God Will

At the dawn of a new year, many people seize the opportunity to make resolutions.  Whether or not they tend to stick is beside the point!  It is not just a new year which can motivate a person to promise or pledge to do things differently.  For some it may be ill-fitting pants which lead to more regular exercise.  It could be a close call behind the wheel which prompts someone to stop drink-driving.  A decision to change doesn't always end with the desired change, but few positive changes in life occur without acknowledging we need to change.  The human will is incredibly strong, but it doesn't mean we always do what we say we will.

A couple things I love about God is He is good and He does not change.  When He says He will do something, He will.  It may not look like anything is happening, and it may seem like an eternity before progress is made.  God will always be true to His Word, and when we meet His conditions we can place our complete confidence in Him.  This morning I read a wonderful thing for us to say we will do (and actually follow through) in Psalm 91:2:  "I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust."  Upon legal tender used in the United States it is written, "In God We Trust."  Have you discovered trusting God is not something to say but to do?  The amazing thing is when we place our faith in God He will follow through without fail to render to us specific blessings out of His grace.

Later in Psalm 91 the voice of the passage changes.  Instead of speaking about God from the third person, it shifts to the first person voice.  God has resolved in Psalm 91:14-16, "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."  See all the things God has promised to do for all who trust in Him?  I will deliver him; I will set him on high; I will answer his prayers; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver and honour him; I will satisfy him with long life; I will show him My salvation.  Will you speak of the LORD and trust in Him?  Blessings beyond count and compare are given by God to all who do so!  Let us be ever resolute in faith as we depend upon God's strength, and praise God all He says He will do.

Enabled to Stand

It all started like a regular day at church:  there was prayer, fellowship, and giving.  Things changed after a large financial gift was presented to the church leadership.  Instead of commendation, blessing, and acknowledgement, there was rebuke.  It was divinely revealed the man had only given a portion of what he claimed, and suddenly he fell down dead.  This was a day at church no one would ever forget, and three hours later it became even more crazy when the wife of the man also fell down dead in the congregation for lying to God.  This is a true story, and you can read about the demise of Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts chapter 5.

The Bible says great fear came upon all those who heard these things, and the wise today still take notice.  After teaching this portion of scripture at church this weekend, I put myself in the place of a congregant in the church in Jerusalem.  How would I felt to see these sudden deaths for lying to the Holy Spirit?  Then I started thinking, what if something like this happened in church today?  What would be your response if this happened in your church on Sunday?  What would you tell your children who were eye-witnesses?  Would you keep going to that church, would you look for other church options, or would you quit going to church altogether?  Though the early church met from house to house, there was only one "Christian" church option in Jerusalem.  How might have this display of power affected you or your worship?

I cannot speak for you, but seeing Ananias and Sapphira fall down dead would not have put me off following Jesus or gathering to worship in Jerusalem.  The word of knowledge through Peter, the discernment provided by the Holy Spirit, and the power over life and death proved the presence of God was there.  As a lover of God, where else would you go?  Wonders, healings, and deliverance from evil spirits continued in the name of Jesus Christ by the apostles and believers, and people were added to the church continually.  Why?  Jesus alone has the words of life and only through faith in Jesus is forgiveness and salvation.  The God who kills can also make alive, and all who have been born again through the Gospel can rely upon the goodness, mercy, and grace of God forever.

It would not be long before persecution scattered the true church in Jerusalem across the globe.  New churches united in the name of Jesus sprang up in every place, having been grafted into the body of Christ.  Today we have the benefit of various expressions of faith and fellowship in Jesus Christ, and like nomads many believers drift from fellowship to fellowship looking for something.  If the words of life - the teaching of the Word of God - are absent, it should be no surprise if the power and presence of God is quiet.  Praise the LORD Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to fill every Christian, and even in a church gathering some might classify as "dead" there is new life ready to spring forth.  Let us be as those in the early church, brave pioneers who were glad to continue meeting even when people fell beside them.  Followers of Jesus can say with assurance, "A thousand may fall at my side but it will not come near me." (from Ps. 91:7)  As God enables us to stand, may we do so in purity, holiness, righteousness, and power.

The God Who Is

God is not like a person who conveys, "Do as I say but not as I do."  He is not like a parent who needs to apologise after doing or saying something they forbid of their children.  He is utterly consistent in His righteousness and purity.  His holiness reaches infinitely beyond our ability to ascertain, and He says truly of Himself:  "I am the LORD; I change not."

Romans 1:31 sums up the condition of a sinner worthy of death with five words which are the antithesis of the of character of God:  "undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful."  Having established His throne on righteousness, God is the source and sustainer of all life.  God is discerning, knowing all things.  He is absolutely trustworthy for He cannot tell a lie.  God is loving, demonstrating this reality by sending Jesus Christ to save sinners.  He is forgiving, a quality not found in men who nurse grudges and remember wrongs done against them.  He also delights to show mercy because He is merciful.  This is the God who was, is, and is to come.  He is our Creator and divine sovereign who is worthy to be worshipped and praised.

Though we have all been undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, and unmerciful, we sinners can be born again and sanctified by the grace of God.  The wickedness which marked our lives we cannot undo, yet God can make us new with a clean slate.  Because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us, our thoughts, motives, and ability to perceive spiritual truth begins to align more with His.  Naturally in us there is no good thing (Romans 7:18), and thus any attribute deemed good has been gifted by God to us.  How we need Him, and may we do more than appreciate Him:  let us praise Him, exalt Him, and honour Him now and forever.

Eyes Open to See

"And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."

2 Kings 6:17

It seemed like a hopeless situation:  the Syrian army surrounded the city of Dothan to bring Elisha to the king.  When the servant of Elisha saw they were surrounded by this great force he was overwhelmed.  He said, "Alas my master!  How shall we do?"  "Alas" is a word used to express pity, grief, or concern.  The servant of Elisha realised he and the inhabitants of the city were out of their depth given the tenuous situation, and given the circumstances it is likely most people would have panicked.

The perspective of Elisha was quite different than his servant.  Elisha didn't ask what they should do because he knew something his servant did not:  they were not alone or forsaken.  God was with them and had the situation completely in hand.  He said in 2 Kings 6:16, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant, and then he was divinely enabled to see the Syrian army was completely surrounded by horses and chariots of fire.  God could have laid waste to His enemies in a moment, yet He would have them live.  When the Syrians came to arrest Elisha they were struck blind and he led them to Samaria.  After feeding them he sent them on their way.

I wonder how many times we are lamenting an overwhelming situation like Elisha's servant when Jesus our Master has everything in hand?  How often have we been afraid because our eyes have been closed to God's promises and presence in our lives?  Walking by sight things seem impossible, yet with God all things are possible.  He has all knowledge and power at His disposal, and He is gracious to deliver and save.  This passage shows even those who rise up against God and His people benefit from His grace.  May God open our eyes to see we are never alone and can have complete confidence in the God who sees and knows all.

It is a little thing for Christians to perceive potential danger or opposition rising against us.  It is obvious we live in a world where there is great animosity against God and His people.  Those who know God and whose eyes have been opened to see remember those who are with us are more than those who are with them.  Elisha and his servant were two among countless foes, yet because God was with them they were the far stronger side.  Praise the LORD for this!