THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (3 OF 9)

We always seem to want to understand everything so when we find something we do not understand we push for an understanding and often times come up with an understanding, but it may be a misunderstanding. We do not need to know everything in prayer. We instead need to rest and we need to know God who gives understanding. Our understanding comes from God not from figuring things out. He gives understanding in His ways, works, and words. We need to be content to hold with a good and pure conscious the mystery of Godliness that we be willing to hold correctly a mystery something we do not know, and hold it in our heart and be content not to understand it and move further along into the heart of God. When we look at the big picture we really do not know much. We often think we know much maybe that is why we pray so much, but the Spirit knows and the Spirit who knows will help us who do not know. So it does not matter what you know, but matters who you know. We do not need to know anything, but if we know God we will know whatever God wants us to know. Us knowing only what God wants us to know is one of God's main objectives in our prayer. Proper communication brings us to the whom rather than to the what. And the whom (God) then can bring us to the what He wants in any given situation. Then we can harmonize with the will of God in our request, and when asking we then will flow in the will of God. How can we ask amiss if we know what God wants in any given situation? We never will we will just flow with what God is doing. And for us to flow in the will of God in prayer we MUST lay down our ways and our will to take on His ways and will, we MUST lay aside our thoughts and take on His thoughts. For us to lay aside our thoughts we must have our mind renewed by the Spirit. Paul tells us in Romans, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) How do we do this? Does God have a magic wand and bonk us on the head? No well then how do we renew our minds with all we see and hear in the world? By displacement. We willingly and deliberately replace those things of the world with the things of the Scriptures and the words that God speaks to us. We listen to Godly (hymns and such) music, we read and study the Bible, we talk with friends and family about wholesome and edifying things, we have Bible studies with friends and family, we assemble in an assembly or Fellowship with like Believers, we turn away from the things of the world and fill our head with the things of God. It is like when a big battleship slips into the water after a time in dry dock. As it slips in and sinks down to the water line all of the water from the keel to the water line is displaced out and now the steel of the battleship has replaced where the water once was. Paul tells us to do this or we will not be able to, "know what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God." How can we know these things God wants us to know? We cannot because our mind is filled with the things of this world? So, prayer puts us in touch with God, not what we think, but in reality, as we are willing to commune with Him it brings us closer and closer until our life is in touch with God's. Prayer is not theoretical or a mental assent, but in reality focused on touching God's heart. This communion then will move us away from the "gimmies" (what most of what we call prayer) and we are then able to speak to God on behalf of others. We can then even speak to God about those who are giving us a hard time. We are to be concerned about those who are not in touch with God, we are to talk to God about them. Unless God can get our attention here we will NEVER be able to speak on the behalf of others. If God cannot change our heart how can we speak for others? Knowing we are not here to get, to receive, but we are here on this earth to give. When the Lord gives to us He is giving it to us so that it (whatever He gives you) may flow out of us after He gives it to us. What He gives is not our goods, but His goods. In Matthew Jesus said, "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." (Matthew 25:15) We are to be the servant who receives from their master. What God puts in us starts a flow. We are then able to invest into the lives of others. And if we can invest in the lives of others then that will bring a return the LORD is seeking. God gives to us so that we might be able to give to others. So prayer brings us into all of these things (probably even more than our understanding is able to comprehend) and into the glory of God. The last and most important purpose of prayer is to bring us into the glory of God. Prayer brings us into an intensity and purity that leads us to His glory. And His glory leads us to adjustment and correction. Luke tell us, "And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering." (Luke 9:29) This is not the transfiguration (term not in the Bible), but the glory of God. And Moses after he came down from the mountain, "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:" (2 Corinthians 3:7) I wonder why we do not see this glory today? Maybe we do not really believe. In the Book of Acts Stephen, "And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." (Acts 6:15) There it is the glory of God. When was the last time you saw the glory of God? The intensity of God's glory will come on those who are willing to pay the price and willing to adjust and be corrected. God is after correction. There will be those shook loose and shaken out of the way, they will fall by the way side if they cannot be corrected and God will take those who can be corrected, His elect only. Believe it or not prayer is one way God brings adjustment and correction to our lives. Oh no, God's glory does not come by way of singing and dancing, hours of heartfelt worship, working inside (cleaning) and outside the church (cutting the glass and painting the building), but by an inward change. We need to hold this desire to commune with God. It is about knowing God and being conformed into His precious Son's (Jesus) image. We need to ask Him for this desire, this hunger will bring us into communion with Him which can bring a change (if we allow) in our lives. Where we are not concerned with what we will get, but to walk hand and hand with Him, to harmonize with His character and intentions, to walk the way He desires for us to go, and not to worry where He is leading us. Because He is leading us to one place and that is our Calvary to die. God lovingly takes us by the hand and gently leads us to our destiny our death on our cross (not Jesus' cross), but ours. Where our will can die so God's will can live. In Mark Jesus calls His followers and His disciples and says, "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:34-35) The order is come after Him, deny ourselves, and take up your cross so that we can follow Him or become like Him. Where are we going to follow Jesus to? Our cross which is the battle of wills, our will pitted against God's will, our cross. And if we can die on our cross (like Jesus) then we shall save our life. Saving our lives leads by way of the heart of Father. Written by David Stahl

THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FTAHER (2 OF 9)

Continued thoughts on "Prayer" from a teaching of mine. As we saw from teaching 1 of 9, prayer is communion -- direct communication with God anything else is not called prayer in the Bible. Jesus never got the disciples together each morning or at the synagogue and took prayer requests. Lately I have been rethinking what we are doing when we take prayer requests during a service because this was NOT the pattern and custom Jesus used in His life. I think a lot of requesting prayer for people during a service is time filler and tradition. Now if the person is in attendance by all means, let us do what James tells us to do. "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church (assembly or gathering); and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil (or in the Greek "praying in the presences of the LORD") in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:13-15) Since prayer must be birthed of the Spirit one thing we are doing now is when the request is mentioned and if the Spirit moves on your heart in some way then that is the one request God wants to spend your time in prayer with the LORD about. Then it can be something spiritual and not a time of shotgun beseeching on behalf of others. Jesus would always get away to pray. For example in Matthew we read, "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone." (Matthew 14:22-23) Again real prayer is to get alone with God, to get into our closet (Matthew 6:6) and "shut the door" or close the world out and pray to our Father in secret. Not sure how much secrecy we have if we have a gaggle of friends helping us pray. But through Jesus' death and resurrection He provided many things. One thing He provided was a ribbon veil (His flesh) through which we can enter into the heart of God. So Jesus made a way into the heart of God like never was made before. Never before was there such a closeness and unity with the Father, Jesus' death made this closeness possible. If there is a breakdown in communication there is loss. The loss happens out from the disconnection. What ever relationship we are involved there must be communication and the more that is hindered the greater the loss. We must be careful not to get involved with or tied to things like family, working, and even work unto the LORD where we project ourselves toward them to such a degree that we are consumed by them taking up our time and effort to where we have no time to communicate with God. Knowing God must be the primary focus in our lives not our living. When communication between us and God is cut we start to cultivate desires for the thing that has broken off our communication. We ourselves cultivate our own desire for the things of the world. The more we eat of the world the more we develop a liking for them. We cultivate a hunger for the things of world by doing it. And it overcomes us and God's purposes are then lost. The more we get into our mind during the day the more your mind will run on. The less of this life we get in us, the more of God we will have in us. We are filled with either the things of this world or of the things of God. It is our choice. Paul tells us we are to have the mind of Christ. In Philippians we read, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:4-5) This then will prevent us from things like worrying and fretting. These are not good for our communication between us and God. God will take care of us. You know we really must come to a place in God were we truly believe God will take care of us. Most Christians are hedging their bets; one foot in the world and the other in God playing the odds to see which one is doing better for them at any given time. We then can allow the Spirit to communicate Spirit to us. We cannot really pray without the Spirit of God in us and we will never have the Spirit of God residing in us if the spirits of the world are alive and well in us. Can good and evil come from the same fountain? Prayer is of the Spirit. Just open your heart to the Spirit and the Spirit will communicate from God to you, through me. But, first you must open your heart to the Spirit what God is saying to you. I know this message will be taught in darkness to some and maybe in five or ten years the Spirit will turn on the light to get to you the understanding. Things are not what we think they are. Prayer is not made by God so we can get something from Him. People like to pray if they think they can get something from God. Well if not for getting then why did God invent prayer? Here are some PURPOSES OF PRAYER: 1. The main purpose of prayer is to know God, His ways, and His works. Now we must always remember we are the ignorant one in prayer. We do not know God does, He knows everything! So we are not communicating anything to God He does not already know. To know His words, not only the words in the Bible, but the words in His heart. To know His whys without asking why. Prayer moves us into knowing His whys without asking. 