Post Service meditations...

A visiting preacher, Bro. Keith Allison "dovetailed" a message this morning from a series preached during our October Camp Meeting.  The title was "A Servant's Confusion."  One point seemed to rise above the others; "You can be discouraged and not confused. But you can not be confused and not be discouraged."  This message was taken from I Kings 19.
The prophet, Elijah, had come to a point, after many wondrous miracles and acts by the Lord on his behalf, where he wanted to die.  He thought God had forgotten him and there was no one else left who felt as alone as he did regarding the things of God.
We know this isn't so because the Lord told him, "...I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal,..." (I Kin 19.18) And there are times when the Lord speaks "in a still small voice," (I Kin 19.12) rather than thundering's and earthquakes.

The prophet had been brought to this low point of discouragement because he was confused.  He didn't trust that God knows what He's doing, even if we do not.  It confounds the mind when circumstances or expectations don't go as planned.  Often, the flesh gets puffed up when things are going well and the Lord seems to be answering prayer after prayer.  Somehow,  a believer is inclined to think its because "we" have orchestrated the good outcome.

Sadly, this is when the Lord reminds us, it's all of Him, by Him and for His glory if things don't go as planned in our view.

I don't feel I'm explaining this very well but I will try to get the message on the church website and you may listen to it there.  In any case, let this blogger close by saying a visitor stood up at the end of this message during the Pastor's closing remarks and said, "that was for me, I thought God had forgotten me."  What a blessing to hear a weary saint thank the Lord for the encouragement.

God bless you is my prayer.

Context is everything!!!

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5.19, 20)

It is no small thing to take scripture out of context.  Great error, injustice and harm is done to the Holy Word when this happens.  Rest assured it is done regularly and intentionally by the wicked one who would "exalt himself above the most High..." (Isa 14.14)  It is also a stumbling block to the unlearned, ignorant and babes in Christ.

For the sake of the "straight and narrow way," let us examine the closing passage in James 5.

All dissension would cease if one would focus on the first word in verse 19, "Brethren..." This passage flows from "Brethren," to "the sinner."  All "brethren" agree that we are "sinners saved by grace." (Eph 2.8, 9)
One would think it should be no hard thing to keep "brethren" in context with "sinner," rather than "sinner" OUT of context with a lost person.
Yet, there is one school of thought which does just that.  It allows that "sinner" is the lost person and we (the saints) are to buttonhole a "sinner" every time an unbeliever crosses our path.  If this is done, outside of the leadership of the Holy Spirit and without a believer who has been with the Lord and walking as upright as possible, it is disaster.  The unbeliever will scoff, mock or worse, believe to his/her on damnation in a truth that has not been placed in their heart by the awakening power of the Holy Ghost.  (Rom 6.11) That is, the have not been "awakened" by the Holy Spirit to their lost condition and will walk on just that way because the ignorant, unlearned believer has misread the scripture.  (vain religion, Jms 1.26)
Back to point.  Correctly read, "sinner" in this passage refers to a believer.  Note again, "Brethren, if any of you ERR from the truth, and one convert him, Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the ERROR OF HIS WAY...  How could one know their way is in error if that one is lost and dead to Christ?  The truth is that believers are to guide other believers when they see their brother/sister is in error.  In this way, the body of Christ stays as clean and pure as possible "until the coming of the Lord." (I Thes 4.15, 5.23)
Maybe this explanation is a bit scattered or muddled but if every believer will take the time to pray and meditate on this passage, this blogger is in full assurance the truth will be made very clear.
Amen and blessings to each reader.

Prayer in James 5

This blogger will attempt a simple alliteration regarding prayer.  Please note:

1. Riches Rebuked (1-6): "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.  Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you."
2. Patience Rewarded (7-9): "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."
3. Perseverance Recompensed (11-14): " Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:"
4. Prayer Regarded (15-18): "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Before prayer, the other points above would buffet a believer. Riches and heavy labor, physical or mental, take a toll on the human condition. When praying as noted in points 2 and 3 and verses 7-14, one must exercise patience and extreme faith, all the while maintaining civility and a meek spirit. After diligent prayer shown in verses 15-18, answers are given, even when the wait for the answer is sometimes long.  

The term "prayer warrior" has been given to those labeled "righteous"(folks) who are fervent in their praying as described in verse 16.  The meaning of this word "fervent" in the NT is to "put forth power, display one's activity."  In other words, there is a physical, mental and spiritual effort going on in the prayer closet.

Quite simply, real prayer, isn't for the faint of heart. It is "work!" Yet, when we pray this way, we know the Father hears and answers in His time.  It is also a time of sweet communion and fellowship with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ by way of the Holy Spirit.

So much has been preached and more could be said about this subject but this blogger prefers to let His Word speak for itself. (Isa 55.11)

Amen and blessings to those believers who "pray without ceasing." (I Thes 5.17)

What is your "thorn?"

 "... there was given to me a thorn in the flesh... For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, (Why?) that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses (Why?) for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."  (II Cor 12.7-10)

This believer's particular affliction isn't as bad as some, yet bothersome nonetheless.  My specific trial has been mine to endure for nearly forty years.  Worse at times than at others.  In II Corinthians 12.5, the apostle tells us, "yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities."  Bearing in mind that not all "infirmities" are physical, permit me to continue.

