How the beasts groan!
The herds of cattle wander aimlessly
Because there is no pasture for them;
Even the flocks of sheep suffer.
Joel 1:18
Here is a picture of where we appear to be at this time in our history. ‘How the beasts groan!’ – just read the front page of the daily newspaper or listen to the nightly news !
We, as a nation, appear to be wandering aimlessly…we are lost in the confusion of our times…we are anxious and depressed and fretful about what the coming days shall hold…there is no ‘pasture’ for us (meaning a safe and restful place that does not lack provision).
And even the flocks of sheep suffer - that being the church ! The church has gotten caught up with these things just as the world has….our focus on materiality and comfort and a life of ease has not set us apart from the cares of the world. And yet the Lord calls us to trust in Him and He exhorts us to be anxious for nothing, to cast our cares on Him and in all things give thanks.
I was impressed the other morning, as the Holy Spirit sometimes will do, that I have been so concerned and worried about the things of daily life that I have lost focus. My concerns and anxiousness regarding how we will get through all of this, whether it’s the political landscape or the economic landscape, have been weighing me down. The fountains of living waters that refresh and give life have been replaced by the aridness of the desert of fear and concern. And as I meditated upon this I believe the Lord’s exhortation to me was - you are My child, I know the beginning from the end, rest in Me, abide in My leading, let Me shower you with My living waters that you may be refreshed, for your focus should be on Me and what I have called you to do for Me…I will lead you.
As I ponder upon this exhortation I find it hard to move to that place of refreshing. My spirit is willing but my flesh is strong and the struggle continues – but I know that the word of truth tells me that victory is in His hand.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
living streams of water
Though he flourishes among the reeds, an east wind will come,
The wind of the LORD coming up from the wilderness;
And his fountain will become dry, and his spring will be dried up;
It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.
Hosea 13:15
Our country has flourished greatly under the soverign hand of our God....but are we ready for the east wind to come ? As we drift away from the foundation of our faith which was once delivered to all, have we moved away from Him to the extent that He shall remove His hand from upon us ?
Will our fountain become dry and our spring dry up ? We are admondished to not grieve the Holy Spirit, to not forsake our delight in His law, to not relegate His Word to a few verses in a Sunday sermon but to meditate on it day and night...His desire is that we ‘will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither’. It is by standing firm in our faith, surrendering to Him each and every day, holding fast to our testimony that we shall be firmly planted.
Let us begin anew by meditating on -
Psalm 7 verse 17:
I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 1 verses 1 - 3:
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
The wind of the LORD coming up from the wilderness;
And his fountain will become dry, and his spring will be dried up;
It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.
Hosea 13:15
Our country has flourished greatly under the soverign hand of our God....but are we ready for the east wind to come ? As we drift away from the foundation of our faith which was once delivered to all, have we moved away from Him to the extent that He shall remove His hand from upon us ?
Will our fountain become dry and our spring dry up ? We are admondished to not grieve the Holy Spirit, to not forsake our delight in His law, to not relegate His Word to a few verses in a Sunday sermon but to meditate on it day and night...His desire is that we ‘will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither’. It is by standing firm in our faith, surrendering to Him each and every day, holding fast to our testimony that we shall be firmly planted.
Let us begin anew by meditating on -
Psalm 7 verse 17:
I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 1 verses 1 - 3:
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
I have been the Lord your God
Yet I have been the LORD your God since the land of Egypt;
And you were not to know any god except Me, for there is no savior besides Me.
I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, and being satisfied,
their heart became proud; therefore, they forgot Me.
Hosea 13:4‑6
Reading through the book of Hosea really presents a ‘wake up’ call to our country as well as to the believing church. We appear to be no different than the Hebrews of the Old Testament times - we have become satisfied and thus very proud therefore forgetting the Lord ! We have gradually moved from remembering the God who saved us and blessed us abundantly to placing our trust in everything and everyone else thus creating other gods in our lives (and the Lord has told us ‘you were not to know any god except Me’). We even have the ‘church’ saying that we should separate our life of faith from the other components of our lives (our work life, our political life, etc). Without living the life of faith in all facets of our lives we become merely salt without flavor - useful for nothing ! From my understanding of Jesus’ admonition to His followers we are to daily surrender to Him, daily crucify our flesh, daily seek the filling of the Holy Spirit to guide us in all that we do, daily abide in Him so that we might bear fruit...that does not sound to me like dividing our lives into components where our faith does not play a part in all of them !
