You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
Blessings of the Sheep – Rick Bagwell
Tag: bless
Blessings – Rick Bagwell
You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
Blessed in Him
You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
REVELATION
I CORINTHIANS 2:9-10
BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO: THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PRPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.
BUT GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT; FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHETH ALL THINGS, YEA, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.
THE BIBLE SAYS THE NATURAL MAN CANNOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF GOD . IF A PERSON RECEIVES JESUS INTO THEIR HEART BY FAITH, THEY CAN BE LED BY GOD THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD, AND THE INNER VOICE OF GOD. AS A CHRISTIAIN GOD PUTS WITHIN MY SPIRIT A HUNGER AND THIRST FOR HIM. AS I AM FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT EVERDAY HE REVEALS THE PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE. I HAVE A PURPOSE; A DETERMINED END. OUR GREATEST DESIRE AS A CHRISTIAN IS TO KNOW GOD AND LOVE HIM. HE DIED FOR US ON THE CROSS. WE MUST DIE DAILY FOR HIM, TO OUR OWN DESIRES, AND JESUS WILL GIVE US HIS DESIRES. WE CAN DO ANY THING OR HAVE ANYTHING THAT IS HIS WILL.
PERSONALLY I DESIRE A HARVEST LIKE JONAH.
PERSONALLY I WANT MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
PERSONALLY I WANT TO SEE THE SICK HEALED.
PERSONALLY I WANT MY NEEDS MET.
HERE WE HAVE SOME DESIRES THAT ARE GOD’S WILL FOR US. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS SAID, YES AND AMEN. GOD WANTS TO BLESS US WITH REVELATION AND POWER . WE CHRISTIANS HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.
EPHESIANS 3:20
NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE CAN ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US.
THAT POWER OF GOD IS WORKING IN US, TO DO MIGHTY THINGS IN US ,THROUGH US, AND FOR US. GOD HAS PREPARED THINGS FOR US THAT IS BIGGER THAN US. ONLY THROUGH OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM CAN WE EVEN HAVE THE FAITH TO ASK HIM FOR THESE THINGS.
MY FAITH HAS GROWN SO MUCH AND HAS BEEN STRETCHED. SOMETIMES I GO THROUGH DRY SPELLS WHERE I DON,T FEEL GODS PRESENCE, MY PRAYERS SEEM TO NOT GO ABOVE TTHE CEILING, BUT I HAVE LEARNED THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. FEELING IS WONDERFUL BUT WE DON’T LIVE BY FEELING, BUT BY FAITH. GOD IS STILL THE SAME IF WE FEEL HIM OR NOT, HIS PROMISES ARE STILL YES AND AMEN. THE FEELING WILL R ETURN, BUT FAITH WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.
BUT GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT.
3 STEPS TO DEATH
MARK 5:1,2 – AND THEYCAME OVER UNTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEA, INTO THE COUNTRY OF THE GADARENES.
AND WHEN HE WAS COME OUT OF THE SHIP, IMMEDIATELY THERE MET HIM OUT OF THE TOMBS A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT.
HERE WE HAVE A MAN WITH AN LIFECLEAN SPIRIT. A MAN WHO HAS COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF HIS LIFE.
THERE ARE 3 STAGES OF DEMONIC ACTIVITY: OPRESSION,OBSESSION, POSESSION.
THIS MAN IS IN THE LAST STAGES OF DEMONIC ACTVITY, HE IS POSESSED.
HIS WILL HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT. SOMEWHERE IN HIS LIFE HE OPENED THE DOOR FOR DEMONIC ACTIVITY.
THIS MAN LIVED IN TOMBS. HE LIVED AMONG THE DEAD.
THE DEVIL COMES TO KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY.
THIS MAN HAD A GODGIVEN PURPOSE. GOD HAD A PLAN FOR HIS LIFE. THE DEVIL WAS TRYING TO KILL THAT PURPOSE: HE WAS STEALING TIME FROM THIS MAN.
EVERY MINUTE THE DEVIL CAN STEAL: MOMENTS, DAYS, WEEKS, AND YEARS FROM A PERSON’S LIFE, HE IS STEALING FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD’
THE DEVIL DESIRES TO DESTROY GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES.
