Let Us Go On...

This book is the fourth of my father's books, written in 2001. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are my father's words.

Acknowledgments 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

We are deeply indebted to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for allowing us to experience and understand a small measure of His Truth, as written in the Word and as revealed by the Holy Spirit. NO man can understand the Word of God or the ways of God unless they are revealed to him by His Spirit.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

I would also like to acknowledge my wife, Linda, who provided me with great encouragement and support. She also gave me her valuable comments for improvement.

All verses quoted herein are taken from the Authorized or King James' version, except as specifically noted at the appropriate places. 

Permission is freely given to anyone to copy all or parts of this book and to distribute this word in any way that you desire to whomever you desire, PROVIDED that you do so without any monetary remuneration. The word of God is free (or at least should be). "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). 

The Unfolding: Volume 4

This book represents the fourth in a series of books centered around the unfolding of the word of God and the revelation or manifestation or unfolding of His great grace and glory.

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Luke 12:2

God has revealed more of Himself and His word over the years. But there is coming a time when God is going to roll everything back up into Himself. A possible analogy is that of unrolling a scroll so as to read what is written thereon and then rolling the scroll back up. That was the inspiration for the front and back covers of this book and for those volumes in the series yet to come.

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll ... Isaiah 34:4

God's purpose is to manifest His glory. Everything is designed to show forth the glory of God.

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:5

Some verses that clearly show that God has chosen to reveal more of Himself and His word over a period of time are: 

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. 1 Peter 1:20

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Romans 3:21

The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. Hebrews 9:8

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Ephesians 3:5

God's revelation, by His Spirit, is not simply TO us, but WITHIN us. The Word of God must become flesh. For example, 

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace,

16 To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Galatians 1:15‑16

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:26‑27

There is still more that God intends to reveal of His glory. 

Father, glorify Thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. John 12:28

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:19

But there will come a time when God folds everything back up. Many believers sense that folding up is near at hand.

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed ... 

Hebrews 1:12

And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 

1 Corinthians 15:28

"For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29), and everything shall be consumed by the fire of His Spirit, that God may be all in all.

The five books planned for this series are:

Volume 1: The Love of a Man for His Wife
Volume 2: In the Beginning
Volume 3: A Sure Foundation
Volume 4: Let Us Go On
Volume 5: Children Have You Any Meat?

Foreword

This fourth book of unfolding contains a number of individual chapters whose motivation is the edification, exhortation, and comfort for the believer who has been walking with the Lord for some number of years and who desires to move on in the Lord.

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection ...
3 And this we will do, if God permit. Hebrews 6:1, 3

Please note that going on to perfection requires both a desire on our part and the grace of God on His part to allow us to go on. Paul had an intense desire to go on to perfection.

10 That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Philippians 3:10‑15

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain upon the earth. Hosea 6:3

As you read this book, a good question to always keep in mind concerning ANY topic from the Bible is, "How does this relate to the Lord Jesus Christ and how does it relate to furthering the kingdom of God?"

In addition, readers should ALWAYS be encouraged to hear what the Spirit is saying to them as they read ANY written book or article, such as this one. NO MAN IS PERFECT and NO MAN HAS ALL OF THE TRUTH. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth. Many years ago a brother asked me if I had believed every word that two men had prophesied over me. I replied that when I eat a grape I eat the pulp and spit out the seed. A major key in Christianity is that each believer should be fully persuaded in his/her own mind.

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Romans 14:1‑3, 5

This word simply represents that which we have received from the Lord on the enclosed topics as of this point in time. Our sincere desire is that this word will be a blessing to all who read it. We all learn some things through personal experience. Hopefully, we can also learn through the experiences of others.

Introduction

In Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of this series, the topics had a natural order or progression. Some books do not naturally have an inherent order or progression. This book, as stated in the Foreword, is a collection of individual chapters whose motivation is the exhortation, edification, and comfort for the believer who is walking on with the Lord. Nevertheless, there IS an order or progression in this book.

Chapter 1 speaks of the barren woman, which describes five (natural) barren women recorded in the Bible. The last barren woman is in the spiritual realm ...the church. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 describe three reasons WHY the church is barren (conformity to the world and to each other; partaking from the altar of man; and questioning God). Each of these three chapters also prescribes the remedy for those specific causes of barrenness.

When the church is barren, there is a natural tendency to lay hold of an apparent solution. Therefore Chapter 5 makes clear how (and why) the false emerges before the true. This approach leads to Chapter 6, which details the failure of man but the success of God. Man’s ways must inevitably result in failure.

Chapters 7 and 8 describe aspects of the sovereignty of God, despite the failures of men. These chapters are titled “The Pursuit of God” and “Kept By The Power Of God,” respectively.

Chapter 9 then gives a specific, personal, mountain-top experience which continues the theme of “Kept By The Power Of God” and illustrates the need for revelation from the Holy Spirit.

Chapters 10-13 are oriented more toward the nature that the Lord desires to work within us. These chapters are titled, “Let This Mind Be In You,” “The Fear Of The Lord,” “Zeal, Wisdom, and Compassion,” and “She Has Done What She Could.” Chapter 14 describes the life of my grandmother, a woman who did all that she could. Chapter 15 describes our walk through the valley of weeping.

We, as believers, must have balance in our life. Chapter 16 is designed to show that the Lord Jesus Christ is the ONLY just balance. 

Chapters 17, 18, and 19 then describe the life of two great saints, Paul and Elijah. We have much to learn from their lives.

Finally, Chapter 20 describes (somewhat) the glory of God and our personal experience with the glory of God.

May the Spirit of Truth guide you, as you read this book, into more Truth for each one of you. 

Chapter 1: The Barren Woman

Scripture records five women who are specifically called "barren" for some time period. These are Sarah, the wife of Abraham; Rebekah, the wife of Isaac; Rachel, the wife of Jacob; the wife (unnamed) of Manoah; and Elisabeth, the wife of Zacharias.

But Sarai was barren; she had no child. Genesis 11:30

And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Genesis 25:21

And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. Genesis 29:31

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. Judges 13:2

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. Luke 1:7

What do all of these barren women have in common? Each one bore a son who was ordained to be great in the eyes of the Lord. The five sons were, respectively, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samson, and John the Baptist. As we have noted in a previous Volume, only Isaac prayed for his wife that she might conceive. Isaac is, of course, a type of Christ, who ever liveth to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Five, of course, represents the grace of God. In each of the five cases mentioned above it was the grace of God that allowed a son to be born. Man, in his own strength, can never bring forth that which God desires. However, man DOES have a responsibility. Let us look at one of the barren women in more detail.

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were well stricken in years. Luke 1:5‑7

"Abia" is the same word as "Abijah," which means "worshiper of the Lord." So Zacharias and Elisabeth were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless; they were worshipers of the Lord. In other words, they kept their garments clean ... they did all that they could do. No doubt, because they both were well stricken in years, they had no natural hope of ever having a son. Zacharias could not believe it when Gabriel came to him to tell him that he would have a son (Luke 1:20). But God!!! Nothing is impossible with God! So Elisabeth bore a son, who was named John by God. John was filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). How does that fact fit into your doctrine about being filled with the Holy Ghost? Hopefully, we can recognize that God is bigger than the best of our doctrine. God can do whatever He wants to do! God is not limited by our imperfect understanding of scripture. 

Earlier we stated that there are five barren women noted in scripture. Actually there is one more barren woman ... the body of Christ ... the true church. Paul said,

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. Galatians 4:19

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ...
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Romans 8:19, 22

Is it time for us, likewise, to travail in intercession that the sons of God might be manifested? Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us; to what end? that we might have a happy life with no suffering? Can we all agree that, 

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

Can we also all agree that when we pray according to His will, that the Lord might be glorified, that His will might be done, then something will happen? Concerning the barren church of today, the wife of the Lamb, 

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children. Isaiah 66:7‑8

We need to understand the ways of God; we need to have eyes to see what the Lord is after in these last days. Then we need to align ourselves with His plan and purposes and fervently pray toward that end. Come quickly Lord Jesus! 

1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. ...
5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called.
6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. Isaiah 54:1, 5‑7

Chapter 2: Conformity

From the moment of natural birth we are subjected to conformity. Peer pressures, at all ages, is a very powerful force which we have to deal with, one way or another. Someone once said that we are born an original and die a copy. Certainly we are born an original. Although all people share some common attributes, God made each person to be unique. Our fingerprints, as well as many other characteristics, are unique. I have read and heard that not even two snowflakes are identical. Even identical twins are different in some ways. Whether or not we die a copy depends largely upon decisions we make in life.

People do not like to appear to be "different." We like to blend in with the crowd. There seems to be an idea of safety in a crowd. We like to wear the same type of dress; have the same type of hair‑do; have the same type of life styles; drive relatively new cars; have the same work habits. Tall people want to appear shorter; short people want to appear taller; thin people want to be heavier; heavy‑set people want to be thinner. Many women (and some men) like to maintain the styles of the day. These are just a few examples of conformity to the world.

When Samuel, a great prophet, was old,

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 1 Samuel 8:4‑5

So ALL of the elders wanted to be like all the other nations and have a natural king to rule over them. But Israel was not called to be like all the other nations. They were to be a special people, set apart unto God. Nevertheless, God honored their request and gave them a natural king, Saul. The Lord told Samuel,

Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 

1 Samuel 8:7

This was the beginning of disaster for the nation of Israel. From that time forward, the nation of Israel was on a sure path of decline, which finally culminated in the rejection of Jesus as the King of the Jews. Just before the crucifixion of Jesus, the Jews said,

Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 

John 19:15

Paul warned,

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

Unfortunately, from the moment of spiritual birth (being born again), we are still subjected to conformity. There is no such thing as instant maturity. 

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 

1 Samuel 15:24

As Christians, we adopt the dress code, the language, the mannerisms, and the doctrinal beliefs of those in our local fellowship. We quickly learn all of the right words to say. We want to be conformed to the body! This is fleshy baggage that has been carried over from the world. From my experience, a relatively small part of Christian doctrine that is handed down from one generation to the next is based upon the tradition of men, not the revelation given through the Holy Spirit. This is true for even the BEST of Christian fellowships. How else do you explain 500 (or so) different denominations? 

During the "hey day" years of the house church in Annandale‑Springfield, Virginia, from about 1969‑1981, a heavily‑emphasized teaching was the safety or "covering" provided by the body of Christ. Well, toward the early part of that time period, I "discovered" a verse in Isaiah that says something different.

And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest. Isaiah 22:8

What is the armour of the house of the forest? the body of believers, no less! 

but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto Him that fashioned it long ago. Isaiah 22:11

You do not get your direction from the body! You get your direction from the Head! The Lord Himself is your covering. Can you imagine the reaction of Christians today if the Lord were to speak the same word to someone that He spoke to Isaiah, who walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder (Isaiah 20:2‑3)? How would we react if we saw a brother, like Hosea, who married a harlot (Hosea 1:2)?

If we are not to be conformed to the world and not to be conformed to the body as a Christian, wherein does our conformity lie? To the Lord Jesus Christ!

For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. Philippians 3:10

This does NOT give us license to be a rebel! But if you see someone who is NOT conforming to your body of believers, do not hastily brand them as a rebel. You need to see more than the external appearance. You also need to be aware of their previous experiences. To what body was Moses submissive to? None! Moses was submissive to the Lord. The majority of the Pharisees, the religious elite of the day, undoubtedly branded Jesus as a reactionary, a rebel, and/or a heretic. To what body was Jesus submissive to? None! Jesus was always perfectly submissive to the Father. Even Jesus Himself "learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8).

We need to get our priorities straight. The objective is for us to learn perfect obedience and submission to the Lord Jesus. Why do you think there are numerous verses that say we should submit one to another, that a wife should submit to her husband as unto the Lord, that we should submit ourselves to every ordinance of man, and that the younger should submit to the elder? to allow a spirit of submission and obedience to the Lord to be formed within us. 

He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20

Could we also say that he who cannot submit to his brother whom he hath seen, how can he submit to the Lord whom he hath not seen?

We NEED, as new believers, to see a human being who is a loving pastor, UNTIL such time as we see that the LORD is our Shepherd. When we are a child, we need a different approach than when we become a man. There is nothing static about being a Christian. As one good brother put it, many years ago, He is bringing us from total flesh to total Spirit. We SHOULD be a different person every day, being changed from glory to glory. 

Now there IS such a thing as a rebel. A rebel is one who has never learned to submit to any man, someone who scorns the authority of man. 

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Romans 13:1‑2

Unfortunately, we know a number of young men who ARE rebels. They have never allowed the Lord to work His obedient, submissive Spirit within them. You CANNOT play "leap frog" with God. You may be able to skip one or more grades in a natural school, but you CANNOT skip a grade in the school of the Spirit. You cannot bypass the ways that God has ordained for us to learn obedience and submission. Any attempt on our part to play "leap frog" will result in undue suffering. There is enough suffering when we are walking humbly with our God. Why suffer for your own misdirected ways?

Chapter 3: From Which Altar Do You Partake?

In the August 1997 booklet from Emmanuel Ministries, Marion and Pearl Fretwell wrote a short word entitled "The New Altar." The Spirit of God quickened and expanded upon that word, resulting in the word that follows. May His Spirit quicken this word to you in even greater measure.

The book of Hebrews, among other things, is a book of contrasts between the old covenant and the new covenant. For example, Hebrews 1:1‑2 contrasts how God spoke unto the fathers by the prophets but now speaks to us by His Son. Chapter 1 also contrasts the Son with angels, and contrasts the Lord with those things (the earth and the heavens) made by Him. Chapter 2 compares the word spoken by angels with our great salvation. Chapter 3 contrasts Moses and Christ. Chapters 3 and 4 compare works and rest. Chapters 5 and 7 compare the Levitical priesthood with the priesthood after the order of Melchisedic. Chapters 5 and 6 compare babes in Christ with those who are of full age or mature. Chapter 7 contrasts the daily sacrifices required under the old covenant and the once and final sacrifice of Christ Himself. Chapter 8 speaks of the tabernacle built by man and the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 also contrast the old covenant and the new covenant. Chapter 11 compares the faith of many notable old testament men and women to "some better thing" which God has provided for us. I believe it is fair to say that the "some better thing for us" is the faith of God Himself, which we can partake of. Chapter 12 contrasts the earthly Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem; it also compares the "mount that might be touched" to mount Sion and the city of the living God. Chapter 13, in verse 9, contrasts grace and meats (doctrine); it also contrasts altars in verse 10. This last contrast (on altars) would be easy to overlook, yet it is vital to the believers' well‑being. 

9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. Hebrews 13:9‑10

In the Old Testament, a number of notable men built altars unto the Lord. Noah was the first (Genesis 8:20) to build an altar. Then followed Abraham (Genesis 12:7, Genesis 12:8, Genesis 13:18, Genesis 22:9); Isaac (Genesis 26:25); Jacob (Genesis 33:20, Genesis 35:7); and Moses (Exodus 17:15, Exodus 24:4). Moses, of course, also built the altar of incense and the altar of burnt offering for the tabernacle, as instructed by the Lord in Exodus. Other men who built altars to the Lord were Joshua (Joshua 8:30), Gideon (Judges 6:24), the men of Israel (Judges 21:4), Samuel (1 Samuel 7:17), David (2 Samuel 24:25, 1 Chronicles 21:26), Urijah (2 Kings 16:11), Joshua and Zerrubabel (Ezra 3:2). 

Some not‑so‑good or questionable instances occur when other men built altars. Aaron (Exodus 32:5) built an altar before the golden calf. The children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar as a witness between them and the other tribes of Israel that the Lord is God (Joshua 22:10). Saul (1 Samuel 14:35), Solomon (1 Kings 9:25), and Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:33) all built altars. Others, like Ahab, built altars for Baal (1 Kings 16:32), as did Manasseh (2 Kings 21:3). Ephraim made many altars to sin (Hosea 8:11).

For the moment we will simply note that some altars were built by notable men unto the Lord and some were built by considerably less notable men, not unto the Lord. If we read the verses associated with the more notable men, such as Abraham, we see that they built an altar unto the Lord, called on the Name of the Lord, the Lord spoke unto them, and the Lord appeared unto them. We could say that there was a communion between Abraham and the Lord as a result of the altar.

Let us look at the Lord's instructions to Moses:

24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my Name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon. Exodus 20:24‑26

These verses seem to indicate that the Lord's first choice was an altar of earth. By the time we get to Joshua we find no mention of the altar of earth: 

30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal,
31 As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron; and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. Joshua 8:30‑31

I have not yet found one verse in scripture where an altar of earth was built. Verse 24 is forward‑looking to the new covenant and the time when the tabernacle of God is with men (Revelation 21:3). As Marion Fretwell put it, "I will come unto thee" is the essence of worship. Our approach to God is quite secondary. Unless He comes unto us, our worship service may be nice, but unfruitful.

Glory and honor are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His place. 

1 Chronicles 16:27

In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11

An altar of stone (Exodus 20:25) was acceptable under certain conditions. Please note that it is not acceptable for man to have a part in shaping the stones that are used for an altar unto the Lord. This too is God's work and it is marvelous in our eyes. Man's ways pollute.

In Exodus 20:26, "Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon." I remember the time, about 25 years ago, when Linda and I stayed with a man and his wife in a certain Eastern U.S. city. The man had been one of the original elders in a loosely‑knit new‑ testament type fellowship of believers. But after a few years of experiencing much good teaching and fellowship, the man withdrew and became a member of a Lutheran church. On Sunday morning, we went with them to their Lutheran church. One of the major events that I recall from that service was how the Lutheran pastor climbed about 10 steps, almost to the ceiling, to present his sermon. I also remember that I got a crick in my neck from trying to look up to see him. Worse still, I got a crick in my soul from all of man's embellishments, which, quite frankly, nauseated me. (I have since learned to be more tolerant of those believers who are caught up in such things, because they just don't see their nakedness.) Man's ascent by steps exposes the human flesh. 

Hebrews 13:10 says that those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat from the altar which we have available to us. Under the old covenant, the priests not only offered sacrifices at the altar, they ate or partook from the altar. Only the Lord knows how many thousands of animals were sacrificed, but the Levitical priests ate part of the offering. Of course, they were forbidden to eat the fat or drink the blood, as in:

32 And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
33 And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy. Exodus 29:32‑33

Other verses which speak of the Levitical priests eating from the (natural) altar are in Leviticus 7:31‑34, Leviticus 10:14‑17, Numbers 18:11, and Deuteronomy 18:1‑2.

