A Small Reminder

A small reminder that Jesus told us where to search for Him.

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39 KJV)

Everything in what we call the Old Testament that referred to a coming Messiah testifies of Him – even today!

I’ve mentioned this blog before – Abundant Life Now,  by Robert Lloyd Russell – who advocates the same thing:  Search the scriptures.

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:18 KJV)

I like that promise especially, since it is part of a scene where Abraham tells Isaac:

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8 KJV)

John, who preached and baptized in anticipation of the messiah, said:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29 KJV)

Think of preachers whose voices reach into the upper tiers of a stadium – without microphones, as today. Can you hear that shouted, “BEHOLD!!” John had just received that information, too:

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. (John 1:31 KJV)

As people read His word in prayer, seeking His face and their understanding of His presence, revelations take place. Eyes are opened, through God’s grace, and faith grows.

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? (Mark 8:18 KJV)

Jesus asked that question of His disciples, men who walked with Him, traveling along speaking among each other as well as seeing Him do miracles and hearing His words in synagogues and hilltops – yet they did not understand. How come we think we – much less others – would be able to understand it all, even in a lifetime?

We need reminders, within ourselves and from other people, to continue to read the Bible, learn more about God and His messages to people. We need to discern what in the Bible are good examples, and what is written as examples where people went terribly wrong. We need to understand the reasons for God’s judgments – and how they apply to our own lives in today’s world.

Our way of life is not the same as Adam’s, Abraham’s, Moses’, Solomon’s, Matthew/Mark/Luke/John’s, but the God-inspired words they wrote are applicable for us. Every single day.

Come, read of Him. Set a reminder or two and read His word – every single day. Seek God in His word. Take the advice David offered Solomon:

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. (1 Chronicles 28:9 KJV)

Anger?

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31 KJV)

That verse in Hebrews comes right after the words:

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (Hebrews 10:30 KJV)

Jonathan Edwards presented a sermon whose title is a bit different, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” that sometimes overrides the memorization of that first verse.

My original thought was to show how a well-known, well-documented, well-delivered piece of work could begin to sound as though it was a valid quote from the Bible. Hebrews 10:31 does not refer to an angry God, but I’ve heard that verse quoted with ‘angry’ instead of ‘living.’

No – this is not a post about misquoted Bible verses. We often misquote, but contain a truth even with the misquote. There are instances of God’s anger in the Bible, so we know He can be an angry God. We must clarify the source of that anger so that we do not substitute anger for love.

We’re not told that there was anger was against Adam and Eve, but later we were told He was angry with Moses:

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. (Exodus 4:14 KJV)

The Hebrew ‘aph (אף) used here is from ’anaph (אנף), “to breathe hard, be angry (displeased).” I can handle the ‘displeased’ part, but I really don’t want to make God angry. Those standing around Jesus on the Sabbath were able to make Him angry, and we’re given the reason:

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, (Mark 3:5a KJV)

Now the Greek orge (ὀργή ) translated here as ‘anger’ has a slightly different connotation that that in Exodus, “ire, [justifiable] abhorrence.” In either instance, God’s displeasure or ire is absolutely justified. Moses had declined to accomplish God’s will and the Pharisees wanted to catch Him in an unlawful act on the Sabbath. In both instances, God’s will prevailed, though some people were not included.

It was not God’s anger that excluded them – it was their own actions. Moses, though serving as God’s chosen deliverer from Egyptian bondage, did not see his sons serving as God’s priests. Instead, Aaron and his descendants filled that role. The Pharisees did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and lead their people to the Lord. Instead, gentiles became the bearers of glad tidings of great joy. Those choices affected all succeeding generations.

Yes, it is fearful to fall into the hands of the living God – but we all live there. Best done without a hard heart, isn’t it?

Fragile?

Smelling Coffee by Jennifer Walker is one of the blogs I follow. No, I’m not reprinting here. In fact, I haven't read it all yet, but from the first paragraph she addresses a subject that has been on my mind for a while – and it fits so well with our Pastor’s sermon last Sunday. Let’s look at that first – it’s an Elisha story.

It reminded me a bit of a Bible college, a group of ‘preacher boys’, these “sons of the prophets” that came to Elisha and said they were too crowded. He agreed and told them to go, cut down trees for beams, but they wanted him along, too.  Good thing they did:

But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. (2 Kings 6:5-6 KJV)

Pastor likened that axe head to the joy of our salvation. Remember where David sang:

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalms 51:12 KJV)

Jennifer wrote: “However, this week we learned that what we ‘hoped’ would work out, what we had ‘counted-on’ and ‘planned with that in mind’ would not be immediately coming to fruition. And my FAITH fell off the shelf, and then cracked a little.”

Every one of us have had that happen. Sometimes (as with David) our faith is broken by our own actions. Find out where he was in life when he wrote that 51st Psalm. Lots of things were broken. Sometimes, though, we are responding to what we firmly believe is God’s will in our lives, doing what He has asked us to do, but the results were completely unforeseen. Our faith, always fragile, can show fractures.

James wrote about this, just before he wrote in 1:6 for us not to waver:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:2-4 KJV)

So – not having completed Jennifer’s blog, not knowing how she responded, I do have a suggestion for fragile or fractured faith – turn to God. As the young man with the missing axe head went to Elisha and confessed the loss, we go to God and confess our loss. Then turn to His word and read:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

Remember that first joy we had when we understood Christ died for us and through Him we were given salvation? That’s what we need restored – the joy of God’s salvation through faith. Restoration, as David pled:

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalms 51:14-17 KJV)

Thank God! He is not fragile.

