He That Hath Understanding, Let Him Calculate at Once (continued)
Consequently, after the flood, after God made His everlasting covenant with Noah that He would not destroy the earth again with water, after this Noah sinned, he let the desire of his natural man cause him to sin, to miss the mark. We can understand Cain's natural man for he was of that wicked one. But Noah? - How could this man of faith give satan the ground he needed to bring forth a Nimrod?
Well, beloved, here is a grave warning to us. Noah had stood his ground throughout one of the greatest conflicts of the ages, he had not given the enemy a particle of ground, he lived by faith in all that God Was, and Is, and Ever-Shall-Be. And through faith, he saved his household from judgment and he preserved a people who would be the vessels that carried the "seed", Which is Christ. But after the battle was over, after things began to be just an every day type of living, Noah set about his daily task to make a living as a husbandman, a tiller of the vine; and as he did Noah began to let down his guard. He was not alert and watchful for the next move of the enemy. And satan, who knows the weaknesses of our natural man, provided that which would satisfy Noah's carnal man. Noah partook of the works of his own hands, "And he drank of the wine, and was drunken." Genesis 9:24 tells us that it was "his wine." Now most of us blame Noah's son Ham for what followed, but Ham would have never seen the nakedness of his father, if his father had not first sinned.
There are many spiritual lessons that we can learn from Noah's failure, but first of all we must say this, actual drunkenness is a sin before God, and "strong drink," drinking intoxicating beverages, has always been, and still is, the cause of much of the misery that is in the world. Therefore, Christians should abstain from even the appearance of this evil. Remember, if Noah had not drunk the wine to begin with, he would not have become "drunken."
So we have seen that when the battle was over, Noah began to let down his guard, he became unalert and unwatchful. And this is just the time that satan will make his next move, as he provides that which will strengthen the natural man in order to weaken the stand of the spiritual man. Consequently, we find Noah partaking of the works of his own hands, "And he drank the wine, and was drunken." In the Bible when the word "wine' is used in a bad sense, it is speaking figuratively of that which yields to the lust of the natural man, it is speaking of the loss of self-control, it is speaking of the natural man exhibiting the worst part of its character, it is speaking of the natural man being governed by evil. That is why the Lord gives us this command in Ephesians 5:18: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled [in] the Spirit".
Therefore, we find that the Word solemnly declares, "And Noah awake from his wine," - in yielding to the desires and lusts of the natural man, Noah had been put to sleep spiritually! One of the most important things we can learn from this is that we face one of the most dangerous times in our spiritual life right after we have stood our ground in a spiritual conflict against "spiritual wickedness." Even though the battle seems to have let us, we must devote ourselves to prayer, continually staying alert in it (Col. 4:2); we must stay alert "in the Spirit" for the next move of the enemy will most certainly be a move to satisfy and strengthen our natural man in some way, in order to put us asleep spiritually.
Beloved, Noah's failure cannot take away from the fact that Noah was God's man, and that God accomplished mighty things through Noah because, through faith, Noah wholly depended upon his Lord. And God's final verdict upon Noah is that Noah became an heir of Righteousness, which means Noah is joint-membered with those who are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. However, the Lord wants us to learn this from Noah's mistake. Noah did not remain alert after the battle, and the result was that Noah did not keep his natural man under subjection to God's Way; and God's Way is always the way of the Cross, the way of self-denial. This, for a time, Noah came under satan's rule, and satan had the ground he needed to bring forth a Nimrod.
"Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood" (Genesis 10:1).
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 37)
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Highest of Heavens and the Humblest of Hearts
For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” - Isaiah 57:15(NIV)
How can it be that God dwells in the highest of the heavens but also in the humblest of hearts? How can the God of the Universe, who created all things and by Him everything exists, want to be a part of us?
From the beginning of creation, God created man to work and tend the Garden of Eden while in close relationship with Him. God then formed the animals and brought them to Adam so he could name them. God wanted Adam to have a partner, so He created Eve. Over and over in Genesis, we read about God’s love, concern and willingness to have a relationship with man as well as God’s desire to care for his needs. There was only one rule to follow. Everything else was burden free. God knew that man needed to have free will, for God wanted a relationship based on choice, not force. With the freedom to choose, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. From that time moment on, Adam and Eve died in two ways: physically in time and spiritually that day. Sin entered into the heart of man that day and severed our relationship with Lord. Today, we are all born spiritually dead.
