A Hymn of Trust

Isaiah 30:15

In quietness and confidence

My strength shall ever be!

No weariness shall overcome

The soul that’s stayed on Thee.

Though trials sore and hardships come

My strength He shall renew:

His presence shall envelop me – 

No ill shall e’er pass through.

My case into His hands I’ve given,

He knoweth all my need;

And He who notes the sparrow’s fall

Shall still; provide and lead.

Though sudden sorrow pierce my heart,

Though storm-clouds rise and thunders roll,

In quietness and confidence

Shall be my strength of soul.

Though friends may fail, the world be dark,

I know for me He cares,

And as a Father pitieth

In all my grief He shares.

And so, whatever may betide,

Or whether weal or woe,

In quietness and confidence

Shall be the strength I know.

– N. M. S.

 Voices On The Mountain

Jack Davis

“And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.” II Peter 1:18

Peter is testifying to a most exciting experience of being an eyewitness to Jesus Christ coming majesty. He speaks of making known the power and coming of our beloved Lord. He is telling the truth and he wants them to remember it. It was indeed a sure word of prophecy. In the Gospel records we read of different forms of conversation heard on the mount that day. 

The Voice Of Communion

The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus “took Peter and John and James and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.” Luke 9:28-29 

We aren’t told what He said to the Father in this high level communion. It is evident that they heard Him speaking, and at least they knew He was praying. Jesus often spent time alone at night with His Father, it seems in preparation for the following day’s events. Whatever He said to the Father at this time doesn’t seem to be as important or necessary for our ears as what happened while He was communing. What a marvelous scene, what a glorious change took place! This is not a bad action for us. We also are being changed as we spend time alone with our father, inwardly and someday soon outwardly. Glory to God! Most true believers rejoice and are comforted by knowing that Jesus has ascended up on high and now appears in the presence of God for us. It is so very encouraging to be aware that our faithful High Priest also keeps the way open into the presence of the Father for us.

Voices Of Consultation

“And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.” Luke 9:30

The writer now calls our attention to two special people, voices from the past, that are supernaturally present. These voices out of history, showed that they were familiar with His-story. As they discussed Jesus’ death we realize that their faith had long range vision. For some time their faith had looked forward to the cross of Christ, and the glorious blessings to be enjoyed as result.

They are heard and seen on this mountain in the promise land. The one (Moses) God had personally buried in the valley in the land of Moab (Deut. 34:4-7). The Devil had disputed with Michael over his body (Jude 9) and God evidently raised Him from the dead. The other (Elijah) God carried up to heaven in a whirlwind (II Kings 2:11). They are somewhat typically representative of those who will go by the way of the grave and be raised triumphantly, and also those who are now alive and remain unto the coming of our dear Lord, awaiting translation.

The adversary may have thought he was rid of both of them forever, but praise God their voices are heard on the mount. Thank God, it is still exciting to hear their voices today in the Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even in the Law and the  prophets the coming of the Just one was foretold.

The Voice Of Confusion

“But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.” Luke 9:32-33

In Mark’s Gospel we are told that Peter didn’t know what to say. Peter was somewhat impulsive as well as afraid. It seems that he felt he just had to say or do something whether it is right or wrong. He had (excuse the expression) gone to Babylon. It seems most of us are like that sometime or other. We know that he had a high esteem for Jesus. He should have known better than to try to enshrine Moses and Elijah equally with Jesus.

Because of Calvary, God the  Father has given Him a name above every name. It is our sweet privilege to ever lift His name higher and higher to the glory of God the Father. I believe Peter was and is very glad for this divine interruption. There are many things that religeous leaders are saying today that will soon be interrupted. Thank God.

The Voice Of Commendation

“While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.” Luke 9:34-35

This is My Son – “beloved” (Son of my love) Mt. 17:5. The One to whom God commended His love toward us. The ideal – what a true Son should be, Heb. 1:5. Servant – doing always the things pleasing to the Father. Sacrifice – He is the sacrificial Lamb without spot, God had commended Him at the beginning of His public ministry, Mt. 3:16-17, and now as He was coming near the end.

