A BIT OF ELIPHAZ IN THE MORNING!

 

Saturday, October 3, 2020

I hope you enjoy this “Classic”

 

A BIT OF ELIPHAZ IN THE MORNING!

 

Who or what is an Eliphaz? Well, Eliphaz was one of Job’s “cruddy buddies” who came to watch him suffer all his mysterious troubles. All of Job’s friends came to evaluate why Job was having so many disasters in his life. Each one gave his opinion. It seems that if a man talks long enough, he may say something of value. Let’s see the wonderful advice of Eliphaz.

 

Job 5:8-9

8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number:

 

With his chin in his hand and a scowl on his face, Eliphaz says that when all is said and done the best course of action is to commit your cause to God. If you have sinned, God will surely let you know about it and you then have a chance to repent and receive forgiveness and restoration. If you haven’t then you can sue for understanding or relief. God does some mighty fine things. His works are “unsearchable” which means you can’t figure them out. God does some things that absolutely are contrary to the natural laws that He himself has set up! Yes sir! I would make my appeal to God.

 

There are FOUR THINGS that demonstrate the trustworthiness of God.

 

I. GOD’S LOVE

 

God is love! Love is an essential element of His very nature. He is love and all love proceeds from him. It naturally follows that His responses to my petitions will be based upon that love.

 

1 John 4:16

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

 

 

II. GOD’S TRUTH

 

A lie is told to deceive and that is simply NOT how God does business. Fear does not prompt Him to lie in order to protect himself as lying often serves us. Ambition does not prompt Him to lie to so that he might gain something He could not get otherwise. God cannot lie because of His nature and DOES NOT lie because there is no need to do so. We can trust Him. He will not deceive us.

 

Titus 1:2

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

 

III. GOD’S ABILITY

 

We can’t even begin a discussion about the capacity of God. His rich supply exists outside any container made for it. He is able to do exceeding and abundantly more than we could ever ask or think. (Eph. 3:20)

 

IV. GOD’S CONSTANCY

 

God does not change. He promised never to leave us or to forsake us. Over and over He promised to be with us always. Like the air – He is always there! Look at the following verses.

 

Ps 139:7-10

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 

So Eliphaz was right when he said that the best course of action was to simply “seek unto God” and make your appeal to Him.

 

Dear Lord, whatever this day may hold for me is already in your mighty hands. I submit my cause and my course unto Thee. AMEN

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!

 

Friday, October 2, 2020

 

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!

 

2 Chron 18:12-17

12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah,  shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.

15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?

16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.

17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

 

To conserve a bit of space I have selected these six verses although the entire story takes up most of the eighteenth chapter. King Jehoshaphat made an alliance with neighboring King Ahab (18:1) and convinced him to go to war with him against Ramoth-gilead (18:2). Being religious, or more accurately superstitious, they invited 400 prophets to reveal the outcome of their campaign. All 400 prophets said it would be a good and successful campaign. “Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand” (18:5).

 

Despite all the smiling prophets and flag waving patriotism, Jehoshaphat wanted a second opinion and he asked, “Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?” (18:6) Well, there was one man whose prophecies could be trusted but he was a bit “negative!” So, they called upon Micaiah to come and give his prophecy.

 

Now, every other prophet was smiling so broadly that their faces hurt, and the messenger encouraged Micaiah to not be so negative and to make the prophecy in agreement with the others. In other words, let’s make the prophecy unanimous! Surely, 400 prophets in agreement was a confirmation of truth! Yet, Micaiah said he would only prophecy whatever God revealed to him (18:13).

 

Upon entering the throne room of the two kings Micaiah looked around and saw their pomp. Both were seated on thrones in a room too big for either of them. Sarcasm washed over him like a flood and he simply repeated what all the other 400 smiling prophets had proclaimed. “Surely God will deliver Ramoth-gilead into your hand! How could it be otherwise since so many had declared it?”

 

Suspicious of the dripping sarcasm, the king demanded to know the truth and nothing but the truth! Micaiah said “what I see is your armies scattered all over the countryside and they have no leader. It will not go well with you in your campaign against Ramoth-gilead. You will be defeated.”

 

Now, here is the question, although it took a long time to arrive here! How important is the truth and nothing but the truth? An army preparing for battle needs good intelligence. They need to know the strength of the opposition, their strategies and how they will be arrayed. A person who is sick does not need a smiling and optimistic doctor. He needs the truth so that he can take measures to restore health. They need the truth and nothing but the truth.

 

A soul speeding toward eternity needs to know the truth! They do not need fast formulas for happiness and earthly success. They need the truth! That soul does not need some smiling prophet who never mentions his sin or the deadliness of it. He needs the truth even if it is somewhat negative.

 

The truth is the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. He that covers his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Prov 28:13

 

Dear Lord, today help me to speak the truth in love to those who need it. Give me a heart that desires the truth and nothing but the truth. AMEN

BROKENNESS IN WORSHIP!

 

Thursday, October 1, 2020

 

BROKENNESS IN WORSHIP!

 

Luke 20:17-18

17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

 

I’ve had the occasion to witness more than a few “worship services” where very few strums of the guitar or beat of the drums can cause a few hands to shoot skyward. These pew-dwellers seem to have an instant-on button for their worship posture. I am a skeptic by nature and often wonder whether many of these are genuine. I have a similar opinion as the Apostle James.

 

James 2:18-20

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

 

Jesus gives us a short statement about Himself as the corner stone and we need some further investigation to understand it. “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” It seems we have only two options. We can fall upon Jesus and be broken, or we can have him fall upon us and grind us to powder.

 

The Greek for “falling upon” the stone is pipto and may mean to “light upon a firm footing.”  If I light upon or fall upon Jesus, as a firm foundation for my life, the result will be brokenness [spiritual and emotional distress because of my sin] because that relationship requires honesty and openness. I cannot have transparency with Jesus without suffering shame for my deeds! But if I, through dishonesty, wait till Jesus falls upon me in judgment, I will be ground to powder.

 

Ps 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

 

Dear Lord, when I stand in your presence, I am broken and ashamed, but you lift me up and set me on your firm foundation. Thank you, Lord. AMEN