People who have not experienced the saving grace of our Lord are nevertheless looking for "happiness" or the meaning of life. (Note, however, that there is a difference between happiness and joy in the Holy Ghost.) Unfortunately, they are looking in the wrong places ‑ alcohol, drugs, illicit sex, and any of a multitude of self‑seeking natural "pleasures" or food for the flesh. There is, unfortunately, also a great tendency for believers to look in the wrong places for spiritual food. Too many believers seem to be looking for some formula to solve their problems and, in effect, are partaking of the altar that Moses built ‑ the old covenant approach to God. Paul addressed this point in the book of Galatians.

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:3

Many years ago, while in a gathering of the saints, a visiting minister asked us to read 2 Peter:1 out loud. Then he asked what the Spirit had quickened to anyone. A few people shared a few things, but I had received no particularly new revelation or insight. So I decided to re‑read chapter 1 again silently. When I got to verse 19, a light went on within me.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2 Peter 1:19

The word that jumped off the page was the word "until." Most believers accept that the "more sure word of prophecy" speaks of the written word. I remember sharing that I had seen many believers who take heed, take heed, and take heed, which is little more than Judaism ‑ partaking of the altar that Moses built. Now that altar was Divinely given, but Divinely set aside. But the essence of 2 Peter 1:19 is for the day to dawn and the Day Star to arise in our hearts. Christ in you, the hope of glory! The "take heed" is not an end in itself but only a means toward the glorious end.

Another "substitute" is partaking of an altar built by man, even a spiritual man. Examples of this have been abundant in our lifetime. A number of the big tv evangelists have been exposed. Some of the "best" charismatic teachers, who also attracted thousands of believers, saw their works disintegrate. A move (?) of apostles and prophets also essentially disintegrated. As a general principle, whenever you see a multitude of believers going in one direction, look at it again, very carefully. The major purpose of any ministry is to point to where we get our real spiritual food.

Sadly, I have seen the same thing happen in conjunction with solid, spiritual, genuine men of God. This was not something that these men of God tried to bring about. Moreover, I suspect that they were not even aware of what was happening. But on 3 different occasions, I saw young, enthusiastic believers (they all happened to be young men) become so enamored with three older, more mature ministries, that they immersed themselves ‑ they ate from the altar of those ministries ‑ to the point that they begin to sound like and take on the characteristics of the older ministries. How sad! Natural sheep do the same thing ‑ they follow each other. But we are not man's sheep, we are the Lord's sheep. We are to take on the nature of Christ. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice." If you always eat at the altar of man you will become like that man. God never intended for us to conform to another man (or woman). He made us all unique, each with our own special gifts and ministries. No two snowflakes or fingerprints are the same.

Notice, please, the relationship of Hebrews 13:9 with Hebrews 13:10. It is BECAUSE believers partake of the altar of man that the author of Hebrews warns us "be not carried about with strange and divers doctrines." It is BECAUSE believers partake of an altar built by man that "many are weak and sickly among you." 

Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 1 Corinthians 10:18

... ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 1 Corinthians 10:21

They who serve the tabernacle (pitched by man) have no right to eat at the altar of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man (Hebrews 8:2 and Hebrews 13:10).

*     *     *

Now what IS the altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle? It is the Altar built by God; it is the Altar of the Spirit of God; it is the Altar supplied by the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ; the Altar which was completely furnished at the cross of Calvary. This Altar has NO natural food ‑ it is NOT for the natural man. This Altar has spiritual food ‑ food for the spiritual man. Any altar built by man will not suffice. Jesus said, 

Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:53

No one understood what Jesus said in that verse. To the Jews, that was heresy, because God had told Moses that they could not eat the flesh with the blood thereof. The result was,

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him. John 7:1

Because the Jews misunderstood, they soon killed the Lord of Glory. Many believers today also want to reduce everything to natural terms that they can understand. Jesus said,

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? Luke 23:31

Jesus was (is) the green tree; we are the dry (tree). Many years ago the Spirit of God quickened that there will be a repeat of John 6 in the Body of Christ, with the same result that Jesus received. You see, the Lord's supper is His Word and the Spirit of God, not some natural-level substitutes. The Lord's table was fully stocked at Calvary. 

Just because we HAVE an altar does not necessarily mean that we PARTAKE of that altar. There is nothing automatic about our walk as a believer; there is no guaranteed maturity regardless of what we do. A pertinent question at this point is, therefore, from which altar do YOU (or I) partake? No doubt, anyone who reads this word or any charismatic in general would quickly say, "Brother, I partake of the Altar of the Spirit." If that were true for all charismatics then why are there over 500 denominations? Why are there so many splinter groups? Why have thousands of reasonably sincere believers been "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive?" (Ephesians 4:13). Samuel put it well when he told Saul that if you have indeed utterly destroyed all that the Amalekites had, "What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" (1 Samuel 15:14).

Perhaps we need less of an "I know that" attitude and more of an "Lord, is it I?" attitude. By June of 1976, I had been an elder in a new testament house church for seven years. We had every gift and every ministry in operation. All sorts of good things had been happening. I had been thoroughly involved in teaching, preaching, prophecy, counseling, intercession, and fellowship at our numerous meetings. We had also had several different small meetings in our home. But on June 13, 1976, something happened. The Lord woke me very early that morning (about 3:00 a.m.) and impressed upon me to get up out of bed, go downstairs, and read the restoration books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah). There was no one else awake in our home ‑ no noise ‑ no audible voice ‑ no emotion. At one point, I read 

And the elders of the Jews builded and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. Ezra 6:14

When I read that verse, it was like a sledgehammer hit me. I heard three words from the Lord, in decreasing order of magnitude. The first was, "If you want to see the Body of Christ prosper, then you function in the place where I have called you." Probably because of my thorough involvement with the new testament house church for seven years at that point, if every believer I had any degree of respect for had all filed in, one after the other, and told me that I had not been functioning, I never would have accepted that word. I would have said, what more can I do that I have not already been doing? But when the Spirit of God spoke that word to me, I knew it was for real. The second word that I heard, which followed very quickly after the first, was, "I have given you the power to fulfill that function." The third word was the love of God. I felt absolutely no condemnation, no guilt, only a brand‑new awareness of who I was in Christ and who Christ was in me. I have often said that was the most powerful word I have ever heard from the Lord.

Is it possible that the Lord is now saying, "If you (or I) want to see the Body of Christ prosper, then you (or I) cease from partaking of man's altar and partake of the Altar of the Spirit?" Is that a hard word to accept because you (and I) believe we have been doing just that for many years? 

*     *     *

Now I want to take a word in Ezekiel out of context and put it into context.

And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Ezekiel 39:19

This verse is the Old Testament counterpart of John 6:53. "My sacrifice" was the sacrifice of Christ Himself, our Sacrificial Lamb. To reduce that verse to any kind of a natural level is a tragedy!

Proverbs 28:25 says, "He that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat." Under the old covenant, the Israelites were forbidden to partake of the fat and the blood. Under the new covenant, we are to eat from the Altar built by God, the Altar of the Spirit, supplied by the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. We are to eat until we are full ‑ full of the nature of Christ; we are to drink blood ‑ the blood of the Spirit ‑ until we are drunken ‑ completely saturated with His Spirit.

And so, once more, from which altar do YOU (or I) partake? There is a cost of partaking of the altar from which they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Chapter 4: Questions Or Declarations?

My first thought was to title this word as "Questions and Answers." The word "answer" is not exactly a synonym for "declaration," but perhaps the two words differ only by our perspective. From a believer's point of view, we may have questions, but the Lord certainly has all of the answers (or rather the Lord is the answer). But the essence of this word is that if we, as believers, have the right declarations, then no questions will ever arise. 

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus said, in John 16:23, "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing." In the beginning, there were no questions, only declarations. And God said ... and there came into being. In the end (in that day), there will again be no questions, only declarations. Until that day arrives, we still have questions. A reasonable question is, what day is "that day?"

In Acts 1, after His resurrection and shortly before His ascension, Jesus spoke with the apostles. I don't know about you, but if I had been one of those who had walked with Jesus for three and one‑half years, had witnessed His crucifixion at Calvary, and had been a witness of His resurrection, then I, like the apostles, probably would have some questions that I wanted to ask Jesus. I probably would not ask any trivial questions. We must assume that the only question recorded, in Acts 1:6, was a question that was burning in the hearts of the apostles, a question that was uppermost in their minds at the time. Their question was, "Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" There are at least two major conclusions that we can assume from their question. First, this was not "that day" that Jesus referred to in John 16:23 (or else they would have had no question at all). Second, they were still thinking in the natural realm.

The Bible seems to record at least four major types of questions: (1) the adversary questions man, (2) God questions man, (3) man questions God, and (4) man questions man. The first question recorded in scripture is in Genesis 3:1, when the serpent said to Eve, "Yea, hath God said ... ?" This represents the first, but by no means the last, attempt by the adversary to create doubt in our minds. This same approach was used when the devil tempted Jesus in Luke 4:1‑13 and Matthew 4:1‑11 with, "if thou be the Son of God... ." These were most likely two separate times of temptation, rather than two recordings of the same event. Of course, Jesus never succumbed to any of the temptations offered by the devil. Neither should we, because "greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world." Every believer is subjected, at some time(s), to temptation, which comes in various forms. But "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

We know, however, that sometimes a child of God does succumb to temptation. The first such was Eve, in Genesis 3:6. We all know the result of that. This led (leads) to the second type of question found in the Bible, when God questions man, which always seems to occur after man has erred in some way. In fact the second question recorded in scripture is in Genesis 3:9, after the fall of man. "And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" Of course the Lord knew where Adam was, both physically and spiritually. So why the question? It must have been for the benefit of Adam, to give him an opportunity to confess his sin and repent in godly sorrow. Adam did not repent, but tried to place the blame on Eve, who in turn placed the blame on the serpent. Did you ever wonder what would have happened if Adam and Eve had repented? We don't know, of course, but it may be that this second sin (non‑repentance) was greater than the first. 

A similar event (when God questions man) is recorded in 1 Kings 19:9 when the Lord said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" In other words, the Lord tells Elijah that He never sent him on that journey. This chapter records the only time in the life of Elijah when he acted out of his own self‑interests, rather than obeying the Lord. It is also the only recorded time that the Lord asked Elijah a question.

Another, well‑known example is that of Job. After 35 chapters in which Job tries to justify his actions in the sight of his "friends," the Lord, in Chapters 38‑41, questions Job at length, beginning with, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2). Of course, Job did repent.

5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5‑6

We also know that the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning 

(Job 42:12‑17).

The third type of question is when man questions God. Depending upon the motivation, this may be either an innocent, humble request OR the depth of depravity. The first such question in scripture is found in Genesis. 

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? Genesis 4:9

Cain, because of his jealousy and envy, killed his brother Abel, then lied to the Lord (when he said, I know not), but perhaps worst of all questioned the Lord with, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Technically, Cain was correct. We are not our brother's keeper (but we SHOULD have compassion for our brother). The LORD is our keeper!

4 Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. Psalm 121:4‑5

However, Cain's question to the Lord reeks with sarcasm, as if to say, Lord, you are Abel's keeper; why didn't you take care of him?

Another unfortunate example of man questioning God is found in the book of Malachi. Ten times in Malachi, the people of Israel question the Lord, beginning with questioning the love of the Lord for them.

I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? 

Malachi 1:2

The remaining 9 questions are in Malachi 1:6, 1:7, 2:14, 2:17 (two questions), 3:7, 3:8, 3:13, and 3:14. It is significant that after this time of questioning (with no apparent repentance) as recorded in Malachi, there is a long period (350 or so years) of darkness until the time of John the Baptist and Jesus. 

When man questions the Lord, it is important to distinguish the attitude or spirit behind the questioning. There are two good examples of this. The first occurs in Genesis 17:17.

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Then in Genesis 18:12,

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Sarah was rebuked for her laughing because it was a laugh of unbelief; Abraham was not rebuked because his laugh was one out of belief.

Zacharias, in Luke 1:18, after hearing the proclamation that he and Elisabeth would have a son, said unto Gabriel, "Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." Because Zacharias did not believe the words of Gabriel, he was struck dumb until John was born. After hearing news of the forthcoming birth of Jesus, Mary said to Gabriel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34) But Mary suffered no rebuke, even though her words were essentially the same as those of Zacharias. 

The fourth type of question, where man questions man, occurs in abundance, not only in scripture, but also throughout the history of man to this day. Numerous questions are traded back and forth between Job and his "friends." We, today, must not be too quick to judge our brother's words or actions and thereby fall into the same "trap" as did Job's "friends." There are too many scriptural examples when the Lord told one of His chosen vessels to say or do something that we would not approve. For example, the Lord told Isaiah (in Isaiah 20:2‑3) to walk naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia. The Lord told Hosea, 

Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord. Hosea 1:2

The Lord raises up different vessels at different times for quite different purposes. Just because I have not been called to walk in a certain direction is no reason for me to question your walk in that direction. 

But one of the many things that all of us share in common has to do with the word "declarations." For example,

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul. Psalm 66:16

And when they (Paul and Barnabas) were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. Acts 15:4

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Thy works. Psalm 73:28

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts 20:27

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 1 Corinthians 15:1

The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Psalm 97:6

I will declare Thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee. Psalm 22:22

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork. 

Psalm 19:1

Declare His glory among the heathen; His marvelous works among all nations. 1 Chronicles 16:24

These ten verses, which present somewhat of a progression, say that we should declare: what God has done for me, what God has done with me, all of His works, all the counsel of God, that which we have seen and heard, the gospel, His righteousness, His name, and His glory. Two verses were included above which have to do with declaring the glory of God. That was because everything, the heavens, the earth, and all that is therein, and certainly man, was designed by the Master Builder to show forth or declare the glory of God! 

Now, let us return to the question, what did Jesus mean by "that day," as recorded in John 16:23. There seems to be more than one answer to that question. First of all, "that day" will certainly be fulfilled when we see Jesus. Likewise, "that day" will be fulfilled when the kingdom of God is fully established and time is no more. But Jesus said that "the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). A seed has been planted in our hearts. 

Whenever we get caught up to overflowing with declarations, declarations of the glory of God, then questions will no longer be of concern, and "that day" for us has arrived. For Stephen, "that day" came in A.D. 33 as recorded in Acts 7. He was so caught up with declaring the glory of God that he had no questions. He never asked, why me, Lord? or any other question. Stephen also felt no pain as he was being stoned to death. He was fully immersed in the glory of God. So now the choice is also ours, a choice between questions or declarations!

Chapter 5: The False Emerges Before The True

There are a number of occurrences recorded in scripture where the false (or counterfeit) emerges before the true. In other words, our adversary, knowing what the Lord was about to do in many cases, arranged to bring about a false version of the truth of God. Our adversary wants us to accept the first appearance as the truth. This deception can be very great. Unfortunately, man too often has interpreted the false as being the true. Jesus warned us in Matthew.

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

Matthew 24:23‑24 

The first such example is Cain and Abel (then Seth). Cain was born first, but Cain was of the anti‑Christ. Cain bore Enoch, but this was NOT the Enoch who walked with God many years later. Abraham had a son, Ishmael; but Ishmael was the product of the flesh, NOT the promise of God, which was Isaac, who came many years later. Another similar occurrence was Esau and Jacob. Esau was born first, and indeed Isaac loved Esau (because he did eat of his venison; Genesis 25:28). However, the Lord said,

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Romans 9:13

One of the best scriptural examples of the false emerging before the true is found in the book of Revelation. In this book, John says that he was in the Spirit four different times. The first occurrence is,

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet ... Revelation 1:10

Then in Chapter 4, John says,

And immediately I was in the Spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. Revelation 4:2

The One that John saw was the Lord Jesus Christ. The third occurrence is in Chapter 17:

So He carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Revelation 17:3

The woman that John saw was "mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." This woman represents the apostate, false church. Finally, in John 21,

10 And He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal ... Revelation 21:10‑11

Clearly, John saw the false church (Revelation 17) before he saw the true bride of Christ (Revelation 21). The REASON why John recognized the false church was that he had previously seen the Truth, the Lord Himself, in Revelation 1 and 4. Otherwise, John, the very elect, might have been deceived. 

The message for us is very clear. Unless we have a firm grounding in the Truth, we may very well be deceived. Historically, too many charismatic Christians have been deceived by "movement" after "movement." In our lifetime, we have seen countless thousands of charismatics deceived by a false ecumenical movement, a false discipleship movement, a false submission movement, a false apostles and prophets movement, and a false faith movement, to name but a few. Why have so many genuine believers been deceived? Because each "movement" has just enough sprinkling of the truth to be credible. There IS such a thing as discipleship; there IS such a thing as submission; there IS such a thing a thing as apostles and prophets; there IS such a thing as faith; there IS such a thing as unity within the body of Christ. All of these "movements" have two things in common. First, they all represent an attempt by (Christian) men to do what only God can do. They all represent man's attempts to implement God's plans and purposes. Second, each "movement" results in many casualties. There have been many beautiful, sincere Christians who have been wounded, many severely wounded, as a result of falling prey to one or more of the false movements. (We are aware that one man, who was one of the major founders of one of the above false movements, has been allowed to see a more excellent way. That man repented quite a number of years ago. There is NO question in my mind that the Lord has greatly blessed that man since he repented.) 

Lord have mercy on us! Lord, allow us to see the difference between the holy and the profane. Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. Lord, let us, like Mary, wait patiently until you call for us. Lord, thank you for the tribulations that you allow in our lives, for we know that tribulation worketh patience. Lord, work your patience within us so that we do not try to run before you.

Chapter 6: Failure And Apparent Failure: But God

Before the Lord sovereignly and dramatically apprehended me, on August 25, 1967, I had numerous events and circumstances in my life which all pointed to the fact that I was a failure. The Lord used my sense of failure to help to mold me into the type of person He wanted me to become. I will describe only two such events briefly, but there were several more. When I was in high school, I received very good grades. My parents never had much money. In fact shortly after my birth, our family almost lost our house during the depression years of the 1930s. I was fortunate to receive a partial scholarship to Duke University in 1949. I received even better grades in college and graduated in a little more than three years. However, I had no real motivation in my life at that time, so I entered graduate school at Duke to work toward a Ph.D. degree in mathematics. I received a very nice assistantship stipend and actually taught a few algebra courses at Duke as a graduate student. Unfortunately, I got into the wrong crowd of students and started spending more time playing poker with the guys than studying. After a little more than a year, I basically "flunked out." I was a big failure.