2. To know His wisdom. As we look at His wisdom on first glance it is foolishness, but to God it is wisdom, but God's ways are wisdom. But to man they are foolishness, Now when we know His ways and wisdom we will be in trouble from our fellow believers. Ant time we move in God's wisdom and will for our lives expect troubles from our family and friends, especially our Christian friends and family. Jesus taught us tribulations (or troubles, afflictions) are coming our way (John 16:33). We often think these troubles, afflictions, and persecutions are coming from sinners and heathens, but most of the time they are coming from people we know and love. No one can hurt or discourage you faster than a family member or a brother or sister in the LORD. I am speaking here out of years of experience. Even Peter and Paul sadly knew this truth. Please do not think their relationship was all flowers and puppies, oh no they were constantly at odds over Paul's revelation of grace. when they would get together often they would have strong words for each other. In Galatians we read, "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." (Galatians 2:11) In other words Brother Paul got up in Brother Peter's face and dressed him down. I can almost see them (maybe they did) spitting they were so angry with each other, but in the end they decided Peter and the other 11 disciples would go to the Jewish people with a mixture of the law and grace and Paul would go to the Gentiles with the message of grace. This is how Paul could teach, "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:10-12) So do we have a desire to "live godly?" If so, like Paul persecution and afflictions (I like Paul do not like it) are coming our way. We are not to be like everybody else, but to move into the heart of God close to Him to know Him. For this to happen we must face troubles, afflictions, persecutions, even temptations. If we can watch and pray we will know the way God takes, unlike the disciples who did not know the way God was taking. Do not get yourself in trouble by going the wrong way. How do we stay on track? Watch and pray that we do not go down the wrong track. So communication puts us into knowing God's ways. Now reading the Bible is good and helps to move us in the right direction, but without knowing God even the Bible will be confusing and meaningless in many places and if we do not know God's wisdom and ways we will not understand how things fit and misunderstand them. So our purpose on earth is to know God and prayer is one of God's main means to know God through. We must be able to allow God to show us the big picture and how and where we fit in, prayer, communication, communion is the way to the heart of the Father.

WTFMT 66 (FROM HGM ON 9 JUL 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-66 TEXT: "And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink." (Numbers 20:4-5)

I. BELIEF IS CORRECT

 

A. After many times of being hungry and thirsty. Two years go by after leaving Egypt, almost to the day. Now they are in the Wilderness of Zin under the same situation which they had experience upon a number of other occasions.

B. In spite of the demonstration of God's provisions upon those other occasions, these people still move in unbelief. It must take a great effort of stubbornness to move against such demonstration of God. God's faithfulness is seen, yet there is unbelief.

C. They just expressed a desire for death in verse three. "And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!" (Numbers 20:3) The problem with their death wish is that they always wanted to die in another place in another time, rather than in the here and now. But eventually they wanted to keep the murmuring flesh alive as long as possible.

D. Is today's Christian much better than the murmuring and complaining Israel in the Wilderness of Zin? Has God also called the Christian to a death to the flesh? Does not the Christian come into situations where his comfortable flesh has been agitated? Does your flesh ever get agitated? If it does, it is very much alive.

