Author: David

And you shall go in and shut the door on you and your sons. And you shall pour out into all those vessels. And you shall set aside the full ones.  (2 Kings 4:4)

The work of Elisha as a prophet was in some respects very different from that of Elijah. To Elijah had been committed messages of condemnation and judgment; his was the voice of fearless reproof, calling kings and people to turn from their evil ways. Elisha’s was a more peaceful mission; his it was to build up and strengthen the work that Elijah had begun; to teach the people the way of the Lord. Inspiration pictures him as coming into personal touch with the people, surrounded by the sons of the prophets, bringing by his miracles and his ministry healing and rejoicing. {PK 235.1}

The widow and her sons were admonished to be alone with God, for they were not dealing with the known laws of nature, nor with any human government, nor the church, nor the priesthood, nor even with the great prophet of God, but they had to be isolated from all creatures, from all human circumstances that they were depending on, from all props of human reason, and swung off, as it were, into the generally unknown space, hanging onto God alone. (1 Cor 2:4, Judges 7:2, 2 Cor 1:12, 1 Thes 2:4) In touch with the fountain of miracles. Herein is a part in the principles of God’s dealings, a secret chamber of isolation in prayer and faith which every soul must enter into that is very fruitful. Jesus says in The New Testament as well:

“Come ye apart and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31)

When the disciples had returned from their mission, Jesus took them away to rest. Doing God’s work is very important, but Jesus recognized that to do it effectively we need periodic rest and renewal. Jesus and his disciples, however, did not always find it easy to get the rest they needed

There are times and places where God will form a mysterious wall around us, and cut away all props, and all the ordinary ways of doing things, and shut us up to something Divine, which is utterly new and unexpected, something that old circumstances do not fit into, where we do not know just what will happen, where God is cutting the cloth of our lives on a new pattern, where He makes us look to Himself. Most religious people live in a sort of treadmill life, where they can calculate almost everything that will happen, but the souls that God leads out into immediate and special dealings, He shuts in where all they know is that God has hold of them, and is dealing with them, and their expectation is from Him alone.

Like this poor widow in our opening text, we must be detached from outward things and attached inwardly to CHRIST alone in order to see His wonders.

In the sorest trials God often helps us to see the most amazing discoveries of Himself.

“God sometimes shuts the door and shuts us in,
That He may speak, perchance through grief or pain,
And softly, heart to heart, above the din,
May tell some precious thought to us again.”

The lesson is for God’s children in every age. When the Lord gives a work to be done, let not anyone stop to inquire into the reasonableness of the command or the probable result of their efforts to obey. The supply in their hands may seem to fall short of the need to be filled; but in the hands of the Lord it will prove more than sufficient. The servitor “set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord.” {PK 243.1}

When our need is urgent, and we spread it before God, the question is never about the amount of oil, but of the empty vessels. We fear that there will not be enough oil; God is concerned lest we fail to bring sufficient vessels to hold all More often than not we, God’s Church are not asking big enough. We need to ask Jesus for much more than we do. Jesus wants to give. The oil was multiplied in the pouring, as the meal of the other widow was increased in the spending. God’s oil will never be exhausted so long as we can receive and impart. According to our faith will it be done. It is not a question of how much God can give, but how much we can use.

In the days immediately following the departure of Elijah, God empowered Elisha to perform a number of miracles. One of them was to increase oil for a poor widow (2 Kings 4:1-7). This incident confirmed Elisha as a true prophet of God and the successor to Elijah. The increase of oil here recalled the miracle that Elijah performed for the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16).

In addition to what the miracle revealed about Elisha, it illustrated an important aspect of God’s character: His concern for the poor and disadvantaged. Both Elijah and Elisha dealt with kings, commanders, and other powerful leaders. But they also helped the powerless. In this case, the widow was about to lose her sons to pay for a debt left by her late husband. That meant that she would be left with no means of support. God provided for her needs through the intervention of Elisha (compare Psalms 68:5).

James reminds us that true religion involves action, such as caring for “widows in their trouble” (James 1:27). Elisha was a true prophet practicing true religion.

Do we, the church today know and practice “true religion,” or have we been cemented into the craftiness of policy and form? So “heavenly minded” that we are no earthly good?

When Jesus said to His disciples that the harvest was great and the laborers were few, He did not urge upon them the necessity of ceaseless toil, but bade them, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” To His toil-worn workers today as really as to His first disciples He speaks these words of compassion, “Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile.”

let nothing come up before you to worry you. Come apart and rest awhile. This you must do. Draw from the Great Physician leaves from the tree of life. Plead in your own behalf, and let others also plead for you. “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me, and he shall make peace with Me.” {MM 287.4}

As soon as her husband had died, the widow of our opening text was plunged into debt, contracted in order to obtain the barest necessaries of life. Having nothing of any value in the house, the hard-hearted creditor, in lieu of payment, threatened to take and sell her two only sons as slaves; which, by virtue of one Jewish law and the extension of another, he had the power to do.

On account of these trying circumstances, her case was one that peculiarly warranted the interposition of Heaven. But she had another claim still, beside that of her wretchedness, upon the sympathy and help of Elisha. Her husband feared the Lord while he lived. He was the son of a prophet, and cherished the deepest regard for the person and the work of those who filled that sacred office. Elisha’s first question to her evinced a wonderful knowledge of the human heart, and of the best mode of dealing with poverty and suffering.

Instead of volunteering to give her aid at once, as most persons would have done, carried away by an overpowering impulse of compassion at the recital of the tale of sorrow; like a wise and judicious friend, he inquires how far she herself has the power to avert the threatened calamity—“What hast thou in the house?” His assistance must be based upon her own assistance. He will help her to help herself. And this is the only true way to benefit the poor. By reckless and indiscriminate alms giving, we run the risk of further impoverishing the objects of our charity.

