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EXODUS 25:17-19
“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat.
We know — do we not — that gold in the Bible speaks of God Almighty, The Divinity, The Most High. Study of Exodus and God’s word about the building of His House — The Tabernacle — tells us that clearly and unambiguously. In the natural realm, gold is unique. Here is what I found from research some years ago.
“if you shrink gold down to a nanoparticle, its properties change dramatically. Its colour changes, it becomes a very good catalyst, and is no longer a metal - instead it turns into a semiconductor.
Even today, ultra-thin gold is being used on buildings and aircraft windows - thin film of gold displays some unusual characteristics.
“When processed in ultra-thin sheets, gold becomes transparent. It allows green light waves to pass through, but reflects infra-red light. Windows coated with gold admit light but reflect heat. Therefore, the cockpit windows of modern aircraft are coated with gold, as well as the windows of many new office buildings.
“On the nanoscale, gold becomes a potent catalyst, exhibiting new and surprising, chemical, mechanical, electrical and magnetic behaviour, which could not have been extrapolated or predicted on the basis of our knowledge about this substance in the bulk form.”
WE didn't know, but GOD knew! He knows what He is doing with gold. All this is very technical, but it reveals to us now that gold is a uniquely exceptional substance.
However, the real point here is that gold is used for the Mercy Seat. Exodus describes it and the Cherubim as ‘of one piece’ and made of ‘pure gold’. ‘Hammered gold’ is gold that is thinned out by bearing, so the strange elastic properties of gold were well understood at the time.
But all this is background to the heavenly reality of what is expounded here, which is that our Lord and God is a God of mercy at the very heart of His divinity. The gold of the Cherubim and the Mercy Seat speaks of the nature of God in a way that no other thing of the earth can do. There may be rarer substances, but nothing has the divine heaviness, elasticity or warm brilliance of gold.
In the same way, no-one but Our Lord God has the same depth, power or awesome ability which infinitely exceeds our understanding, and yet touches each one of us in the innermost parts to save, heal, uplift and perfect in His Grace and Mercy. Here is the real gold in scripture — the picture of the reality of God, which is Christ within you, the hope of glory.
However, the real point here is that gold is used for the Mercy Seat. Exodus describes it and the Cherubim as ‘of one piece’ and made of ‘pure gold’. ‘Hammered gold’ is gold that is thinned out by bearing, so the strange elastic properties of gold were well understood at the time.
But all this is background to the heavenly reality of what is expounded here, which is that our Lord and God is a God of mercy at the very heart of His divinity. The gold of the Cherubim and the Mercy Seat speaks of the nature of God in a way that no other thing of the earth can do. There may be rarer substances, but nothing has the divine heaviness, elasticity or warm brilliance of gold.
In the same way, no-one but Our Lord God has the same depth, power or awesome ability which infinitely exceeds our understanding, and yet touches each one of us in the innermost parts to save, heal, uplift and perfect in His Grace and Mercy. Here is the real gold in scripture — the picture of the reality of God, which is Christ within you, the hope of glory.
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 CORINTHIANS 7:1
THE MERCY SEAT — Vicki Yohe
When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on this earth.
A W TOZER
#537 COMING NEXT… THOSE WHO WAIT UPON THE LORD
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LEVITICUS 24:5-9
“And you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it. Two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake.
You shall set them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before the LORD.
And you shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
Every Sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him from the offerings of the LORD made by fire, by a perpetual statute.”
The reading comes from a passage in the book of Leviticus, setting out details for the Great Feast of Tabernacles, and sets out the order for the Table of Shewbread and how the pure frankincense was to be put on the bread as a memorial and a perpetual statute.
What is frankincense? From research it seems to be a remarkable substance. When burnt the frankincense resin becomes white (which is often taken to represent purity or holiness), but research has shown that it has healing some properties — asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoarthritis among others are conditions noted. Whether there is great efficacy in the substance or not, these two qualities, coupled with its rarity would be reason enough to include it among the three gifts to the infant Jesus.
The frankincense was part of what was called ‘the grain offering, and we read in Nehemiah 13:9 Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense. We see that the frankincense is intimately connected with the grain offering in the tabernacle. And the grain offering is one made by fire. Fire takes the perfume, the aroma, the incense of the frankincense and makes it the sweet smelling savour, which goes through the veil into the holy of holies in the tabernacle. Remember that this offering made by fire happens in the Holy Place and is symbolic of the purification — the becoming holy — of the believer, in a walk with The Lord.
