October 26, 2010

2 Kings 7
Why are we so slow to believe the Word of the Lord or to see the glory of the Lord? Elisha was obviously a man who had accomplished many miracles, and the fame of them had spread far and wide. Surely when Elisha spoke, the people would have responded positively. Yet the officer of the king could only respond to Elisha’s prophecy of the coming miracle with, “If the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But is this not just like us? Each new test of faith brings with it our inabilities to believe. That is why it is so vital for us to be fixed upon the glory of the Lord. When fixed upon His glory, we believe. When fixed upon our problem, we are in unbelief.
When the Lord provides the miracle, why do we keep it to ourselves? The lepers got up and went into the Syrian camp to find bread. Finding the camp deserted with all of the Syrian possessions left behind, they had stumbled upon the miracle. They busied themselves collecting wealth. Finally, it dawned upon them, ““We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” The Lord constantly showers His glories of changed lives upon us. We busy ourselves collecting wealth. A multitude of people remain imprisoned behind the gates of the city we left. The gates of Hades cannot prevail against us. If we return to the city, walk through its doors and share with the inhabitants where the glory of the Lord maybe found, some will follow us outside Hades gates and find His awesome glory. But am I too busy collecting wealth for myself. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

1 Timothy 6
Our living God is the one who gives life to all things. Jesus is that living God made flesh. He is the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. What is a Potentate? The word is translated sometimes as sovereign. It comes from a group of words whose root word means power or ability. Hence, it is a ruler or a sovereign that has power or ability. A sovereign is the one who can make things work or happen. He is the one who really is in control. Of all the kings, lords, presidents, dictators, premiers, chancellors of the earth, now or past or ever will be, He is the sovereign. He is in control. When we truly yield to Him as our master, no other person or thing can rule us, no unwholesome word, no evil spirit, no pursuit of wealth, no desire to be rich. They cannot rule us because He is the sovereign living God and those things do not give life but He does. Only He provides real life, abundant life, life with meaning, life with purpose. He alone has immortality because He is life.
He dwells in unapproachable light. What does that mean? I am sure that given all the volumes of the world and the ability write wisely and sensibly in them about this subject, I could never exhaust it. His light reveals reality. His light shows me exactly who I am. His light reveals the truth about everyone and everything. If I were to be instantly transported into His light, it would be more than I could bear. Yet He does reveal a little bit of His light to me, just enough to make it bearable, just enough to change me a little bit at a time. He is sovereign. He is revealing His glory in me through His light. If He is your Potentate, He is doing the same thing in you. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John