"Consulting King..."

November 30, 2015

“Consulting King…”

Blessings folk!

The children of Israel did as the Lord commanded.
They arose early in the morning.
They went to the wilderness.
Look at what else they did.
The King spoke…
The King also did something else…

2 Chronicles 20:20-21
20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”
21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”


The King declared…

  • listen to me
  • put your trust in the Lord your God (not in me!)
  • do so and you will be established
  • put your trust in the Lord’s prophets (in His Word) and you will succeed.

Then, this…
The King consulted with the people.
Really?
A rare thing.
Often leadership thinks that consultation is weakness.
Such is not the case.

The King consulted with the people.
They then “put the choir out front”.
Those who sang to the Lord…
Those who praised Him in holy attire…
They went before the army.
They went forth in praise to God Who had promised to deliver.

What did they declare?
“Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting!”

May we do and declare the same.

"Loud, Demonstrative Worship: the Fruit of Belief"

November 29, 2015

“Loud, Demonstrative Worship: the Fruit of Belief”

Blessings folk!

There is peace.
There is comfort.
There is holiness and righteousness.
All this, and more, are to be had when we realize the battle is the Lord’s.

If we do not live in this truth, then we are idolatrous.
We are declaring that something other than God is more powerful.

The children of Israel were learning this.

Note how the king and the people responded to the Word of the Lord (see yesterday).

2 Chronicles 20:18-19
18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.
19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.


The King bowed HIs head to the ground.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord.
The Levites praised the Lord with a loud voice.
They worshipped the Lord.

They all believed the Word of the Lord.
They believed what God had said…

  • do not fear
  • do not be dismayed
  • go down against them
  • do not fight against them
  • station yourself
  • see the salvation of the Lord.

The battle is the Lord’s.
Do you believe?
Do you live in belief?

"Battle Strategy"

November 28, 2015

“Battle Strategy”

Blessings Folk!

The Lord’s way is not our way.
His plan is often…usually?…not our plan.

Look at the battle plan of the Lord.

It makes no sense to the natural mind.

But, to those who believe…

2 Chronicles 20:15-17
15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”



Look at the strategy of the Lord.

  • They were not to fear.
  • They were not to be in dismay over the great multitude against them.

Why?
Because the battle was not theirs.
The battle is the Lord’s

Yet, they were to do something.
They were to go stand against the enemy.
They were to stand, yet they were not to fight in this battle.
They were told precisely where the enemy would be.
They were told the time of day.
They were told what to do.
  • Go down
  • Find them
  • Do not fight
  • Station yourselves
  • See the salvation of the Lord

A pattern for how we are to stand firm before the enemy.

Remember…

Eph 6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Eph 6:13
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Eph 6:14
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,


Too often we seek to fight in our own strength.

Do not do so.

Fight as the Lord leads.
Follow Him.
Victory has been determined.

"Standing Before the Lord"

November 27, 2015

“Standing Before the Lord”

Blessings folk!

The King cried out to the Lord on behalf of himself and the nation.
Enemies had surrounded them.
He assembled the people.
Exhibiting humility he sought the Lord before the people.
Then they waited.
Their eyes were upon the Lord.
All Judah stood before the Lord.
They waited.
Men.
Wives.
Infants.
Children.

None of this “I can’t stand before the Lord because they do not have childcare” stuff.
None of this “Well, the King better do something or I’m leaving…”

Then, the Word of the Lord came.
It came from the midst of the assembly.

Chronicles 20:13-15a
13 All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children.
14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;
15 and he said,…


The Word came through Jahazeil the Levite.

It did not come through the King.
It did not come through those on the “stage” before the folk.
It came from a faithful Levite in the assembly of the people.
Why through him?
Because the Lord desired.
How?
The Spirit of the Lord moved upon him.

Are we willing for such?
Will we allow the Spirit to move as He desires?
Will we await the Lord?
Will we speak the Word He releases?

"Oh, Lord!"

