Tag: christian

He Could Do Nothing Of Himself

John 5
19 So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way [in His turn].

  • It’s quite a thought isn’t it. The Almighty Creator, Jesus, was always going about fulfilling His Father’s will. He listened for it, He knew it, He was submissive to it and obedient to it.

John 17
23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and recognise that You sent Me and that You have loved them even as You have loved Me.

1 Corinthians 11
1 Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ.

  • It is terrifying to see what the flesh is capable of without God! It is harrowing to look back and realise/acknowledge what I have done according to my own understanding without knowing my Heavenly Father’s will.
  • Consider all that Jesus accomplished in His complete obedience. Consider the life and testimony of Paul who followed in Jesus example.
  • Oh may we be so careful to follow in Jesus footsteps. Can we say that we have listened for His will? That we know it? That we are submitted to it? And obey it? Oh Lord teach us your ways, teach us to know your will and to walk in obedience to Your Holy Spirit’s leading. Heavenly Father transform us by the renewal of minds to be one with you so that the world me see and know Your glory and love in our lives.
  • We will never walk in perfection. The struggle with the flesh is daily but the heart that is at least seeking, hungering and crying to know Him more is the heart that The Lord is seeking for.

Proverbs 23
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Invited to Fellowship

Joshua 14:11

As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

• May we never doubt the power of The Spirit and what The Lord can do through a willing, obedient vessel.

• We will not all be blessed with physical vigour as Caleb but there is no excuse not to have such a testimony in the Spirit.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, My grace is enough for you; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may be seen over me.

• There was no loss of effectiveness and ability. There was no loss of confidence or faith. Caleb did not for a second doubt the power of God as he moved in obedience.

• Let us encourage and remind the older saints of such precious truths. Oh, that there would be an older generation that does not slack in faith and vigour of The Spirit; who are fierce in prayer; who are mighty in compassion and unmovable in wisdom and faithfulness. Let us recognise those who are older in years of service and be challenged and inspired by their knowledge of The Lord and love for Him.

• Too often the weight and responsibility of the future is placed upon the youth! This is reckless and worldly foolishness and utterly unbiblical! The young are to look to their elders and be encouraged and inspired; taught and trained! Oh may we look with awe to our examples and follow with joy in their footsteps. May we look to exalt our elders in The Lord who have walked before us, who have dug wells and springs in the valleys and desert places. Those who can share the never failing faithfulness of The Lord; those who have sought Him, found Him, proved Him and have been granted to be bearers of His glorious testimonies!

• Our thinking is so backward today and we have lost the wisdom and pattern of God in this area.

Joshua 14:12

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

•⁠  ⁠Caleb doesn’t ask for a small, easy patch. He doesn’t request land already conquered. 

•⁠  ⁠Caleb picked a fight! A mighty fight! A fight that he could not win on his own! A fight that would prove and glorify The Lord God. A fight that would be a mighty and precious testimony unto God. He saw the potential; He saw the limitless ability of Almighty God; He saw the testimony to be won and the abundant promise to be claimed!

•⁠  ⁠Caleb was careful to confess that His victory relied solely on the presence and blessing of The Lord being with him. He did not aim/seek to take this mountain in His own strength.

Questioning God

Exodus 17:7 
“And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?”

• It is staggering to consider what their eyes have seen and witnessed; to consider all that the children of Israel have been brought through; to consider the intimacy and tenderness that The Lord God has shown them… and their hearts still yet question The Lord!!

• May we never be so blind as to question the presence, goodness and love of God! We can be so quick to judge the Israelites as foolish but let us be careful for we too can be just as guilty and just as selfish, foolish and ungrateful.

Psalm 139:7 Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence? – Consider the whole psalm.

Hebrews 13:5 “for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

• How tenderly and compassionately The Lord watches over His people. What a precious comfort is the watchful eye of our Good Shepherd! Our all sufficient one! Our Wonderful Counsellor! Our Saviour! Our Father! It is a great sin indeed to question His love and attention to His children. It is a clear sign of an unbelieving heart to ask such a thing. Such a question must so grieve The Lord!

The Reason For Being

All of creation was spoken for this one purpose, to glorify God. He gave the ocean its boundaries and it obeys Him; He told the stars where to shine and they steadfastly obey Him; He told the mountains where to rise and they obey till this day; He told the sun, the moon and all the planets to map their courses and they consistently obey his voice, He tells the wind where to blow and it unquestioningly obeys…

He turns to us and with unconditional, self-denying love He says “Come.” and we say “NO!” Continue reading “The Reason For Being” →