This broke God’s heart. He created us to have a relationship with Him; He created us to dwell with Him. From Genesis chapter 3 until Revelation 21, the Bible is about God’s plan to get the world back, reversing the destruction of sin. The answer was prophesied in Genesis 3:15 as being Jesus. Jesus is the One who came to restore sinful man back to a Holy God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The wages of sin is death but Jesus came to bring life so we can live abundantly.
So whose heart does God dwell with today? He dwells with those humble of heart. He dwells with those who prayed and said,
Lord, I know that I am a sinner and in need of a savior. I know that You sent Your Son to die on the cross, shedding His blood for my sins. I ask You, Jesus, to come into my heart and save me. I surrender control of my life to You. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and lead me in Your ways. Thank You for saving me.”
~Daily Disciples Devotional~
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Cushion of the Sea
"And the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7) (Weymouth).
There is what is called the "cushion of the sea." Down beneath the surface that is agitated by storms, and driven about with winds, there is a part of the sea that is never stirred. When we dredge the bottom and bring up the remains of animal and vegetable life we find that they give evidence of not having been disturbed in the least, for hundreds and thousands of years. The peace of God is that eternal calm which, like the cushion of the sea, lies far too deep down to be reached by any external trouble and disturbance; and he who enters into the presence of God, becomes partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm.--Dr. A. T. Pierson
***
When winds are raging o'er the upper ocean,
And billows wild contend with angry roar,
'Tis said, far down beneath the wild commotion,
That peaceful stillness reigneth evermore.
Far, far beneath, the noise of tempest dieth,
And silver waves chime ever peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce soe'er it flieth,
Disturbs the Sabbath of that deeper sea.
So to the heart that knows Thy love, O Purest,
There is a temple sacred evermore,
And all the babble of life's angry voices
Dies in hushed silence at its peaceful door.
Far, far away, the roar of passion dieth,
And loving thoughts rise calm and peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce soe'er it flieth,
Disturbs the soul that dwells, O Lord, in Thee.
--Harriet Beecher Stowe
***
"The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, facing the sun-rising. The name of the chamber was Peace." --Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
~L. B. Cowman~
Monday, December 2, 2013
What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 35
He That Hath Understanding, Let Him Calculate at Once ... (continued)
Let us remember that when Goliath came on the scene Saul and his army were the chosen people of God, and they were circumcised with a circumcision made with hands; but neither Saul nor his army could stand up to this giant. The works of the natural man cannot meet the challenge of this giant. You cannot defeat carnality with carnality! You cannot destroy the works of the enemy with the works of the natural man! You cannot defeat carnal reasonings with carnal reason! The weapons of our warfare cannot be carnal, cannot be of the natural man (2 Corinthians 10:3) because carnality, the strength and force of the natural man, in any form, always strengthens this uncircumcised giant. It is the strength of the natural man that allows that which is antichrist to have full sway among God's people. This is why most of what is called the church today has little or no impact against the forces of evil. This is also why God has called forth those who would become overcomers.
David was able to defeat this giant of uncircumcision, Saul and the army of Israel could not. So let us calculate the number of the name of the beast, whose name is "blasphemy," as we search into the origin of this Philistine giant. The first mention of the Philistines in the Word of God leaves no doubt that they are part of satan's evil strategy against the Christ of God; for they are found in that infamous list that makes up the kingdom ruled by Nimrod. "And the beginning of his (Nimrod's) kingdom was Babel ... and Mizraim became the father of Ludim ... and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) ..." (Genesis 10:10-14).
We all know that Nimrod, whose name means, "We will rebel," or "Come, let us rebel," was the first one used by satan to build a religious kingdom. Nimrod was a mighty hunter, and in his rebellion against God, he hunted the souls of men. He needed the soulish man, the natural man, the carnal nature of man, in order to build his religious kingdom; by the works of their own hands they would attempt to reach the heights of God: - which satan proclaims is his goal, "I will exalt myself above the Most High."