After a couple of years of "goofing off" while living at home, I volunteered to enter the Air Force. That was good for me, because it brought some discipline into my life, but I still had no real motivation or direction. I was aware that there was something missing in my life but I had no idea what it was, much less how to find it. So I thought, at age 27, it was time for me to get married. Maybe that would "solve" my problems. Well the Lord sovereignly arranged for me to meet the right young woman, Linda, in the summer of 1958. A few months later we were married. Neither one of us knew the Lord at the time. Needless to say, marriage did not "solve" my problems but rather compounded them. We had a "bad" marriage for nine years. During that time period, Linda, on two separate occasions, told me that she was going to divorce me. I was, once more, a big failure. By the grace of God, she did not divorce me. Then the Lord apprehended me and three months later apprehended Linda. Please see Volume 1 of this series, "The Love of a Man for His Wife," for more details on our marriage experience and how the Lord used that in my life to bring me to Himself. We have been married now for 43 years, with the Lord as the center of our lives together. What a difference He has made in our life!

Both of my above failures have a great ending, just as the Lord has promised. Almost exactly 40 years after I "flunked out" of graduate school, the Lord allowed me to receive a Ph.D. degree in Information Technology from George Mason University, even though I had a hard taskmaster as an advisor. Almost 40 years exactly after Linda and I were married, the Lord gave me a very deep level of love for my wife, which I cannot begin to describe. (See Volume 1 of this series.)

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 

Joel 2:25

So is the above promise true? Oh my, YES! I have experienced the truth of that promise in my life, as related above. That promise does NOT say that the Lord will restore everything instantaneously.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36

Hindsight, my "failures" were just what I needed, not only to help to bring me to the Lord but also to continue to walk with Him over these many years. I can say, without ANY reservation, that each one of us needs to see that without the Lord Jesus Christ, we are ALL failures! Jesus said, "Without Me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Our personal failures cause us to look up and fervently seek the Lord. A sign of true wisdom is when you KNOW that you can do nothing without Him! 

The apostle Paul was certainly aware of his failures and inadequacies. Paul said,

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us. 2 Corinthians 1:8‑10

Paul, of course, received an abundance of visions and revelations, so many that the Lord gave him a thorn in the flesh, lest he be exalted above measure. Paul sought the Lord three times for that thorn to be removed from him. 

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.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

2 Corinthians 12:9‑10

In general, the failure of man is due to the work of man (flesh). Perhaps the greatest problem that man has had is that man has attempted to do that which only God can do.

28 Then said they unto Him [Jesus], What shall we do that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. John 6:28‑29

In other words, only God can work the works of God. Jesus said, 

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5:19

... for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. John 5:36

Any time man in his own flesh tries to do the works of God, failure is the inevitable result. Consider the tower of Babel, where man tried to build a tower that would reach unto heaven (Genesis 11). Abraham tried to bring forth the promise of God through his own efforts. This resulted in Ishmael. Moses, in Exodus 2, had a burden to deliver his people, but before God's time and calling. Moses had to wait 40 years. We must not only have a God‑given burden and motivation; we also must have vision and we must be sent forth at the proper time by the Holy Spirit.

In addition to real failures, due to our resisting the Holy Spirit, there are also "apparent" failures ... events that SEEM to be failures to the natural eye, but which are not at all failures. Paul said,

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me ... 

2 Timothy 1:15

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica. 2 Timothy 4:10

16 At my first answer, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 2 Timothy 4:16‑17

Paul, who had spent years teaching and preaching, saw almost all men leave him; but God never forsook Paul.

The ultimate example of apparent failure is Jesus.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; he was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Isaiah 53:3

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. John 1:11 

From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. 

John 6:66

Right before Jesus was crucified,

And they ALL forsook Him and fled. Mark 14:50

After the death of Jesus on the cross, many of the disciples were obviously disillusioned. On the road to Emmaus, two of the disciples expressed their dismay when they said,

But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: Luke 24:21

In the eyes of many of the disciples, Jesus was an apparent failure. Obviously, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the will of the Father.

But God raised Him from the dead. Acts 13:30

God never makes a mistake. Jesus came to this earth as a man, identified with man fully in every way, died on the cross to take away our sins, was resurrected, glorified and exalted, so that we might identify with Him fully. What appeared to the natural mind to be a failure was the biggest success event of all time.

As for God, His way is perfect. 2 Samuel 22:31

Despite all of the efforts of man, despite all of the works of man, despite all of the failures of man, one eternal fact stands true ... BUT GOD! He will have His way! His plan and purposes will be fulfilled. His kingdom WILL come and His will SHALL be done! Hallelujah! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Chapter 7: The Pursuit Of God

Many years ago I read a book by A.W. Tozer entitled "The Pursuit of God," which emphasizes the soul athirst for God, or man's pursuit of God. Without any controversy, the attitude and way of life of the believer in his/her pursuit of God is vital. Tozer's book, published in 1948, is well worth reading. You can read it in about 2 hours. Through his experiences and revelation of the Person of Christ, Tozer's goal seems to be to create a hunger within the heart of the reader to zealously pursue God. A number of years ago, after my grandmother went to be with the Lord, I read the many words of wisdom that she had written in her Bible. One of those words was, "Lord, let me create hunger in their hearts; for until they hunger, they cannot be fed."

The approach of this word, however, which has the same title as Tozer's book, is quite different. We want to emphasize the "pursuit of God" as God's pursuit of man.

In 1 Corinthians 10:1‑4:

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Note particularly verse 4: "for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." Now let us compare Exodus 13:21: 

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Particularly note, "And the Lord went before them ..." Did Paul make a mistake when he said that the Rock followed them? Of course not! In Isaiah 30:21:

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Also, in Ezekiel 3:12:

Then the Spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place.

Also consider Revelation 1:10:

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: ... 

What do all four of these verses (1 Corinthians 10:4, Isaiah 30:21, Ezekiel 3:12, and Revelation 1:10) have in common? In each case, the Rock was behind them or followed them. More to the point, in each case, the verses represent a walk by faith, not by sight. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John were led by the Spirit and heard a voice behind them. Under the old covenant, as typified by Exodus 13:21, the Israelites walked by sight; therefore the Rock went before them; they followed the signs. Note that this was still true at the birth of Jesus. Concerning the three wise men:

and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. Matthew 2:9

Please note that BEFORE the wise men saw Christ, they followed signs (a star). AFTER the wise men saw Jesus, they no longer followed signs but were led by a dream from the Lord.

The "law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). Under the new covenant, which is a walk by faith, signs follow believers who are led by the Spirit.

There is a parallel, however, which still applies to new covenant believers. For example,

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2 Peter 1:19

Most believers accept the fact that the "more sure word of prophecy" is the Bible. But the Bible is not an end in itself. The written word of God was given to bring men to the Word of God Himself ‑ that we might know Him ‑ that we might delight in His very Presence. Wise men still follow (take heed to) the more sure word of prophecy until the day dawns and the day star arises in their hearts. Christ in you, the hope of glory! Just a thought for your consideration: Could it be the more sure word of prophecy that by taking heed, the day will dawn and the day star will arise in your hearts? We must have this hope! Otherwise, if I simply take heed, and take heed, and take heed, without the larger vision and hope of the day star arising in my heart in every area of my life, then I reduce the Bible to an end in itself and have the old covenant approach to Christ.

The pursuit of God after man is a marvelous thing! Some verses that come to mind are the following:

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained:

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3‑4

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. John 6:44

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:16

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:4‑6

And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. Isaiah 62:12

Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us‑ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5 

Five different times in Isaiah 5 ‑ 10, Isaiah, after prophesying the judgment of God upon Israel, says, "For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still." Paul quotes Isaiah:

20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21 But to Israel He saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gain‑saying people. Romans 10:20‑21

In Romans 3:10‑12:

10 There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seek after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

The pursuit of God after man! How can it be that the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign God, the only true God, the God of grace and glory, Whose Name is Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Name above all names, still stretches out His hands to a disobedient, rebellious people? Although it is possible to quote some more scripture, we tend to believe that we just do not know why. It exceeds our capacity of knowing. It is beyond comprehension, unthinkable, amazing. "This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23). We do not understand it. But we are eternally grateful and thankful.

What shall we say then? A thought for your consideration: is it man's pursuit of God, God's pursuit of man, or is "the pursuit of God" at the highest level God's pursuit of God? The Spirit reveals the Son; the Son glorifies the Father. "Deep calleth unto deep ..." (Psalm 42:7). Do you really believe that the "deep" refers to some "spiritual giant" of a believer such as Abraham, Elijah, or Paul?

because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5

And because you are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Yes, man must respond to the grace of God; yes, we must be obedient to the Spirit of God; yes, we must walk in the works that God has foreordained that we should walk in. We do not have any passive, lukewarm role or responsibility. Christianity consists of an active, progressive walk with the Lord. But in the beginning, God! and in the final analysis, it is God! He is the Alpha and the Omega!

Does the Lord go before us (as in Exodus 13:21)? Yes! Does the Rock follow us? Yes! Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever! But in all things we must be careful not to overly emphasize the "us." It is not so much the "before" or "follow after," but rather it is Christ in you, the hope of glory!

May the God of hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope today and in all the days to come.

Chapter 8: Kept By The Power Of GOD

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

The word "power" in 1 Peter 1:5 is "dunamis," the dynamite, miraculous power of God. The word "kept" in verse five appears only four times in the New Testament. The other three are in 2 Corinthians 11:32, Galatians 3:23, and Philippians 4:7.

32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. 2 Corinthians 11:32‑33

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Galatians 3:23

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Note the progression of who does the "keeping" and the result. In 2 Corinthians 11:32, the governor of Damascus kept the city, but his natural‑level of keeping did not have the dunamis of God; so Paul escaped from that snare. In Galatians 3:23, we were kept under the law, which was ordained by God, but only as a temporal measure until faith came. The "keep" in Philippians 4:7 appears to be related to the conditions set forth in the three verses that precede.

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:4‑6

Note that verse six does NOT say, "let your requests be made known unto other believers." "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding" was one of two major impressions that I received when the Lord first apprehended me. That peace was very real to me immediately. (The other major impression was that I felt like I had just entered a world that I never knew existed, which in reality was exactly what happened.)

The final progression of "keeping" is in 1 Peter 1:5: "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." That faith in verse 5 is not my faith or your faith, but the faith of Jesus Christ.

There were three or four major times in my life BEFORE the Lord apprehended me (before I experienced His saving grace) when, looking back, I was kept by the power of God. ( Probably all of you have had similar experiences. We relate our personal experience only to emphasize the point of this word.) The verses in 1 Peter are directed to believers, but shortly we will look at this from another perspective.

The first event occurred when I was 3 years old. Apparently I left home one morning during rush hour to follow my father to work. I got several blocks away, but a family friend just "happened" to see me as I was crossing a very busy intersection and took me back home. Kept by the power of God. 

The second event occurred in 1954 when I accompanied our local golf professional in his car to Chicago to play in a professional golf tournament. It was day time and the golf professional was very alert as he was driving from High Point, NC, toward Chicago. After a few hours, on a two‑lane road, we suddenly saw a car coming at high speed from the opposite direction, but in OUR lane. Off the right shoulder was a rather steep drop‑off, with NO guard rail. But somehow, the golf professional managed to swerve to the right to avoid being run into, without skidding over the embankment. How we escaped a head‑ on collision I do not know. Kept by the power of God.

A third event occurred in the summer of 1956. I was in the U.S. Air Force Aviation Cadet program in Harlingen, Texas. Three of us decided one Saturday night to go to a bar on the south side of town, toward Brownsville, Texas. I never was much of a drinker before the Lord apprehended me. But my two "friends" were. After they had too many drinks, the driver persuaded us to go to Mexico, just south of Brownsville. Well the road was four lanes (for a while), but he was probably legally drunk and driving much too fast. Up ahead we saw a state patrolman in the middle of the road, waving a flashlight, indicating for us to stop. Instead of stopping, the driver just speeded up. How he avoided hitting the state patrolman, I do not know. But he had to be going at least 85 miles an hour. Then the police gave chase. Very soon, our four lane, divided highway changed to a two‑lane, not divided highway. By this time I was on the floor in the back seat of the car because I perceived what a dangerous situation we were in. Then we came to a curve in the road. The driver could not negotiate the curve, but skidded well off the road into some thickets. How my drunk "friend" kept that car right‑side up at that speed, I do not know. But we were so far off the road that if he had just turned out the car lights, I think that the police would never have seen us. He was just too drunk to find the light switch. So the police came, hauled the driver off to jail, and let the other two of us drive the car back to our Air Force station. Kept by the power of God.

I remember another set of three events that occurred in 1967, just before the Lord apprehended me. Each time I thought that I was going to die. My heart was racing wildly and I was fearful for my life. Each time, I got up out of bed (at about 2:00 am), went downstairs, opened my Bible and started reading. Even though I did not yet know the Lord, I hoped that reading the Bible would help me in my desperate situation. In each case, I returned to "normal" after about 15 minutes of reading. Kept by the power of God. 

My wife, Linda, also had several, similar, major events in her life before she was apprehended by the Lord. In 1958, just before we met for the first time, while working that summer as a waitress at the Colonial Inn in Nags Head, NC, she almost drowned one day. She was pulled out to sea, way over her head, by a strong undertow. She tried to battle the strong current, became exhausted, and finally just gave up, realizing that she was going to drown. Then the Lord sent a huge wave from out of nowhere which broke on her back and pushed her out of the undertow to shore. Kept by the power of God. 

But perhaps the most dramatic event for her occurred in 1961, a few hours before the birth of our first child, Robert. She had terrible pains in her abdomen, which she thought were labor pains. She did have the baby, but the terrible pains lingered on. The Air Force doctors could not determine what was wrong, so finally, after the pain persisted for several days, they decided to do exploratory surgery. They found that she had a ruptured appendix and that peritonitis had set in. After doing all that they knew how to do, the doctors transferred her to a ward for the patients who were about to die. All Linda could do (she was in a terribly weakened state) was to call on the Lord, even though at that time she had no real relationship to Him. Again, the Lord miraculously restored her. Kept by the power of God.

Then, in August of 1967, I was sovereignly apprehended by the Lord. I say sovereignly because I never remember anyone telling me about Jesus. No one ever said, "Let's look at Romans 10:9‑10," or "let's pray the sinner's prayer." It was a very dramatic experience, somewhat like that of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. In early December of that same year the Lord apprehended my wife, Linda. Then a lot of things changed. 

I believe that the Lord speaks to us in whatever way is required to get our attention. That probably helps to explain why Linda and I both had a number of "close calls" as described above, before we came to know Him. Those events were times that we KNEW we had been kept by the power of God. Who knows how many events occurred when we were NOT aware of how God has miraculously kept us. And now, as believers for the past 34 years, again, who knows how many times we have been kept by the power of God WITHOUT our awareness? Just driving on the Beltway around Washington, DC, is a very dangerous adventure. Cars routinely drive 70‑75 miles per hour when the speed limit is 55 mph. Certainly people today are subjected to increased levels of stress. A lot of drivers carry guns and would just as soon shoot you as look at you. In a two‑month period of time, I had two separate front‑tire blowouts while traveling on the Beltway. Not only did the Lord prevent the car from skidding, but miraculously prevented other cars from crashing into us as we tried to maneuver over to the shoulder to stop. Drive‑by shootings and unprovoked shootings are almost commonplace.

Now let us return briefly to Philippians 4:4‑7 and 1 Peter 1:3‑5. To repeat, it seems that the promise stated in Philippians 4:7 is conditioned upon our actions conforming to Philippians 4:4‑6. In other words, if you want the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, then (1) rejoice in the Lord ALWAY, (2) let your moderation be known unto all men, and (3) be careful for nothing; but in EVERY THING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Actually, the way that last sentence is stated is somewhat misleading. It should NOT be BECAUSE I WANT the peace of God that therefore I do certain things. That is a rather Pharisaic approach to God ‑ trying to get something for ME. It is much better to walk in the three conditions stated in verses 4, 5, and 6 of Philippians 4 WHETHER OR NOT the peace of God shall keep my heart and mind through Christ Jesus. It is this kind of subtle distinction that is so vital in every aspect of our walk as a believer. Our motivation should be to please God in all that we do and say and to become what He desires, with no thought about "what is in it for me?" 

But now, WONDER of ALL WONDERS, I see NO restrictions or conditions associated with the FACT stated in 1 Peter 1:5. We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. That is a MARVELOUS statement! It is a MOST POWERFUL statement! But there is MORE! Earlier we referenced that the verses in 1 Peter are directed to believers. Let us now clarify that statement somewhat.

20 Who [referring to Christ] verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. 1 Peter 1:20-21

According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Ephesians 1:4

The above verses, particularly Ephesians 1:4, give the scriptural basis as to why we were kept by the power of God EVEN BEFORE we came to know Him. We were chosen in Him BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. Just as Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for us; so it was (and is) with us! We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world and therefore were kept by the power of God, but were manifest in these last times for YOU (NOT for ourselves). 

Now, go back, and everywhere you see my name or my wife's name or "us," just substitute YOUR name. God has a master plan. He manifests HIS chosen vessels at HIS time for HIS purposes.

Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 

Esther 4:14

These verses are enough to keep every believer every day in awe of the grace of God and His love for us! Perhaps the major response that God desires from us is simply to have a grateful heart of thanksgiving toward Him. 

He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

Chapter 9: A Mountain‑Top Experience

Undoubtedly, any sincere believer in Christ would agree that we, as believers, need to have our vision expanded. We need to see more of Christ and less of ourselves or of other believers. He must increase but I must decrease. The Spirit of God always calls for us to come up higher. Many believers, however, are content to remain at some comfortable level. Not too long ago I heard a believer say (concerning his life situation) that "it can't get any better than this." How sad! One consequence of a higher vision is that you will be misunderstood more. I have seen numerous dramatic instances of this, both with believers and non‑believers. 

