Earnest Simplicity

Freely you have received; freely give. Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Matthew 10:8-10

Jesus gives His disciples simple instructions with a simple strategy to simply share the gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons. He commissioned them to focus first on their own nation. The Lord encouraged an unencumbered life so His followers where free to focus on eternal life. Christ keeps it simple because He knows we are easily distracted and can drift into complex schemes that suck the life out of opportunities to give life. The gospel only needs clarity in communication, as the Spirit’s power uses this earnest simplicity to unleash heaven’s influence.

Status, stuff, society, sin and self all move toward making matters more complex than is necessary in the Kingdom of God. Like an intricate spider web, the complexity of life can trap us in an inertia unable to respond in spontaneous service. By the time we are free to return a call or clear our calendar, the hurting person has moved on to someone who has time. The motto of earnest simplicity is ‘less is more.’ Because God has freely given to us, we are free to freely give to others. Avoid sin’s complexity so you are available to bless others with pure joy.

Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad. Proverbs 29:6

Earnest simplicity does not mean we are all called to live a monastic life, but it does mean we are free from the seduction of stuff. An unencumbered life is not isolated from society, but it is free from culture’s control. A life with margin does not seek status, but it does use success as a platform to care for the unfortunate in Jesus' name. Enjoy your season of simplicity as a window for the sunbeams of the Son’s love to shine through your soul. Simplicity points to your Savior!

Perhaps it's time to resign a role or responsibility that no longer requires your attention so you are available for impromptu interactions with hurting hearts. Sometimes it is the spur-of-the-moment ministry opportunities at your church that mean the most. Be on call for Christ and He will open doors for you to simply share the gospel with lost souls. Moreover, create margin with money, so in the moment you can freely give to those hungry for help. A little bit of immediate encouragement is the fruit of earnest simplicity. Keep it simple, so the Spirit can work in you!

Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God.Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I speak the simple gospel and simply live by faith in Your provision.

Related Readings: Proverbs 15:16-19; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Hebrews 11:13-16; 1 Peter 1:17

~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~

Intercession: The Throne Ministry # 18

For Ever, O Lord, Thy Word Is Settled in Heaven" (continued)

So Joshua led the battle, and Moses stood on top of the hill with the Rod of God in his hand; and when he grew tired and dropped his hands, the enemy would prevail, so Aaron and Hur helped by holding up his hands - thus representing the corporate work of God's people as they are "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." The people of God won the battle that day, but the war would go on, because God would not be through with Amalek until his cup of iniquity was full. The Septuagint puts it this way:

"And Moses built an altar to the Lord and called its name, The Lord is my Refuge; because with secret hand the Lord fighteth against Amalek from generation to generation."

"With Secret Hand," speaking of the Right Hand of God, which is the Absolute Sovereignty of God bringing about all things - in and through and unto Christ - after the counsel of His Own Will.

Deuteronomy 25:17 and 18 gives us one of the reasons the Lord continued to make war on Amalek, for Amalek had attacked the weak and feeble in the rear. He attacked the stragglers who could not keep up the pace, those who wandered away from the direct course; the enemy tried to cut those off from the rest. The enemy had calculatingly attacked when Moses and the other spiritual leaders were faint and weary in the way; remember, Moses could not continue to hold up his hands. Here is a warning that we should heed: The enemy will always attack those who wander from the direct course that God has set before them, and he will try to cut them out of the Way of the Lord. And he does this when those who are strong become faint and weary - when they become drooping or flagging or listless or indifferent from exhaustion, when they lose strength or force because of their circumstances, when they are exhausted and full of labors.

Moses was first of all an intercessor with God's interest at heart, and the true spiritual leaders of God's people are always those who intercede and stand and take the offensive by the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." When the intercessors become faint and weary in their task, then the enemy will smite "the hindmost of thee, even all that were (are) feeble behind thee"; he will try and cut off those who have wandered from the course. Those of us who have committed ourselves to intercession should be watchful, for like Moses we can become faint of heart or discouraged, and the enemy is alert and watching for such a time as this.