THIS MAN WAS TORMENTED, LOST, AND ON HIS WAY TO HELL.
HE WAS TRAPPED, AND THE DEVIL WAS EATING UP TIME; HE WAS DELAYING PURPOSE AND TRYING TO KILL THIS MAN.
JESUS CAME TO THIS MAN. THIS MAN DIDN’T CROSS THE SEA TO FIND JESUS. JESUS CROSSED THE SEA AND CAME TO WHERE THIS MAN WAS: TO DELIVER HIM.
JESUS GAVE HIM HIS ASSIGNMENT.
THIS MAN WANTED TO TRAVEL WITH JESUS, BUT THAT WASN’T GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HIM. JESUS TOLD HIM TO GO HOME AND TELL HIS FRIENDS.
TELL THEM WHAT? ….WHAT GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU AND HAS HAD COMPASSION ON YOU.
WHAT A MESSAGE!!!
THE LORD WANTS TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR US AND BLESS US WITH COMPASSION SO WE CAN GO AND TELL OUR FRIENDS ABOUT JESUS AND LISTEN FOR HIM TO GUIDE US TO HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES.
WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE
MAY GOD BLESS THIS MESSAGE AND YOU
MARK 1:10-13 – AND STRAIGHTWAY COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAW THE HEAVEN’S OPENED, AND THE SPIRIT LIKE A DOVE DESCENDED UPON HIM: AND THERE CAME A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING,THOU ART MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. AND IMMEDIATELY THE SPIRIT DRIVETH HIM INTO THE WILDERNESS FORTY DAYS, TEMPTED OF SATAN; AND WAS WITH THE WILD BEASTS; AND THE ANGELS MINISTERED UNTO HIM.
OUR MESSAGE, TODAY, WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF VERSE 13: TEMPTED OF SATAN. JESUS WENT FORTH WITH DIVINE POWER, THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPELLED HIM, WITH GREAT ENERGY; SO THAT OF HIS OWN ACCORD HE WENT FORTH, ARMED WITH DIVINE POWER, IN THE DESERT. IT WAS A WRESTLING PLACE WITH SATAN.
THERE, CHRIST AND ANTICHRIST MET AND ENTERED INTO A CONFLICT ABOUT THE ISSUE ON WHICH OUR SALVATION DEPENDED.
I KNOW THROUGH EXPERIENCE, WHEN A CHRISTIAN IS JUST ON THE THRESHHOLD OF THEIR MINISTRY, THEY MEET SATAN, OR HIS DEMONS, HEAD-ON. THERE IS A TIME OF TESTING.
CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE, SHOWS US HOW TO DEAL WITH SATAN’S ATTACKS, IN THIS SAME ACCOUNT, IN MATTHEW AND LUKE, WHERE HE USED THE SCRIPTURES AGAINST SATAN.
WE COULD LEARN MUCH FROM THIS STORY, AS TO BE PREPARED BEFORE THE ATTACKS COME. JESUS’ MINISTRY WAS ON THE EDGE OF BEGINNING IN FULL POWER, AND THEN THE ATTACKS CAME.
IT SEEMS TO ME, JESUS COULD HAVE SKIPPED THIS PROCESS, BUT I BELIEVE HE DID THIS FOR YOU AND ME. HE COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO SATAN, BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS, AND SATAN WOULD HAVE HAD TO TURN-TAIL-AND-RUN. THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT LOOK WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS FOR US: HE WENT WILLINGLY, OF HIS OWN ACCORD. HE DID THIS FOR YOU AND ME. HE MET SATAN HEAD-ON. HE KNEW HE HAD THE ADVANTAGE, BUT SATAN’S DEFEAT WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. THREE YEARS, OR SO, LATER, SATAN’S WORK AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD WAS DEFEATED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY; AND JESUS’ RESURRECTION.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER JESUS: AS THE WORD, WAS THERE IN HEAVEN WHEN SATAN AND A THIRD OF THE ANGELS WERE CAST OUT OF HEAVEN.
WHY HE THINKS HE CAN STILL WIN, I DON’T KNOW.
