Come See a Man

John 4:29

Sharing is something that we do instinctively. When our taste buds are tantalized by the food of an excellent restaurant, we are eager to share this information with all out friends and many times to strangers that have just met. My wife and I have had friends call to tell us that a certain grocery store has a fantastic price on eggs. We as a people love to share deals with anyone that listens. There is a certain amount of excitement in sharing bargains.

It seems we have lost the excitement of our salvation. We have the example of this woman, a woman that apparently had a bad reputation, a woman shunned by the good people of the city. She was an outcast because of her lifestyle.

Then she met the Savior. She heard the good news. She believed Jesus report. The Holy Spirit seized the moment and impressed upon her that Jesus was the “I AM” of scripture. Salvation brought a flood of emotions. She wanted to tell others of a “man.” Her excitement was so great that she forgot the pot in her eagerness to tell the whole city to – “Come see a man.”

Where is our excitement? We who have experienced the forgiveness of our Savior. We who have been so blessed, we that have a promise of life everlasting and life abundant. Where is our overwhelming desire to tell others of a Savior.

To whom much is forgiven we find much excitement. ARE YOU EXCITED?

THE VOICE OF THE LORD

Psa 29:3  The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 

The go to verse in this chapter is verse two – “…worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” The true emphasis is on the voice of the Lord. We find the voice of the Lord is “upon the waters.” We find that His voice “thundereth.” We also see several other things about the voice of the Lord. It is “powerful,” it is full of “full of majesty.”

We then proceed to the results of the voice of the Lord. His voice “breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.” He makes the cedars to “skip like calves.” The voice of the Lord “divideth the flames of fire.” It “shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.”, It makes the “hinds to calve.” The voice of the Lord affects all things that have to do with life.

The lost never hear it. They never experience or see the results of the Lord’s voice. The Lord’s voice is in everything that we do. The voice and presence of the Lord can change lives. For the saved and the lost. For the lost it can give everlasting life. For the saved, it can lead in the path of righteousness.

Psa 29:11  The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

The Lord gives strength. The New Testament reveals the care of the Lord for His people. The providential care and nourishment is similar to the care of the nation delivered during the exodus and the hand of the Lord during their wandering in the wilderness. This is my Lord. Is He your Lord?

Whose Way?

Gen 16:1  Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 

2  And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 

3  And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 

4  And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 

God has a plan. How often is it that man cannot just wait for God’s plan to develop? How often God has His way and it is too old fashion, too sedate, too boring. Instead of allowing the gospel to convict and draw man has a better plan. Make the praise and worship of God, exciting and attractive.

In this passage, God has made a promise of a son. Sarai says that God is not working fast enough. You go in to my handmaid. Here man is trying to change God’s plan. Are we ever guilty of this. I believe God has laid out his plan in His inspired word and man is continually going around God’s plan to use an appeal based on senses of man. Make the service appealing to people and we can fill the building.

See the conflict caused by man doing things his way. The middle east is in conflict and turmoil because man did it man’s way instead of God’s way.

Study the Word. It contains God’s plan.

Joy for our Protector

Psa 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Is it not interesting that Joy goes with protection. We will always have enemies that pursue us and attempt to destroy the gospel we preach and the life we live. There will always be mockers and those that ridicule. We must continue faithful with our Lord because He is always faithful to protect us. We always need to call upon the Rock.

Let me tell you something about my Rock. This rock I stand on is not a pebble but an immovable boulder. I stand on a Rock that cannot be moved. I am on a firm and safe foundation that will never crumble or was away.

My enemies can assault and assail this Rock and it is to no avail. My Rock is my shield and protection. There is no life storm that can remove me from my Rock. My Rock is a sure foundation that cannot be moved.

I can sing praises to my Savior because of the joy in my heart because of His protection. May I always love and be faithful to the Rock of my salvation and the source of my joy.

