WHEN THE CLOUD MOVES

Often there will be times in our walk with the LORD when we do not understand what is moving or why things are moving in a certain direction. Now I will be honest at these times I kind of like serving a God I cannot figure out, but on the other hand the uncertainty of not knowing can be a frustrating (sometimes to some debilitating) emotion in their life. At both times we must push beyond our feelings, our plans, our ambitions, and try to see what God is doing in this situation. Recently I have been making plans for a trip to Nepal to minister to the Nepalese people who are already under the gun, no pun intended. The government is tightening the screws on the Christians and making it very difficult for foreigners to come and share this wondrous Gospel message. If caught converting a Nepalese one could get 18 months in prison which is really a death sentence, Nepalese prisons are notorious for beatings, suicides, and murders. If a foreigner is caught evangelizing they will be arrested and deported within seven days. This holds true for India (much worse) and other parts of South Asia. At the time of this writing we are still planning to go, but God may have another idea. I know the Christian witness of the LORD by the Nepalese people and especially through the radio station Good News FM 105.1 (just upgraded to 500 from 100 watts) is of a far greater value to the LORD than us coming and being a bull in a china shop. Here we must push beyond our feelings and plans to see what God is doing here. Now we could go. We have the money (savings), we have the contact, we have plans in place, but what is God doing? What is God saying? You know it is easy to operate and flow with God when everything works out, but when things do not work out as we have planned and we still feel the LORD is moving then what? After all God wants us to shake the nations for His glory, right? No God wants to shake our heart with His love. We are to go and make disciples of all nations, right? Well no, we are to become a disciple of Christ first and then when He wants things to happen He will make them happen not us. One of the wilderness truths I so enjoy is the cloud that abided over the Children of Israel in the day providing shade and at night a pillar of fire providing warmth. In Exodus we read about the cloud, "And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." (Exodus 13:20-22) Wow God expects night travel! I really like verse 20 they camped at the edge of the wilderness. It almost sounds like God had (He did) to push them into the wilderness. So who is at the edge of the wilderness? God and He will push us in so He can get our attention, so He can train us, so we can learn the lessons He has for us that will enable us to be successful when we come up out of the wilderness. The wilderness is a place we never build a home in only an expedient shelter. If we never go into the wilderness (God's making places) we will never grow up and just stay babes, we will never learn the lessons that will help us move and flow with Him. We will be unschooled, untaught, uneducated to God's ways God does not hold classes in well watered, fruited lands. Oh no my friend God holds school in dry, austere, troubled situations, and circumstance. Problems where we think we will die, but with God's instruction we learn our way through. But what happens when the cloud moves? One thing for sure if in the wilderness you better move with it. The Children of Israel moved, but usually under great protest. It is not about the moving of the cloud, but about our heart condition to the moving of the cloud. If we do not go and do for God it is not about us not going and doing, but more about how we feel about not doing and going? We have these great plans: conferences, crusades, we have spent money, people informed, and we do not go. How do we feel about that? No I really mean it, how do we really feel about that? After all what will our friends say? My friend all of that does not matter. What matters is what is God doing in all of this. The cloud was a visible sign of provision, a wealth of opportunity, and even security. What happens when the cloud dries up? Even a bigger question what happens when God changes direction for our lives? Maybe this thought is for another article, but make no mistake my friend in God a few things are consistent and one of these is change. In God, problems are seldom what we think they are. We blame others for our short comings and failures, but in reality we are the problem. Remember at the heart of every issue is an issue of our heart. In Proverbs we read, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) The words "issues" here are the good and so called bad things in our lives. No matter what happens in our lives God is looking at our reaction to whatsoever happened have it be what we call bad or even something good. I think it is the good things that happen to us that can get us in more trouble with God. After all good things rarely draw us closer to the LORD. When something good happens often we get a big head, want a pat on the back, and then have trouble get our big head through the door way, but now a good problem . . . well for most Christians that will bring us to our knees. In 2 Corinthians we see Paul has been under the cloud for a price, "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me." (2 Corinthians 12:3-6) Now many people say it was Paul that was "caught up in the third heaven" or "caught up into paradise," but here Paul says "I knew a man about 14 years ago" plus "And I knew such a man that was caught up in paradise." Odd that Paul used the word "paradise" and not heaven. Jesus had already died and rose from the dead, no more paradise heaven was a reality. Here Paul was talking about two men he knew not himself, however without any question Paul did receive special revelation from God. But the issue was not about the revelation or the "unspeakable words" and things in heaven, but the issue was Paul willing to endure his infirmities (and he had many) to receive the wonderful revelations God had for him. Revelation is God's measuring stick of a man. Revelations are not handed out like candy canes on a Christmas tree they are earned with each scar on our face from the smitter and each humbling by God. Now the cloud moves notice Paul's reaction. Ready read, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Even brother Paul wanted the "thorn in the flesh" removed as we all would, but God had a deeper purpose than sticking Paul in the flesh. Now Christians try to figure out what was the "thorn in the flesh." Was it his poor eye sight from his Damascus road experience? Maybe it was some unfulfilled longing in his life for greater companionship, or maybe it was an angel send from the Satan to get him off track no one really knows, but did you know it was NOT about the "thorn in the flesh" is was about Paul's reaction to the "thorn in the flesh." It was about what God was doing with the "thorn in the flesh" in Paul's life. So too in our lives it is not about what we have done (or not done) or what has happened to us now or in the past. It is about our reaction to what we have done (or not done) or what has happened to us in the past. Do we handle it in God as Paul did? Yes, three times Paul prayed (I probably would have prayed more) for God to deliver him from this "thorn in the flesh," but when God says "no" Paul's reaction was, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Again it is not about the thorn or even the revelation it is about our reactions to the thorns and revelation when the cloud moves and make no mistake my friend the cloud will move God will see to it. Written by David Stahl

