I should have put this post before the last one but here it is. Hope it helps. It also follows the Life changing experience post from last year. I'm so confused!
God bless America. These are words we all heard a lot after September 11, 2001. Everyone was saying this and it was written on signs all over the country. As truck drivers we got to see it and probably many of us had signs like this on our trucks. One day after 9/11 I was driving through Las Vegas and on one of the casino signs that usually feature some entertainment were the words God BLESS AMERICA. Frankly as a disciple of Jesus I was a little offended. But it got me to thinking about the phrase, “God Bless.” And I thought that in the Bible that phrase does not appear. But we as Christians often use this greeting or blessing. So what is the big deal? Maybe nothing but I sometimes tend to be a detail nerd, so stick with me a minute ‘cause I am going somewhere that may be worthwhile.
In my life changing experience article I mentioned Proverbs 9:1, and how that got me praying about the seven pillars of wisdom. I don’t remember exactly how it came to me because there seems to have been several things pointing to this but it occurred to me that there are seven blessings at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount that are a result of my behavior. Yes I realize there are nine blessings in the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, but the last 2 are dependent on the actions of others, and possibly on the first seven.
So now the secret is out. These seven blessings have become for me the seven pillars of wisdom. As I meditate on them at least one of them will stop me and I will have a prayer time about how I need to be more mindful of that characteristic. I pray for grace. I pray for wisdom. I pray for faith. Now I have been doing this for a few years and I want to tell you that God answers prayer. My mind is being changed and made new.
Over the years I have heard many testimonies of how people came to the Lord and zap flash bang everything was new and changed. Well, I just don’t know anything about that kind of experience. But I do know and can testify God is using this in my life.
So why the beatitudes? I can only guess. First of all as I prayed, that is what became evident to me. They seemed so simple and so common. That may be a very good reason. God seems to hide the best stuff right in front of us, and we stumble over it for years looking for it. It has led me to many other verses and chapters that have expanded each one of the blessings.
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
This all seems so very weak as I read what I have written. But even if it sounds weak to you also, please believe me when I tell you it is having an effect in my life and I am being changed. Please take me seriously when I encourage you to take the time to memorize these verses and repeat them to yourself each night before you go to sleep. Meditate on them as you drive. Let God use them in your life. Jesus didn’t just blabber off some good sounding stuff to get the message going. There are true words of life here, and I don’t see any end of searching the riches of these words.
I have almost completely stopped using the phrase “God bless you.” God’s Word tells us who he blesses. It is my sincere desire that you find the blessings of God as you live the life you have to live, therefore my blessing to you is “Be faithful!” As we work with these things God is always Faithful, and he is eager to pour out blessings on those who are being conformed to the image of his Son.
Finding grace to help in time of need.
Your brother Rick,
BE FAITHFUL
Sunday, March 28, 2010
It Really Works
I just need to share.
The other night Jeannie and I were talking about financial stuff. We are working to get things in this area cleaned up. Anyhow someone was calling and harassing her. I got instantly enraged. She got me to calm down, but only in what I was saying. Later I was getting ready for bed and I usually have communion before I go to bed. That night I looked at the bread and the cup and even though everything was ready and I had read a scripture, I couldn't touch it. I was still angry and even angry about old stuff. I just left everything where it was and went to bed.
As I lay in bed The Blessings came to mind. Thank God! I have mentioned how the meditation on the first 7 blessings is a tremendous help. Well as I lay there I began going through them one at a time and spending a little time with each one. Letting each one work on me. By the time I got to the end, my spirit was at rest and I got back out of bed and was able to recieve the rememberance of my Lords Love.
Psalms 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way with sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scoffer. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his law does he meditate day and night.
Please memorize and meditate on God's Word It will have a good effect on you.
Be Faithful
Rick
The other night Jeannie and I were talking about financial stuff. We are working to get things in this area cleaned up. Anyhow someone was calling and harassing her. I got instantly enraged. She got me to calm down, but only in what I was saying. Later I was getting ready for bed and I usually have communion before I go to bed. That night I looked at the bread and the cup and even though everything was ready and I had read a scripture, I couldn't touch it. I was still angry and even angry about old stuff. I just left everything where it was and went to bed.