Innocent

Psa 26:6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:What a marvelous statement to be able to say this in truth. This should be what every person that proclaims Christ is their Savior strives to be. We are seen as innocent in the eyes of God because of the blood of Jesus. Complete innocence will not be achieved until we join the heavenly host. That does not mean we should not give up on this life we live and the innocency that we desire. May we wash our hands in holiness.

Law or Grace

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

The Law of Moses was not able to redeem us; it simply served to show us how fallen our state was and how incapable we were of attaining right standing with God, in our own power. When Christ resurrected a new order came in which was the law of the Spirit of Life. We are not led by inscriptions on stone tablets anymore. We are led by the Spirit of the Living God.

Wrongs

How miniscule are the wrongs done against us in comparison to the great debt of son each one of us incurred against all-Holy God! It is as if we owed a trillion dollars and were forgiven that debt but man owed us a penny, and shall we not forgive it? But there is another aspect to this as well, for as David tells us, it is ultimately against God alone we have sinned. – Psalm 51:4 – Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU

John 3:16; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

John 3:16 is the verse that says so much with just a few words. If some one has memorized only one scripture from the Bible, it will be John 3:16. It is the scripture most often quoted.

We need to consider God’s Love For You in light of the statement, “For God so Loved…” This does not mean that God approved the conduct of men, assuredly it doesn’t. It means that His love was a feeling of benevolence toward man, not approving the conduct but “earnestly desires the Happiness of those who are sinful.

Let us consider the statement, “The World”. That simply means all mankind. It does not indicate a certain part of the world. It clearly shows man as man His love is for all men. All men of the world had rebelled and therefore deserved the punishment of death. His love for the world was shown in giving His Son. The giving of His Son was brought about because of these circumstances:

1. All the world was in ruin, and exposed to the wrath of God.
2. All people were in a hopeless condition.
3. God gave his Son. Man had no claim on him’ it was a gift – an undeserved gift.
4. He gave him up to extreme sufferings, even the bitter pains of death on the cross.
5. It was for all the world. He tasted “death for every man”, according to Hebrews 2:9.
6. He “died for all,“ II Cor. 5:15
7. “He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world,” I John 2:2
8. Propitiation – The act of atoning for sin.

That He Gave – A free and unmerited gift. Man had no hold nor any claim to this gift. Where there was nothing else to save, it pleased God to give His Son into the hands of men to die in their place. “Who gave himself for our sins” – Galatians 1:4 Love moved God to express His eternal compassion and desire that sinners should not perish forever.

“His only-begotten Son” This is the highest expression of love which we can conceive. A Father gave His perfect without sin Son to die for others who stand guilty shows a higher love than could be manifested in any other way. What great depth of love that God has for wicked man, and it could not be shown in any greater way.

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Peter gives us an argument here for a holy life to be lived. That argument is that we have been redeemed. This reminds me of the song, “I’m redeemed by love divine, glory, glory, Christ is mine.” What a comfort this is to know that the precious love of God has redeemed me. Nothing in this world could redeem me but the love of God has provided for my redemption.

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

This term – “faithful witness”. This is Jesus giving a testimony that he can be completely relied upon. He is worthy of our belief. “The First begotten of the dead.” Not that He is the first to rise from the dead, but he is the first who rose from the dead to immortality.

Notice how He loved us. Washed us from our sins. Jesus is the prince of the kings of the earth, yet he has made us kings and priests unto God, His Father. The Love of God has elevated us from sin and ruin into a kingship and priesthood that I do not deserve and certainly could not attain on my own.

HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD.

