Mountain Top Experiences - Part IV

Mountain
     Top
      Experiences

          Matthew 4:1-11




     We have been on Mt. Ararat - new beginning, at the "rock" at Horeb - refreshing ourselves, atop Mt. Nebo - renewing our vision, and today Bashan - an high hill.

     In Psalm 68:13-16..."Though ye have lien among the pots...", speaks of the children of Israel's captivity in Egypt.  While there their lives were hard with labor building for the people of Egypt ( a type of the world ).  Serving the lost because of their rebellious attitude toward Jehovah God.  They had "lien" among the pots ( the lost and wicked of Egypt ), yet now God in His grace and mercy promises them..."yet shall ( soon ) ye be as the wings of a dove ( white, clean, pure ), covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.  My friend, maybe you have been down in Egypt..."lien" amongst the pots of despair, without direction...but just hold on, God has a plan of deliverance, He will clean you up and bring you out.

     Verse 15 speaks of an high hill ( Bashan ) and it is as the hill of God where He desires to dwell for ever.  So we see not only is Bashan an high hill, but a ( set place )..."the LORD will dwell in it for ever.  Today my friend, God wants to take you out of you lost position..."lien among the pots" of filth and despair and clean you up,"...ye be as the wings of a dove...", and place you upon His high hill, His set place ( in your heart ),"...which God desireth to dwell "IN" for ever. 

Hoping that today finds you "In His Grace"

Mountain Top Experiences - Part III

Mountain
     Top
     Experiences

      Matthew 4:1-11



 
     We have been to Ararat - the mount of new beginning and sacrifice...and to the "rock" at Horeb to be refreshed form our wanderings in the desert of "Sin" and are now satisfied with drinking His Word and following His man....Now let us climb on to the next....

     In Deut. 34: 1-4, after being in the plains of Moab, God takes Moses up to Mount Nebo - the mountain of vision - the mount of "seeing"...to show him all the land of "...Gilead, unto Dan."  The Lord goes on to show Moses all that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and lets Moses know that his seed will inherit the land, yet he ( Moses ) would not be entering the land.


     What a sad day in Moses' life.  Here is a man of God, chosen of God, to lead the children of Israel out of captivity, thru deserts, showing them God's miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.  Moses however had made one crucial mistake that keeps him from being allowed into the promised lands.  Remember back in Numbers 20:11..."he smote the "rock" twice:..."  Now look at Deut. 32:4..."He ( God ) is the Rock,..."  For all who believe in the triune God-head, we know that God incarnate Jesus Christ "suffered once" ( 1 Peter 3:18 ).  You see, the rock that Moses smote "twice" represented Christ suffering ( water came out of the "rock"/water and blood flowed from the side of Christ ( the rock ).  


     It is very important to note here that the only thing Moses "lost" was the promise ( reward ) of leading the children of Israel "into" the promise land, however, he does not "lose" his salvation and standing with God Almighty.  Amen!  Many "Christians" today live ruined lives because they have no security in their salvation.  May I now give just one verse to help settle your fears...( John 17:12..."those that thou gavest me "I" have kept, and NONE are lost,..."  Now, may I ask, do you believe the very Word of God that you put your trust in ( Prov. 30:5 ).  Out of love for you, I must say, that if you do not believe the Word of God and take Him at that Word, then many will question your salvation.  My friends if we are going to "believe" God's Word, let's believe ALL of His word and rest in it. ( 2 Tim. 3:16; ALL ).  


     You see, it's not about you at all, it's about Him..."I" have kept"...if you are depending on yourself my friend, you are depending on your good works and that will get you nowhere.

     In closing let us ask ourselves:     What "sin" is keeping us from claiming the promises of God?

2 Peter 1:4..."Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped ( notice the word escape is in the PAST tense ) the corruption that is in the world through lust."


Prov. 29:18a..."Where there is no vision, the people perish."