This gift of frankincense to the Holy Child Jesus was to reveal His future as holiness itself revealed in this world as a sign that God was being made manifest in His Son — that holiness was possible and indeed was in the world through the fire — the suffering of His Son and the saints. Heady scents and spices are always associated with the Spirit realm, just as are clouds, the air and anything insubstantial to our eyes.. These things reveal the Almighty in our everyday experience. We should be paying attention.
What is frankincense? From research it seems to be a remarkable substance. When burnt the frankincense resin becomes white (which is often taken to represent purity or holiness), but research has shown that it has healing some properties — asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoarthritis among others are conditions noted. Whether there is great efficacy in the substance or not, these two qualities, coupled with its rarity would be reason enough to include it among the three gifts to the infant Jesus.
The frankincense was part of what was called ‘the grain offering, and we read in Nehemiah 13:9 Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense. We see that the frankincense is intimately connected with the grain offering in the tabernacle. And the grain offering is one made by fire. Fire takes the perfume, the aroma, the incense of the frankincense and makes it the sweet smelling savour, which goes through the veil into the holy of holies in the tabernacle. Remember that this offering made by fire happens in the Holy Place and is symbolic of the purification — the becoming holy — of the believer, in a walk with The Lord.
This gift of frankincense to the Holy Child Jesus was to reveal His future as holiness itself revealed in this world as a sign that God was being made manifest in His Son — that holiness was possible and indeed was in the world through the fire — the suffering of His Son and the saints. Heady scents and spices are always associated with the Spirit realm, just as are clouds, the air and anything insubstantial to our eyes.. These things reveal the Almighty in our everyday experience. We should be paying attention.
A garden enclosed
Is my sister, my spouse,
A spring shut up,
A fountain sealed.
Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates
With pleasant fruits,
Fragrant henna with spikenard,
Spikenard and saffron,
Calamus and cinnamon,
With all trees of frankincense,
Myrrh and aloes,
With all the chief spices--
A fountain of gardens,
A well of living waters,
And streams from Lebanon.
SONG OF SONGS 4:12-15
GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, MYRRH — Natalie Kendel
“The Holy Spirit is in charge here. We should write it for all to see on the lintels of every doorway we build. But since that might seem like so many words, we will do better: we will write it in our lives. And in all the lives we can reach out to and touch and inspire with the living Spirit of God.”
DAVID WILKERSON, ‘The Cross and The Switchblade’
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE:
COMING NEXT… #536 GOLD: A MERCY SEAT
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MATTHEW 26:7-13
A woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.
Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
This very costly fragrant oil is myrrh, a perfumed oil often mentioned in scripture. It was said to be an oil used as an anointing for burial, as well as an holy oil used to anoint the tabernacle, high priests and kings. For Jesus, it was one of the gifts — along with gold and frankincense — brought by the wise men at His birth.
We see that this event from Matthew’s gospel holds a special place in Jesus’ story for it reveals the beginning and end of His earthly existence and relates this with a holy oil confirming Him as our King of kings and Great High Priest. The anointing oil is the carrier of the Holy Spirit’s touch — the sanctity of that intimate relationship between God and His king and priest. Scripture tells us that all who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour are kings and priests in His service.
Only recently we have witnessed an example of the continuing significance of this, with the use of Anointing Oil in the coronation ceremony for King Charles III, and although this very costly fragrant oil was an olive oil perfumed with rose, jasmine, cinnamon, amber, sesame, orange blossom and neroli, the event was the most important and intimate part of the ceremony. For this reason it was not shown publically or revealed on television, with the King obscured from view under a canopy.
The significance of the event described by Matthew is that the very costly fragrant oil poured on Jesus’ head is described shortly before the crucifixion story unfolds, and the apostles’ objections to ‘this waste’ of the oil reveals once again their stuckness in natural understanding, unable perhaps to see the spiritual significance. Jesus was being given a great anointing and Holy Spirit strengthening by Father God for His final hours on earth. He was being anointed for burial — For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial He says — and thus is given supernatural life to take Him through the Cross and into everlasting life.
The import of that gift of Myrrh by the Wise Men is now revealed, and unveils to our understanding part of the deeper truth that makes Christmas such a special time of remembrance and celebration.
We see that this event from Matthew’s gospel holds a special place in Jesus’ story for it reveals the beginning and end of His earthly existence and relates this with a holy oil confirming Him as our King of kings and Great High Priest. The anointing oil is the carrier of the Holy Spirit’s touch — the sanctity of that intimate relationship between God and His king and priest. Scripture tells us that all who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour are kings and priests in His service.