E. What are we going to do when we make the discovery (hopefully) that our flesh is very much alive. We must come to rededication and reconsecration. We must come to Him for renewal or further cleansing and separation.

F. When we discover our flesh is still alive, do not continue to feed it. Do not continue to give the same wrong answer to God. Change the song. Do not sing the tune of flesh's desires and life. Rather, sing of flesh's death, on the altar of God upon which the flesh is consumed.

G. Bring the flesh to the altar of dedication and consecration. Offer it. Allow God to consume it. In that way our answer can be correct. We can pass the test. We can graduate and go on to possess that which God has for us.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. Has our Miriam died? Is she still buried? Or is she up and moving around. The Wilderness of Zin is the last place where we have opportunity to deal with her. Better stay there until we get our Miriam dead and buried.

B. If need be, go back to the altar of consecration again and again and again, as often as we must. There are some folks who must "get saved" every week or so. They seem to live a life of repeated dedications and consecration. If that's what it takes to keep us going then follow that route.

C. It's better to do that for two years than to be turned back wandering for forty years, and final death without victory. Only if our Miriam is dead can we move out of the Wilderness of Zin into conquest and possession. The only other alternative is to die in the wilderness.

THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (1 OF 9)

Here are some thoughts on prayer taken from a teaching of mine. There is a lot of praying going on today, but not much is being done in the Spirit. I think what we call prayer is much less than what God expects of us. God expects we get into the Spirit and touch lives and hearts, ours included. Unless we are in the Spirit, unless our words have been birthed by the Spirit we are not praying we are speaking into the wind. Most of what we call ''prayer" is done in the natural and never reaches the Spiritual realm. Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, even Catholics, and other mainstream Christian religions pray they even have their little prayer beads and pray to their gods, saints, and prophets, but that is not prayer. Did you know the word "prayer" is not in the Gospel or Epistles of John, but "prayer" is tied into John's life more then the other disciples. It seemed there was a greater quality of love in John's life. One can not really be involved in prayer if there is no love in their life. Prayer should be natural like breathing. We do not have to think or stop doing something to breathe. Prayer should be built in us. Prayer is always communion with God. Prayer is always to God if not then you are not praying. Now you do not have to pray you really don't, but if you do not pray you will not get very far in God. If you have a hunger in you, a desire "to draw nigh (near) to God" then God will meet you in that place and prayer will be the avenue God uses to touch your life. You know it should not be a duty to pray, but a joy. We at first "get with it" with duty prayer (pray over our food or before we close our eyes in sleep), but in time God will lead us out and into a deeper more effectual time with Him in a prayer life where we stop our living so we can spend time with God. But still there is a deeper level God desires to take us to and that is our life becomes a prayer. Where prayer automatically comes out of us like breathing out from our communion with God. He will lead us from duty prayer, to a prayer life (both more mechanical), and by His Spirit to where our life becomes a prayer. What we call prayer today would be typical of a religious duty or activity in the New Testament. Prayer is not a duty or religious activity, prayer is of the heart. Again prayer is communion with God. Our life is to be a constant prayer (communion with) to God. In Isaiah 58:1-14, (read) we have an example of religious prayer. Here is the commentary:

1. v1 - Is house of Jacob sins.

2. v2 - Looks and sounds good, but religion looks and sounds good. Religion has an outward appearance.

3. v3 - Bending God's arm. If we can not have faith and believe in God we force Him. God, I will pray and fast, you better give me what I want.

4. v4 - Does not match up with v2

5. v5 - God said is this really what I want??

6. v6,7 - God said, I do not want religion, I want "righteous living." God is not religious. Real prayer leads us into righteous living where we just live right and not know it.

7. v8 - Righteous living leads us to the glory of God. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) God is after heart purity! Prayer (communion with God, not asking for healing or material things) is what leads us in "His Way" to heart purity.