THE GOSPEL IS ENOUGH

In The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren (pastor of one of the biggest Southern Baptist Churches in America) said, "today the Bible is not enough to be saved." It is no wonder Rick has evolved/waffled his position on the Bible's view on homosexuality like many other big name speakers (cannot call them preachers) like T. D. Jakes. Deception is progressive just as is salvation. Either we walk in the truth of the word of God and it is enough for salvation or we shall walk in deception mixing other things and as a pastor or leader in a church deception begets deception of the people we lead. I am ever amazed (but I should not be) at how all types of churches use worldly means to try to hook non believers to come to church. Some churches have special services: like homecoming, pastor's appreciation day, family and friends day or they will book a gospel group (that does not sing about the gospel) because they know people would rather be entertained with song and music, be recognized for some great act of service, or will rally together for a great social cause than to sit and hear the word of God. Most churches have failed at presenting a concise, heartfelt and heart directed message of the true word of God so they have to resort to gimmicks, promotions, tricks, and even lies to get people to come to their church. As bad as these are before God that is not the worst part of this charade the worst part of this charade is the pastors and leaders of these churches think they are doing God a big favor in misleading people to come church. Is that what the church has come to in presenting the precious and eternal Gospel message? Is this the picture of most churches today? Paul writes to Timothy, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;" (1 Timothy 4:1-2) Sadly I say yes not knowing the difference between the truth and a lie. And why . . . follow the money. Believe it or not the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) is the root of all evil. Do we really need to represent half truths and parlor tricks to get people to come to church for money and influence? Around Christmas (I still have a hard time with that word) we have Christmas parties and have Santa Claus show up in his red suit and black boots and we say it is for the kids, but in reality we find the pictures taken posted to Facebook accounts of the adults. After all who (no matter the age) does not want to sit on Santa's lap? We sell this misrepresentation of the truth as ministering to the community or an outreach for the kids in the neighborhood, but in reality we are not honest enough to stand for the truth of the word of God and wink our eye a little to have some fun and who knows someone really might come and who knows someone really might hear something that will touch their heart, and who knows someone might really give their heart to the LORD. Well after all we pastors do have reports to send up the chain and we would not want to make our bosses unhappy, why they may even break our rice bowl and move us on. Then where would God be in all of this if we get our walking papers? Not just Christmas (still kind of sticks in my mouth), but over the passion week we have invented a cottage industry of half truths from events taken from the Scriptures in hooking people to come to church instead of using the Gospel message. The word "passion" is used one time in the Scriptures. In Acts we read, "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" (Acts 1:3) Which means suffering or vexed. (Strong's G#3598) Yet we have our holy week (holy week? I thought God is holy and He wants us to be holy, but a week?) starting with Palm Sunday which has nothing to do with the Gospel message. My friend the glorious Gospel message is found in 1 Corinthians we read, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) I read nothing here about palm branches. Any way the people that cried, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD" misidentified Jesus as only a prophet and were the same folks that said, "crucify him!" in a few days. I do not want to wave palms and be indentified with them. On Thursday we have Maundy Thursday that remembers the last supper. Yes Jesus and the disciples kept the passover feast (maybe a Thursday), but what does that have to do with the Gospel? Next we have Good Friday. I do not believe Jesus was crucified on Friday, but Wednesday. On Wednesday opinion states that there were two Sabbaths that week. After the first one (the one that occurred on the evening of the crucifixion (Mark 15:42 and Luke 23:52-54), the women purchased spices—note that they made their purchase after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1). The Wednesday view holds that this “Sabbath” was the Passover (see Leviticus 16:29-31, 23:24-32, 39) where high holy days that are not necessarily the seventh day of the week are referred to as the Sabbath). The second Sabbath that week was the normal weekly Sabbath. Note that in Luke 23:56, the women who had purchased spices after the first Sabbath returned and prepared the spices, then “rested on the Sabbath.” The argument states that they could not purchase the spices after the Sabbath, yet prepare those spices before the Sabbath—unless there were two Sabbaths. With the two-Sabbath view, if Christ was crucified on