OUR THORN – HIS GRACE!

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

OUR THORN – HIS GRACE!

2 Cor 12:7-9

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 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, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

           The narrative offers the reader no clue as to the nature of the skolops, or prickly thing, that was buffeting (rapping with the fist) Paul. Some think it was a stubborn and rebellious wife for members of the Sanhedrin were to be married yet no wife is ever mentioned for Paul. Others think it was an eye disease which was perhaps a lingering result of his being blinded on the road to Damascus. Yet the Holy Spirit cleverly leaves it a mystery so that each one of us may imagine it to be our very own thorn.

           For busy people, those with a long list of things on their agenda, it may be distractions. We view those distractions as enemies and we chafe while dealing with them instead of working through our list. We try to do it graciously but often those distracting us are painfully aware that we don’t have time for them. They are offended and sometimes we lose that distracting friend. It is maddening to the busy person for he knows he will need that friend – as soon as he is done with his projects.

           The grace, charis, here has a definite article, ho. It is THE grace. It is HIS grace. My sources say that grace is “the divine influence on the heart that is reflected in the life.” Another said that grace is “the desire and ability to do God’s will.”

           Many thorns may clog your path today. These are your very own thorns and not mine. I have a set with my name on them! Let’s develop the desire to do God’s will and ask God to give us the ability also.

Dear Lord, we know that sometimes thorns keep us from thinking we are strong enough and smart enough to perform our tasks without your help. Thank you for reminding us that we are wrong about that. AMEN

HE’S ALL I NEED!

Monday, April 29, 2019

HE’S ALL I NEED!

Isa 41:10-16

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

In these verses God promises…

1. His PRESENCE for the lonely!

One translation says: “Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.” (v.10) Anxiety is the companion of the lonely. When we are abandoned we long for a companion either to challenge our opinions or to confirm them. Jesus promised to be that constantly abiding friend we need.

2. His POWER for the helpless!

I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (v.10) He is our strength when we are weak – help when we are out of resources – and support when we fail and fall.

3. His PROTECTION for the vulnerable!

Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable in this world. Those who would abuse them should pay close attention to what the Bible has to say about God’s love of widows and orphans!

Ps 68:5

5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

4. His PURPOSE for those who feel useless!

I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. (v.15)

Dear Lord, thank you for being all that I need today. I bring to you my long list of deficiencies and you give to me your long list of supplies. AMEN

THE FEATURES AND FUNCTION OF THE END TIME CHURCH!

Sunday, April 28, 2019

THE FEATURES AND FUNCTION OF THE END TIME CHURCH!

Rev 3:14-22

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

First – The Features of this church!

It is a “tepid” church. It is a “room temperature” church because it has settled down to the temperature of the times. It has become fashioned like the world it is supposed to change. It makes God want to throw up! If it were hot then God might honor and bless it. If it were cold then God might be challenged to condemn it but it is neither and simply serves to create nausea in the belly of the Divine. It is today’s church.

It thinks itself to be rich! It boasts of the finest facilities with lavish lighting and productions that rival the professional theaters. Its leaders are so educated they need an enlarged hat size! Disdain is heaped upon volunteers in favor of professionals. They are specialists in their field and enjoy multiple leaders in each church.

It is unaware of its true poverty! It is full of spiritual paupers who are unchanged, unclothed and unseeing! God suggests that this church invest in the Gold of salvation, the raiment of righteousness and the eye salve of repentance. These are the true riches it has discarded for fool’s gold.

It is the church with God at the door!  Although He stands outside, yet He is knocking to enter. Why is the Master not invited to the celebration? Why must we make Him knock?

Now the Function of this church!

It is the church of “any man”! While the general congregation is unresponsive there is still hope for the individual who will answer the knock at the door. Jesus will then come in an sup with HIM [the individual]. It is these individual ones that provide any spiritual temperature. Since they are in a fellowshipping relationship with the Master, their opinion is often the same as His. They are sick of their church as it is but feel compelled to continue to promote spiritual revival.

The Lost may still find Christ here! The message has not completely changed. The truth, although watered down, is clear enough that the desperate may still find relief.

It may yet be revived – but through discipline!

Rev 3:19

19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].

AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT

Dear Lord, I pray for my church because I see it in these verses.  I pray for myself because I am there too. Revive my church and revive my heart. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!