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The Tree, The Pole, and The Cross
It was around 6000 years ago that God created the Heavens and the Earth. He also created mankind, as well as a Garden in which man was to live. In the Garden there were many trees; trees of all kinds. And among them all, there were two special ones. One, the Tree of Life; the other, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam and Eve were told they could eat of any tree EXCEPT the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Unfortunately, that’s the tree they chose to eat from.
The tree of life represents God’s way to life. Though His way may appear to be restrictive and slow, it always leads to life.
Always.
“Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.” (Psalm 68:20 ESV)
The second one, the forbidden tree, represents man’s attempt to gain all God has and is; without Him. It always leads to death.
Always.
“Why wait for God to help me, when I can help myself and get what I need quicker,” seemed to be the mindset of Adam and Eve.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 16:25 ESV)
Later on, some 4000 years ago, there was a pole erected in the wilderness. Upon the pole was the form of a serpent molded out of bronze. The children of Israel had attempted to, once again, find a quick way to God’s promises; without God. God’s ways bothered them. They were restrictive and slow; and the people couldn’t stand His ways, His provision, or His leaders any longer. So they murmured and complained and started planning a return trip to Egypt.
Remember, man’s ways always lead to death.
Always.
Their rebellion, for that’s what it was, opened the “door” for the fiery serpents in the land to attack the camp. They began biting the people, and those who were bitten died.
Well, it didn’t take too long for the people to “get religion”, and beg Moses to ask for the Lord’s help. The Lord told Moses to erect a pole with a bronze serpent on it. He then instructed Moses to tell the people to “Look and Live”.
“And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived.” (Numbers 21:9 AMP)
The serpent on the pole reflects man’s total disregard for God’s way, AND God’s willingness to heal and restore wayward man. ALL they had to do was “look”.
But notice the wording in Numbers 21:9 (Amplified); attentively, expectantly… How easy would that be with a bunch of poisonous snakes crawling around and up your legs? Keep looking at the pole? Are you kidding?
No, God wasn’t kidding. You see, man got into trouble, originally, by not believing God’s word; instead he believed the serpent. Again, in the wilderness, the children of Israel got into trouble by not believing God. So it would take faith in His word to bring restoration and healing.
Repentance must always include faith; whether with people or with God. If one does not believe someone else was right, while they themselves were wrong, they cannot truly repent. Jesus said, “Repent and believe the gospel.” So the children of Israel had to believe, and follow God’s instructions.
Finally, 2000 years ago there was a cross. Placed on a hill on the outskirts of Jerusalem, there the Son of God, who had never disobeyed His Father, died for the sins of the world. The cross reveals, once again, man’s desire and attempt to live their lives free from God’s influence, demands, and restrictive ways. And it screams to all who’ll listen, mankind’s capacity for evil.
In all three examples, the tree, the pole, and the cross, man cannot get rid of God! Man cannot be so evil that God won’t provide a way to be restored. As long as people have an opportunity to repent and believe, God will always have a remedy, a Way out.
Always!
Yes, those three things show man’s desire to be free from God; but they also reveal the heart of God to bring true freedom to all who will believe.
“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever! For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” (John 3:14-16 AMP)
You and I can’t get rid of God and we can’t live without Him. We can not shut out His love or our need to repent and believe. The tree, the pole, and the cross all speak the same thing; man’s ways will not bring God’s life, but God’s ways will.
ALWAYS!
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Rain, Floods, and Winds
We sometimes can hear something taught for so long, we miss a word The Lord may be trying to tell us. We may read a passage of scripture off and on for years, and though The Lord ministered that particular Word to our heart one time, we forget He may have something else to reveal from that same passage.For example, here’s a well known quote from Jesus.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)
Traditional thinking, and teaching, tells us the importance of building the foundation of our life (our house) on hearing AND doing the Word of God. Not just hearing the words of Jesus, but hearing and doing.
Absolutely true!