Only recently we have witnessed an example of the continuing significance of this, with the use of Anointing Oil in the coronation ceremony for King Charles III, and although this very costly fragrant oil was an olive oil perfumed with rose, jasmine, cinnamon, amber, sesame, orange blossom and neroli, the event was the most important and intimate part of the ceremony. For this reason it was not shown publically or revealed on television, with the King obscured from view under a canopy.
The significance of the event described by Matthew is that the very costly fragrant oil poured on Jesus’ head is described shortly before the crucifixion story unfolds, and the apostles’ objections to ‘this waste’ of the oil reveals once again their stuckness in natural understanding, unable perhaps to see the spiritual significance. Jesus was being given a great anointing and Holy Spirit strengthening by Father God for His final hours on earth. He was being anointed for burial — For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial He says — and thus is given supernatural life to take Him through the Cross and into everlasting life.
The import of that gift of Myrrh by the Wise Men is now revealed, and unveils to our understanding part of the deeper truth that makes Christmas such a special time of remembrance and celebration.
Moreover the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
“Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane,
five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil.
And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.
EXODUS 30:22-25
FRESH OIL — New Wine
Worshippers aren't made when they see the enemy on the run, put to flight. The truth is, worshippers of God are made during dark, stormy nights. And how we respond to our storms determines just what kind of worshippers we are.
DAVID WILKERSON
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT… #535 FRANKINCENSE: AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE
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JAMES 2:8-10
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you do well;
but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
Inability into ability. This is the essence of the learning process. We begin unable to do anything of ourselves to become like our Lord. Only by accepting Christ Jesus in the deepest parts of ourselves can we ever come to any sort of the perfection we seek. But do we really want that? Dare I say that most of us desire the comfort, the peace that Jesus gives, of course, but maybe settle for the sentimental, the cosy association with Jesus, which is not the fullness of His life in us at all.
As it dawns on us that this is all so hard, that He demands an excellence, a standard which is unobtainable to any one of us; and yet it is a standard which the law demands as we read in this passage from James, and it is something that must be held to if we are to reach our desired goal in His Kingdom. How can our absolute inability to reach that standard be turned from inability into ability? After all, we read that For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble on one point, he is guilty of all.
Without doubt there is a demand on each one to step up and endeavour to raise our sights to that highest calling. It requires a deep commitment to attain the impossible, but the very impossibility (of fulfilling the law) by ourselves, puts such a life out of our reach. We are adrift in rough seas with only a distant sight of the promised land. It will take more than every fibre within us to reach that goal. Only by the Holy Spirit can we rise.
Christ within us speeds us across the surface of the waters to the land we seek. It requires trust in something where our natural inclination says there is no trust; it requires faith in what seems a vapour, a shadow, a vague form hardly seen in the corner of the eye. And yet… if we have had a touch from Him, we know that this insubstantial, barely glimpsed light at the edge of experience is our only hope. Reaching out to grasp the ungraspable, to touch the untouchable — to touch the hem (the very edge) of His garment, creates an everlasting bond with the Almighty.
Does that sound too fanciful to your ear? It should do to any reasonable man, and yet it is the truth to anyone that the Lord has sought. Our Lord Jesus is not reason — He is Spirit and Truth. Open your heart to Him. In your hour of need He will appear. What does He require of the one who seeks Him? Repentance — and the very act of seeking Him acknowledges that repentance; that we cannot attain our hearts true desire without laying down our life and taking up His. He will redeem.
As it dawns on us that this is all so hard, that He demands an excellence, a standard which is unobtainable to any one of us; and yet it is a standard which the law demands as we read in this passage from James, and it is something that must be held to if we are to reach our desired goal in His Kingdom. How can our absolute inability to reach that standard be turned from inability into ability? After all, we read that For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble on one point, he is guilty of all.
Without doubt there is a demand on each one to step up and endeavour to raise our sights to that highest calling. It requires a deep commitment to attain the impossible, but the very impossibility (of fulfilling the law) by ourselves, puts such a life out of our reach. We are adrift in rough seas with only a distant sight of the promised land. It will take more than every fibre within us to reach that goal. Only by the Holy Spirit can we rise.
