Thursday, July 18, 2019

GOD'S PURPOSES WILL NOT FAIL






And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. (Exodus 2:23-25)

God had a purpose. From the beginning of Abraham's call, to Joseph's being sold into slavery, to the children of Israel becoming slaves in Egypt – God had a purpose. Even the means the enemy uses to oppress, to conquer, or to destroy God has already worked out according to His plans for His people. We, as New Testament believers have the advantage of looking back and seeing how God worked to deliver the children of Israel and all His workings, how He used the hardness of Pharaoh's heart, how He used everything that happened to Moses, all for His plan to be carried out and His covenant to be kept with Israel.

The farther we proceed in the sacred writings, the more the history both of the grace and providence of God opens to our view. He ever cares for his creatures, and is mindful of his promise. The very means made use of to destroy his work are, in his hands, the instruments of its accomplishment.” (Adam Clarke on Exodus 2:25)

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. (Exodus 7:3-5)

The enemy has always had his servants that he raises up to oppress God's children. Today we see much oppression against both Israel and the church. Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy wherever he gets a foothold and is able to do so. Yet God has His promises for both Israel and His church. The very oppression and persecution he uses, God is also in control of and we can be sure He will use only to carry out His purpose in both. We don't need to fear or fret, as it says in Psalm 37, when we see the enemy seemingly prevail. God is not sleeping, nor does He need to be awakened. He hears our groaning and our cries. Just as He had a plan for Moses, and used even the king's edict, to kill all Hebrew babies, to actually save Moses and all that happened after, He has a plan today. Just as He used the hardness of Pharaoh's heart for His own purposes, He will use the hardness and plans of the pharaoh's of today that come against Him for His own deliverance of God's people. When we are trusting in God, we should not want any other way or plan than the one He has chosen, even though it may mean hardship before it is finally carried out. God's plan is perfect. Let us not settle for anything less.

When we are in God's plan, trusting in Him, there is nothing He will not deliver us from or through. We fret and fear over political powers that threaten to take away our freedom, but nobody can take away God's freedom to do as He wills. He will even use their evil for good in what He seeks to accomplish in His church and ultimately to fulfill His promises to the nation of Israel. We need to walk by faith in His purposes, which will never fail, not in fear of the enemy. When we find ourselves at the Red Sea, with no way of escape, and the enemy pressing in, we need to trust His hand, and not look for our own way of escape. He is able to open up the Red Sea and make a way through. He created that sea for His own purposes, and to glorify Himself among His people and among the enemy. When we find ourselves in the wilderness, we know we can trust God is with us making all provision for us and has already planned what He will reveal of Himself to us through it and when He will bring us to the promised land awaiting us. His purposes will not fail. We can fail to trust and make our wilderness journey all the harder and longer, however, if we do not put our trust in Him. But we need to remember - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6)

and...

...the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)

We must go through our oppressions, our persecutions, our sufferings, our red seas, and our wildernesses in this world. But we can do so in faith, understanding God's will and purpose, trusting His hand, knowing He still is in control, and that salvation and deliverance is His will always for His children. He will reveal His glory through it if we trust Him.

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
(Romans 8:21-23)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
(Romans 8:31)


Saturday, April 20, 2019

FACING THE DARKNESS




FACING THE DARKNESS


Mat 26:34-35
(34)  Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
(35)  Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Mat 26:37-39
(37)  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
(38)  Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
(39)  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus knew sorrow and grief that I don't think we can fully grasp. He knew pain and suffering (Isa. 53:3-11), and knows how to share in ours. He knew, as man, what it was like to face the worst kind of evil. He knew the powers of darkness that were about to come against Him, and the unspeakable agony He was about to face as He took on our sins, even "becoming a curse" for us (Gal. 3:13) - He Who knew no sin, so that we might become "the righteousness of God" in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

Even Jesus, being both God and man, knew the weakness of human flesh and that there was no power in the flesh alone, no matter the strength of the human will to do right. No matter the determination to stand, He knew only dependence on the power of God would enable us in the frailty of our flesh to stand against the evil and darkness of this world. A concept very difficult for us to understand is that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. I don't think I completely understand all that that means, but what struck me about this portion of Scripture is the sorrow of His soul, knowing that He, being God, would take on something so repulsive to Him, so unbearable, something that was repulsive to the Father and would cause the Father to turn His face from Him as man (Matt. 27:46).

Thomas Constable (Expository notes of Dr. Constable), writes: "Jesus cried out the words of Psa_22:1 because His Father was abandoning Him. It was out of a similar sense of abandonment that David originally wrote the words of this psalm."

"Separation from the Father must have been the worst part of the Cross for Jesus who had never before experienced anything but intimate fellowship with His Father. Jesus became the center of God's judgment on mankind's sin (cf. Rom_3:21-26; 2Co_5:21)."