The teaching points out that both the wise man and foolish man heard the sayings of Jesus. Both the wise and foolish men experienced the same storms. Everyone was given to understand the rain, floods, and wind represented storms of life; attacks from satan who’s trying to steal, kill and destroy. The wise man’s house stood because he heard AND did. The foolish man’s house was destroyed because he heard AND DID NOTHING.
Absolutely true!
But I’d like to offer an interpretation that may shake your thinking. It did mine.
Specifically, I want you to look at the words “rain”, “floods”, and “winds”. Remember, most of us have been taught that those words represent the kingdom of darkness, and its mission to tear us down and totally destroy us.
But I believe the Spirit of God is wanting us to realize a more important truth; one we must grasp, especially in this perilous hour in which we find ourselves.
The words rain, floods, and winds can also refer to the Holy Spirit of God!
“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring” (Isaiah 44:3 NKJV)
“So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives.” (Isaiah 59:19 ESV)
“Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand” (Isaiah 28:2 NKJV)
“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath (wind) of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7 ESV)
“He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire” (Psalm 104:3-4 ESV)
“He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow” (Psalm 147:18 ESV)
“Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live” (Ezekiel 37:9 NKJV)
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2 NKJV)
Anyway, I think you can see The Lord MAY be referring to His Spirit when He speaks of rain, floods and winds.
“But that doesn’t make any sense”, you say. Ah, but it does.
The Lord spoke of a time, a certain time, when everything that CAN be shaken, knocked down, agitated, destroyed, toppled, WILL be!
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken – that is, things that have been made – in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26-27 ESV)
I believe that time is upon us.
A time of peril (2 Timothy 3) and of people departing from the faith (1 Timothy 4). A time of sifting and preparation (Amos 9:9-12; Malachi 3:1-3). A time when everything that is not of Him is SHAKEN OFF AND OUT!
The goal? That we may grow up in Him, not having spot or wrinkle, or anything in us He CAN’T build upon.
So, how will we survive these days? What did Jesus tell us to do? He told us to hear His sayings AND DO THEM!
And when the Spirit of God begins to shake things in our lives, we won’t fall apart.
The first three chapters of Revelation indicate an inspection, a shaking, a judging of the saints.
Judgment WILL begin at the HOUSE of God! (1 Peter 4:17)
Don’t be upset with me. I’m facing the same shaking as everyone else. And it isn’t fun. But though His discipline feels like He’s trying to kill us, He’s only preparing us to walk as He walked.
In the Glory, and for the Glory, of God.
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Enemy? What Enemy?
“Enemy? Who me? I don’t have any enemies. I’m friendly to everyone and everything.” That is the kind of attitude I picture Adam and Eve having. After all, they were living in Eden, the place of ultimate pleasure; Utopia for those of you who aren’t quite convinced about this God thing.
Anyway, there was an enemy in the Garden. Unfortunately, he was undetected until it was too late.
God had given His kids a clue when He told them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28 ESV) The phrase, “have dominion”, was the clue. It means. “to subjugate, to bring under control, to subdue.” If there’s no enemy, there’s nothing to subdue.
But there was an enemy. An enemy of God; an enemy of man.
Undetected.
I’ll admit, there are some things I can’t explain about those Garden Days of Adam and Eve. Like people actually conversing with a serpent! I mean, I’ve yet to meet a snake I’d like to get to know. But snakes, excuse me, serpents, were different in the Garden. For one thing, they used to have legs, or else they moved about by hopping on their tail. Why do I say that? Because of this: “The Lord God said to the serpent,“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.” (Genesis 3:14 ESV)
I’ve heard people say the serpent could talk because it was possessed by the devil at the time. Could be true. Or, God created them with the ability to talk. I don’t know. Regardless, there was an enemy in the Garden and God’s kids didn’t know it.
So day after day Adam and Eve, while tending the Garden, would walk by the tree, comment to each other about its beauty, and wave to the serpent (who just happened to be in the area). I can picture the serpent waving back, fruit in hand, giving them one of his special, “you can trust me” smiles.