If we are to be salt and light to this lost and dying world, to preach the gospel in and out of season and to make disciples where ever we go, we truly need to start with the firm foundation that is our daily surrender to Jesus Christ - are you His bond-servant ?
And you were not to know any god except Me, for there is no savior besides Me.
I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, and being satisfied,
their heart became proud; therefore, they forgot Me.
Hosea 13:4‑6
Reading through the book of Hosea really presents a ‘wake up’ call to our country as well as to the believing church. We appear to be no different than the Hebrews of the Old Testament times - we have become satisfied and thus very proud therefore forgetting the Lord ! We have gradually moved from remembering the God who saved us and blessed us abundantly to placing our trust in everything and everyone else thus creating other gods in our lives (and the Lord has told us ‘you were not to know any god except Me’). We even have the ‘church’ saying that we should separate our life of faith from the other components of our lives (our work life, our political life, etc). Without living the life of faith in all facets of our lives we become merely salt without flavor - useful for nothing ! From my understanding of Jesus’ admonition to His followers we are to daily surrender to Him, daily crucify our flesh, daily seek the filling of the Holy Spirit to guide us in all that we do, daily abide in Him so that we might bear fruit...that does not sound to me like dividing our lives into components where our faith does not play a part in all of them !
If we are to be salt and light to this lost and dying world, to preach the gospel in and out of season and to make disciples where ever we go, we truly need to start with the firm foundation that is our daily surrender to Jesus Christ - are you His bond-servant ?
the word of the Lord
Listen to the word of the LORD,
For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land.
There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery.
They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of My people, And direct their desire toward their iniquity. And they will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD.
Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them;
For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have played the harlot, departing from their God.
They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant.
So the people without understanding are ruined.
Hosea 4
Where are the Tozers and the Oswald Chambers and the Charles Spurgeons of our times ?
Where are the teachers of righteousness and holiness and who talk about God's disdain for sin ?
Where are the preachers who preach the need for repentance and how our sin has separated us from our Creator and how His grace and mercy through the atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ, have redeemed us from eternal separation from Him ?
Where are those teachers and preachers who balance the teaching of grace with truth?
Where are the teachers and preachers who stand firm on the complete truth of God’s Word ?
Where are the elders who are to edify, exhort, encourage and rebuke the body of Christ ?
Where are we exhorted to follow Christ's command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, your mind your strength AND love your neighbor as yourself (with the love of God NOT man's version of love) ?
Where is the teaching of the Bible (God's Word, the bread of life) from Genesis to Revelation so that the complete Word of God is taught and exhorted to feed the minds and souls of the body of Christ ? If you love me feed my sheep – that is the role of the elders (pastor included)…
The gathering of the believers (the church) is to be a time of equipping the body for their work of ministry - not for seeker sensitive moments to get more people in the doors - the gospel is to be preached to all creation and that means OUTSIDE the doors of the gathering of the body by all who proclaim to be believers by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
No, we in America like the modified version of Christianity. We believe that we know better because we are smarter now and have the ability to 'market' our version of Christianity better.
No, we are more concerned with how many can we get into our church doors, how successful have our business and growth plans become, how many people we can get to like us, how many people can be entertained so that they will come back tomorrow. We don't even talk about sin anymore let alone teach and preach on it ! We dare not even go the way of teaching and preaching the righteousness and holiness of our God - that might scare people away. And sanctification: not that - that takes faith and perseverance and dedication…and complete surrender to the Lord !
Just as the people where in Hosea’s time – so it is in our times:
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land…
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
Because you have rejected knowledge…
So the people without understanding are ruined.
Let us move beyond where we are and get back to where we need to be…
For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land.
There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery.
They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of My people, And direct their desire toward their iniquity. And they will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD.
Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them;
For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have played the harlot, departing from their God.
They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant.
So the people without understanding are ruined.
Hosea 4
Where are the Tozers and the Oswald Chambers and the Charles Spurgeons of our times ?
Where are the teachers of righteousness and holiness and who talk about God's disdain for sin ?
