TRIALS OF OUR FAITH

The purpose that God has in the life of the Believer that He wants to accomplish through the trials of our faith and even suffering is that each Believer would come into a personal inward realization of Jesus Christ. So when we come to Jesus by faith and are joined to the LORD and made one spirit with Him that is the "new creation." Paul tell us, "But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (1 Corinthians 6:17) Joined to the LORD with one spirit does not make one physical body nor are we made one soul man or natural man with Christ. Our physical body and the soul man remain outside of our spiritual resurrection union with Jesus Christ. The natural man is made up of three parts. The first part you can see your physical body and the second and third part you cannot see and that is the soul and spirit of man. Paul again tells us, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) These three parts are our spirit - pneuma, our soul - psuche, and our body - soma. All corrupt by a natural birth into the Adamic race where we experience physical sickness, aging, and death. We must understand being joined to the LORD does not eradicate, annihilate, cause to cease or exist any part of our soul man or any part of our natural make up. Some teach and are unbelievably deluded that the Believer does not continue to have a sin nature, but now we have two natures one being of the earth (flesh birthed from the earth) and the other being of the heavenly (spirit birthed from above). These two dynamics are in each Believer and war -- flesh against spirit and visa versa. God wants us to walk in Christ governed by Him as LORD. He no longer wants us to be governed by our Adamic corrupt fallen nature. When talking about being governed we think what we do or don’t do works. Thus if this thing that I am doing is holy and in keeping with God’s law we say that’s walking in the Spirit. But if I am somehow sinning and doing something not acceptable to God, we say we’re walking in the flesh. Oh no my friend it goes far deeper than the outward. And even deeper than in the inward man even to the thoughts and intents of our heart. The real issue here is our faith and to whom we belong by virtue of the spiritual union. God wants us to come to the place not governed by natural man. HE wants us to be governed by Christ out from knowing and loving Him. If we can just come to know and love Him our attitudes, character, and life style will be adjusted and fall into place. If coming into an inward realization of Him our mind will be renewed according to the truth and our thoughts and concepts will align with God. Gather all of this up you can see a necessity for the trials of our faith and even suffering; the work of the cross. The trial of our faith and even suffering is intended to break and put to death as far as the governing power, to break the control over the soul and the flesh. The way the control is broken is not by taking a club pounding the old nature over the head nor by slapping the old nature with rules, laws, and principles (religion) that God demands we follow, but by God showing us the truth about our old nature in the light of Jesus Christ. If God does not show us the truth about our old nature and the greatness of Jesus Christ then we will never be free from our flesh no matter what we do for Him, preach, sing or dance, even give our bodies to be burned. We must take our faith off of our self and what we "do" or have done for the LORD and put it more and more on Jesus Christ which will result in living out from Him. We will never get free of sins that are rooted in that old life until we surrender that old life under the work of the cross to Jesus Christ. God has to undercut all of these things in us we think constitutes that old life and He must get at the root of it itself. At the heart of the root is unbelief, self-ownership, and deception. The trial of our faith is intended to expose our old nature for what it is, but at the same time if we allow God, He will bring us into a realization of who Jesus Christ is. A sense of adding while subtracting God's idea of math. And as He does and we surrender to Him then little by little the light will dawn and we will more and more be able to live our life out from Christ. Now this doesn’t happen in ten minutes or ten years it is a life-long process God uses to accomplish building the nature of Christ in us. The condition God finds us in is not simply void of life, but also in bondage to darkness and our entire nature is corrupt. You and I will know nothing if God leaves us to ourselves. Our life will be out from our self-rulership, fear, torment. God in Christ called individuals to Himself who are corrupt and deceived and in darkness. Who know nothing but the old nature If we come to Christ at that point we are joined to the Lord and made one spirit with Him but that old nature remains. What God will do then is put us through a series of (His dealings and judgments) experiences many of them dealing with that old nature so that we can come into the reality with the Christ in whom we are joined. God has to break us! Only the broken are useful to God! He has to expose the truth about our sin nature so that He can bring us to the place where we will know and see Jesus Christ. God wants to bring us to the place where we are able to say to Him, "LORD I didn’t know you, but now I see You. Because I thought who I was was the answer, but now that I see you God I understand you are the only answer." We have to come to the place that we can say LORD, "now that I see You I see everything else is a lie and I need more of You." Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;" (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) If any man is in Christ he is a new creation If you are in Christ joined to Him you are a new creation. It is the union of the human spirit with Christ through the Spirit of God. If any man is in Christ that person is a new creature we might even say that person is a different kind of human being than the one born in Adam. Now the Greek says, "old things are passed over" as it pertains to this spiritual union. You and I are not united to Christ in the soul man and in the body. These old things are passed over as it pertains to the spiritual resurrection in Christ, My body, soul man are still here. The same for you, nothing passed away not any of it, but right now if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed over in other words. The old nature none of it is incorporated into the new creation in Jesus Christ. Old things are passed over, behold all things in that spiritual union with Christ are become new and all things are out from God. But none of the new creation is out from us. Can we see that the separation of the new and the old here is utter and total. That we are united with Christ in spirit and all things that are of God are out from Him or of His life. All of it comes out from Christ we are the source of nothing. This is the way God needs to put us through experiences whereby our natural man is broken, whereby we can be free to experience all that is coming out from Christ. It all begins in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7) It is a description between soul and spirit in each Believer. Verse six says, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6) The effect of it in other words, an excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. Just as we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17 we are in Christ and old things are passed over and now all things are out from God that the excellency of the power may be out from Christ with whom we are one and not out from us. So the necessity of the trial of our faith and even suffering happens so that the old man may be crucified that we may be set free from its power and recognize it so that we can walk in the excellency of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. You know we are going to have seasons as did Job where we are perplexed and just do not have any answers. And God is not giving them. We are going to be persecuted (systematic vexation) if not by other people then the enemy. We are going to be forsaken it would seem forsaken certainly by people, but never by God. We must believe this. You will notice in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Paul gives us these possibilities that will cause suffering. Paul writes, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) But none of these are stated to destroy a person if they are in Christ.
While in a trial, while the suffering continues God makes a way of escape, but that way of escape is not out of the trial that way of escape is into Christ while still in the trial so that we might be able to bear it without ill effects to our faith and it is the only way that it can be for us to overcome, for us to have victory is for us to realize Christ and to be set free.
If God delivered us from out of trials we would never be set free from our old nature. Do you know nowhere in the Bible did God just deliver anyone? In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Paul rehearses these trials in verses 8-9 and he says in verse 10 on the heels of these possibilities of Trials and sufferings, "Always bearing about in the body;" that’s the natural man that is not united with Christ." Always bearing about in that part of our makeup in our flesh.
That is where we bear in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. This is a process that is ongoing despite the fact that we are crucified with Christ and planted into His death. God wants to bring us to where the cross of Jesus Christ actually has an impact of death upon that old man that is not united with Christ. We have to by faith lose our life to Him as these trials and sufferings unfold. If we will do that and bare about in those dimensions of our make up the dying of the LORD Jesus then the life of Jesus is going to be released in us.
We are going to see Jesus we are going to know Him. Our mind will be renewed and it is going to filter down through out from Jesus to the point where our knowledge and realization of Him begins to govern our natural man. We are never going to be perfect in this life We are always going to be in a process of coming to know Him, but the inward realization of Jesus and it is out from Him as the source into us by the Spirit. It is going to affect our whole man one way or the other Keep in mind that Christ is the source of all that is of God. He is the source of life and truth and it is only as we grow to know Him and know that God has put all things in Him for the Believer that all things are out from God FOR the Believer.