SATAN WAS NO MATCH FOR JESUS, THERE IN THE WILDERNESS. WE KNOW, IN HUMAN FLESH, HE SUFFERED AS MAN; BUT HIS MIND DID NOT HAVE TO BE RENEWED TO THE WORD OF GOD, LIKE DOES OURS, BECAUSE HE WAS AND IS THE WORD. HE DID STUDY THE SCRIPTURES FROMT THE TIME HE WAS A CHILD, BUT HE KNEW HIS DESTINY. AND HE KNEW HE HAD THE SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE. IT MAY BE HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT HE WAS GOD IN HUMAN FLESH.
WHEN WE ARE SERVING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS; AND THE ATTACKS COME AGAINST US,WE GO TO THE WORD OF GOD FOR HELP. WE MIGHT READ JAMES 1:2-4 – MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS: KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK, THAT YE MIGHT BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, AND WANTING NOTHING.
IF WE DON’T GO THROUGH THESE ATTACKS, KNOWING, THROUGH CHRIST, WE WILL WIN, WE WILL NOT HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING; AND THE NEXT ATTACK WILL DESTROY WHAT CHRIST IS TRYING TO TEACH US.
WE CAN ONLY COMBAT THIS TYPE OF ATTACK, WITH OUR KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF THE SCRIPTURES. IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW WHAT THE WORD SAYS, WE HAVE TO PRACTICE USING IT. SATAN WILL THEN KNOW WHERE WE STAND, AND FLEE. ALTHOUGH, HE DOES COME BACK AFTER A WHILE, AND TRY IN ANOTHER AREA.
WE THEN, STAND STRONG, AND THIS NEW ATTACK WILL NOT TROUBLE US, AS MUCH AS THE LAST ONE; BECAUSE EACH TIME, WE GET STRONGER, MORE MATURE IN THE LORD, AND WILL COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE LACK NOTHING. PRAISE GOD!
MOST OF OUR BATTLES ARE IN THE MIND, SO WE HAVE TO REMEMBER: THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS.
IN THE WILDERNESS, JESUS ALSO ENCOUNTERED WILD BEASTS (MARK 1:13). THIS SHOWS THE EXTREME SOLITUDE OF THE PLACE. IT SHOWS ALSO THE INNOCENCE OF OUR LORD, THAT THERE IN THAT WILD DESOLATE DISTRICT, AMONGST LIONS, AND WOLVES, AND LEOPARDS, AND SERPENTS, HE NEITHER FEARED THEM NOR WAS HE INJURED BY THEM. HE DWELT AMONGST THEM AS ADAM LIVED WITH THEM IN HIS STATE OF INNOCENCE IN PARADISE. THESE WILD BEASTS RECOGNIZED AND REVERED HIM AS THEIR CREATOR, AND THEIR LORD (PULPIT COMMENTARY).
CHRIST HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY TO USE HIS NAME, SO WE NOW HAVE MORE AUTHORITY THAN WE HAVE EVER TAPPED INTO,
MISSIONARIES HAVE TOLD STORIES ABOUT THEIR ENCOUNTERS WITH WILD BEASTS. I REMEMBER ONE, WHERE, IN INDIA, THERE WAS A MAN WHO GOT SAVED, AND TRAVELED INTO THE VILLAGES OF THE JUNGLES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. ONE DAY HE WENT INTO A VILLAGE WHERE HE SHARED THE LORD, AND AS HE WAS BEGINNING TO LEAVE THE AREA, HE REALIZED HE WAS LOST. HE ASKED DIRECTIONS, AND TWO MEN SPOKE-UP AND INTENTIONALLY, GAVE HIM INCORRECT DIRECTIONS. THEY WERE HEATHEN, AND DIDN’T LIKE HIM SHARING THE GOSPEL IN THEIR VILLAGE, AND SEEING THEIR PEOPLE COME TO JESUS. THE MINISTER, ALONE, AND UNKNOWINGLY, WENT THE WAY THEY SAID AND GOT LOST. HE WANDERED AROUND AND AROUND UNTIL IT GOT DARK. WHEN IT GOT DARK, IT WAS COLD. HE WAS SO TIRED, HE SAID, “LORD, I CAN’T GO ANY FURTHER. MAKE ME WARM.” HE LAY DOWN AND WENT TO SLEEP. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD GO TO SLEEP AND FREEZE TO DEATH. THE NEXT MORNING, HE AWOKE WITH WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A WARM BLANKET OVER AGAINST HIM, BUT WHEN HE OPENED HIS EYES, IT WAS A BENGAL TIGER. AT FIRST HE WAS FRIGHTENED, BUT HE REALIZED, GOD HAD SENT THIS TIGER TO KEEP HIM WARM AND ALIVE. HE REMAINED STILL AND WAITED. THE TIGER GOT UP AND WALKED AWAY; BUT AS IT WAS LEAVING, IT STOPPED, AND TURNED AROUND; LOOKED AT THE MISSIONARY, AS TO SAY, “YOU’LL BE ALRIGHT NOW”, AND THEN DISAPPEARED OUT OF SIGHT. THE MISSIONARY SAID, GOD SENT HIM A STRIPED BLANKET TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.
