Fear

Light, Salvation and Strength

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“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 (KJV)

For many years this verse of Psalm 27 has been a great encouragement, and light for my path.  When the LORD is  your light there is no darkness He does not overcome; and when He is your strength there is no power in heaven or on earth or under the earth that He cannot deal with in quick order.

In recent days and months I have found myself quoting this verse; and O what joy He brings to my heart knowing that He is the One I love and fear, because He is not only my Lord and Saviour, but also my Creator.

Someone once said,  “When we fear GOD; we need fear nothing else.”   I say a hearty “Amen” to that.

Here is praying that all who come here may have a Christ filled Christmas.

Thus saith the LORD…

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“And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, ‘Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.'”  Exodus 5:1-2

I Will Not Let Thee Go

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I Will Not Let Thee Go…

Genesis 32:24-32

1.  Jacob was born grasping the heel of his brother Esau (25:25-26).
2.  Jacob’s name means “supplanter” which is a deceiver, schemer plotting and planning his own course in life (27:36)
3.  Jacob runs to Padanaram to escape from possible death by Esau’s hand (27:41- 28:2).
4.  Jacob meets God for the first time at Luz; he names the place Bethel [House of God] (28:10-22).
5.  He gets to Laban’s home, meets Rachel, is in a fight with Laban for twenty years for what is his.
6.  God calls Jacob to return to Canaan (31:11-13).
7.  Jacob fears meeting Esau; spends night wrestling with a man; earnestly contended for blessing; received blessing.

 

I.  THE BATTLE WE FACE AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES (Eph. 6:10-12).

II.  THERE ARE FEARS THAT WILL BE FACED IN THIS LIFE (Psalm 56:3, 11).

III. WE WILL BE CALLED ON TO CONFRONT WHO WE ARE; JUST AS JACOB DID (vv. 27-28).

IV.  WHEN WE HAVE A HOLD ON GOD DO NOT LET HIM GOD WITHOUT HIS BLESSING.

V.  KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD (vv. 29-30).

VI.  THERE WILL BE EVIDENCE OF YOUR BREAKING BEFORE GOD (vv. 31-32).

 

Application
i.  Face the battle of everyday life with faith that God will bring you through it.
ii.  Recognize your fears, confess them, forsake them, and trust the One who fights your battle for you.
iii.  Remember that God knows the ending as well as the beginning.
iv.  Rejoice that God in His grace has brought us before His face.
v.  Take the time each day to really spend time with God [wrestling] in prayer and His Word.

-Tim A. Blankenship

This is sermon points from a sermon preached January 2011

The Word of the LORD Came…

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The Word of the LORD Came…
Genesis 15:1, 4

1.  Abraham had just passed over great wealth considering the glory of the LORD (14:21-24).
2.  There could have been some apprehension, second guessing of himself following.
3.  There was evidently some fear; what is going to happen now?; type questions of what had happened.
4.  The Word of the LORD came and gave Abraham hope, vision and promise for the future.

 

I.  …IN TIMES OF DOUBT AND FEAR (John 14:1-3).

II.  …TO GIVE HOPE, PROMISE, VISION.

III.  …GIVING ASSURANCE OF RIGHTEOUS DECISION MAKING (v. 6).

 

Application –
i.  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; lean not unto your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
ii.  The LORD knows that where we are not guided by vision we perish (Proverbs 29:18).
iii.  Believing the LORD is the way of righteousness (Romans 10:9-13).

-Tim A. Blankenship

Preached January of 2011.

Jesus Is In the Boat

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“And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him.  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.  And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us: we perish.’  And He saith unto them, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?’ Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  But the men marvelled, saying, ‘What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!'”  Matthew 8:23-27

Through the Bible in a Year 100613

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Fear… Coming Up Short

Hebrews 4:1-3

1. PUT TO FLIGHT THOSE THINGS THAT HINDER YOUR FAITH AND FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT (v. 1).

2. THE PREACHED WORD WILL HAVE A POWERFUL AFFECT ON THOSE WHO WILL HEAR AND HEED IT (v. 2).

3. THERE IS REST, PEACE, FOR THOSE WHO BEAR THE FRUIT OF FAITH (v. 3).

-Tim A. Blankenship

Words for Christian Living – Fear

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“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”  Psalm 27:1-3 (KJV)

What place does fear have in the life of a Christian and/or Christian living?  One place;  Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10).  Someone has said, “If we fear God we need fear nothing else”.