November 26, 2016
"Oh, Lord!"
Blessings folk!
We saw yesterday in 2 Chronicles 20 that Israel had a problem. They were surrounded by enemies.
What did Israel do?
The King sought God. He humbly sought God before the people.
Oh, for leadership...political, religious, family...that that would do likewise today.
The King sought the Lord. The Lord spoke.
The Lord told them to stand firm and watch the salvation of the Lord.
Give close attention to the prayer of the King...
2 Chronicles 20 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
The King... declared God to be the God of their fathers declared He is God in heaven declared He has power and might declared none is able to withstand Him reminded God of what He had done...drove out inhabitants of the land, gave the land to them forever, reminded the Lord of His Word..."if disaster...cry out His name in this house..." reminded God of His covenant reminded God that the very enemies now threatening had not been allowed to be killed. ask God to execute judgment acknowledged that they were powerless, they did not know what to do declared their eyes were on Him
Humility of a king. A rare thing.
He acknowledged the situation. They acknowledged that their eyes and hope were upon the Lord.
We should do likewise.

"The Battle Is the Lord's"

November 25, 2015

“The Battle Is the Lord’s”

Blessings folk!

Do you give thanks to the Lord when the enemy is about you?
If not, why not?
God does know.
God does care.

Let us look at an extended passage.
Note…
  • the situation
  • the response of the leadership
  • the response/instruction of the Lord
  • the response of the people

2 Chronicles 20
1 Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.
2 Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).” 3 Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court,
6 and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.
7 Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
8 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying,
9 ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.’
10 Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them),
11 see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.
12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
13 All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children.
Jahaziel Answers the Prayer

14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;
15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.
19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”
21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
22 When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.
23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying them completely; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.
25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including goods, garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.
26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore they have named that place “The Valley of Beracah” until today.
27 Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres and trumpets to the house of the Lord.
29 And the dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides.


Moab/Ammon/Meunites were waging war against Jerusalem.
Jehoshaphat the King turned and sought the Lord.
The Lord answered through Jahaziel, who was in the midst of the people.
They were instructed to:

  • fear not
  • be not dismayed
  • know the battle is the Lord’s
  • not fight
  • station themselves and see the salvation of the Lord

There is more detail we will examine later.
Did you see verse 21?
They were commanded to give thanks to the Lord.
They did.
The victory was the Lord’s.
They were saved.

"In Everything..."

November 24, 2015

“In Everything…”

Blessings folk!

Are you giving thanks?
In everything?

1Th 5:18
in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


In everything.
At all times.
Without ceasing.
We are to give thanks.
This does not mean that we “like” the situations.
We are to give thanks.
It is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus to give thanks.
If we do not give thanks, then we should not be surprised by the things that we encounter.

I know that in looking at the news of the day it is difficult to give thanks.

Let us cry to the Lord for His deliverance and salvation. Let us seek His deliverance from the nations.
Give thanks.
Glory in praising the Lord.

1Ch 16:35
Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
And glory in Your praise.”

"Give Thanks"

November 23, 2015
“Give Thanks…”
Blessings folk!
A week of thanks. Even the world acknowledges the need to give thanks. Of course, to whom does the thanks belong is in question…from the world’s view.
Search the Word this week…see what it says related to “thanks”…
We are to give thanks to God. We are to give thanks before the world…
2Sa 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
1Ch 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
1Ch 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
We are to give thanks among the heathen. We live among the heathen. They should see us giving thanks to the Lord. They should see us sing His praises.
We are to call upon His name among the people. We are to make known His deeds among the people.
This is more than a “church event”. This is the lifestyle of the true believer. Giving thanks to the Lord. Declaring He is good. Before all people.
Being a physical expression of His mercy that endures forever.
Let us do so.

"Fate of Sons of Man and Beasts"

November 22, 2015

“Fate of Sons of Man and Beasts”

Blessings folk!

One final word from Ecclesiastes 3.

Everything dies.

Ecc 3:18-22
I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.”
For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.
All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.
Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?
I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?


The fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts are the same.
They die.
All is vain.
All go to dust.

But, true Believers are Sons of God.

Also, the breath of man ascends upward.
The breath of beasts descends downward.
God gives heed to the breath of man.

There are actually two final words.
Everything dies.
It is better for man to be happy in his activities…

Then, an interesting question.
Who will show man what will happen to him?

God will.

"Wickedness"

November 21, 2015

“Wickedness”

Blessings folk!

God knows the past…the present…the future… and all the varied permutations.
Imagine, no limits of linear time.

The more one thinks upon this, the more in awe we are before the Lord.