Barak

There were some very active women in the Bible. One I read about recently was Deborah:

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. (Judges 4:4-5 KJV)

I thought of an oasis, a well, palm trees and a path leading right up to Deborah’s tent. Being a wife, she had a lot of responsibilities besides being the judge for the children of Israel. God sent her instructions, and she passed them on:

And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. (Judges 4:6-7 KJV)

Deborah just put Barak in charge of ten thousand troops and promised him a victory, in the name of the Lord. Sound daunting? It did to Barak:

And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. (Judges 4:8 KJV)

Does that sound like anyone you know? I think it sounds very similar to me. Be the first to respond? Believe that I can really get the job done? And mine don’t involve ten thousand men strong and brave nor did I have to face another man’s army. Deborah had a ready answer, too:

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. (Judges 4:9 KJV)

With Deborah along, the battle was won – but Sisera was not to fall into Barak’s hand. Instead, we have two examples in Judges 4 of women called by God to accomplish His will. Deborah, who not only obeyed Him by judging His people but carried His words, even when they might not be welcomed; and Jael, who slew Sisera and is remembered even today for doing so.

And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. (Judges 4:22 KJV)

We know who she married, we know she killed a man and Deborah sang her name in praises to the Lord, equating Jael with safety:

Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. LORD,  . . . in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. (Judges 5:2-6 KJV)

Can we be called as Barak was and be more responsive than he? Can we be remembered as one who followed God’s call with faith, or do we offer God negotiations?

Those Leaving

One size does not fit all, and conversions come in many ways, at different times in our lives. That's a couple of the thoughts that came to my mind when I read "3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don't Leave the Church."

I have more personal information on some youth who did leave a church - but returned to it. I've written about that as part of my testimony. It's been a generational thing in our family - from my parents, through mine and into the next generations. Hearing, responding (perhaps to peer pressure), then finding that life in general is not supportive to church attendance contains many factors.  Only a couple of those are the subject of the above article, though. It's the "college years", where many churches lose members who had been faithful participants as youth.

The Preacher tells us:

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1 KJV)

I’ve seen no statistics on how many of those who left do return. It certainly isn’t 100%.  Many do, however, when they realize what the Preacher says in later verses:

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:  (Ecclesiastes 12:3-5 KJV)

We lose the blooms of youth, the flourishing growth of new ideas, new hopes, when we realize that much stays the same. There have been and there will be wars and rumors of wars, recessions and depressions, attempts which bring success and those with failures. We find what many have found before – wise words from experienced men:

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 KJV)

As we age we find there are immutable absolute truths and that it behooves us to seek them, understand them and apply them, as men have done before:

And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 KJV)

The Preacher knew the result of this duty of man:

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14 KJV)

As did Paul, so many generations later:

But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. (Colossians 3:25 KJV)

I pray youths understand this lesson before they walk away. If they do leave, may they remember, and return.

Like Unto

Eight different times Matthew quotes Jesus as saying the kingdom of heaven is like something to which His audience could relate. Think of it as me describing things when all you can see is my little Accent:

The Cadillac Escalade is like unto it, having four tires, headlights on either side in front and side mirrors.

The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL550 is like unto it, having a door in the back.

The Lexus RX 350 is like unto it, having two doors on either side.

That just doesn’t do justice to our understanding of the Cadillac, Mercedes or Lexus, does it? They are so more luxurious than the Hyundai Accent that the analogies just do not paint a complete picture.

I believe our view of heaven is just as limited. Several verses in 1 Corinthian’s second chapter relate to this:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Even with Jesus explaining what the kingdom is like, we’re seeing small slices that require a spiritual understanding.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)

At least you had the photograph of the Accent in front of you. What if you were explaining those four vehicles to someone who had never seen a car? What words could be used? Would a few suffice, or would it take a book? Why, then, do we expect hearers new to God’s word to come to an understanding quickly?  Do we expect crops grow quickly as well, or mature over time?

I’m reminded of our enthusiastic young preacher-boys who would meet someone for the first time, ask if they were saved and (assuming a “I don’t know” answer) witness to them. They were blessed when that person repeated the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and counted them as saved. They have years of experience now, understanding much more about seed sowing and watering before fruit is borne.

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (John 4:37-38)

Paul understood, and explained:

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

Be prepared to explain what we know, with the understanding that we do not know God’s mind, only a portion of His plans and a small glimpse of His kingdom.  We do have the opportunity to know His word. Take advantage of that resource, OK?

Do We Need To Explain?

Jesus healed a blind man:

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (John 9:1-7)

Nice little miracle, isn’t it? A man in need, a savior available, a miracle accomplished, an opportunity for Jesus to declare God’s glory. Awesome. But that certainly wasn’t the ‘rest of the story.’

The neighbors hardly recognized him and wanted to know what happened.  He gave them the facts and they wanted to see Jesus:

Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. (John 9:12)

Being religious in nature and recognizing a miracle when they see one, they went to their religious leaders, who did not want to recognize Jesus as the miracle maker since He healed on the Sabbath:

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. (John 9:16)

As most mean do, they argued amongst themselves, never looking into scripture, never praying to God for an answer. Instead they sent for his parents to verify he had been blind. Fearing these men, the parents said:

Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. (John 9:23)

So, they did. Not knowing Jesus as his savior, the man truthfully answered:

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25)

When we are confronted by those who do not understand the changes, the miracle of salvation, in our lives, do we answer, “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see”? We should be able to do better, shouldn’t we? Too often we don’t, though we’ve received instructions.

But, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)

All the blind man wanted was his sight. If all we want is our salvation, an escape from hell, perhaps his answer is sufficient. If, however, we’ve understood that following Him is giving ourselves to His service, we must learn much, much more in order to give our reason for hope.