Our assistance should therefore be of such a nature as to call forth the resources which they themselves possess, and to make the most of them. However small these resources may be, they should be used as a fulcrum, by means of which our help may raise them to a better condition. The first question which we too should ask the widow or the destitute is—

“What hast thou in the house?”

No help from without can benefit, unless there be a willingness of self-help within.

Out Of This Last Pot Of Oil

The sign of her uttermost poverty—Elisha furnished the source of her comfort and happiness. The widow of Obadiah might well be astonished at the command of Elisha. If she had stopped to reason about the procedure required of her, she might well hesitate to undertake it. Taking a common-sense view of the matter, of what use would it be to borrow as many vessels as possible from her neighbors? What answer could she give them if they asked her what she meant to do with these vessels? Would they not laugh at her if she told the prophet’s message, and ridicule the utter folly of the whole story?

In spite of all these apparent absurdities and impossibilities—in spite of all the objections of reason and common sense, the widow hastened to obey the prophet’s command. She stumbled not because of unbelief. Her faith triumphed over all difficulties. It is a significant circumstance that the prophet should have commanded the widow to shut the door upon herself and her sons, when she poured out the oil into the vessels. There is a reason for, and a meaning in, every detail of the Bible miracles; and doubtless the design of this apparently trivial injunction was to secure to the widow the privacy and calmness of mind necessary for the performance of the miracle, and for its producing the full and proper impression upon her own soul.

If she had left the door open, the neighbors doubtless, moved by curiosity to see what she would do with the vessels she had borrowed, would flock around her, and sadly discompose her mind by their laughter, their sneers, and their unsuitable remarks. Reverence, stillness, and solitude are needed for the miracle. But, besides being necessary in order to prepare the widow of Obadiah for receiving the benefits of the miracle, the solitude and secrecy which Elisha enjoined were significant of the mysterious character of the miracle itself. It was withdrawn from sight. It was silent and unimaginable. The process by which the oil wag multiplied we labor in vain to conceive. We cannot explain the phenomenon by the observation of any known laws;

We sow the seed of an olive tree. That seed contains a very small quantity of oil. It grows and becomes a tree and produces an immense quantity of fruit; so that from the little drop of oil in each of the small vessels of the seed therein, you have thousands of vessels in the shape of the olives, each filled with oil. Those who make the olive seed in the course of a few years, or the olive tree every season, to prepare and extract oil from the scanty soil on the arid rocks, and the dry burning air in which the tree delights to grow, concentrated, in the miracle in the widow’s chamber, the slower processes of nature spread over months and years, into the act of a single moment.

Is it not very similar for us Christians today? Even the best led lives today are subject to trials and extreme poverty. This miracle blends with common life. How strikingly does this wonderful incident show to us that we must be fellow-workers with God throughout, from first to last, in our own deliverance and blessing. How wonderfully it illustrates the whole Divine economy of grace, under which we are enjoined to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, (Phil 2:12) seeing that it is God that works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure! (Phil 2:13)

We are all in the condition of the poor widow; we are destitute of everything, and are ready to perish. But God is far more tender and considerate to us than even Elisha was to the widow. If we have only the feeling of want and deprivation, but the desire for God’s help, that very want or desire will be to us what the pot of oil was to the widow—the source of an abundant supply of all that we need. A lifetime of such want will collectively be concentrated into a single moment when all is made right. Yes. Jesus is coming soon. We can be ready by simply believing that Jesus can work even with the very little that we may have. He is able.

What do we do when we don’t feel like obeying or when we don’t think that God can help us very well?

God has not left us alone in our struggles to do his will. He wants to come alongside us and be within us to help.

God gives us the desire and the power to do what pleases him. The secret to a changed life is to submit to God’s control and let him work. Next time ask God to help you desire to do his will. (Phil 2:13)

To be like Christ, we must train ourselves to think like Christ. To change our desires to be more like Christ’s, we need the power of the indwelling Spirit (Phil 1:19), the influence of faithful Christians, obedience to God’s Word (not just exposure to it), and sacrificial service. Phil 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Often it is in doing God’s will that we gain the desire to do it:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Phil 4:8-9

Do what Jesus asks, and trust Him to change your desires.

What we put into our mind determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our mind with thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. “to deliberate,” “to evaluate,” “to compute over and over” what is good and pure. In this way, Christians can renew their minds so that they will not conform to the evil habits of this world.

THAT single moment is in where all of our troubles, like the olives on the tree, like the poor widow of Obadiah have all become concentrated into one single process:

Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. (Rom 12:2, CEV)

This is how to be ready for that grand climax of the end of ages when Jesus returns for His own. Will you shut your door today and consult seriously with Jesus?

Wherever you go, I’ll give you that land, as I promised Moses. (Joshua 1:3, CEV)

Joshua succeeded Moses as Israel’s leader. What qualifications did he have to become the leader of a nation?

1/ Of the 12 scouts, only he and Caleb showed complete confidence that God would help them conquer the land.

2/ He was one of only two living eyewitnesses to the Egyptian plagues and the Exodus from Egypt.

3/ He was Moses’ personal aide for 40 years.

4/ and most of all GOD APPOINTED HIM (Num 27:18-23).

Heathen nations had reproached the Lord and His people because the Hebrews had failed to take possession of Canaan, as they expected, soon after leaving Egypt. Their enemies had triumphed because Israel had wandered so long in the wilderness, and they had mockingly declared that the God of the Hebrews was not able to bring them into the Promised Land. The Lord had now signally manifested His power and favor in opening the Jordan before His people, and their enemies could no longer reproach them. {PP 486.1}

Jesus invites and enables us to show forth His praises while we enter into the location of our sorest trials.