WE DON’T KNOW ALL THAT HAPPENED TO OUR LORD JESUS IN THAT WILDERNESS, CHILD OF GOD, BUT OUR GOD CAN AND WILL DO ANYTHING!!
WE DON’T THINK THE ANGELS HELPED JESUS THROUGHOUT THE TEMPTATION. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, IT WAS AFTER THE TEMPTATION AND THE WILD BEASTS. IT WAS THEN THE ANGELS APPEARED TO HIM. HE HAD SAID HE COULD HAVE CALLED DOWN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS AND STOPPED THE CRUCIFIXION, BUT HE DIDN’T (MATTHEW 26:53).
HE DID ALL THIS FOR US, TO SAVE US AND TAKE US TO A HIGHER UNDERSTANDING OF HIMSELF AND TO A HIGHER LEVEL OR PLACE WITH HIM.
GOD COULD HAVE DONE IT ANOTHER WAY, BUT HE CHOSE TO DO IT THIS WAY. FOR US. PRAISE GOD!
IF YOU SAY IT YOU MUST BELIEVE IT
THE LORD SAID TO ME, “YOU KNOW HOW I MOVE ON YOU, BUT YOU ARE NOT IN A PLACE TO JUDGE ANY OF MY REASONS FOR DOING WHAT I DO. THERE IS SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU ABOUT MY WAYS THAT WILL BEGIN TO UNLEASH THOSE DESIRES FOR SERVICE IN YOU. YOU SAW WHAT I DID FOR THAT WOMAN LAST NIGHT ON TV, WHO FELL SUCH A LONG DISTANCE DOWN, AND THE MIRACLES THAT SURROUNDED HER FALL. WELL, SHE KNEW MY WORD, AND CLAIMED IT EVEN WHEN SHE WAS NOT IN TROUBLE, AS THOUGH SHE COULD BE. IT WAS A FEAR FOR HER THAT SHE COULD GET INTO TROUBLE SOMEHOW, BUT, NEVERTHELESS, SHE HAD MY WORD AND EVEN USED IT IN HER TROUBLE. SHE NOW HAS A FIRE FOR MINISTRY. SHE HAS A SUPERNATURAL TRUST IN ME THAT WAS RELEASED AS SHE SPOKE AND CLAIMED MY WORD IN HER SITUATION OF LIFE, AND DEVELOPED A SUPERNATURAL REALM OF FAITH.
WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU, IS THAT WHAT YOU SAY IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT. TO DEVELOPE THIS IN YOUR LIFE, I WANT YOU TO BEGIN A MESSAGE CALLED: IF YOU SAY IT YOU MUST BELIEVE IT.”
“TURN IN YOUR BIBLE AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE VERSES TO START WITH. I LOVE YOU AND I WILL DEVELOPE YOU INTO WHAT I WANT YOU TO BE. TRUST ME, I AM YOUR LORD, AND GOD. I BLESS THIS MESSAGE..”
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME OUT OF OUR MOUTH’S THAT WE DON’T REALLY BELIEVE WHEN WE SAY THEM, BUT WHEN WE BELIEVE WHAT WE SAY, WE HAVE THE RECIPE FOR ACTION TO TAKE PLACE. IT WILL HAPPEN!
