39.d. “And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

 

Genesis 43:1   Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

Resigned submission to the will of God. How many days, weeks, months, etc… do we fight this submission and strive to overcome our circumstances within our own power, wisdom, and understanding?  We come up with every clever plan, every reasoned plan of action, and try over and over again to overcome whatever it is that God is leading us toward. 

When our walk by faith with God is neglected and we become complacent with the Word of God, our eyes become blind to His power, might, and wisdom.  Our minds become dull to the Holy Spirit’s leading and we are left with our own thoughts to face life’s circumstances alone. 

Do not be confused,  busyness with this life and the care for what this world has to offer is no excuse and will leave your soul bankrupt.  All of our thoughts, actions, and words are weighed and judged by God. We can come up with as many excuses as there are stars in the sky but until there is humble submission within our hearts and repentance, faith, trust, and reliance in Jesus Christ there will be no rest for our souls.  Circumstances will come upon us and our storehouse of faith, reliance, and trust in God being bankrupt due to neglect and complacency, are empty and give no comfort, no peace, no hope.  

Grow in His Word day by day. Feed on it. Hunger for it. Drink full of it. Most of all commit to the single purpose of honoring and glorifying, Jesus Christ in all that you think, say, and do every minute of your life this side of eternity.

25.v. “And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me”

 

2 Corinthians 11:24   Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

 Matthew 10:17    Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,

 Deuteronomy 25:3    Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight.

 Acts 16:22-23   The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.  And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

 Acts 7:58-59   Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

 Hebrews 11:37   They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—

When I read of these accounts of what happened to Paul and others, I wonder if I would have continued preaching after the first beating, whipping, or shipwreck.  I say wonder, but in reality, I am more ashamed.  I know the answer and I seriously doubt that I would have continued. I would have thought God was telling and showing me to stop what I was doing. Quit this mission.  Don’t stop preaching but do it in a more friendly society.  Maybe ever after starting a church with these friendly people, stay there in the security of being safe.  Such is the way we think or have been influenced to think.  God is with us and we are blessed when things are all fine and good, and He is not with us when trials, troubles, and misfortune overwhelms us.  When God’s word says He is our Rock, Fortress, Refuge, Power, Strength, Shield, Protector, Healer, etc…… God’s Word is telling us that we will face trials, troubles, sickness, loss, the threat of being overpowered, emanate danger, etc…. It is in these times when Love, faith, and hope, in Him alone, that we find a resting place and can stand firm at His feet with His loving arms wrapped around us.  It is very hard for us to imagine trials that take us to the edge of life and death.  We live with a sense of security, prosperity, and safety that essentially encompasses most of our society. Just look around, how many are truly seeking, and see a need to trust God? When there are no trials, troubles, sickness, and loss we seem to associate that with being right with God and soon become complacent and neglectful to study His Word, pray, and keep a check on what we say, think, and do.  It is often in times where trials, troubles, sickness, and loss are where we finally yield and surrender to rely on, cling, and trust in God alone. Oh, that we were always in a daily state to yield and surrender all self or worldly reliance and truly rely on, cling to, and trust in Him alone.  Where we would not allow peace, prosperity, and safety to blind us from all of the honor, glory, and praise due Him.

2.h. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God,

2 Chronicles 19:1  Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

Proverbs 1:10-19    My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

Romans 1:32     Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Ephesians 5:11    Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

John 15:18     “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Romans 8:7    For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

James 4:4     You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

How can we tell if we are doing things that seem right in our eyes and miss doing what is right in God’s eyes?  How can we know we are not chasing after that which is worldly?  How easy is it to be swayed by others to do that which is not God honoring?  How can we become aware of our natural want to be worldly and worldly seeking in comparison to God honoring, God following, God glorifying, God trusting, and God obeying?

Becoming aware of self and self-seeking, self satisfying, and self-reliance seeds with in our heart and mind can only be made apparent by and through the word of God.  The more time we spend in His word the more we grow and mature in what it means to deny self and humbly serve, honor, follow, trust, obey, and rely on Jesus Christ.  It is more than just more time.  It is an intentional choice deep within our heart, mind, and soul.  It is a longing and desire to know the depth, width, and length of the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ.  It is a refreshing each day watering and feeding our very being.  It is where we grow to find peace in turmoil, strength in weakness, power in powerlessness, clarity in confusion, hope in trials and troubles, and courage to face the overwhelming.

If you find yourself stagnate and complacent.  Look at what you long for each day.  Look at that which occupies your mind and where you spend your time.  If the want, need, and desire to have God’s word active in every moment of every day then repenting and turning away from being neglectful, complacent, and not seeking Jesus with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength must take place or there will be no grow, no victory, no purpose, no satisfaction, and no communion withJesus Christ.  Confess it and turn away from it.  Run to Jesus like you are being chased by the gates of hell on your heels.  Run to Him like a demon is chasing your soul.  Run to Him like Satan is about to take you as his own.  Run to Him like you are about to be left behind!!  Run to Him like as if this is your last chance to do what is right in His eyes.  Run to Him with a desire to never let go, never displease, never forget, and never be self-seeking, self satisfying, self-reliant, and self-centered.

In His presence at all times will we find that which our heart, soul, and mind, will find purpose and satisfaction for each moment of every day and for eternity.

Chasing after wind

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

“Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, “

 

Psalms 4:5
Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD. There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.  In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Malachi 1:13
But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

James 5:1-5
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.  Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.

Ecclesiastes 2:10
And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Malachi 2:2
If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

Malachi 3:8
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.

What is it that you are chasing after?  What are you keeping for yourself and not giving to God?  What does it mean to offer right sacrifices?  I was listening to someone on the radio the other day and he was talking about giving.  Giving the first and the best to God.  Think about giving your first calf, or first sheep and it being the best you have. By giving the first and best we are saying “Lord all I have is yours and I TRUST you” – “I am not going to keep this for me but I am trusting you to supply all that comes after what I first give to you.” Scripture is full of how easily we fall away from thinking like this.  Our desires turn away from God and toward the things of this world – chasing after the wind.  Our giving is not from the first but from what is left over.  God calls this robbing from Him.  I like what David said “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” His joy was found in trusting God and seeing God’s provision.  Our blessings are not ours to hoard but to serve God with.  Giving comes from the heart.  Giving from the first rather than from abundance at the end is a heart trusting God.