As I lay in bed The Blessings came to mind. Thank God! I have mentioned how the meditation on the first 7 blessings is a tremendous help. Well as I lay there I began going through them one at a time and spending a little time with each one. Letting each one work on me. By the time I got to the end, my spirit was at rest and I got back out of bed and was able to recieve the rememberance of my Lords Love.
Psalms 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way with sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scoffer. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his law does he meditate day and night.
Please memorize and meditate on God's Word It will have a good effect on you.
Be Faithful
Rick
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Rest
(Mat 11:28) Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
I have found myself here, weary from too much work, exhausted from not finding satisfaction in my work. I desperately need the rest that Jesus offers.
No I am not overworked, far from it. Rather, I am too often trying to find the answers to my problems in my own strength and wisdom, and too seldom looking to God to show me the way I need to go.
In the parable of the soils, Jesus spoke of the seed that was sown among thorns. This is where I often find myself. The main problem is that it takes me so long to realize that this is where I am. I become anxious about many things before I know what is happening. And suddenly I am depressed or discouraged and feeling hopeless.
There are so many things that can bring us out of rest; finances, relationships, health, and the list is endless. The really amazing thing is that all of the reasons go back to a lack of belief in God’s love and provision.
The word of God is full of strong words of encouragement to ‘trust in the Lord’. Ps. 125:1, Pr. 3:5, Nah. 1:7, I Pet. 5:7. These are just a few. But sometimes we just get neck deep in cares and troubles. At that point how do I just start trusting in the Lord? Can you will yourself in those times to trust God and just not be anxious? I can’t!
What can we do? Once again the answer is simple and plain. You have heard it many times if you have spent any time on this way. Psalms 119 is full of encouragement that will help give us the right answer. Psalms 1 is also a great help.
:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
The word of God is the answer that has been the help that I have needed, the help that has truly been a help. Recently I picked up a tape at a truck stop entitled ‘Protection from Backsliding’. The brother, who shared, spoke of 3 things to do in order to not backslide. The first was start every day in the Word of God. There was no mention of how much or how little, but the encouragement was that we prayerfully soak ourselves in the words of God. I must speak very strongly about this, because I have been so unfaithful and seen the devastation of not heeding these words. If we do not soak ourselves at the beginning of every day in the Word of God we will backslide. The second strong word is that we must begin every day with personal time alone with God. And the third is that we must make every effort to share our faith with everyone we possibly can.
The reason I have written this article is, I have done so poorly here and suffered with discouragement, fear and a loss of hope, because I neglected these areas. But God gave me grace to see what I had done and gave me grace to turn to his word and communion with him. In that, he gave courage and hope.
Hebrews 4:11 says “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
The word labor is translated in other versions as, ‘be diligent’ or ‘strive’. We need diligence, I need diligence. And many times it is a battle to be faithful. But the price of unfaithfulness is unspeakable. Verse 1 says “Let us therefore fear.” This is very serious. I know some are opposed to the word fear when it comes to the things of God, but for me I cannot water that word down. I need to fear that I will fail to enter this rest.
And finally the word unbelief at the end of verse 11 is also translated ‘disobedience.’ The more I think about it the more I see that these two words are almost synonyms. If I do not believe I will not obey.
I resolve to start every day in God’s word and with God in a time of personal intimate fellowship with God so that I may not come out of the rest that He wants me to live in. Let us pray for one another that we may be faithful.
Your brother Rick
I have found myself here, weary from too much work, exhausted from not finding satisfaction in my work. I desperately need the rest that Jesus offers.
No I am not overworked, far from it. Rather, I am too often trying to find the answers to my problems in my own strength and wisdom, and too seldom looking to God to show me the way I need to go.
In the parable of the soils, Jesus spoke of the seed that was sown among thorns. This is where I often find myself. The main problem is that it takes me so long to realize that this is where I am. I become anxious about many things before I know what is happening. And suddenly I am depressed or discouraged and feeling hopeless.
There are so many things that can bring us out of rest; finances, relationships, health, and the list is endless. The really amazing thing is that all of the reasons go back to a lack of belief in God’s love and provision.
