WORD OF LIFE, PART 7: NOT ANGER, BUT TRUST

It is the opposite of the nature of human nature to spend much of our waking hours just marveling at the goodness of God. Some come close, as we mature in our walk with Christ, most compartmentalize their entire Faith system.  Putting one’s faith on a shelf, because one is afraid of being classified as a “Jesus Freak” or a “bible thumper” is more dangerous to the person who does it, than the majority who mock us. 

We see what happens with a florist who stands up for biblical marriage. We see what happens to the best neuro-surgeon ever in the world, when he talks about his salvation in Christ, in the public arena. We see what happens when a football coach takes a knee and prays with this team during practice, even when none of the team objects….and on and on. 

There is a huge problem in the academic and intellectual, as well as media elite towards the ordinary folk who believe in God and trust in Christ as Lord and master.  The only time of each year, we seem to be not under ridicule, from them,  is around Christmas and Easter.  Even then, they run TV specials on “did Jesus really die on the Cross” or “Jesus never claimed to be God” (He did) or the misnamed Jesus Seminar would go off on another of their gnostic exploits into Neverland. Psalm 119:51 below confirms this thinking has been going on for over 3000 years now. As King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes "there is nothing new under the sun”.
Psalm 119:49-56
Zayin.
49  Remember the word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope.
50  This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.
51  The arrogant utterly deride me, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.
52  I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O Lord, and comfort myself.
53  Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
54  Your statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55  O Lord, I remember Your name in the night, and keep Your law.
56  This has become mine, that I observe Your precepts.
The Godly are to be righteously upset about this as Psalm 119:53, in today’s section reminds us. While there is nothing wrong with a Christian who has righteous anger at spiritual wickedness abounding across the world in increasing intensity, we are not supposed to first – land there and if/when we are there, we are secondly, not to STAY there.  It was imperative to address anger from the Christian point of view first here, due to current events.  We are to be rightly upset about the perversion and brainwashing aimed at our children, whether it is from Disney, Hollywood or even the Cartoon Network. We are to be morally outraged that our brothers and sisters in Christ are being brutalized in the Middle East, Europe and Asia by practitioners of another religion, while the world and the powerful remain silent. 

However, we must remember our foundation as people of “The Book” as the pagans call us.  We are to call out to God, in times like these, when we are pressed on, squeezed and poured out and His Word will bring comfort and hope to our hearts (verses 49 and 50).  This is huge as we are asking our Heavenly Father to remember His promises to us to never leave, forsake, abandon or turn His back on us. He never has. The teacher is always silent during our mid-terms and finals.  God does something really powerful when we remind Him of His promises – He responds through the Holy Spirit. 

Here is where true conversion is REALLY critical. Unless a person possesses occupancy by the embedded Holy Spirit of God, he/she is NOT a real Christian and not saved, born-again or whatever one wishes to call it. This is crucial and not harsh. This is absolute truth! God communicates His thoughts, directions and answers to our prayers, via His Holy Spirit , which is our absolute guarantee that we belong completely to Him! Therefore, it is from this position, and with confidence, we can respond, in praise “Your decrees have been the theme of my songs, wherever I have lived” (Psalm 119 verse 54, NLT).

At the end of the day, when it all comes down to it, the Lord Jesus – Yahweh of the Bible – is all we have. He is all we want. He is our portion in the Land of the Living, and if we are wise, we will remain resolved to spend of the rest of every part of our lives, following Him (Verses 55 and 56). 

Every waking moment should be consumed by the manifest presence of God in our lives. Every waking minute should make us aware of Whose we are, why we are here and what powers us to take the next step.  Every wonderful mission should drive us into the Arms of our Loving Heavenly Father, Who though He would allow us to be tested by fire, as in the purifying of gold, will always stand by the Promises He made to us. 

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Who are “the just” and are the only ones who live, and by whose faith? I can hear the sceptics, asking these questions when this seemingly quaint phrase is used. 

As ancient as modern man thinks the Word of God (the Bible) is, God's Word is written forever in the Heavens, and therefore in eternity. We live in a time where every person does what is right in his/her own eyes, thereby creating their own philosophies which they then extrapolate into an entry card to Faith. Ask anyone these days if they’re going to heaven, and the answer is “SURE”! If they  are a little more honest, the answer would be “I sure hope so”. The few odd ones I have spoken to have literally told me they are not afraid of the “lake of fire”! Good gravy, Gert!  Could they be serious?

