Strength for the Weak

“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” (Isa 35:4 AV)

Not every believer is at the same maturity level.  Some have more knowledge than others and some have walked with God learning of God’s faithfulness through difficult situations.  Fear is part of life.  We are faced with situations beyond our control.  They are new and frightening.  In our passage above I see a beautiful picture of stronger believers being the strength for no so strong ones.  These weaker brethren are so not because of wickedness of heart, but rather, lack of knowledge and experience.  Not everything is a sin issue.  Sometimes, we are fearful or weak because we lack important pieces of maturity that would assist us through time of difficulty.

Part of giving strength is more then mere endurance.  Sharing strength is also motivating the fearful to further themselves.  This is not mere comfort while cowering.  This is encouraging through words and actions.  It is encouraging those who are fearful to continue and even commit more.  Sorry for similar illustrations, but it is what I am used to.  Years ago, I learned to hunt in the foothills of the southern tier of New York.  The mountain I hunted looked a bit spooky.  Specially in the dark.  There were bears in them there mountains.  Not to mention other critters of which I was not aware.  I can remember being led by my brother or father-in-law to the deer stand on opening morning.  Flashlights can do only so much.  It is amazing how much one can imagine even with the safety of a flashlight.  When sitting in the stand before the sun rises, what the eyes behold changed quite a bit.  What seemed to be a large and foreboding animal turns out to be a bush.  When ascending to the stand, strength was imparted to continue on.  It was not empathy that kept me in my safe zone.  Rather, it was experience and knowledge of another that enabled a rookie to get to where he needed to be.

We will be on one end of this or the other.  We will either be the one who is fearful and needs strength, or we will be the one imparting strength.  Ours is not to question the maturity level of another nor think ourselves unnecessarily deficient if we are in need.  This idea of mutual strength is well spoken of in Paul’s many letters.  Romans fourteen comes to mind.  There will always be those who are afraid.  It is natural and normal.  It is part of growing.  It is part of learning to trust the LORD.  It is part of life.  If we have been there before, then is it incumbent upon us to share what we have learned and be the faith for someone who doesn’t have enough.  Don’t let him or her cower.  Carry them on.  Fear will pass with the faithfulness of God.

Dialogue Delivers Divine Delight

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” (Pr 15:8 AV)

How much do we remember the delight which prayer brings to the LORD?   What is amazing to me is we can bring Him any delight at all.  A God who is self-sufficient would seem as though His delights can be had from within Himself.  Yet, our wise seer rightly states the prayers of the upright delight the heart of God.  What an astounding thought.  There is something a person can do to bring delight to a God who needs nothing.  The fact He has created you and I with the capacity to please Him is something that boggles the mind.  The simple act of speaking with God in the right spirit and with the right motive is something that brings delight to the divine heart.  The question is, why don’t we do this more often?

There is something about a conversation with a little one that brings deep joy to the heart.  I have been blessed with four, and soon to be five, grandchildren.  I have fond memories of these young ones sitting on Papa’s lap, talking about anything and everything.  I have a little ‘thing’ that is my little thing.  It started with a table top book of dogs.  My eldest really got into looking at the dogs with me.  Then the next oldest was into trains.  So, he sat with me and we looked at trains.  I still remember that day.  It took a bit of coxing, but on my lap he sat and we looked at one engine after another.  Now, I have to find a dinosaur book for the next in line.  He might be bit too old to sit on my lap when we meet up again.  But I guarantee you, it will be equally precious.  The fondest of all memories I have with my sons are the conversations. Specially those where matters of the heart were concerned.  When they became vulnerable and trusted me with their worries, passions, goals, struggles, etc.  These times were so delightful.  I felt humbled they would trust me to that level.  Sometimes, they were not deep conversations.  Sometimes a conversation over a cup of coffee, a meal at a restaurant, or a ride to and from a hunting trip. A parent or grandparent knows the value of a conversation.  There is no other great gift a child can give his parent than a few minutes of conversation.

