Tag Archives: power

The “Foolishness” of God

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The power of salvation is not found in man’s explanations about heaven and eternity.  You will come and question me in regard to my testimony about Christ.  In me you will find fault, but in the message of the cross you will find no fault.

You will look at my life and see some form of chaos, for I am but a man.  But in the salvation of God you will not find chaos.  For God’s promise is true.  God’s Holy Son has been sent into the world, that he may become the salvation of all who put their faith in him.

There is no grafication of man before the Holy Father.  There is only glorification of Christ Jesus.  What a horrible offense this is the pride of man. 

18 “For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. 19 For it is written,

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the intelligence of the intelligent I will reject.'”  (1 Corinthians 1)

By His Grace

Spiritual Dynamics

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A politician sat down with his advisors, that they might conspire how to get him reelected next year.  His record was not stellar.  By a considerable margin, he might well lose the next election.

They discussed six or seven alternatives, but none of them were rated very high in probability.  But the last option rang like a new brass church bell.

“If you are reelected”, one of them said.  “You could easily pocket 7 million over the next four years.”   The politicians eyes smiled, but in his soul the word “if” stood out largely.  He turned to look at Fred.  “What’s your point Fred?”

Fred began.  “It takes money to make money Stan.  How would you like to get 7 million for a 10 percent investment?”   He captured Stan’s imagination like a magnet to iron filings.  “Why don’t you make a conspicuous donation to father Briers little Church?   He’s got a tiny little place and a lot of land to build on.  We will make sure it’s leaked to the press that you are a godly man, and can be trusted.  I guarantee it’ll pop your numbers over the top.”

Stan fell in love with the idea.  The next day Stan and six of his Advisors showed up at the little Catholic Church.  After a bit of small talk, Stan handed father Brier a check for $725,000.

Father Brier accepted the check with great joy.  And Stan’s advisors made promises to help advertise the new building.  Soon father Briers Church would be full of people! 

The priest was overjoyed.  The building was completed long before election time.  The people floated in, as promised.  Needless to say, the income of the Church rose dramatically, and Stan got reelected.

The politician had done what politicians do; they often use whatever means is necessary to secure their position.  But the priest had done something he should never have done.  I’m not referring to accepting the money.

The priest considered his building as the Church.  And from that misconception everything else fell flat. 

A man can own a building.  A man can gain a title.  A man can play politics with the things that are in his hand.  But no one can own the Church.  The Church belongs to Jesus, the Christ of God.

No building, no title, and no politics, are able to wrench it out of the Lord’s hands.  Forgetting that the word church refers to “the called out ones”, can be a grave mistake.

The priest may be happy today.  But he has missed the fluid dynamic of the Holy Spirit’s power.  Stop up the flow of a river, and it will eventually turn putrid.

By His Grace

The Value of One

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What is the value of one man?

With clamoring, Man elevates all his unholy “strength”.

One man can corrupt millions.

And so, ungodliness prospers like violent weeds.

But what is the value of one servant of Christ?

I consider Stephen, the celebrated first martyr in Christ.

He was not one of the 12.

There is no miracle attached to his witness.

Yet see how God used him with excellent power of revelation.

In the midst of worthless power, Stephen testified with revealed Glory.

What is the value of one man of God?

How the kingdom of lies was shaken and stirred to violence,

When God moved within the soul of that one man.

 

Let us not consider that a mass of men must rise in order that the Gospel might become a prominent power among men.  But let us remember the Promise of God.  “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.'” (Isaiah 30: 15)  Does the Holy Fire of God seek a place of venting among men?  As lava seeks the place of release, does the Holy Will of God seek a man to “do”?  And what shall be said when the Will of God finds that soul who “will”?

With confidence, the man of God lives out his days.  He knows the Living God’s Holy Son.  He is not restrained by terror.  He speaks with authority, for from Authority he is taught.  He joyfully does the Living Will of the Living God.  With a whisper he quiets the clamor of Man.  With the Holy Wisdom of God, he dispels the lies in which men trust so violently.

What is the value of one man?  What is the power of that man’s prayer?  How brilliant does that one shine before the Holy Throne of the Living God?  How willing is God to teach he who is willing to hear?  How sharp is the eye of the one who desires to see?  How powerfully is God willing to act when He finds one man willing to be used?

“For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance.”  (Matthew 13: 12)

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  (Matthew 10: 10)

What is the value of ONE MAN?

The Power of the Powerless

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It is easy for men to divide themselves from those who are wicked.  All it takes are codes of behavior in society, enough money to build fine neighborhoods, and lawful force to deter.  Division is made, and the wicked are forced to live in squalor. 

At their choosing, they can move one of their righteous to the squalor of the wicked.  Or they can elevate a wicked man to a place of prominence.  Why just look at the power they can wield!