Thursday, then the high holy Sabbath (the Passover) would have begun Thursday at sundown and ended at Friday sundown—at the beginning of the weekly Sabbath or Saturday. Purchasing the spices after the first Sabbath (Passover) would have meant they purchased them on Saturday and were breaking the Sabbath. Therefore, according to the Wednesday viewpoint, the only explanation that does not violate the biblical account of the women and the spices and holds to a literal understanding of Matthew 12:40 is that Christ was crucified on Wednesday. The Sabbath that was a high holy day (Passover) occurred on Thursday, the women purchased spices (after that) on Friday and returned and prepared the spices on the same day, they rested on Saturday which was the weekly Sabbath, then brought the spices to the tomb early Sunday. Jesus was buried near sundown on Wednesday, which began Thursday in the Jewish calendar. Using a Jewish calendar, you have Thursday night (night one), Thursday day (day one), Friday night (night two), Friday day (day two), Saturday night (night three), Saturday day (day three). We do not know exactly what time He rose, but we do know that it was before sunrise on Sunday. He could have risen as early as just after sunset Saturday evening, which began the first day of the week to the Jews. The discovery of the empty tomb was made just at sunrise (Mark 16:2), before it was fully light (John 20:1). But in the grand scheme of things, it is not all that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified. If it were very important, then God's Word would have clearly communicated the day and timeframe. What is important is that He did die and that He physically, bodily rose from the dead. What is equally important is the reason He died—to take the punishment that all sinners deserve. John 3:16 and 3:36 both proclaim that putting your trust in Him results in eternal life! This is equally true whether He was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. My friend there was nothing good for Jesus on Friday (if then) he was crucified. It was a painful, horrid beating and slow death that He endured out from His love for us as he willfully went to the cross. Is that not enough? Paul tells us, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) God sent us to preach as He did Paul not to make up some holy week. The preaching of the cross the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Yet we make up things to try to get people to come to services (I believe) because we really do not believe the Gospel (and the Gospel alone) is the power unto salvation like Rick Warren thinks we need more. Then the crowning jewel in the week of religious activities the Sunday sunrise service. Do we really need to use religion to draw people when we have the Gospel message? Yes in great power Jesus came forth from the grave in victory and great power, the tomb was empty, He is Risen!! Is not that not enough? That is a part of the Gospel!! Then why do we have sunrise services? Do we need to get up before the crack of dawn and remember He has risen from the dead? If so why? Will a sunrise service help you believe more than the Gospel message preached under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit? I think not. And please do not get me started on all of the easter egg hunts and bunny face painting parties churches have, oh that right this is for the kids. How can we mix the truth with a lie? Sadly in reality our religious tricks and gimmicks only nullify the power of the Gospel in the lives of people who the Holy Spirit is drawing. In reality when we hold these services we actually are getting in the way. It is no wonder people are not coming to Christ. If the Gospel is not enough then we are wasting our time. There is no other name than Jesus, there is no other message than the Gospel, whereby people can be saved. In Acts we read, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) That means no mixing Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and presents and Christ. That means no mixing easter bunnies, easter egg hunts, and holy week and Christ. And while I am on a roll why do we kill ourselves and throw money for a week to do vacation Bible School then for the other 51 weeks (ah everyone else is doing it) care little to what happens with the kids? My friend when we add to or take away from the Gospel message by example we are saying the Gospel message is not enough whereby someone can be saved. When we mix such things with Christ it is plainly and painfully evident we do not believe the Gospel message is enough to save one from their sins. Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) The question I ask my friend is are you ashamed of the Gospel of Christ? Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 52 (28 Mar18 HGM)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-52 TEXT: "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." (Isaiah 64:4)

 

I. A NEW LOOK

A. We have such an abundance of inheritances and other blessings, that we presently have no idea how many and how great are God's provisions.

B. From the land of plenty and blessings, the wilderness is usually looked upon as an unhealthy and undesirable place. This is particularly true for those who have experienced what man would call failure in the wilderness (in their dry times).