In reality, the Just really WILL live by Faith. From biblical Hebrew to the New Testament Greek, the Word from the great God of Heaven is plain. Here is what He says:

"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith..." Habakkuk 2:4

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith...." Romans 1:17

"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith....." Galatians 3:11

"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him...."Hebrews 10:38

I think we are starting to get the idea. The questions for us humans, redeemed and unredeemed are simply: who or what is "the Just" and what does it mean "to live"?

The just or "the righteous" (according to the Sacred Scripture) is the man or woman, boy or girl whose conduct - body, mind and soul - are in alignment with the perfect standard of God. Not that any living person can achieve that perfection. It is precisely for that reason we cannot make ourself "just" or "righteous" in the Eyes of God that He has to save us, rescue us from the pit of Hell and then IMPUTE or credit our account, free of charge. This act of His Grace JUSTIFIES us, makes us ACCEPTABLE in His perfect 20/20 Spiritual Eyesight. There is no other way to be a child of the King and have eternal life. There is no such fiction as reincarnation, purgatory, 100 levels of consciousness of anything else man-made religion concocts.  It is only God the Father, seeing us through the Perfection of Christ, when we repent and accept Jesus as Lord, which can bring us into being made Just in His Sight.

Secondly, being made right or justified by His Grace, we now have eternal life. Indeed shall we live in eternity (or Heaven) with God the Father in the eternal kingdom. However, Eternity actually begins the moment we are saved. At the point of Adoption into the Kingdom, when we are converted from the domain of darkness, into the Kingdom of His marvelous Light, we inherit eternity past, the present and into eternity future. The Holy Spirit, Who is sent to seal us as His, immediately testifies to that fact and if a person does not possess such a transformation, conversion is in perilous doubt.

Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God Who raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same Spirit Who lives in us who are made just and are future citizens of Heaven. He immediately sets to work, to the degree He is allowed, to guide us into the way we should live - IN THE PRESENT. We, the Just, MUST live by Faith - NOW.

We are to live in the Faith, as plainly stated in Scripture. This means we are to eat, sleep, walk, talk, act, speak and think as one whose life is not his/her own, but made right and on loan from God, Who saved us.

The just who shall live by Faith is one whose daily life is fully dependant on God and knows it. Therefore the just who lives by Faith recognizes Who sustains our very breath, bread and eventually the brevity of our earthly life. 

The just who shall live by Faith is one who seeks and pursues the One Who died for us and then gave us a new permanent purpose in life.

The just who shall live by Faith is not only relies on and hopes in the God Who sits on the Throne above, but obeys Him (as stated in Scripture) and trusts fully in Him.

The just shall live by Faith and shows it as a living walking example of the Word of God, and as one whose prayer life jumps out and is a beacon to those who seek authentic intercession and someone to pray for them.  Oh yes, my friends, let us simply just live, love and long to reach others with the only Faith that matters AND saves- Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Amen.

WHY PRAY? Part 2 - WE TRUST!

Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him (James 5:14-15)

The Lord promised that "in this world you will have tribulation (or trouble), but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b). How does someone do that when the enemies of God are systematically destroying His people....when many are losing hope....when the numbers of "nones" (those who believe in nothing) grow exponentially....etc. etc..

These are the Biblical end times which are in view, primarily, to those who are saved and called by Christ into the Kingdom. We are seeing a plethora of incurable diseases, deadly viruses and inexplicable things all around us. Cancer is on the rise due to the many different things - lifestyle, quality of food and environment etc. In fact, if you act even the dearest Christian, there seems to be a sense of resignation and defeat.

This is both understandable and wrong at the same time. We see an exhortation from James here which is hardly called upon, in times of need, even by those who call themselves strong believers.....and that includes pastors. On average, you hear pastoral prayers about "Lord heal so and so, touch brother X, remember sister Y....etc.." But is there the strong biblical prayer system for healing, whether Body, Soul or Mind, which lines up with James 5:14, 15? Not really!  This sort of healing and restoration requires Faith and Trust in the Promise AND persistence in prayer.

Too many modern seminaries, and thus, the pastors they put out, have removed the spirit of this Scripture which says that such faith for healing, anointing with oil and restoration "is only for Bible times" and not now! I have heard that so many times, I don't even listen to it anymore. Because the Living Word who abides in the Christian testifies that the entire Word of God - all 66 books - are for now and for you and I. Therefore, even if the elders don't pray for the church and the sick as they should - YOU DO IT!