The word of God is full of strong words of encouragement to ‘trust in the Lord’. Ps. 125:1, Pr. 3:5, Nah. 1:7, I Pet. 5:7. These are just a few. But sometimes we just get neck deep in cares and troubles. At that point how do I just start trusting in the Lord? Can you will yourself in those times to trust God and just not be anxious? I can’t!
What can we do? Once again the answer is simple and plain. You have heard it many times if you have spent any time on this way. Psalms 119 is full of encouragement that will help give us the right answer. Psalms 1 is also a great help.
:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
The word of God is the answer that has been the help that I have needed, the help that has truly been a help. Recently I picked up a tape at a truck stop entitled ‘Protection from Backsliding’. The brother, who shared, spoke of 3 things to do in order to not backslide. The first was start every day in the Word of God. There was no mention of how much or how little, but the encouragement was that we prayerfully soak ourselves in the words of God. I must speak very strongly about this, because I have been so unfaithful and seen the devastation of not heeding these words. If we do not soak ourselves at the beginning of every day in the Word of God we will backslide. The second strong word is that we must begin every day with personal time alone with God. And the third is that we must make every effort to share our faith with everyone we possibly can.
The reason I have written this article is, I have done so poorly here and suffered with discouragement, fear and a loss of hope, because I neglected these areas. But God gave me grace to see what I had done and gave me grace to turn to his word and communion with him. In that, he gave courage and hope.
Hebrews 4:11 says “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
The word labor is translated in other versions as, ‘be diligent’ or ‘strive’. We need diligence, I need diligence. And many times it is a battle to be faithful. But the price of unfaithfulness is unspeakable. Verse 1 says “Let us therefore fear.” This is very serious. I know some are opposed to the word fear when it comes to the things of God, but for me I cannot water that word down. I need to fear that I will fail to enter this rest.
And finally the word unbelief at the end of verse 11 is also translated ‘disobedience.’ The more I think about it the more I see that these two words are almost synonyms. If I do not believe I will not obey.
I resolve to start every day in God’s word and with God in a time of personal intimate fellowship with God so that I may not come out of the rest that He wants me to live in. Let us pray for one another that we may be faithful.
Your brother Rick
Sunday, January 31, 2010
A dew drop
A dew drop,
A gem most precious;
It cannot be duplicated,
It can only be imitated.
In its heart the universe resides;
Its life is short, almost momentary.
So delicate it can be destroyed,
By the false step of a butterfly.
So is the nature of God’s mercies.
Precious gems destroyed by
Careless steps.
Only by the Grace of God,
Can I nourish and not destroy,
The thousands of mercies,
That God pours out,
For and around me daily.
So is my bride.
She is a precious,
Fragile gem;
Given to me to nourish,
And to cherish.
To wash,
With the dew of His Word.
The gem is as fragile
As the cleanser.
I am brutish and clumsy,
Very prone to fire hoses
And scrub brushes.
A natural man who
Destroys the mercy of God,
In my own
Self righteousness.
Only complete repentance,
And absolute surrender
Of my life,
Can save a single life.
Absolute humility before God,
Obedience!
Then Christ can come forth.
Only then am I of any use
In the Kingdom of God!
In the Kingdom of God!
The gifts of God are not seen with the natural eye. But God shows mercy and reveals them so we can begin to see the glories that are ours on this way that Jesus went.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Jesus Was Amazed
Some translations say Jesus marveled others say he was amazed and still others say he wondered. What could have created such a profound effect in our Lord? In another place it says he was hindered by this same situation.
As I travel around and visit with Christians in chapels and churches sometimes we get into discussions about different things. There was one time at a coffee house a few years ago when I was visiting with some folks and there was one who seemed to be the dominant one. After some time I asked him, “What do you believe?” He had expressed a good deal of criticism for most of Christendom and I was curious. His response amazed me. He began to tell me a list of things he did not believe. I pressed him for some time but in everything his response was only a list of the things he did not believe. This was a very extreme example
However, there is a tendency in many of us to be sure, no one mistakes us for those “Pentecostals” or the “name it and claim it” crowd. Tongues, prophesy, words of wisdom and especially healing are not for today. Until someone we care about has a serious condition, then we pray for all we’re worth. Of course we add, “If it be your will, Oh Lord.”
