May 2

NUMBERS 9 How do we see the glory of God? God designed that at least once per year the Israelites would celebrate the Passover. In no other single event was the glory of God recalled to mind as much as in the Passover. There we are reminded of the great deliverance that God accomplished for His people. The celebration of the Passover is probably the longest running religious family ceremony in the history of mankind. No other religion has anything like it. It exudes the strong hand and mighty arm by which God delivered His people. It is during the Passover that Jesus had His “Last Supper” from which we have instituted our “Communion”. In Communion we see His self-sacrifice by which we are saved. It is in Communion that we remember that we have been placed under the blood of the Lamb. It is in communion that His grace is present among us in a very special way that we may experience Him. Healing services are often associated with Communion because often He shows His glory through our healing. When we take his glory lightly and approach Communion in an unworthy manner, He sometimes shows His glory in the judgment of His people, sickness and in severe cases, even death. Yes, that too is His Glory. Normally, His glory settles down upon us as we daily take time to be still and know that He is God. It requires that we be still and know that He is. God. As we do that, in our dark hours, His glory blazes like a fire in the night. The contrast is often overwhelming. As we settle down and seek him in our good times, His glory is like a cloud giving us the even keel of His abiding presence. But at times we must move on. His glory seems to lift and we follow on to where He leads, where He will show us something new of Himself and of this life. But at all times, life is all about His glory. Do I take the time to seek Him? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john * * PSALM 121 At the beginning of the Civil War, the Native Americans who had been displaced to Oklahoma began to discuss among themselves as to which side they should align themselves. Many of them wanted to be aligned with the southern Confederacy. Many others felt that it was a white man’s war, and they should just stay out of it. It began to appear that a majority would side with the South. Many felt that it would not go well with them if they sided with the south or if they sought to remain in Oklahoma among those who desired the break-up of the union. They gathered their possessions and relatives and followed the Creek leader, Opothle Yahola. They had had some communications with the Union, asking that the Union honor the treaties by giving them protection from those who would attack them. But the Union was spread too thin, and it would not send the needed support until years later. Opothle Yahola sought to move his band of loyalists to an area where they could live peacefully. Col. Douglas Cooper of Texas took about 1400 men to bring Yahola’s band under submission or to drive them from the area. On November 19, 1861 He caught up with them probably near what is now called the twin mounds, east of Stillwater, near the intersection of SH51 & SH18. While the Southern cavalry was driven back, Yahola knew that his band could not stay. They broke camp during the night and fled. Eventually Cooper drove the group of men, women and children into Kansas. When Yahola’s group finally reached the military fort in Kansas, it was in the middle of a blizzard. The military was either unable or unwilling to help them. That winter many died from exposure. They had looked to the U.S. Government for help, but they did not receive it. It was another fine example of the U.S. reneging on one of its treaties with Native Americans. When the Psalmist needed help, to where did he look? If he needed to be kept from harm, or preserved from spoiling, to where would he look? The old Jebusite city of Jerusalem was built on an outcrop of rock south of Mount Moriah. The site was picked because of its steep inclination. It was perfect for lining the top with walls. An invader would be forced to scale a steep hill or cliff before scaling the city walls. The only way that David was able to conquer the city was through sneaking through the water tunnel to gain access to the city. From the old city, one had to look up to Mount Moriah. It was there that Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac. It was there that David bought the field from Araunah the Jebusite and offered the sacrifice that stayed the hand of the Death Angel. It was there that Solomon built the first temple. Just outside of the city gates, northwest of the temple, Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again. Where does the Psalmist look for help? From the old city of Jerusalem, he had to look up to the hills, to Mount Moriah. It stands for eternity as the place of God’s sacrifice in order to deal with our sin. When I need help, to where do I look? I look to the cross. The government will fail me as it did Yahola. The church will sometimes fail me. My family will sometimes fail me. Even I will fail me, but Jesus never fails. He will preserve my soul, and that is only one of the things that are glorious about Him! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john THE SITE OF THE BATTLE OF ROUND MOUNTAIN, 1861, By Angie Debo http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v027/v027p187.pdf * * ISAIAH 32 “O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land”--Ira Sankey wrote a hymn using that theme. It may have been based on an old negro spiritual of the same topic written by slaves in pre-Civil War days. But Isaiah looks down the corridors of time and sees a day when a Man, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus will reign as king of righteousness in Jerusalem. In that day He will be a protection to those who need protection. He will be like a rock in a weary land. The morals of mankind will be reversed. The evil person will no longer be proclaimed as righteous. Right and wrong will finally be properly discerned. This will all be done because Jesus reigns. His glory will bring it about. Then in verses nine through fourteen Isaiah shifts focus to the near future when the nation will be invaded. He sees the women in anguish because of the horrible devastation of the country that will accompany it. They should have sought the Lord to avoid it, but their complacency resulted in the invasion. He does not leave them without hope, for there is coming the Messianic day when there hope will be restored (15-20). Blessed are those who sow beside all waters. Blessed are we when we distribute the seed of God’s word at every chance and occasion. We have the good news to share. If we sow it, we will have the joy of reaping its eternal reward in the Kingdom of God. While we are sowing let us remember that He is a rock in a weary land. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john * * LUKE 22:1-23 I wish I would have known in 2003 what was going to happen to real estate values in Brunswick county until 2006. I would be a very wealthy man right now if I had known that. In 2003 a lot on Oak Island could have been purchased for $20,000-$30,000. In 2006 you could not find one for under $250,000, a seven to tenfold increase in value. In my town of BSL in 2003, you could purchase a house lot for $5,000. In May of 2006 an interior lot down the street from me sold for $45,000, a nine fold increase. Had I the ability to know the future, I would have borrowed all the money I could get, and I would have bought all the lots that I could, and I would have made some significant profits. But alas, I do not know the future. God knows the future. If He had wanted me to be rich, I guess He could have somehow maneuvered me into buying lots three years ago. My focus needs to be on Him. He provides all that I need. Jesus is the God/Man. He has two natures, a divine nature and a human nature. They are forever united in one person without any mingling of the two. As God, Jesus would know the future. As man, He would not know the future. Is that understandable? I understand what is being claimed but I have difficulty knowing for sure how that worked out in His life here during His first appearance upon earth. It would appear from what He said and did, that all that He did as a man He did not do in His power as God but in the power of the Holy Spirit. But the disciples were approaching a very traumatic time in their lives and in His ministry. They needed both explanations before hand and demonstration of power that Jesus knew what was going on. They got it. Jesus tells them where and how to go make preparation for the Passover. "When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.” I don't know about you, but that would have been pretty freaky for me, especially when it happened just as Jesus told them. I mean, it would be one thing if Jesus told them, "A man named such and such will meet you at a certain place. I have already met him and made all the arrangements, and he will show you to the house." That's kind of a normal thing. But Jesus doesn't give any names. He gives no address. Just do this, and it will happen. I think that it is a demonstration of the Holy Spirit telling Him future events, and the willing hearts of people He had not yet personally met. I think this was designed by Him as an encouragement to the disciples to trust His abilities and His leadership. It was a demonstration of power that He knew what was going on. In the upper room He gives them a graphic explanation during the Seder of what was about to happen. The cross was coming. He was heading there purposefully. It was not that He could not control the situation. He was orchestrating this. His death was substitutionary for us. This meal from this point on would forever be a remembrance of His purposeful, loving death on our behalf. The King is in control even when it doesn't look like it. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john