MARK 11:22,23 – AND JESUS ANSWERING SAITH UNTO THEM, HAVE FAITH IN GOD.
FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN, BE THOU REMOVED, AND BE THOU CAST INTO THE SEA; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, BUT SHALL BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WHICH HE SAITH SHALL COME TO PASS; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH.
A MOUNTAIN, IS ANYTHING IN YOUR PATH THAT THAT BLOCKS YOU FROM REACHING THE GOALS YOU WANT OR NEED.
…WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN…I HEAR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME SAY, “YOU GET WHAT YOU SAY.” I’VE MADE THIS STATEMENT BEFORE MYSELF, BUT THANK GOD! I HAVEN’T GOTTEN EVERYTHING THAT HAS COME OUT OF MY MOUTH; AND NEITHER HAVE YOU!
THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A CONTRADICTION TO YOU, BUT WE ONLY GET WHAT WE SAY IF WE BELIEVE WHEN WE SAY IT, THAT IT WILL COME TO PASS.
WHEN THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT GOING ON, SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY WHAT THEY MEAN, AND THEY GET WHAT THEY SAY; AND SOMETIMES THEY SAYWHAT THEY DON’T MEAN, AND LATER, AFTER ALL IS OVER AND THE AIR SETTLES, EVEN IF THE HURT IS STILL THERE, THOSE PEOPLE DON’T GET WHAT THEY SAY.
A CHILD MIGHT SAY IN ANGER, “I WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!” OR “I HATE YOU!” BUT MOST OF THE TIME, AFTER THEIR ANGER IS OVER, THEY ARE HUGGING AND SAYING, “I LOVE YOU.”
WHAT HAPPENED?
THEY DIDN’T LIKE WHAT WAS GOING ON, SO THEY SAID THOSE COMMON WORDS FOR A CHILD IN ANGER.
SINCE OUR UNIVERSE WAS CREATED WITH WORDS, AND ALSO, I BELIEVE THE LAST BATTLE WILL BE FOUGHT AND WON WITH WORDS COMING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF OUR KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
WORDS HAVE TO BE A POWER SOURCE OF ACTION.
WE CALL THE BOBLE THE WORD OF GOD, AND THIS IS TRUE, BECAUSE THE BIBLE MADE UP OF WORDS.
BUT THE BIBLE DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER BOOKS, IS THAT IT IS SUPERNATURAL. IT IS INSPIRED BY GOD ALMIGHTY, AND THE WORDS WERE FORMED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THOSE WHO PENNED THEM.
GOD BELIEVES WHAT HE SAYS, SO ALL OF IT HAS TO COME TO PASS. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! AND IT IS CONTINUALLY COMING TO PASS.
THE TRIED
BEING TRIED IS NOT THE EASIEST PART OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD.
WE ARE TRIED MANY TIMES BY THE USE OF FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CHURCH MEMBERS, AND ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
WE ARE TRIED BY OUR OWN IMAGINATIONS GOING WILD.
WE ARE TRIED BY BY OUR REACTIONS TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS.
WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AS WE SERVE THE LORD. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS, I SAMUEL 17:47b – THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S.
WE DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES.
TRIALS COME, MY FRIEND, THEY COME.
BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER: TRIALS ARE LIKE A TUNNEL. THEY HAVE A BEGINNING AND AN END. WE CAN SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF A TUNNEL. BUT WHILE GOING THROUGH A TUNNEL, THERE IS DARKNESS BEFORE THE LIGHT.
BUT AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE THE SENSE THAT WE ARE STILL MOVENG FORWARD, NO MATTER HOW DARK IT MAY SEEM.
THIS IS LIKE THE TIMES WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF BEING TRIED. WE REALIZE HOW POWERFUL THE GRACE OF GOD REALLY IS: HOW HE IS IN CHARGE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO STRENGTH OF OUR OWN.
OUR TRUST CANNOT BE THE FLESH; FLESH WON’T HELP: IT HAS TO BE GOD WHO IS CARRYING US THROUGH.
PSALM 66:8-12 – O BLESS OUR GOD, YE HIS PEOPLE, AND MAKE THE VOICE OF HIS PRAISE BE HEARD:
WHICH HOLDETH OUR SOUL IN LIFE, AND SUFFERETH NOT OUR FEET TO BE MOVED.