There is a question that we want to ask, "How did Nimrod become so strong?" The very first time he is mentioned (Genesis 10:8), the Holy Spirit draws our attention to the fact that, "he (Nimrod) began to be a mighty one in the earth." The Holy Spirit uses the same word "mighty" to describe Nimrod that He uses to describe the giants, the monsters of iniquity, in Genesis 6:4; and He does this to draw our attention to the fact that they are both of the seed of the serpent. - Let him hat hath understanding calculate the number of the name of the beast.
Now we know that Cain, who offered God the works of his natural man, and his descendants were the ground needed by satan to produce these giants of iniquity in Genesis six: - the works of the natural man gives satan the ground he needs to produce these giants. Also, the Holy Spirit purposefully lists Cain's descendants unto the sixth generation in order to emphasize that they were antichrist in spirit; 1 John 3:12 tells us that they are of that "wicked one." - Not by natural birth, but because of their natural man. However, Cain's descendants, and these giants, all all the people in Noah's day, except for Noah and his family, were destroyed by the flood. So again we ask, where did Nimrod get his strength; in other words, where did satan get the ground he needed to begin his religious kingdom?
Let us remember that Nimrod is a descendant of Ham who was one of Noah's three sons. We all know that Noah is a man of faith. "By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen n reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Hebrews 11:7). The Bible also says, "And Noah walked with God." Noah walked in harmony, in agreement, and in sympathy with God, for Amos 3:3 declares: "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" Noah had a splendid walk before God, but Noah was also a human being, he was a man "subject to like passions as we are," and God is faithful to record this in His Word so that we may learn that we must subject our "natural man" to the work of the Cross.
Consequently, after the flood, after God made His everlasting covenant with Noah that He would not destroy the earth again with water, after this Noah sinned, he let the desire of his natural man cause him to sin, to miss the mark. We can understand Cain's natural man for he was of that wicked one. But Noah? How could this man of faith give satan the ground he needed to bring forth a Nimrod?
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 36)
Let us remember that when Goliath came on the scene Saul and his army were the chosen people of God, and they were circumcised with a circumcision made with hands; but neither Saul nor his army could stand up to this giant. The works of the natural man cannot meet the challenge of this giant. You cannot defeat carnality with carnality! You cannot destroy the works of the enemy with the works of the natural man! You cannot defeat carnal reasonings with carnal reason! The weapons of our warfare cannot be carnal, cannot be of the natural man (2 Corinthians 10:3) because carnality, the strength and force of the natural man, in any form, always strengthens this uncircumcised giant. It is the strength of the natural man that allows that which is antichrist to have full sway among God's people. This is why most of what is called the church today has little or no impact against the forces of evil. This is also why God has called forth those who would become overcomers.
David was able to defeat this giant of uncircumcision, Saul and the army of Israel could not. So let us calculate the number of the name of the beast, whose name is "blasphemy," as we search into the origin of this Philistine giant. The first mention of the Philistines in the Word of God leaves no doubt that they are part of satan's evil strategy against the Christ of God; for they are found in that infamous list that makes up the kingdom ruled by Nimrod. "And the beginning of his (Nimrod's) kingdom was Babel ... and Mizraim became the father of Ludim ... and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) ..." (Genesis 10:10-14).
We all know that Nimrod, whose name means, "We will rebel," or "Come, let us rebel," was the first one used by satan to build a religious kingdom. Nimrod was a mighty hunter, and in his rebellion against God, he hunted the souls of men. He needed the soulish man, the natural man, the carnal nature of man, in order to build his religious kingdom; by the works of their own hands they would attempt to reach the heights of God: - which satan proclaims is his goal, "I will exalt myself above the Most High."
There is a question that we want to ask, "How did Nimrod become so strong?" The very first time he is mentioned (Genesis 10:8), the Holy Spirit draws our attention to the fact that, "he (Nimrod) began to be a mighty one in the earth." The Holy Spirit uses the same word "mighty" to describe Nimrod that He uses to describe the giants, the monsters of iniquity, in Genesis 6:4; and He does this to draw our attention to the fact that they are both of the seed of the serpent. - Let him hat hath understanding calculate the number of the name of the beast.