Imagine with me, the First Couple, walking and having a conversation something like this:
“Eve, I really like that serpent. Just a nice, friendly creature. Always has a smile for us.”
“And he’s such a beautiful creature. All those colors, muscles; so graceful when he walks.”
“Yeah, and the way he carries himself makes me wonder if he’d be the one to put in charge when we take a vacation. Such confidence and pride.”
“Maybe we should stop and visit with him”, Eve said. “Maybe ask him over for supper. You know, Adam, I’d really like to ask him about that tree he’s always leaning up against. Are you sure that’s the tree Father told you about?”
“The very one.”
“Looks harmless to me…”
“Yeah, me too”, replied Adam. “Me, too.”
“Let’s go back and visit.”
Adam smiled at his wife and said, “Honey, I was about to suggest that very thing. Let’s go!” And away they went, back to the tree they had just passed; back to their new “friend.”
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ’You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. ’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. ” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened (Genesis 3:1-7 ESV)
You see, I believe the serpent could use his “craftiness” against Adam and Eve because their guard was down. They had entertained the idea of being friends with the serpent before he enticed them to eat. Why do I believe that? Because we’re the same way a lot of times.
We’ve heard at least once, that as Christians, we have an enemy who only wants to steal, kill, and destroy. We’ve heard the enemy is the devil. So, keeping a vigilant eye, we watch for any signs of the devil. But we don’t see any ugly red mess with a tail, horns, and a pitchfork, so we let down our guard just a wee bit.
Now he may not camouflage himself as a serpent these days, but he may show up dressed in a very popular ideology, or anything that seems harmless, is appealing to the five senses, yet carries the sting of death. Those who’ve accepted his friendship before they really knew who was masquerading as a good guy, will have a much harder time resisting his wonderful smile.
See, these five things can get us into a world of hurt!
1. Familiarity with the serpent
2. Visiting the tree regularly
3. Putting ourselves in compromising situations.
4. Defenses weaken when enemies are viewed as friends
5. Repeatedly viewing and visiting with your enemy can give him an opportunity to violate you
Adam and Eve had what they needed in God to recognize the enemy AND subdue him, running him out of the Garden. You see, Adam was supposed to have access to the Garden, the serpent was not.
So the undetected enemy became the master of the Garden; Adam was no longer in charge. And it would be some time before the second Adam, Jesus, would come and break the serpent’s hold and buy back Adam’s lease.
But He did, hallelujah, He did!
But there’s still that enemy who likes to hang around with people who don’t recognize him. He wants to entice us to live our lives apart from God’s ways, and distanced from God’s Presence. But, like Adam, God has given us “clues” regarding our enemy:
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT)
“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NLT)
Remember, friend, God tells us there’s an enemy in our world. He tells us to not become chummy with it, but to keep our distance. He’ll help us know what to do and say, as well as how to recognize the enemy.
One final word. God’s friend is our friend and God’s enemy is our enemy. So know your enemy just well enough to identify him and defeat him.
God will help you.
Questions for comments: have you ever witnessed the enemy wearing a special costume, attempting to lure you into trouble? What was the costume? How did it affect you?
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Take Aim
Someone once said, “I’ll aim at the moon, but will settle for a telephone pole.” Don’t you kind of wonder what they were aiming at? Sure, I get it. Things don’t always turn out as planned. Like the old Stones song says, “you can’t always get what you want.”
So, does that mean we don’t need to set some standards for ourselves? Set some goals, take aim, try for something better; would all that be a waste of time and energy?
What about our spiritual life? Did God intend it to be a haphazard kind of life? Like a pinball, bouncing from bumper to bumper, getting a few bonus points from time to time, hoping God has good flipper reflexes when we’re about to go out. Is that all God created us for?
No!
He created us on purpose, with a purpose; so He intends for us to live our lives on purpose. Taking aim at life, and all it entails.
Now, before you start getting all frustrated or defensive because you haven’t discovered your “purpose” yet, allow me to have your undivided attention. There isn’t a one of us who has everything figured out. No one, but God, sees the end from the beginning. None of us are really good at focusing on things we cannot see. Right?