Where are the preachers who preach the need for repentance and how our sin has separated us from our Creator and how His grace and mercy through the atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ, have redeemed us from eternal separation from Him ?
Where are those teachers and preachers who balance the teaching of grace with truth?
Where are the teachers and preachers who stand firm on the complete truth of God’s Word ?
Where are the elders who are to edify, exhort, encourage and rebuke the body of Christ ?
Where are we exhorted to follow Christ's command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, your mind your strength AND love your neighbor as yourself (with the love of God NOT man's version of love) ?
Where is the teaching of the Bible (God's Word, the bread of life) from Genesis to Revelation so that the complete Word of God is taught and exhorted to feed the minds and souls of the body of Christ ? If you love me feed my sheep – that is the role of the elders (pastor included)…
The gathering of the believers (the church) is to be a time of equipping the body for their work of ministry - not for seeker sensitive moments to get more people in the doors - the gospel is to be preached to all creation and that means OUTSIDE the doors of the gathering of the body by all who proclaim to be believers by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
No, we in America like the modified version of Christianity. We believe that we know better because we are smarter now and have the ability to 'market' our version of Christianity better.
No, we are more concerned with how many can we get into our church doors, how successful have our business and growth plans become, how many people we can get to like us, how many people can be entertained so that they will come back tomorrow. We don't even talk about sin anymore let alone teach and preach on it ! We dare not even go the way of teaching and preaching the righteousness and holiness of our God - that might scare people away. And sanctification: not that - that takes faith and perseverance and dedication…and complete surrender to the Lord !
Just as the people where in Hosea’s time – so it is in our times:
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land…
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
Because you have rejected knowledge…
So the people without understanding are ruined.
Let us move beyond where we are and get back to where we need to be…
For the judgement applies to you
For the judgment applies to you
And the revolters have gone deep in depravity, but I will chastise all of them.
Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God.
For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the LORD.
Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him,
And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
Judah also has stumbled with them.
They will go...to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.
They have dealt treacherously against the LORD,
....On them I will pour out My wrath like water.
Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
Because he was determined to follow man's command.
I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.
(Excerpted from Hosea chapter 5)
This passage is speaking to the nation of Israel, which included both kingdoms at this time, so these were the people of faith who had moved away from their devotion to the Lord their God. As you look at the parallels to today it is amazing to see that the people of faith, including the church of today, have not changed at all...we still drift away from the Lord and forget about His sovereign hand in our lives…as well as His grace, mercy and provision…
Looking at some of the key points that could be correlated to our day -
1) the revolters have gone deep in depravity - look at what is happening to the church in terms of what is now acceptable today: abortion, homosexual clergy, running the church as if it were a business...the ‘revolters’ have taken much ground !
2) for a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the LORD - the spirit of harlotry is putting anything above the Lord (not seeking Him and His Word first in our hearts, minds and souls and resting on the things of this world instead of relying upon Him in all things). And how are we doing this: placing a higher emphasis on ‘what’ we are doing instead of Who we are worshipping, how successful we have become based upon our means and methods, how much ‘power’ we have obtained through our efforts and our wisdom, placing silver and gold (ie: material things and our lives of comfort seeking) before the Lord
3) Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, and Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity - pride and iniquity: the issue of pride needs no comment for we have enough of that going around…but I believe it comes back to the three roots of sin - lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life - the church has surely not been immune to these - bigger, better, more and we must be comfortable and well entertained...
4) They have dealt treacherously against the LORD – how have we dealt treacherously ? We have watered down and even in some cases forsaken the powerful Word of the living God and traded it for the wisdom of man. Where are the standard bearers in our day that are calling out from the watchtower saying ‘stand firm, be bold and courageous for the Lord thy God is with you’ …‘do not seek after the things of this world but set your mind on things above’…‘the Lord’s Word is truth, do not stray away from it, do not water it down, hold fast to it’...and finally "love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as your self’.
5) Because he was determined to follow man's command - if this does not tell it like it is in our day and age. We would much rather listen to man and his wisdom than sit in the light of God’s Word. We would rather have our ears tickled than be fed the pure milk of the truth of God’s Word. We even promote ‘translations’ (I use the word loosely) that are leading a generation further away from the solid foundation that is the Word of God...