Christ within us speeds us across the surface of the waters to the land we seek. It requires trust in something where our natural inclination says there is no trust; it requires faith in what seems a vapour, a shadow, a vague form hardly seen in the corner of the eye. And yet… if we have had a touch from Him, we know that this insubstantial, barely glimpsed light at the edge of experience is our only hope. Reaching out to grasp the ungraspable, to touch the untouchable — to touch the hem (the very edge) of His garment, creates an everlasting bond with the Almighty.
Does that sound too fanciful to your ear? It should do to any reasonable man, and yet it is the truth to anyone that the Lord has sought. Our Lord Jesus is not reason — He is Spirit and Truth. Open your heart to Him. In your hour of need He will appear. What does He require of the one who seeks Him? Repentance — and the very act of seeking Him acknowledges that repentance; that we cannot attain our hearts true desire without laying down our life and taking up His. He will redeem.
Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by,
You know He’s not too busy to hear your heart’s cry.
He is passing by this moment, your needs to supply,
Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-5
REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE LORD.
God is not done with you; he is not done with me. He is showing you and me mercy and kindness so that it can flow out of you and me to people who do not yet know him, to sinners of all kinds. The Lord does not fight with the weapons with which the enemy fights. Our God is a God of love who combats the hatred and bitterness of the world with love and tender mercy. And he is shaping us so that we too may have a tender, gentle spirit. Would you soften our hearts, oh God?
DAVID WILKERSON
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT… #534 MYRRH: A VERY COSTLY FRAGRANT OIL
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1 TIMOTHY 1:3-7
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,
desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
These verses from 1 Timothy are special. ‘Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart”. Not ‘with a pure heart’, but ‘from a pure heart’. There is a difference, albeit a subtle one, and what I mean is this. To love with a pure heart, suggests that each of us might have that pure heart, yet we know that our Lord Jesus Christ was alone in having a pure heart, complete holiness; all of which He received from the Heavenly Father.
Thus we can be assured that the love that Paul states is the purpose of the commandment, is the love that is in our hearts because Christ lives within each saint as the hope of glory. Each of us can only ever have a pure, clean and unadulterated heart if that heart is His not ours.
In Hebrews, chapter 10, there is mention of a true heart, which the Amplified Bible translates as ‘having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.’ Paul, in our verses today speaks of love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. and this is witnessed to in Hebrews.
Thus we can see three qualifying factors to fulfill the commandment…
None of these are possible for any one of us without the Lord Jesus Christ residing in our innermost being. It reminds me of this song…
Thus we can be assured that the love that Paul states is the purpose of the commandment, is the love that is in our hearts because Christ lives within each saint as the hope of glory. Each of us can only ever have a pure, clean and unadulterated heart if that heart is His not ours.
In Hebrews, chapter 10, there is mention of a true heart, which the Amplified Bible translates as ‘having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.’ Paul, in our verses today speaks of love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. and this is witnessed to in Hebrews.
Thus we can see three qualifying factors to fulfill the commandment…
- Love from a pure heart
- Love from a good conscience
- Love from sincere faith
None of these are possible for any one of us without the Lord Jesus Christ residing in our innermost being. It reminds me of this song…
Out of my innermost being
Rivers of water flow.
Out of my innermost being
Life celestial grows.
Out of my innermost being
Banishing all my fears
Out of my innermost being
Jesus The Christ appears.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled [cleansed; purified] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
HEBREWS 10:21-25
WITH A CLEAN HEART (I WILL MAGNIFY YOUR NAME) — Devonshire Road Sunday Worship
Everything you go through as a Christian is a training exercise behind which God has a divine purpose. He did not save you so that you could cruise into paradise on a luxury liner; He saved
you to prepare you to be of use in His kingdom. The moment you were born again, He enrolled you in His school of suffering. And every affliction, every trial, is another lesson in the curriculum.
DAVID WILKERSON
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT... #533 INABILITY INTO ABILITY
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PSALM 121
I will lift up my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
This Psalm takes me back to my childhood; to school assembly; to the things my parents (particularly my mother) taught me. The words of the hymn, which has been included in this meditation, resonate clearly in my early experience. The words of Proverbs 22:6 come to mind ….
Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Well, like so many of us, I departed from it. The thing is that it did not depart from me, although I did not know it, and now I believe that it serves me well, and the words ingrained from my early years reverberate in my mind and are readily recalled without effort… and dare I say, without intent on my part. That is the wonder and the mystery of our Lord’s touch on our hearts at that time in our lives.
