Nicodemus answered and said unto him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things? If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I told you of heavenly things?" (John 3:9, 10, 12) Oh yes Jesus! Not like any other man; heavenly originated, earthly manifested, divinely orchestrated, eternally purposed and certainly life-changing. "If I have told you earthly things." Jesus was enlightening all of us to the fact that there are heavenly things and earthly things. These earthly things may not be the ones you or I might think them to be. Jesus was reinforcing with Nicodemus that element of being born again. This is God's operation in the natural or earthly realm to reveal himself; not only as the creator, but a Father. This as the result of the precarious death that Jesus would offer on the cross. This would Usher into our soul the existence of a resurrected life; to be lived in this our natural earthly body. Nicodemus's question was on these lines, "How can these things be?" Perhaps there are some asking similar questions today concerning other teachings Jesus instructed; such as: greater works will ye do, all things are possible, as I was in the world so shall ye be in the world, I ascend to my Father and your father; to my God and your God, ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you and so on. These are only some of the earthly things between you and your creator. So, what about heavenly things? How well does the architect of our soul know us! Praise the Lord!
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The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me besides the still waters. (Psalm 23:1 & 2) Yesterday is behind us, tomorrow lies ahead and we can only live for today. Paul wrote to us a most comforting note concerning anxiety, mental pressure and frustration. God's advice is this, "Brethren' I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians: 3:13 & 14) Jesus himself advised us that each day has enough evil in it for itself. We need not to be anxious for anything, nor spend our time looking at the mistakes or victories of yesterday or worrying about our tomorrows. Our Lord said, "It is impossible that offenses must come." The Bible also instructs us to pray on these lines: Give us this day our daily bread and forgive. It is impossible for us not to have natural plans; however, God will make the final decision on what will come to pass each day. Because we are his, what ever he decides, we know that our loving heavenly Father gives us the best. When we see our God face-to-face, then we will know how much he has loved us. Beloved, there is a time and a season for all things. Hold fast to the word of God, love the Lord your God with all your heart and love the brethren. Give thanks and praise for all things and live one day at a time. The rest will do you a world of good. Praise the Lord! But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. ( 1Samuel 16:7 ) According to our Lord, there are two types of hearts that a person may possess. The first one, which we are all born with, is described in Jeremiah chapter 17 verse 9; " the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" What descriptive words Father God uses here: desperately wicked, deceitful above all things and who can know it? I'm reminded of the blind leading the blind. Self-righteousness and self-willed our sisters. Ever speaking, justified in their own course, yet unreasonable toward each and every event. What mysteries and surprises are hidden in the heart of the unconverted. On the other hand we have a heart that is full of light, life, confidence, song and justifiable wisdom. " And shall believe in thy heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead". ( Romans 10:9 ). This type of heart is one that we are born again into. It can never be produced from our cunning and deceitful heart; but only by the spirit of God. Did you ever wonder what others would see if they could look into your heart right now? Just think, the Lord is seeing it all the time. Praise the Lord! Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? (Isaiah 40:12) How great is our God and how great is his name. Here we have a most marvelous Scripture. Pastor A J Rowden, of the Evangelistic Center Church in Kansas City, Missouri, embraced this Scripture as one of his favorite. As he would quote it, you could see his face change, right before your eyes; as if he were seeing all this taking place. Recently, the news media reported that in the field of astronomy, were found galaxies or solar systems billions of light years away. Here we have in the above Scripture this fact, that Father God meted out the heavens with a span. To meter is to measure out and a span is the spread of fingers. Can you imagine that? See for yourself and spread your fingers out. That's how Almighty God measured out the heavens. I also heard on another news media that if a person breathes deeply, meditates and keeps themselves calm; they should expect a healthier longer life. Jesus said that he will give to anyone who accepts him as Lord and Savior, a peace that the world cannot give. (John 16:33),(John 14:27). As we read the Bible, our mind, body and soul are comforted. (Romans 15:4). Once again we can see that our loving merciful Heavenly Father, who measured the heavens with a span, has not left us marooned on earth to figure out things for ourselves. He gave us the Bible, that will outlive not only this earth we live on, but the heavens ,He created also. How do I know this? It can be found in the Bible. Praise the Lord! And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4) What a most marvelous Scripture we have here. What insight into our eternal future. It seems to embrace