8. v9 - We then BECOME like God. After all we were created in His image. We need to BECOME like the Father, just like Jesus did. Now prayer is not talking to God. Talking to God is talking to God and prayer is prayer. I have found my best prayers have no words. Often at times the best we can do in prayer is groan. I think God is listening for more groans than He is for words. We must remember Jesus gets everything from the Father. He does not do or say anything of Himself, only those things that He sees the Father doing and what His Father would be saying. Prayer is something alone, between you and God. The direction of prayer is ALWAYS to the Father If not to the Father you are not praying. In Matthew 6:9-15 Jesus was teaching the disciples something about prayer and somehow it has become, "The LORD's Prayer and is recited religiously in vain. When Jesus said this it was the first time spoken to God (usually said was "Avie" "my Father or around through"), "Abba Father" which means "direct address to the Father." This is the number one way "prayer" is translated in the Scriptures. Around Christmas time many folks sing a song "Avie Maria" or "Around through to Maria" instead of to the Father. Now Jesus was not teaching the disciples to say "Abba Father," but is teaching them to pray directly to the Father. Here are other critical divine spiritual principles Jesus was teaching the disciples: The proper attitude in Prayer is "Hallowed be thy name." God's name is to be "hallow" a most holy thing, purity, not hollow or usable. God does not operate by formula and rules, but by divine spiritual principles. "In the Name of Jesus" is not a formula for God to operate, we must be careful. God seeks worshipers not by rules, but in spirit and truth. We need to allow God to be God, then God can gather us into Himself as oneness with Him. 1 + 0 = 1 (we together) not 1 + 1 = 2. So we can have His desires in us. So we know what the way He takes is and we can then take the way He is taking. So we may walk in step in harmony with Him. Many Christian do not want to get in Him. They will have to lose themselves. Not too many draw nigh (near) to God, because He is a consuming fire. No one wants to be consumed. We would rather be on fire for the LORD, well the only way we can be on fire for the LORD is to fall into the ground and die, but no we would really rather give God things we do not mind see get consumed and save our self. Save our self? Oh no God wants to kills our flesh! Our proper motivation, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (verse 10) But if we do not draw nigh then He can not bring that oneness, He has no opportunity. How can God be God if we always want Him to dance to our tune, to do what we want Him to do. We say, I have given up all for you Lord. I want a return on my investment. Next verse, "Give us this day our daily bread." (verse 11). In the Greek, "Give us the bread today we need." Now I like that because we do not know what our need is. We think we do, but in reality we need to take on His desires and His need for our lives. Prayer is the way into harmony with God in meeting needs not ours, but also others. No where in the Bible does it say Jesus prayed for the sick, it says He healed the sick. The last thing I need when I cannot touch God's heart for myself is to have someone pray for me. Oh no I need someone who knows God and can touch His heart on my behalf. What does God want? What do we want?? We are to know what God wants so we can harmonize in meetings needs with God. Prayer helps us see what the Father is saying and doing. Healing the sick then is so easy and not a struggle. The character of Prayer, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (verse 12) God's intention in prayer is to bring us together with Him in a oneness and unity. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:" (Verse 13) He does not intend to lead us into temptation, but He intends to deliver us from evil. This happens as we come together in communion (prayer). You know our temple is to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves to steal from God and whatever we can from God. Put $10 in the offering to get $100 back. This is giving to get. We give so others may receive not so we can be blessed. This is selfish and greedy We come together in a service so that we can be a blessing and not to receive a blessing. Oh no, we are to become the very expression of God. All I want is Him. And to be caught up in His glory to be this expression through prayer, communion with Him. Prayer is the pathway to being the expressed image of the Father. Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 65 (FROM HGM ON 11 JUN 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-65 TEXT: "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39)

 

I. EITHER DIE OR DIE

 

A. All Israel should have joined Miriam in death, death to self and the flesh. Paul died daily. We are brought into the wilderness to die to self, especially in the Wilderness of Zin, the Lord brings us to a place where there is no more crying for water.