What I say could be taken as a condemnation to any who do not train their children to know Jesus in their formative years. It is not my intent, and indeed it is readily seen that The Lord can touch any heart at its deepest level at any time, young or old. The call to lift your eyes to the hills… or if your prefer, to look to the heavenly realms and see salvation, can come at any time, in any place, in whatever state we are in. I am convinced with Paul that…
What I say could be taken as a condemnation to any who do not train their children to know Jesus in their formative years. It is not my intent, and indeed it is readily seen that The Lord can touch any heart at its deepest level at any time, young or old. The call to lift your eyes to the hills… or if your prefer, to look to the heavenly realms and see salvation, can come at any time, in any place, in whatever state we are in. I am convinced with Paul that…
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
2 TIMOTHY 1:12
Just look at His promises in this psalm…
These seven promises are the complete and abiding cover over every aspect of a life submitted to Him, one which looks heavenwards and acknowledges that my help comes from The Lord and from Him alone. But see that these promises are also the nature of our God. He promises to be Himself to us for all time; indeed beyond all time, for He is not bound to such restrictions. What all this resolves as — for me at least — is Fear not, for I am with you, says the Lord.
- He will not allow your foot to be moved.
- He who keeps you will not slumber.
- The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
- The Lord shall protect you from all evil.
- He shall preserve your soul.
- The Lord shall protect your going out and your coming in.
- Even forevermore
These seven promises are the complete and abiding cover over every aspect of a life submitted to Him, one which looks heavenwards and acknowledges that my help comes from The Lord and from Him alone. But see that these promises are also the nature of our God. He promises to be Himself to us for all time; indeed beyond all time, for He is not bound to such restrictions. What all this resolves as — for me at least — is Fear not, for I am with you, says the Lord.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS...
‘Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
ISAIAH 41:10
I TO THE HILLS WILL LIFT MINE EYES
PRAYER REQUIRES WORSHIP...
THE REASON PRAYER is so important is, first of all, because our Lord told us that prayer is the most mighty factor He has put into our hands, and second, because of the personal presence of the Holy Spirit in the day in which we live. We receive our knowledge of the Holy Spirit not by experience first, but by the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The testimony of Jesus Christ regarding the Holy Spirit is that He is here, and the real living experience the Holy Spirit works in us is that all His emphasis is laid on glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ. We know the Holy Spirit first by the testimony of Jesus, and then by the conscious enjoyment of His presence.
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’ by Oswald Chambers]
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT… #532 LOVE FROM A PURE HEART
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1 PETER 4:7-11
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.
If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
War erupting in Gaza has brought the idea of the end of all things to the forefront of our minds, coming as it does, hot on the heels of the Russian war in Ukraine. We stand horrified as our world seems to crumble about us. Surely we are in ‘the end times’ and yet the apostle Peter stated 2000 years ago that the end of all things is at hand!
The ‘End Times’ and the ‘End of All Things’ is an oft repeated concept in Scripture, and furthermore, one whose meaning fluctuates depending on the context. In 1 Peter 4, the apostle uses the word ‘all’ to mean ‘all, any, every and the whole thing’ — which can be taken to refer to us either individually or collectively. We understand, of course, that God is in control…
The ‘End Times’ and the ‘End of All Things’ is an oft repeated concept in Scripture, and furthermore, one whose meaning fluctuates depending on the context. In 1 Peter 4, the apostle uses the word ‘all’ to mean ‘all, any, every and the whole thing’ — which can be taken to refer to us either individually or collectively. We understand, of course, that God is in control…
The Portion of Jacob is not like them,
For He is the Maker of all things,
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The LORD of hosts is His name.
JEREMIAH 10:16
Jeremiah’s verse tells us that Our God is the Maker of all things, and thus all things are His to dispose as He wills, indeed that we are all His inheritance. Everything is under His hand. It is therefore our expectation that this end of all things is either more ‘at hand’ than ever before, or that maybe this is an exaggeration for effect. Certainly we are beset by life-threatening events at every turn, so that if it is not climate change, or war, or the rise in charismatic (to some) world leaders, bent on crazy agendas, or the spread of civil discontent and disorder across the earth, then it is the besetting sin of humanity that is pulling the rug out from under itself.
The truth is that the end of all things is an ever present state of affairs. We neither know nor can ever know when that moment will finally dawn, even though we may think that we discern the signs. Only God knows, thus as believers with the hope of glory deep in us, we should turn our eyes from the Satanic work, focussing instead on The Lord. Look to the light is the only way.