WTFMT 79 (from 11 Aug HGM)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-79 TEXT: "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her." (Hosea 2:14)

I. DESPAIR

A. Between the wandering and the discoveries there are two key aspects. Before the first discovery can be made in your wandering you will need the first key. The first key to discovery is despair. What a awful key! It is too horrendous and personal to be viewed as a key let alone used as one.

B. But don't worry. You do not have to recognize despair as a key. God without your understanding will still turn the lock on your door of opportunity. Discoveries cannot be realized if you are supplied with 40 heavily laden camels. We have enough food and water, a large and sturdy tent, servants, and gold. All your heart desire you have.

C. Somehow God separates you from your bountiful provisions if indeed you had them in the first place. You then have very little. Please accept this little bottle of water and few loaves (fist size) of bread.

D. This limited provision (strength) is not going to last for many days. It is not suppose to last long. It is designed only for the purpose of getting you deep into the wilderness. You cannot get out on your low provisions and failing strength. Thus you are allured into traveling into the wilderness as our text expresses. Allured into the wilderness, "to speak to her heart." (Greek)

E. We are given enough by our heavenly Father to get us into the wilderness. We go into the wilderness on the strength of the provisions given, following the Lord. (He will be there to meet with us) There in the wilderness our greatest discovery will be the most insignificant in our own eyes. We will discover our own weakness.

F. Entering the wilderness is done with the strength which one already has. There in the wilderness that strength is spent. Then when the one who entered the wilderness comes out she is leaning on her beloved, "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee." (Song 8:5)

G. She exhausted herself. She has spent the provisions and strength which enabled her to journey into the wilderness. This is necessary, this what God wants, and this is His plan. Therefore God cannot send us into the wilderness with a great supply.

H. Some refuse the wilderness as part of their Christian living. They miss that which God had planned for them. They were to come out of the wilderness with additions of great riches. God designed to enrich their lives. I. When the one in Song of Songs went into the wilderness she was not leaning on her beloved, but when she comes out she was. "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? "Leaning on the Beloved" (of invaluable worth) was gained while spending time with God (her Beloved) in the wilderness.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. This picturesque arrangement as far as the will and the desire of God are concerned is absolutely essential!

B. Discovery! Revelation! How wonderful they are. They are so tasty that we consider ourselves as having arrived and eaten the total provisions of God. Actually after despair we have just made the very first and foundational discovery. We are just getting started.

WTFMT 78 (FROM HGM ON 28 JUL 20)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-78 TEXT: "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba." (Genesis 21:14)

 

I. INTRODUCTION

 

A. Over the past we have looks at 7 divinely arranged spiritual wildernesses that have been designed by God to personally teach us lessons about His character and nature. The benefits of these wildernesses are only for those who have received the lessons in the heart and spirit. All others have wasted their time and energy.

B. In way of review I would like to use a wilderness (number 8 = new beginning) we did not discuss. But the lessons contained will serve as a great overview of the lessons God tried to share with the Children of Israel. This wilderness is the Wilderness of Beersheba.

C. The Wilderness of Beersheba relates to the Christian life in many ways. For Hagar it was a place of wandering. She lost her way. Trying to make it through, she spent her resources. It was not because of disobedience upon her part that would be another story. She simply did not know where she was nor how to find her way out. It was part of her lot in life. It was to be a means of fulfillment. And so it is in the Christian's life. Wandering is the first of many aspects encountered that teach us many lessons.

D. The wandering is designed to bring one to the realization of their inadequacies and that they have no clear and certain direction apart from God. Wandering is worth the trouble if it can bring such revelation. This wandering can relate to the unbeliever. He is without the salvation provided by Christ and without an inclination to follow the Lord. But the wandering also relates to the believer, one who has been trusting in the Lord, at least in some areas.

E. Wandering in God leads to discovery and life. Wandering outside of God leads to more wandering and death. The Children of Israel wandered and wandered from one wilderness to the next. Some wandered and discovered the "hidden riches" and provisions of God. Provision of God must be discovered. They are secret, hidden not laying on the ground for just anyone to have. "And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel." (Isaiah 45:3)

F. Like all wildernesses Beersheba is a classroom in which the Lord attempts to teach the wander. The "secret places" are in the darkness of wandering, not knowing where to go or which way to turn. In the darkness and stillness of knowing Him is where we can hear Him call us by name.

G. The first truth to be discovered in this classroom is in Jeremiah. "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 10:23) Wandering brings us to the end of ourselves, to the end of our abilities, and strength. If we do not discover this truth we will never move in the directives of God. Unless we allow God to direct our steps we will continue to wander and wander never coming to the discovery of His riches.

H. The second truth to be discovered is in John. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5) Oh how we try to do things. But when it is all said and done, we can do nothing. Unless we discover where our strength really comes from we will continue to expend our energy doing nothing. For some this can be a good thing for not until we come to the end of our strength and see the need for God's strength can God then take over.

I. Even Jesus discovered this truth. "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." (John 8:28) Where do you think Jesus discovered this truth? From His Father who hath taught Him. We will never discover truth unless we are shown where to look, they are hidden in secret places.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. Like Jesus we are to be taught by the Father. Man (pastors, teachers, and preachers) have their part to play, but real truth and understanding can only be discovered BY the revelation of Jesus Christ. "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:12) The revelation of who Jesus Christ is. His power, His strength, His faithfulness, His forgiveness, and yes, His love!