C. But if God does not call it failure then it is not failure and nor should we. Failure is not sin. Sin is sin. Failure is another opportunity for God to teach us His ways when we have missed His mark. God takes our failure and works it to our benefit. Failure is not destructive to us unless we get stuck in it. Not learning the lessons God has purposed us to learn through this time. D. Indeed, the wilderness is a place of possible failure and I believe God would rather us fail a few times then succeed in most areas. Failure helps us get it right. Very few people do things right the first time. Failure helps us learn obedience. The more we succeed (unless through Him) the less we need Him. Success (unless through Him) leads us to self-strength and self-provision.

E. This is not the fault of the wilderness, and certainly it is not the fault of God. Nor is failure to be blamed upon the enemy. However, the failure of a believer in the wilderness is still the fault of that particular believer.

F. Certain believers coming to the wilderness will focus their attention upon its unpleasantness to such intensity that they see these unpleasantries magnified many times. The real problem is not the wilderness with its difficulties, but with the self-centered view of the believer.

G. Actually in most cases the view has been turned self-ward. Thus it can be clearly understood how some folks create for themselves more unpleasantness than is actually in the picture.

H. Because of a great sense of self-worth and self-preservation, we may consider a situation as very dangerous. If we could turn our vision away from self and focus upon God, our view would change altogether.

I. The situation is still stays the same, but with this different point of view, we would now discover God's purposes. Then, the situation we feared as dangerous would be seen as God's arrangement for the purpose of bringing blessings to us.

J. If we were suddenly confronted in the wild by a lion and we had no protection nor defense, we would normally regard that a dangerous situation. Samson (the first Judge of Isreal) found himself in this situation. "Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him." (Judges 14:5)

K. But, if this situation is viewed from God's point of view, the lion does not look like an insurmountable opponent. The one who intended to defeat and eat Samson became Samson's source of food. "And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done." (Judges 14:6)

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. God works desperately to change our point of view in order to impact to us His faith and strength.

B. What we see is what we become. The apostle Paul says it this way: "But we all, with open [unveiled] face [our change of view] beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed [being changed] into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:18) Thus in order for the victory and strength which are in the Lord to become ours we must look in the right direction.