It is amazing how we can ignore clear instructions in God’s word about all of these things simply because some have abused them, or taken things out of context. Sometimes it seems we would rather just take things out rather than take a chance.
It seems that in this country we are so smart that we have described the limits of God’s work in carefully worded theological arguments. There are places where they still have healings and raise the dead. Primitive people see angels and hear them sing.
I strongly suspect that there are many things God is hindered from doing for us and through us because of our amazing unbelief.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Heb 3:12
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Heb 3:19
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8
By the way the passage I was referring to in the beginning is Mark 6:6.
Is God as narrow as many of the “Bible Teachers”? I am more afraid that he will find fault with me because of unbelief, than that he will condemn me for wrongly trying to apply some scripture because I am small and stupid.
Be more afraid of unbelief than of getting it wrong. I’m pretty sure we all get a lot of it wrong. If we get it wrong at least we were trying to get it right.
These are just some things I have thought about and areas where I believe I need to grow.
Let us all grow in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus.
As I travel around and visit with Christians in chapels and churches sometimes we get into discussions about different things. There was one time at a coffee house a few years ago when I was visiting with some folks and there was one who seemed to be the dominant one. After some time I asked him, “What do you believe?” He had expressed a good deal of criticism for most of Christendom and I was curious. His response amazed me. He began to tell me a list of things he did not believe. I pressed him for some time but in everything his response was only a list of the things he did not believe. This was a very extreme example
However, there is a tendency in many of us to be sure, no one mistakes us for those “Pentecostals” or the “name it and claim it” crowd. Tongues, prophesy, words of wisdom and especially healing are not for today. Until someone we care about has a serious condition, then we pray for all we’re worth. Of course we add, “If it be your will, Oh Lord.”
It is amazing how we can ignore clear instructions in God’s word about all of these things simply because some have abused them, or taken things out of context. Sometimes it seems we would rather just take things out rather than take a chance.
It seems that in this country we are so smart that we have described the limits of God’s work in carefully worded theological arguments. There are places where they still have healings and raise the dead. Primitive people see angels and hear them sing.
I strongly suspect that there are many things God is hindered from doing for us and through us because of our amazing unbelief.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Heb 3:12
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Heb 3:19
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8
By the way the passage I was referring to in the beginning is Mark 6:6.
Is God as narrow as many of the “Bible Teachers”? I am more afraid that he will find fault with me because of unbelief, than that he will condemn me for wrongly trying to apply some scripture because I am small and stupid.
Be more afraid of unbelief than of getting it wrong. I’m pretty sure we all get a lot of it wrong. If we get it wrong at least we were trying to get it right.
These are just some things I have thought about and areas where I believe I need to grow.
Let us all grow in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Be Perfect
This morning I read in Mark 5 about the demon possessed man that met Jesus when he got out of the boat in Garza, (or something like that, it’s different in each translation). It’s a familiar story to many believers, and yet, today I saw it with fresh eyes. So bear with me it is a little different from anything I have ever thought about. Of course maybe I’m just the last to see it.
The thing that struck me is how much I am like the Gerasene demoniac.
Take another look at the story and see if you can find yourself. One of the most valuable things we can do is see how poorly we do it.
The description of the man is amazing.
• He lived in the tombs. With the dead. It sometimes amazes me when I realize the things I am interested in and how empty and dead they are.
• No man could bind him. He was not under any authority. How often do I rebel against the authority that God has put over me? Recently I have begun to see that meekness has quite a bit to do with being at rest under authority. A pretty exciting concept if you’re not real crazy about the political leaders at this time.
• He was always crying out. Do I ‘need’ to complain? Do I always have something to say about every issue?
• And cutting himself with stones. He was always doing harm to himself. How about me? How about the choices I make? Do I choose the pleasures that are harmful? Overeating? Inactivity? Looking at the wrong things? Thinking about the wrong things?
To some degree I can see myself in all these things and I am very convicted, but the worst is yet to come.
When he saw Jesus he ran and worshipped him(verse 6). But then he said “I beg you in the name of God, do not torment me.”