B. These hidden treasures are discovered as we are taught by God in the wilderness, His classrooms. "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6:45)

2 C. In review, the Children of Israel wandered and wandered. Wandering leads us to discovery. Those that discovered the hidden treasures in God lived and those who did not died. Today the same hidden treasures are before us waiting to be found. The truth is God gave us His Holy Spirit to show us where they are and how to use them to our benefit.

WTFMT 77 (FROM HGM ON 14 JUL 20)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-77

TEXT: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:" (Colossians 3:5-6)

I. OUR SALVATION

 

A. We have enough written in the Bible and particularly in the New Testament to guide us away from loss and fruitlessness. Specifically, this is what the apostle Paul was sharing with the Colossian Church.

B. Today man substitutes for God takes forms other than metal or wooden figures. Self can take God's place. We can go our own ways, wanting our own things. In this, we are moving and living in the Wilderness of Bethaven, regressing further and further away from God, until our disobedience and sin results in death. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:15) This is a spiritual principle. Just as much as our salvation is a spiritual principle based on our obedience to the draw on the LORD.

C. God has called us to move onward, ever onward, and into victory. He has never called us directed us nor led us to the Wilderness of Bethaven. But in spite of this I do not know if a Believer who has never had the Wilderness of Bethaven in their life.

D. At one time or the other in our Christian walk most if not all have stepped back from God. The sooner one recovers from backward regression the better. Then they can begin to move forward once again. But they must not be returning again and again to Bethaven the door leading away from their inheritance and into death. The more time one spends in Bethaven the greater the detriment to their life. They may die there, both spiritually and physically.

E. Perhaps we have known workers in the Gospel preachers and others in their heyday. Then something happened and they began to lose their relationship with God and started to move backward. The outward manifestation is from the inward loss that has been taken place for a while. Backsliding is a process that does not happen suddenly.

F. This can be seen time and time again in the Bible, as well as on today's stage of life. Samson, David, and even David's son Solomon, "And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places." (I Kings 3:3) But, in time, "And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice," (I Kings 11:9) This seems to be the disastrous pattern in some lives. The names and scenery may differ, but the root of the matter is always the same: turning from God in their hearts. At the heart of the matter is ALWAYS a matter of the heart.

H. There is another pattern in certain lives. There is a faithful plodding forward not without mishaps, not without falling. "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." (Proverbs 24:16) Thus, forward progress is maintained as long as we again rise up in repentance to serve the Lord.

I. Progress into God can come to a point where the soul is established, where no desire can be stirred within that soul to turn from Him. I have meet only a few. Spiritual height is gained where there is an unusually close relationship with the Lord.

J. But there is a danger in this. If the danger does not exist at the height to which I just referred it certainly exists somewhere near it. The soul may feel no further spiritual needs. There may be the sense that one has arrived and all is well and will forever be well.

K. Satisfaction sets in, satisfaction and contentment with one's particular position and condition. No longer does it become necessary to seek the LORD. The soul has lost its sense of need. This is dangerous, since we will always be in need of God and His provisions. King Uzziah sought, "And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper." (2 Chronicles 26:5) But, then in his own strength his heart was lifted up, "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense." (2 Chronicles 26:16) And so Uzziah began on this Bethaven business and backed down from God. He became leprous, (2 Chronicles 26:21) and indication of the true state of his heart.

L. Spiritual giants are seen and know in our day. They have their heyday and then seem to decline. When such conditions such as those in our text and others follow a high point in God I have seen no recovery. There may be repentance, but recovery seems to be out of the question.

M. Certainly Judas repented, (took the money back) but did not recover. Esau repented and did not recover his birth right and blessing. Moses was sorry he struck the rock, but there was no recovery he still could not lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

N. There never seems to be a getting back to a particular height in God once a particular low is subsequently reached. Therefore never start toward Bethaven if you can help it. If you do find yourself in Bethaven don't go any further get back to God immediately.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. To every danger factor is our relationship with God there is a safety factor. For this occasion the safety factor is a tender heart. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalms 51:17)

B. God can always move a tender and humble heart. If you do not have such a heart ask God to create it in you. (Psalms 51:10) Once you have it always keep it. Then if you ever go out the back door of Bethaven the LORD can reach you before you get to far in the wilderness.