But if we would take a moment or two, look at the Word of God, we will discover some things to use as targets; some things we can aim for.
For instance:
“…aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” (2 Corinthians 8:21 ESV)
What is honorable? Something that helps raise others to a higher level. Aim at lifting others higher, not at tearing them down. When we get ready to do or say something, lets ask ourselves, “Will this statement or action help me hit the mark?” Reminds me of something Paul told the Philippians: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9 ESV)
Home or away. Home = Heaven, Away = Earth. Or, whether we’re someplace where people know us, or someplace where we’re a total stranger, our focus, our target, is to please God.
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5 ESV)
The things we tell others to do, or expect others to do, should be focused on love from a pure heart. A pure heart is a heart yielded to Jesus and His way of doing things. That’s our aim.
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)
Aim for restoration; aim for rebuilding, rejuvenating, reestablishing the broken and fallen so they can finish well. Remember, everyone has times when they fail to hit the mark; they shoot at the moon and knock out a streetlight. So take aim for their restoration.
Also, take aim for God’s complete restoration to be completed in us. “He Who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it.”
Take aim. Don’t be frustrated if you miss the mark at times. Just reload, take aim, and keep firing.
Our Helper is close by…
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Got An Itch?
Got an itch that just won’t go away? Do you have something weighing on your heart and mind; something you’d like to discuss? How about a topic you’d like to see addressed from a biblical standpoint?September 2013 is my “scratch” month. A month to address subjects and issues preying heavy on YOUR mind. All YOU need to do is:
1. Tell me where you think you “itch”; what’s bugging you, what do you want to discuss, etc. in the comment section of Facebook or my blog
2. Be patient, as it may take a little time to investigate…
3. Be ready to comment and give your thoughts, as well as read those of others.
Let’s help one another. No one likes to itch where they can’t scratch.
Looking forward to your comments…
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The Message For This Moment
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity – the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-6 NLT)An interesting passage, wouldn’t you agree?
Paul told Timothy, and the rest of us, to pray for all people. Ask God to help all people, give yourself to helping bear the burdens of all people through intercession, and give thanks for all people. And, pray that way for kings and those in authority. Pray what way? The same way we’re to pray for all people; nothing less.
See, this is what pleases God, Who wants everyone to be saved.
Notice something else. Paul wrote about how Jesus gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. It’s the message God has given to this world at just the right time.
Okay, let’s tie the two things together. Pray for all people, because God wants freedom for everyone. Giving yourself to God and others through prayer, will help bring freedom for all people. This is the way God says we can lay down our life for someone else: by praying, interceding, and thanking God: for all people!
This is the message for our time: pray for all men. Ask God to help our president and congress. Help bear their burden through prayer, as Jesus did and does as the Divine Intercessor. Give thanks for our leaders and believe God to give them the ability to make the right decisions to accomplish His plans and purposes.
“But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” (Hebrews 7:24-25 NLT)
If He forever lives to see lives changed and His Father’s will fulfilled, wouldn’t that be our calling, our purpose, as well?
God’s message for this moment: give your life for someone else’s freedom, through prayer. It’s what our nation, our world, needs.
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Don’t Be Afraid To Ask!
Have you ever been afraid to ask a question? Have you ever felt stupid for not knowing the answer to a seemingly easy question? Have you ever been too embarrassed to go to God with a problem? Or maybe you’ve figured it was too late for the answer, so you kept your mouth shut.
I believe Adam was that way. He’d been given the instructions from his Creator – what he could, or couldn’t eat. And he probably did well with those instruction until the serpent queried he and his wife with that crafty hiss: “Did God really s-s-say you mus-s-s-t not eat the fruit from any of the trees-s-s in the garden? S-s-sounds s-s-suspicious-s-s, does-s-s-n’t it? This-s-s garden is-s-s for your s-s-supreme pleas-s-sure.”
But let’s not be too hard on old Adam and Eve. They were dealing with the father of lies, the master deceiver. And they were using natural reasoning, as great and effective as it is, to try and win a battle they didn’t realize had begun.