Is this what I think Jesus comes to do? Torment Me? Does Jesus just want to take away all my pleasures? Sometimes it seems that is how I feel and how other “Christians” feel. But the truth is that Jesus simply wants to drive out everything that is unclean and harmful to me.
His desire for me is that I become like him (Rom. 8:29). His longing for me is that I should have ABUNDANT life (John 10:10).
A lot of “Christian” folks want to worship God with a loud voice, but they don’t want him to torment them about their sin. I sure have been guilty here. How about you?
Jesus answer to the man is the same as his answer to me. “Come out of the Man”. Jesus doesn’t look for reasons why we don’t think we can be perfect, he simply tells us to be perfect (Matt. 5:48).
I remember one time I was at a friend’s house in the evening, and he called some neighbors in and they all read God’s Word together. I was very impressed and told him so. His response shocked me. After he asked me whether I did the same, and found out I didn’t. He didn’t ask for a reason or a justification. He just said “Well start, Now.”
There were a thousand demons in this man. Jesus drove them all out. There are many faults (sins) in me, and Jesus wants to drive them all out.
As I was walking today, I thought about being perfect. Perfect doesn’t move. But as I move toward the perfect that I see and attain it, I realize I hadn’t seen all the way to completely perfect. But I think that if I am moving in the direction of the perfection I can see, God may count that as perfect as long as I keep moving. And God’s wonderful mercy will fill in what is lacking. I don’t think we can start a denomination on that one but it may be worth thinking about.
Finally, when the man that was cleansed saw Jesus about to leave, he wanted to go with him. But Jesus wouldn’t let him go, and told him to “Go home and tell your friends about the wonderful things the Lord has done for you, and how he had great compassion on you.” Sometimes I just want to go home and rest. Jesus says to me, "Go tell my brothers and sisters what wonderful things he has done for me."
The thing that struck me is how much I am like the Gerasene demoniac.
Take another look at the story and see if you can find yourself. One of the most valuable things we can do is see how poorly we do it.
The description of the man is amazing.
• He lived in the tombs. With the dead. It sometimes amazes me when I realize the things I am interested in and how empty and dead they are.
• No man could bind him. He was not under any authority. How often do I rebel against the authority that God has put over me? Recently I have begun to see that meekness has quite a bit to do with being at rest under authority. A pretty exciting concept if you’re not real crazy about the political leaders at this time.
• He was always crying out. Do I ‘need’ to complain? Do I always have something to say about every issue?
• And cutting himself with stones. He was always doing harm to himself. How about me? How about the choices I make? Do I choose the pleasures that are harmful? Overeating? Inactivity? Looking at the wrong things? Thinking about the wrong things?
To some degree I can see myself in all these things and I am very convicted, but the worst is yet to come.
When he saw Jesus he ran and worshipped him(verse 6). But then he said “I beg you in the name of God, do not torment me.”
Is this what I think Jesus comes to do? Torment Me? Does Jesus just want to take away all my pleasures? Sometimes it seems that is how I feel and how other “Christians” feel. But the truth is that Jesus simply wants to drive out everything that is unclean and harmful to me.
His desire for me is that I become like him (Rom. 8:29). His longing for me is that I should have ABUNDANT life (John 10:10).
A lot of “Christian” folks want to worship God with a loud voice, but they don’t want him to torment them about their sin. I sure have been guilty here. How about you?
Jesus answer to the man is the same as his answer to me. “Come out of the Man”. Jesus doesn’t look for reasons why we don’t think we can be perfect, he simply tells us to be perfect (Matt. 5:48).
I remember one time I was at a friend’s house in the evening, and he called some neighbors in and they all read God’s Word together. I was very impressed and told him so. His response shocked me. After he asked me whether I did the same, and found out I didn’t. He didn’t ask for a reason or a justification. He just said “Well start, Now.”
There were a thousand demons in this man. Jesus drove them all out. There are many faults (sins) in me, and Jesus wants to drive them all out.
As I was walking today, I thought about being perfect. Perfect doesn’t move. But as I move toward the perfect that I see and attain it, I realize I hadn’t seen all the way to completely perfect. But I think that if I am moving in the direction of the perfection I can see, God may count that as perfect as long as I keep moving. And God’s wonderful mercy will fill in what is lacking. I don’t think we can start a denomination on that one but it may be worth thinking about.