C. Like butter you will melt under the heat of His dealing. Be so submissive, so broken before Him, so tenderhearted that He can successfully correct you at any time in any situation. This will keep you on a forward progression. Never continue in disobedience. Do not ever continue in any type of deceit or wrong doing. Always be willing for God's correction.

LOVE YOUR WIFE

In Ephesians 5:21 Paul lays out one of the greatest joys in my life and that is submit myself to my wife as she submits to me. Paul teaches married couples, "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21) But there seems to be not much of "the fear of God" these days. But, oh how I love my wife, Karen! I always say I am married to the best woman in the world. (every husband should say that) How could I not say that after she has faithfully gave me over 40 years of devoted loving service and commitment? How could not say I am married to the best woman in the world when she has entered the shadow of death four times bearing our wonderful children? How could I not say she is the best woman in the world as she cares for me (and I care for her) as we both fall into the ground year by year? Now it is important to know only spiritual people can submit to each other. Submission is not an action of the will or even servanthood, but an action of the heart and it is spiritual. This is why only spiritual people can submit. Non spiritual people are selfish, ambitious, arrogant, and self-centered wanting things their way. "I want what I want and if I do not get it then I will get my pound of flesh." I have seen this all of my life. Christian couples of all ages, married for many years, some with kids some not with kids, but there is no submission by either the husband or the wife, or both. A Godly marriage requires both the husband and the wife to submit to each other. Wow that is a real revelation to some Christian couples. What we most often see is the wife serving (maybe as a slave) under the hard hand of the husband enduring his commands as he recites, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22) I feel so bad for these ladies, but at the same time I am proud of their heart condition towards the word of God and their love for their husband in spite of their husband being dead wrong. On the other hand we often see where the roles are reversed. The husband's headship has been usurped (spawn by the spirit of Eve and/or Jezebel of this age) and he has been pulled out of his place of spiritual authority by his rebellious wife. Of the two examples the second (the man usurped by the wife) is far more dangerous to what God has joined together. Samuel told King Saul (even though not a marriage arrangement the concept is the same) rebellion before God (no matter who does it) is as the sin of witchcraft, a very serious charge before God indeed. In I Samuel we read, "Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." (1 Samuel 15:22-23) One thing for sure God ALWAYS judges rebellion. Rebellion no matter the form or function always leads to God's judgment not His mercy. How many homes have suffered devastating things: infidelity, extreme relationship issues, separation, divorce, and so much more (all because of not lining up with what God has established in His word) out from the rebellion of the husband or the wife? All the while the husband is being browbeat and pummeled as he wrongly misapplies and recites, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" (Ephesians 5:25) While in Romania last year (and is the genesis of this article from an email of thanks I received lately) I had the opportunity to share these verses in Ephesians with the leaders of the weekly cell group and other married couples of a wonderful Pentecostal Church. Afterwards the wives and the husbands thanked me for helping set their marriages in order. Paul was not telling the husband to be a door mat "giving himself as Christ loved the church" as a servant laying his life down for his wife and family, but was showing couples at the Church at Ephesus how Christ gave Himself to the Church as He provided leadership, guidance, direction, and the love required for the submitting to His wife (the Bride) "the elect" who will come out of the present day "church." When a husband incorrectly operates under this misapplication of truth (by willfully stepping out of this place of authority) in the Scripture he is stepping out of the established spiritual authority God has ordained since time eternal. This my friend is a big big deal to God, but most couples ignore the truth of this verse because they enjoy the manipulation and control the misapplication of the truth affords. Again I can name many couples all over the world that take this verse and yoke their spouse into submission instead of love. In the past Karen touched on this thought and I would like to share some of what she wrote, "Is there anything more useless then a man who hasn't been taught by his parents to trim a lousy bush or mow the yard? How sad. In another vein is there anything more pathetic then a man who waits on his wife when she comes home from work and he's worked all day too? He's the one doing all the domestic chores and she well, I don't know what she's doing besides being rebellious and wanting her way. This should not be. Now this is not to suggest a man can't bring his wife a cup of joe (coffee), a snack from the kitchen, even cook dinner, or do dishes. I'm not saying that, but the dynamics here is all wrong, if he's waiting hand and foot on the wife, something's wrong, very wrong and NO the husband is NOT laying his life down by being a doormat and shirking his role as the spiritual leader of the home. This is wrong thinking. In Ephesians Paul tell us, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" (Ephesians 5:22-25) Paul in these verses is not talking about husbands following their wives, just the opposite. Remember Jesus did not follow the disciples they followed Him. This is the correct spiritual order. Paul is talking about the husband providing a loving and nurturing leadership for the wife and the entire family. As Christ leads the church so too the husband is to lead the wife and family. Just a few verses we see the depth of this leadership the husband is to provide, "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:" (Ephesians 5:28-29) Again it is about leadership not about laying your life down for your wife in serving her. The husband is to love his wife as his self and we all know no one loves us more than ourselves. Christ is the head of the home, then the husband then the wife, then any children. The Bible is quite clear on order in the home. I suggest those whose toes I stepped on should pick up the Bible and see for themselves. If the spiritual authority order is messed up in the home little else will be right in that home and those decisions made in and out of the home will too be in confusion and rebellion. A word about kids. As the High Priest of my home I have learned when we do not provide love, leadership, direction, discipline, and guidance, etc. (all of the qualities God is looking for in us as a leader) for our kids we do not love them. As a matter of fact we make monsters, we maim them, and make them an emotional cripple. One thing I learned when we had kids (we got some good kids and good grand kids, which happened not by accident) and when they would do wrong I would think, "I will give them grace and not discipline or correct them," but God quickly taught me if He did not discipline or correct me then He does not love me. The writer to the Hebrews says, "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." (Hebrews 12:5-8) Yes we all (especially me) need His discipline and correction to grow spiritually and if I did not correct my kids (and grandkids when given the opportunity) even at a young age then all I can expect is rebellion at all ages, but if I remember the word of God that says, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod (wooden or metal staff for fighting, working, etc.) of correction shall drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15) then I know there will be hope for ages to come. It all starts by lining up with God's word. The husband following Christ as head of the home in turn is able and only then can he love and submit to his wife in a Godly fashion. As the husband fulfills his spiritual responsibility and duty as head of the home and as the wife and kids provide mutual love, support, and obedience to the husband (in reality providing love, support, and obedience to God) can the home be a place of spiritual growth and development. Anything else will end in loss no matter what dream job you have, how big your house is, or how many cars are parked in your drive way. This is the environment God has ordained, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:5) You know many younger Christians say this concept of spiritual authority is old fashion, not keeping up with modern times and the secular practices of modern Christianity. The wife is not led by the husband it is a 50 50 relationship, well to them I say, "crack open your Bible and ask God what He thinks." Now you must be honest in your heart if you expect a reply. His answer may save your marriage. Correct spiritual authority in the home is the good ground for spiritual learning which is found only in the right order and relationship between God, the husband, and the wife who the husband is to love, but not idolize or worship. Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 76 (FROM HGM ON 23 JUN)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-76