JOB 37:21 says Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them, but Matthew Henry makes this observation…
The truth is that the end of all things is an ever present state of affairs. We neither know nor can ever know when that moment will finally dawn, even though we may think that we discern the signs. Only God knows, thus as believers with the hope of glory deep in us, we should turn our eyes from the Satanic work, focussing instead on The Lord. Look to the light is the only way.
JOB 37:21 says Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them, but Matthew Henry makes this observation…
And in all the duties and services of life, we should aim at the glory of God as our chief end. He is a miserable, unsettled wretch, who cleaves to himself, and forgets God; is only perplexed about his credit, and gain, and base ends, which are often broken, and which, when he attains, both he and they must shortly perish together. But he who has given up himself and his all to God, may say confidently that the Lord is his portion; and nothing but glory through Christ Jesus, is solid and lasting; that abideth for ever.
MATTHEW HENRY
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…
... "the whole world has gone after him" Did all the world go after Christ? "then went all Judea, and were baptized of him in Jordan."
Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem, baptized in Jordan? "Ye are of God, little children", and the whole world lieth in the wicked one".
Does the whole world there mean everybody? The words "world" and "all" are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture, and it is very rarely the "all" means all persons, taken individually.
The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts -- some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted His redemption to either Jew or Gentile ...
C.H. SPURGEON considers ‘all things’, from a sermon on ‘Particular Redemption’
ALL THINGS — David and Nicole Binion
PRAYER REQUIRES WORSHIP...
PRAYER IS THE instrument of the life of worship, it is not worship itself.
[from ‘Christian Discipline Volume 2’ by Oswald Chambers]
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT… #331 I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES
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MICAH 5:7
Then the remnant of Jacob
Shall be in the midst of many peoples,
Like dew from the LORD,
Like showers on the grass,
That tarry for no man
Nor wait for the sons of men.
What do we mean by the remnant of Jacob? A thing that is in the midst like the dew from The Lord. Our belief is that this refers to the Holy Spirit, and that ‘the remnant’ — a group of God’s people who will always be, no matter what may betide — will be or not be according to their holding to The Holy Spirit of The Lord God Almighty. Make no mistake, there will always be a remnant, it is whether or not you and I will be in that company that is the issue at stake here.
If we look at what Micah is saying in chapter 5, he is referring to the coming Messiah and a judgement on Israel — and we mean spiritual Israel — the Lord’s chosen. This seems to be particularly relevant in these present times with what is dominating the world news. We do not wish to comment on that, as this is a sensitive subject that inflames attitudes on every side. We shall thus always stick to scripture.
You will see from the reading later, that Micah makes plain what our Lord’s intention is. He will ‘cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots.’ Horses represent our flesh nature, that part of us that would go the way of our choosing, and the chariot is the place of controlling that creature; the saddle on the beast. Our God will destroy that control and seek to restore us to His favour…
If we look at what Micah is saying in chapter 5, he is referring to the coming Messiah and a judgement on Israel — and we mean spiritual Israel — the Lord’s chosen. This seems to be particularly relevant in these present times with what is dominating the world news. We do not wish to comment on that, as this is a sensitive subject that inflames attitudes on every side. We shall thus always stick to scripture.
You will see from the reading later, that Micah makes plain what our Lord’s intention is. He will ‘cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots.’ Horses represent our flesh nature, that part of us that would go the way of our choosing, and the chariot is the place of controlling that creature; the saddle on the beast. Our God will destroy that control and seek to restore us to His favour…
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
MICAH 6:8
The remnant of Jacob — and this is ‘Jacob’ before he became ‘Israel’ — are His people who have yet to wrestle with The Lord, or rather must wrestle with Him to get to that greater revelation of His presence within. It is the call to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. We can see that Micah has laid out for us exactly what our Lord will do to bring us before Him, and all that must be cast aside before we can know Him in His fullness. We need His transforming power. Change us to be more like You, Lord. Show us the way.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…
“And it shall be in that day,” says the LORD, “That I will cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots.
I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.
I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no soothsayers.
Your carved images I will also cut off, and your sacred pillars from your midst; You shall no more worship the work of your hands;
I will pluck your wooden images from your midst; Thus I will destroy your cities.
And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the nations that have not heard.”