Their adversary, the devil in serpent’s form, hit them with his enchanting voice, his magic spell. The Hebrew word for serpent or snake means, “enchant” or “whisper a magic spell.” Yep, the war was over before they knew it had even started!
But it could’ve turned out differently. And our situation, today, can have an ending other than death and destruction, if we’ll learn to invite God into the fight. If we’ll ask the necessary questions, inquire of The Lord, and not be afraid to admit we don’t know what to do.
We cannot wage a successful battle against our spiritual enemy using our puny mental faculties. We’ll lose every time. But if and when something comes our way, something that may not sound correct or in agreement with God’s word (such as “did God say…?), and we say, “stop for just a minute, sir; I need to ask a question”, we’ll experience a lot more victory than defeat!
We don’t have to know every spiritual trick of the enemy! We DO need to learn to recognize the voice of God through study of His Word and prayer. We don’t even need to memorize all the different masks the devil uses. We simply need to be ready to ask the questions. “God, what’s going on here? Something doesn’t seem right. I need Your help, Your discernment.”
Mark it down! Hide this truth in your heart! God does NOT get mad at someone for asking too many questions! He will not ridicule, embarrass, or ignore anyone who asks sincerely.
Help isn’t far away. It’s as close as a question! Don’t be afraid to ask!
“Call to Me and I will answer…” Jeremiah 33:37
“As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.” (Micah 7:7 NLT)
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)
“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT)
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Deep Calls To Deep
Every disaster, every death, every void and place of emptiness, every storm, every heartache, every example of wickedness, all call for the same thing; the “Deep”. The depth, the resources, of God’s power.Every time God’s will is done in Heaven BUT NOT on earth – the cry goes forth, “where is the power of God?!” ALL creation groans in travail…calling to the Deep…”where is God’s power?” (Romans 8:18-26) “with groans too deep for words…” Why? Because everything God created is “wired” to the Deep power of God. Creation knows Who made it and from where its source of life flows. It knows Who to “cry out” to when life doesn’t flow as it should.
“Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in.
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy
before the Lord.” (Psalm 98:7-9 NLT)“The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy.” (Psalm 65:12-13 NLT)“But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”
He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers .” (Luke 19:39-40 NLT)Deep calls to Deep.
When God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26), He wasn’t referring to His physical form, or ours. He was speaking of an entire package; mankind created in the image of God. So He created man as a triune being; spirit, soul, and body.
Jesus spoke of man on 3 dimensions, as well as did Paul.
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24 ESV)
Note Jesus said, “…the true worshipers WILL worship…” True worshipers CHOOSE, an act of their will, mind, and even emotions, to worship God with all they have; spirit, soul, and body.
Paul said, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV)
Spirit, soul, and body. Man IS A SPIRIT, he HAS A SOUL, and he LIVES IN A BODY. And created as we were, God “wired” our hearts, the depth of our being, to cry out to Him, call to Him, when there is a void or need in our life. Whether we realize the “call” is going out, or not, He knows.
“…for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8 NLT)
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” (Matthew 6:31-32 NLT)
Deep calls to Deep.
King David, the Prophet/Psalmist, spoke of the deep calling to deep: “My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls.” (Psalm 42:6-7 ESV) He said he’d remember God from the land of Jordan (low places), Hermon (highest places), and Mount Mizar (just your average size mound, nothing spectacular). In other words, “God, I will remember You, my soul will cry out to You, my Deep calls to Your Deep, in my lowest, highest, or just plain ordinary moments. I am connected to You!”
When God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was without form and void. The Spirit of God hovered over the Deep, brooding, incubating God’s new creation. God knew the cry of the Deep and responded with His Word; “Light be!”, and light was.
When Adam was alone, with no helper suitable for him, his Deep, the void in his life he didn’t even know he had, called to God’s Deep, His power, and God created again.
Abel’s blood cried out to God’s Deep from the ground. God heard, and responded.