A friend of mine dying of cancer wrote the following words last night when I asked him how he was doing:

“I am looking for an immediate rescue from my painful circumstances, and yet it is often these pains that are expanding my heart to search and find the presence of the God, who is my closest companion and eternal Savior”

As a caregiver in the past, who lost his wife to cancer, I too felt this kind of painful circumstance, acutely at times.

Right at the most severe, acute moment of my grief, was the moment that The Holy Spirit had been waiting for.

“The entrance of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding…”(Psalms 119:130)

Part of a verse I read this morning reads like this:

“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you” (Joshua 1:3)

As a Christian, I am finding that besides the literal ground, not occupied for Christ, there is also the often unclaimed territory of the un-trodden land of divine promise.

That,s why, I think, God said this to Joshua:

“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, THAT I have given to you.” And then God drew the outlines of the land of promise, and said it is all yours, on one condition. That you shall measure it off using your own feet, by walking completely through the whole length and breadth of the promised land.

But the people then never did that to more than about one-third of all that property, and as a result they never had more than just one third. They had only what they measured off, and no more.

In Hebrews 11:9 we hear about the “land of promise,” that God always opens up to us. I have come to see it as God’s will that we should, as it were, also measure off THAT territory by the “feet” of trusting faith, and believing obedience (to His call).

Jesus, claiming and appropriating ALL of God’s promises for our very own “territory.” And that is such a vast, beautiful land to explore with our own two feet!

As we search for the presence of God in our suffering, our grief, we can take possession of God’s promises. What a magnificent “territory” for faith to hold on to and then march right on through the length and breadth of, yet in my struggles, my faith has rarely done it yet.

Let us each enter into all of our inheritance. Let us lift up our eyes in all four directions, and start to measure this “land” by our own two feet, and then rejoice as we hear Him say:

“All the land that you see, I will give to you.”

I once read a beautiful Christian quote that goes like this:

“We should NOW acquaint ourselves with God by proving His promises.” (GC 622)

And surely, as my late wife was dying, as I roiled in acute grief, I remember finding a special promise for every single need that arose out of our sometimes very dire circumstance.

Friends, we are given a very special assurance about God’s promises in His Word:

God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our unhelpful desires and the corrupt influences of this world. [that all in the cancer world would certainly know about]. (2 Pet 1:4)

The power to lead a godly life comes from God. Because we don’t have the resources to be truly godly, God allows us to “share his divine nature” in order to keep us from sin and help us live for him. When we are born again, God by his Spirit empowers us with his own goodness. See John 1:12,John 3:6; John 14:17-23; 2 Cor 5:21; and 1 Pet 1:22-23.

God’s promises gave both my late wife and I a place to rest. A wonderful new land of possibilities to explore together. A new land where we did not have fear or pain. I remember she had been comatose for a week or so, yet when I asked her one day

“if you only had one thing you could say to me “before you go” what would it be sweetie?”

And to my absolute shock and amazement, she sat right up in her bed, she smiled that big cute smile that I loved, and said in a voice too loud for someone ‘as sick as her”

“I WAS LOVED.”

She never spoke another word after that, and she died in my arms shortly after. We still “meet” from time to time as I make periodic forays into that bright, beautiful, verdant “territory” of God’s promise about the resurrection. (1 Thes 4:12-18)

I know that when she was with me that she loved to travel to that place, the promise of the resurrection, and measure it off by talking about how wonderful it will be when the resurrection finally happens. She would “measure the whole territory” off by walking me through all of her thoughts about the amazing things she “saw,” and was so looking forward to.

I have to say in conclusion that whenever I have measured off the territory of God’s promises with my own two feet, I have always come away from the situation at hand exclaiming:

“I was loved.”

In verity, wherever Judah should set his foot, well that should be his! Wherever Benjamin should set his foot, that place should be his!

Each person reading this today can get their personal inheritance by actually setting their own foot upon it. Everyone should take this verse and put their own name into it! Don’t think that when either had set his foot upon a given territory, he did not instantly and instinctively feel, “This is mine”?

During the end times that we are entering now, this is exactly how God’s people will “go in” and each will enter their own promise land of God’s promises. There will be no other way to survive it all. The course of God’s people should be upward and onward to victory.

A greater than Joshua is leading on the armies of today’s Church Militant. One is in our midst, even JESUS, the Captain of our salvation, who has said for our encouragement:

“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” He will lead us on to certain victory. What God promises, He is able at any time to perform. And the work He gives His people to do, He is able to accomplish by them. (2T 122).

I have been asked:

“David, why is it that you seem to have so much peace and joy in “your religion?””

I can only reply

“I just walk into my promised land and measure out with my own two feet, my own two hands. The promise of the resurrection.”

the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thes 4:16-17)

Have you discussed this promise with your loved ones? Have you discussed this promise with your friends? Have you discussed this promise with your co workers? Have you discussed this promise with your neighbor?

Oh wow! Praise God! I have ALL that is in THAT promise!

I feel rich, beyond measure!

I have the lived experience that has shown I can “MEASURE OUT” that divine promise by my own two feet across the entire length and breadth of all my trials, my entire life! Knowing that ALL of the riches this “precious promise” brings is mine!”

Today, I continue to explore this Promised Land. MEASURING God’s promises. I am so blessed to know God is leading me once more to that territory where He has promised rest, quietness, confidence, in the gift of someone to love.

Jesus is amazing!

Jesus! Our God is an awesome God!

Thank you Jesus!

I wake up every day thinking:

“I was loved.”

Naaman the Syrian consulted the prophet of God as to how he could be cured of a nasty disease, leprosy. He was told to go and bathe in Jordan seven times. (2 Kings 5:10).

Why did Naaman not immediately follow the directions of Elisha, the prophet of God? In his mortification and disappointment Naman became very passionate, and in an almost blind rage refused to follow the humble course marked out by the messenger sent by the prophet of God, Elisha. Why would Naaman do such a thing?