But there is an abhorrent  behavior (among men) which they have no power against.  And oh how it galls both the righteous and the wicked to be so powerless. 

They entice with money, but it does no good.  They coerce with position, but it does not end well.  They threaten with squalor, but the victim only smiles. 

They are powerless against the Spirit of God in a man. 

When a man’s soul is set on fire by God, silence is not an option.  Money has no strength against the desire to glorify the Lord Jesus.  And from the fire of God within, the wickedness of man is to profuce to ignore!

They may offer such a man a position among them.  But they will quickly withdraw the offer when they see it has not accomplished the “beautiful” destruction.

They are not allowed to imprison him because of his words (Not today, anyway.)  They are not allowed to beat him into submission.  (As if that were possible.)  They are not allowed to murder him.  All they can do is hope God will take his servant home soon.

By His Grace

Godly Sorrow

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There is sorrow in me

For the vastness of humanity.

What they seek so deep,

They will not keep.

The riches of religious pageantry.

The folly of drunken revelry.

The science which explains it all.

The buildings which stand; so many and tall.

Relationships they hold so dear,

While hating those who dare draw near.

The wars they fight with all their might,

With blood spilled out, both day and night!

The music of the devil planted,

The voice of God, by ruse supplanted.

Their love of freedom regardless the cost.

Even though eternal life is lost.

And so much more, time will not lend.

This sorrow in me just cannot bend.

When all it takes is humility,

To seek God’s face on bended knee.

While God’s promise remains,

“Destruction’ coming”.

They go on with all their precious nothing.

They have no grasp of the war within.

Or the strength of all their dearly loved sin.

Instead they see there’s nothing wrong,

For humanity to sing the song:

“I’m only man.
That’s what I am.
How dare you call me to holiness!

If God is true,
Then contempt is for you.
May all your religions be damned!

For there is no God
On our precious sod,
To teach us the way you proclaim.

So then righteous hatred
To you is directed,
There’s no mercy attached to your name!

Now just leave us alone.
Treck on to your home.
But you’ll die like the rest of us.

Eternity’s there.
Will grant you, that’s fair.
But science alone will save us.

You tire out us.
Provoking disgust.
When time’s proper we’ll seek your demise.

Go up old bald head!
Ascend to your home,
Past our beautiful clear blue skies!”

I hear that song sung

As each day has begun.

To avoid it, I am not fit.

So I counter their din

By praying to HIM:

“Please, Great God,
Teach me how to respond.
Lest their blasphemous words destroy me.

For I know you are True.
And within me is You.
Grant me words that release, not restrain Thee.”

Then I wait for a time,

With my soul so inclined,

To hear his most precious response:

“From the time of Adam to the present,
The rebellion of man has ascended.

Men will do what they do!
It’s not up to you,
To stifle the seed that was planted.

I have heard their proud words.
I’ve considered them fully absurd.
For they think that their words can destroy me.

But I raise up my own,
From My Holy Home.
Keeping blind, those fools who offend me.

But write down what’s good,
For its proper we should
Lay fast the vast great testimony.

Soon enough I’ll descend
To bring complete end
To their fully abhorrent false revelry.”

So I started to write,

As best I might,

A recounting of things that are true.

And by all means I’ll fight

To reveal He whose Right

That the Lord may save his sweet few.

By His Grace

Describing Desire

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What kind of burning desire emboldens the Christian?  It would not be right to say, they think of themselves as righteous folks; as if they look down their nose on those who do not believe.  Rather, they burn with a desire to share.

But what words might be used to describe this consuming desire?  If we speak of the enticement of eternal life, we would miss the mark.  To speak of the clean conscience born by the forgiveness of Christ, is fully insufficient.  And to say that they love God, is to make a mockery of the love of God.  For a love toward God, as seen in the Christian, is easily shown as less than full.

So perplexity attends the building of this article.  Because the consuming fire within my heart is more than all these things put together.  The fire is Christ Jesus himself.

In this place of testing, man will lack any ability to describe the Majesty that is Christ.  The best any Christian can do, is to allow the Lord to display himself (By this I mean we simply agree with the Lord).  And in this we recognize what was told the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you”.

By command of Eternity, the Gospel has been handed to men.  Even so, in this it finds restraint.

But now perceive what God has done.  When he enclosed his Majesty in restraint, he intensified desire near to the point of explosion. 

It is as if one closes the door on the oven.  When it is open, the intensity of heat is lessened.  But close the door and you can melt metal.  All this he has done in the frailty of a human life.

Today, this is as close as I can come to describing the desire of a Christian to preach the word to all men.  If you would know more fully about these things, dedicate yourself to things of Christ.

By His Grace