Hoping that today finds you "In His Grace"

Mountain Top Experiences - Part II

Mountain
           Top
        Experiences

      Matthew 4:1-8

     In part one we looked at Mt. Ararat - the mount of new beginning and sacrifice.  I hope that you have settled in your hearts this year to start anew with your spiritual life.  It will not be an easy road seeing that Satan has plans of his own for you and I ( 1 Peter 5:8 ).

     Realizing that to reach each of these mountain tops we must pass through the valleys of trials, temptation, and testing.  As God is on our side ( Romans 8:37 ) let us climb on to the next mountain.

     In Exodus 17:5, 6 we come to the "rock" at Horeb - the mountain of refreshing..."...I will stand before thee there upon the "rock" in Horeb;...that the people may drink."

     Here, the children of Israel had journeyed from the wilderness of "Sin" and pitched in Reph'-i-dim, where no water was to be found.  A fitting name, for surely Sin is a wilderness of wondering, trying one's own ways instead of following God's man.  Many people today have spent their lives wondering because they simply will not follow the man of God that has been placed in their lives.  My friend there is no refreshing of the soul for those always in contention with other brothers and sisters in Christ, only dry waterless deserts where many die a spiritual death ( no growth ) because of sin.

     You say, "How do I quench this thirst?, Where do I find these "refreshing" waters.  Thought you'd never ask.  There are many verses I could use but one will suffice.

     John 7:37, 38..."In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, ( drinks ), as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ( satisfaction )

     Friend, today if you've been wondering in a life of sin, why not turn to that "Rock" that is higher than you and I, thirsting after His Word, and find a refreshing drink of "living" water that will never leave you thirsty, but will give you a great renewing of the Spirit of God within you.  You see, the "rock" at Horeb was not only the mountain of refreshing...oh my friend, it brings an unending "satisfaction" to that soul right with God and following those who have been placed over them for the protection and growth in the Lord!

     Isaiah 43:20..."The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls:  because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the  desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen."

     What a challenge this verse has for me and you.  My dear Christian friends, if we are to be "waters in the wilderness" for a lost and dying race, and yet on the other hand, "rivers in the desert" for that one who has lost their way and wondered away from God's protection, we must ourselves be first to thirst after that living water and be drinking from the cisterns of God Almighty Himself!...Whew!...Amen! 

Hoping that today finds you "In His Grace" 

    

Mountain Top Experiences - Part I

Mountain

          Top

          Experiences

        Matthew 4:8-11







          In Matthew, we see the Lord Jesus Christ, being led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tested of the powers of Satan.  In verse eight, we see the devil takes Him to an exceeding high mountain, and is finally defeated with the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen!  What a mountain top experience of victory the Lord Jesus must have felt.  Even knowing what would happen, remember, Christ was fully man and in His flesh was able to be tempted, or was He?  This question alone is hard to answer because if He was truly flesh/man, and he was, could he be tempted ( "...to be tempted..."  4:1 ), and if He was truly God, and He is, (  "...who knew no sin..."  2 Cor. 5:21 ), how could He be tempted?  Thanks to my Pastor for this intriguing thought!

          How about you?  Have you had some mountain top experiences?  Have you been blessed by God?  Let us take a look at a few of these "Mountain Top Experiences" from God's Word!

          In the Book of Genesis 8:15-19, 20, we see Ararat, the mount of new beginning ( v. 4 ).  We must also notice the "first" thing that happens upon Noah, his family and the animals exiting the ark...( 8:20 )..."And Noah builded an altar..."  This altar was for sacrifice.   Yes my friends, sacrifice.  Maybe you've had a mountain top experience, enjoyed, and are looking for the next mountain experience.  Could it be that God is waiting for an acknowledgement ( sacrifice ) from you before allowing you to move on in your life?  Is there some "thing" you must needs let go of before moving on?

Rom. 12:1, 2..."I beseech you therefore, brethren ( the saved ), by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

2 Cor. 5:17..."Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature:  the old things ( sacrifice ) are passed away, behold, they are become new."

Hoping that today finds you "In His Grace"

Where are Your Ravens?

Noah's Ark:  Part V - The Invitation       Genesis cc. 6-8

    Genesis 7:1..."And the LORD said unto No'-ah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation."