B. The Israelites were very concerned about their fleshly needs. They did not want physical death. Thus they never were able to die to the flesh needs. When God brought them into the Wilderness Zin, He brought them to the opportunity to die and love. This was to be their place of renewal where their finality of death to the flesh and unbelief was expected. Unbelief is very fleshly. Yet they continued to move in that. "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:19)

C. The Wilderness of Zin has been designed for perhaps the greatest victories of life. But the place which has been designed for victory can actually become the place of defeat and death. This is so sad because that which God has designed for life and victory often becomes the very thing in which death and defeat occur.

  D. Man has this dubiously wonderful talent of turning life into death. Look at man in the Garden of Eden. Look at the children of Israel. "And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron." (Numbers 20:2) They lost no time turning life into death. It doesn't sound like dedication or consecration to the Lord. Sounds like rebellion and complaint. Sounds like death.

E. The Wilderness of Zin becomes a place for a refresher course. This is not the first time these people were without water. Previously they failed the test in the waterless places. Now they have another chance. Have they learned anything for their previous experiences?

F. The test is given again to find out. It is the same test they already had, word for word, question for question. Can they pass it this time. The conquest of the land depends upon their passing this repeated examination? How can God graduate anyone if they do not pass the final exam? God is not going to excuse us from testings. After three failures He is not going to say, "That's okay, we'll forget it" and move us on anyway. But He will keep bringing us back to the same test as long as there is opportunity for Him to do so.

G. They answered the questions exactly the same way they did the first time they took the test. This is after God provides them with the right answers before at the bitter water. In reality they were bitter not the water.

H. "And the people chode [strove] with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before [when the earth swallowed the rebels, 14,700 died, Numbers 16:41-49] the LORD!" (Numbers 20:3)

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. Test after test and time after time God will bring us back to the place where He have an opportunity to work life and victory into us. It is not a question of His ability or power, but a question of whether or not we are willing to submit to His will. Whether or not we are willing to endure the time of testing to receive the reward. "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

WTFMT 64 (HGM ON 14 MAY 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-64 TEXT: "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." (Mark 10:21)

 

I. FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

 

A. Because the Wilderness of Zin is a critical point it can be a turning point for better or worse. Thus it can be a point of a new beginning. This is a place from which God calls the children of Israel to go up and to possess the land.

B. But the choice of these people is going to determine whether they have a new beginning and a better life or deal-end course and a worse life. And so the choice itself becomes critical

C. Jesus says to the rich young ruler, "sell all that you have and fellow me." The rich young ruler is forced to make a decision. Will he or won't he follow? One way or the other he will make a decision which will set his course for life, and then some. Just that one decision will carry unimaginable implications. "Come," Rich Young Ruler, "take Judas' throne."

D. Judas, called by Jesus to be one of the twelve chosen disciples, desired money, and so made material gain his objective in life. He made the greatest decision of his life, which cost him his life and his possibility his eternal position. E. Was it the riches, the money that caused them to turn away of the Lord? Or was it the love of earthly riches instead of the heavenly riches? "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (I Timothy 6:10)

F. What was it that the Lord was during in them to force them into making a choice? Was it the Lord not wanting to have money? No. Did the Lord hate Judas and the Rich Young Ruler? Of course not. It was their choice not to serve Lord. Jesus gave them both the same invitation, "follow me." They both made the wrong choice.

G. Saul of Tarus, on the road to Damascus, met this same person who crossed the lives of the Rich Young Ruler and Judas. "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." (Acts 9:6) That choice resulted in monumental implications not only in the life of Saul himself (later to known as the great apostle Paul), but in the whole Church of Christ. That was just one decision.

H. God doesn't say to us, "Now watch out, this is your critical." How often is the right decision missed? We are to be ready at all times to give the Lord the answer, the response, the decision which He seeks. ALWAYS give God what He wants. That way we will not have to be concerned about when the critical may occur.