After Jesus’ death on the cross God the Father made universal declaration of His Son, by raising Him from the dead, Rom. 1:4. The great Physician. Prophet – “speaker,” hear ye Him, Heb. 1:1-4, Acts 3:18-26 And 7:26. Potentate – I Tim. 6:15-16. Sovereign, Heb. 1:8,13, “Thy throne is for ever and ever,” He must reign. Savior – no other name given among men whereby we must be saved, Acts 4:12. Jesus – He shall save His people from their sin, Matthew 1:21. Faithful Witness – Rev. 1:5. Judge – “worthy.” Rev. 5:5,12: Jn. 5:22-23, II Tim. 4:6-8.

 You Need to See a Throne

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 6:1-5

I was impressed, while reading this, to notice the reaction of Isaiah when he saw the Lord sitting on a throne. The scene was certainly overwhelming and would definitely bring some kind of reaction from anyone. However, Isaiah was confronted with how inadequate and sinful he was in the presence of the Holy God.

As I contemplated this, I realized that we all need to see a throne. We need a vision of God’s Holiness. It will enable us to see ourselves in the proper light. However, it also became an opportunity to observe and understand God’s grace and mercy. A correct understanding of God’s grace and mercy require a true vision of God’s Holiness and power.

We find other similar encounters in the Old Testament with Moses; “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” Exodus 34:5-8. Notice Moses’ reaction. A true vision of God will elicit worship.

And Gideon “And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face” Judges 6:20-22. Gideon was accutely aware of his sinfulness in the presence of God. A vision of God’s Holiness will keep us from trying to present our own self righteousness.

One of these encounters that expresses the importance of God revealing Himself is found in Job, who had to go through a serious trial in his life before he encountered God in His majesty and power. His response is exactly what ours should be when we encounter God in His true Holiness and Power. “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6.

We should have the same desire as David when he writes, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” Psalms 63:1-2. A desire to “see” (have a vision or revelation) of God’s power and glory which will be found in His presence. He expresses it again here: “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalms 27:4. Not just “see,” but “behold” indicating a desire to look at and consider for some time. Have you ever just meditated on God’s Holiness?

The purpose is always to change us. God will change you as you look into His Holiness. We do this as we spend time in His presence and as we spend time in His Word which will lead us to His presence. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18. 

Our enemy will always try to get our focus on ourselves, our abilities, our failures, our self righteousness, and try to keep us concentrated on that. We, like Isaiah, Moses, Gideon, Job, Paul and many others, need to see a throne. We need to have a vision, a revelation of God in His power and Holiness. It will remove our focus from ourselves and from this world and will change us into something that can bring glory to the very God who has called us to come into His presence. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9. “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:12. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9.

 KNOWING THE LORD

Anita Clark – Pastor

Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

Do you know the Lord?  This question is often asked by a believer in Christ to someone we are not sure may know Jesus as their Savior. Every believer starts their  Christian life by accepting Jesus.   This is the first step of growing in our understanding of Who He really is. As we progress in the Lord, we need to learn Christ in a deeper, fuller way.

The word “know” in the Greek New Testament means. “To see, to understand.”  We see Jesus with Spiritual eyes of understanding - a revelation by the Holy Spirit. We first must see Him as our Deliverer, and  our Savior.  In Hebrews 2:9-18,  “But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He  by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”  Sometimes in the New Testament the word “know” means - “to recognize, be fully acquainted with, or to acknowledge.”  Coming to know Him as our personal Savior is the first step of knowing Christ.  

 

God knows you personally.  Jesus knows you personally.  That’s the relationship He wants to have with you - deep and personal.  He knows our name.  We are His “offspring”  Acts 17:29. Psalm 94:11 says God even knows all our thoughts.  Even when we pray, He knows our thoughts before we ask. Think about this.  He is away up there in the heavens, and yet He knows the thoughts of every person living on the earth.