It is also true that the more the Spirit of God reveals unto us about Christ and the more we allow His Spirit to form the nature of Christ within us, the more difficult it becomes to communicate with other believers. Any number of believers have had revelations on any number of aspects of Christ and His Word. But when the believer who experienced that particular truth tries to teach that revelation as doctrine, it becomes little more than a dead letter unless the Spirit of God quickens the revelation to the hearer. This is because we tend to take the words of others and pull them down to our experiential level.

About 1985, Linda and I had the best "vacation" that we have ever had, before or since. Of course, the Lord never stops working on us and within us, even when we are on "vacation." The occasion was a business trip that I had to Sweden to install some proprietary computer software on the Swedish Social Security computers in Sundsvall, Sweden, a beautiful little town about 250 kilometers north of Stockholm, right on the Baltic Sea. The time was mid‑ September. The trip was absolutely anointed in every way possible. I have rarely seen so many pictures of a puzzle fit together so perfectly. Hindsight, the Lord wanted to bless us and to impress upon us, at a higher level, numerous spiritual truths ‑ truths that we want to share with you for your consideration and edification. 

The business part of the trip took two weeks. Linda flew over to meet me after the first week of business. Then, after the business part was over, we rented a little red Fiat and toured Scandinavia for another two weeks. This included an overnight boat ride to Helsinki from Stockholm, and a tour through much of southern Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. While in Sundsvall, Sweden, we experienced a mild earthquake. At the Orrefors factory in southern Sweden we bought a lot of the most expensive Orrefors crystal, which we have since given to our children. Today, the cost of that crystal is almost ten times what we paid for it.

By the time we arrived in Norway, it was early October. We set out in our little red Fiat, headed toward the fjords and Bergen, on the west coast of Norway, for our flight home. We spent the night in a little wayside inn about one hour north of Oslo. After looking at the map, I could see that there were four different routes that we could take to Bergen. I asked the manager of the inn which of the four routes was the most scenic. He pointed out the northern‑ most route, which was the same one that I had suspected was the most scenic. So the next morning, we set sail for the fjords and Bergen. It was obvious from the map that the road on our route stopped at a body of water, from which we would have to board a ferry and sail down a large fjord toward Bergen. We had information on the ferry, but it was written in Norwegian. Although the ferry times were intelligible, we were not entirely sure that the ferry kept running in mid‑October. Our trip that morning started out on a nice, wide, paved road for the first hour or so, and we enjoyed the scenery. Then the road became more narrow and turned into dirt. Soon we saw a little snow on the ground and on the road. We also passed through a spot that had a gate, which was partially open. We noticed some writing on a big sign at the gate, but paid little attention, because the writing was in Norwegian, and we do not understand any Norwegian. (Hindsight, the sign probably said something like PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK or perhaps CLOSED FOR THE SEASON.) You see, we just could not communicate with that sign, and we never thought about asking someone what the sign said. Then we started climbing a hill, with more snow on the ground. The further we drove the more we went uphill and the more snow we saw. Before we knew it, everything was white. The ground was completely covered with snow and the sky was perfectly white ‑ nothing but white. On one side of the very narrow road was a 2000 foot drop‑off; on the other side of the road was a 50 foot drop‑off. Of course there were no guard rails; simply some 8 ‑ 10 foot bamboo poles to convey the depth of the snow and to mark the edge of the road to indicate the dropping‑off point. By this time we saw how dangerous a situation we were in, particularly with our little, light car and no other person around anywhere. Needless to say, we were calling on the Name of the Lord, because one slip of that little red Fiat would mean certain death. Little did we know that this route took us directly over the top of a mountain.

We never saw another car, never saw another person ‑ there was absolutely no one but us going over that mountain. Every building we saw had boards over the windows. Furthermore, there was no place for us to turn around. Although we had a camera, we dared not stop to take pictures lest the car get stuck in the snow. If we got stuck, someone would have dug a little red Fiat out of the snow the next Spring and found two frozen bodies. On the bright side, it was definitely a very scenic route, just as the manager of the inn had said!

Well, after what seemed like an eternity of this treacherous driving, we finally got to the top of the mountain. But we felt that going down the other side was even more treacherous and precarious. This would be the time that we were much more vulnerable to skidding. So all we could do was to call on the Name of the Lord as we slowly crept down the mountainside. We continued to drive at about 10 miles an hour. After another eternity we finally reached the bottom of the mountain. We have a very small hill on our street. During the winter, with ice and/or snow, our much heavier car will frequently slip as we attempt to get out to the major road. But our little red Fiat never slipped or slid once on either side of that mountain. It was as though angels were pushing the car forward and not allowing it to slip.

Linda said that she had expected a band to be playing, welcoming Lewis and Clark after their mountain‑top drive. But we still did not know for sure whether the ferry was running at that time of year. If not, we would have had no other choice but to turn around and go back over the same mountain. The road just stopped at the water. Well, the ferry was running, so we drove our little car onto the ferry and sailed for almost three hours down this beautiful fjord, almost all the way to Bergen. The significant part of this journey, however, were the spiritual truths that the Lord impressed upon us. Those truths, of course, were the most important part of the trip and are the reason for this word.

(1) The purpose of the Lord taking you through any difficult experience is so that your faith in Him might be increased. When we crossed that mountain, we went through unchartered waters (for us). We were on a river in a galley without oars. During such experiences, we MUST call on the Name of the Lord. If we rely on our previous experience or knowledge, we always get into trouble, just like Moses did. A precious brother in the Lord and our good friend, once put it this way: "Abraham, 4,000 years ago, may have known more than we do today. He didn't have the 'benefit' of Bible commentators ‑‑ he had to depend upon what God told him." 

(2) When the Lord takes you through a difficult experience, it is not easy to communicate that experience to others. Oh yes, we can use the best words that we know. But we did not dare to stop as we crossed that mountain in order to take pictures to show everyone where we had been. We have no "proof" of where we had been. Christianity is a daily walk with the Lord. Although we can share our experiences with others and what the Lord quickens to us, that just is no substitute for other believers to experience the Lord for themselves. We cannot survive on other believers' experiences. Each of us must experience this daily walk. Each day brings new adventures. The Lord wants to bring us all to the place where, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for THOU art with me ..." But the more mountains you climb, the harder it is to communicate with other believers.

(3) There is an added strength when two believers agree as one. This is certainly true of a husband and wife who are rightly related to the Lord and to each other. Linda has shared that if she had been alone in that little red Fiat going over the mountain, she would probably have become immobilized and just stopped the car. Then in the spring, someone would have dug a little red Fiat out of the snow. As it was, we strengthened one another to continue. 

(4) When the Lord takes us through a difficult experience and He is satisfied that we have learned what we needed to know from that experience, we do not have to repeat the process. There is no need to go around the same mountain again. In our case, after we had traversed that mountain, we found that the ferry was running, so we gladly boarded for the next adventure. I am reminded of the verse when the Lord told the Israelites that "you have traversed this mountain long enough." The keys to avoid traversing the same mountain are: (1) to call upon the Lord, (2) to trust in Him, and (3) to thank Him for enabling us to cross the mountain.

(5) When the Lord takes us through a difficult experience and He is satisfied that we have learned what we needed to know from that experience, we see the beauty of the Lord. After we traversed that mountain and boarded the ferry, we saw the beauty of the Lord on a higher level. We sailed down a beautiful fjord for about three hours and saw the beauty of God's handiwork that was breath‑takingly glorious!

(6) After the Lord sees us through a difficult experience, we have an increased awareness of His faithfulness. As an aside issue, one of my wife's favorite hymns is now: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." The words to this great hymn are below.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee.

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Chorus:

Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide.

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

The overriding moral of our mountain‑top adventure is to rejoice and thank the Lord for every situation and experience that comes our way. For the Lord is abundantly able to use every situation for our good and His glory. So the next time that you (or we) find ourselves in a very difficult situation, just praise and thank the Lord. He is good and His mercy endures forever! 

We know that some of you are going through some very difficult experiences. And if you are not going through some difficult situation now, just wait a while. You probably will be soon. But as long as we call on the Name of the Lord, and look to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith, He will see us through. Then we will see another level of the beauty of His glory and faithfulness at the end of the experience.

Chapter 10: Let This Mind Be In You

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:4‑5

The word "mind" in verse 5 (King James version) is translated "attitude" in the New American Standard version. The Greek word is "phroneo", which means to think, to be minded in a certain way, to think of, or be mindful of. The word implies moral interest or reflection, not mere unreasoning opinion. 

These verses (in context with all scripture) seem to present a progression, from least important to most important. He who looks after his own things may be justified; he who minds the things of others does better; but who is interested in something for the Lord, rather than for you or for me? If we fulfill verse 5, then verse 4 must result. However, we can fulfill verse 4 and not necessarily fulfill verse 5. What is sometimes called "the Lord's Prayer" (Matthew 6:9‑13) begins and ends with a focus on God. The last words are "for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory." So the glory belongs to God whether or not we give Him the glory. Another verse which is very appropriate to this word is, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). This implies a distinct focus on the Head.

New charismatics learn the (natural‑level) "language" quickly. We learn the right words to say, particularly in the presence of other charismatics. This is partly because of the vast array of "Christian" books on the market, which charismatics usually devour quickly, since that approach is easier than receiving from the Lord Himself; partly because of exposure to other charismatics; and partly because of a new‑found zeal and "excitement" of learning and telling some new thing. One of the first phrases that a new charismatic "learns" to say is, "and Lord, we will give you all of the glory." This phrase is typically added at the end of some prayer request for something for me or for some other person. Is there something "wrong" with that? Not necessarily. But, "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that shouldest vow and not pay" (Ecclesiastes 5:5).

Human nature has never changed. Man is interested in, "What is in it for me? What do I get?" One of the clearest expressions of this is in John 6. Some people followed Jesus because "ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled" (verse 26). Others followed Jesus because they wanted to see His miracles (or receive some healing, deliverance, or miracle for themselves). Even Herod hoped to have seen some miracle done by Jesus (Luke 23:8). But when circumstances became more difficult, "many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (John 6:66). Finally, "And they all forsook Him, and fled" (Mark 14:50). 

There is no instant change from that (self‑centered) attitude after someone accepts the saving grace of our Lord or even after being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Proof of that is the (steady) parade of off‑centered doctrines that "charismatic" man has brought to the body of Christ, with tens of thousands (or more) believers running after each error. This speaks of "children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Ephesians 4:14). The most popular themes, of course, are those which emphasize what I as a believer get. I will never forget one (of many) words that a certain believer shared with me many years ago. To paraphrase: There seem to have been many breech births in the body of Christ ‑ those who have come to Christ, but for the wrong reasons and in the wrong way ‑ where the Head does not come first. 

Furthermore, without any reservation, every doctrinal error is caused by this self‑centered or self‑seeking attitude, which originated with the five "I will's" of Lucifer, as recorded in Isaiah 14:12‑15. Yes, the enemy is still at work, trying to push his "I will" attitude into the minds of believers at every level.

We often hear of someone running hither and yon because "a prophet will be there," and they hope to get a word of the Lord (for themselves) through that prophet. Literally thousands of believers (undoubtedly charismatics, for the most part) flock to the big "faith healer" meetings today. A few years ago I heard of a woman who drove to Atlanta, hoping to be healed by an increasingly well‑known person with a gift of healing. When the woman was not healed, she experienced much disappointment (and perhaps much more). Sounds like a re‑run of John 6.

Of the thousands of believers who went to the healing meeting in Atlanta, the motivations probably ranged from A to Z. Of course there is a real place within the body of Christ for the various gifts and ministries. Neither do we question that God has set these gifts and ministries to be of service to the body. And we readily accept the fact that the Lord may very well have a believer seek out a particular ministry. We are simply trying to emphasize the importance of our attitude in approaching such gifts and ministries as compared to seeking the Head. Sometimes, even when our motivation may not be rightly focused on the Lord Himself, the Lord, in all of His compassion, may still allow the healing, word of wisdom, or whatever we were looking for to occur. Yes, a believer who is self‑seeking may get what he/she requests to satisfy self interests. But that would be because of the Lord's compassion. Jesus healed many who later departed from him. In Luke 17:11‑19, Jesus cleansed 10 lepers. One of them turned back and glorified God, fell down at Jesus' feet, and gave Him thanks. To the one, Jesus said, "Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." Being made whole was far more than simply being cleansed of leprosy. Only the Lord knows our hearts. But experiential evidence and observation indicates the self‑seeking attitude in too many cases. 

We have also met some believers who have some obvious maturity, but seem to be almost obsessed with some lower‑level goal, perhaps even a God‑given ministry for them in their lives. How much better it would be to run a different race of loving "the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37). Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus ‑ the mind or attitude to do the will of the Father. 

A number of years ago, while reading Isaiah 6:1, I "read" this verse: "In the year that king SELF died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." Now "Uzziah" does not mean "self." However, the Holy Spirit can take something out of context and put it into context. Moreover, there is a real connection between Philippians 2:5 and this "different" translation of Isaiah 6:1. "Uzziah" is a combination of two Hebrew words which, taken together, mean "the strength of Jah" or "the strength (security, force, majesty, or praise) of the Lord."

The key is easy to state ‑ not so easy (in fact, impossible) for man to implement. But all things are possible with God. The answer can be found in Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." So now the question is, what mind or attitude was in Christ Jesus? Or, to rephrase the question in terms of the meaning of the name "Uzziah", what was the strength of the Lord?

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work. John 4:34

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:30

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. John 6:38

If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:17

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10:7

And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt. Matthew 26:39 

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5‑8

T. Austin Sparks wrote a little booklet entitled, "The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ." Although I do not remember any specifics from that booklet, the title (and undoubtedly the contents) speaks loudly and clearly that God has designed that everything must center in and around His Son, Jesus Christ.

For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things: to Whom be glory for ever (Romans 11:36).

Jesus had only one focus, one objective ‑ to do the will of the Father. He made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant. He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. That is the mind or attitude that Paul exhorts all the saints in Christ Jesus to embrace. Let this mind also be in you and us. This is the mind or attitude that characterizes the overcomer.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1‑3

So it really is somewhat insignificant whether or not I receive this thing or that thing. The important thing is that God be glorified. Notice also that the last part of the verses in Philippians 2:4‑11 end with "to the glory of God the Father." 

I recently heard of a man who is traveling around the country preaching a message of repentance. Many (believers) might say, "repent? of what?" Perhaps for starters, we could repent of any self‑seeking attitude. Repent of any obsession to fulfill some lower‑level goal. Repent of any attitude that falls short of, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." 

Yes, to qualify as an overcomer we must identify with Jesus in Philippians 2:7‑8. Nevertheless, "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). 

Chapter 11: The Fear Of The Lord

Love is a word that is very commonly talked about in Christian circles. Jesus said,

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34

No serious Christian could ever argue about the genuine love of God for us and that we should also love one another as Christ loves us. The apostle John also said,

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

However, we need to be very careful here. Fear and love, in the above verse, appear to be opposites. But we need to examine ALL of scripture and we need to understand what Jesus and the Holy Spirit through John are saying. The Lord ALSO says,

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear? Saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. Malachi 1:6

Just in case someone may say that scripture is in the Old Testament and no longer applies, consider what Jesus said:

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell? Only the Lord Himself! There are MANY verses in the New Testament that talk about the fear of the Lord.

Here again, we need to be very careful. The fear of the Lord does NOT invoke a picture of Someone who has a big stick and is ready to pounce on us if we make a mistake. Moreover, just because something “bad” happens does NOT necessarily mean that we have done something wrong. Losses and sufferings happen to good people. We must always ask the Lord what we need to hear from Him regarding our difficulty. Then, as the title of this book states, “Let Us Go On.” What God takes away from us is not important; it is WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT IS LEFT! A very familiar verse is:

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. Psalm 19:9

This “clean” fear is the awe and reverence which a man feels in the presence of God.

The verse in Malachi 1:6 indicates that the people no longer had a fear of the Lord. The reason was because they had become apostate ... everything had been reduced to a form , a ritual, a tradition. These two events go together ... apostasy and a lack of a fear of the Lord. Moreover, when there is no fear of the Lord, the door is opened to all manner of sin, off-center doctrines, and worse. That is what happened to the Church at Corinth. That is what we see TODAY in His church ... sin, off-center doctrines, and worse. Could it be that we have lost the understanding of the fear of the Lord? Perhaps the most important key to understanding the ways of the Lord is the fear of the Lord.

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. Psalm 128:1

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant. Psalm 25:14

The above verses clearly show a relationship between fearing the Lord and understanding His ways. For until we understand His ways we cannot walk in His ways.

The fear of the Lord is also intimately related to wisdom. Oh how the body of Christ today needs the wisdom of God!

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28

Solomon is generally regarded as a man who had much wisdom from God.

Lo, I [the Lord] have given thee [Solomon] a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 1 Kings 3:12

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 1 Kings 4:29

Listen to what Solomon had to say about fearing the Lord:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

The fear of the Lord is also closely related to obedience.

And he [the angel of the Lord] said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Genesis 22:12

Now we need to have some understanding concerning what IS the fear of the Lord. Certainly one big aspect of the fear of the Lord is:

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13

Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. Psalm 33:8

So the fear of the Lord means we hate sin and hate all evil and we stand in awe of the holiness of God. God is love, life, and light. The Light of God represents His holiness, which includes His judgment of sin.

Let not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. Proverbs 23:17

The hatred of evil should govern our thoughts, our actions, and our lives. We should hate anything that is not God’s truth. The REASON we should hate sin is because the fear of God has gripped our lives. No one readily does what they hate. We will stop sinning when we hate it. The first verse in the Bible that addresses this fact occurs after Cain had killed Abel.

6 Then the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?

7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.

Genesis 4:6-7 (New American Standard)

Immorality runs rampant in the world today. People in the world do not have the fear of God within them. Therefore it is now an accepted way of life for a man and a woman to live together and even have children together outside of marriage. Americans today sing “God Bless America” at many events. Can God really bless America when there is so much sin in this country?

The November, 2001, issue of Maoz Israel, published by Messianic Jews, states:

Is America aware that one of the things that gives fuel to extremist fanatical Islamic sects is the loose sexual and materialistic lifestyle of the American people as exported by movies, videos, TV, music, magazines and books? And now Internet! America has introduced the world to hi-tech sin. Many Muslim regimes do not allow Western television in their country. They explain that they do not want their people exposed to the West’s degrading morality.