Naaman was angry and went away, saying,“Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. (2Kings 5:11)

We may concede, how that Naaman did come up with some clever excuses, in the form of “sincere” questions here. Naaman began to do something that we can still see being done by churches, and individual Christians today. Naaman began to feed on the worldly maxims of an alternative integrity with seemingly very good points he had made concerning why he did not think he needed to do things God’s way, as revealed to him by a messenger of the prophet Elisha:

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he [Naaman] turned and went away in a rage.” (2 Kings 5:11-12)

The response of Naaman’s servants here on this point is nothing short of amazing. His servants said:

“My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing,would you not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to you, Wash [merely], and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:11-13)

We can recall how that it was following the specific directions of the prophet which would humble Naaman’s proud and lofty spirit. It was willing obedience that would bring the desired result.
When Naaman washed, as instructed, then he was made whole.

Apparently, scripture here shows that this great, important man considered it far beneath his dignity to go to the humble river Jordan, and to wash, exactly as God had instructed through the prophet.Evidently, those rivers he mentioned and desired were much nicer looking than the grubby, plain looking old Jordan River; being made beautiful  by surrounding trees and groves, and idols were placed in these groves. (2 Kings 5:12). Many flocked to these rivers to worship their idol gods; therefore it would have cost Naaman no humility, because then he would have just been doing ‘what everybody else was doing.’ It was a very convenient way for him to practice his religion without drawing too much attention or appearing too conspicuous:

But his servants came near and said to him,“My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored to being like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:11-14).

We see how Scripture bears with this idea here of “blending in” to “be like everybody else,” and isn’t that what we see in virtually all modernity’s advertising, as they trumpet to the masses:

“everybody is doing it?” and “everybody needs this!”

It is certainly a major mentality still being practiced by the churches at large today. This mentality is the weapon of choice for todays so called media news, and advertising propaganda. The ecclesial discernments of our churches, since even before those days of old with Naaman, has flourished as a very similar idea, helping churches today to quickly become one with the evolving practices of things like Sociology, archeology, and documentary analyses. The theological forms and manifestations here, while complex, do tend to represent one of the more common, one of the greatest “in common” transformations of how to do church, since recorded history began. This leaves many of today’s churches very neatly tucked into the folds of quantifiable signs that are defined by whatever municipality  and culture that church is in.

For example:

“is Western Canada Church better attended by young people, than Eastern Canada?” “Are conservative churches growing slower than liberal churches?” “Do Gen-Xers respond better to things like candles or drums, better than videos?” One does not have to look very far to see such examples in both Catholic and Protestant churches, in their area. Sociological data points or markers, (quite devoid of scripture) have become the new normal for the churches of modernity. (*1).

It can be observed today, for one example, that people in many churches are advocating for everyone to be forced, one way or another, go along without question, with the latest social agenda and mob mentality.  I won’t comment too much on that narrative in this article, but suffice it to say, the churches are dividing now on such issues. It serves as a good example on how  non-biblical data points are what most churches grow and/or divide upon. Alternate “integrity” not actually said by God.

But there is something else that has become ‘the new normal’ for the church today. Its called The Shrinking Church. I would imagine that this is partly why Jesus has given such a stinging rebuke to the Laodicean Church; a church that today is shrinking exponentially due to this blending in of the ways of the world to be “more relevant.” Jesus, The True Witness,states to “Laodicea:”

But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]. So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self–your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior–seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lamp stand (the church, its impact) from its place–unless you repent.” (Rev 2:4,5).

Everything that we have happening to us today IS a clue, and yet many of us have no clue when it comes to church, or Christianity. We mostly like to style ourselves as prophetic or prophets, carelessly dangling our doctrinal carrots before the masses. Almost as if we were competing with each other to promise the clearest path to the open windows and hidden worlds of Bible prophecy. (or who has the best, the tastiest “carrot”).

I once listened to a testimony recently by Justin Beiber, who says he has become a Christian, in the video I watched. And one of the things he said about His life before becoming a Christian, about why he had waited so long to become a Christian was very conspicuously pointed out:

“I didn’t take it very seriously because I didn’t have any really good examples. Jesus was no fly by night religious guy, and Jesus was in my dirt, and Jesus pulled me out of my dirt.”

We can all well imagine what that kind of testimony would sound like in many churches today. It reflects how Jesus has helped and changed a soul for His kingdom. Jesus fed the hunger of his soul.“They that do hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.” “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied. [Isa 55:11-12] (Mat 5:6,AMP)

Why then, are many churches, from most denominations shrinking today?

I decided that for purposes of this week’s article I should just ask some people to tell me how they would answer questions about their church experiences. I asked two friends to tell me their thoughts. I told them not to hold back just because we are friends. One of the questions I asked went something like this:

“now…thinking back to when you first started attending your church that you go to now, do you remember a time when someone at church first said something meaningful to you? Something that made a real difference in your Christian walk? How long did you attend that church before that happened?” “Or did you have the misfortune to not have that happen? Was something said to you that really messed you up or discouraged you during those first days at your Church?”

The answers I got were very interesting. Two opposites. Or, at least they seemed opposite. The first person answered like this:

Answer/Person 1:

“I don’t think anyone ever said something meaningful. They mostly said things that made me cry. Other than maybe my Mom. She told me not to believe everything that someone tells me regarding anything Biblical. She always told me to read the Bible for myself, to test whatever they say to me so that I could know for sure if it is the truth, and the answers I need. “All they ever said to me at Church was that ‘I will pray for you.’ And that if my life wasn’t going good, then its because I don’t attend church enough, and that I ‘don’t have enough faith.’ Just so much about Sabbath and all the rules! And my 10% offerings. Seems like that’s the only thing I ever did that made them smile.” “I don’t even feel that I really need church that much. If I can find good people to know. People that don’t judge or criticize me. Just people who are kind and who accept me as is, for me. And that don’t try to change me.”