 Isaiah 6:1 says, “He is high and lifted up and His train fills the temple.”  He is the Majesty on high.  Romans 11:33 says, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.”  How do we come to understand this?  It is by divine revelation, a revelation of Who God is?  This is all through Jesus, the Son of God.  Jesus is God personified or in a human form.

I Corinthians 2:9-14 states, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  Even so the things of the God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now, we have  received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”  How are we going to be able to know the things of God? As the Scripture says, “By the Spirit of God.”  This is in agreement with Jesus’ words in John 14:26, “... the Holy Ghost , whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”  

So it is plain that Jesus said we need the Holy Spirit in our lives to enlighten us to know God and His Son better or more fully.  Yielding our minds to the Holy Spirit of  God will cause us to have a revelation of the Word of God.  We will come to know Jesus in a deeper way as we grow in Him.  II Timothy 2:15, admonishes us to “Study to show thyself approved unto God.

Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:16-21 prays for the Ephesians believers to know the Lord in a greater way.  “I ... cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,  the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (V. 17).   A study of the word will give us this advanced knowledge.  Many Christians never delve into the depths of the Word. I challenge you to study and dig deeper where you will find the meat of the Word.  Verse 18 says, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling and what the riches of  glory of His inheritance in the saints.”  Do you know from this verse that Jesus will gain an inheritance, when His yielded people come up to glory to be with Him?  He will have a bride, made up of fully yielded Christians, who have prepared themselves to rule and reign with Him.  In Thessalonians 2:13, Paul speaks of God’s divine work,  “... in truth, the Word of God which effectually works also in you that believe.”

In Ephesians 3:17-19, Paul prays, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye ... May be able to comprehend ... what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height.  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth  knowledge, that ye might be filled with the fullness of God.”  This is what God desires to work for each of us.  There is depth of knowledge for us to know.  So many of God’s people stop and wade in the shallow places, rather than launching out into the depth of His Word. There is greater understanding for those who seek it. Ezekiel had a vision of the waters coming out from under the house of the Lord. (Ezk. 47).  The waters got deeper and deeper. Finally the waters were deep enough to swim in.”  This is the way that a revelation of the Word of God in truth happens.  His Holy Spirit will open our minds and view to deeper teachings that were never revealed to us before.  Apostle Paul states in Romans 11:33. “O the depth of the riches of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.” Of course with the revelation that the Holy Spirit gives when we study the Word and ask Him to show us the meaning of the text, we will receive a revelation of all the truth. However, there are some secrets of God that we may not know until we are in His presence.

II Timothy 1:12 says, “...I am not ashamed; for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”  We will grow into a place where our knowing Jesus becomes a deeper experience, i.e. Know Him not just as Saviour, but Keeper, Deliverer, Healer, Victor and coming Bridegroom. Knowledge of Him should grow deeper and deeper and greater and greater.  Ephesians 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

 Fruit Bearing

Part 2

Pastor Vicky Moots

Kingman, Kansas

In John 15:1 Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman,” and in v. 5 He said that we are the branches.  But what is the fruit? Gal. 5:22 tells us that it is the fruit of the Spirit.  As you can see, we now have the whole Trinity represented here at work in our lives regarding our fruit bearing.  God the Father is the Husbandman (or the farmer, the vine dresser), who is responsible for the crop; Jesus is the Vine and the Holy Spirit is the fruit.  That means that all of the work of fruit bearing is done by the Trinity, the God-head, and not by us.  The branches do not do any of the work of pruning.  It is not of our works lest we should boast, and therefore we cannot glory in our fruit bearing.  Our part is to yield to the cutting of the Word of God, which is the pruning tool, and allow the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit in our lives.

In Gal. 5:22-23 the Apostle Paul describes the 9-fold fruit of the Spirit, which is 3 times 3, or a trinity of trinities.  The number three not only speaks of the Trinity, but also of resurrection, for Jesus was raised on the third day.  It is the power of the resurrected life of Christ in us, manifested through the Holy Spirit, that produces the fruit.  Fruit bearing requires the very essence of the life of the Vine, the life of Christ, which Paul, calls “…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).  He is abiding in us, and we are abiding in Him.