The same is true of the LORD.  He didn’t have to create us.  But He did.  And, He did for a reason.  He created mankind for the purpose of fellowship.  This fellowship is fellowship based on faith and trust.  This fellowship is the express purpose for our existence.  If we say we love the LORD, then why don’t we fellowship with Him more and more?  Why is it that prayer is such a chore?  Why, if we are grateful for all that God has done and provided, don’t we realize that merely praying to Him is the greatest delight?  Think about it this way.  There is nothing we have or are that we could possibly give to the LORD that He cannot create if He so chose.  Expect one thing.  Our hearts.  Our hearts are free to do with as we please.  He doesn’t demand it of us.  He asks.  He asks because He delights.  Like a father who sits in his recliner calling his child or grandchild to him with outstretched hands to lift him to his lap, the LORD calls that we might come and spend some time with Him.  This is His delight.

Divine Anticipation of Grace

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” (Isa 30:18 AV)

To set the context, the waiting of God and the judgment of God are one in the same.  The word for wait here is the same as we would use it.  This is not always the case.  Sometime, the word can mean to wait, as a waitstaff would wait on a diner.  Here, it means to stand by.  In the LORD’s case, He is standing by for the purpose of showing grace.  In His waiting, He is exercising judgment.  However, His waiting is for the purpose of showing grace.  The instruction for the one receiving judgment is to patiently wait for that grace.  In other words, as Paul encourages is from the book of Hebrews, we are to endure the chastening of God.  Rather than dwell on the chastening this morning, let us consider God’s grace.  The fact He waits for the purpose of showing grace is amazing.

One of the most precious moments of parenting was when I got to experience hugging my sons after I corrected them.  Specially if they appreciated the correction.  We often compartmentalize the attributes of God and forget there are all infinite and equally a part of who and what God is.  We think God is linear and acts in a linear fashion.  However, a God who is transcendent can act non-linear.  He doesn’t have to act in wrath or mercy.  He can express both.  To this point, we forget God is a God of grace.  This truth simply cannot escape the mind.  God waits to show grace.  Even if He is displeased with us and is forced to correct us, He waits for the moment He can show grace.  We err one of two ways.  Either we think God is all grace and no correction, or all correction and no grace.  He is both.  In fact, one cannot be without the other.  Some have a hard time thinking the LORD has opinions of right and wrong.  They have a hard time thinking God would make a fuss over what they consider minor standards, rules, or laws.  When trouble comes, it is fate.  All they see is the grace of God.  Then there are those who think the LORD is perpetually angry at them.  If they stub their toe it was because God chastened them for having an impure thought.  The idea of life is to live without sin so they can earn God’s grace.  Both positions are false.  Let us speak to the later.

God’s grace is something we will never fully understand.  Not if we are trying to live for the LORD, anyway.  It will always be a mystery.  But we cannot earn God’s grace.  There is nothing we can do.  Otherwise, grace is not grace.  Grace must be accepted.  Not to experience it, but rather, to enjoy it.  If we feel guilty, then forgiveness of self is necessary.  Appreciation for the goodness and grace of God goes a long way in fixing what is wrong with us.  If you are a glass-half-empty person or someone who thinks God will never be pleased with you, you may experience the grace of God.  It rains on the just and the unjust.  But you will never learn to enjoy it.  God is waiting to show you grace.  Right now!  He has an abundance of it and knows where and when that grace will come.  It will come.  Thank Him for it and humble yourself enough to rejoice in it!

Only Two Attitudes

“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” (Pr 13:13 AV)

There are only two reactions one can have towards the written word of God.  To despise here means to disrespect.  To fear here means to revere.  These two are as opposed as light and darkness. They are as opposite as east and west.  There is no middle ground between despising and fearing.  There is no neutral position when it comes to the word of God.  As Christ said, he that is not with me is against me.  The only position that could be a third possibility is ignorance.  Once ignorance becomes mute, the soul will either respect or disrespect the word of God.  This can be done in an obvious way.  Or, it can be very subtle.  From outward rebellion, to mild criticism.  From violent reaction to academic investigation.  Despising the word of God is anything short of holding it is fear and awe.