Ecc 3:16-17
Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,


Truly, our situation is such today.
In place of justice is wickedness.
Often wickedness is in the guise of “justice”, “leadership”, “help”.
The most wicked among us present themselves as the most righteous.
We should not be surprised.
The Lord has told us.
We should also not be deceived.
Do not believe the lies of the wicked, the unrighteous, the evil.

Know that God will judge.
He will judge the righteous.
He will judge the wicked.

Walk in justice.
Walk in righteousness.

Leave room for the judgment of the Lord.

"Whatever Has Been, Whatever Is"

November 20, 2015

“Whatever Has Been, Whatever Is”

Blessings folk!

We saw these truths yesterday…

Ecc 3:14
I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.


Now, the next verse…

Ecc 3:15
That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.


Read it again.

That which “is” has been already…the moment we think about “now” it becomes/is the past.
That which “will be” has already been from God’s perspective.

He created “time”.
He is not “locked-in” to any of His creation.
He is “outside”…without any created limit.
God in not bound by the linear flow of time.

Yesterday.
Today.
Tomorrow.
All are the same to God.
He knows all about each.

“God seeks what has passed by”?

Read some other translations.

Ecc 3:15
Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.
HSCB

Ecc 3:15
That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
KJV

Ecc 3:15
That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
ESV

Ecc 3:15
That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.
NKJV

Ecc 3:15
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
NIV


There will be an accounting.

Rejoice in the wonder and glory of the Most High.
Truly His ways are above us.

"Everything...Forever"

November 19, 2015
“Everything…Forever”
Blessings folk!
Ready to tread upon holy ground? Ready for some profound truth about the Most High?
Ecc 3:14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.
Do we know this? Do we know? Do we believe? That everything God does will remain forever.
There is nothing to add… There is nothing to take away… There is nothing incomplete are lacking in the work of the Lord. God and His work is the totality of all.
His work and Who He is brings forth the righteous awe and fear of Him.
Think on this verse today. Meditate upon it.
How will knowing this truth change the way you live?
Do you live in the reverential fear of the Lord?
Wait until you see the next verse…

"Work: A Gift of God"

November 18, 2015
“Work: A Gift of God”
Blessings folk!
There is an appointed time…
Ever wonder about the work we do?
Ecc 3:9-13 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.
It is God Who makes everything appropriate in its time. The Lord gives us tasks with which to occupy ourselves. Hummm…never thought of that?
The Lord has also done this… He has set eternity in the heart of man. This is a wondrous truth. Eternity itself is set in our hearts by God. We see more of this Romans 1.
Still, we do not comprehend the limitless nature of the work of God…from beginning to end.
Therefore… Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord and all He has done and is doing. Do good in your life.
See good in your labor. IT is a gift from God. Work well and hard in the gift the Lord has provided.

"Love/Hate, War/Peace"

November 17, 2015

“Love/Hate, War/Peace”

Blessings folk!

There is an appointed time for everything under the heavens.

Had to remind myself of that yesterday whilst visiting with a friend that is on the threshold of glory…just learned that he is in glory now…

Ecc 3:8
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.


The Hebrew word for “hate” refers to hate in the sense that we understand it.
It also carries the idea of “having an enemy”.

There will be times when there will be those who consider themselves to be our enemies.

We are not to be surprised by such.

Jesus told us that the world will hate us.

We are called to that wondrous mystery of loving all, yet hating sin, deeds, etc.

Loving all does not mean that we walk through life with a “pie-in-the-sky” attitude.
No.
We know we have enemies.
Enemies must be addressed.

There is a time to love…a time to hate.
There is a time for war…a time for peace.

War against enemies…not tactic.

I dare say that one of our greatest enemies are those who have lead us into a “war” against a tactic.

Paul warned of such.
In Acts 20 he tells the elders from Ephesus to be ready, to beware. There would be those who would arise from without the Body and from within the Body who would cause harm.

Such are to be resisted.

"Tear Apart/Sew Together, Silent/Speak"

November 16, 2015

“Tear Apart/Sew Together, Silent/Speak”

Blessings folk!

There is an appointed time for everything.
There is a time for every event under heaven…

Ecc 3:7
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.


There is a time to tear apart and start over.
There is a time to mend…to sew together that which is divided.

The Wisdom of the Lord will direct.

There is a time to be silent…

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.


Even a fool appears wise when he holds his tongue.
Such is considered prudent.
There is a time to be silent.