Now we know that Cain, who offered God the works of his natural man, and his descendants were the ground needed by satan to produce these giants of iniquity in Genesis six: - the works of the natural man gives satan the ground he needs to produce these giants. Also, the Holy Spirit purposefully lists Cain's descendants unto the sixth generation in order to emphasize that they were antichrist in spirit; 1 John 3:12 tells us that they are of that "wicked one." - Not by natural birth, but because of their natural man. However, Cain's descendants, and these giants, all all the people in Noah's day, except for Noah and his family, were destroyed by the flood. So again we ask, where did Nimrod get his strength; in other words, where did satan get the ground he needed to begin his religious kingdom?
Let us remember that Nimrod is a descendant of Ham who was one of Noah's three sons. We all know that Noah is a man of faith. "By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen n reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Hebrews 11:7). The Bible also says, "And Noah walked with God." Noah walked in harmony, in agreement, and in sympathy with God, for Amos 3:3 declares: "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" Noah had a splendid walk before God, but Noah was also a human being, he was a man "subject to like passions as we are," and God is faithful to record this in His Word so that we may learn that we must subject our "natural man" to the work of the Cross.
Consequently, after the flood, after God made His everlasting covenant with Noah that He would not destroy the earth again with water, after this Noah sinned, he let the desire of his natural man cause him to sin, to miss the mark. We can understand Cain's natural man for he was of that wicked one. But Noah? How could this man of faith give satan the ground he needed to bring forth a Nimrod?
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 36)
Impressions
"The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them" (Num. 10:33).
God does give us impressions, but not that we should act on them as impressions. If the impression be from God, He will Himself give sufficient evidence to establish it beyond the possibility of a doubt.
How beautiful is the story of Jeremiah, of the impression that came to him respecting the purchase of the field of Anathoth. But Jeremiah did not act upon this impression until after the following day, when his uncle's son came to him and brought him external evidence by making a proposal for the purchase. Then Jeremiah said: "I knew this was the word of the Lord."
He waited until God seconded the impression by a providence, and then he acted in full view of the open facts, which could bring conviction unto others as well as to himself. God wants us to act according to His mind. We are not to ignore the Shepherd's personal voice but, like Paul and his companions at Troas, we are to listen to all the voices that speak and "gather" from all the circumstances, as they did, the full mind of the Lord. --Dr. Simpson
***
"Where God's finger points, there God's hand will make the way."
Do not say in thine heart what thou wilt or wilt not do, but wait upon God until He makes known His way. So long as that way is hidden it is clear that there is no need of action, and that He accounts Himself responsible for all the results of keeping thee where thou art. --Selected
***
"For God through ways we have not known, Will lead His own."
~L. B. Cowman~
Sunday, December 1, 2013
What It Meas to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 34
He That Hath Understanding, Let Him Calculate the Number of the Beast" (continued)
"Let Him that Hath Understanding Calculate At Once ..."
Now, the only sure way to calculate the number of the name of the beast is to follow the Holy Spirit's calculations through the Word of God as He reveals that which is not according to Christ. 666 is the number of the name of the beast, and as we have found out, his name is "blasphemy." So rather than trying to find a name which in some way might add up to 666, let us find out what lies behind this blasphemous trinity of sixes. Let us see how the Holy Spirit uses, and interprets, the number 666. Let us see how the Holy Spirit calculates its sums, its multiples, its combinations, and its results throughout the Word of God.
The Bible tells us that 666 is the number of the name of a man, or it is the number of man; and this takes us right back to the sixth day of creation, for it was on the sixth day that God created man (Genesis 1:26). Then we are told, "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it He has rested from all His work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:3). So here we have a Divine principle set down by God: man was to begin his life, and live his life, in the FINISHED WORK of God. Man, which speaks of both male and female, was to live a life totally dependent upon God, for He had blessed them with all things that would sustain their life in spirit, soul and body. And all of this, of course, points to all that Christ is, and all the Christ accomplished, for He is the Finished Work of God.