WHEN YE PRAY

I would like to help with prayer because if we get prayer wrong we will not get too far in God. Now God wants us to pray. Jesus tells us this in Matthew, but He also tells us things not to do. Yet most Christians ignore them out of traditions of men and wrong thinking from a performance based denominational religion. In Matthew we read the words of Jesus, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:5-8) Prayer is one of the most mysterious functions and operations of the LORD. Our walk with the LORD is a huge mystery now I really like this. Who wants to serve a God you have figured out? We see this mystery when we read, "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:" (Colossians 1:25-26) and "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16) I learned this (and seem too often relearn it) the second time I went to India. After 10 days of a very busy schedule, sickness, and diarrhea I was at the end of my strength and self. It was late in the evening and my host pastor asked me to pray for a little boy who had not walked in 6 months. I said yes. The father brought the little boy over to me and I grabbed his little feet and I prayed this great prayer, "LORD please heal this little boy." No lightning bolts, no fancy words, God did not speak from heaven that was it. As I was reaching for my supper of chicken, curry, and rice (what I was fed to help my stomach) out of the corner of my eye I saw the father put the little boy down and as his little feet touched the ground the boy was off and running. The little boy is probably is still running. Well I never got to my supper that night a line quickly formed. But how did God do this? How did God heal this little boy? It was not me I had no strength so it had to be God. You know I find it amazing nowhere in the Bible did Jesus pray (like we do) for someone. Jesus just healed them He did not pray for them. You know if I cannot get to the Father on my behalf for healing I would not want someone to only pray for me. I think I would want someone who has a walk with the LORD who could touch Him on my behalf. Yes prayer is mysterious it reveals God's nature to us. His concern, heart, and love. How does He do this? Did you know prayer is translated six different ways in the Bible? The top three are beseeching, comforter, but the most common is "direct address to the Father." Not in communication, but communion. At first the disciples had it wrong when they prayed around through the Father. Many Christians sing the song, "Ave Maria" or around to the Father though Maria (Jesus' mother) , but in the LORD's prayer (beginning in Matthew 6:9) Jesus said to pray "abba Father." The word "abba" is a term of endearment, literally "daddy" in the Greek, an intimate word of the heart. Funny it is interesting to know John the Baptist disciples knew how to pray before Jesus' disciples. "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1) There are seven points on prayer I would like for us to look at. John Wright Follette (my teacher's teacher) said, "we learn to pray by praying." Prayer is a work of the Spirit of God. Unless we have allowed God to work in our lives through His dealings and judgments we will NEVER enter into the "true" realm of prayer. Many Christians are begging God to bless the works of their hands and God is saying do something! As we pray we learn how to touch the heart of God. The second point is we cannot change God's sovereign will by praying. Jesus tried this in the Garden of Gethsemane, but in the end Jesus said, "not my will, but thy will be done." God has a plan and purpose for each and every life he created and praying will not change it. God is God and we are not no matter how hard we try to twist God's arm in prayer. The third point is prayer helps us adjust our heart and thinking with God's will. In the Psalms we read, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalm 37:4) Oh how we like to delight ourselves in the LORD: standing in services, raising our hands, shaking our fist, and bobbing our head as the preacher rolls while all the while our heart has not been touched by the Spirit. My friend if we do not receive the word of God by our spirit we will never receive it by our flesh. The word "delight" here means pliable, bendable,, moldable. If we cannot be the clay and if the LORD cannot be the potter then He can never give us the desires of our heart, but sadly most Christians in prayer care little what God wants. And remember clay does not talk back. Prayer is not the time to receive something from God. We are to use our faith for someone else. Does God know what we need? When is the last time you have heard this message? The next point is the Holy Spirit always prays according to His will. In Romans we read, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27) So if we have the Holy Spirit operating in our lives then why are all of our prayers not answered? Please consider we are not praying according to God's will. God does NOT have to answer any of our prayers, but He wants to show us His love and concern (His character and nature) so He answers some. And if not we get angry at God and threaten to leave Him or get a big boo boo face or twist His arm. We must pray according to what and how God tells us to pray and not what we want to see happen in the lives of our family, friends, even the world. The next point is ALL things work together for good as long as we are called according to God's purpose and I would add if we learn the lesson God is teaching. Still in Romans, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) God already knows what we are going to pray before we pray so why pray? To align our thinking up with God's thinking. The LORD's purpose in our lives, friends, family, and the world is to share this wondrous Gospel message. He wishes none to be lost no not one. We need no other purpose or calling, but if God asks us to do specific things for Him say in ministry then we are to answer the call and fulfill the LORD's purpose in our lives. We really have this verse down. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6) Now this is okay, but God is doing more than giving us things or healing our bodies in our prayers. He is teaching us a lesson of His character and nature in prayer. He is teaching us how He functions and operates so we will be useful now (somewhat), but more in our next life. God will not have to train us when we get to our next life we will already know how to move and respond with and like Him. The second to the last point is obedience to God is never substituted by prayer. Most Christians would rather pray for hours than be obedient. My teacher Charles Haun tells the story of a lady who God would wake up at night to pray for people. Well one night God roused her and she got up and went to her chair where she prays and prayed for about one hour for a missionary and then went back to bed. About 15 minutes later God roused her again and this time she got out of her bed , knelt by her bed, prayed about 30 minutes, and headed back to bed. About 15 minutes later God roused her again and this time she just laid in bed and started to pray, but drifted off to sleep. God never bothered her again that night. About three months later the lady heard in church the missionary was killed the night the LORD woke her up. There is always a cost for our disobedience and usually others pay the price. The last point is Jesus always prayed because He wanted to maintain contact with His Father not to do or get things from His Father. From this contact or communion God's goal in prayer is manifested, "righteous living" where we just live right before God and man. Just like we do not have to think to breathe, we just live right. It becomes automatic. For this to happen God must be able to get us over this "give me give me things" thinking, so He can take us deeper into the mystery of prayer. Jesus said, "of myself I have no power" and "I can do nothing except what I see the Father do." Jesus was so dependent on the Father for everything which came out of His relationship with the His Father. Prayer teaches us how to be dependent and how to have a relationship with our heavenly Father. In prayer it is not God needs to know, but it is we need to tell Him. There is a need in man to talk with God He put it in us. And in His response we learn His will and how He thinks and functions what He wants in every given situation. Prayer is amazing mystery of God.