SLEEPING WHEN THE WIND BLOWS

William Andrew Dillard

Bits and pieces of stories are often tucked away in memory from who knows where. But they give rise to practical thoughts of personal perspective in Christian wisdom that insist on being shared with others. Think with me as the story goes!
A farmer once advertised for a hired hand due to the increased burden of farming demands. His farm was in a region well known for violent storms, so most people were net excited about working on a farm.. They has seen crops destroyed and buildings badly damaged. One applicant for the job was an unlikely fellow: short, thin, and past middle age.
The farmer interviewed the applicant. “Are you a good farm hand?” he asked. The man replied, “Yes, sir! I can sleep when the wind blows.”
Puzzled by the reply, but desperate from some help, the farmer hired the man. In days ahead, he worked quite well, stayed busy from sun-up until sun-down, and caused the farmer to be satisfied with his choice of help.
Then it happened. One night the wind howled loudly as a strong weather front began to pass through. The farmer jumped out of bed and made his way to the sleeping quarters of his hired hand. He yelled at him, “Get up, get up, a storm is coming and things will get blown away if they are not tied down quickly and securely. But, the little man just rolled over in his bed as he said, “No, sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”
Enraged by the response from his hired helper, the farmer wanted to fire him on the spot. But not to waste time, he hurried outside to tend to things that might get blown away. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks has been covered. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down, so that nothing could bet blown away.
It was then that the farmer understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
Are you prepared spiritually, mentally and practically to be at peace (to sleep and rest) when storms blow through your life? I am referencing a good knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, and being obedient to it. It is so reassuring to know that our Savior is He Who came to the disciples in their fear in a storm at sea. It was He who simply said “Peace be still.” and the storm and waves obeyed him. In Him, I can sleep when the wind blows.

FORGIVENESS

Psalm 130:4; Matthew 6:14; Acts 5:31

Psa 130:4  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 

There is forgiveness with God. God is never a tyrant because He exercises forgiveness to those that repent. We find that very request from David in

Psalm 25:11 where David says – “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.”

We find repentance within this pleading of David. David recognized the greatness of his sin and requested forgiveness. Notice the inference, “For thy name’s sake. This is for the glory of God.

We see David coming to God again. Once again David speaks of the forgiveness of God when he says in

Psalm 86:5 – “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

He speaks of the goodness of God in reference to forgiveness. In the forgiveness of God we find an abundance of mercy. It is the mercy of God where we find His forgiveness for a multitude of sin. We praise and thank God because of His great mercy which He shows to us in the forgiveness of sin. Yet there is something we need to consider about God’s forgiveness.

Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 

God’s forgiveness is contingent upon our willingness to forgive. Forgiveness from us represents the “milk of human kindness.” This kindness is amply illustrated by those that have been born again by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Let me deviate here a little. The first hospitals were begun by Christians. They saw the need and the decision was not based upon monetary profit, but the compassion of heart for the sick. Later, there were those that saw the financial opportunity of hospitals and became involved not for christian feelings for the sick, but the financial benefits of charging for services rendered.

We must have a heart for the sick. We must have a heart of forgiveness for those that offend and also for those that need. We have the needy with us and are instructed in that area by

Proverbs. 21:13 – “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.” We should hear the cry of the sick and the needy. But we are further instructed by

Ephesians 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” This is written to the church at Ephesus. This should be our relationship with the members of the church. We should have Kindness and be tenderhearted toward each other with the forgiveness of offenses.

Act 5:27  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 

28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 

29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 

32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 

33  When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 

Verse 31 is our key verse here. Through Jesus our Savior, we receive forgiveness. This is the supreme forgiveness we need because of sins that opens the door to heaven. This is a recounting of what happened to Jesus. His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection for the sins of the world. This is the supreme forgiveness. The forgiveness of vile, wretched and unworthy men when Adam turned his back upon God and plunged the human race into the depths of the blackness of sin. Man needed a supreme forgiveness for his cleansing. This was accomplished through Jesus coming to earth wrapped in the flesh of man to become the perfect and complete sacrifice for man and bring forgiveness to all that repent. The Supreme forgiveness is found at the foot of the cross and the cleansing of the precious blood of Jesus the Son of God who has redeemed us from the curse of hell and provided an entrance into the glories of heaven and the presence of our LORD.