors; you can’t have revival without revival preaching. It seems to me when the evangelists were kicked out of the pulpits of America, revival went with them. May God have mercy! My Bible still says, “And He gave some…evangelists.”

Close Enough to Hear

The late Harry A. Ironside, pastor of Moody Church, tells the following story. It seems he needed a specific amount of money by the next day. He said the Lord had given confidence to claim and expect the exact amount for the succeeding day. And sure enough, it arrived by mail right on time. But, he thought, wouldn’t it have arrived anyway, had I not prayed? For the letter had been post marked three days previous. True, the Lord seemed to say, but isn’t it nice to be conscious of the fact you’re close enough to me to know what I’m about to do?

As Samuel of old, I believe God still speaks in the ear of His obedient ones, concerning things He already has in play (1 Sam. 9:15). I don’t want to be in hollering distance; I want to ever be within whispering distance (1 Kgs. 19:12). I long for my relationship with God to be up close and personal. I’d like for Him to say of me what He said of Abraham, “And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” You might remember, when the disciples wanted to know what was going on, they asked the one leaning on Jesus’ bosom, the one near to the heart of God!

Addendum: As most of our readers know, humanly speaking, we live on a very limited income. Yesterday, before leaving for church (an hour away) I checked my wallet to make sure I had gas and lunch money. I had $120. The Lord impressed on my heart to put all in the offering when it passed. The same burden was there at church. So I obeyed. I whispered to my wife what I had done. I told her to watch and see what the Lord was going to do in the next couple of days. Today, Monday, a dear friend wrote that he had come into some extra cash and wanted to share it with us. It was nearly three times the amount I had put into the offering. Is Luke 6:38 true or what!

God's Echo

“Abraham, Abraham”; “Isaac, Isaac”; “Jacob, Jacob”—were these men, along with others, so hard of hearing that God had to repeat their names when speaking to them? No, God has a purpose in everything He does, and there is a Divine lesson for us in this repetition.

Since the Bible is its own best interpreter, we’ll allow it to give us the answer. Joseph, speaking to Pharaoh about his dream, explained, “And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God...” Both in the Old and New Testament, we find there is to be at least two witnesses to the truth. No doubt, this is why A.W. Tozer said, “Truth has two wings.”

Jesus taught this when He made the statement, “It is written," then added, “It is written again.” Paul also followed this pattern. For example, in Romans he says, “It is written," then follows this up by saying, “And again he [God] saith...”

Today, if you need Heaven’s confirmation as to the right or wrong of a thing, or if there is a decision you have made and need that final stamp of God’s approval, then listen, or watch, for it. It will come. When it’s from God, it will always have an identical twin.

“God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this...(Psl.62:11,a).

We Fallible Fathers

Every godly father longs for and desires a happy household. But, for one reason or another, this is not always the case. Sometimes the reason is apparent; at other times, it’s a mystery. How could God’s first two children disgrace their heavenly Father? And years after, God says of Israel, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” You certainly couldn’t blame the Father in these cases.

In 2 Samuel, chapter twenty-three, we have, “...the last words of David.” We are told how God anointed and raised him up on high, and that he was the “...sweet Psalmist.” David was a good and godly man; yet he had his share, along with many other greats, of family trouble. For example, his wife, Michal, became a snare to him, and one of his sons, Absalom, caused him humiliating embarrassment. Certainly, all of this must have been heart-breaking to this melancholy man of God.

Yet, in spite of his family troubles, he looks past the veil of tears and remembers God’s eternal promise. In verse five he says,

“Although my house be not so with God; yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant.” Its been said, "When we suffer in time, we can find solace in eternity."

The blessings of God the Father are upon godly fathers!

A Most Devastating Truth

"Jesus said unto [Peter]...thou shalt deny me...Peter said unto Him...I will not deny thee..."

I personally believe the most devastating fact we as saints will ever have to face and admit to is, as my dear mentor, Dr. Joe Henry Hankins would say, "We are never as spiritual as we think we are." We are not who people say we are; we are not who we think we are; we are who God knows we are. We say, "If I know my own heart," but the problem is, none of us do! There is a deceiver within it. Only a self-righteous fool will trust his or her own carnal heart. 

Peter's problem is ours. He thought himself incapable of committing the ugly things of which others were. Like the Pharisee in the Temple, he thought he was a notch above the low man on the totem pole. In my long experience in dealing with God's people, I find few Believers have come to the realization that they are capable of anything and everything Bible saints were. The one sure proof is when you hear them say, "How could they do that? I could never do such a thing."

Any time we get outside God's hedge of Divine protection, we are open to the serpent's deadly bite. "...whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him."      

An Old Man's Advice

If I could give advice to any preacher, teacher, writer, or witness; along with Christians in general, it would be, “Make much of Jesus.” Make much of Him in all your sermons, songs, testimonies, and praying, as well as your writings (books or letters). I have had to ask God time and again to forgive me for failing to do so.

 As a young believer, I went through Paul’s epistles marking in red all references to Christ. Afterward, I had to buy a new Bible, for the pages I had marked looked as if someone had sprinkled them with fresh blood. Again, read Revelation. No matter how it’s interpreted, there is one thing all will agree upon; Jesus Christ is central. God, angels, beasts, and saints, all without exception, make over Him as none other creature has ever been lauded.

 We write, preach, and discuss such things as the Anti-Christ , the  King James Bible (not King Jesus), election, politics, the deeper life, soul winning, the Church, and a host of others things. But these are not to have the prominent place. Have we not yet learned it is not our “pet doctrines” that impress God? IT IS HIS AND HEAVEN’S “PET” that is to get all the attention. Everyone and everything, no matter how precious or important, is to always line up behind Jesus! The universe, and all that is in it, is to play “second fiddle,” to Jesus Christ.

 “Lord Jesus, Glorify thyself, and do it at my expense. Send me the bill, I’ll pay the price.”  (A.W. Tozer’s prayer)