AT THE END OF THE DAY

At the end of the day it will not matter what you did or did not do (by ways of good works) for the LORD. There are no do overs or redos in the LORD. At the end of the day what we have done for the LORD will be on full display for those standing around to see. There will be no talking, arguing, praying, discussing, or even horse trading. At the end of the day we all will stand before the LORD and the book will be opened and if our name is found in the Book of Life of the Lamb, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8) we go on to the Judgment Seat of Christ, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." (2 Corinthians 5:10-11) and if not then we go to the Great White Throne, "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." (Revelation 20:11) to receive of our reward for not what we have done for the LORD, but for how we have done things for the LORD. God is not so concerned what we have done for Him, but He will be very concerned about how we have done things for Him. It is going to be not much done as most good, well intended Christians have been taught, but how done, how we did things for the LORD. Funny when you ask most pastors about their church they usually start with something like this, "well . . . we have about 100 members on Sunday (to be honest the mid-week service is a better gauge or determining factor of membership), we do this and/or that, but seldom do they talk about the spirituality of the members. Why are we so works focused? I guess it is easy enlarging our faith when we see a new building or new fellowship hall built, but now seeing spiritual growth and development as the LORD puts one through despair well that is a whole different focus. I will be honest I am as guilty as some pastors. When I pastored in Germany I would do the same thing thinking I was helping the LORD out impressing maybe a new member, but at the end of the day I was just embellishing the truth (most call it lying) to make things look better than they are. I wonder why we are so impressed by what we can do for the LORD? I wonder why we think the LORD is going to love us the more if we can do great things for Him? Great things for Him? He created the heavens (all three) and the earth, man, all we know and see, and we think building some building or big ministry to travel the world sharing this wondrous Gospel message impresses Him? Oh no my friend all of our good works, those good works we do for God are for our benefit not the LORD's. For it is in these good works in the hours of loneliness on planes, trains, and automobiles, in times of danger, in times of feast and famine, times what Paul calls the "terror of the LORD" in these times God can work in our heart and in our thoughts conforming us into the character and images of Jesus Christ, the LORD's grand goal in our lives. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist God the father openly spoke of His son, "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." As to date (the Bible never recorded) Jesus had not started His earthly ministry. Jesus had not yet preached one message, made one disciple, or even performed one miracle. I wonder what made the Father so pleased with His son? Maybe it was the wonderful relationship the Father and Jesus had. Of course the Father knows all things and saw the day (in the future) that Jesus would be stretched out on the cross between heaven and earth for the atonement of our sin. Maybe it was the utter dependence Jesus had on the Father. Funny how today we think we are independent and we can handle things for the LORD. In John Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19) We run around and say we have the power, brother do you have the power? And Jesus said he had a no power, "except for what the Father gives Him." Something is wrong here. As we walk with the LORD there are some very important things we must discover because soon we will find ourselves at the end of the day and it will be too late. We must learn we have no power, God is God and we are not! We must learn the only way we will ever be affective for the LORD is if we have a relationship with Him. We must learn He is not looking at what we are doing for Him, but He is closely scrutinizing us in how we are doing things for Him. The smaller the issue the closer He is scrutinizes us. Big things in God really do not matter, but ah the small things, well they are life and death to us. Something as small as a realization of our need for Him and a confession of our faith in Him to change us from who we are means all of the next world to us. We must learn the way up is down. We must be like Jesus lowly in heart and see of ourselves no reputation. My heavens just look at Christian TV (an oxymoron) the effort spent to build up a man over another man. Each working so hard to build up a reputation: as a end-time teacher, pastor, prophet, apostle, healer, you name it. Commercials are even made to promote a man to his greatness, but Jesus said the meek and humble shall inherit the earth. David said, "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (Psalms 37:11) That is peace now on earth not in the sweet by and by. The meek and humble know truth. Jesus said in Matthew, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29) Wow peace and rest! People of ambition trying to build up their reputation know no peace and rest, but striving and contempt. At the end of the day they confuse love, truth, and the weightier things of God. Remember, truth without love becomes a club, but love without truth becomes a perversion. If we get this wrong we are heading for hard times and a great fall my friend. I guess when I think of the Father and His relationship with Jesus (at the end of the day) I think of the many father and son relationships I have personally seen. At the end of the day all we can share is the things we personally know and I have been blessed (term over used) with great examples in my life. Growing up in a military family we made many visits to family members. When my father would deploy somewhere in the world we would move in with my mom's mother at 57 Carpenters Ave. in Ridgeley, WV. When my father would come home we would drive over to 15 Napoleon Street in Johnstown, PA where his mother lived. Now Grandma Stahl was not Grandma Jewell. I learned quickly not to confuse them. Grandma Stahl was stern not very loving. When her husband left her with four kids she decided to raise her kids with discipline and not much love. Grandma Stahl was a tough lady. But at the end of day when we would leave to head back to Ridgeley we would load up in the car and as we waved good-by I could see a tear or two run down the face of my father and my grandmother. I thought maybe she was not as tough as I thought, but to be honest I never realized what was going on. As we (Karen and I) got older and had kids we would visit our parents. For years we would visit from one address to the next. And as we got older and as we gathered grandkids to our parents (at the end of the day) when we would leave we would load the car and stand and wave as streams of tears would run down our face. I began to understand a little bit about the end of the day. And now when our kids come home with our grandkids and they leave at the end of the day my heart and mind goes back to my father and his mother, back to all of the times we left from Karen's parents home and my parents home. Oh what a heavy heart. Now we stand at the end of the day with tears streaming down our face as our kids pull out. We wave, oh what a heavy heart. At the end of the day I kind of believe this is the way the Father kind of felt about Jesus.