To drive home that point, the Lord gave us the account of the man of God - Elijah - who was sent to a place of famine and a poor woman in Zarephath. 

Read the full account here from the flowing narrative of God's Word Translation:
8 Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: 9 “Get up, go to Zarephath (which belongs to Sidon), and stay there. I’ve commanded a widow there to feed you.”
10 He got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the town’s entrance, a widow was gathering wood. He called to her, “Please bring me a drink of water.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her again, “Please bring me a piece of bread too.”  12 She said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord your God lives, I didn’t bake any bread. I have one handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I’m gathering wood. I’m going to prepare something for myself and my son so that we can eat it and then die.”

13 Then Elijah told her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home, and do as you’ve said. But first make a small loaf and bring it to me. Then prepare something for yourself and your son. 14 This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Until the Lord sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil.” 15 She did what Elijah had told her. So she, Elijah, and her family had food for a long time. 16 The jar of flour never became empty, and the jug always contained olive oil, as the Lord had promised through Elijah....1 Kings 17:7-16 (GNT)

Notice the parallel to a life of belief, faith and therefore, TRUST:
The RED HIGHLIGHT from verses 10-11  “Please bring me a drink of water.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her again, “Please bring me a piece of bread too.”  
Elijah was repeating the Word of the Lord to the widow of Zarephath, just as James is telling us that if we are sick, go to the elders. God gave the widow the following commands: 
- Bring me a drink....even though I know you're thirsty and there is famine and drought in the land (Sacrificial prayer.....what are YOU willing to surrender to Christ to be in the center of His Perfect Will through obedience?)
- Bring me a piece of bread too....even though I know you have nothing and are about to die because of this famine, caused by the disobedience of others. Noteworthy here is the condition of the saint. We are not exempt sometimes when the Lord judges a place, as He judged Israel then and the even harsher judgment coming to America for its rebellion against God. This is what Jesus meant by tribulation. This walk with Christ through life is not meant to be easy and woe to those who deceive with the health, wealth and prosperity gospel!

This is proven by the BLUE HIGHLIGHT and the words of the poor widow “I solemnly swear, as the Lord your God lives, I didn’t bake any bread. I have one handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I’m gathering wood. I’m going to prepare something for myself and my son so that we can eat it and then die.” (Verse 12).
The prayer application for us here is this - simply go to the Lord, explain your case and do it over and over (persistent prayer). You say, "well, God knows what I need....why should I have to pray?" God does know what we need and we pray because He desires fellowship with His Elect. We all come from families, whether large or small. How can we live in our homes in peace, joy and contentment if we do not speak to our moms, wives, dads, brothers sisters and cousins?! It is the same thing with the Lord, our Heavenly Father! He is called Abba which in English is the equivalent of "Daddy"! We present our case to Him in humility, fear, trembling but we also present to Him in anticipation and the STRONG belief that He hears and will heal, reveal and not conceal!

The great result of this tremendous, dynamic and ever growing faith is found here in the GREEN HIGHLIGHT: “Don’t be afraid. Go home, and do as you’ve said. But first make a small loaf and bring it to me. Then prepare something for yourself and your son. 14 This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Until the Lord sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil.”
Look at what the man of God (and therefore GOD) says:
-DO NOT BE AFRAID! Do not be afraid to ask and believe and trust in Him to do what He says, even in the darkest hour!
- GO HOME! What? You mean, leave my burdens and cares and some Cross I can't see and under some "Blood" that I only read about being shed for me? Yes, doubting Thomas - Go home! Go and rest and abide in the fact that you can have peace, joy, contentment, hope and victory from the One Who already won it at the same Cross you doubt it and because ye doubt, ye have not the answer ye seek! Go home simply means - DO YOU BELIEVE ME, JESUS...DO YOU BELIEVE I CAN DO IT? YES I CAN...NOW GO YOUR WAY - YOU ARE HEALED! Such amazing faith in His Amazing Grace is such a sweet sweet sound, to a wretch like me that I don't deserve what verse 14 says: Until the Lord sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil. 

That simply means - until the Lord Jesus returns for us, calls us home or either one or the other, I will live in that promise, my cup runneth over, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever....to the praise and glory of His Name. Saint, be of good cheer, because we pray....because we TRUST! Amen!