Let us hold up each other's arms!
Let us keep the Rod of God's power high!
Let us stand firm in our position in Christ at God's Right Hand!
Let us remain alert and "watch unto prayer" and, thereby, stop Amalek from preying upon the feeble.

Now, we need to see that there was an even greater reason that God "fighteth against Amalek from generation to generation." We have said that behind Amalek is satan, and satan in all his evil being is first and foremost antichrit: he is against all that God has purposed in The Christ. And being antichrist, he is anti-Word, for Christ is The Living Word; and The Living Word Through The Written Word proclaims satan's doom from the beginning to the end: - ""It (Christ) shall bruise thy head ... the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone ... for ever and ever" (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 20:10). The Written Word absolutely proclaims satan's doom. Therefore, he will do anything in an attempt to annul completely, to make void, to annihilate, to blaspheme, to nullify, the Word of God.

So behind the scenes, almost hidden from view unless we search, there is a great battle going on in the heavenlies as Joshua and Moses and the others prevail against Amalek, for God is about to tell Moses to record this important battle in a book.

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Write this for a memorial in a book (Hebrews = in the Book)."

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 19)

Jesus Christ the Sin Bearer

Matthew 26:26-27

The cross is so common in our culture that most people don’t think twice when they see one on a church. But unfortunately, familiarity with the symbol can actually get in the way of understanding what it truly means. So let’s stop to consider how Jesus became the bearer of sin.

We begin with Scripture written long before Jesus was born. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, explains how man chose to disobey God. Because Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their descendants are all born under the curse of death, having inherited a sinful “flesh” nature.

In Leviticus, God’s laws for the Jewish nation included observance of Yom Kippur, the day each year when the Israelites fasted, prayed, and sacrificed an animal to atone for sin. In essence, the goat would bear the wrongs done by the people and suffer the penalty that divine justice required.

Centuries later, Isaiah prophesied that a Savior would atone for transgression once and for all (Isa. 53:5, 8; Heb. 7:27). After another 700 years, John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Messiah had come, though He was totally different from what the people expected—so much so, in fact, that they rejected Him and requested His crucifixion.

In all, God gave 613 laws through Moses. But none of us can perfectly follow even the Ten Commandments. In fact, one reason He gave us these rules is to show us our need for a Savior (Ps. 19:7; Gal. 3:24). Meditate on those commands (Ex. 20:1-17), asking God to speak to your heart.

~Charles Stanley~

Intercession: The Throne Ministry # 17

"Forever, O Lord,
Thy Word is Settled in Heaven" (continued)

"Enoch walked with God," and God took him out of this world before the flood; but Noah, who "found grace in the eyes of the Lord" went through that terrifying flood.

Joseph was sold into slavery and unjustly thrown into a dungeon for many years before he was made second in command to Pharaoh; but Moses, who by Divine Purpose was saved from death as a baby and became Pharaoh's daughter's son and was reared in the palace and could have possibly been the next Pharaoh, was sent to the backside of the desert for 40 years.

Daniel stood for over 70 years while in captivity as he prayed and interceded for God's Purpose in the land of Israel, yet, he was not allowed to return to the land; but Ezra and Nehemiah returned to restore God's temple because God sovereignly moved upon the kings who held them captive.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever." Amen (Romans 11:33, 36).

So we find that Esther is not delivered from Ahasuerus' harem; on the contrary, she is made his queen. Mordecai, like his contemporaries, Nehemiah and Daniel, has a favored position in the king's household: "Mordecai sat in the king's gate"; whereupon, the Word tells us that Mordecai watched closely over Esther, and he advised her not to tell anyone that she was a Jew. God always has a reason for "the hiding of His power", and this time He hid it in the palace of a pagan king in a woman called Esther, and in a man called Mordecai.