I. Our safety in this matter is to lay aside our own will and do the will of our heavenly Father. Ananias and Sapphira made their most critical decision when they decided to lie to the Holy Spirit and to God. (Acts 5:1-10)

J. The Wilderness of Zin, and especially the specific place of the encampment of the children of Israel, Kadesh, are very critical. "Kadesh" means "to consecrate," "to cleanse," "holy." These meanings play an important role in our choices. A life which is consecrated to God, a heart which is daily cleansed from sin, a walk of holiness, and pureness before God, the desire to obey God at all costs, become the element in our lives which will take us in God's direction and to His conclusions.

K. It was in Kadesh that Moses smote the rock instead of speaking to it. (Numbers 20:9-13) Kadesh, this place of holiness, was to be for Israel the place of final separation from the flesh.

L. The finality of it is seen in "and Miriam died there, and was buried there." Who is Miriam? She is the one who carried leprosy with her through the Red Sea. That is, she carried her faultfinding and murmuring within herself only to be manifested later. There is to be death to all this; sin shall not rule. Sin and flesh are not to have the victory. Paul tells us in Romans 6:14, "sin shall not have dominion over us."

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. A life in God must be maintained through daily rededication. God brought Moses and the people to a place of rededication, or renewed separation and concretion and cleansing. This was done at Kadesh.

B. On the basis of this renewal they would go up to possess the Promised Land. If they failed in the time of renewal they would fail in their choice and they would fail in their forward spiritual progression, and they would fail to go up and possess the land, failing to inherit that which God called them to inherit.

C. If there is to be any degree of success in God, there must be a constant renewing of our separation and consecration, our separation from the flesh and our consecration unto God. Just as the mercies of God are new every morning, so must our spirit, strength, inner man and mind be constantly renewed. (See II Chronicles 15:8; Psalm 51:10; Isaiah 40:31; Romans 12:2; II Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 4:23)