TEXT:  "And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever."  (I Samuel 13:13)

         

 I.  DEFEAT

 

     A.  Saul defeated himself with his foolish self-centeredness.  He lost that which he so desperately tried to preserve, his kingdom. 

         "But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee."  (I Samuel 13:14)

 

     B.  The reason or foundation for Saul's ignorance and for God's silence was his persistent disobedience in the face of clear revelation.  Saul was putting a distance between himself and God.  God "honored" that distance and withdrew from Saul as if Saul's own desire or request.

 

     C.  When this happens that which God brought to Saul initially was also withdrawn.  The kingdom and his finally life itself were withdrawn from Saul; he lost both.  He moved backward into the Wilderness of Bethaven in its meaning and spiritual significance.

 

     D.  Saul's consequence cannot be avoided in a life which constantly, knowingly, and willingly moves in the direction away for God.  The life is away from the Spirit of God, His leading, and conviction. 

 

     E.  There is no longer the touch of God upon the that life.  No longer is victory found in God.  The revelation which is in God is no longer available.  The inheritance belonging to that life is lost.  The person loses everything that God has provided for him.

 

     F.  Bethaven is a point of focus in this scene of Saul and the Philistine.

         "And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven."  (I Samuel 13:5)  Bethaven being in the picture helps us to see what is going on under the surface of things.

     

     G.  Once the clue is found and understood, its thread can clearly be traced through the whole story.  Then, it is easy to see Saul in his deteriorating direction.  Then understanding is clear as how he got himself into the position where God did not answer him, and consequently, why he searched for and communicated with the witch of Endor. 

 

     H.  We can see Saul's heart condition.  It is not because the Bibles states it, but because Saul's own words and actions displays it.  Often, things like the loss of a kingdom and loss of life, are blamed upon some condition relating to God's doing.  But we see and know that it was Saul's condition which causes the loss.