Our nature prefers the former.  All one has to do is notice one’s attitude towards a speed limit.  There are neighborhoods in my city with twenty-five mile per hour limits and it drives the average driver crazy.  There are other indications as to our attitude towards the written word of God.  Do we see it as the very voice of God, or do we see it as a text book?  Do we see it as a supernatural book that is perfectly preserved from eternity?  Or, do we see it as the next best thing that happened to be marred by human error?  There are many ways in which we can disrespect the word of God.  We can fail to read and study it.  That is the biggest insult.  Imagine your mother or father, husband or wife, child or neighbor took the time to write you a letter.  Imagine if time and distance has separated you.  When you receive the letter, it would be disrespectful to throw it on the dresser and never read it.  We disrespect the word of God when we make it subject to our own values and desires.  We interpret the word of God according to the desires of our hearts rather than the message which the Spirit has for us.  Conversely, there are ways we can respect it.  Accepting it by faith and not subjecting it to our own reasoning is the highest form of respect.  Reading it and studying it faithfully shows great respect.  Taking care of it physically is another.

The bottom line is this.  The word of God is His manifestation of Himself to mankind.  It is as if the LORD left a video or recorded message for those whom He deeply loves.  It is not for us to subject His manifestation to our whims.  There was a time when we kept our Bibles as the dearest possession we have.  There was a time when we covered it, marked in it, rebound it, and always knew right where it was.  There was a time when we faithfully read it for the soul purpose of hearing the Spirit speak.  Our relationship with the LORD is directly tied to how we hold His Word.  Sometimes, that which becomes common is treated common.  All it takes to recover this respect, fear, and awe is simple meditation.  All it takes is to remember they are not mere words on a page.  It is the supernatural, perfectly preserved, words of God provided as the means by which the Spirit communes with our spirit because we are the children of God.

Deep Roots, Durable Life

“A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.” (Pr 12:3 AV)

It’s not going to work.  No matter how well we think our actions may turn out, they will not turn out the way we had hopes.  The word ‘...established…’ is of particular interest here.  This word intimates a long-term goal and condition.  The intention of the wicked man is to be established by his methods or choices.  In the long run, the wicked will fall by the means he has devised.  But let us consider the second half of the proverb.  Note here the righteous are sustained by a root.  Plants and trees may be affected by the changeable winds of weather and time, but he root system is the foundation of overall health.  The picture here is obvious.  For the wicked, his methods have no root.  There is no integrity.  There is no depth of character.  Therefore, actions, motives, and methods change.  When they do, they are in conflict one with another and come to a destructive end.  The root of the righteous is deep and unchanging.  They are found upon absolutes that do not change.  The root is strong and deep.  Therefore, even though change may come on the outside, there is no change on the inside.

Over the years, I have hunted several styles of stands.  But the most secure are the ones attached to a tree.  There were several blinds from which I hunted.  One leaned downhill for several years until it finally topped over.  Another, built really well and one a secure stand was blown over by a tornado.  A third rooted away, and even though it was semi-attached to a tree, it too, fell over.  Then there was the ground blind.  A blind that I had received as a gift for turkey season.  My sons used it one fall for a deer ground blind and it was blown by the wind a quarter of a mile from its original placement.  Even though it was stacked down, it still came loose.  No root system.  Then there was the hang on stands.  A vast improvement to be sure.  However, over time, the hardware upon which the stand relied became old and worn out.  The best style of stands I have ever hunted from was a ladder stand.  These types of stands are secured three different ways.  The feet dig into the ground.  It is strapped to the tree by a stabilizing bar.  And at the top, there is usually two more straps securing the stand firmly to the tree.  Even of the tree sways a bit, the stand remains firm.  Proving its own ‘root’ system in planting its feet in the ground, and relying on the root system of the tree, this stand cannot be moved.  My kind of stand.