     Several years ago I walked into a place called Civic Development Group, an office for telemarketing and fund raising.  There it was my job and responsibility to talk those we called into donating to and for various Fop's ( Fraternal Order of Police ), Fire, and Veteran's causes.  As computers dialed each number, I would greet the name of the person on my screen, such as "Hello", pause, Mr. or Mrs. depending on the voice of the one answering, and then go into my pitch.  It was a requirement that we "clearly" state our name and for what we were calling.  We would then tell a little about the organization, what the money would be used for, and then "ask" for them to donate ( always starting with the highest amount ), and sometimes more if they were a previous donor.  If they refused, we would rebut a lower amount, until they donated or hung up.

     Today in our devotion we pick up with chapter seven and verse one..."...Come thou and all thy house..." 

     Here we have an invitation to "come...into".  As a telemarketer, we were encouraged to have a strong voice, bold and sound, as a way of projecting confidence in what we were about to talk about or sell.  Could you imagine how Noah felt when God said "COME"!  This was his invitation!

     You see, Noah, with all the confidence of God had not only been in obedience building the ark, but no doubt was also warning and appealing to mankind to come and prepare for the impending flood.  He did this for 120 years ( Gen. 6:3 ).  I'm sure there were mockers as again it had not rained on the earth as of yet ( Gen. 2:5, 6 ).  Why did Noah do all this, well, he has only seven days left ( 7:4 ).

  How about you Christian friend, Pastor, Servant of God?  Are you bold in you "invitation" to the lost to prepare for the impending destruction of our world (  Matt. 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33; 2 Pet. 3:10 ).  Oh! yes, dear friend, God will keep His Word, just like He did in Noah's day ( Matt. 24:27, 37, 39 )

     Are you promoting Heaven to those lost, telling of the "street" of gold ( Rev. 21:21 ) , the twelve foundations ( Rev. 21:14 ), the Gates of Pearl ( Rev. 21:21 ).  Are we letting them know of the wonderful gift given to us through Christ Jesus ( Jn. 10:10; 2nd Pet. 1:11 ), everlasting life ( Jn. 3:16, 36; 4:14; 5:24: Rom. 6:22 )

     My dear friends, what a great responsibility you and I have to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world ( Matt. 28:18-20 ).  We must present ourselves "clearly", purposely, boldly, for the cause which we represent as His children.  Imagine with me if you will, as the Scriptures say..."For yet "seven" days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth..."

What will you do with your "Seven" days?

Hoping that today finds you "In His Grace"

Where are Your Ravens?

Noah's Ark:  Part IV - The Incoming           Genesis cc. 6-8

     In chapter 6:18-22 we see the promise of a covenant.  While that covenant is not given in detail here, we know that God always keeps his promises.  Noah is instructed to start bringing in "...every living thing of all flesh..." ( v. 19 ), "...to keep them alive...male and female.

     Each after its kind ( v. 20 ), and in v. 21 he is given further direction as to the gathering of food for both them and the animals.

     In chapter seven God gives more details on how to bring in the animals into the ark.  God told Noah to bring in the animals two by two, the male and the female ( 6:19 ), but here in greater detail, God says to bring in the "clean", two by two, but now God wants seven pair of each of the clean animals, and only one pair of every "unclean" animals.

     I am not really sure if there is anything to pull out spiritually here, other than, the direct obedience of Noah to the wishes of his Heavenly Father?  The one and only thing that does come to my mind is Matt. 7:13, 14.  The clean beast may represent those saved and pleasant in God's sight ( seen righteous ), and the unclean would be those lost, undone without God.  Any help would be appreciated and welcomed!

Hoping that today finds you "In His Grace"

Psalm 121:1, 2

      

Where are Your Ravens?

Noah's Ark:  Part III - The Internship Part II 
                                                                 Genesis cc. 6-8

     Glad to see you came back!  We stopped yesterday at the door, and that is where we will pick up today!