There is also a time to speak.
The “silent majority” will never impact the world.
The Kingdom of God is not built upon silence.
The Kingdom is built upon the proclamation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

1Jo 1:1-3
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—
and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

May we proclaim and speak likewise.
May the Word of the Lord flow through us to bring together that which is torn.

"Search/Give Up, Keep/Throw Away"

November 15, 2015

“Search/Give Up, Keep/Throw Away”

Blessings folk!

To everything there is an appointed time.

Ecc 3:6
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.


There is a time to press on.
We may search and search, but there is a time to press on with the knowledge that things are lost.

There is a time to keep and a time to throw away.

Too often we retain the past…things and thoughts…rather than release them and press on.

It is good to remember/keep the things of the past.
It is not good to live in the past.

Yes, search.
But if the Lord says “give up”, then do so and press on.

Yes, keep.
But if the Lord says “throw away”, then do so.

Listen.
Obey.

"Stones and Embraces"

November 14, 2015

“Stones and Embraces”

Blessings folk!

There is an appointed time for everything under the heavens…

Ecc 3:5
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.


There is a time to defend.
There is a time to gather defensive materiel.
There is a time to build with stone.
There is a time to defend and move offensively with stone.

There is a time.

There is a time to embrace…to draw near…to reach out.
There is also a time to shun…to reject…to know the danger.

We are in such times.

These times require…

  • wisdom of the Lord
  • words of knowledge from the Lord
  • faith from the Lord
  • guidance from the Lord
  • trusting in the Lord

Are you ready?
Are you prepared?

In the Spirit.
If ready/prepared in the Spirit, the Lord will lead and provide the rest.

"Weep/Laugh, Mourn/Dance"

November 13, 2015

“Weep/Laugh, Mourn/Dance”

Blessings folk!

There is an appointed time for everything.

Ecc 3:4
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.


The Lord created us with emotion.
The Lord Himself has emotion.
We are created in His image.

There will be times to…

  • weep
  • laugh
  • mourn
  • dance

All are to be expected.
All are to be done in the joy of the Lord, to His praise glory and honor.

The true believer does so through the Spirit.

The Lord is with at all times, through the “highs” and the “lows”.

Rejoice!

"Kill/Heal, Tear Down/Build Up"

November 12, 2015

“Kill/Heal, Tear Down/Build Up”

Blessings folk!

What a great truth.
What a comforting truth.
There is an appointed time for everything…for every event under heaven.
A time for birth.
A time for death.
A time for planting.
A time for uprooting.

We continue…

Ecc 3:3
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.


Those of us who were raise on a farm understand this better than others.
There are times when healing can occur…can be nurtured…can be expected.
Then, there are times when the merciful act is to “put the animal down”

There is a time when we can build up…build upon that which exist.
Then, there is a time when the greater part of wisdom is to tear down, raze and begin again anew.

Many are the thing things in our lives that will come our way that require decisions related to such.

Seek the Lord.
Know that He has a path for us.

Though there is pain…
Often a time to kill will bring forth healing.
Often a time of tearing down allows for building up.

Trust the Lord and His timing.
Know that His timing is perfect.

"Time to Plant, Time to Uproot"

November 11, 2015

“Time to Plant, Time to Uproot”

Blessings folk!

There is a time to plant.
There is a time to reap.
There is a time to uproot that which is planted.

There is a time to plant in anticipation of the harvest to come.
There is a time to reap the harvest of that planted by faith.
There is a time of uproot the previously planted in preparation and anticipation of new harvest.

Ecc 3:1-2
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.


We may not see all the stages.
Some might plant…never seeing the harvest.
Some might harvest, never having planted.
Some might uproot the previous harvest.
Some will plow fallow ground in faith of harvest yet to come.

Hos 10:12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you

1Co 3:4-9
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

What are you planting?
What soil are you working in?
What harvest do you expect?

"Time for Birth, Time for Death"

November 10, 2015

“Time for Birth, Time for Death”

Blessings folk!

As we saw a few days ago, their is an appointed time…for everything…

Ecc 3:1-2
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

We see a portion of life here.
Often folk will refer to the “cycle of life”…birth/death.
But there is more than that.

Yes, there is birth and death.
But, life is more than that…our lives existed before the Lord spoke anything into existence.
He foreknew us…before the foundations of the earth.