The more firm our heart is planted in the absolutes of God’s word, the more stable our lives become, even in the midst of the changing winds of finances, health, relationships, and even our struggle over sin.  Having our feet firmly planted in the ministry of the Holy Spirit allows us to weather all sorts of storms.  Even the strongest life can bring.  It amazes me when the LORD gives me the privilege of assisting a dying saint into glory.  Particularly those who have led a faith-filled life.  The strength they exude is something miraculous to behold.  Why?  Their faith has been planted deep in the truths of God’s word and His walk with the saint for a lifetime.  This exiting saint knows the last breath on earth means the beginning of eternity.  There is a great peace that comes for a firm and deep root system.  Life is difficult enough on its own.  It is even more so with a shallow root system.

The Value of Many Voices

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Pr 11:14 AV)

Not just a few counsellors.  Many counsellors.  A multitude of counsellors.  A whole slew of counsellors.  So many counsellors, it would be had to keep track of them all.  Why?  Because there is more to counselling than giving counsel.  Because a multitude of voices can give harmony rather then mere melody.  Because part of the job of a counsellor is both support and accountability.  The more voices we hear that are in concert, the more strength we derive from the counsel.  The more teachers that share the same advice, the more support we gather from the group.  It is a good thing to have many voices all saying the same thing.

This reminds me of my ordination examination.  I was a nervous wreck.  There we possibilities of questions raised that scared me.  For one who is horrible at memorization, I was afraid I might be asked to rattle off hundreds of verses on any given topic.  As the examination began, my anxiety was at an all time high.  Struggling to stay focused as the men of God examined my pre-written doctrinal statement, finding an occasional hole or two, it seemed like it was going to be a long afternoon.  However, somewhere towards the three-quarter mark, the tide turned.  I realized these men were not there to trip me up.  When there was a weak area of my doctrinal statement, they pointed it out and offered a better wording or alternate position.  I slowly began to realize at some point, these men ceased to be my examiners an took on the role of counsellors.  It dawned on my they were not there to see my fail, but succeed.  These godly men understood that to which God called me, and desired my success, and not failure.

There us security in may voices.  Many voices can be wrong.  But rarely.  A multitude of counsellors, all saying the same thing makes a decision all the easier.  It is easy to turn down the advice of one.  Much harder to ignore the advice of one hundred.  As we get older, our group of counsellors seems to get less.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.  A counsellor doesn’t have to be living.  There are many wise and great men of God who have left their counsel behind.  It might help to realize one day, that we will meet those counsellors whom we have only know in written form.  One day, I will meet Spurgeon, Gill, Clarke, Finberg, Bounds, Finny, Torrey, Hunt, Burkoff, and a thousand other authors who were my counsellors and friends.  No one is perfect nor can take the place of the LORD and Hid word, but they were there when I needed them and trusted counsellors all.

Life by Death

“And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” (Isa 22:14 AV)

This statement is true, whether it is death on this side of glory or the next.  Something has to die.  Sin has such a stronghold on the flesh and mind, only killing off that which is causing death by death is the only cure.  Realizing just how strong of a hold sin has on us is the first step in overcoming it.  Knowing that death is the only final release from sin is the cornerstone of overcoming it.  Physical death will come and permanent victory forthwith.  It will come in God’s timing and not our own.  The only death we can practice is self-death.  The death of the will and worldly pleasures to the will of God.  But death must occur.

There are many cures that require something to die.  Antibiotics attack an invader and kill it off.  Sometimes, a surgeon must ‘kill’ the heart in order to repair it.  He stops a patient’s heart, watches the clock as he repairs the damage, then restarts the heart.  The patient may be somewhat dead; or as the magician in Princess Bride states; mostly dead.  The heart must technically die for a short period of time in order for better health to come.  Cancer is treated by the idea that cancer cells must die.  Radiation is the primary manner is which cancer is slain.  Our own immune system teaches is that death must occur to bring forth life.  The white blood cells attack and kill anything the body determines to be a threat.  Life comes from death.  Victory comes from failure.  We may not like this truth, but it is a fundamental truth required to live for God.  Something must die.

Paul said, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2Co 4:10-11 AV) Paul knew that in order to live in the perfect will of God, ‘self’ had to die.  Note also, Paul had this mindset as a permanent one.  If we are to overcome the demons of sin that haunt us, we have to crucify that old man afresh.  Day by day, moment by moment.  It is the only way to overcome sin.  Death.