I want to add that the person who said this to me is likely the nicest, the friendliest person in the church. But they do attend a shrinking Church. There are just 2 or 3 families that control it like an iron hand and it seems that no one else can get into that very tight circle. So it is a shrinking church.

Here is the second answer that I got from the same question:

Answer/Person #2:

I am grateful for the many many grace encounters with people in our church (there were some not-so gracious as well, but by far the positive outweigh the negative.) I’d like to share 2 pivotal memories:

1. I was born into a home with Jesus-loving parents and through their influence was baptized at the age of 11. However, promptly following my baptism I entered into a rebellious and tumultuous time which lasted until my pregnancy at the age of 16. When I was 12 or 13 I accompanied my parents to my Dads small church one Sabbath. To my dismay when we got to church I realized it was communion. I struggled with a lot of guilt
and shame at that time and didn’t want to participate in communion. My parents respected my wishes to not participate and I sat alone at the back of the church (there were no other youth my age in the church) as the foot washing ceremony began. A kind lady named Kathy approached me and asked me if I was ok. For some reason the Holy Spirit must have been working on my heart because her kind ‘ask’ caused me to open up about my feelings of unworthiness. Kathy listened and kindly expressed that Jesus’s grace covered my shame and guilt and encouraged me to participate. She reassured me that nobody is worthy – and our unworthiness is what qualifies us for communion. Kathy and I washed each others feet and I participated in the rest of the service. I never forgot her gracious engagement. It gave me a picture of what Jesus would have been like – in that little church.

2. The second memory was of returning home at the age of 16 (I had left home, quit school and moved out of province to live with my boyfriend). (The biggest spiritual influence in my life occurred when my parents welcomed me home with open arms and not once even hinted about any of my rebellion or the hell I had put them through for 5 years.) My father was pastor of a large church in ******.  The ladies in the church got together and lovingly raised money to purchase items for my baby. ****** is the name of the lady who coordinated. I’ll never forget her love and acceptance. She hand-made a little cloth book with the creation story – and the felts to go along with it – a special book just for church on Sabbath!

I feel incredibly grateful for not only the love and influence of my parents – in helping me know Jesus as my Savior at a young age – but also for many many loving church members who were used by the Holy Spirit to shape my picture of God. Now, this second person who answered my question is also one of the friendliest people in their church.

God’s Church on Earth

You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 2:5).

The Church you attend is not your church.

The church on earth belongs to God.

The Church is to assume divine proportions before the world. People need to see Jesus in the people of The Church, not just a pile of polished doctrines, and fancy statues or wooden crosses that sit around gathering dust,or sometimes used as clubs to wack people into shape. Hitting people over the head with a Bible! The Church, (people, not the building) is to be the light of the world. It is to be composed of living stones laid close together, stone fitting to stone, making a solid building. All these stones are not of the same shape or dimension. Some are large and some are small, but each one has its own place to fill.Including The Chief Cornerstone which is Jesus. In the whole building there is not to be one misshapen stone. Each one is perfect. And each stone is a living stone, a stone that emits light. The value of the stones are determined by the light they reflect to the world.

Now is the time for the stones to be taken from the quarry of the world and brought into God’s workshop, to be hewed, squared, and polished, that they may shine. This is God’s plan, and He desires all who profess to believe the truth to fill their respective places in the great, grand work for this time. The angelic architect has brought his golden measuring rod from heaven, that every stone may be hewed and squared by the divine measurement, and polished to shine as an emblem of heaven, radiating in all directions the bright, clear beams of the Sun of Righteousness.

In this world we are to shine in good works. The Lord requires His people to reflect the light of God’s character, God’s love, as Christ reflected it. As we look unto Jesus, all our lives will be aglow with that wondrous light. Every part of us is to be light; then whichever way we turn, light will be reflected from us to others. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6).

In Him is no darkness at all; therefore, if we are in Christ, there will be no darkness in us. The church on earth is not just a building. The Bible says there are some churches in people’s houses. Christian fellowship does not just happen with “church people.” But it is one of the ways by which God is made known and glorified here on earth.

Many people have asked “do I really need to go to a Church to be saved?” We need to really examine how people get saved, and what the church’s role in our salvation is, according to the Bible. What is happening in our churches? How can a Church be dying, if Jesus is The Head of that church? What makes some of us happy at church and some of us not?

Is “salvation” the same for those who attend, and those who do not attend church?

In the meantime, please, be encouraged, whether you attend a church or not that God has a thousand ways to provide [salvation]for us of which we know nothing.

We can know this one thing that instead of literally “washing in the Jordan” as Naaman was told to do by the prophet, we are told today to “wash in the blood of The Lamb,” (Rev 7:14)

You were living in this world without hope and without God,and you were far from God. But Christ offered his life’s blood as a sacrifice and brought you near God. Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred that separated us. Christ gave his own body (Eph 2;12-14)

Christ, Not the Law, Crucified.

The law of the ten commandments lives and will live through the eternal ages. The need for the service of sacrifices and offerings ceased when type met anti-type in the death of Christ. In Him the shadow reached the substance. The Lamb of God was the complete and perfect offering. {6BC 1116.1}

Do we destroy the Law by our faith? Not at all! We make it even more powerful. (Rom 3:31)

The law of God will maintain its exalted character as long as the throne of Jehovah endures. This law is the expression of God’s character. Types and shadows,offerings and sacrifices had no virtue after Christ’s death on the cross; but God’s law was not crucified with Christ. Had it been, Satan would have gained all that he attempted to gain in heaven. For this attempt he was expelled from the heavenly courts. He fell, taking with him the angels he had deceived. And today he is deceiving many people in regard to the law of God {6BC 1116.2}

Everyone who sins breaks God’s law, because sin is the same as breaking God’s law. (1 John 3:4)

An Infamous Lie of Satan.