MICAH 5:10-15
JACOB’S SONG — Bri Babineaux
PRAYER REQUIRES WORSHIP…
NOWADAYS the thing is to worship prayer; stress is put on nights of prayer and the difficulty and cost of prayer. It is not prayer that is strenuous, but the overcoming of our own laziness. If we make the basis of prayer our effort and agony and nights of prayer, we mistake the basis of prayer. The basis of prayer is not what it costs us, but what it costs God to enable us to pray.
[from ‘IF YE SHALL ASK’ by Oswald Chambers]
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT… #530 THE END OF ALL THINGS
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GALATIANS 2:17-22 (KJV)
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
It is said that Prime Minister Harold MacMillan coined the remark "Events, dear boy. Events!" as the reason why the best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley (Robert Burns 'To A Mouse'). And recent times have seen events whirling around or through us with alarming rapidity. Storm and tempest continues to rage causing landslides, flooding and loss of life - and now we have terrorist attack on Israel, and thus outbreak of war with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, with the civilian population now being denied water, food and power. And forget not the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We do not need to take sides in any conflict to be appalled at such barbarity.
Such things are always with us to a greater or lesser degree — not to in any way diminish the confusion, horror and assault on every life they bring. They are no easier to bear, even if encountered before. These are world events, and in the midst of the overwhelming cataclysm, there are the personal tragedies and difficulties. As has been said, life as we know it is a tragedy, it is only the Presence of The Living God that ameliorates the horror and brings not only a peace, but joy. That is because His Holy Spirit touches us in the deeper places within — and if we allow ourselves to be touched by Him, we can have peace, even in the midst of the greatest of horrors and the ratings of war. He has overcome the world and will be with us so that we may do likewise. We can do nothing without His inner presence.
His Holy Spirit reveals that all these troubles are harbingers of the end of times and of Christ’s coming again.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. What does this verse say to you? Does it thrill you and give you comfort? These words signify the deepest identification with the person of Jesus Christ. This does not speak of a mere personal saviour — this is the Almighty purposing Himself in the midst of me and you. We need fear no evil may befall us because of that presence. Our lives are assured in this life and the next. He is there in the midst of every trial and test and will never, ever release you from His grip if you hold fast to Him.
Be encouraged, dear ones, in this darkest of times. As believers in Him, we are made imperishable in His name.
Such things are always with us to a greater or lesser degree — not to in any way diminish the confusion, horror and assault on every life they bring. They are no easier to bear, even if encountered before. These are world events, and in the midst of the overwhelming cataclysm, there are the personal tragedies and difficulties. As has been said, life as we know it is a tragedy, it is only the Presence of The Living God that ameliorates the horror and brings not only a peace, but joy. That is because His Holy Spirit touches us in the deeper places within — and if we allow ourselves to be touched by Him, we can have peace, even in the midst of the greatest of horrors and the ratings of war. He has overcome the world and will be with us so that we may do likewise. We can do nothing without His inner presence.
His Holy Spirit reveals that all these troubles are harbingers of the end of times and of Christ’s coming again.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. What does this verse say to you? Does it thrill you and give you comfort? These words signify the deepest identification with the person of Jesus Christ. This does not speak of a mere personal saviour — this is the Almighty purposing Himself in the midst of me and you. We need fear no evil may befall us because of that presence. Our lives are assured in this life and the next. He is there in the midst of every trial and test and will never, ever release you from His grip if you hold fast to Him.
Be encouraged, dear ones, in this darkest of times. As believers in Him, we are made imperishable in His name.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5
NO LONGER I — Limitless Worship
PRAYER REQUIRES WORSHIP…
BE THE ONE who worships God and who lives in holy relationship to Him. Get into the real work of intercession, and remember it is a work, a work that taxes every power; but a work which has no snare. Preaching the gospel has a snare; intercessory prayer has none.
[from ‘My Utmost For His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers]
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT… #529 THE REMNANT OF JACOB
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PROVERBS 15:1-4
A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
I thought to start this word with something else entirely, but instead The Lord showed me something completely different through a recent real life experience.
On Saturday, we had the worst of weather — not storm, hurricane or typhoon, but heavy rain like we have never known before. Rivers burst their banks and hills and mountains collapsed sending mud and rock to block roads and bring a type of apocalypse imagined only in the movies. Those who interpret these things say that this is just the beginning — climate change in action. How does a soft answer turn away such wrath?