IDOL WORSHIP

As I was watching the historic and very beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral burn the LORD brought back to my memory the words of my sweetheart and wife (Karen) ":nothing that man makes will last forever." I thought ,yes, "For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb." (Psalms 37:2) then my mind advanced in the Psalms to, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." (Psalms 103:13-16) We like the over 800+ year old Notre Dame Cathedral will wither and blow away some day. God knows our frame (He made us) that we are dust and our days just like the Notre Dame Cathedral "as a flower of the field" and "the wind passeth over it and it is gone." Yet they said they will rebuild. Same words spoken after the twin towers were fallen. The whole picture as it played out on our TV just smelled like something is not right. Why did it take over 2 1/2 hours to put water on the cathedral? The newscaster kept saying, "where is the fire department?" Why did not the sprinkler system work? Why was there not a fire plan in place? And why was not the cathedral insured? Well, it is quite clear now that the donation to rebuild (as of the date of this article) is now over 900 million dollars. Far greater than the 300 million Euros needed to refurbish the cathedral that the French people would not or could not provide, so the Catholic Church reached out to the world hoping for support for which they were not getting as reported by the French press. Something just does not smell right here, yet for us it is a vivid reminder of just how frail and wonderfully we are made, but in the end we all will, "as the grass wither away." Oh how the people mourned as the Notre Dame Cathedral burned! Their idol full of icons and statues was in great peril of being lost to humanity. They believe the actual crown of thorns (housed at the cathedral) Jesus wore on the cross, a piece or an actual nail (not really sure which) that fastened Jesus to the cross, and centuries of paintings, and religious artifacts were in jeopardy of being lost to humanity, oh how the people cried and prayed. How could the people in Paris and around the world believe this was the authentic crown of thorns Jesus wore without inspecting it for themselves? How can they believe in something without knowing for a shadow of doubt this is the real deal. To worship something based on another person's word is pure and simple idolatry. Yet billions of people around the world worship bits of metal, flakes of paper, and statues from history and feel they have touched the heart of God. Well my friend it CANNOT happen. True worship to God comes not by ritual or tradition, but from a heartfelt desire (that God builds in us) to know God in a deep spiritual way. The Psalmist writes, "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me." (Psalms 42:7) God has built in us all a desire to know Him in a way that transcends wise tales and generosity, that transcends form and function, and that transcend ritual and traditions. These are what most of the world worships to come to know God. They worship wise tales, generosity, form and functions of God, through rituals and traditions of men. Paul told Timothy and us, "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." (1 Timothy 1:3-4) Even in the days of Paul and all throughout the Old Testament idol worship and endless rituals and traditions was used by the masses to try to come to a place to where they can come to a "Godly" edification, but statues of clay, sounding brass, and tinkling symbols never reach the heights of God's heart where true worship is found. The pageantry and spectacle of ceremony and ritualism only adds to man's vain attempt to come to God in any meaningful way. Walking the aisle holding books and icons does nothing to draw God to man, but man coming with a broken and contrite spirit before God, well all heavens moves (and is open) for the man or woman who lowers and humbles themselves before God. Robes and rituals never replaces humility and honor before God. You know our faith and believing has nothing to do with how we make our presentation before God. I remember in the 60s and 70s Christians (maybe some Believers) who would lay prostrate on the ground before the altar thinking God would see them lowering themselves to see just how holy they were acting and He (God) would accept their worship based on their position or custom, but not so in God. God looks at the heart not at what we do, wear, or repeat in some chant or ritual service. God does not want us to crawl on our hands and knees on broken glass or rose pedals, oh no my friend God looks at our heart. The Psalms says, "Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart." (Psalms 44:21) God knows our heart, even the secrets things we think we keep secret from our friends and family. He does not care about the idols and icons we wear around our neck or put on the dash board of our car. So many people (not sure I can call them all Christians) wear a cross some with Jesus still on the cross and some without Jesus on the cross, well both are pure idolatry. The piece of hardware becomes the focus as a symbol of worship and then the true worship to God from the heart by the Holy Spirit is lost in all of the hocus pocus mumble jumble. Also in the Psalms King David said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' (Psalms 139:23-24) This searching goes far beyond our heart even to our thoughts to know our wicked ways. Then "lead me in the way everlasting." If we do not allow God to search our heart and know our thoughts then He will never be able to lead us in the way everlasting. Idol worship NEVER allows God to search our heart and know our thoughts; no matter how long we attend a certain church, give money to the poor (and the church) or sing in the choir. Did you know it takes greater faith to believe a lie than it takes to believe the truth? This is why we see the great effort it takes to be religious. We must keep all the 613+ laws, the sacraments, the sayings of a prophet perfectly or God will smite us. Oh no my friend we are saved by grace through faith. Not a faith in an idol, but faith in the work that Jesus alone did on the cross. Jesus needs no help from His mother, Apostles, or any so called Saint. Our salvation was completed in Him and Him alone. We need no help to get to God we can go direct to the Father if we are in Christ Jesus. Did you know for a lie to be believed there must be an element of truth moving in it? This is a spiritual principle that has been hijacked by religion and by all those who promulgate their lies and deception. The use of some truth grabs our heart, but we have to swallow the lie to feel like we have done something for God. This time of the year (around what many people call Easter which only means passover see Acts 12:4) billions of people are over into idol worship. Some even flog themselves as Jesus was flogged. And they wonder why their God seems distant. They wonder why their lives are unfulfilled and they have no joy or contentment, well they are worshipping dumb idols made by the hands of man. I see this in the mainstream denominations (especially in America) and religions of the world. They go through the religious holidays each year thinking maybe this year I will feel God and be fulfilled, but sadly their dumb idols just sit silently as they bow down going through the rituals. For God's sake stop all of the idol worship. Insanity is doing the same thing every time expecting to get a different result. I am amazed to talk with people who worship idols and I ask them what do you feel and many or most say nothing. They go to their churches, synagogues, mosques, and other houses of prayer habitually and faithfully to pray and worship their idol or statue that is dead and dumb. Oh yes they will rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral and oh the money they well raise to worship idols. Written by David Stahl