God did not make the infinite sacrifice of giving His only-begotten Son to our world, to secure for man the privilege of breaking the commandments of God in this life and in the future eternal life. This is an infamous lie originated by Satan, which must be made to appear in its false, deceitful character. This law that Satan so much desires to have regarded null and void, is the great moral standard of righteousness. Any violation of it is an act of transgression against God, and will be visited with the penalty of the divine law. To all the inhabitants of the world who make void the law of Jehovah, and continue to live in transgression, death must surely come {6BC 1116.3}

God doesn’t accept people simply because they obey the Law. No, indeed! All the Law does is to point out our sin. (Rom 3:20)

Welcomed as a Child

The plan of redemption is not merely a way of escape from the penalty of transgression, but through it the sinner is forgiven his sins, and will be finally received into heaven–not as a forgiven culprit pardoned and released from captivity, yet looked upon with suspicion and not admitted to friendship and trust; but welcomed as a child, and taken back into fullest confidence.{7BC 950.6}

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. “Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isa 56:5-7, NKJV)

Praise God for we have ‘the everlasting gospel” (Rev 14:6-12) throughout both Old and New Testament!

One of the greatest promises of God can be found in Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28, KJV)

And yet, of the thousands of “precious promises” (2 Pet 1:3-4) this is one promise that can sometimes be the hardest to fully believe. The Christian whose faith truly encompasses this text has learned the greatest truth in life and walks in perfect fellowship with God. Therein is the plain declaration that every detail of our life’s activities is ordered by The One who is all loving, all wise, all powerful. “All things work together for good.” If this text said things like “some things,” “most things,” work together for the good then it would be very easy to understand and to believe. The little word “all” is what makes the BIG difference here. It somehow makes us think of heart aches, disappointments, illness, loss, death, tragedies,slanders, poverty, etc and it makes us want to cry out:

“Surely Lord, these things are not all working together for my good?!”

And the answer is heard: “YES my child. ALL THINGS. The bitter and the sweet are working together for you. For your own best good. Believe that I am permitting only the experiences that I see will enrich your life, or make you a blessing to more of my other children. Trust me to know what is best for you. I love you more than you can understand. (John 13:7) All that concerns you, also concerns me.

“[Anyone] who touches you, touches the apple of my eye.” (Zech 2:8, Isa 43:4)

Therefore, I am seeking to fit and to prepare you to dwell with Me for eternity. I will hedge you about and will permit only what will be for your own, best good. Never doubt my leading. Never question my purposes. You can safely trust in my methods, whether they be pain or health, sunshine of cold, flowers or thorns, uphill or downhill, bitter or sweet, just remember always how that “this thing is from Me…” (1 Kings 12;24) I permit you to be severely tested at times in order for you to realize how that although the enemy of your soul is “as a roaring lion…seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8) often assails you, yet you may always know the power of my might to deliver, and then you can carry on “from glory to glory.” (2 Cor 3:18) Only those who have seen the enemy come in like a flood can truly know the strength, and the security of the standard that the Lord will raise up against him.

it is in the very hour of your temptation that your weakness is made perfect by My strength. It is only in the struggle where you can see how that I am able to contend with him that contends with you (Isa 49:25)and that I can “save to the uttermost.” (Heb 7:25)

My child, do not measure the strength of the temptation by your weakness, but by the power of The One who spoke worlds into existence.. Never make the fatal mistake of looking at circumstances, or at the power of your adversary. (Num 13;33) Because it is human nature to accept opinion as fact, we must be especially careful when voicing our negative opinions. What we say may heavily influence the actions of those who trust us to give sound advice. Just remember, that I will always go before you. (Exodus 33:14, Mat 28:20) Just keep your eyes, your mind fixed on me. (2 Cor 10:5) Turn not to the right or to the left. (Prov 4:27) Remember that although I am “The Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) I am also The Lion of The Tribe of Judah who is able to keep you from falling. (Jude 24) No one can promise you a life of ease, but I can promise you a life of uninterrupted victories.

God has not promised skies always blue

Flower strewn pathways all our life through

God has not promised sun without rain

Joy without sorrow. Peace without pain.

But God has promised strength for the day

Rest for your labor, light on the way

Grace for the trial. Help from above

Unfailing sympathy. Undying love

It is very hard for most of us to to see the hand of God working for our best good in the hard things of life. As Christians, fully backed by God’s promises,we can trust where we cannot see. To try to reason why the loss, the pain, the disappointment, the shame, the humiliation, the tears, is to doubt the wisdom, the love, the power of God. It can only lead the troubled soul to cry out “I am full of confusion.” And God is not the author of confusion. (1 Cor 14:33). Faith in God drinks the bitter cup that the Hand of love holds to our lips. Faith complains not at the steepness of Calvary’s hill, or of the heaviness of the cross on our shoulders so long as we can see the footsteps of The One who has gone before us and know that He knows the way. Three men were walking on a wall. Feeling. Faith. And Fact. When Feeling had an awful fall, and Faith was taken aback; Fact remained and brought Faith back, and Faith brought Feeling too.