It was after Esther had become queen that the evil Haman rose to power (Esther 3:1) and was placed by the king in the position that was probably second in command in the kingdom. "And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence" (3?2). Why not? Mordecai undoubtedly bowed to the pagan king, when then would he not bow to Haman? We find the answer to our questions in Esther 3:1 as the Holy Spirit tells us of Haman's ancestry, "Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite"; hence, Haman was a descendant of the Amalekite kings. In Exodus 17:16, the Word of God solemnly records that "the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." And whom the Lord has "war with," so do they who live a life in the Spirit: Therefore Mordecai would not bow!

Exodus seventeen will help us to understand the significance of this "war." Israel was about to be given another lesson in the wilderness. We know that God allowed the wilderness experience so that they could learn by trial what was truly in their hearts and whether they would wholly follow Him or not. The Lord also allowed the wilderness experience so that they could learn that He was the answer to all their need, no matter what the circumstances; for if they learned this, they would become a people completely dependent upon Him in all things! So the people could not find water, they were tired, weary, and complaining as usual; and Moses, following the Lord's directions, had smote the rock and a great river had gushed forth to quench the thirst of a thirsty people: - the water from the smitten rock foretold of the Living Water, the Holy Spirit, to be sent forth by a Smitten Saviour. Then Amalek comes on the scene, and there is war! - for any time God's people are being satisfied by the rivers of living water, war will immediately erupt. And here we find the first mention of that great warrior of God, Joshua, as he goes forth to do battle with the Amalekites; and we know that behind the Amalekites is satan himself, because in the scripture the Amalekites are first mentioned in Genesis 14:7 among that infamous list of the seed of the serpent.

~. T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 18)

God Speak

“They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken” (Ezekiel 22:28).

Be careful what you attribute to the Lord; make sure He is speaking and not ego, greed, or pride. Watch out for spiritual sounding souls, as they can be the culprits of Christless advice. They may talk about God and even invoke His will into discussions. Be wary of someone who assigns God’s will arbitrarily on a prayerless whim.

Make sure what others are suggesting, even commanding, is not self-serving for them. God speaks through generous givers, not tawdry takers. God normally communicates through humility, faith, and accountability. If others have it all figured out for you, this is a flag. They may have a wonderful plan for your life and have missed God’s plan entirely. Avoid people who throw God’s endorsement around aimlessly.

Pseudospirituality is nauseating to our Lord. How can He speak clearly, consistently, and with creditability through someone infiltrated with compromised character? This type of “God speak” creates a dysfunctional faith. It is faith built on man’s persuasion and persistence rather than God’s will. What starts out as a pure word from the Lord can evolve into a perverted word from man. Listen first to God; then validate it with man.

God does speak through His Word. Holy Scripture does not need any help as it stands on its own, tall and glistening in the glory of God. While you read and digest His Word, by faith you know He has spoken. He speaks loudly, precisely, and clearly from Scripture. “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4).

Use the New Testament as a filter for the Old Testament. This is the Jesus method of Bible interpretation. Seminary can be a good form of learning, but sitting at the feet of Jesus is better! As He speaks to you through His Word, validate it through wise counsel.

God speaks loudly and precisely every day. He speaks through authorities, He speaks through our spouse, He speaks through our health, He speaks through our calendar, He speaks through friends, He speaks through strangers, and He speaks through circumstances, but most of all He speaks through His Word.

Obey what you know, and over time what you are unsure of will become clear. Listen intently to the Lord and submit. Do not use or abuse this Christian privilege of hearing, knowing, and understanding God’s voice. He speaks; so humbly listen and obey.

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening’” (1 Samuel 3:10).

Prayer: Is the Bible my primary resource for discerning God’s will?