FOR THOU O GOD, HAST PROVED US; HAS TRIED US AS SILVER IS TRIED.
SILVER, ACCORDING TO ANCIENT METHODS, REQUIRED A PROLONGED PROCESS OF REFINING BEFORE IT COULD BE PRONOUNCED PURE.
SO YOU COULD SAY IT THIS WAY, “YOU, THROUGH A LONG PROCESS, HAVE PURIFIED US WITH FIRE.”
VERSES 11,12 – THOU BROUGHTEST US INTO THE NET; THOU LAIDEST AFFLICTION UPON OUR LOINS. THOU HAST CAUSED MEN TO RIDE OVER OUR HEADS; WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRE AND THROUGH WATER: BUT THOU BROUGHTEST US OUT INTO A WEALTHY PLACE.
THE MEANING IS, YOU CRUSHED US DOWN UNDER A HEAVY WEIGHT, OR LAID GREAT BURDENS ON OUR BACKS. MEN CAME AGAINST US TO HARM US, BUT IN THE END, YOU BROUGHT US OUT INTO WEALTH AND GREAT ABUNDANCE, A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT, A PLACE OF LIBERTY.
VERSES 16-20 – COME AND HEAR, ALL YE THAT FEAR GOD, AND I WILL DECLARE WHAT HE HATH DONE FOR MY SOUL. I CRIED UNTO HIM WITH MY MOUTH, AND HE WAS EXTOLLED (OR CELEBRATED) WITH MY TONGUE.
IN ALL THESE VERSES, IT SEEMS THE PSALMIST HAS BEEN THROUGH A TERRIBLE TRIAL. HE BEGAN TO PRAISE GO WITH HIS MOUTH AND TELL OTHERS HOW GOD BROUGHT HIM OUT.
BUT GOD DID MORE THAN JUST BRING HIM OUT OF HIS TRIAL, HE MOVED HIM INTO A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT, A PLACE OF LIBERTY, A PLACE OF BLESSING.
HE WAS ELEVATED INTO ANOTHER LEVEL WITH GOD BY THE PASSING OF THIS GREAT TRIAL.
I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS TO US AFTER WE HAVE BEEN TRIED.
THE BRUISED REED
SOMETIME BACK, THIS PHRASE, BRUISED REED, CAME INTO MY SPIRIT AND KEPT COMING OFF AND ON UNTIL I SEEMED TO FORGET IT.
BUT SHORTLY AFTER, MY LORD SPOKE TO ME IN MY TIME WITH HIM, TO MEDITATE ON THIS AND KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT UNTIL HE OPENED IT UP TO ME.
I AM SURE MANY SERMONS HAVE BEEN PREACHED ABOUT THE WORD “REED” CONCERNING THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR LORD, BUT I SENSED HE WANTED TO SHOW ME MORE CONCERNING HURTING PEOPLE, WHETHER SAVED OR UNSAVED.
SO, THIS IS THE MESSAGE. I WILL SHARE IT WITH YOU AS HE OPENED IT UP TO ME.
REED IS MENTIONED IN THE SCRIPTURES MORE THAN BRUISED, BUT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID, WE WILL LOOK AT BOTH MEANINGS AND HOW THEY ARE USED.
BRUISED MEANS, CRACK IN PEICES; CRUSH; DICOURAGE; OPPRESS; STRUGGLE TOGETHER.
REED MEANS (BY RESEMBLANCE), A ROD FOR MEASURING; SHAFT; TUBE; STEM; CANE; REED;CALAMUS (A SLENDER, CLIMBING PALM PRODUCING CANES); A STALK.
ISAIAH 42:3 – A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND THE SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUENCH: HE SHALL BRING FORTH JUDGMENT INTO TRUTH.
I GET FROM THIS SCRIPTURE, THAT THE BRUISED AND BROKEN; THE CRUSHED, DISCOURAGED, AND OPPRESSED STRUGGLING SOUL IS NOT WORTHLESS TO THE LORD.