We Have These Examples:

Moses could not explain the reason for those long, weary, and seemingly wasted years in the desert. But God was getting him ready to answer the prayers of millions for deliverance, to fulfill prophecy, and to dwell by the throne of God. Who would compare those years of loneliness in the desert or the measure of trial and strain endured while leading a rebellious, fault-finding, and ease-loving Israel to The Promised Land with the glories of heaven that it has been theirs to enjoy since that day of Moses’ special resurrection? (Deut 34:6, Jude 1:9) Upon the mount of transfiguration Moses was present with Elijah, who had been translated. (2 Kings 2:11-12){PP 479.3}

When Job tried to reason out the cause of his calamities that fell with lightning speed into the midst of a single day, all he was able to say was “I am full of confusion” (Job 10:15) but Job’s faith could pierce the sorrow, the loss, the humiliation and still breathe the prayer: “though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” (Job 13:15) How the heart of God rejoiced that His servant Job had passed the fiery tests brought on by the challenge and by the insinuations of the evil one. It would have been much easier to have endured, to remain steadfast, had Job known of the conversation between God and Satan, had he heard His Heavenly Father’s expressions of confidence in his loyalty and devotion. But he knew it not. All he saw was ruin. All he had heard were biting words from his friends. Yet still, we have the record how that Job “sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” (Job 1:22)

The Apostle Paul who by Inspiration wrote our opening text “all things work together for good” knew from his own personal experience the proof and the power of the promise. Paul’s life was not always an easy life. His path was not free from stones and thistles, so to speak. Behold Paul, while obeying the call of The Spirit to Macedonia, he was beaten with many stripes, cast into the inner prison,unable to move with his feet in the stocks. (Acts 16:24) And yet Paul still hears the Voice of his new-found Lord saying: “This thing is from Me,” and then thanking God for the ministry of suffering, Paul, with his faithful companion just burst into songs of praise! Not only did all the hard things in Pauls life “work together for good,” as they made Paul more like his Master, but all of his trials had proved to be the means for “the furtherance of the gospel.” (Phil 1:12) What heart has not been stirred by seeing trials patiently endured by others?

There is also Joseph. Steadfast to principles when he was cast into the dungeon, who later testifies that his experience is from God. (Gen 45:8)

And the fiery furnace of the three Hebrew worthies serves to make us love Jesus all the more and to better know of the greatness of His power to save us.

Truly, every disappointment is God’s appointment. Our opportunity to “grow in grace (2 Pet 3:18), and to be like the Divine Pattern. Every trial is but another proof of God’s personal interest. Trials are the tools in the hands of The Divine Architect as He seeks to include us in His eternal plan.

The Blood Of The Lamb. The Word Of Their Testimony

I once heard a story about a Blacksmith who gave his heart to God. Though consistent in his living, still he was not prospering materially. Financially. In fact, it seed that from the time of his conversion, more trouble, affliction, and loss were sustained than ever before. Everything seemed to be going wrong. Well, one day a friend who was not a Christian, stopped at the little forge to talk with the Blacksmith. Sympathizing with him in some of his trials, the friend said:

“It seems strange to me that so much affliction should pass over you just at the very time when you have become an earnest Christian. Of course I don’t want to weaken your faith in God or anything like that; but here you are, trying to do your best, being faithful in every way you know how, praying for God’s help and guidance, and yet things seem to be getting steadily worse. I can’t help wondering why this is happening?”

The Blacksmith did not answer immediately, and it was evident that he too had thought of the same question before. But finally he said: “You see the raw iron I have here to make into horse shoes? You know what I do with it? I take a piece and I heat it in the fire until it is red, almost white with the heat. Then I hammer it unmercifully to shape it the way I know it should be shaped. Then I plunge it into a pail of cold water to temper it. Then I heat it again and hammer it some more. And I do this until it is finished.

“But sometimes I find a piece of the iron that will not withstand this kind of treatment. The heat and the hammering and the cold water are sometimes just too much for it. I don’t know exactly why some of the pieces fail like that in the process, but I do know that it will never make a good horse shoe.”

He pointed to a heap of scrap iron by the door of the shop. “When I get a piece that cannot take the shape and temper, I throw it out on this scrap heap. It will never be good for anything useful.” He went on: “I KNOW that God has been holding me in the fires of affliction, and I have felt His hammer upon me. But I don’t mind it, if only He can bring me to what I should be. And so in all these hard things, my prayer is simply this: ‘Try me in any way that you see fit Lord, only please don’t throw me on the scrap heap.”

Yes my friends: the very trying of our faith is the work of our Best Friend. Jesus does not grieve us willingly, but He knows that the winds of adversity will cause us who are sincere and honest in seeking Him to become more firmly grounded in the depths of His “everlasting love.” (Jer 31:3, Rev 14:6) so that the hot, scorching, withering, fiery trials will always cause us to seek more often the eternal springs of grace. May you, in your times of loneliness, sickness, sorrow, dismay, look up into the face of Jesus and hear Him say again in love: “This thing is from Me.” (1 Kings 12:24). May your response be: “Lord. Work your special work of grace in my heart, in my personal life. Do as seems best to you, for now I know how that all things work together for good to them that love God.” (Rom 8:28)

Our Troubles Versus Christ’s Peace

Our tired old world has been in serious trouble many times now over the years. But never have we seen such trouble as we are seeing this last two or three years. The prophet Jeremiah wrote an accurate depiction of the times we live in today when he said: “The din resounds to the world’s end, for The Eternal arranges the nations, He indicts everyone on planet Earth, and puts the wicked to the sword. The Lord of Hosts declares: “from race to race calamity extends, a mighty storm is stirring from the earth’s ends” (Jer 25:31,32, Moffatt)

In Jer 30:5 he says: “We have heard a scream of terror, all is alarm and unrest. Ask now, and inquire if a man is ever with child.; for why do I see everyone pressing their hands on their loins, and why is every face turned to a deadly pallor? Ah, this is an awful day. What day is like it?” (Moffatts Translation).

It does seem a bit strange to talk much about peace where there has been so little peace for the past 2000 years, and the prospects for peace in the future are so hopeless. There has been almost perpetual strife and unceasing wars and calamities since the day when the angels sang “peace on Earth to everyone of goodwill.” (Luke 2:14)

Everywhere we look today there is trouble. Our poor world is rushing on from one crises to the next, sometimes dealing with many multiple, concurrent disasters and troubles. Each new problem seems worse. More frequent. More rapid. Each tragedy is worse than the last. I am reminded of the FEAR and the hatred of the nations today. The piling up of war materials, the stock-piling of nuclear Missiles, the distress of nations, and as the result millions are hungry and dying when it could all be prevented.

