November 9, 2010

2 Kings 22
“We have found the book of the LORD!” Can you imagine the Word of God being lost to the whole country for two whole generations? Yet that is exactly what happened because of the evil reigns of Manasseh and Amon. They must have even controlled the priesthood so that the Word of God was never read! But are we any different? We have a multitude of versions of Bibles at our fingertips to read. Enough Bibles have been printed so that there should be several in every home. Yet we have a generation that is growing up that knows nothing of the Word of God! Why? Is the Word of God read in our homes? How can we see the glory of God if we do not open His book? Let us pray for a revival where men will once again take responsibility for their household and read the word in their homes! Let us pray that God will show us something of His glory as we read His word. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

Hebrews 6
When we were back in Titus 1 we found that God cannot lie. In Hebrews 3-5 we found that Jesus is a faithful High Priest. Not being able to lie and faithfulness are similar concepts. One phrase approaches the concept negatively the other word approaches it positively. Today we see one of the practical outworkings of that faithfulness. Because Jesus is a faithful High Priest, because He promised us eternal life if we repent and believe, He will do whatever it takes to get His children to enter the promised land. When He led them out of Egypt to Kadesh Barnea, they refused to cross over and take the land. They wanted to go back to Egypt. They wanted to go back into bondage. He would not let them. He let them die in the wilderness rather than go back into bondage. He promised them the land. If they would not receive it, He certainly would not let them go back into Egypt. His faithfulness was on the line.
So also with us, He desires that we enter into His rest. We often balk and refuse. But He is faithful. He will do whatever it takes to get us to enter into His rest. If we continue to refuse, His discipline becomes more severe until we co-operate. It is like a farmer's field that has a weed or pest infestation. In Biblical days they did not have pesticides and herbicides to spray on the fields. A field that had a problem was often burned at the end of a growing season if it did not produce. The burning would kill the pest or weed infestation. Then he could replant with fresh seed. Perhaps he would obtain a good crop. So also, with us, the weeds and pests of the flesh, the world or the devil infest our lives. We refuse to follow our Lord. But He has promised to lead us into His rest. His faithfulness is on the line. He will not allow us to go back to Egypt. He will do whatever it takes to bring us to the land. If we persist, we might even get burned--severe discipline to destroy the sinfulness in us. If we continue in rebellion, it might even result in being taken out of this world.
Why? Because He is faithful. He has promised to lead us into the land. He cannot lie. What He does, He does for our good. He has promised to give us rest for our souls. We cannot experience that rest if we hang on to sin. He is immutable (He cannot change). So, we have this promise from Him. It is His glory to fulfill it. That gives us hope! It is an anchor for the soul in times of hardship or of discipline. We can enter His presence behind the veil because He is a faithful High Priest! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John