Gal. 5:22-23 states, “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no Law.”  Notice that Paul did not say “fruits” but “fruit,” singular not plural.  There is only one fruit of the Spirit.  A fruit tree or vine can only bear one kind of fruit, but that fruit will have various characteristics which can be described in several different ways in order to clearly differentiate it from other fruits.

Take, for example, an apple.  How would you describe it? Round, red and shiny? Well, so is a tomato or a cherry!  Therefore, it needs further clarification.  Is it soft or firm in consistency? Is it juicy? Does it smell good? Some characteristics of a fruit can be described by examining it from the outside, by feeling it, by looking at it or by smelling it. But other characteristics can only be discovered by looking inside it by cutting it or crushing it.  So, you must bite into the apple and tear it with your teeth before you can tell if it is juicy or crisp or tastes good and sweet.  And if you continue biting it, or if you cut into the heart of it with a knife, you will find something different in the middle:  there are seeds, and if you plant them, you will get more fruit.  That is the resurrection life of the fruit.

Of course, all of this has a spiritual meaning.  The fruit of the Spirit is love itself, God’s love, Agape, a selfless love, a divine love that expects nothing in return but freely gives everything.  The rest of Gal. 5:22-23 describes in more depth how that love is manifested in us as the fruit of the Spirit.

The love of God, Agape, is “…shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost…” (Rom. 5:5), and demonstrated outwardly in our lives when we go through times of crushing, trial and testing.  The intensity of God’s love was shown to the world when He sent His Son to die for us, for greater love has no man than to die for another.  If we are not manifesting God’s love in our lives, then we need more pruning, more cutting, more crushing. 

The amount of fruit we bear depends on the degree to which we are abiding in the Vine.   Since “abiding” means “to stay, to remain, to submit to,” the closer we stay in fellowship with the Lord, the more fruit of the Spirit that will be produced.  We do this by submitting to the pruning of God’s Word which cuts away our own desires, our showy production of long branches full of leaves and self-works.  

In this study we are going to go into detail regarding each portion of the fruit of the Spirit listed by Paul in Gal. 5:22-23 in order to better understand it, and the means by which His love is displayed in our lives to others around us, with whom we come in contact.  Our goal in fruit bearing is to not only bear fruit which pleases the Father, the Vineyard Keeper, as a sweet aroma to Him, but to also bear fruit which draws others to Christ when they are enticed by it, to partake of it and to taste for themselves and see that the Lord is good.

 Love’s Purpose

Jack Davis

“Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright (that) love thee” - Song of Solomon 1:4 

We will RUN because we are drawn 

We will REJOICE being delivered.

We will REMEMBER as we drink of His Love.

The purpose of full overcomers may be seen in these. They express Christian hope that is deep, real and that makes us unashamed, because “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” Rom. 5:5. The hope is for love’s consummation, a happy expectancy of love’s fulfillment, coming into that which satisfies His and my heart. The “better hope” (Heb. 7:19) which is magnetic rather than depressive, uplifting rather than putting down. Because this hope is not based on what we can do or keep from doing. It is based upon the finished work of the Cross. 

Oh, how much better to be in the realm of Divine love – the law of magnetism rather than the law of gravity. Divine magnetism greatly supersedes “the law of a carnal commandment” – Heb. 7:16. “The ministration of condemnation” could not make way for perfection; “but the bringing in of a better hope did; by which we draw nigh unto God” – II Cor. 3:9 & Heb. 7:19.

A lesson we will learn is that, if we run after Him, it is because we are drawn. He initiates this grace love affair. “We love Him, because He first love us” I Jn. 4:19. I am reminded by three requests in the first seven verses of Song of Solomon, that Bridal truth is revealed to God’s needy people: (V.2) “Kiss me” - (V.4) “Draw me” – (V.7) “Tell me.” It is good for us to invite His invitation. We become choice with Him by our deeper longing for Him, He will put into our hearts a deeper craving for Him, if we are receptive.