Unfortunately this same immorality has invaded even charismatic circles. I remember a young woman and a young man kissing and almost fondling each other during a formal house church meeting many years ago. Christians also need to be very careful of how they dress. Some young Christian woman dress very provocatively. The fear of the Lord is the answer to all problems with respect to the opposite sex.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:11-14

When the fear of God grips you, you will be supernaturally natural, godly, and walk in holiness.

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:2-5

The Lord promises a multitude of blessings if we walk in the fear of the Lord. The following are only a few of those blessings. There are MANY more!

(1) Salvation

Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land. 

Psalm 85:9

(2) Mercy

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them who fear Him. Psalm 103:11, 17

(3) Companionship of God

I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts. 

Psalm 119:63

(4) Prolonged days

The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. Proverbs 10:27

(5) Provision for all needs

O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him. 

Psalm 34:9

(6) Guidance

What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose. Psalm 25:12

(7) Protection

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. Psalm 34:7

(8) Revelation

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant. Psalm 25:14

(9) Riches, honor, and life

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. Proverbs 22:4

(10) Blessed

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments. Psalm 112:1

(11) Fulfilled desires

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He will also hear their cry, and will save them. Psalm 145:19

(12) Acceptable to God

But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him. Acts 10:35

(13) God takes pleasure in us

The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that trust in His mercy. 

Psalm 147:11

(14) Know the goodness of God

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee. 

Psalm 31:19

(15) Taught of the Lord

What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose. Psalm 25:12

(16) Healing

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings. Malachi 4:2

(17) Place of refuge

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:25

(18) A fountain of life

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:26

(19) Wisdom

And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28

(20) Discernment and salvation

16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that thought upon His name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. Malachi 3:16-18

The last blessing above, concerning discernment and salvation, is one that our fellowship used to read together every Sunday night, as a group. When we walk in the fear of the Lord, when the fear of the Lord is real in our hearts, Malachi 3:16 says that the Lord hearkens and hears us. The Lord hearkens to us! Note also that they who fear the Lord speak OFTEN one to another. This is not talking about a formal meeting. This is talking about lifting up the Lord in our conversations within day-to-day activities.

There is a clear relationship between the fear of the Lord and discernment, as stated in Malachi 3:18. Discernment is sadly lacking in the body of Christ today. All you have to do to prove that is look around at all of the tens of thousands of charismatic believers who have been pulled into one off-center doctrine after another. Many genuine believers have been sorely wounded because of their participation in so many off-center doctrines and “movements.” We spoke briefly about that lack of discernment in Chapter 3 of Volume 3, “A Sure Foundation.” We will elaborate considerably more on this lack of discernment in Volume 5 of this series.

“Let Us Go On.” All of the word and all of the verses above clearly indicate that we CANNOT go on unless the fear of the Lord is real within our hearts. Lord, open our eyes, our hearts, and our understanding that we might fear You! that we might discern between the righteous and the wicked, and between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Lord, we stand in your presence with awe and reverence.

Chapter 12: Zeal, Wisdom, Compassion

We all need zeal, wisdom, and compassion to be able to adequately minister to the Lord and to our fellow man. This is particularly true for the end times, which are upon us. Most Christians had a measure of zeal at one time; some still have zeal because they have allowed the Lord to fan the flame within them. Fewer Christians have true wisdom, and we are persuaded that even fewer have the level of compassion that is needed for these last days. None of these three qualities exist in an on/off environment. In other words, there are LEVELS or degrees of zeal, wisdom, and compassion. Shortly after publishing our first book, "The Love of a Man for His Wife," one Christian wrote me and expressed amazement that I had not loved my wife after being married for 40 years. He missed the point. What I had tried to convey was that the Lord had moved my love for my wife to a completely new, much higher level than ever before. The same thing happened when I shared with another brother about having a new compassion for people. He asked me, "Do you mean that you never had compassion before?" My answer was, no, that is not what I mean. I mean that the Lord gave me a much higher level of compassion than I ever had before. The problem is, of course, that when we hear or read a word from another believer, we tend to pull that word down to our own level and our own experiential understanding.

Zeal, according to the dictionary, means fervor, passion, eagerness and ardent interest in the pursuit of something. When many people first come to know the reality of Jesus Christ in their life, they have a zeal ... a burning desire to tell others of His saving grace. (I have met a few Christians who believe that "religion" is a private matter, not to be shared with others.) In general, zeal is a good characteristic, as long as the objective of that zeal is right. The object of zeal can be a purely natural thing, such as power, position, and/or money. This constitutes a misdirected zeal. The object of zeal can also be correct, but the method used to attain the objective may be wrong. Paul, speaking of Israel said,

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Romans 10:2

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many believe; and they are all zealous of the law. Acts 21:20

Paul said that he was in that same group at one time.

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. Acts 22:3 

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Philippians 3:6

Thus, zeal is a desirable characteristic, provided it is channeled in the right direction, tempered with knowledge and wisdom. Jesus clearly displayed zeal.

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of Mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. 2 Kings 19:31

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. Psalm 69:9

Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:7 

Note please, that it is HIS zeal, not ours, that will accomplish His will. So zeal is necessary, but not sufficient. We have to add knowledge and wisdom to zeal. A mark of true wisdom is when we can honestly recognize our limitations and our total dependence upon the Lord. Another mark of true wisdom is when we see things the way God sees them and apply that knowledge according to His will.

A few years ago, I heard a Catholic theologian publicly say that we can attain wisdom by looking at those who have gone before, past history, tradition, the sacraments, iconography, the institutional church (by which he meant, of course, the Roman Catholic church), the pope, and many more. I believe that the Bible teaches that all such acquired wisdom is foolishness with God. The only wisdom that we can learn from past history, tradition, iconography, or any other such source is the wisdom of this world. Now there may be some marginal value in the wisdom of this world; but the wisdom of this world (that which you obtain through your own efforts) does not get the job done. 

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. 1 Corinthians 3:19

How do we acquire wisdom? Two scriptures that confirm that we cannot, by our own efforts, attain to the wisdom of God are:

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; 1 Corinthians 12:8

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5

So we acquire wisdom the same way we acquire everything else ... ask, believe, receive. It is by faith.

It is rather puzzling to me how anyone who professes to be a Christian (like that Catholic theologian) can talk about wisdom and never mention the Lord Jesus Christ. I have to assume that the person who does so must not know Jesus Christ on a personal basis. It is one thing to know about Jesus Christ from an historical, philosophical, or theological basis. It is also one thing to have gone through some training and have your name on the role of some Christian church and call yourself a Christian. But I learned, rather dramatically, 34 years ago, that all of that plus a dollar will get you a cup of coffee. It is something quite different to know Jesus personally. That knowledge is worth more than all of the silver and gold in the world. 

Some people talk about wisdom as some independent attribute that can be packaged, learned, and transmitted from person to person. But the books of 1 Corinthians and Colossians have something different to say about wisdom. First and most importantly, Christ is the wisdom of God. 

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24

In Whom [in Christ] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2:3

In other words, there is NO true wisdom apart from Christ. Concerning the "sacred and the profane," or "the holy and the profane" as it is actually stated in scripture: 

And they [those who keep the charge of the Lord's sanctuary and who minister unto the Lord] shall teach My People the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 44:23

The word "profane" in that verse means "common." A similar kind of verse is found in Hebrews 5:14:

But strong meat belongeth to them who are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Notice that the verse says to "discern both good and evil." It does not say "discern between good and evil." The word "both" in that verse cannot be translated as "between." Further, the word "senses" in Hebrews 5:14 refers to spiritual senses, not natural senses. Almost anyone, with their natural senses, can discern evil. Most people know that murder, thievery, etc. is wrong, or evil. But the natural man cannot discern between that which is good and that which is the will of the Lord. Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good AND evil, not the tree of evil. The profane (common) may be good, but not be the will of the Lord. To try to mix the holy and profane also courts disaster. They do not mix at all, just like oil and water do not mix. God is holy. Natural man is not holy. This is not to say that we never go to a profane place to help those who are in need. But neither should we make that a doctrine or a policy. The only approach to the profane must be on a basis of "whatsoever He saith unto you, do it" (John 2:5). 

James describes the difference between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom that comes from God.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

James 3:13‑18

Abraham may have been a lot smarter than we are. He did not have the "benefit" of Bible commentators, theologians, or even priests. He had to depend upon what God told him. Would that we today could and would do the same. That would be real wisdom! As the phrase says, wise men still seek Him! 

Zeal and wisdom are necessary but not sufficient. We also need compassion. Compassion, according to the dictionary, means a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. The Lord exhorts us to have compassion for our brother.

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother. Zechariah 7:9

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 Peter 3:8

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 

1 John 3:17

Paul certainly attained to a very high level of compassion for the Israelites. 

1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. Romans 9:1‑3

As with any aspect of the nature of God, nothing compares to the compassion of the Lord. There are twelve scriptures in the Gospels that speak about Jesus having compassion on the people; for example, two blind men cried out as Jesus passed by, saying,

30 Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, 32 Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

33 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

34 They say unto Him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Matthew 20:30‑34

We need to always keep in mind the great mercy and tender compassion of the Lord Jesus.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22

Likewise, it is vital to see and understand and believe that the Lord is working His great compassion into us for a reason ... that we might in turn be compassionate to our brother, particularly in these end times. Jesus said, 

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17‑18

The scripture says, "And these signs shall follow them that believe." Believe what? believe that they have been saved? That is not what the above verses mean. Jesus said that these signs shall follow them that believe THAT THE SIGNS WILL FOLLOW THEM. In other words, I must BELIEVE that when (not if) I lay hands on the sick, they will recover. We need HIS faith, HIS zeal, HIS wisdom, and HIS compassion. Do you know something? The day is coming ... it is coming soon ... when a bunch of nobodies will walk in the truth of that word that Jesus spoke 2000 years ago.

Chapter 13: She Has Done What She Could

1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests sought how they might take Him by craft, and put Him to death.

2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head.

4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me.

7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 

Mark 14:1-9

Each of the four Gospels describe a similar account of a woman who anointed Jesus with very expensive ointment. These accounts are in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:1-9, Luke 7:36-50, and John 12:1-8. A careful reading of these four accounts clearly shows that there were three SEPARATE anointings. The account in Luke occurs first, the account in John occurs second, and the accounts in Matthew and Mark describe the same, and last, anointing. In both Luke and John, a woman anointed the FEET of Jesus. In Mark (and Matthew) a woman anointed the HEAD of Jesus. There is much that we could say about all of these three anointings, but that is not our purpose here. Let us look once more at the last verse above.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mark 14:9

Jesus said that wherever this gospel shall be preached, what this woman did shall be spoken of as a memorial of her. NEVER in my life have I EVER heard ANYONE speak about these verses. Have we missed something?

Let us reflect on the above nine verses in Mark 14. First of all, the woman is NOT named. Only the Lord knows who she was. What a blessing to be an unknown! Very few Christians who have acquired a “name” have been able to keep their garments clean. We also see the wisdom of God in the fact that the woman is not named. If her name WERE given, she might have been exalted out of all measure by those who likewise exalt Mary, the mother of Jesus, in excess.

Second, the woman broke the box which contained the precious ointment and poured it on the head of Jesus. By breaking the box, the woman indicated her deliberate determination to pour ALL of the ointment on Jesus. That brings to mind:

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how that people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Mark 12:41-44

Surely the Lord is looking for those who will pour out ALL of themself upon Him! Jesus said:

Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33

37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:37-38

The woman in Mark 14 took the most precious thing that she had and poured it out on Jesus. Mark 14:5 says that the ointment might have been sold for 300 pence. That was the equivalent of one year’s wages! or enough to feed a crowd of 5,000 people! Love never reasons logically or calculates. Love never considers whether we can afford it. Love gives all it has to give ... and still thinks that is not enough! Common sense obeys the mind; love obeys the heart! A gift is not much of a gift when we can easily afford it; a gift becomes a gift when there is a sacrifice behind it, and when we give far more than we can afford.

Moreover, there are some things which must be done when the opportunity arises, or they can never be done at all. Jesus said that we always have the poor with us. We can ALWAYS help the poor. There are some things that can be done at any time; other things can only be done once; to miss the opportunity to do them is to miss the opportunity for ever! A tragedy of life is the history of the lost opportunities to do the lovely thing. As my grandmother once put it (see Chapter 14), “You cannot do a kindness too soon because you cannot tell how soon it will be too late.” Jesus said:

6 ... she hath wrought a good work on me.

7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good; but me ye have not always. Mark 14:6-7

In verse 7, “good” is the Greek word agathos, which means morally good. In verse 6, “good” is the Greek word kalos, which means not only good, but lovely, beautiful, valuable, or virtuous. So the woman did a lovely, valuable work on Jesus. The fragrance of the box of ointment that was poured on the head of Jesus must have lasted, in the natural realm, for a long time. In a similar event, recorded in John 12, when Mary poured the same kind of ointment on the feet of Jesus,

the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. John 12:3

The fragrance of a lovely deed in the spiritual realm lasts forever. The (spiritual) house (the body of Christ) has been filled with what the woman in Mark 14 did. It is eternal! Paul said:

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18

The fact that a lovely work is eternal is borne out by the following:

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 14:13

We should also remember that Jesus said:

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40

Jesus’ statement that “she has done what she could” also evokes that delicate balance between faith for the work to be accomplished by the Spirit of God and works ... our responsibility as unto the Lord. Please read all of James 2:14-26.

Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:17

Seest thou how faith wrought with his [Abraham’s] works, and by works was faith made perfect? James 2:22

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 

James 2:26

Ultimately, if something is not born of the Spirit, it is wood, hay, and stubble. However, the Lord DOES require something from us. There are times that all we can do is pray. How sweet and tender in our heart is the Godly confidence that we are “doing all that we can do” and believing the Lord for His victory.

This word, “she did all that she could do,” is a very liberating word. The word is one that makes us free (John 8:32). After we do all that we can do, we are NOT responsible for the results. Only God can do the works of God (John 6:28-29). This word particularly touched the heart of my wife, who has travailed for me and our children. The simplicity in Christ behooves us to ask the Lord what He would require of us and then to believe the Lord for the work to be accomplished by Him.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138:8

Most likely this word seems ridiculous to the world, but it is precious in the heart of God.

Note that Mark 14:3 says that the woman poured the precious ointment on the HEAD of Jesus. Later, in verse 8, Jesus said the woman is come to anoint my BODY to the burying. Now if Jesus had been standing up, the ointment poured on His head would naturally fall down over His body also. However, verse 3 says that Jesus (and others) were eating a meal. Historically, in that geographical area, people did not sit to eat as we do today. They lay on a couch resting on the left elbow and used the right hand to take their food. Can there be more than simply a natural event being described here? We believe so!

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.

3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore. Psalm 133

As recorded in the Old Testament, the head of the high priest was anointed with oil (Exodus 29:7). Other verses indicate that both a king and a prophet were anointed with oil. Jesus Christ was anointed with oil three times, as Prophet, Priest, and King. We KNOW that Jesus is The High Priest!

Many have tried for many years (and are still trying!) to bring about “unity” in the body of Christ. Do you want to see unity in the body of Christ? Psalm 133 says that unity in the body of Christ is like the precious ointment that is poured on the head of the High Priest. Unity will come when we, as believers, pour out all of our precious ointment on the head of the High Priest, just as the woman did in Mark 14. The woman did all that she could do. Now it is our turn.

Chapter 14: A Tribute To My Grandmother

My grandmother (my mother's mother) was never a famous person, but she is an example of a woman who “did what she could.” I strongly urge you to read very carefully this Chapter, and to reflect on the nature of Christ which my grandmother exhibited. She never traveled very far. She had no college education. She never had much money, only enough to live a very modest life. She had a hard life, working both inside and outside of the home. She was a relative unknown except to her family, the Baptist church she attended, and a few friends. But she was, as Paul put it,

As unknown, and yet well known. 2 Corinthians 6:9

She was unknown by men but well known by God! She lived with our family until she was about 75. She never complained; she taught a Sunday School class in a Baptist church; she very frequently would go around the house singing to the Lord, even though she did not have a good singing voice. She never preached to me. She was a real intercessor. She always prayed for all of her family. She always wanted to have a son, but the Lord gave her three daughters and no sons. I was her first grandson, and she probably looked upon me as her son, since we lived together for 18 years, until I went away to college. After the Lord took her home, in 1972, I read in one of her bibles (concerning me), "Lord make him your minister." She wrote that on the day I was born.

She was (and is) a real saint, although I am quite positive she never knew what it was to speak in tongues. I am also not sure that she ever knew what it means to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. But she exhibited the fruit of the Spirit as much as about any person I have ever known. I don't know how you explain that in your doctrine; I am not sure I can explain it either. 

I remember one day when I was a teenager that she asked me to go into our back yard and cut down a three‑foot high weed of a tree. I thought I knew which one she meant, but I cut down (by mistake) a beautiful little plum tree. When she saw what I had done, she never scolded me or got angry with me. That was because she had allowed the Lord to work His nature into her. She was a true servant of the Lord. She was a living example of the truth of the following scriptures:

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. James 4:10

So I am quite certain that she has heard,

Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. 

Matthew 25:21

The true test of any work is the fruit. The fruit of my grandmother’s life was that all of her children, all of her grandchildren, all of her great-grandchildren, and all of her great-great-grandchildren have come to know the Lord! Only the Lord knows how many other lives she touched! What a pity that we tend not to appreciate others until they are gone!

The Lord gave my grandmother much wisdom; she also wrote a few poems. Below is the text of a letter she wrote to my wife and me about 35 years ago, very close to the time that we came to know the Lord.

My dear children, I am just your grandmother, but I am your friend, and my love for you goes very deep.

There is nothing I can give you which you do not have; but there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts can rest in today. Take Heaven!

No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instant. Take Peace!

The gloom of the world is but a shadow.

Behind it, yet within our reach is Joy.

There is radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look.

I beseech you to look!

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard.

Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power.

Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of

Beauty beneath its covering, that you will find that earth but cloaks your heaven.

Courage then to claim it ... that is all.

But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together, wending through unknown country, home.

Thinking of you constantly and hoping you are not too busy to listen to His voice.

Lovingly, Mama.

(My sister and I always called our mother, “Mother” and we called our grandmother, “Mama.”)