all the heaviness of this life and to reveal, in part, the bliss, the paradise, the riches of eternal life. But how can this help us in our present life? I see here the nature of our God and Father. It's brilliance shining in every word. He is compassionate; touch with our infirmities. Father God knows every tear you and I have shed. Every sorrow we have endured. Every painful happening that occurred in our whole life. Like no one else, even deeper than our own thoughts; God is there! So when we make prayers, our heart will be lifted; knowing to whom we are speaking. Through your present tears, sorrows and pains; there is a hand that is not shortened. It's no wonder Jesus advised us to, "pray always!' Praise the Lord! As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15) Throughout the word of God, we seem to find treasures and gems of pure light that are sprinkled with the breath taking beauty of enlightenment. I can still remember the first time reading these words, "with thy likeness." The body will catch up with the spirit of God that dwells within. Or is it more than that? When Jesus rose from the dead, he demonstrated a new fleshly body. In Luke 24:39, the Lord declared, "a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Jesus, in his resurrected body, entered the upper room although it was completely locked. He was able to sit down and eat a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb. Just previous to this event, Jesus was having dinner with two other disciples and vanish right before their eyes; possessing this new body, having flesh and bones. He died on the cross three days earlier; His lifeless body laid in a tomb. Here in Psalm 17, Father God comforts us with these compelling words; "you too shall awake, rise from the dead, with his likeness." Worth the wait? Righteousness is the key. Praise the Lord! For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians 3:11-13) Many believers would like to know what kind of crown they will have when they get to glory. The Lord will take everything that could not be burned by fire and make your personal crown. Everyone is forming his own crown. We need to be careful and not be all wood, hay or stubble. We have all experienced that these will be consumed with fire. There must be something left for the crown. Our fiery trials are certainly producing the materials needed to forge a most glorious and magnificent crown. There is a crown of glory that does not fade away. (1 Peter 5:4) Be sure that yours fits perfectly! Praise the Lord! For mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7 & Mark 11:17) As some of the brethren continue to go out into the neighborhoods, highways and public places inviting others to partake in this, "our house of prayer," my thoughts are escalated into heaven. How pleased Father God must be to see the love of Jesus being emulated through his true Saints. His loving voice to all who are, "in need of prayer." God himself chose prayer to communicate our needs, desires and passions to his ever listening ear. Will there be obstacles? Will there be divine presence? Will hearts throb with excitement and joy to see what the Lord will do? Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:8 & 9). Praise the Lord!
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and tender of mercy. (James 5:11) Some years ago, a brother in the Lord was sent to my door to be an encouragement and support. Although he was motivated by the spirit of God, he reasoned the outcome of his mission. If he admitted that my plight was God's will, then it would have a vast effect on his life. But if he challenged, with success, what Almighty God was doing; then his life could remain exactly as it was, seemingly with God's blessing. So as it was with Job's accusers, I also felt the sharpness of his tongue cutting deep wounds into my spirit. His condemning words, "God doesn't expect us to leave everything known and dear to us and move halfway across the country. This can never be God!" These words added a heavier weight of loneliness and grief to my already overwhelming situation. It seems that when we reach out to God and start to get closer to our creator, having given so much, that someone will come along to help us according to their perspective of life's values. Beloved, don't let this overwhelm you. Put on the garment of patients, get into the vehicle of love, faith and praise. God will strengthen and comfort. And the Lord said to Job's accusers, "ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath." (Job 42:7). "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10). It's the way of God. Praise the Lord! Two things have I required of thee: deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. (Proverbs 30:7 – 9) Once again, we find that our souls are stirred by the wisdom and spirit of God's word. Basic life seems to be the ingredients or props needed to express man's fallibility. Can you imagine that? Asking Almighty God to limit one's riches. We can understand not to be desirous of poverty, but riches! Then there is that tug of vanity, motivated by our natural surroundings. Someone once gave me this advice; "We all have a little larceny in us, otherwise life would not be worth living." He went on to say, you can't tell me that you don't want…….. naming several vices. Then there are those lies that seem to want to take up lodging in our tongues, to the extent that one may feel not only are lies unavoidable, but a necessary strength to conduct life. What is the antidote? The author of these Proverbs strongly suggests that we talk it over with him. Praise the Lord! |
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January 2019
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