Needed: A Revival

“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:53)

Those were the days of the judges in Israel, before they had a king. Moses, Israel’s long time leader, had died. His successor, Joshua, had also died. Israel had gone from one siege of evil to another during the days of the judges. With no king and with every man doing what was right in his own eyes, it might have worked but the Bible says “all the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes.”  (Proverbs 16:2) God through Moses had given them a system of laws but they were primarily disregarded.

Not having an earthly king or set of laws to which to adhere can lead to anarchy, lawlessness and political disorder. One is reminded of the lawlessness of the Wild West and the open range laws of America when every man was a law to himself.

We must look to a higher law than ourselves and to a Greater King than some earthly potentate. To do only those things that are right in one’s own eyes will destroy nations, homes and individual lives. When Madelyn Murray O’Hare led the successful rebellion against the Bible a few years ago and with the Supreme Court agreeing with her, our nation has been on a downhill, rebellious slide away from God from then until now. May God have mercy on this nation and give us a spiritual awakening.

You Can’t Hide From God

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139:7)

Never say children can’t grasp what is being said from the pulpit in “BIG CHURCH.” I recall a scene from my childhood. I was probably six or seven and our pastor was preaching from Psalm 139. When he came to our text for today I began to try to think of ways and places where one might hide from God, a place where there would be only enough space for me. I thought, “If one could somehow squeeze inside a stove-pipe, God would not be able to get in there too.” It was not that I wanted to hide from God, but my childish, immature mind was just wondering (and wandering).

How thankful I am that God is “ever-present,” and that this verse is a comfort to the child of God and not a challenge to God’s omni-presence. The child of God can trust Him to always be present in the bad times, the good times and all the time.

Pray for Jerusalem

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalm 122:6)

The above admonition was needed when David wrote this psalm. It continues to be a worthy admonition today. God had told Abraham that, “I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3) From that day to this and when Jerusalem became the city representing the nation of Israel, Israel has been under attack by the powers of the world.

The late, Dr. W.A. Criswell, for many years pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, said he went to the Holy Land and while there visited Jerusalem. When he returned home he and a Jewish friend were having lunch. In the middle of their meal his friend leaned forward toward Dr. Criswell and with tears in his eyes asked, “How is the old city? How is Jerusalem, our home?” The Jews revere Jerusalem.  The kingdoms of the world hate her and what she stands for. We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

God has not written off Jerusalem or His people. There is a rich blessing coming for them in the future. Our nation and our leaders would be wise to remember the promises of God concerning Jerusalem. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep…

“He will not suffer (allow) thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:3-4)

Following World War Two some young people were listening to a lady who had survived Germany’s bombing attacks of London, England. Every night air raid sirens were sounding all over the city. There were exploding bombs, fires, buildings falling, thick dust and people crying. As the young people listened there came a lull in the conversation. A girl asked, “What did you do? Weren’t you awfully scared?” The lady responded, “No I wasn’t scared. I went to bed and went to sleep. I had read in the Bible where it says God never slumbers nor sleeps. I didn’t see any reason for both of us to stay awake.”

God is constantly watching over us, even when we are asleep and do not realize we might be in danger. Have faith in God.

What is Your Heart’s Desire?

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” (Romans 10:1)

What is your greatest desire, the burden of your heart?  Perhaps down in the depth of your heart you have a debt on you house you would like to get paid off. Maybe the burden of your heart is to have money available to send your kids to college. The Apostle Paul’s heart’s desire was that Israel, his kin folks, would be saved. He demonstrated that desire by pouring his very soul into the spread of the Gospel, even to the point of physical persecution and threat of death.

You and I as Christians need such a passion for the world of lost people around us. Paul had said in the preceding chapter that he could wish himself accursed from Christ for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh. (Romans 9:3)

Let us ask God to give us a burning, yearning desire to see lost people come to know the Lord.

Christ Lifted Up

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This He said, signifying what death He should die.” (John 12: 32-33)

Jesus knew that He would die on the cross of Calvary. He also knew that His being lifted up and dying on the cross would draw all men to Him. Some would be drawn out of necessity, knowing that His cure is the only cure for sin. Others might be drawn out of cynicism, finding fault with the claim that His way was/is the only way. Still others perhaps are drawn from simple curiosity.

He has been lifted up on the cross. As He said to Nicodemus in that night-time visit long ago, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)

Not only was He lifted up on the cross, He was lifted up from the grave in resurrection power. He has been lifted up to the Father’s right hand where He makes intercession for us. He is lifted up in the lives of dedicated believers. He is lifted up in the preaching and teaching of Jesus.

For men to be drawn to Jesus, He and He alone must be lifted up: not the churches or the church buildings, not the music, not the programs, not the fellowship, not the pastor nor staff, just Jesus. It has been said, “What we win people with is what we win them to.”

Whatever Happens, Trust God

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him…” (Job 13:15)

Very few of us have suffered as Job did. He lost his wealth, his children, followed by his health and all but lost his wife. He did not know the source of his afflictions. His three so-called friends said his afflictions resulted from a sinful deed on his part. Neither Job nor his friends knew that his trials were initiated by Satan.

Though Job did not know why he was enduring such afflictions, he continued to have strong faith in God.

When everything is falling apart around us and it seems there are no satisfactory answers giving us a reason, we can still trust God. An old song says, “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow.” We can say, and mean what we say, “whatever happens, I will continue to trust Him.”