So man began his life being totally dependent upon God for all things. But through the treacherous work of the serpent, called the devil, and satan, something happened: man fell. Man chose to live his life independently of God. Therefore, the number six has come to represent the human number, the number of fallen man. It is the number of imperfection, the number of fallen man destitute of God and without Christ. The number six is also the number of man's independence of God: six is the number of man's attempt to reach perfection independent of God. Therefore, six is the number of the natural man, of the carnal human nature. In the book "Numbers in Scripture", by E. W. Bullinger, we find the definition of the number six and its evil sums and multiples:
"If 6 is the number of secular or human perfection, then 66 is a more emphatic expression of it: 666 is therefore the trinity of human perfection; the perfection of imperfection; the culmination of human pride in the independence of God and opposition to His Christ."
So man fell, and he became independent of God, and under the dominion of satan. But God, Who is rich in mercy, hath provided redemption through His Son: "That whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Nevertheless, the works of the enemy have caused much havoc among the people of God; therefore as we search out this evil trinity of 666, we shall learn more of what it means to gain victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over he number of his name.
Now we are not saying that every time the number six, and its sums or multiples, is mentioned in the Bible that it is speaking of the number of the name of the beast. But we are saying that when the number 6, or its sums or multiples, results in that which blasphemes all that Christ is, then we know that the antichrist spirit of satan is at work. For instance, the number six is the mark of the giant Goliath, the Holy Spirit brands him with this evil number in order that we may not miss the evil significance of this uncircumcised giant: he was 6 cubits in height; he had 6 pieces of armor; his spearhead weighted 600 shekels of iron; which, by the Holy Spirit's calculations, equals 666. I say this about Goliath and the Philistines:
"What is Goliath: Who is he? He is a gigantic figure behind whom all the Philistines hide. He is a comprehensive one, an inclusive one; in effect, the whole Philistine force: ... Typically what are the Philistines? They represent that which is very near to what is of God, always in close proximity always seeking to impinge upon the things of God; to get a grip, to look into, to pry, to discover the secret things of God.You will recall their attitude toward the ark when it came into their hands. They were ever seeking to pry into the secrets of God, but always in a natural way. We know from Paul's interpretation that typically that means this uncrucifed natural life, this natural life which is always seeking to get a grip on the things of God apart from the work of the Cross; ... which ignores the fact that there is no way into the things of the Spirit of God except through the Cross as an experienced things, as a power breaking down the natural life and opening a way for the Spirit. The uncircumcised Philistine simple speaks of natural life which comes alongside the things of God, and is always interfering with them, touching them, looking into them, wanting to get hold of them; a menace to all that is spiritual. Goliath embodies all that."
Beloved, this represents one of the greatest, if not the greatest, threats to the Church; for this Goliath, this giant 666, has crippled and paralyzed the churches throughout the centuries - men and women insinuating themselves into the place of Christ in His Church. This giant has reached mammoth proportions in the churches today, for the natural man, the uncircumcised heart of the natural man, rules and controls most of what is called the Church: this accumulative force of the natural man, this 666 in all its sums and multiples, is "standing where it ought not" (Mark 13:14).
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 35)
"Let Him that Hath Understanding Calculate At Once ..."
Now, the only sure way to calculate the number of the name of the beast is to follow the Holy Spirit's calculations through the Word of God as He reveals that which is not according to Christ. 666 is the number of the name of the beast, and as we have found out, his name is "blasphemy." So rather than trying to find a name which in some way might add up to 666, let us find out what lies behind this blasphemous trinity of sixes. Let us see how the Holy Spirit uses, and interprets, the number 666. Let us see how the Holy Spirit calculates its sums, its multiples, its combinations, and its results throughout the Word of God.
The Bible tells us that 666 is the number of the name of a man, or it is the number of man; and this takes us right back to the sixth day of creation, for it was on the sixth day that God created man (Genesis 1:26). Then we are told, "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it He has rested from all His work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:3). So here we have a Divine principle set down by God: man was to begin his life, and live his life, in the FINISHED WORK of God. Man, which speaks of both male and female, was to live a life totally dependent upon God, for He had blessed them with all things that would sustain their life in spirit, soul and body. And all of this, of course, points to all that Christ is, and all the Christ accomplished, for He is the Finished Work of God.