Related Readings: Exodus 20:1; Psalm 62:11; Acts 11:9; Hebrews 1:1–3

~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~

Intercession: The Throne Ministry # 16

"For Ever, O Lord,
Thy Word Is Settled in Heaven"

Beloved, as we further consider the throne ministry of intercession, we want to share with you a phrase that the Lord has pointed out to us in Habakkuk 3:4, "The Hiding of His Power." We have been prayerfully searching the Scriptures in order to find out what He is speaking to us in these few but powerful and mighty Words. Beloved, when the power of God is hidden and the saints are in an intense conflict and trial of faith, it is important for us to realize that there is a mighty warfare going on, in the heavenlies, for the emancipation of God's chosen ones from satanic bondage.

Through prayer, the Lord gave us the Book of Esther as a portion of His Word which exemplifies "The Hiding of His Power." The Book of Esther is different from all the other books in the Bible because the Name of God does not appear in it. Many commentators believe that God's name is not mentioned because the Jews were under God's judgment - He had sent them into captivity and servitude as a result of their continued idolatry. But we do not believe that God's judgment upon them is the reason His name does not appear in Esther, because other books, such as Ezekiel and Daniel, were also written during the time of the Jews' captivity and God's name appears in them over and over again. No, the reason that God's name does not appear in the Book of Esther is by Divine Design; for, as we shall see, the Holy Spirit conceals it for a Divine Reason because of the Divine Purpose. Proverbs 25:2 tells us:

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter."

Have you ever noticed that many times when we are searching for answers from God, it seems that we cannot find the way and that things seem to get more difficult instead of better? Well, these are the times when we need to faint not nor grow weary in well doing. We need to continue to prayerfully search for God's Will in the matter, for as Proverbs 25:2 says, searching is the Royal work. And if we continue to search out God's Will and Way, we will come to realize the Sovereign work of God, the Royal work of God, within our circumstances.

In Esther, we find that God does not always do things just as He has done them before. Sometimes we put God in a box (in our own square of things) and expect Him to act just as He has acted before. However, we have a God that many times "Hideth Himself" in ways that we just cannot see Him within our circumstances. We think that Mordecai and Esther must have experienced this, and at times they must have had thoughts like this: "Had not God protected and delivered Sarah from the harem of the heathenish kings, two different times?! Surely He would do the same for Esther!" But here, along with Esther and Mordecai, we can learn a valuable lesson: God does not always deal with His children in the same way, He deals with each of us according to that which He purposes in "The Christ." Therefore, seeing that each of us are different in our inward being because of heredity, environment, and circumstances, God allows in each of our lives that which will bring forth a greater increase of Christ.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 17)

Nothing Is Hard for God

Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hands" (2 Kings 3:16-18).

To human thinking it was simply impossible, but nothing is hard for God. Without a sound or sign, from sources invisible and apparently impossible, the floods came stealing in all night long; and when the morning dawned, those ditches were flooded with the crystal waters, and reflecting the rays of the morning sun from the red hills of Edom.

Our unbelief is always wanting some outward sign. The religion of many is largely sensational, and they are not satisfied of its genuineness without manifestations, etc.; but the greatest triumph of faith is to be still and know that He is God.

The great victory of faith is to stand before some impassable Red Sea, and hear the Master say, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord," and "Go forward!" As we step out without any sign or sound--not a wave-splash--and wetting our very feet as we take the first step into its waters, still marching on we shall see the sea divide and the pathway open through the very midst of the waters.

If we have seen the miraculous workings of God in some marvelous case of healing or some extraordinary providential deliverance, I am sure the thing that has impressed us most has been the quietness with which it was all done, the absence of everything spectacular and sensational, and the utter sense of nothingness which came to us as we stood in the presence of this mighty God and felt how easy, it was for Him to do it all without the faintest effort on His part or the slightest help on ours.

It is not the part of faith to question, but to obey. The ditches were made, and the water came pouring in from some supernatural source. What a lesson for our faith!

Are you craving a spiritual blessing? Open the trenches, and God will fill them. And this, too, in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected ways. Oh, for that faith that can act by faith and not by sight, and expect God to work although we see no wind or rain.
--A. B. Simpson

~L. B. Cowman~