MANY TIMES WE MARK PEOPLE OFF AS NO-GOOD; BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT RELATIVE YOU LOVE DEARLY WHO IS AWAY FROM THE LORD? OR WHO IS GOING THROUGH THE MOST HORRIBLE TIME IN THEIR LIFE? DO YOU MARK THEM OFF? NO! YOU TRY TO HELP THEM. YOU PRAY FOR THEM, AND HOPE THEY WILL GET HELP OR CHANGE.
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THEM TO CHANGE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WORTHLESS SOUL WE THINK IS USELESS TO THE LORD, OR EVEN ONE WHO HAS HURT YOUR FAMILY TO THE PLACE THAT YOU WISH THEY WERE DEAD? WHAT ABOUT THEM?
JUST AS GOD FORGIVES US, WE HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM BEFORE BITTERNESS SETS IN AND MANY ARE DEFILED (HEBREWS 2:15).
HOW WE ACT AFFECTS THOSE WATCHING OUR LIVES.
AS WE APPROACH THE CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD, WE NEED TO BE MUCH IN PRAYER CONCERNING THAT PERSON IN OUR FAMILY WHO CAUSES THE MOST TROUBLE, AS OUR FAMILIES COME TOGETHER.
MANY TIMES THEY ARE FEARING THEMSELVES, HOPING THEY DON’T SAY THE WRONG THING, AND WISHING THEY WERE DEAD, SO THEY WON’T EVEN BE IN THE PLACE TO CAUSE TROUBLE.
THEY SOMETIMES ARE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN SECRET PAIN AND WE JUST SEE THEM AS A BIG PROBLEM WE WISH WOULD JUST RESIGN FROM THE FAMILY OR GO AWAY.
FAMILY GATHERINGS SHOULD BE A TIMES OF PEACE AND JOY. SO WHAT DOES A PERSON DO WHO DREADS FACING THAT PERSON WE DISLIKE SO MUCH? WE ARE ALL AFFECTED!
SEARCH YOUR HEART. MAYBE YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CAUSES THE PROBLEM BY YOUR UNBELIEF, YOUR LACK OF TRUST THAT GOD CAN HANDLE ALL OF THIS, AND YOU BEGIN SPREADING YOUR CONCERNS THROUGH-OUT THE FAMILY.
EVENTUALLY, A FIRE IS STARTED, AND ALL ARE CONCERNED, AND EVEN DREAD THE GATHERING. THIS SHOULD BE A TIME OF LOVE AND HEALING.
BEGIN NOW. PRAY FOR THAT PERSON YOU DISLIKE.
THEY COULD BE THAT SMOKING FLAX JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT HERE, …AND THE SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUENCH…
IF JUDGMENT COMES UPON A PERSON, GOD IS THE ONE WHO WILL DO IT. NO MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY, THEY STILL HAVE SOMETHING IN THEM THAT GOD LOVES. THERE MAY NOT BE A FIRE THERE, BUT THERE IS STILL SMOKE THAT REPRESENTS THERE COULD BE A FIRE IF YOU PRAY FOR THEM; AND GOD, IN TURN, KINDLES THAT FIRE, AND MAKES THEM INTO WHAT HE WANTS THEM TO BE.
JAMES 3:8,9a,10,19,25 –
…AND IF YE FULFILL THE ROYAL LAW ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, YE DO WELL:
BUT IF YOU HAVE RESPECT OF PERSONS, YE COMMIT SIN…
FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, AND YET OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.
WHEREFORE, MY BELOVED, LET EVERY MAN BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO WRATH:
FOR THE WRATH OF MAN WORKETH NOT (DOES NOT PRODUCE) THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
BUT WHOSO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY, AND CONTINUETH (OR LIVES) THEREIN, HE BEING NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER, BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS MAN SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DEED.
JESUS DIED FOR THAT PERSON YOU DISLIKE SO MUCH.
NO MATTER HOW WORTHLESS OR USELESS IN THE WORLD’S SIGHT, EVERY PERSON IS IMPORTANT AND WORTHWHILE TO GOD.
ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU THE ROOT OF THEIR PROBLEM. TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE DEAD WRONG ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL. DON’T BE INTIMIDATED BY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BUT PRAY THEY WILL SEE THEM THROUGH GOD’S EYES LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO DO.