After the Lord took her home, in 1972, I copied down everything she had written in her Bible. Most of these poems and words of wisdom are below. To the best of my knowledge, the poems and the words of wisdom came from her. Please reflect carefully on her words.

(1) The greatest underdeveloped resource is faith. 

The greatest unused power is prayer.

(2) A better world begins with me.
(3) Some people fail to grasp why we were given two ears and one tongue.
(4) Each moment I live is inescapably in the very presence of God.
(5) It may be better to deserve a good name than to attain it.
(6) If Christians would praise God more, the world would doubt God less.
(7) Dear Father, I know where human frailty would fail,
Divine direction will prevail.
(8) As there is no river without a source, so there is no fruitful life apart from Christ.
(9) You cannot do a kindness too soon because you cannot tell how soon it will be too late.
(10) I must awaken hunger in their hearts, for until they hunger they cannot be fed.
(11) Don't look for the flaws

As you go through life

And even when you find them,

It is wise and kind

To be somewhat blind

And look for the virtue behind them.

(12) That God is life is just as plain

As that the sunshine follows rain.

That God is love is just as true

As that the grasses thrive on dew.

So let us wait and never doubt

That dew will fall when stars peep out.

And when the rain drops splash and run

Let's keep a lookout for the sun.

(13) Father I stretch my hand to Thee

The way seems dark as night.

Show me Thy face, Oh let me see

Thy everlasting light.

Thy word is truth, Oh Lord I know,

Help me its truth to share.

Take Thou my hand within Thine own

And lead me anywhere.

I would not wander from Thy side,

I long Thy voice to hear.

Oh fill me Lord, be Thou my guide,

Cast out all doubt and fear.

My heart grows hungry for Thy face,

Within Thy presence I would rest.

Fill me with Thy undying grace

That I may stand the test.

Some day the skies will open up

And Thou to earth descend.

Those who have served Thee faithfully

Will praise Thee without end.

(14) Shall I see my sainted mother

In her home beyond the skies?

Will I see the love light beaming

From her tender loving eyes?

Will she know me when I meet her?

For I've changed so sadly now.

Will she see her fair haired daughter

In this old and wrinkled brow?

When the bells from Heaven ringing

Wake the angels' song again

For the wanderer returning

From the paths of sin and pain,

Will my mother there be waiting,

Waiting with her look so mild?

Will she press me to her bosom

As she did when but a child?

All the years of sin and sorrow

That I've suffered since she died

Will be vanished on the morrow

When I stand by mother's side.

Stand with her before the Savior

There among the blood‑washed throng,

Joining in the heavenly rapture

Of the glad redemption song.

Chapter 15: Passing Through The Valley Of Baca

Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. Psalm 84:5-6

In the King James’ version of the Bible, the words “of them” are italicized, meaning that they do not occur in the original text. Another translation of verse 5 above is, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are Thy highways;” or “in whose heart are the highways to Zion.”

He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. 

Psalm 103:7

The man who KNOWS that his strength is in the Lord, and only in the Lord, is truly a blessed man indeed; for he did not attain unto that knowledge and wisdom through his own efforts, but through the grace and mercy of God. We can NOT understand God’s ways. He must reveal His ways to us. Furthermore, this knowledge and wisdom must be in our HEART!

Verse 6, above, further describes such a man. The word says that a man whose strength is in the Lord and in whose heart are His ways passes through the valley of Baca. The valley of Baca in the early texts is translated as the valley of “weeping.”

Now it is certainly possible to weep for our own, personal, selfish reasons.

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her [Babylon]; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more. Revelation 18:11

However, weeping for our self becomes nothing but wood, hay, and stubble.

Any believer who walks on the highway to Zion MUST, sooner or later, pass through the valley of weeping. Why? Because Jesus came to this earth 2000 years ago and identified with man in every way so that we could identify with Him in every way. Christianity is characterized by our identification with Jesus in every respect. We must identify with His baptism, His suffering, His death, and His resurrection. We must also identify with His weeping. Almost everyone is familiar with the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Also consider,

41And when He [Jesus] was come near [to Jerusalem], He beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! 

42 But now they are hid from thy eyes. Luke 19:41-42

The apostle Paul experienced this same weeping.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears ... 

2 Corinthians 2:4

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Acts 20:31

The apostle John likewise experienced weeping.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. Revelation 5:4

Somewhere in the mid 1970's the Lord took me through this same valley of weeping. It lasted almost six months. Every place the Lord took me, all I could do was weep ... I could not even sing any of the songs. Furthermore, I was very aware of WHY I was weeping. The Lord allowed me to see a small part of the superficiality and lack of maturity in the body of Christ. At the same time, the Lord allowed me to identify with HIS grief and weeping over the state of the church.

Note, however, that Psalm 84: 6 says “passing through the valley of weeping.” We do not stay in the valley of weeping forever! Praise the Lord!

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning ... Psalm 30:5

Moreover, the Lord takes us through the valley of weeping for a REASON! I am sorry to say that I never asked the Lord why He took me through the valley of weeping; but the Lord sovereignly revealed this to me anyway! Not too long after I had passed through the valley of weeping, the Lord spoke to me the most powerful word I have ever heard in my life, and it did not come through a person. This happened on June 13, 1976, when the Lord woke me up very early that morning and told me to get out of bed and read the “restoration” books. I have reported about this sovereign experience in Chapter 3. When I read Ezra 6:14, it was like a sledgehammer had hit me. The verse says,

And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. Ezra 6:14

The major word that the Lord spoke to me through that verse was, “If you [me] want to see the body of Christ prosper, then you function in the place that I have called you.” Would you believe there are some verses that sum up what I just related?

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6

Now let us return to Psalm 84:6.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

This verse speaks of the joint activity of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. As we pass through the valley of weeping, we make it a well, but it is the rain that fills the pools. Our weeping provides water; but rain comes down from heaven ... the sovereign work of God. It is not our weeping that fills the pools. The sovereignty of God causes the rain to come down ... that is what fills the pools.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain, in the first month. Joel 2:23

In the past few years I have experienced weeping once again. This time I have also been aware of WHY I have been weeping ... because of the goodness, grace, and mercy of God in my life. Simply put, I see now that too many times in my walk with the Lord I have “goofed.” Isn’t it marvelous that the Lord never gives up on us?

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 

Joel 2:25

Of course we know the end result. If we identify with the heart of God, we MUST pass through the valley of weeping. BUT,

And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. Isaiah 65:19

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:17

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

Chapter 16: Weights And Balances

Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. Leviticus 19:36

A false balance is abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is His delight. Proverbs 11:1

A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are His work. Proverbs 16:11

TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Daniel 5:27

Undoubtedly, the Jews interpreted (and still interpret) the verse in Leviticus 19:36 only on a natural level. The natural‑level interpretation also applies to us as believers. We SHOULD deal fairly with all persons in all of our natural‑level activities ... an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Of course, to us, as believers in Christ Jesus, the verses above have a far greater significance.

The word "weights" in the verses above from Leviticus and Proverbs can literally be translated "stones." Stones, or weights, have traditionally been used with a scale or a pair of balances in order to compare or measure the quantity or weight of what is being traded. An "ephah" is a measure of dry goods, such as grain or wheat, and equals about 3 pecks, or slightly less than our bushel. A "hin" is a measure of liquid, such as wine or oil, and is about the same as our gallon.

The word "just" in Leviticus 19:36 is used to describe balances, weights (or stones), an ephah, and a hin. Each of these four items must be "just," which means "to be right" or "to be righteous." Paul, speaking of natural‑level Israel, says,

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 

Romans 10:3

In Daniel 5, Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall for king Belshazzar of Babylon. Belshazzar was a stone that was weighed in the balances and was found wanting. Belshazzar was not a just weight and knew nothing about a just ephah and a just hin. Belshazzar had not humbled his heart, even though he knew that his father, Nebuchadnezzar, knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men (Daniel 5:21‑22). So Belshazzar had gone about to establish his own righteousness and had not submitted himself unto the righteousness of God, as in Romans 10:3. As a result, Belshazzar was a false balance and an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 11:1). 

Note, please, the colon in Leviticus 19:36. According to Webster's dictionary, a colon is used primarily to direct attention to what follows, as an explanation or an expansion on what has preceded. Thus, just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin all point to the I AM, the Lord our God. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who explains the just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. Anyone, at the natural level, can deal with balances, weights, an ephah, and a hin, but preceding these with "just" changes things completely.

David spoke prophetically of Jesus that "He that ruleth over men must be just" (2 Samuel 23:3). Ananias spoke a prophetic word of wisdom to Saul (later Paul) that,

The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth. For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. Acts 22:14

So the just balances are explained only by the Lord Himself; just weights (or stones) are explained only by the Lord Himself; as for a just ephah (a dry measure) and a just hin (a measure of wine or oil), Jesus said, "Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53). Clearly, this verse, like many others, has no natural‑level interpretation (even though a large part of religiosity disagrees, clinging to a trans‑substantiation doctrine, either literally or figuratively). In Proverbs 11:1, "but a just weight (or stone) is His delight." Jesus is the Just Stone, "the chief cornerstone, elect, precious"; and "Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed" (1 Peter 2:6‑8). Certainly the Just Stone is the Father's delight.

In Proverbs 16:11, "a just weight and balance are the Lord's." But we could just as easily say that "a just weight and balance are the Lord (Himself)." All the weights (stones) of the bag are His work. All believers are stones of His bag.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Now we need to thoroughly understand that I am not just ... and neither are you. "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). "God accepteth no man's person" (Galatians 2:6). There is only one Just One, the Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone is a stone of His bag, then "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). God the Father sees us as being just or righteous, not because of our good works, but because we are in Christ.

Now let us return to Leviticus 19:36: "Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt." An excellent prescription for us as believers is found in Psalm 105:1‑11:

1 O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.

2 Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him; talk ye of all His wondrous works.

3 Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

4 Seek the Lord, and His strength: seek His face evermore.

5 Remember His marvelous works that He hath done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth;

6 O ye seed of Abraham His servant, ye children of Jacob His chosen.

7 He is the Lord our God: His judgments are in all the earth.

8 He hath remembered His covenant for ever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations.

9 Which covenant He made with Abraham, and His oath unto Isaac;

10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance ...

Note verse 6, "ye children of Jacob His chosen." We were chosen while we were still Jacob and then translated into Israel. "He hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). We are His work; we are His workmanship; we are stones in His bag.

Note also verse 10, "And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant." To Jacob, the natural man, Leviticus 19:36 is a commandment, a law. Thou shalt have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. But to Israel, those who have accepted, by faith, by His faith, the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Leviticus 19:36 is a PROMISE ... an everlasting covenant. The Lord promises that Israel shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, for "I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt." This same truth is expressed as follows:

I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10 

The last half of Psalm 81:10, "open thy mouth wide and I will fill it," has at least three levels of interpretation. As new believers, we open our mouths to get: salvation for me; healing for me; deliverance for me; being baptized by Jesus with (or into) the Holy Spirit for me; so that I can be a witness to other people. Then, as the Holy Spirit begins to open our understanding a bit more, we open our mouths to give: to minister to others, particularly to those already within Israel, the Church, with ministries and gifts of the Spirit. Jesus Himself said, "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). But at some point (hopefully), as we continue to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth (and Jesus is the Truth), we open our mouths to be: to allow Jesus Himself to fill us with Himself, with His nature, to be a witness unto Him, as Acts 1:8 states. Christ in you, the hope of glory! Does "being" do away with "giving" or "getting"? Of course not. We believe that it is possible to get or give without being. But if the Lord, through His Spirit, has led a believer into the third level of being, then the first two levels will be taken care of without any effort on our part ... the rest of God that the author of Hebrews speaks about. Moreover, the getting and giving may not necessarily be even consciously known to the believer. Then, no man can possibly claim the glory. Lord, help us to press toward this mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!

In terms of ministry to the Body of Christ, balance is a very difficult, if not impossible, goal for any one person to achieve. Although a "balanced" message (teaching, sermon, etc.) is an admirable objective, we tend to believe that this is not attainable, unless the vessel is unusually anointed at a level seldom seen in typical meetings. The only just balance and balanced ministry is that of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Furthermore, we tend to believe that it is almost as difficult to have a balanced word brought forth from the entire body assembled at any particular time. But this is not a "downer" because the important thing is that a balanced word come forth to a given body of believers over a period of time. The Lord's intent is that a balanced word come forth through His various ministries and gifts. This is why it is important that each member of the body function in the calling whereunto they have been called. On November 4, 1977, I wrote a word in the back of my Bible that the Lord gave me:

It is the fear of man that hinders the body of Christ from functioning; but it is the fear of God that compels us to function.

This functioning, to be effective, must be in the realm of the Spirit, not through educated flesh (the natural man). Clearly, there must be a balance between the Word and the Spirit, and these two must agree.

One of the heavily emphasized words to the Springfield‑Annandale, Virginia, house church in the 1970s was:

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. 1 Corinthians 14:26

This verse was used to point out the need for every member of the body to function. There was a big emphasis on everyone finding what their particular ministry and gifts were and then to function in those ministries and gifts. Was this emphasis good or bad? Hindsight, the overall effect was certainly good, but there were a few disasters for a number of years. Whether these disasters were ever corrected, only the Lord knows. Now we are sure that all of you, as we do, believe that every ministry and gift SHOULD function, but we do not believe that is what the verse in 1 Corinthians 14:26 is saying. Neither do we believe that Paul is saying that every member of the body should speak in every gathering of the saints. (Certainly, with 100 saints, if all spoke, it would be a very long meeting.) First of all, 1 Corinthians is a letter of correction. Paul is pointing out all of the many errors that had crept into that church. Secondly, Chapter 14 is certainly a chapter of correction. Paul in that chapter speaks about confusion in their assemblies. Furthermore, every thing that Paul talks about in that chapter is the use (or rather misuse) of vocal gifts: speaking in tongues in the assembly, prophecy, interpretation, speaking forth a psalm or revelation. Further, we are not convinced that every member of the body of Christ is a mouth that speaks in every gathering. That certainly is not true in the natural body. Furthermore, let us reconsider that it is the Lord's intent that a balanced word come forth through His various ministries and gifts. How does a balanced word come forth? Only through speaking? Consider this. 

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Acts 3:24

That seems to imply that there were (and are and will be) some prophets that do NOT speak with their mouth, but with their life. This brings up another point to ponder. Does the Lord bring forth balance in His body only during times of assembly of the saints with all of the vocal gifts in operation, or does the Lord also work balance into believers when 2 or 3 are gathered together in His Name (by the Spirit)? We see NO promise that balance will be worked where 2 or 3 gather together because of a work of the flesh, because of a tradition, because it is "the thing to do." In other words, that which is led by the Spirit of God produces good fruit. That which is led by the flesh produces wood, hay, and stubble. Of course, we must always remember that the Lord is Lord. So His grace is sufficient. In other words, the Lord may well choose, if it is His will, to work balance within His saints even when the saints gather with a less than pure motivation. But which impresses you more? To hear a good word or to see a life lived in all integrity and honesty before the Lord? 

What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

It seems much more plausible, therefore, that Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:26 is saying that every one of you is speaking, every one wants to be heard, and you have "popcorn" flesh ministering, which is causing confusion. "Popcorn" is when one member of the body pops up with one thing to say, another member pops up with something else (usually unrelated) to say, and on and on. The rest of verse 26, "Let all things be done unto edifying," should not be interpreted as a word of praise from Paul to the church that everything they say is edifying, but just the opposite. Paul is telling the Church at Corinth that they have confusion in their assemblies because each person is "popping up" to say something in order to be heard ... to satisfy their natural flesh. 

With respect to individual members of the body of Christ, some begin their walk with more of an emphasis on the Word, without the leading of the Spirit. These tend to become (initially) somewhat legalistic. This results in "the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). Others begin their walk with more of an emphasis on the Spirit, with insufficient grounding in the Word. But over time, the Spirit will guide us into all Truth (assuming that we want to be led), and the Truth is the only just weight and just balance. 

So we believe that 1 Corinthians 14 is a chapter of correction ... Paul is trying to bring a balance into the overused, misused vocal gifts, or perhaps more accurately, vocal gifts mixed in with a lot of vocal flesh. The carnal church that Paul addresses in chapter 3 did not all of a sudden become spiritual in chapter 14.

Abraham's three wives (Hagar, Sarah, and Keturah) speak a word to us. Hagar symbolizes the Law ... thou shalt do this, thou shalt not do that ... works. This age of "doing" can have a very strong hold on lives ... even on regenerated lives. Even Paul (or rather Saul at that time), who had been so thoroughly immersed in the law, when he was first apprehended, said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" We Christians are just naturally inclined to want to DO something for the Lord, but the Lord wants us to BE or BECOME what He desires for us.

Sarah symbolizes the Church Age, which is certainly characterized by words (teaching, preaching, prophecy, tongues, interpretation, etc.) Have you ever been to a meeting that consisted of 3 fast songs, 3 slow songs, 5 or 10 minutes of praise to the Lord in the Spirit, and then one hour or more of prophecy, teaching, and preaching? Is it possible that we could have our priorities slightly misplaced?

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 1 Corinthians 14:10

Keturah (Genesis 25), according to Strong's Concordance, comes from a root word in the Hebrew which can be translated to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship). Does that perhaps suggest that 1 hour or more of worship and 5 or 10 minutes of vocal gifts might be more appropriate than the reverse proportion?

Keturah symbolizes the Age of the Kingdom of God. Keturah speaks of being ... being a sweet fragrance to the Lord Himself. We are to be turned into that sweet fragrance by the fire of God ... our God is a consuming fire ... consuming all that fleshy stuff day by day ... until in THAT day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 14:21). No more carnal flesh in operation! WOW!!! When you look around at the church today you might wonder: how will the Lord bring that about? How can the Lord bring all of the genuine believers together as one, considering all of the many denominations, splinter groups, etc., with such widely varying doctrinal beliefs? Man has been trying to bring about unity (or perhaps union) in the church for 2000 years, but man will never succeed. Yet the Lord says that He will do it! It is always good to ponder ... when is THAT day? In the sweet bye and bye? The days of John the Baptist were clearly days of transition ... a time of transition from the old to the new ... a time of transition from the Age of the Law to the Church Age, ushered in by the Lord Jesus Christ. Many would agree that we are now in another transition ... a time of transition from the Church Age to the bringing forth of the Kingdom of God. This transition is also ushered in, in fullness or finality, by the Lord Jesus Christ at His second coming.