So man began his life being totally dependent upon God for all things. But through the treacherous work of the serpent, called the devil, and satan, something happened: man fell. Man chose to live his life independently of God. Therefore, the number six has come to represent the human number, the number of fallen man. It is the number of imperfection, the number of fallen man destitute of God and without Christ. The number six is also the number of man's independence of God: six is the number of man's attempt to reach perfection independent of God. Therefore, six is the number of the natural man, of the carnal human nature. In the book "Numbers in Scripture", by E. W. Bullinger, we find the definition of the number six and its evil sums and multiples:
"If 6 is the number of secular or human perfection, then 66 is a more emphatic expression of it: 666 is therefore the trinity of human perfection; the perfection of imperfection; the culmination of human pride in the independence of God and opposition to His Christ."
So man fell, and he became independent of God, and under the dominion of satan. But God, Who is rich in mercy, hath provided redemption through His Son: "That whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Nevertheless, the works of the enemy have caused much havoc among the people of God; therefore as we search out this evil trinity of 666, we shall learn more of what it means to gain victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over he number of his name.
Now we are not saying that every time the number six, and its sums or multiples, is mentioned in the Bible that it is speaking of the number of the name of the beast. But we are saying that when the number 6, or its sums or multiples, results in that which blasphemes all that Christ is, then we know that the antichrist spirit of satan is at work. For instance, the number six is the mark of the giant Goliath, the Holy Spirit brands him with this evil number in order that we may not miss the evil significance of this uncircumcised giant: he was 6 cubits in height; he had 6 pieces of armor; his spearhead weighted 600 shekels of iron; which, by the Holy Spirit's calculations, equals 666. I say this about Goliath and the Philistines:
"What is Goliath: Who is he? He is a gigantic figure behind whom all the Philistines hide. He is a comprehensive one, an inclusive one; in effect, the whole Philistine force: ... Typically what are the Philistines? They represent that which is very near to what is of God, always in close proximity always seeking to impinge upon the things of God; to get a grip, to look into, to pry, to discover the secret things of God.You will recall their attitude toward the ark when it came into their hands. They were ever seeking to pry into the secrets of God, but always in a natural way. We know from Paul's interpretation that typically that means this uncrucifed natural life, this natural life which is always seeking to get a grip on the things of God apart from the work of the Cross; ... which ignores the fact that there is no way into the things of the Spirit of God except through the Cross as an experienced things, as a power breaking down the natural life and opening a way for the Spirit. The uncircumcised Philistine simple speaks of natural life which comes alongside the things of God, and is always interfering with them, touching them, looking into them, wanting to get hold of them; a menace to all that is spiritual. Goliath embodies all that."
Beloved, this represents one of the greatest, if not the greatest, threats to the Church; for this Goliath, this giant 666, has crippled and paralyzed the churches throughout the centuries - men and women insinuating themselves into the place of Christ in His Church. This giant has reached mammoth proportions in the churches today, for the natural man, the uncircumcised heart of the natural man, rules and controls most of what is called the Church: this accumulative force of the natural man, this 666 in all its sums and multiples, is "standing where it ought not" (Mark 13:14).
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 35)
Delayed
"Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners a land that is not theirs; . . . they shall afflict them four hundred years; . . . and afterward they shall come out with great substance" (Gen. 15:12-14).
An assured part of God's pledged blessing to us is delay and suffering. A delay in Abram's own lifetime that seemed to put God's pledge beyond fulfillment was followed by seemingly unendurable delay of Abram's descendants. But it was only a delay: they "came out with great substance." The pledge was redeemed.
***
God is going to test me with delays; and with the delays will come suffering, but through it all stands God's pledge: His new covenant with me in Christ, and His inviolable promise of every lesser blessing that I need. The delay and the suffering are part of the promised blessing; let me praise Him for them today; and let me wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen my heart. --C. G. Trumbull
***
Unanswered yet the prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail? Is hope departing?
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Nay do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your work is not yet wholly done.
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Faith cannot be unanswered,
Her feet are firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storms she stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, "It shall be done" -- sometime, somewhere.
~L. B. Cowman~
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