6) I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. - what will it take for the church to turn and acknowledge our guilt and seek after His face ? We are very good at seeking after His hand in this day and age – focusing on what we can get not what we can give ! What will the affliction have to be before we earnestly seek Him ? ? ?
And the revolters have gone deep in depravity, but I will chastise all of them.
Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God.
For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the LORD.
Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him,
And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
Judah also has stumbled with them.
They will go...to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.
They have dealt treacherously against the LORD,
....On them I will pour out My wrath like water.
Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
Because he was determined to follow man's command.
I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.
(Excerpted from Hosea chapter 5)
This passage is speaking to the nation of Israel, which included both kingdoms at this time, so these were the people of faith who had moved away from their devotion to the Lord their God. As you look at the parallels to today it is amazing to see that the people of faith, including the church of today, have not changed at all...we still drift away from the Lord and forget about His sovereign hand in our lives…as well as His grace, mercy and provision…
Looking at some of the key points that could be correlated to our day -
1) the revolters have gone deep in depravity - look at what is happening to the church in terms of what is now acceptable today: abortion, homosexual clergy, running the church as if it were a business...the ‘revolters’ have taken much ground !
2) for a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the LORD - the spirit of harlotry is putting anything above the Lord (not seeking Him and His Word first in our hearts, minds and souls and resting on the things of this world instead of relying upon Him in all things). And how are we doing this: placing a higher emphasis on ‘what’ we are doing instead of Who we are worshipping, how successful we have become based upon our means and methods, how much ‘power’ we have obtained through our efforts and our wisdom, placing silver and gold (ie: material things and our lives of comfort seeking) before the Lord
3) Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, and Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity - pride and iniquity: the issue of pride needs no comment for we have enough of that going around…but I believe it comes back to the three roots of sin - lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life - the church has surely not been immune to these - bigger, better, more and we must be comfortable and well entertained...
4) They have dealt treacherously against the LORD – how have we dealt treacherously ? We have watered down and even in some cases forsaken the powerful Word of the living God and traded it for the wisdom of man. Where are the standard bearers in our day that are calling out from the watchtower saying ‘stand firm, be bold and courageous for the Lord thy God is with you’ …‘do not seek after the things of this world but set your mind on things above’…‘the Lord’s Word is truth, do not stray away from it, do not water it down, hold fast to it’...and finally "love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as your self’.
5) Because he was determined to follow man's command - if this does not tell it like it is in our day and age. We would much rather listen to man and his wisdom than sit in the light of God’s Word. We would rather have our ears tickled than be fed the pure milk of the truth of God’s Word. We even promote ‘translations’ (I use the word loosely) that are leading a generation further away from the solid foundation that is the Word of God...
6) I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. - what will it take for the church to turn and acknowledge our guilt and seek after His face ? We are very good at seeking after His hand in this day and age – focusing on what we can get not what we can give ! What will the affliction have to be before we earnestly seek Him ? ? ?
our daily focus
As a believer in Christ Jesus what should be the focus of our daily lives ?
1) as His bond servant, completely surrender to Him who has redeemed us
2) trust fully in Him believing that He is able to do all that He has said He will do – for nothing is impossible with God
3) remain faithful to His calling in all that we do
4) may it be our heart’s desire to be filled with His Spirit – which is the Spirit of life and of truth
5) abide in Him and He will lead us each day to touch people’s lives – impacting souls for eternity thus fulfilling His will for us
Excerpts from Psalm 25
To Thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in Thee I trust… Make me know Thy ways, O LORD; Teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee I wait all the day…Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth…To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose…His soul will abide in prosperity...The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him…My eyes are continually toward the LORD…Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for Thee.
1) as His bond servant, completely surrender to Him who has redeemed us
2) trust fully in Him believing that He is able to do all that He has said He will do – for nothing is impossible with God
3) remain faithful to His calling in all that we do
4) may it be our heart’s desire to be filled with His Spirit – which is the Spirit of life and of truth
5) abide in Him and He will lead us each day to touch people’s lives – impacting souls for eternity thus fulfilling His will for us
Excerpts from Psalm 25
To Thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in Thee I trust… Make me know Thy ways, O LORD; Teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee I wait all the day…Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth…To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose…His soul will abide in prosperity...The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him…My eyes are continually toward the LORD…Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for Thee.
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