MATTHEW 12:9-20 – AND WHEN HE WAS DEPARTED THENCE, HE WENT INTO THEIR SYNAGOGUE:
AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN WHICH HAD HIS HAND WITHERED. AND THEY ASKED HIM, SAYING, IS IT LAWFUL TO HEAL ON THE SABBATH DAYS? THAT THEY MIGHT ACCUSE HIM.
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHAT MAN SHALL THERE BE AMONG YOU, THAT SHALL HAVE ONE SHEEP, AND IF IT FALL INTO A PIT ON THE SABBATH DAY, WILL HE NOT LAY HOLD ON HIM, AND LIFT HIM OUT?
HOW MUCH THEN IS A MAN BETTER THAN A SHEEP? WHEREFORE IT IS LAWFUL TO DO GOOD ON THE SABBATH DAYS.
THEN SAYETH HE TO THE MAN, STRETCH FORTH THINE HAND. AND HE STRETCHED IT FORTH AND IT WAS WHOLE, LIKE THE OTHER.
THEN THEN PHARISEES WENT OUT AND HELD COUNCIL AGAINST HIM, HOW THEY MIGHT DESTROY HIM.
BUT WHEN HE KNEW IT, HE WITHDREW HIMSELF FROM THENCE: AND GREAT MULTITUDES FOLLOWED HIM, AND HE HEALED THEM ALL;
AND CHARGED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE HIM KNOWN:
THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING,
BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BLOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED: I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW JUDGMENT TO THE GENTILES.
HE SHALL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND A SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUEINCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGMENT INTO VICTORY.
HERE WE SEE BRUISED REED MENTIONED AGAIN WHERE JESUS QUOTES FROM ISAIAH 42:3.
JESUS IS SO GENTLE THAT HE WILL NOT BREAK A BRUISED REED, NOR QUENCH SMOKING FLAX. WHAT OTHERS WOULD TREAD UPON OR CAST INTO THE FIRE, HE WILL STOOP AND PICK UP AND SAVE; WHAT OTHERS WILL CRUSH AND QUENCH IT’S DYING SMOKE, AS THE REMNANT OF A TAPER, HE WILL NOT QUENCH; BUT WHERE THERE IS LIFE, HE WILL GIVE LIGHT, AND WHILE THERE IS LIGHT HE WILL SUSTAIN IT. HIS TREATMENT OF THE BELIEVER WHO IS THE WEAKEST, AND, SO TO SPEAK, LEAST ALIVE, IS MARKED BY LONGSUFFERING AND GENTLENESS.
WHEN THE MAN CAME INTO THE TEMPLE WITH THE WITHERED HAND, JESUS KNEW IF HE HEALED HIM ON THE SABBATH DAY, HE WOULD BE CRITICISED BY THOSE, HIS ENEMIES, WHO WERE JUST WAITING TO TRAP HIM.
JESUS KNEW WHAT HIS ENEMIES WOULD DO, BUT HE HEALED THE WITHERED HAND ANYWAY.
IF ONE PERSON ACTS LIKE JESUS AT YOUR FAMILY GATHERING THIS YEAR, IT WILL INFLUENCE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME, BUT IF THAT REBELLIOUS PERSON WHO CAN’T FORGIVE, STARTS SOMETHING, DO LIKE JESUS DID, DON’T EVEN TRY TO DEFEND YOURSELF. LET THEM SAY WHAT THEY WILL, AND GET BUSY IN ANOTHER ROOM. SOMETIMES SILENCE BRINGS CONVICTION. NO ONE CAN HAVE A HOT ARGUMENT WITH THEMSELVES ALONE.THEY WILL LOOK FOOLISH!!!
IF ANYONE KEEPS LOOKING STEADILY INTO GOD’S LAW FOR FREE MEN, HE WILL NOT ONLY REMEMBER IT BUT WILL DO WHAT IT SAYS, AND GOD WILL GREATLY BLESS HIM IN EVERYTHING HE DOES. (JAMES 1:25 LB).
MERRY CHRISTMAS!I HOPE THIS WILL BE YOUR BEST EVER. MAY THE SAVIOR LEAD YOU AND ME THROUGHOUT THE THE HOLIDAYS AND ALL OF LIFE.