PART 2 - ENOCH'S WALK PLEASED GOD

There is “Walking with the Lord”….and then there is the PLEASING Walk with the Lord, which most westerners in the Body of Christ fall short on. Too many are using the Lord as a crutch, while pleasing themselves in hot pursuit of the American Dream. 

We are called to be humble disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. We are not called to be in an all-out,  full-fledged Pursuit of the now elusive formula of high school, license at age 16; college; big job;  big suburban home, iPad and iPhone and a BMW or Ford Explorer. We are called to something less frustrating and more fulfilling than this pipe dream! The  fruits of this are becoming more and more evident, as more and more families are seeing their kids’ and grandkids’ dreams disappear before our eyes.  Due to  liberals and their politicians/academics and even lax parenting, many expect their children to be worse off in their adult lives, than they were. 

The Church has been no help, in the west. Like all entitlement societies, the Lord’s so-called “under-shepherds” have found the formula to their own cushy lifestyles and it is not by preparing their flocks (or congregations) for trials, tribulations and “he who perseveres to the end, will be saved”. As a result, very few….a very small fraction of the actual 9% of Americans who are born-again Christians, find the secret of that “pleasing walk with the Lord”.

Hebrews 11:5 says “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death,  “and was not found, because God had taken him” (a direct quote from Genesis 6: ); for  before he was taken, he had this testimony, THAT HE PLEASED GOD (emphasis mine).

Oh that would be said that our testimony “pleased God”!  First we would have to know what a testimony really was and secondly, do we have one of those!  According to Webster’s Dictionary, a testimony is “proof or evidence that something exists or is true”. It is also an “open acknowledgment”  in terms of Faith – of what the Lord has done for and to us in our spiritual lives. The key words here are “proof”, “evidence”, “true and “open acknowledgement”.  Ten times out of ten, a person’s general testimony describes the conversion story of the person giving the Testimony and the road which that same person is now on, in his Faith Journey. I once asked a person to give his testimony at a certain meeting, and he basically got up and said he had none. 

Enoch did not have that problem. The Great Faith Chapter of Hebrews 11 said he HAD this testimony – “THAT HE PLEASED GOD”! How did a man four thousand years ago, with no church building; no ministry website or 501 C(3); books and DVDs “please God” when we today have everything and know our conduct is nowhere near this kind of Faith. Simple - Enoch was a simple man but he also had the benefit of direct knowledge of the sin of his literal ancestor - Adam!

Enoch saw the filth and degradation all around him as his corrupt world headed for the Great Flood...and obviously stayed away from it. He and his family, which included Methuselah, remained faithful in their pro-active Faith in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Like Job and Abraham, they believed God and He reckoned it to them as righteousness. These men, especially Enoch and Job, pleased God with their upright lifestyle. Hebrews 11:6 confirms that it was Enoch's strong Faith which led the Lord to rapture him out alive.

The verse said "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." There it is right there - if you wish to please God, if you wish to have a pleasing Journey through Life with our Creator - Faith is all it takes. 

To the unbeliever and those who follow pagan religions, this Truth is difficult to comprehend due to its simplicity.  This kind of pleasing Faith has a component which is not a general characteristic of the modern Christian: "diligently seeking the Lord". This implies active pursuit of the Truth and thus, the Favor of the Lord.

How do we do that? Is there a famous "seven point plan for that"? Is there a self help book by some famous author for that? Yes! A Famous Author told us - the Holy Spirit gave us the Scriptures to know God and therefore, love, trust and obey. With obedience, comes the "drawing near" or coming to God, as Hebrews 11:6 tells us. We come near through prayer, intercession, fasting and walking in His Marvelous Light. We come near through seeing His Hand in every single thing around us and then allowing Him to be Lord of your life, but submitting to His Will. 

My recommendation is to understand that He is the "rewarder" of all things, but to stay away from focusing too heavily on the rewards, and more on the relationship side of the ledger.  You and I cannot out-give God, but we can do our best to live out our lives for Him. 

THIS IS THE GRADUATION COMMENCEMENT SPEECH YOU WILL NEVER HEAR!

