Daily Archives: February 14, 2012

The Cleansing Fire of Testing

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Isaiah, as directed by the Spirit of God, said, “See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong.” (Isa. 28: 2)

In the all the days before Christ’s appearance in flesh the Lord God, God Most High, knew the One who would enter our world to rescue His people.  Since before the foundation of the universe Jesus was known as God’s Right Hand.  All creation was groaning under the oppression of man’s wickedness.  All heaven had put up with the wickedness of a few.  And God knew the end of the story, just as He knows it now.

Take heart, you who moan with the burden of this world’s testings.  We are not removed from His plans.  We are a fruit of Grace.  And what He has promised and known from the beginning He will fulfill!  He is not slow as men count slowness.  He is deliberate and knowing in His ways.  Be patient, therefore, the way is provided.  The path is cleared.  Light marks “The Way” for all who would travel it.  We are being called through a cleansing fire of testing.  Hold your head up and walk like men, like men of God.

English: A scroll of the Book of Isaiah

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WWJD

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A "What Would Jesus Do?" (WWJD) bracelet

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In the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew, we read about one who was attending but was not wearing wedding clothes.  The Lord asked him, “Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?”  The man had nothing to say in response.  To my initial amazement the Lord gives orders to bind that man hand and foot and to throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the Lord says, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

 

I have often written of the urgency in the Gospel to follow after the Lord with our hearts, minds, and “soul ears” open to His leading.  Again, we interpret this passage with the same value of urgency.  Who is he who was not dressed in wedding clothes?  It is he who was not spoken of in the following passage: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.”  (Rev. 7: 14)

 

What does this mean?  When the Lord came to me as I drove across Elk Mountain, he explained this passage without referring to it.  He said to me, “I will take you to be with me, if you will but listen to me.”  It is in the listening and obeying every moment that we wash our robes in the Blood of the Lamb.

 

Which man knows what is appropriate, timely, and Righteous, except that the Lord tells us these things from His perspective in Heaven.  I will say this and know that few will receive it with an open and honest heart:  No man knows what is absolutely right to do or say at any one moment.  But in the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit, we fill our moments here with His perfect will.  Those who live according to plain religion, hoping that they are doing what is right, are not washing their robe in the Blood of the Lamb.   They stand a good chance of being like that man at the wedding feast.  They too will have no answer to the Lord when asked.  They will not understand why their clothing is not gleaming like the others.  They will be without an answer.

 

Hear these words and consider your life.  If you’re not sure about where you stand with the Lord, sell your entire life to gain that sureness!   What would you give if you are that man who is asked how you got in there?  And what would you desire you had done when they are taking you away from the Great Wedding Banquet of the Most High God and His people?

 

The  Lord is not looking for people who will attend the religious service, dressed, and participating appropriately.  He has no interest in socially acceptable religion.  He is looking for those who are intent in listening to Him.  For eternity, it is those kind of people the Lord is seeking.  Sin will be done away with.  And only those who commit their entire heart, mind, body, and soul to following Him are going to be “worthy”.  Strive with all you have to enter!  The way is narrow, which leads to eternal life.  Only Jesus can teach you what step should be taken next.  Pride, ignorance, folly, rebellion, and the like belong to the broad way.  The broad way, which leads to destruction.  What more can be said?  The choice is always ours.  His offer remains before us all until the moment when we leave this tent of flesh.

 

You have heard of the saying, “What would Jesus do.”  This saying supposes that we can either guess or discern what the Lord might do in any given case.  I have learned the folly of that saying.  We are not called to guess.  We are called to obey.  And how can we hope to obey unless the Lord Himself is teaching us moment by moment.  He is speaking to us right now.  Are we listening?  We sharpen our ears as we do what He says.

 

Life Worth Living

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Black recliner (arm chair)

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In my wickedness I am lost.  Even my breathing is labored with the weight of a guilty conscience.  Sighing consumes my days.  And there is never any rest.  Even my joints complain with stiffness because of my evil ways.  I seek release but find none.

But in the days when the Spirit of God thrives among the fibers of my body, I am found and strong.  It can be said that when we are weak, we are pitifully weak.  When we are strong there is no longer any comparison to man.  For the Spirit of God is not weak in any measure.  So the measure of filling we allow becomes a strength that has no end.  My body rests in peace.  My mind thinks clearly.  My speech is slowed and calculated, no longer frantic to explain what I believe.  Sleep is sound and joyful.  And a silent revelry reigns in my soul.

By the Spirit of God we become a union of God and man.  We no longer desire the things of the flesh.  This is why it was written, “Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Though you already know this, isn’t it wise and good to remind each other of these things?  Iron sharpens iron.  What good is a dull axe?

I AM

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English: Moses and the Burning Bush, illustrat...