On that Saturday evening we gathered with a few friends and neighbours in the local hotel. The sort of thing we all do in times of uncertainty and bewilderment. The community comes together to show support one to another. Sadly not all, for a next door neighbour with a grudge — and heavily under the influence of ‘we know not what’ — decided to ‘raise issues’ at the top of his voice — not merely at Milady and I, but at our friends also. Our soft answers to his wrath were as nothing, but the barmaid merely spoke quietly to him and he left, with nothing but a twisted look through the window as a parting shot — very like something out of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Does this suggest that the words in Psalm 15 are not valid? Most certainly not. We do not always know how our Lord works. It is a mystery. The barmaid’s soft but firm words immediately worked, although our little group were left somewhat beaten. But that is not the end of the matter; we are assured that the soft answer turned away wrath, but there is work yet to be done both in us and in the one of wrath.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place. He watches over all, and we see at the tail of our reading, that there are consequences for the unbridled tongue. So, yes we can say unequivocally that a soft answer turns away wrath, but not always in the way one might expect.
We have to see what we mean by soft? Soft implies weakness and timidity to man’s eyes, yet also says tenderness, compassion, to mollify, placate and bring peace. That tenderness and peace is the essence of our Lord, and the young girl — used to dealing with tough cases (so we understand) — brought peace to a difficult situation, because she was calm, clear and authoritative. The Lord used her to bring peace, because there was no argument in his leaving.
That is how our Lord speaks — clearly, peacefully and with authority. His gentle and peaceful answer turns anger into contrition, argument into acceptance and belligerence into peace. But how does this answer my original question about climate change chaos? Peter Horrobin in the latest post on his website mentioned this from Matthew 24:6-8…
On Saturday, we had the worst of weather — not storm, hurricane or typhoon, but heavy rain like we have never known before. Rivers burst their banks and hills and mountains collapsed sending mud and rock to block roads and bring a type of apocalypse imagined only in the movies. Those who interpret these things say that this is just the beginning — climate change in action. How does a soft answer turn away such wrath?
On that Saturday evening we gathered with a few friends and neighbours in the local hotel. The sort of thing we all do in times of uncertainty and bewilderment. The community comes together to show support one to another. Sadly not all, for a next door neighbour with a grudge — and heavily under the influence of ‘we know not what’ — decided to ‘raise issues’ at the top of his voice — not merely at Milady and I, but at our friends also. Our soft answers to his wrath were as nothing, but the barmaid merely spoke quietly to him and he left, with nothing but a twisted look through the window as a parting shot — very like something out of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Does this suggest that the words in Psalm 15 are not valid? Most certainly not. We do not always know how our Lord works. It is a mystery. The barmaid’s soft but firm words immediately worked, although our little group were left somewhat beaten. But that is not the end of the matter; we are assured that the soft answer turned away wrath, but there is work yet to be done both in us and in the one of wrath.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place. He watches over all, and we see at the tail of our reading, that there are consequences for the unbridled tongue. So, yes we can say unequivocally that a soft answer turns away wrath, but not always in the way one might expect.
We have to see what we mean by soft? Soft implies weakness and timidity to man’s eyes, yet also says tenderness, compassion, to mollify, placate and bring peace. That tenderness and peace is the essence of our Lord, and the young girl — used to dealing with tough cases (so we understand) — brought peace to a difficult situation, because she was calm, clear and authoritative. The Lord used her to bring peace, because there was no argument in his leaving.
That is how our Lord speaks — clearly, peacefully and with authority. His gentle and peaceful answer turns anger into contrition, argument into acceptance and belligerence into peace. But how does this answer my original question about climate change chaos? Peter Horrobin in the latest post on his website mentioned this from Matthew 24:6-8…
And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
These words were spoken by Jesus, who concluded: But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Pray. Pray like never before. Only He can save us. And pray for a soft answer.
Pray. Pray like never before. Only He can save us. And pray for a soft answer.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
TITUS 3:1-7
A GENTLE ANSWER (Proverbs 15:1) — Leah Carolan
PRAYER REQUIRES WORK…
OVER AND OVER again men have turned to prayer, not in the extreme of weakness, but of limitation; whenever a man gets beyond the limit he unconsciously turns to God. Eliphaz claimed to know exactly where Job was, and Bildad claimed the same thing. Job was hurt, and these men tried to heal him with platitudes.
The place for the comforter is not that of one who preaches, but of the comrade who says nothing and prays to God about the matter. The biggest thing you can do for those who are suffering is not to talk platitudes, not to ask questions, but to get into contact with God, and the "greater work" will be done by prayer.
[from ‘Baffled To Fight Better’ by Oswald Chambers]