Our lives will carry on for all eternity.
It can be said that all have “eternal life”.
Some, true believers will spend eternity in the Presence of the Most High God.
Others, will spend eternity, life without death, in the Lake of Fired

Know where you are bound…

"You Yourselves Know.."

November 9, 2015

“You Yourselves Know…”

Blessings folk!

Some time in life transitions one may feel as Paul did.

He wanted to see those he loved.
He had so much to share with them.
Yet, there was little time.
He was pressing on to be in Jerusalem by the time of the Festival.
To be in Jerusalem for that which the Spirit testified to him was to occur - chains and bonds.

He especially wanted to see the elders of Ephesus.
Still, he could not afford the time.
So, he sent for them…

Acts 20
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
18 And when they had come to him, he said to them,
“You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,
21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
24 But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
25 “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.
26 Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes.
34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.
35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,
38 grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.

Live in like manner.

"Appointed Time..."

November 8, 2015

“Appointed Time…”

Blessings folk!

Ecc 3:1
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—


Usually when I hear this verse read from the pulpit I think “uhoh, what’s up?”

The balance of the passage, which we will examine, speaks of “a time…”.

It does give insight into times of transition.
But there is more.

God knows all the time of our lives.
God created time, yet, God is outside of time.

He knows all the things of our lives.
It goes beyond God knowing.

He has designed works for us to walk in.

Eph 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.


God has prepared “beforehand” - before the foundation of creation-works that we are to walk in.

Think on that.

We do not have “try to figure out what God wants us to do”.
We simply walk in obedience.

Yes, there are appointed times.

As many of you have heard recently, we have a transition in personal appointed times.

We are moving from St. Andrews church to First Baptist church.

Different local gatherings.
Same Body of Christ.

Thanks to St. Andrews for the years of worship and Word.

Our weekly appointed time of corporate worship might be drawing to an end, yet we will still be one in Body and community.

The local Bible studies will continue, just across the hollar…

First Baptist, we rejoice in the appointed time of the Lord.

What hath the Lord prepared?

Mic 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?




"Save Us! Praise Him!"

November 7, 2015

“Save Us! Praise Him!”

Blessings folk!

The Psalmist closes his cry unto the Lord with a declaration of praise and a request for rescue.

He began with praise.
He ends with praise.

Psa 106:47-48
Save us, O LORD our God,
And gather us from among the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name
And glory in Your praise.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.
And let all the people say, “Amen.”
Praise the LORD!


The Psalmist called upon the Lord to save His people.
He called for the Lord to gather them from among the nations.

The Lord did this.
In our lifetime!
Israel became a nation in 1948.
The Psalmist desired that God gather them…to give thanks…to glory…

Therefore…

  • give thanks to the Lord…to His holy name.
  • glory in the His praise
  • bless the Lord
  • know that He is from everlasting to everlasting

Shout “Amen”!
Praise the Lord.

"Objects of Compassion"

November 6, 2015

“Objects of Compassion”

Blessings folk!

The Lord remembered His Covenant with His people.
The Lord relented of His judgment.
He did so due to the greatness of His lovingkindness.

Then this…

Psa 106:46
He also made them objects of compassion
In the presence of all their captors.


Even when His people were captive, they found compassion among the captors.
The Lord did this.

1Ki 8:50
and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them

Ezr 9:9
“For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

Jer 15:11
The LORD said, “Surely I will set you free for purposes of good;
Surely I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you
In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

Jer 42:12
‘I will also show you compassion, so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own soil.


We are not forsaken.
We are free in the Lord.
We have His liberty.
We are set free for purposes of good.
The Lord will use us in His Kingdom, if we allow.

"He Remembered His Covenant"

November 5, 2015

“He Remembered His Covenant”

Blessing folk!

One of the greatest Words in the Word…
“Nevertheless”

We have seen how the people of the Lord turned against Him.
They did horrific things.

Then this…

Psa 106:44-45
Nevertheless He looked upon their distress
When He heard their cry;
And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.


The people would sin.
They would receive the just fruit.
They would then call upon the Lord.
Many examples in the book of Judges…

Jdg 2:18
When the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them.


Why did the Lord look upon their distress?
Why did He relent from the judgment that He brought?

Because He remembered His Covenant.
God is Covenant making.
God is Covenant keeping.
We must understand the Covenant relationship we have with God.

He remembered His Covenant with His people for their sake.
He relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.