Deep calls to Deep.
Throughout God’s word there are examples of this principle: Deep calls to Deep. God’s Deep calls to our Deep, and our Deep calls to His.
When the children of Israel were about to be delivered from Egypt, Deep called to Deep. “Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.” (Exodus 3:7-9 ESV)
The Spirit of God was resting, brooding over the nation as a result of the call of the Deep. And God’s word, His answer to the call, brought deliverance.
The woman with the flow of blood was in desparate need of a miracle. “And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:25-34 ESV)
Her need, her Deep, responded to God’s Deep when she heard about Jesus! Faith came alive and God created again!
God is rich to all who call upon Him (Romans 10:12). He never runs out, His supply is inexhaustible! He hears our cry, He knows our needs, He loves us so!
Where is the power of God? Has it diminished through the ages? Is Heaven broke? Did God have to break up the streets of gold, and sell the gold to make the house payment?
NO!
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He still hears our Deep call to Him. Our heart, our Deep still hears His answer call to us.
Our response needs to be like that of the woman in Mark 5: “all I need to do is touch Jesus… I only need Him. I only need to believe.”
God is. And He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him; who answer the call from His Deep.
Deep calls to Deep.
Do you hear the call? God hears you!
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Keep On Singing!
Have you ever wondered why King David was, according to the Lord, “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22)? I’ve heard many opinions throughout the last 38 years. And I’ve agreed with most of them.
Some ideas are: David’s passion for God, his love for worship, warrior mentality, honesty and integrity, he was quick to repent, and fearless.
Though David was all those things, most of the time anyway, there’s one more idea I’d like to add to the list: he kept on singing.
Psalm 69 is a beautiful example. Written by David, performed as a choir, the psalm covers the full gamut of human emotion.
Though deeply troubled, hated without knowing why, and humiliated; David kept on praying, and singing. I love to imagine what it would have been like to hear the choir sing the Psalm at church. Dressed in their choir robes, swaying a bit from side to side in rhythm with the music, they would certainly have brought the house down!
Please read the Psalm in its entirety. Don’t stop short and miss the grand finale. The song just isn’t the same.
And don’t stop singing when life becomes a little rough. Go ahead, sing and pour out your heart to God. But keep at it. Don’t quit too soon and miss the grand finale; the big finish!
Life just wouldn’t be the same.
“For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Lilies.”
Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head.
Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal. O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you.Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel. For I endure insults for your sake; humiliation is written all over my face. Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.
Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. When I weep and fast, they scoff at me. When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me. I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me.
But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mud; don’t let me sink any deeper! Save me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters. Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me.
Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. Don’t hide from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble! Come and redeem me; free me from my enemies.
You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing. Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me. But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst.
Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and make their bodies shake continually. Pour out your fury on them; consume them with your burning anger. Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted. To the one you have punished, they add insult to injury; they add to the pain of those you have hurt. Pile their sins up high, and don’t let them go free. Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous.
I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.
Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them. For God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land. The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there in safety.” (Psalm 69 NLT)
Remember, KEEP ON SINGING!
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He Did It For Us!
“WHO HAS believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message [of that which was revealed to us]? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed? For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:1-6 AMP)
Why, why, why, do we read this passage and still wonder if God really cares for us? Isaiah saw prophetically Jesus as mankind’s Redeemer; the One Who took our place on the cross.
You see, we were the ones who deserved to bear all the Father laid on Him. It should have been us! We should have carried the griefs and sorrows. It should’ve been you and I that were bruised. But we were not strong enough to bear them, because we had earned each and every stripe; we could not pay for them, our account was empty. Yet He who was guiltless set us aside, took our place, and payed our debt. Completely!
He did it! He bore, carried, all our guilt, all our iniquity. Wounded for us, bruised for us, stricken and smitten by God for us!
For our complete wholeness. To undo all the enemy’s work. Spirit, soul, and body. And then He rose from the dead. He did it for us!
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8 ESV)
“He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.” (Romans 4:25 NLT)
Jan Grace
adding God's Word into my world…