The Graduation Commencement Speech You Will Never Hear

KEYS TO A GODLY LIFE PART 10/12 - OBEY THE WORD

THE DAWN OF GLORY SERIES:

PLEASE READ THE PASSAGE, THEN - WATCH THE BRIEF EXPOSITION FROM THE PLUMBLINE VIDEO:

2 Peter 1:12-21

12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. 13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

THE DAY IRON FLOATED

 1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there." And he answered, "Go." 3 Then one of them said, "Be pleased to go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go." 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, "Alas, my master! It was borrowed." 6 Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, "Take it up." So he reached out his hand and took it. (2 Kings 6:1-7)

Elisha was quite the prophet and man of God. As the successor to the great Elijah, who was taken up to Heaven in Chariots of Fire, he appeared to do even more miracles than his master. The key was - he did it in the Power and Strength of the Lord.

Here we have the situation where the heavy piece of an ax made of iron (similar to the picture above) fell into the water and sank. But look at what Verse 6 says "THEN, the MAN OF GOD"....this is qualification. This is the day when iron floated to the top. This is the day when something impossible materialized.

In your life this morning...a life of which we are completely on borrowed time from the Keeper of Time - God the Father - do you have a sinking feeling of things just heading for the bottom? 

Do you have feeling of powerlessness as you watch it happen? 

Do you wish someone or "some thing" would just stir up the water enough so that you can at least - if not swim further down the road - that you would stay afloat?

Well all of this is possible, if the Spirit of God so indwells you that you can say "(where did it fall (verse 6)! If you are so walking in the Light of the Lord that He has top billing on your marquee, you too can cut off that stick, throw it into the water and make iron float! It is not going to be easy, but He really has given us that capacity! Yes, He did...and still does - if you and I seek His forgiveness, repent, turn away from our inner sinful self...and instead TURN TO HIM! If we accept, trust and recognize that He alone is Lord, we too can walk daily without that 'sinking feeling'. Listen to what the Scripture promises and says about us who are saved and being saved....and this is the thought to hang your hat on, in this day of Drought and Despair: 

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12 KJV)

"NOT THIS TIME....!"

 A wolf does not usually go after an entire flock of sheep...nor will any other beast of prey. They will try and key in on one particular potential victim, try to draw it away from the herd and then pounce.


It is this way with so many. In a world where we have so much noise, distraction, social networking and mobility, folks are more isolated than ever. We have so much more to do with our busy lives, yet hardly not a moment of peace! It is uncanny. It is almost as if there is a trap laid for us, at any moment, and many get caught up. 


You and I have been through this kind of thing, at one time or another. We would be in a crowd of people and still feel rejection; less than the others there and like that sheep who suddenly got lost in the thicket, while our heads were down on the ground, grazing on or living life.

Christians feel this way, as well as anyone else. I know people who go to larger churches, so they could get lost in the crowd and maybe no one will speak to them. The majority of American churches have 60 or less in attendance, and still there are folks isolated there, as well. 


So, we know this happens. The question is, what do we do about it - both for ourselves and others. We need to know how to combat this when the enemy lies to us and tells us that no one cares for or loves us.  Once we have mastered that, we then help someone else.  To start that process, I sought out Psalm 91:2 after much meditation last night. Here are two verses in context, below. They contain a 50 cal. gun against despair which we can fire right now, as I, briefly break it out in part:



2. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence. (Psalm 91:2-3 ESV)


Declare this right now, in Jesus Name, from verse 2:


"I will say to the LORD" -  Pray "Lord, I declare, call on you, say, claim, believe and boldly ask
"My refuge" - that You promised to be my Safe Place, my Secret Place, my Hiding Place
"My fortress" - You promised to protect me. You promised to be a shield around me. You promised to be strong tower. You promised to be the Place I go when I am weak. 
"In Whom I trust" - Therefore, Heavenly Father, I seek You, right now...not then, but I cry out now for that Promise to be made real in my life. I can't live another moment without knowing for sure that Your Mighty Arms are around me, holding me, caring for me, loving me and reassuring me that I am never alone.

Because I can approach and you and do this, God, in Jesus' Name, I know you will deliver me from being prey out there to all the wolves and lions that roam, with evil in their eyes, and honey on their lips, when their eyes are evil with intent to devour me! Thank you, Father, thank You, dear Lord, thank You, in Your Name I pray, dear Jesus, amen.


Friends, if you stay in this zone and pray and claim and declare His Righteousness and Promises, you will begin to come out of this and grow in love and fellowship with the Savior! Won't you? What have you to lose? We will talk more about this in the future. But let's start here!