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I have searched out what is true between God and man.  And, from what God has been willing to divulge to man, I understand the reason for life;  To learn to live your life with a reverence and love for God, to do what is right in His Holy eyes, and to refrain from as much evil as you are blessed to refrain from.

I have searched out what is true between God and man.  And from what God has been willing to divulge to man, I understand that our perception of life is not at all what is true.  There is a life more living than we.  This life has been from eternity, is now the same as it was, and will forever be beyond this place of testing.

Man says to himself, “I think.  Therefore I am.”  God has said, “I AM.  Therefore you think.”  The pride of man cannot perceive this truth.  For he thinks to himself that he is the end of his life.  Or that man will be praised for the works he has done in this place of testing.  Yet all his days, the pride of man gives no accounting of the Holy God who was before the first shaft of darkness was created.

Humility, on the other hand, recognizes the plight of our limits.  It keeps in mind the Glory of the Most High God.  And never surrenders to the pride of man.  Humility is prime glory for man.  While pride is the abject loss of glory, humility is the crown on man’s head.

Electrons and Papyrus

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The front side (recto) of Papyrus 1, a New Tes...

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Billions of trees fell.  Buildings were constructed.  Cribs were crafted for the children of the cutters.  Trinkets were carved to sell to men.  And papyrus was done away with when man found a way to make the saw dust receive ink and feather.

Since that day, the advent of paper, trillions of writings have been created.  Since that day billions of pages have been destroyed.  Most of those papers should never have been written, for they contained foolish, limited, evil, and destructive teachings and thoughts.  But we are aware that millions, perhaps billions, of them also contained lovely God born truths.

It’s our turn now.  We have this electronic paper to write on.  The wicked have noticed the value of writings.  Shouldn’t the people of God realize it also?

Blogs of wickedness abound now.  And a few of God’s people have begun their own response.  But there is room for far more of us to speak the truth.  You might not be comfortable with telling the world what you know about Christianity.  But let me give you a helpful kick in the seat of your pants, please.  I won’t put all my leg muscles into that kick.  Open a blog and write a post of what you DO know.  It’s fine to start with something as fundamental as “Jesus loves you.”  I guarantee that as soon as you post that, something else will come to mind.

The world is speaking lies with a very loud voice.  I urge God’s people in Jesus to respond with that beautiful whisper of truth which speaks louder than any man can yell.  Allow me an observation please.  If you don’t speak up, who will?  And how do you know that God hasn’t been willing to give you things to say?  We’re not dead yet.  Why not speak for the One you will stare at lovingly for eternity?  If the Apostles didn’t write, you’d be stumbling far more than you are.  And if we allow the wicked to outweigh our writings, where will those who are seeking the Lord turn?  It’s such a simple thing to write what we know.  So very simple that even a child can do it when it learns to write a letter or two:  “Jesus loves you”.

The Mighty Building

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Cornerstone on south side of , located at 3105...

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A mighty building is being constructed.  Brick by brick the building is constructed: soul by soul, work by work.  The corner-stone was laid and by its dimensions the walls jut out and up.  This mighty building is the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus.  And each brick is the soul and work of a man according to the will of God.

However, many are preparing themselves to be part of walls which are attached to the corner-stone yet not according to its dimensions and form.  They construct their lives as they will; not according to the will of God.  And they expect that the wall they are a part of will endure the proof of God.

Picture a four walled building.  Consider that the architect has in mind a four walled building.  Now picture that some construction crews came in and attached a few walls which extend in various ways from the desired plan.  Do you think those walls will be allowed to remain when the architect comes to inspect his work?  Won’t they be torn down?

Why would you desire to live your life according to your own mind?  Why wouldn’t you consult the plan of the One who hired you?  If you were not sure of your contract of hire, wouldn’t you go seek out the one who drew up the plan and ask for direction?  Yet millions continue stubbornly on a path of their own.  Happily they hammer and saw to build what they think will provide a pleasing sight to the God who called them from wickedness.  They will be shown for what their work proves them to be.  And what they have done will be disconnected from the mighty building of God.  All their work will surely be utterly destroyed.  All that will remain is powdery ashes which the hurricane of Holiness from God’s throne will blow away eternally far from His Holy City.

Do not be fooled.  A man reaps what he sows.  God will NEVER be mocked.  A man’s work will be tested against the Holy will of God in Jesus, His Christ.  Wake and consider who’s you are.  Educate yourself by reading the Bible.  Listen to the Spirit of God within you.  Put away pride and humble yourself before the Most High God.  Learn!  Learn!  Learn!  Before you drive one more nail or saw one more board, learn!  Remember, there is a “quitting time”.  The whistle will blow and the time for building will be over.  Surely you don’t want to be found having wasted your time doing what should not be done.  On this earth, such shoddy workmanship would cause great shame in the one who doesn’t follow the plan.  Shame will be the least of your concerns when you face utter destruction.  Come on now, LIVE!