WTFMT 51 HGM ON 27 FEB 18

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-51 TEXT:

 "And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs." (Numbers 12:23)

 

I. CONTRASTS

 

A. In our wiling walk with Him we will learn and receive of Him. But we must stay with Him. He may lead in various and unlikely situations of great contrast. This will be necessary for learning and receiving.

B. A great contrast is seen in Numbers 13:23. The 12 men leave the wilderness and go into a land which flows with milk and honey. From the wilderness to abundance could be a pleasant contrast for all. From nothing to abundance would certainly magnify the blessing of plenty.

C. God wants to illustrate to us light, He can take us into darkness, and then into light. That would make an impression upon us. If He wants to put joy into our soul, He could take us through sorrow, and then plunge us into joy. D. God will bring us through great contrast in order to emphasize certain qualities, and establish them in us. If we are taken from joy into greater joy, that second joy will not be too much emphasized. But if we are brought from sorrow into greater joy, it becomes greatly impressed upon our life.

E. Often He will reverse the contrast. If He wants to impress upon us a degree of the sorrow His Son experienced, He will bring us into great joy, then plunge us into sorrow. That way, we shall not only learn about the Man of Sorrows, we shall experience some of His sorrow. It will change us. It will equip us to comfort those who sorrow.

F. The contrast of light with darkness will teach us many things and enrich our spiritual life.

G. As we walk with the Lord His presence will be so near and intense that we may not be able to eat nor sleep on a regular schedule. We love the light. But after several weeks, maybe months that wonderful climate will lift and we will find ourselves in total darkness and dryness.

H. We then are impressed, terrified, amazed, puzzled. We are learning darkness and drought. We are learning those things which can be learned only in a wilderness. We are learning that God is faithful to us, even in a desert land, and He could be our light, even in darkness.

I. As always with the Lord, there is a deeper lesson He desires to teach us as we are faithful to Him. During this time in the wilderness He desires to give us the treasures contained in the darkness. "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not." (Song 3:1-2) Those treasures contained in the unknown, silent and still, moving in a direction we do not know ones that will build a foundation of total trust in us that no matter what we face, we will not be moved. Those that will develop a love relationship with Him.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. There are two areas of blessing which relate to the wilderness. One concerns the blessings that are within the wilderness; the other the opportunity for blessings based upon the wilderness itself and our proper responses. The Promised Land was the opportunity for blessings based upon how the children of Israel responded to God in the wilderness.

B. There is no way the Israelites could get from Egypt to Canaan without going through the many wildernesses. After the wilderness, a dip into the land of milk and honey revealed the blessings.

C. But, before the blessings come, before the land of milk and honey, before we inter into the joys of the Lord we must walk in the footsteps of obedience and faithfulness to the Lord. "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21)

D. In the wilderness all too often our vision is sorely limited. We see the lack and the difficulties. God's provisions cannot be seen very clearly if at all. Many believers do not know that God can provide a table for the needy even in the wilderness.

E. The provisions and power of God do not determine whether we fail or succeed in our walk with God. His provisions and power are always at hand and without limit. The ability of God to work in and through us is not the determining factor in our failure or success. God is more than able always.