His lovingkindness is beyond measure.

We do not assume upon His lovingkindness.
We rejoice in it!

"Oppressed and Subjected"

November 4, 2015

“Oppressed and Subjected”

Blessings folk!

Truly we have been given over into the hand of the heathen.
The vast majority of political leadership is heathen.
More than people would know of “religious” leadership is also heathen.

Psa 106:40-41
Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people
And He abhorred His inheritance.
Then He gave them into the hand of the nations,
And those who hated them ruled over them.


We continue to see more of what happened to the children of Israel.
The same is happening to us.
For the same reason.

Psa 106:42-43
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.


The enemy oppressed.
The enemy brought subjection.

The Lord delivered them many times, yet they continued to provoke Him through disobedience and iniquity.

So are we upon the land.
So are many in what is called “the church”.

True freedom, liberty and life is found only in the Lord.

Seek Him.

Have nothing to do with the enemy, his strategy, his counsel, his iniquity.

"Ruled By Those Who Hate Us"

November 3, 2015

“Ruled By Those Who Hate Us”

Blessings folk!

The anger of the Lord burned against His people.

Why?

Because of what we have seen the past few days…
They:
  • sacrificed their children to demons
  • shed innocent blood
  • sacrificed to the idols of Canaan
  • played the harlot before the Lord in their deeds
  • did not destroy the people/nations upon the land
  • mingled with the nations
  • learned the nations practices
  • etc. etc.

So…

Psa 106:40-41
Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people
And He abhorred His inheritance.
Then He gave them into the hand of the nations,
And those who hated them ruled over them.


The Lord’s anger was kindled against His people.
He abhorred His inheritance.

His people were His inheritance.
Now He abhorred them.

What did God do?

He gave them into the hand of the nations.
Those who hated His people now ruled over them.

Such has occurred to us.

We are ruled by those who hate us.
Think about it.

"Sacrificed to the Demons"

November 2, 2015

“Sacrificed to the Demons”

Blessings folk!

How bad was the evil of the children of Israel?
How far did they go in rejecting God?

They killed their children in worship.
No, not in worship of the Most High God.
In worship of demons.

Read…

Psalm 106:37-39
37
They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons,
38
And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and their daughters,
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with the blood.
39
Thus they became unclean in their practices,
And played the harlot in their deeds.


Note how verse 37 begins…”they even”.
To what is “even” related?

We saw it yesterday.

Psalm 106: 34-36
34
They did not destroy the peoples,
As the Lord commanded them,
35
But they mingled with the nations
And learned their practices,
36
And served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.


They mingled with the nations.
They learned the nations’ practices.
They served their idols.

To such a degree that they offered their children as sacrifice.

We do the same today.
We offer our children as sacrifices…often to the god of “convenience” and “choice”.

Therefore, there is blood upon the land.
There is blood upon our hands.

We have played the harlot in turning away from God.

We as true believers must speak forth the truth and lead the many to righteousness.

Our land is being/and will be judged for the blood upon it.
Watch what is happening in the natural…swarm earthquakes, volcanos will soon erupt, etc.
Watch what is happening politically. Where is the righteous person?
Watch what is happening among the nations.

Let us lead forth in repentance and confession, trusting the Lord for His grace, mercy and forgiveness.

"Mingled and Served"

November 1, 2015

“Mingled and Served”

Blessings folk!

The children of Israel were instructed by the Lord to destroy the nations upon the land.

We have seen that they did not do what the Lord commanded.

Not only did they did not follow the command of the Lord, they did something else.

Read.
What else did they do?

Psa 106:34-36
They did not destroy the peoples,
As the LORD commanded them,
But they mingled with the nations
And learned their practices,
And served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.


They did not destroy the nations.
Rather, they mingled with them
They learned their practices.
They served their idols.
These idols ensnared them.

“Mingle” means that they intermarried with the nations.
The Lord had told them not to do such.

This is what happens when when we do not follow the command of the Lord.
This is what happens when we think we know more/better than the Lord.
This is what happens when our eyes are upon the things of this world rather than upon the Lord.

The Body of Christ is tempted in similar fashion.
So many are mingled with the nations.
So many are manifesting the practices of the world.
So many serve idols.
All, in the”name of the Lord”.

Such should be rejected.

Seek the Lord.
Abide in Him.
Obey Him.
Trust Him.