5 Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:5‑6

The verse in Malachi was certainly not fulfilled with John the Baptist because we have not yet seen the great and dreadful day of the Lord. John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah. He came preaching (with words), repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus said,

Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Luke 7:28

How does the Elijah (undoubtedly a company of saints, not a single individual) referred to in Malachi turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers? by preaching? by words? Or by a life that is a sweet fragrance to the Lord? a poured out life, a life emptied of self, a life that has been purified by the fire of God, a life that has only one purpose, one goal, to glorify the Son?

Now, is there anything wrong with works? Of course not! Jesus did many works in and on earth (and still does). Is there anything wrong with words? Not necessarily. Jesus certainly spoke many things (and still speaks) to His disciples as well as the people at large. But we must remember that Jesus did works and spoke out of a state of being ... a relationship with the Father ... as a sweet fragrance to the Father.

Lord, create within us your right balance ... the right balance of Keturah, Sarah, and Hagar ... that we might indeed be a sweet fragrance unto You ... a fragrance brought about by Your fire.

And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 

Nehemiah 6:3

The context of the above verse in Nehemiah, one of the restoration books, was the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem had tried, unsuccessfully, in Chapter 4, to hinder or stop the rebuilding of the walls. When that attempt failed, they continued in Chapter 6 to try to prevent the doors from being set upon the gates. Nehemiah recognized these three as enemies (Nehemiah 6:1).

Three aspects of Nehemiah's response to Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem deserve our attention. These three aspects, which apply to every member of the body of Christ today, are:

1. I am doing a great work,

2. so that I cannot come down:

3. why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

Let us look at each of these three aspects in more detail. 

1. I am doing a great work

Every member of the body of Christ should be doing a great work! It is certainly true that every member of the body of Christ has been given a great work to do, although it is possible to frustrate the grace of God. "We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (2 Corinthians 6:1). Your great work is whatever the Lord has called you to be, do, and speak. Each member of the body of Christ is personally responsible to know what is her/his specific great work. Not everyone is called to be a Paul. Not everyone is given the same talents. But we all need to be faithful to the calling and election of God. 

But perhaps we should consider the even greater work which the Lord has done within us. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). Another appropriate verse is where the people asked Jesus, 

28 What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. John 6:28‑29

In other words, ONLY God can work the works of God. It is HIS work, not ours. Historically, perhaps one of the greatest errors with unregenerated, as well as with Christian, people is that man has tried to do what only God can do! "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Jesus said, "the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me" (John 5:36).

What are the results of a great work within a believer? A good type is recorded in 2 Kings 4:8‑37. These verses have undoubtedly been the topic of many sermons throughout the years. Elisha went to Shunem, where was a great woman. Why was this woman called great?

(1) First of all, she was given to hospitality (verse 8).

(2) She perceived that Elisha was a man of God. Her spiritual senses had been exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).

(3) She had a husband, who was old (verse 14), and who apparently had very little spiritual discernment. Nevertheless, when she perceived who Elisha was, she said to her husband, "let us make a little chamber, I pray thee" (verse 10). So she included her husband, the weaker of the two vessels spiritually, and asked for his endorsement. Husbands and wives need to agree.

(4) She made room for Elisha (verse 10). In like manner, we need to make room for the Lord in our hearts.

(5) She had a heart to serve the anointed of God.

(6) When Elisha asked her (verse 13) what was to be done for her, she had no thought of any return for herself and asked for nothing . Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, suggested her "reward," a child. 

(7) When her son was grown (but still a child), a day came that he died. The great woman displayed peace in this time of crisis (verses 23 and 26) when she said, "It shall be well."

(8) She had faith that Elisha could revive her son from the dead.

(9) Finally, she had a heart of thanksgiving (verse 37) after Elisha had in fact raised her son from the dead.

This Shunammite woman was not called to a "glamorous" ministry like Elisha. Her name is known only by the Lord! But she was a great woman, and great in the eyes of the Lord. Part of her great work was to be used by the Lord to minister, by her example, by her life, to Elisha. Can there be any higher reward than to hear the Lord say to you, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant?" We need to have full assurance that if we are faithful to fulfill whatever calling the Lord has called us to, then we are doing a great work.

Nehemiah had received such blessed assurance of his calling, primarily because his heart was right. He had groaned in intercession in Chapter 1:4‑11 for both the Jews who had escaped and for Jerusalem. In other words, Nehemiah was faithful to his calling, for surely it was the Lord Himself who had put this burden in Nehemiah's heart.

2. So that I cannot come down

  Note, first of all, that Nehemiah said, "I cannot come down." He did not say, "I WILL not come down." There is a difference! It is likened to the constraint on Paul who said,

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16

Paul also said, in Acts 20:22‑24,

22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Note, please, part of the last verse, above: “so that I might finish my course with joy.” Anyone can finish her/his course ... just hang on! But to finish my course with JOY takes a revelation of who Christ is in me, who I am in Christ, what specific course the Lord has ordained for me, plus an intensity, born of the Spirit, to complete that course.

In Nehemiah's situation, he could not come down physically from completing the walls. In our case, we cannot afford to come down spiritually. Any believer who begins to walk in the calling of the Lord will experience the same temptation that Nehemiah did ... the temptation to "come down" spiritually. One of the biggest of these temptations is the attempt, on the part of our enemies, to reduce that which is spiritual in our lives to that which is natural. Who are these enemies? Psalm 55:12‑14 gives a clear answer:

12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked into the house of God in company.

There is a great tendency to reduce the Word of God to the natural level because we can all understand the natural level. But "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). John 6 records the height of the popularity of Jesus and the start of the conflict that culminated in His death on the cross. In that chapter, Jesus said, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you" (verse 53). This, of course, was received as blasphemy by the Jews because God had told Moses, "Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood" (Leviticus 19:26). The Jews' problem was that they could only understand things at the natural level.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 

There is also a great tendency to reduce the work of God to the lowest common denominator, with the rationalization that all may thereby be one. There is a huge move among Christianity today (as always) toward such an end. Why not let Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem join with me in building the walls of Jerusalem? At least, maybe, if I stop my work and go down to them, I may be able to help them to see a higher way. What results is compromise and substitutes (brick for stone and slime for mortar, as in Genesis 11:3). And once any believer starts down the path of compromise in any area (particularly when it involves money), it is very difficult to repent. Rationalization leads to further rationalization, which leads to a seared conscience (1 Timothy 4:2). 

3. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

If a believer leaves the work that God has ordained and comes down (spiritually), that work effectively will cease. This reduces the gold, silver, and precious stones to wood, hay, and stubble.

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 

1 Corinthians 3:13

We all need a greater perception, a spiritual discernment, of the great work to which the Lord has called each one. We need to have the confidence and peace that only the Holy Spirit can give ... the same confidence and peace that Nehemiah had. Nehemiah knew that the work would cease if he left it and came down to Sanballat and his friends.

Now, what does all of the above have to do with weights and balances? It is somewhat lacking in balance. It would be easy, based upon only the above, to become a religious zealot ... to slip over into the works of the flesh. A good scripture to bring balance is:

21 And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, Lord, is it I? Matthew 26:21‑22

Lord, is it I? Sometimes there appears to be an attitude in the body of Christ of, Lord, is it him or her? because I know it could not be me. This does NOT mean that we should go around and "second‑guess" everything we say or do. It simply represents a right spirit, a tender heart toward the Lord ... an openness to Him, a complete lack of pride.

One of the more dramatic recordings in scripture of how the Lord works His balance into our attitudes (if we allow Him), is found in the life of Elijah. Elijah appears on the scene in 1 Kings 17. His first recorded words are, 

As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 1 Kings 17:1

Now there was, in fact, neither dew nor rain on the earth for 3 and ½ years (James 5:17). But some easy‑to‑overlook words are "before whom I stand." Elijah, being a priest as well as a prophet, undoubtedly knew that the functions of a priest were to "bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name" (Deuteronomy 10:8). And so, when Elijah said "before whom I stand" in 1 Kings 17:1, this was most likely only a doctrinal understanding on his part. For the Lord immediately took Elijah through two humbling experiences to balance (refine) Elijah's attitude. The first was to have the ravens feed Elijah by the brook Cherith. The second was to have a widow woman to sustain him at Zarephath (which literally means refinement). After about 3 and ½ years of the work of God within Elijah, Elijah again says, in 1 Kings 18:15, "As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, ..." Now, however, there was a difference, even though the words were the same as in verse 1. Now Elijah had the balance of the Lord worked within his heart. 

In summary, let us return to part of Deuteronomy 10:8, "to stand before the Lord to minister unto Him." So not only are we called to stand before the Lord but also to minister unto Him. What does it mean "to minister unto Him?" To have a heart of thanksgiving, praise, and worship? Yes ... but another part of ministering unto Him is to walk in that place that He has called you to ... not to compromise His call on your life ... to make your calling and election sure ... to have His balance and refinement worked within you ... to be so intensely immersed in the will of God for your life that you never succumb to any temptation to come down, for in so doing His work within and through you may cease. Anyone who loses his/her balance can neither walk nor stand. Lord help us ... enable us by your Spirit to walk and stand uprightly before You. 

Chapter 17: Gleanings From The Life Of Paul

Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee of Pharisees; he was the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6); he also was a highly intelligent man; he could speak several languages (certainly both Greek and Hebrew, from Acts 21); he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers; he was also extremely zealous toward God (Acts 22). 

So Saul of Tarsus was part of the religious elite of the day ‑ the Pharisees ‑ and he was a well‑educated man. From personal experience, it appears that religious intellectuals are the most difficult set of people to try to evangelize. A person with just one of those two characteristics is a hard nut to crack with the Truth. I remember years ago a brother saying that Pilate looked truth straight in the eye and asked, "What is truth?" (John 18:38) The intellectual always claims to be pursuing the "truth," as if truth were some kind of package independent from the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the way the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). A good question for such intellectuals is, "How would you know the truth if you saw it?"

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to reason with intellectuals on their terms. In fact, we probably should never even try. Paul tried this in Corinth (1 Corinthians 18:4‑5).

4 And he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. (and NOTHING HAPPENED)

5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

(and SOMETHING HAPPENED; namely the Jews opposed themselves and blasphemed. This was not the response that Paul had hoped for, but it was a response.)

The religious person is probably even more difficult to evangelize. The turning point in the ministry of Jesus on earth is recorded in John, Chapter 6. Jesus said some things that no one understood. To the religious elite, what Jesus had to say was heresy. Their unenlightened minds could not comprehend the Truth. What Jesus said seemed to them to be totally contrary to their law, customs, traditions, and theology. As a result, from that day forward, the Jews sought to kill him (John 7:1). They finally succeeded. It was the religious elite of the day that crucified Jesus.

So a person who is both religious AND intellectual is doubly difficult to evangelize. Saul of Tarsus was such a man. This is what makes his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus such a miracle! If the Lord could apprehend Saul, He can apprehend anyone!

Now let us look at a third major attribute of Saul (and Paul). He was a very intense man. Saul "made havock of the church (Christians), entering into every house, and hailing men and women committed them to prison" (Acts 8:3). 

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Acts 9:1‑2

The Apostle John wrote to the church of the Laodiceans:

I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

No one could ever say that Saul of Tarsus was lukewarm. He was a very intense man. After the Lord sovereignly and dramatically apprehended him on the road to Damascus, Paul was still a very intense man. But then he was intense for the will of God and the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ rather than being intense for a religious system, full of traditions, with no true spiritual insight, driven by a (man‑made) cause.

Other people recorded in the Bible also displayed a characteristic of intensity. Jacob, in Genesis 32:26, said to the man with whom he wrestled (which many believe to have been the Lord Jesus), "I will not let you go, except thou bless me." The result was that Jacob was blessed and his name was changed to Israel.

David said, in 2 Samuel 22:26‑27:

26 With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.

27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury.

By the same principle, we could add another thought: with the intense, the Lord will show Himself intensely. This is certainly what happened in Paul's case. Paul was a very intense man. And the Lord showed Himself intensely to Paul. Paul received so many revelations of the Lord that he was given a thorn in the flesh, lest he should be exalted above measure (2 Corinthians 12:7). 

When Saul of Tarsus was apprehended on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), the very first thing that Saul said was, "Who art thou, Lord?" The next thing that Saul said was, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." I have searched the scripture rather diligently, and I do not see where Paul was told in Damascus what he must do.

Two thoughts for your consideration. The first is Paul's natural reaction to want to "do" something. We are a people of "doers." We like action. That makes us feel better. Associated with our desire to "do" something is our lack of patience. Lord, just tell me what to do and I will start doing it immediately. But God wants to do a work within us. He wants to form the nature of Christ within us. He can cause the very stones to cry out or a jackass to speak. But for Him to do a work within us is a lot harder because we must cooperate. We still have a free will. Am I saying that we should not "do" anything? Of course not! Jesus in His earthly ministry did many wonderful works. But recall, please, the process that Jesus went through before He began His earthly ministry.

Returning to the Lord's response to Paul, in Acts 9, "Arise and go into the city." Paul certainly did that. He was obedient to do his part. This speaks of a walk by faith, one step at a time, " ... and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Note please that the Lord does NOT say that He will tell Paul everything he needs to "do" as soon as he arrives in the city. Neither does the Lord say who will tell Paul what to do. The Lord just says that it will be told Paul what he must do ‑ all in due season ‑ in the Lord's time. Of course, we know,

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace,

16 To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Galatians 1:15‑16

So Paul received his many revelations and his marching orders from God, but after God revealed His Son in Paul. Was Paul perfect at that point in time? Hardly! But the process is remarkably similar to that which Jesus went through.

Hindsight, what did the Lord call Paul to do? I am struck by three major works associated with Paul. The first is recorded in Acts 9:16, where the Lord told Ananias that, "I will shew him [Saul] how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." (Up to this point, I have somewhat arbitrarily intermixed the name of Saul and Paul. To be more accurate, according to scripture, Saul is not called by his new name of Paul until after his commission in Acts 13; until after the Holy Ghost said to "separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.") At some point in Paul's life, the Lord revealed this calling of suffering to Paul. In 1 Timothy 1:26, "that in me [Paul] first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting." And again in Colossians 1:24,

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church.

A second major work of Paul was, in his ministry as an apostle, to establish many churches ‑ in Ephesus, Corinth, Colosse, etc. And the third major work, of course, was to be used as the instrument to write the many epistles that were to become scripture.

It seems rather apparent that Paul's work as an apostle, in the final analysis, caused Paul more grief than anything else. He saw the many churches that he had been instrumental in developing just disintegrate. Only a faithful few remained in isolated locations. This had to be heartbreaking to him, even though he probably knew what was going to happen. Certainly Jesus knew that all of His disciples would flee just prior to His crucifixion. 

The work of the Lord within Paul may have been a difficult time for Paul ‑ all of that waiting! If the dates in my Bible are correct, from the time that Saul was apprehended on the road to Damascus until the time that Paul was sent forth by the Holy Ghost (in Acts 13) was ten years. Our flesh does not like to wait for ten years. But the Lord was doing a thorough work within Paul. We might also reflect that the preparation time for Jesus on earth as compared to His actual ministry on earth was also a factor of ten ‑ 30 years preparation and three years of ministry.

It seems that Paul was not moved by the sufferings that he endured. As stated above, Paul knew that he was a pattern of longsuffering. Nevertheless, he said (Acts 20:24), "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

Finally, Paul's greatest ministry undoubtedly was to write the many epistles that were later to become scripture for countless millions to read and benefit from. Did Paul have a revelation that his epistles were to become scripture? We do not know for sure, but I believe that he did know. In fact, it just may have been possible that Paul was actually referring to that in the last part of Acts 20:24, when he referred to "the ministry from the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

If all of the above serves only to give a few insights into the life of Paul, then we are all remiss. What does all of the above mean for us personally? In summary:

(1) We need to have patience while the Lord works His great work within us. We need to see, and cooperate with, His purposes ‑ that the nature of Christ might be fully formed within us. Christ in you the hope of glory!

(2) We need to see and understand that we, too, are called to identify with the sufferings of Christ. But righteous suffering is never mentioned in scripture except that it is immediately followed by the glory of God.

(3) All of our reasonings and persuasion will not produce a convert. But by testifying in the spirit, enabled by the Spirit, things MUST happen.

(4) Few are called to be an apostle. But whatever ministry and/or gift we have received from the Lord Jesus is important and perfect in the plan and purposes of God.

(5) The Lord desires to speak directly to each member of His body and to reveal His Son in each one. Toward that end, it is imperative that each member be able to hear the voice of the Lord for him/herself.

(6) We need to have an intensity for the person of the Lord Jesus. 

(7) We must have revelation from the Holy Spirit, so that we too might finish our course with joy, and the ministry which we have received of the Lord Jesus.

None of these things are possible by our own strength, knowledge, or wisdom. But He giveth more grace. All things are possible with God!

Chapter 18: Elijah

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:5‑6

The great and dreadful day of the Lord has not yet come. Therefore, this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. The Jewish people today are still looking for Elijah to come. They also are still looking for the Messiah. Both came 2000 years ago. Jesus said, concerning John the Baptist,

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. Matthew 11:14

But the people neither received John the Baptist as Elijah; nor did they receive Jesus as the Messiah. Therefore, because of the great grace and mercy of the Lord, there yet remains a fulfillment of Malachi 4:5‑6. 

Elijah, which means "God is the Lord," just suddenly appears in 1 Kings, Chapter 17. He is called a "Tishbite," which means a "sojourner." When Elijah appears, Ahab was the king of Israel. Ahab's wife was named Jezebel. Scripture records that Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him (1 Kings 16:30).

Baal worship was very prominent in those days. Baal, which means "lord, master, owner, or ruler," was the male deity who owned the land, controlled its fertility, and was the giver of rain. According to Baal worship, the fertility of the land depended upon sexual relations between Baal and his female consort, Ashtoreth. The people believed that the agricultural harvest would not be plentiful unless the fertility powers were worshiped according to the ways of Canaan. Therefore the people imitated the gods. The Canaanites had sacred, temple prostitution (Deuteronomy 23:18). Baal commonly took the form of a bull, the animal of strength and fertility. The people also began to name their children after Baal. Gideon was also called Jerub‑baal. Saul, Jonathan, and David all had children with 'baal' in their names. In other words, Baal worship glorified food and sex. Do you see any relationship to our modern‑day? Do people in the United States today glorify food and sex? 