OUR CHRISTIAN PROFESSION

What do you believe and why do you believe it? What is the profession of your faith? Most Christians do not know what and why they believe things in God. Most Christians are confused with the word "salvation" because they have been taught "salvation" only deals with our sins. We will talk about that later. There are websites where you can pick the church of your choosing (and call it God's leading) to use your God given ability and talents. Whatever happened to God directing our steps? Most Christians see the Christian job market as a way of life. Thinking this small church is a stepping stone to something greater. Whatever happened to greatness in God is being in His will? Why you can even get a Dove Award for being a great Christian singer. Whatever happened to God's reward being enough? And recently Hollywood has discovered Christians have wallets stuffed with money too with the making of "faith based" movies why they do not even call them Christian movies, well maybe they are not. Ah yes we can get a job (that pays quite well) in the Christian world, but that is not the profession I am talking about. Just ask all of the folks on Christian TV or pastors of those so called churches on TV. There is much money to be made on the backs of widows and good hearted folks who do not know better than to tune in and watch these charlatans or even the good hearted folks who do not know better than to attend crusades, conferences, and churches of apostate pastors (like T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Rick Warren, Rod Parsley, sadly the list go on and on) who preach and teach a prosperity, humanistic, or seeker sensitive message that is pure anti-Christ. Paul told the Christians at Galatia, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" (Galatians 3:1) Today these thieves and charlatans have "bewitched" the feeble minded unlearned people to the truth of the word for personal gain and power it is no wonder most Christians do not know what they believe. Now I am not talking about such things in this article, but what I am talking about is what we as Christians ought to profess of our faith. Now the word "profession" (secondary meaning) is an interesting word and means, openly declaring what ones believes. Not too many Christians openly declare what they believe. In most cases most Christians are closet professors. For years I have wondered why so many Christians have to be pinned down (almost like in a fire fight) in a conversation before they will admit they are a Christian. Why so shy and backward in admitting their allegiance for Christ? Now I can understand why in some places of the world where sharing your allegiance can mark you for death, but in countries (like America) where we have Christian liberties to share what we believe, it just blows my mind to know most Christians hid the good news of the Gospel, and in their shame of the Gospel, by hiding their profession (what they believe) of their faith in confusion and deception. In reading the Bible it is critical we keep all things in context if not then we will get the precept (foundational truths) wrong and if we get our precepts wrong then we will get our concepts (our ways of daily Christian living) wrong. A prime example of this is how we have neutered the word salvation. We today equate salvation with the removal of our sins, but in reality "all of his benefits" are include in our salvation. David said in the Psalms, "I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: 11 I said in my haste, All men are liars. 12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" (Psalm 116:10-12) There are more "benefits" in salvation than just our sin removal. I will save this for another article. Many mainstream denominations walk the Roman Road of salvation: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9, Romans 5:1 to tell one how to be saved, but these verses are NOT the profession (what we believe) of our faith. Read them for yourself and do not make the same mistake. As wacky as the many Baptist dominations march up and down the Roman Road of salvation many Pentecostal denominations (Oneness types, United Pentecostal Holiness, and the like) profess Acts 2:38 as the only verse for salvation. Foolishness just foolishness, yet they push their half truths (which is a lie) out deceiving good hearted folks. I do not know about all of this stuff (sounds like a lot of religion to me) you judge, but all of these are not about our Christian profession (or what we believe as Christians) they are about the dos and do nots for salvation. The dos and do nots are not what we believe (our professions), but how we can be saved and usually are works focused. Even the wonderful verse of salvation found in John, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Is not a profession of our faith, but a verse that shows us how to be saved. There is a huge difference between our salvation and our profession of faith. Sadly the word salvation has become a religious cliché that only talks about our sins being forgiven, but salvation is much much more that. If you believe your sins are forgiven and if you would die today you would go to heaven, but you are not experiencing: joy, peace, healing, wholeness, spiritual growth and development, even prosperity, and daily battle with a sin consciousness then you do not understanding grace and faith. In days gone by the church never really struggled with the profession of faith. In the past the "church" was united on what it believed based upon a common creed statement. Today every one believes what they want to believe maybe that is why there is little to no unity within the Body of Christ. A creed (also known as a confession, symbol, or statement of faith) is a statement of the shared beliefs a of a community of believers in the form of a fixed formula summarizing core tenets. A creed is one of the three cords that ensure no heresy in the church: Scripture, creed, hymns. Ah the Scriptures and hymns two other foundational church pillars being displaced by the contemporary movement in the Body of Christ. The first creed was developed in 325 AD at the first Council of Nicaea and was based on Christian understanding (or belief) of the Canonical Gospels the letters of the New Testament and to a lesser extent the Old Testament. Affirmation of this creed which describes the Trinity, is generally taken as a fundamental test of orthodoxy for most if not all (then and through the years) Christian denominations. The Nicaea Creed reads: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic (universal) and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. How could you not get behind that? Well most denominations (even the Assembly of God and Church of God) would dispute the facts of the Scriptures as delineated in the Nicaea Creed. Go figure. So what do we profess as our statement of faith? As essential as salvation is there must be more and it must come from the word of God. Paul in Ephesians gives us (in my humble opinion) the foundational truths that enable the profession of our faith. We read, "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:7-10) If our salvation is of us than it cannot be from God. And if we miss the mark in understanding correctly "grace" and "faith" than we will be confused and the profession of our faith will be skewed from the truth of the word o God. There is a critical balance we MUST walk with the two. If we get "grace" wrong in our daily living then we will get over into sins of lascivious or sins of the flesh, the end product is cheap grace where we think we can do whatsoever we want and God will forgive us. If we get "faith" wrong then we will get over into the law and believe we are saved through a performance based (saved by good works) religion like most if not all of the mainstream religions. Our salvation and our daily Christian living which makes up our profession of our faith must be founded in "grace" and "faith" (two things of the Spirit of God, but not of man) if not we shall never see the requirement to become the workmanship of God. It is not what we can do or not do for God that drives the profession of our faith, but what we can become in God, "For we are His workmanship." For this to ring true in our heart and lives it must be pressed into our spirit as God presses us, molds us, and shaped us. The age old truth still rings true knowledge is not truth until it becomes personalized to our heart and lives. Richard Wurmbrand said, "a man really believes not what he recites in his creed, but only the things he is willing to die for." What do you believe and why do you believe it? What are you willing to die for? What is the profession of your faith?