Trust in Him NOW, He is always there for you NOW! Amen.

(image by google)

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 21

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 21

GOD IS WISE

The Bible says that God has chosen the foolish things of this world, to confound the “wise”.  The prophet Isaiah recorded the fall of the Lucifer, the most beautiful angel ever created and how he tried to elevate himself above the Creator. The full account can be read HERE. As a result, Man in his arrogance has assumed the position of knowing more than Almighty God Who created him!

This happened long before God created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1. Therefore, when Satan the serpent, approached Eve in Genesis 3 and tricked her into eating the Forbidden Fruit from the Tree, from which God has warned then to partake, there was already trouble in paradise. God had already sworn that He would destroy the wisdom of the wise and frustrate the intelligence of the intelligent (1 Corinthians 1: 18-19)!

What God has ordained, said and preached in Heaven, Jesus confirmed –  it will NEVER be broken. God is not a man and cannot lie. His Word is established in the Heavens. He has already said that “His Ways are not our ways”.

God is Wise. His Wisdom cannot be fathomed.  If we wish to be in on what He is doing, in these last days, there is a simple requirement – THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS BEGINNING OF WISDOM. We shall discuss more on the Fear of the Lord on a different day.

The Wisdom of God is far superior to all the riches and intelligence of man. All the Harvards, Princetons and MITs of this world could come close to an inkling of the Imagination and the Infinite Wisdom of the One True God. All the books; movies; theories; educators; politicians and scientists of this world have a fraction of true wisdom, compared to the amazing Mind Who created, for example, the Human Body or the life support system we have all around us.

We take it all for granted. We talk endlessly about our accomplishments. We boast about our "power". We even oppressed fellow citizens to hold on to that power. But the Lord has a Word for all of this, from His Psalm 2:

Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

“Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

“As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”  (Psalm 2:1-6 ESV)

He proves by His Eternal and Unbroken Word that He is watching, He is wise and He will judge. He will judge those who are not of the King, Jesus. But He also gives even evil rulers and subjects another chance at eternal Life, if we will just obey and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. From the same Psalm 2, God says: 

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son,

lest He be angry, and you perish in the way,

for His wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him....(Psalm 2:10-12 ESV)

Two things to notice about our Only Wise God:

1. He wants us to have the wisdom of Heaven.

2. He wants us...and all mankind...to be on the alert, that if we do not "Kiss the Son", fear and seek salvation from Him, the Wrath of God will be the result and all these geniuses and elites from Academia, Media and politics will be cast straight into hell!

Note, when God says "Kiss the Son" in Psalm 2:12 above, the actual Hebrew word "nashaq" means to "fasten" or "attach" oneself to the Son - the Lord Jesus!

Father in the Name of the Son, I thank You that You made the offer here in Psalm 2:12, in Your everlasting and eternal Wisdom and Grace, for all mankind to Kiss the Son. You made that offer when You sent the Lord Jesus to die on the Cross outside Jerusalem in 33 AD for all the sins of mankind, for all time.

Lord, in Your Infinite Wisdom, You looked down the road at our helpless estate, from the fall of Adam and Eve, felt pity on us and then provided the Way, in Truth, back to Life in You!

Father God, right now, I attach myself, I fasten myself to the Son, the Lord Jesus. Lord, nothing in this world I bring, only to Thy Cross I cling.  I love You and worship and praise and adore and magnify Your Name above all the earth.

You have taken the foolish things of this world to confound the "wise".
You see the entire forest and not the trees or the busy body things which perishing and lost souls chase after in their folly.

You see the beginning to the end, and observe the evil plots and designs of mortal men.

You scoff at them in Your True Wisdom.

Lord, I bow down before You. I seek to be like You. I seek to have as close to the Mind of Christ as I can as any mortal man can and live, because I wish to see with His Eyes. 

I wish to love with His Heart. 

I wish to act as He does. 

I can only do that, Father, if I completely committed and sold out to the Person and the Lordship of the Son, to Whom I belong.

Thank You, that in my sin and lost state, You looked down from Heaven and pulled me out of the quicksand and gave me Your Spirit, that I may discern and begin on the Road to the Authentic Wisdom of Heaven. I thank You and sing Glory to You forever more, in the Name of the Son and King of Heaven - the Lord Jesus Christ Who is coming to rule one day from Mt. Zion. Amen and amen.

TOMORROW:  GOD IS FAITHFUL