     Gen. 6:16..."...the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof;..."  Before we go any further let me remind you that, ( 1 ) The name Jesus was given much esteem...( Philippians 2:9 ), ( 2 ) "...no man cometh unto the Father, but by me...Jn. 14:6", ( 3 ) the door was set in the side of the ark.  Now if I am reading correctly, decently and in order, let us take another look at v. 16.


     You have the window ( the way; Jn. 14:6 above ), above ( highly exalted; Php. 2:9 ), and then the door set in the side and finally, look close, with ( after the door is set ) lower, second ( the Holy Spirit ), and third stories ( the Father ).  Why is this so important to you Bro. Mark you ask? I'll do my best to explain.  ( Do remember Noah is building this from the ground up! )

     We've established that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life...Jn. 14:6, and that His name ( Jesus ), is above every name, even that of the Father and the Holy Spirit's names ( Php. 2:9 ).  So now I want us to notice once again the placement of the door ( Jesus ).  It is set in the side below the window ( the way...Jesus ), yet above the lower two stories ( highly exalted ) by the Father and the Holy Spirit...Whew! Amen!...and we aren't even done yet!

     One last passage of Scripture should suffice to bring all this together.  Turn to John 19:28-37.  Read this and then go back to verse 34.

 

     Scripture says..."But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His SIDE, and forthwith came there out blood and water."

     Finally my friend, we have Jesus (the window, the way ) placed as a way of receiving and seeing the light ( Jesus ).  He is "highly" exalted above by the Father and the Holy Spirit ( the foundation / the functioning ).  And as from His side the blood and water flowed to make for us a way to the Father, such then the placement of the door on the ark becomes very important.  When in it's lowered position ( open ) and with the working of the Holy Spirit ( Jn. 12:32 ) we are drawn upwards to the Son, and upon entering ( accepting Christ as the only "way"; Romans 10:9, 10, 13 ), Well glory!, we are ushered into the very presence of God Himself and to the power of His Holy Spirit.   Heyman!

Hoping that today finds you "In His Grace" 

      

 

                                                                                          

Where are Your Ravens?

Noah's Ark:  Part II - The Internship           Genesis cc. 6-8

"And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:  yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."  ( Gen. 6:3 )

     In part one of, "Where are Your Ravens", we ended with the dimensions of the ark; just a quick note that God had supplied all those things before Noah lifted one finger...Amen!  Now we will pick up at v. 16, "A window shalt thou make to the ark...the door of the ark...second, and third stories..."

     "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:...." ( John 14:6 ).  It should not surprise us that God in His divine instructions was giving Noah and his family "A" way of receiving light and also "A" way of looking to that light, Jesus! ( Psalm 121:1, 2; Romans 10:9, 10, 13 ).  Next, let us notice the levels of the ark.  "A window...in a cubit shalt thou finish it above...the door...set in the side...lower second, and third stories..."

     Ah...this is getting interesting because God has just showed me something new again I've never noticed.  Let us start with the bottom story of the ark.  Understand first that there would be no way Noah could build the window first, though it is first mentioned in the Scripture...he must first have a beginning point or foundation...Ha Ha...Whew! and Amen!

     So Noah begins with the frame work, remembering he has 120 years, and finishes the first level (or 3rd story ).  He continues on with the second level ( or 2nd story ).  Then the door is set in place ( in the side ) of the ark.  Lastly as Scripture says, he finishes the third level ( or 3rd story ) with "a" window.  Also remember that during this time there were scoffers and critics since up until this point only a mist had watered the earth ( Gen. 2:5,6 ).  For 120 years Noah and his family worked on the ark, and Noah begged and pleaded with those mocking about the impending flood waters.

     Three levels, a door, and a window...Hmmm??  Could the three levels represent our triune God ( 3rd story - God the Father? ), ( 2nd story - God the Holy Spirit? ), ( 3rd story - God the Son? ).  I cannot be dogmatic of this occasion, yet while typing this I am reminded of Genesis 1:1, 2.  Let's take a look.

     "In the beginning ( 3rd story - the foundation ) God...", Who is mentioned first in the Holy Scriptures, who in Christ Jesus is "the author and finisher of our faith;..." ( Heb. 12:2 ), "I am Alpha and Omega..." ( Rev. 21:6 ).