 

     I.  Disobedience and sin are also related to Bethaven and Ai in Joshua, chapter seven.  So we see, this particular moving is not found only in one isolated story.  You can read it in Saul; you can read it in Judas.  You can read it in lives today.  You can see it in Ai.     

         "And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. ⁴ So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. ¹¹ Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff."  (Joshua 7:2,4,11)

II.   PARTING THOUGHTS

      A.  The reason for Israel's defeat by the men of Ai was disobedience and sin.  God declared that Israel had moved contrary to His word.  The sin was committed in the face of clear revelation, willingly, and knowingly.  There was no excuse for it.  Joshua was very explicit in communicating to the people that nothing from Jericho was to be taken for personal possession.

          "And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD."  (Joshua 6:18-19)

    B.  Israel's first test in the Promised Land at Jericho they fail, but the failure was not seen until Ai.  Any time we are disobedience to God we are moving backward.  We are not moving forward and we are not standing still. 

     C.  Any time we are moving in disharmony with God in disobedience to what we know to be right, that is sin.  That does not bring us into any forward progress; that brings us into regression in God.  We are moving and living in the Wilderness of Bethaven.  We are leaving; we are not going anywhere.  And this, as it continues, brings us into what is called a backslidden state.  And finally it brings us into death.

 

 

TEH BEST GIFT

As I sit here and ponder what it will take to see a change in the "church" towards God this thought popped into my mind -- the supernatural manifestation of God. Oh to God there would be a move of the Holy Spirit like I saw in the past as a young boy. Today there seems to be a great disconnect between the spirit of the "church" and the functioning of the Holy Spirit. Then I thought "we are His workmanship" (Ephesians 2:10) could it be the log jam is not the Holy Spirit, but us? For the world to be touched by the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit must accomplish His work in our lives first, then out to the world. If not us first then we have no opportunity (from lack of authority) to be used to minister to the world. Paul tells us, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ( I Thessalonians 5:23) You know we may be qualified to be a preacher or teacher (a degree from a Bible school or seminary), but if we are not authorized (by His authority) by God we waste our time and the time of all who hear us. Here Paul is pointing us to three major areas: "spirit, soul, and body." The Holy Spirit employs instrumentalities to carry out the work of the Father in these three areas of our triune being. He does this by means of the various ministries of the Spirit of God and He works with these ministries through the Body. I am speaking collectively of the Body of Christ. Did you know Paul is the only person in the Bible to use this term "Body of Christ?" Now I do not mean any particular denomination, but rather the Body of Christ consisting of all true believers that are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, whether they are in the Pentecostal sheepfold, the many Baptist groups, the Presbyterian, the Episcopalian, or whatever. The idea being IF we are truly born again through faith in Jesus Christ then we are all one family (no matter the optional beliefs), one great body of Believers regardless of what denominational tag we may wear. Remember what Paul said, “Henceforth, know we no man after the flesh . .. ” (2 Corinthians 5:16) I believe the LORD is mightily working today in all denominations and is calling out a new people (the Bride of Christ) composed from the whole spectrum of all denominations. God is on the move and I am going to do my very best to be moving with Him. What counts is our personal relationship to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is active as a person, as He is a person. As such, He has characteristics of personality and He engages in intelligent activities. Here is what the Spirit of God is seeking to do in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man (this means to every person, the idea being everyone that is a true member of the Body of Christ) to profit withal (or for the common good). For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) These are generally called the nine gifts or nine manifestations of the Spirit by means of which He seeks to work through the various members of His Body for the edification of the Body of Christ for the accomplishment of the work of God in our triune nature: spirit, soul, and body. The Spirit uses these gifts to perfect us in these three areas. The LORD also uses other means, but we are now dealing particularly with the activities of the Holy Spirit. These nine gifts are divisible into three threes, three gifts that minister to us particularly in the realm of our spirit, three that minister particularly to needs in the realm of our soul (which includes the intellect), and three which minister particularly in the realm of the material, including our physical body. I would not say that this breakdown is inspired, but it is a logical division of these gifts that will help us to understand the operations of the Spirit as we are the members of His Body. Paul is implying that as we have physical members: hands, feet, ears, and eyes that minister to the entire physical body so God has individual members in His mystical Body, members which are through whom the Holy Spirit works. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge, to another this, to another that, to another something else, so that according to the plan of God all of these gifts should be operating as the need would require. So we see in this world the need is there, but not the movement, in great ways) of the Holy Spirit, very strange. Now we must bear in mind here that the gifts of the Spirit are tools, not toys. And Paul said, “Covet earnestly the best gifts . . ." (1 Corinthians 12:31) so we should be interested in these gifts, but I am troubled because the trend in the US and even around the world among the LORD’s people is away from the gifts of the Spirit, more of a swing from the things of the Spirit to the things of the intellect. This has the effect of not only despising, but gradually displacing the gifts of the Spirit with the natural gifts of man particularly gifts of the intellect. We see this with many denominations like the Southern Baptist (the biggest evangelical denomination in the world) that do not believe in the gifts of the Spirit. This is of course a great tragedy. We should be interested and jealously seek the LORD that we might be used by the Spirit of God in the gifts of the Spirit, as the need demands. If there is no need, then there is, of course, no demand. The LORD is not encouraging that we make an empty display of this. The gifts are available to meet a particular need. If there is no need then there is no need for their exercise. Now this raises a question: What are the best gifts? Since Paul said, “Covet earnestly the best gifts.” I have noticed that theologians or would be theologians as the case may be have argued over this for centuries. Some say prophecy is the best gift; others say the word of wisdom is the best gift. Paul did not say, Covet earnestly the best gift. He said, “Covet earnestly the best gifts.” Notice that this is plural. Now what are the best gifts? I will give you my position for your consideration. So it is with the gifts. “Covet earnestly the best gifts” What gifts? Those gifts for which there is the greatest need at a given time. The best gift today may not be the best gift six months from now. It depends altogether on the need not the gift. But we focus on the gifts and not the need. Maybe that is why there is not a greater move of God in the world? Now look back, we have these gifts divided into three areas and guess what we have needs in these three areas of our spirit. We have needs in the area of our soul to which belongs the intellect. We have needs in the area of the physical. The greatest or the best gifts are those which meet our particular need in any of these areas where the need is the greatest at a given time. For the need of our spirit are gifts of inspiration. For the needs in the soul, including the intellect, we have gifts of revelation. For the area of the physical, we have gifts of power and healing. Under gifts of inspiration we have prophecy, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, that meet our need more particularly in the realm of the spirit where they inspire us. But when was the last time you heard a real message in tongues and then the follow on interpretation? This includes prophecy, divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. I am afraid we have dumbed down this group to a humanistic display of religious flesh and manipulation to where most people (even the ones who know the difference) have rejected most if not all moves of the Spirit. In the realm of the soul to which belongs the intellect are the gifts of revelation. How valuable is revelation (to know what God is saying) today? This includes the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits. I believe the discerning of spirits (not the Holy Spirit, but the spirit of the person) is one of the greatest gifts of the Spirit that most people lack. Most Christians want the "powerful gifts" (ones that can be used to control people and lead to power and making money),but may not be the best gift to meet the need. And in the realm of the material, which are the gifts of power; faith, the working of miracles, and gifts of healing. My friend there are so many needs in so many lives that demand the manifestation of the Spirit through the work of the Holy Spirit to touch the innermost heart conditions, situations, and to rectify the condition of billions of people in the world and yet the thrust and focus in the "church" continues to be the gifts (and control) and not the need. When we focus on the needs of the people again I believe the Holy Spirit will open up again the free flowing facet of His work in the "church" and the world, but not until. There is something else that I would like to mention. There is something here that has been a choice truth. Did you know there is such a thing as unbelieving Believers. All Believers believe in Christ or they would not be called Believers, but not all Believers believe what is written in the Scriptures, not to mention what God speaks to their heart. Now there are some times when it is better that we do not believe some things we hear from "the man of God." I never liked that title I am not sure what that all means. But, there are times when God sends to us (by His Spirit) His pure word, His message to our heart, and yet some in the audience some will not believe. Over my life time I have seen God move in dramatic ways and at other times in the subtle, the simplistic, yet in the sublime. I am not sure what causes God to move as He does other than our heart condition towards Him and our need which He knows all too well. After all He knows all things, I wonder at times do we really believe He knows all things? Maybe we should stop asking for the gifts of the Spirit, he knows if we can handle them. Maybe the best gift of the Spirit is not a gift at all, but the best gift from the Spirit is our need. Written by David Stahl