Finally, when the man that was cleansed saw Jesus about to leave, he wanted to go with him. But Jesus wouldn’t let him go, and told him to “Go home and tell your friends about the wonderful things the Lord has done for you, and how he had great compassion on you.” Sometimes I just want to go home and rest. Jesus says to me, "Go tell my brothers and sisters what wonderful things he has done for me."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Are You Willing to be Wrong
Are you willing to be wrong? Is there a possibility that some belief that you hold is not quite completely correct? There is a very significant verse in Corinthians 8:2
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
________________________________________
If you let that sink in, it can begin to change your attitude about a lot of things. The first of the seven blessings is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.” As I have thought and prayed about this blessing, I have seen some of how rich I believed I was. In my mind I possessed tremendous amounts of knowledge and understanding. Therefore I was willing and eager to set others straight when they didn’t properly understand the mysteries of God as clearly as I did. Have you ever known anyone like that? Have you ever been like that?
There are many scripture references that come to mind as I think about being poor in spirit. I suspect humility is a characteristic of being poor in spirit. James 4:6 and IPeter 5:5 have the same phrase almost word for word; “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” One teacher that I have read said, “I used to believe that humility was the most important thing. I was wrong it is everything!” The apostle Paul speaks of himself in tremendously strong terms when he says, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all the saints.” Ephesians 3:8. Now if Paul considered himself less than the least and called himself “chief of sinners,” I Timothy 1:15, where can my high thoughts about my own virtue and knowledge find any place to stand? No my brothers and sisters all of my riches in knowledge and righteousness are filth. I must come to God and to you in absolute poverty and humility.
Jesus said “suffer the little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” He also said, “Except you be converted and become as little children you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Can we take these words too seriously? I believe we each have a lot of work to do here. I know I have. Along this way God gives us to one another, to encourage one another. That is the reason I write. Hopefully some are encouraged to go on in faith. I am also encouraged by others who have written testimonies of the faith that has strengthened them. I would like to recommend a brother who lived in South Africa around the beginning of the 20th century. Andrew Murray was a pastor and writer. In his book “The Deeper Christian Life an aid to its attainment” he wrote
When you have given God His place of honor, glory, and power, take your place of deepest lowliness, and seek to be filled with the Spirit of humility. As a creature it is your blessedness to be nothing, that God may be all in you. As a sinner you are not worthy to look up to God; bow in self abasement. As a saint, let God’s love overwhelm you, and bow you still lower down. Sink down before Him in humility, meekness, patience, and surrender to His goodness and mercy. He will exalt you. Oh! Take time, to get very low before God.
All of this talk about humbling myself would come short if we do not consider the result. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." As I have read God’s word and heard testimonies this has become a great wonder to me. Many speak of this with great terms of healing and financial prosperity, quickly followed by an appeal to send money. Then you can hear the story of George Muller who lived in England and operated an orphanage by faith. He never asked any man to provide his needs. Though he never took an offering, needs were met and God’s love was shown to thousands. Vern Howell is a man who lives in Denver Colorado. Almost 30 years ago he left a good job and put himself and his wife, Ruth, in God’s hands to minister to the needy in Denver. They have been able to give food, clothing, automobiles, shelter and most important the Gospel to thousands. Vern told me a few years ago that he had not gotten a pay check for almost 30 years. God provides all they need. (Ps 23) I don’t know any people more full of life and love than Vern and Ruth.
(1Co 2:9) 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.
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A thing that occurs to me often is that we are missing so much when we don’t humble ourselves and without reservation place ourselves in the hands of God who only loves us and wants to bless us. Right now I am sitting waiting for a load. I drive truck for the money. These times are a wonderful opportunity for me to put myself in the hands of the shepherd. To humbly trust that he is providing all that I need. When I have done this, peace fills my heart and anxiety floats away like smoke. God is full of wonderful surprises to pour out on us as we learn to humble ourselves.
Finally in the story of the rich young ruler, we have read that he went away sorrowful. Mostly I have heard it taught that he did not do what Jesus told him to do. But I have hope for him. When I see that my virtue and knowledge are of no value, my first response is sorrow. I have put my trust in my doctrine, my baptism, my understanding of God. I have found that none of that will help me till I come to God and declare it all a loss. I am finding as I hope the rich young ruler did, all I trusted is of no value. I must throw myself at his feet, and learn humility and poverty so he can lift me up and make me rich.