     "...And the Spirit of God ( 2nd story - the functioning ) moved upon...." We see secondly, the second part of the Trinity mentioned...God always does things "decently and in order" ( 1 Cor. 14:40 ).  So we have God - our foundation, and the Holy Spirit - His functioning power.

    The word/name of Jesus ( 3rd story - the fairway ) first shows up in Matt. 1:1, yet I would like to take you to another verse of Scripture...John 12: 32.."...if I be lifted up...will draw all men unto me."  My Pastor told me once that the first thing we must understand about the Trinity is the we cannot totally understand the Trinity.  A good piece of advice.  Faith comes into play here.  So if Christ Jesus is God incarnate ( and He is ), then not only is God dwelling in Christ Jesus,but also His Holy Spirit, thus when Christ speaks those words ( previously in red ), then we must understand that that drawing power is coming from the Spirit within, and this brings into the equation...the door. 

Hoping that today finds you "In His Grace"

    



     

Where are Your Ravens?

Noah's Ark:  Part I - The Instuctions           Genesis cc. 6-8

 

        One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Noah's Ark.  I've listened to it for nearly thirty-some years, yet now, older and more spiritually mature, it has a greater meaning in my life than that little kid so long ago could understand at the time.  Let us enter this first day of the new year of Days in His Grace with one question.

Where are Your Ravens?

     In Genesis chapter six we see that the creation of the human race is running violently down the slope of wickedness ( v. 5 ) and this brings the LORD to the decision of destroying His beloved creation ( vv. 6, 7 ).  "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."  Man! how Noah must have felt to have the favor of God upon him.  Today, the beginning of a new year, we still find our world in this same predicament.  I wonder, will we find God's favor in our lives.  

     In verse nine God's Word says that Noah was "perfect in his generations".  What about you?  Do you have a Godly heritage...if not, YOU can be the beginning of a Godly heritage for your children and future "generations" to come.  How about it?  In vv. 10-13 God warns Noah of the impending destruction and gives instructions on how to prepare.

The building of the Ark:

 

     In vv. 14-16 we see the dimensions of the ark and how Noah is directed by God to build it. 

     "Make thee an ark of gopher wood;...".   Well shout the glory!  In a short research this morning from www.encylopedia.com I found out that "gopher" wood was used when timber was scarce, this involving cypress, cedar and pine, which is considered "waste" wood...Well glory, God, for the second time is taking something less desirable and making and molding it for His use, the first being the earth "void and without form" ( Gen. 1:2 )!  What will you allow Him to do with your wasted efforts of do-it-yourself Christianity in this new year...won't you allow God to take your wasted efforts and make something new and useful of them?

     God then instructs Noah to build "room"s in the ark, and in this, God is making sure there would be room enough for all to lodge.  Dear lost friend, God is sending destruction to this earth in our near future, but not with a flood, but with hail and fire     ( Rev. 8-9 ).  He has made ample room for all but the choice is yours.  Which path will you choose ( Matt. 7:13 or 7:14 ).  Though these verses are close in Scripture, the choice you make will take you vastly in one direction or the other.

    

     "...pitch it within and without with pitch." ( v. 14 )

     

     The pitch here would "seal" the ark from any leaks, keeping it from sinking while afloat on the flood waters.  This is also a picture of the "sealing" power  ( Eph. 1:13 ) of the blood of Jesus Chirst ( Col. 1:14 ).  This is why we, as Independent Fundamentalist, believe once a person is saved, they are "sealed" with the Holy Spirit ( v. 13 previous ) of promise.  This means we can never be taken out of God's caring hands ( John 10:27-30; Romans 8:38, 39 ).

     God finishes His instructions with the dimensions of the Ark:

     Length: 300 cu.  1 cubit = 18-22 inches  ( 450 ft )

Breadth:  50 cu.  breadth/width  ( 75 ft )

Height:  30 cu.  ( 45 ft )

Hoping that today finds you in "His Grace"