Current devotion is in the book of James 4.2-10, giving us the following instruction(s);

"...ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 ...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

The conclusion of the matter:

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

We are instructed to make our "requests known to God..." in Phillipians 4.6. But there is a way to ask for our desires.  Then, according to His will, He answers.  Always remember, "No, IS an answer!"  If I have asked "humbly," the Lord, knowing the motive of my heart in that request, will lead me to trust His grace in accepting the answer.  
While awaiting an answer, it is reasonable to assume that Satan will attempt to get me into a snare that will cause me to be dissatisfied with the waiting or the answer thereby bringing reproach on the Lord's Name by my bad testimony.

My instruction is clear.  I am to "Humble (myself) in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift (me) up."  Easier said than done it's true but it is a peaceable solution to my personal "thorn."

Grace, peace, laughter and joy while you endure and/or await the answer for YOUR "thorn."

In His Name, Ps 57.7

Hebrews 13 - Examine...Act

After examining one's own heart, life, actions and reactions, according to the Lord's will - we are given further admonitions, yea directions for right living.

The writer of this wonderful book concludes the letter called "the book of Hebrews," with definite instructions for the believer to live by.  Stay with me as we examine the next twenty five verses.  You will be glad you did.

First,  verse one states plainly, "Let brotherly love continue."  Obviously, in the life of every believer there will be times when this godly love is tested and tried.  In more ways than one can count, the slippery, wicked one has a multitude of ways to derail godly choices.  It starts with the love a believer should have one for another.  If that can be broken or taken out of its right perspective, every other decision and choice in life will be harder to follow.  Remember, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Pro 4.23)

Second, verse two is the reward for following verse one: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."  When will we realize such an amazing truth? Probably when we get to heaven and will know all we are suppose to have known on earth had we followed His perfect leading.  In any case, this verse is plain that there are angels, God's earthly agents, among us.  Also underlying this truth are these verses;

• (Psa 91.11)" For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 
• (Heb 1.14) "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
• (Psa 103.20) "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."

Third, maybe the ones that are "in bonds...and bound," are that way in verse three because of the behavior in verse 4. "Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled: BUT whoremongers and adulterers God WILL judge." With all the double marriage (a discussion for another time) inside the church,  i.e. "the bride of Christ," is it any wonder this verse is inserted in an otherwise positive, instructional chaper?
It would seem the directive would be when demonstrating love, kindness and care one for another, be warned to keep it clean.  Flesh is no match for the wiles of the wicked one and the ungodly passions that could be aroused when "loving" one another.  If one will keep the mind clean and pure, (Rom 12.2, Phil 4.8)  the heart will follow and fleshly lusts will be kept at bay.

Fourthly, How is one to be "content with such things as ye have? Verse five and six answers this question, just remember five things:

1. He said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Comfort indeed. (v5)
2. (v6) we are also reminded that, "the Lord is my helper..." from Ps 27.1
3. Verse 7 gives a discipline to be acknowledged; "Remember them which have the rule over you..."  as long as it is by"faith" from the "Word of God." 
4. Another truth to bear in mind always from verse 8, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever." A believer may be comforted by the truth that no matter what happens in life, HE NEVER changes!  The truths presented in this blog are unchangeable as HE is the I AM and "changes not." (Mal 3.6)
5. The sternest warning and instruction for staying on the "straight and narrow" pathway come from verse 9.  So simple, yet all too often forgotten and set aside by weak minds. He said, "Be not carried about with divers an strange doctrines. Why? (because it is) a good thing that the heart be established with grace..."

Fifth thought, in verse 13; "...bearing His reproach."  Also remember where He said plainly, "they don't hate you they hate Me..." (Jn 7.7 and 15.18)  - You know the drill - all is going well within your company of friends or at work or even among family or church folk and then the atmosphere or attitude changes and you wonder why.  If you have been walking as much as possible in His way and will, there should be no reason, right?  The thing is as a believer, you have probably done a right, honest, righteous thing as is your nature and the flesh in an unbeliever was riled. For example,  because of  "goody two shoes," making sure to clock out on time and not milk the company for extra time, it makes the others look bad.  Another workplace example could be when you had a bad attitude towards someone, whether they knew it or not and you apologized.  An unbeliever who may have overheard such an exchange would be offended because they feel justified when having an attitude towards one "who deserves it."
The idea in verse 13 is that we do these things "because" of the Lord Jesus and what He has done for us and is doing in our hearts and lives by way of the Holy Spirit.  Satan HATES this.  When you "bear His reproach," as a believer, you are walking the "straight and narrow."

Sixth, remember when you practice all of the first five steps you will maintain the hope noted in verse 14 of the "city that is to come," and that will give a believer reason to "praise God continually...and give thanks to His Name.," as stated in verse 15.

Seventh instruction, as this blogger sees it is simple from verse 16 and 17, "do good...and Obey them that have the rule over you...for they watch for your souls...and must give account..."  One could apply this to the world as well but be reminded that scripture is written to believers.  It is a real balancing act to stay true to God while in the world but most important to do so within the body of believers such as Pastor and congregants.  It is no mistake the Lord set down an order of authority; God, the man, the woman, the children.  (I Tim 2.12, Eph 5.22, Eph 6.1-3) 
This is a worthy principle that should be taught at home, the church and exercised in the workplace.  Much heartache, confusion and trouble would be avoided.  Then, the peace of God would rule in all and there would be less chaos and turmoil in our family's and our lives.

The closing words of Hebrews 13 are a call to pray.  (I Thes 5.17) The writer wants the believers to "pray for us."  Then, he proceeds to tell of his prayer request(s) and closes with "Amen." 

So it is with each believer while walking in the light of His will.  Do so according to His Word and end in prayer with the same. 

Amen.  God bless all readers who would see this blog and gain insight or help.