Every page of our human history is stained with tears, and yet, even during times like these we are in now, the world continues to rush into it’s darkest moments. Dan 12:1 notes a time of trouble such as there never was since there was a nation. The Bible tells of the seven last plagues that are yet to fall, and it also speaks of Jacob’s trouble through which we must pass. (Rev 3:10) Yet in the midst of that trouble while “[people’s] hearts are failing them from fear and for looking after the things that are coming upon the earth,” (Luke 21:26) God talks to us about peace! God wants us to have peace! Jesus has left us with peace in His will! (John 14:27)

Peace beyond Understanding

Jesus has willed His peace to each of us. Have you ever heard anyone say “I have never been remembered in anyone’s will,” well that’s just not true! The Lord Jesus has remembered YOU in His will. Just before He died, Jesus made a will! He willed to Joseph His body, He willed to John His Mother, He willed to His Father, His Spirit, but Jesus willed to you and me today His peace! John 14:27 tells us:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV)

Jesus has remembered us in His will. Jesus has willed to us His peace. The question remains now: “have we claimed our inheritance?” Will we as a people, as the church accept our inheritance bequeathed to us in the perfect will of Jesus Christ? ” For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13) In the very midst of international and national troubles swirling around most of us today, we may truly have peace. Before He died, Jesus remembered you, remembered me, in His will. Jesus willed to Joseph His body. () Jesus willed to John His Mother. ()Jesus willed to His Father, His Spirit. But for you and I, Jesus willed His peace. (John 14:27) “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you…Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid.”

Security And Joy.

These are the cry of human hearts everywhere. And they are bequeathed to us in the will of Jesus as expressed in His Word where Jesus guarantees and assures us of His provision of peace and security to His children. Wealth does not bring peace. It seems that there is more unrest, more suicides among the rich than amongst the poor. Position, education, worldly pleasure, wisdom and environment do not bring peace. At least, not lasting peace. True peace is the gift of God, and “not like the world gives.” Peace is one of God’s gifts to His children. Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit. (see Gal 5:22)

To accept the peace that Jesus has willed to us we need to accept and believe in our Author of peace. It is impossible to accept His peace, if we do not accept Him personally. Jesus does want to live through you, in you, for He has said:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My Voice, and open the door, I will come in unto them and eat with them, and they with me.” (Rev 3:20)

Friends, when Jesus is on the inside, then there is peace. “Christ in you the hope in glory.” (Col 1:27) Christ’s indwelling presence makes for peace, and for glorifying God. Here are a few more scriptures that help us to understand this special peace that “Christ in you” will bring about:

Psalms 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” The Psalmist mentions a GREAT peace here.

Phil 4:7  “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Here we see described a special peace that “passes all understanding.”

Isa 26:3  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”  So we find that it is not only a great peace that passes understanding, but it is also called a “perfect peace.” And from another Scripture, Isa 48:18 we read: how that it is a constant peace. If you had obeyed me, then peace would have come to you like a full flowing river. Good things would have come to you again and again, like the waves of the sea. 

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

Isa 9:7  His power will never end; peace will last forever. He will rule David’s kingdom and make it grow strong. He will always rule with honesty and justice. The LORD All-Powerful will make certain that all of this is done. 

Now all these texts and many others describe for us the peace that Jesus has willed to us. But it would seem that it does not take much to destroy our peace. Just a little slight. Some lack of appreciation. A bit of criticism. A betrayal of confidence. Or some misunderstanding. And our peace is gone! So many professed Christians are like the surface of the ocean. They are lashed and tossed about by every wind. It frets and foams and rises and falls but we thank God that there are depths in the sea where there is eternal calm. “My peace,” said Jesus!

With Jesus there is no frailty, no error, no sin, no past to lament, no failure to dread, no mistakes to fear. No death can overcome, no suffering weaken. No ideals unreached, no perfection unattained, nothing disturbs His peace, and that is the peace Jesus has willed to each one of us. What a legacy!

The Loud Cry: When Days Are Dark

“get up and walk” (Acts 14:10)

This past week I encountered an elderly gentleman who was homeless, stuck living in a tiny trailer on the side of the road. No power. No running water. He was lying in his own filth, and living in very squalid conditions. he could not walk. He had given up and just laid down in his bed, surrounded by garbage and rotten food. Myself and another church member started to reach out to him, we fed him, bought him propane to have heat, cleaned his trailer, did his dishes and laundry. While I was helping him to have a bed bath he said to me with a tear in his eye:

“you know, I feel safe when you guys are here. I don’t have to worry about the bullies and the vandalism. I can’t sleep at night because of it. Is it OK if I sleep now?”

He later said to me as I was leaving that day,

“Can you please do another prayer?”

And today, just two days after this, he started to walk again! All he said was “you guys have given me the courage to live again. The courage to go on.”

Can you do another prayer? That about says it all.

My friends, would you like to have that peace? THAT kind of rest in Christ? Jesus left it here! His peace is here to stay. If you are not now enjoying Christ’s peace, why not claim your inheritance now? Just remember, that to accept Christ’s peace you must accept Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. Apart from Jesus there is no real lasting peace. Jesus has willed it to you. Jesus won’t be satisfied until you have accepted it. Why continue as you have been in the past? Why be like the prodigal nephew and fail to claim your inheritance? Why lie down in your bed and give up when Jesus has left such a gift, such wonder-working power to you in His express will? Open the door to your heart. Jesus is knocking.

Accept the Prince Of Peace, just now, and you will always have His peace.