This something was so grievous and caused so much sorrow "even to the point of death" for our Savior. He cried out "if it be possible, let this cup pass from me." If there were any other way at all to obtain our salvation, surely the Father would not have sent His only begotten Son to the cross. If there were some way we could earn it ourselves, if there were some other sacrifice that would do it, or if there were any other remedy at all for our sin, Jesus would not have died for us. And so He prayed, "not my will but Yours be done."

Peter was fully determined to go as far as to die for His Lord. His spirit was willing - even boldly determined! Jesus knew the flesh. He knew, even He the Son of God, though in the form of human flesh, must fully depend on the Father, on the power of the Spirit to overcome the flesh. "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
(Mat 26:41)

Having a willing spirit is not enough to face the darkness and evil in this world. No matter how determined we are to stand against evil, it is not enough. We must learn to know our own flesh and see it for what it is. Once we do we will never again trust it.

Thomas Constable (Expository notes of Dr. Constable), states: "The contrast between the flesh and the spirit is not between the sinful human nature and the Holy Spirit (as in Gal_5:17) but between man's volitional strength and his physical weakness (cf. Mat_26:35). We often want to do the right thing but find that we need supernatural assistance to accomplish it (cf. Rom_7:15-25)."

In a day when we are facing the darkness of human depravity, as we see it seeming to abound more and more, and seek to overcome all that is of God and all that is good in our world, how much we need to think on this portion of Scripture. What a blessing it is to meditate on what our Lord endured, and how much He loved us, the sorrow and grief He bore for us. And what a sober reminder that if the Son of God Himself walked in such utter dependence on the Father, how much more do we? How little we should trust ourselves or put any hope in our own strength, our own determination or will power. It is never our will power or faith in our faith that will keep us in the hour of trial. It is only our being "strengthened in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10-11), and dependence and trust in His provision, His promise, and His power indwelling us. Our will, our faith, our hope may all fail us in the darkest hour, but He will never fail us. Christ alone is the strength of our salvation and the strength of our hearts. We must look to Him, and never trust in ourselves, neither for obtaining salvation nor to keep ourselves as we face the darkness (1 Peter 1:5).  

Friday, February 1, 2019

BIBLE NUGGETS: LET THERE BE LIGHT

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)

God said, and there was - and this is how it is today and forever.  Man thinks he can create the world the way he wants but it is only as God says it will be in the end.  It is only God Who brings light into the world.  Man does not like His light.  It exposes his lies, and his evil intentions.  So he seeks to counterfeit or snuff out the light.  But that's impossible.  Not only is God the creator of light but He, Himself is the light.  All who want His true light may have it if they ask in humility and faith.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. (John 1:1-10)

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.  By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, (Revelation 21:23 - 24)

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

From the beginning satan has tried to snuff out that light, or counterfeit it.  But God separates the light from the darkness and makes all things clear. 
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
(John 3:19)

In the beginning God said... and there was.  In the end, also, it is God Who says.  It is God Who has the final say.  It is God Who destroys the darkness.  God, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Savior, will Himself, being the light, dwell with us forever. 

Saturday, January 5, 2019

BIBLE NUGGETS: HE CARES FOR YOU



Do you ever doubt God's care for you?  Do you ever wonder, when everything seems to be going downhill in your life, if God is paying attention at all?  If He is doing anything about it?  If He really truly sees and cares about the pain in your life?  I think we've all been there.  Even if we won't voice it, we probably, as believers, have felt it in our hearts.  At times we can feel all alone in our sorrow, or our pain or our trial.  It looks like all is hopeless and all that is left is to expect the worst, with no help, it seems, from God.

1 Peter 5:6-7
(6)  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
(7)  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

(Amplified Bible, Classic EditionTherefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
Casting the [c]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [d]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you [e]watchfully.
Ironside: 
“He careth for you.” It is of all-importance to realize that God’s heart is ever toward His own. He is no indifferent spectator of our suffering. He feels for us in all our afflictions and bids us cast every care upon Him, assured that He is concerned about all we have to endure. Weymouth has rendered the last part of this verse, “It matters to God about you.” How precious to realize this!
If we trust His love (demonstrated at the cross) for us, then we can easily cast or "throw upon Him" all that causes us anxiety or care, knowing His care for us is perfect, greater than any other, and unfailing. 
Romans 8:31-32
(31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
(32)  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown:
Casting — once for all: so the Greek aorist.care — “anxiety? The advantage flowing from humbling ourselves under God’s hand (1Pe_5:6) is confident reliance on His goodness. Exemption from care goes along with humble submission to God.careth for you — literally “respecting you.” Care is a burden which faith casts off the man on his God. Compare Psa_22:10; Psa_37:5; Psa_55:22, to which Peter alludes; Luk_12:22, Luk_12:37; Phi_4:6.
Adam Clarke: 
"in all their afflictions he is afflicted." "He will bear both thee and thy burden."