Your Brother learning humility
Rick
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
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If you let that sink in, it can begin to change your attitude about a lot of things. The first of the seven blessings is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.” As I have thought and prayed about this blessing, I have seen some of how rich I believed I was. In my mind I possessed tremendous amounts of knowledge and understanding. Therefore I was willing and eager to set others straight when they didn’t properly understand the mysteries of God as clearly as I did. Have you ever known anyone like that? Have you ever been like that?
There are many scripture references that come to mind as I think about being poor in spirit. I suspect humility is a characteristic of being poor in spirit. James 4:6 and IPeter 5:5 have the same phrase almost word for word; “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” One teacher that I have read said, “I used to believe that humility was the most important thing. I was wrong it is everything!” The apostle Paul speaks of himself in tremendously strong terms when he says, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all the saints.” Ephesians 3:8. Now if Paul considered himself less than the least and called himself “chief of sinners,” I Timothy 1:15, where can my high thoughts about my own virtue and knowledge find any place to stand? No my brothers and sisters all of my riches in knowledge and righteousness are filth. I must come to God and to you in absolute poverty and humility.
Jesus said “suffer the little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” He also said, “Except you be converted and become as little children you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Can we take these words too seriously? I believe we each have a lot of work to do here. I know I have. Along this way God gives us to one another, to encourage one another. That is the reason I write. Hopefully some are encouraged to go on in faith. I am also encouraged by others who have written testimonies of the faith that has strengthened them. I would like to recommend a brother who lived in South Africa around the beginning of the 20th century. Andrew Murray was a pastor and writer. In his book “The Deeper Christian Life an aid to its attainment” he wrote
When you have given God His place of honor, glory, and power, take your place of deepest lowliness, and seek to be filled with the Spirit of humility. As a creature it is your blessedness to be nothing, that God may be all in you. As a sinner you are not worthy to look up to God; bow in self abasement. As a saint, let God’s love overwhelm you, and bow you still lower down. Sink down before Him in humility, meekness, patience, and surrender to His goodness and mercy. He will exalt you. Oh! Take time, to get very low before God.
All of this talk about humbling myself would come short if we do not consider the result. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." As I have read God’s word and heard testimonies this has become a great wonder to me. Many speak of this with great terms of healing and financial prosperity, quickly followed by an appeal to send money. Then you can hear the story of George Muller who lived in England and operated an orphanage by faith. He never asked any man to provide his needs. Though he never took an offering, needs were met and God’s love was shown to thousands. Vern Howell is a man who lives in Denver Colorado. Almost 30 years ago he left a good job and put himself and his wife, Ruth, in God’s hands to minister to the needy in Denver. They have been able to give food, clothing, automobiles, shelter and most important the Gospel to thousands. Vern told me a few years ago that he had not gotten a pay check for almost 30 years. God provides all they need. (Ps 23) I don’t know any people more full of life and love than Vern and Ruth.
(1Co 2:9) 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.
___________________________________________________
A thing that occurs to me often is that we are missing so much when we don’t humble ourselves and without reservation place ourselves in the hands of God who only loves us and wants to bless us. Right now I am sitting waiting for a load. I drive truck for the money. These times are a wonderful opportunity for me to put myself in the hands of the shepherd. To humbly trust that he is providing all that I need. When I have done this, peace fills my heart and anxiety floats away like smoke. God is full of wonderful surprises to pour out on us as we learn to humble ourselves.
Finally in the story of the rich young ruler, we have read that he went away sorrowful. Mostly I have heard it taught that he did not do what Jesus told him to do. But I have hope for him. When I see that my virtue and knowledge are of no value, my first response is sorrow. I have put my trust in my doctrine, my baptism, my understanding of God. I have found that none of that will help me till I come to God and declare it all a loss. I am finding as I hope the rich young ruler did, all I trusted is of no value. I must throw myself at his feet, and learn humility and poverty so he can lift me up and make me rich.
Your Brother learning humility
Rick
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