Her request answered, He “brought me into His chambers.” In our relationship with Him we also get ours answered. Under this magnetic law of love, we are drawn onward and upward to Jesus Christ. We are drawn into the inner chamber, into the Holiest of Holies, into a deeper life. David said, “It is good for me to draw near to God” - Psa. 73:28. “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you” – James 4:8. Jesus said, “No man can come to Me, except the Father draw him” – Jn. 6:44. In John 12:32 He said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all man unto me.” He spoke of His going to the Cross, where He would suffer and shed His precious life blood for the sins of all mankind, thus manifesting the greatest love ever known.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we were “without Christ – aliens – strangers – foreigners – having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off and made nigh by the blood of Christ” Eph. 2:11-19. His blood is the basis for our nearness to God, Praise God! We now have free access into the Holiest of Holies. God said in Hosea 11:4 He drew His people “with bands of love.” Jeremiah 31:3, He loved them “with everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness,” He drew them.

WE WILL RUN

At first she speaks for others, later she learns not to do this. We also do this. She finds that not everyone is as excited about Him as she is. We also learn that not everyone has the same depth of longing for Jesus as we do. Yet our lives do affect others. Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm! As we are drawn, that burning desire, that fervor of love, that vehement flame that manifests itself in self-forgetfulness stirs others to ask, “What is He really like?” They wonder why we give so much attention to Him. Often a girl will ignore a boy until they see another girl pay attention to him, then they also want to get acquainted with Him.

Running expresses speedy progress. For us it is a quest for God’s best. This running is not just a short sprint. We are to “run with patience.” We will pass “through the valley of Baca (weeping).” We go “from strength to strength,” through fiery trials, and almost overwhelming floods, and the shadow of death – Psa. 84:6-7. Paul said, “So run, that ye may obtain” – I Cor. 9:24. Run according to the rules that God has laid down in His Word, going from glory to glory. Running also expresses to me a growing continuous desire for more and more of Jesus, a clearer view, a brighter vision, a deeper understanding, and thus closer fellowship. 

Heb. 6:12-20 tells that God gave promises to Abraham of rich lasting inheritance, and confirmed them with an oath. This was that we also who have fled to Him for refuge might be encouraged to run after Him, in order that we may “Lay hold upon the hope set before us” and have it as “an anchor” to our souls. Also, that we enter by faith into the Holiest of Holies, where Jesus our Forerunner is entered for us. Where do we get the power to pursue? This power is generated in us by the work of the Holy Spirit. It is done as He reveals Jesus to us and in us. We, by faith, can see Him “crowned with glory and honor” – Heb. 2:9. His majestic Personage is not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. “Henceforth know we Him no more” after the flesh – II Cor. 5:16. From Isa. 53:1-2 we realize that He offered no personal charisma nor human magnetism in the natural. The Holy Spirit shows us His magnificence, splendor, and beauty: and, as He does, we are marvelously drawn to Him. This inspires  and enables us to run.

WE WILL REJOICE

What makes us to rejoice? It is certainly Divine deliverance, Our hope is a happy expectancy of being like Jesus, seeing Him as He is. Oh, what a glorious deliverance. This deliverance is “to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved” - Eph. 1:6. We have the hope of being to His praise and honour and glory at His appearing, when we shall appear with Him in glory. He “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” – I Peter 1:8.

“Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved (delivered) by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places” – Deut. 33:29.

“Thy love is better than wine.” “Your love is more prosperous or enriching than any of the world’s intoxication influences” (paraphrased). We come to crave Him more than ever, even when faced with the very best that the world can offer.

Now we know that Jesus sadly announced that there were people that drew nigh to Him with their mouths, but their hearts were far from Him – Mt. 15:8. Oh, Lord, help us to get it together – in mind, heart, and mouth – REJOICE. Oh, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)” – Heb. 10:22-23.