The Baal religion taught men to control the gods for the benefit of the people. Christianity, in contrast, says to serve God, who is sovereign, for who He is and out of gratitude for what He has done, but with no thought for "what do I get?"

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:31‑33

Elijah was a hairy man, with long thick hair. He wore a girdle of leather about his loins. He is the only man recorded in scripture who had a distinctive mantle (see Chapter 19). He was a man of like passions as we (James 5:17). What were some of his passions? pride, fear, and despair. When Elijah suddenly appears, he said,

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 1 Kings 17:1

What a bold prophecy! But the Lord honored the word. However, when Elijah said, "before whom I stand," we believe that was a purely doctrinal statement. Elijah knew that was one function of a priest.

At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name, unto this day. Deuteronomy 10:8

Immediately after Elijah made that first, bold prophecy, the Lord sent him into the wilderness to work His nature into him ... to work humility into Elijah. The Lord first sent him to the brook Cherith, before the Jordan, to be fed by ravens. Then the Lord sent Elijah to Zarephath where a widow woman sustained him. Zarephath means "refinement." These were somewhat humiliating experiences for Elijah, but he clearly learned his lesson. The Lord does not like the proud.

After Elijah had slain the 450 prophets of Baal, Jezebel vowed to slay Elijah. Elijah, fearful of his life, fled at the threats of a woman. This was the ONLY time recorded that Elijah went somewhere without the Lord telling him to go. When the Lord came to Elijah, He said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" In other words, why are you here Elijah? I never sent you.

Elijah also exhibited despair (1 Kings 19:4) as he fled from Jezebel and he requested for himself that he might die. Shortly after that Elijah said, 

I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away. 

1 Kings 19:10

Of course, the Lord then told Elijah that He had reserved 7,000 more that Elijah did not know about. Any person who believes that without his/her ministry the will of God cannot be done, needs further refinement in his/her life. 

Now let us contrast Elijah and Moses. Three of the gospels describe the transfiguration of Jesus in a high mountain. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John with Him. 

2 And [Jesus] was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. Matthew 17:2‑4 

An interesting question is, How did Peter know that the two men who appeared were Moses and Elijah? Moses had lived about 1500 years prior and Elijah about 1000 years prior to this event. We can think of only two possible answers: either Jesus told Peter, James, and John that this was Moses and Elijah (but this is not recorded in scripture); or else Peter had a revelation from the Father. We are inclined to believe that Peter had a revelation, just as he had a revelation immediately before going up into the mountain. When Jesus asked His disciples,

15 But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 

Matthew 16:15‑17

Many believe that Moses and Elijah are referenced once more in the book of Revelation.

3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. Revelation 11:3,6

Certainly verse 6, above, contains characteristics of works done through Elijah and Moses, respectively. So let us look at some highlights of each of their ministries.

Elijah                                                       Moses

(1) suddenly appears                               hid 3 months as a baby

(2) was refined in the desert                    was refined for 40 years

(3) heard a still, small voice                    received the law on Mt. Sinai  

on Mt. Horeb (Mt. Horeb and Mt. Sinai are the same)

(4) taken up into heaven by a                  God buried him on Mt. Nebo whirlwind

(5) fasted 40 days                                    fasted 40 days (twice)

(6) hid his face (1 Kings 19:13)              hid his face (Exodus 3:6)

(7) raised up in time of crisis                  raised up in time of crisis

(8) a true prophet                                     a true prophet

We stated above that Malachi 4:5 has yet to be fulfilled. So what can we say about the Elijah who is yet to come?

(1) sent by God

(2) a company of prophetic people whose being cries out, "The Lord is my God"

(3) of like passions as we

(4) purged of all idolatry

(5) hidden from view for some time period in a rugged wilderness; refined by God; unveiled when the enemy comes in like a flood

(6) fears the Lord

(7) moves, acts, and speaks only at the direction of the Lord

(8) a sojourner, pilgrim, stranger ... "other worldly" ... marches to a different drummer

(9) is misunderstood by his brethren; "troubles" Israel

(10) a righteous man

(11) prays earnestly

(12) works miracles, but is also a result of the miracle work of God within him

(13) is granted access to those in high places

(14) is characterized by true humility

Chapter 19: And They Two Went On

1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, "Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel." And Elisha said unto him, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." So they went down to Bethel.

3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?" And he said, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace."

4 And Elijah said unto him, "Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho." And he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." So they came to Jericho.

5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?" And he answered, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace."

6 And Elijah said unto him, "Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan." And he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." And they two went on.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 

2 Kings 2:1‑8

The above verses describe the joint activities of Elijah and Elisha on the day that Elijah was caught up by a whirlwind. In the past, we have read words written by two separate, mature believers concerning this topic. Both believers emphasized the comradery, the unity, the oneness shared by these two notable prophets, in the sense of "they two went on, together, as one." Many years ago, we were impressed with a different interpretation, which we would like to share for your consideration. In essence, we want to compare Elijah and Elisha to try to see how "one" they really were. Then we would like to relate these verses to our current time. We will not pause to look at the symbology portrayed by the four places where the two prophets went together (Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan), although that also has much significance. (Gilgal was the place of circumcision and passover; Bethel was the place of anointing or revelation; Jericho was the place of warfare; and Jordan was the place of inheritance. Please note the spiritual progression signified by the order of the names of those four places. The names denote our walk into more and more maturity.)

First of all, Elijah is mentioned by name 30 times in the new testament; Elisha is mentioned once (by the name of Eliseus). Elijah means God is the Lord; Elisha means God of supplication or God of riches. 

Elijah had a mantle. There are only four persons recorded in the Old Testament who had a mantle: Samuel, Ezra, Job, and Elijah. With all four, the Hebrew word for mantle means a cloak, robe, or coat; in other words a physical, outer garment. Of these four, only Elijah is recorded to have had a mantle as described by a different Hebrew word, 'addereth, which comes from a root word which means to expand or to be great or magnificent; to become glorious or honorable; in other words, something far more than in the physical sense. For comparison, Elijah had a mantle (both physically and spiritually); Elisha had no mantle of any kind. In 2 Kings 2:14, after Elijah had been taken up in a whirlwind, Elisha picked up the (physical) mantle of Elijah, smote the waters of the Jordan and said, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" And the Lord parted the waters. But was that because of the great prophet Elisha? We don't think so. Because at least at that point in time Elisha was not a man of inner substance. It was because of the office of Elisha; for the Lord had told Elijah to anoint Elisha "to be prophet in thy room."

If we go back to 2 Kings 2:1‑8, Elijah said that the Lord had sent him to Bethel; Elisha said, "I'm going with you." Then Elijah said that the Lord had sent him to Jericho; Elisha said, "I'm going with you." Then Elijah said that the Lord had sent him to Jordan; Elisha said, "I'm going with you." In other words, Elisha never said that the Lord had also sent him to those places. Every time that Elijah ever did anything or went anywhere, it was because the Lord told him. Check all the references to Elijah. He is mentioned in 1 Kings 17 through 2 Kings 2. So Elijah went only where the Lord told him to go, except for one time. That one time is recorded in 1 Kings 19:3 when Jezebel, wife of Ahab, told Elijah that she was going to kill him. After Elijah had slain all 450 prophets of Baal, Elijah ran for his life at the threat of a woman. The Lord never told Elijah to go. This is borne out in 1 Kings 19:9 and 13, when the Lord came to Elijah and twice said to him, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" In other words, what are you doing here? I never sent you here. In contrast, we have not yet found even one verse where Elisha says that the Lord sent him anywhere. He just went. Elisha was attracted by what he saw in Elijah. Elijah was attracted by the Lord. There IS a difference!

Should we forget that Elijah was a man of spiritual substance when he was caught up in the whirlwind? Is it possible that Elijah knew that Elisha was not ready for the ministry that Elijah knew about? Is that why Elijah, on every occasion in 2 Kings 2, told Elisha to "Tarry here, I pray thee." We believe that it was more than possible. TARRY! Wait patiently on the Lord. What a difficult thing that is for us to do! Volume 5 will contain a separate chapter on the virtue of patience.

Elisha saw something in Elijah that attracted him. He was attracted by the miracles. What Elisha asked for, he received. He did twice as many miracles (sixteen as compared to eight recorded for Elijah). He excelled in the external. How did he fare with the more important part of the internal? Yes, it is true that the Lord had told Elijah (1 Kings 19:16) to anoint Elisha "to be prophet in thy room." So Elisha was called, and perhaps chosen; but was he faithful? (Revelation 17:14) Solomon was also called and chosen. What was the end of Solomon?

Well, after Elijah had been taken up in a whirlwind, Elisha picked up Elijah's mantle and went back to Jordan (2 Kings 2:13). Then Elisha went back to Jericho (2 Kings 2:18); then Elisha went back to Bethel (2 Kings 2:23); then he went back to Gilgal (2 Kings 4:3). So Elisha retraced his steps and returned to his beginnings. It also seems that the Lord gave Elisha the same opportunities that He gave to Elijah. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah just appears on the scene and makes a bold prophecy in verse one, which the Lord honored. This is comparable to Elisha in 2 Kings 2:14. However, the Lord desired to work something within both prophets. So the Lord sent Elijah to a widow woman as part of his refinement process (1 Kings 17:9). We believe that the Lord sent Elisha to the great (but unnamed) woman in 2 Kings 4 so that Elisha might be refined. We are not so sure that Elisha ever got the message.

So Elisha did many miracles; but Elijah was a man of inner substance. The Lord says that He will send you Elijah (not Elisha) the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). That verse has not yet been fulfilled. Will the Elijah still to come be the same as the manifestation of the sons of God in Romans 8:19? That gets us right back to Christ in you, the hope of glory!

Moreover, Jesus warned us,

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

Matthew 24:24

Therefore, do not be quick to run after the great miracle workers. 

Now, what does this have to do with current events? Well, it means the same thing that it has throughout the centuries. Jesus talked about, in the Gospel of John, those whose desire was to see the miracles. To whom do believers today flock to by the thousands? Those who have spectacular ministries of healing and miracles. People have always been attracted to the miraculous. Are these ministries and gifts genuine? For the most part, yes. But is there any real substance therein? Only the Lord knows. But there always seem to be more Elishas than Elijahs.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21‑23

The message in all of this could be the same as in Amos 5:4‑6: 

4 For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye Me, and ye shall live:

5 But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.

6 Seek the Lord and ye shall live;

The corresponding word might say: Seek the Lord Himself, the origin of all miracles, the only true miracle worker; but seek not miracles, and ye shall live. Are you looking for a miracle or for the One who is the source of all true and lasting miracles? 

The Toronto Blessing

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are surely sought out by many, it seemed good to us also, having had the same imperfect understanding of these things as others, to write on the topic of the Toronto Blessing, which was an apparent outpouring about 12 or so years ago.

If anyone were to ask us whether we take sides with or against the Toronto blessing, the answer is neither of the above. We are sure that those believers who have journeyed to Toronto to see and perhaps experience the Toronto blessing have gone with vastly different motivations. Some have gone out of curiosity. Others have gone expecting a blessing. Still others have gone as skeptics. Others have gone, perhaps hoping for a miracle. Only the Lord knows our 

motivations, our hearts. But there are some general principles that apply in this case as well as all of the other cases that have gone before: 

(1) Whatever the Lord says unto you, do it (John 2:5).

(2) Anything that furthers the kingdom of God on earth, within any believer, should be encouraged.

(3) It is far better to seek the Lord than to seek a blessing from the Lord. The Lord told Abraham, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1). Whereupon Abram turned right around and said, "Lord God, what wilt Thou give me?" Abram just did not understand (at that point in time). But he became Abraham, the father of many nations.

(4) Whenever multitudes of believers are all going in a certain direction, look at it again very carefully. Many are called but few are chosen. The Lord has always worked with small numbers. A good example is Gideon's 300. Abraham, with his 318 men, pursued after four "good" kings with their tens of thousands, in order to rescue Lot. David had his 400 men (1 Samuel 22:1). Jesus chose twelve men to be close to Him. He could have chosen twelve hundred!

(5) The Lord's arm is not shortened. Whatever He does in Toronto, He can also do in your town, USA. Any place where the hearts are right, the Lord can, does, and will work His nature into us and His marvelous works around us.

(6) Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). 

We have no idea who coined the phrase "Toronto blessing." But if the "Toronto blessing" was the latest move of God, why not call it the Lord's blessing? Historically, even in our lifetime, there have been many side‑currents, many tangents, which thousands of believers have run after. No doubt all of these tangents have periodically repeated themselves. The greatest tangent of all is yet to come. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 24:23, 26‑27.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Jesus also spoke about the greatest blessing of all. It is recorded in Matthew 5. The greatest blessing is for those who are poor in spirit; who mourn (for the will of God to be done in the life of every believer); who are meek; who hunger and thirst after righteousness; who are merciful; who are pure in heart; who are peacemakers; who are persecuted for righteousness' sake; and who are reviled and persecuted, falsely, for His sake. We don't see anything self‑seeking about any of these blessings. Lord, teach us the difference between the holy and the profane; and cause us to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Chapter 20: Experiencing The Glory Of God

As a little background, I am not a person who is naturally oriented toward a great display of emotions. I remember, as a small child, when I still believed in Santa Claus, getting up on Christmas morning, going down the stairs to see what Santa had left, but never shouting with glee, even though I was showered with many Christmas presents. But in the summer of 1998, for one of the few times in my life as a believer, I thought that I might be translated. I was listening to two songs on a cassette tape over and over again for a period of about one hour. (Words to these two songs are below. These are now two of my favorite songs.) There was no other person in the house. There were times when I sang the words myself (the tape was an instrumental) and other times when I just listened to the music. I found myself sobbing deeply. I believe it was because I was so caught up with the goodness of God in my life and the glory of God. I had no thought of anything for myself, my family, or other believers. I was just overcome with the Person of the Lord Himself. Somewhere during this time period I heard a word from the Lord. The effect of that word could be summarized by 2 Chronicles 5:13‑14:

13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;

14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

The essence of the word that I heard was that if there were an assembly of saints in our geographical area, and if the hearts of the believers who assembled were all in one accord to minister to the Lord and only to the Lord, then the result of 2 Chronicles 5:14 would be repeated; i.e., the glory of God would fill the temple such that the priests could not stand to minister. Two major conditions to that word must be emphasized:

(1) the hearts of the believers assembled must be in one accord to minister to the Lord; and

(2) ministry would be only to the Lord Himself; i.e., no ministry to other believers.

The second condition rules out much of the activity in church gatherings at all levels today; i.e., no teaching and no preaching. Of course there is a time and a place for ministry on a horizontal level, but that would not be the purpose of the gathering that I heard about.

Well, when I heard that word, I did nothing for a short season, partly because I had been in such a high spiritual state at that time. In about two weeks, I heard the same word. But this time there was no music involved and no possibility of an emotional high. Therefore, I decided to relate this word to you for your consideration and possible action.

I have had some major thoughts concerning the essence of this word. First of all, a repeat of the effects of 2 Chronicles 5:13‑14 could occur in any geographical location, provided the pre‑conditions are met. Secondly, this is a very difficult word to communicate. Is there any genuine believer anywhere who would not want to see the glory of God manifested? I think not. But herein lies the difficulty. The motivation must not be to experience the glory of God. The motivation must be to minister to the Lord Himself and only to the Lord. Furthermore, there should not be any thought or hint of motivation to get something for myself, not even things that are ordained by God for His saints. Consider Solomon's (apparent) motivation when God asked him what he wanted. In 2 Chronicles 1:10, Solomon said that he wanted wisdom and knowledge in order to judge God's people. This attitude was very favorably received by God, culminating in 2 Chronicles 5:14. Now compare, please, Solomon's attitude and the motivation that I am trying to express. Which of the two do you believe would be more acceptable?

A good verse to summarize what our motivation should be is found in Colossians 3:2, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Many years ago I heard a good brother make essentially the following observation:

You probably have heard the saying that someone is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good. Well, in reality, unless you are heavenly minded, you will be NO earthly good.

The first mention of the function of the Levitical priesthood is:

At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name, unto this day. Deuteronomy 10:8

These three functions of the priesthood of all believers still exist today.

(1) to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord (which corresponds to "Christ in you, the hope of glory.") Surely somewhere toward the bottom line is God's desire for the formation of the fullness of Christ within each believer.

(2) to stand before the Lord to minister unto Him, and

(3) to bless in His name. Several verses, such as Leviticus 9:22 and Numbers 6:23, seem to indicate that this refers to our horizontal ministry.

The order has meaning and is significant ‑ a priority order for every believer. Is it possible that the church has reversed this order? To answer this question, consider the amount of time devoted to each function in gatherings of believers. The time devoted to function (3) is way ahead of the others.

But also note that in 2 Chronicles 5:13 the priests were only exercising function (2) ‑ they were standing before the Lord to minister unto Him (verse 12 confirms that they were standing). There is no mention in these verses of any horizontal ministry. And what happened? As they were in one accord (one mind, one motivation) and stood before the Lord to minister to Him, God sovereignly moved them into phase (1) ‑ the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

Lord help us to get our priorities straight. Lord help us to identify with You in all things. Lord help us to see things as You see them. Lord help us to purify our hearts. That we may stand before You to minister unto You, with no thought for ourselves.

The Servant King                                             Spirit of the Living God

From heaven You came helpless Babe,           Spirit of the living God,
Entered our world, Your glory veiled;             fall afresh on me.
Not to be served but to serve,                          Spirit of the living God,
And give Your life that we might live.            fall afresh on me.
Fill me anew,                                                    fill me anew.
There in the garden of tears,                            Spirit of the Lord,
My heavy load He chose to bear;                     fall afresh on me.
His heart with sorrow was torn,
Yet not My will but Yours He said.

Come see His hands and His feet,
The scars that speak of sacrifice.
Hands that flung stars into space,
To cruel nails surrendered.

So let us learn how to serve,
And in our lives enthrone Him.
Each other's needs to prefer,
For it is Christ we're serving.

Chorus:

This is our God, the servant King, He calls us now to follow Him.
To bring our lives as a daily offering Of worship to the servant King.