WE WILL REMEMBER

“We will remember Thy love more than wine.” This is because of our drinking of His satisfying love. Oh, what love! What matchless love! Yes, we can recall the wine. Just think of the wonderful effects, of the thrilling exhilarating Holy Spirit fullness. Think of all the good times, the best times, when there is a flowing out of such marvelous blessings. It seems that there is not room to contain them. Think of the exciting times when it seems that the Holy Spirit[ is being poured as wine without measure. Then stop and consider His love. If you have experienced that love, that marvelous love, you know that nothing, absolutely nothing can top, outlast, nor even compare to this constant, continuing, constraining love – this containing all-consuming love affair to REMEMBER. Therefore – WE  WILL Run, WE WILL REJOICE, WE WILL REMEMBER.

 Troubles And Trials Our Servants

Earlene Davis

God uses trouble, even tragedy to test and prove our faith. Trouble and trials come to us unexpectantly without our being personally or directly the cause of it. Many times it is beyond our control otherwise we would avoid such testing. I Peter 4:12 tells us, “Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”

We should remember that trouble as well as blessings are part of the divine arrangement in our lives. Also we need to remember that sever testings are not necessarily cause by some sin or failure on our part. They actually are a sign of growth spiritually. We are His workmanship – Eph. 2:10. Some think that Christians should be void of suffering trouble or that it should immediately be removed. That is an unscriptural concept. 

What does the scripture say? Psa. 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivered him out of them all.” II Cor. 4:17-18, “For our light affliction which is but for a moment (compared with eternity), worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Tim. 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Jesus words in Jn. 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Rom. 5:3, “we glory in tribulation: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.” May we recognize the peculiar ministry of troubles as a servant to assist us. I am reminded of Rebekah’s willingness to serve the camels in watering them. She accepted them and later her decision to go on the long journey to be united with her bridegroom. She must ride the camels, they can be most unreasonable and snort at times. They speak of the manifold trials and testings along the way. 

They served a very important function for Rebekah. So it is with us on our long journey here, suffering and discipline are for our good and not to defeat us. We learn to ride the camels that are carrying us to our Isaac. We read, Rebekah lifted up her eyes and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.” Isn’t that beautiful? With lifted eyes she saw Him and not the camel or the rough road. 

We also read that at eventide, Isaac lifted up His eyes and behold the camels coming. How suggestive, saints, the day is already far spent, the shadows of the evening are upon us. The nations of the world are preparing for war and are in confusion. Our Beloved Lord is waiting also. Long He has watched the movements on earth’s stage waiting the sign from the Father to go get His bride. Shall we not then water our camels, recognize them for what they are and ride them, knowing they are only the means in God’s hands of taking us to our beloved Bridegroom.

So we lay hold of the truth of Rom. 8:28, that God is working all things together for our good. By faith we discern trouble as a servant building spiritual strength and beauty. With anointed eyes we see the privilege of overcoming and using our spiritual wings to fly above the trials. Like Rebekah on top of them riding them. Then we find His grace is sufficient and we love Him all the more for His working in us. I know He is still working on me.

Apostle Paul said in Phil. 3:12, that he was not already perfect but following after to apprehend that which he was apprehended of Christ Jesus. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

When the time came for Paul to depart this life, the Lord graciously revealed to him that he had attained a crown of righteousness that was not only for him but unto all them also that love his appearing – II Tim. 4:6-8. May we be looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ – Titus 2:13. And say with John (Rev. 22:20). “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

 The Encouraging Word

“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” Proverbs 16:9

“My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.” Psalm 34:2

“Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and confessed the good confession (of faith) before many witnesses.” I Timothy 6:12 Amp

“Can any hide himself in secret places so that I will not see him? Says the Lord. Do not I fill Heaven and earth? Says the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:2

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

“And hope does not disappoint because the Love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5

“For it is you who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12

Martha Wainright