The Psalmist tells us that the LORD is his light and salvation.  If that be so, then whom does the Psalmist need to fear; or who does any Child of God need fear; or what do we need to fear?

We can be troubled on every side.  Health, wealth (or lack of wealth worry about paying the rent, house payment, bills), personal attacks from others, even looming death may be one of the things that strike fear into our hearts.  There is no benefit from this worry.  Worry is nothing more or less than fear.  God is our strength.

We need to hear the words of Jesus and trust Him…

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or, ‘What shall we drink? or, ‘Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:30-34 (KJV)

Words for Christian Living 060913

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“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”  1 Peter 4:8

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  1 John 4:18

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”  Revelation 2:4  (KJV)

Why Are Ye Fearful…?

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Fear is an emotion we all face at times.  There are some who seem to be fearful much of their lives.  I have known some who were fearful of leaving their home, or new home for a night or so; for fear that someone might break in and steal their possessions or do harm to their home.  Now, there is a needless fear.

It would probably surprise us what many people are fearful of.  There are some parents who are constantly fearful that their child or children will fall down, get hurt, be hurt by someone else; well you get the picture.  Children need to learn, and their falling, experiencing pain is part of growing up.  Fear can be dangerous to one’s health.

We live in an era or time when people are fearful of what the economy will do; or how the stock market will perform.  In this post today I want us to look at two portions of Scripture.  First from the New Testament we hear from an event in the life of Jesus’s disciples and the words of Jesus;

“And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him.  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.  And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us: we perish.’  And He saith unto them, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?’ Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  But the men marvelled, saying, ‘What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!’”  Matthew 8:23-27 (KJV)

Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus is asleep in the boat, a storm comes up, Jesus remains asleep undaunted by the storm; and His disciples are fearful.  Had they forgotten what Jesus has told them?  Do they not know who He is?  Of course it is a normal part of life to get fearful in the midst of a storm; at least for many people it is.  However, when you have the Son of God with you, having heard His words; what is there to fear?  Some wise Christian from years ago said, “If we fear God we do not need to fear anything else”.  Jesus said to His disciples “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”, then He “Rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”  Now, do you suppose that calm was just the ceasing of the wind and the seas?  I think not.  The calm entered the hearts of His disciples as well.

To continue of this thought lets look into the lives of Abraham and Sarah from Genesis;

“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken.  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.  And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.  And Sarah said, ‘God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.’  And she said, ‘Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? For I have born him a son in his old age.’  And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.” Genesis 21:1-8 (KJV)

Now Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son by God.  They had gone to extraordinary means to try and accomplish God’s will in their own way.  First by the surrogacy using Hagar Sarah’s servant.  As a result of this Ishmael was born and Sarah was despised by her servant, and when God did give them the son He had promised this promised son was hated by Ishmael.  Where did this deed come from.  It seems to have been spawned by fear.  Fear that they needed to do something which God had not commanded, nor commended.

Some might think, “Well where does faith fit into the picture with Abraham and Sarah?”  Despite their actions they did believe they were aiding God in giving them a child; but it still was contrary to His will.  Yet God uses this fear and its fruit to later discipline His children.

They believed God in their lives, and God honored their faith.  In Genesis 15:6 we are told of Abram, “And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.”

The word for today.  No matter what the devil and life may throw at you; do not fear for God is the Master of your life.  You do not need to use schemes, or the wiles of the world to accomplish the works of God.  He works His plan and accomplishes His will for our good and His glory.  When we do our own plan, our own way, “The chickens will come home to roost”.

“Why are ye fearful…?”

-Tim A. Blankenship

Those Who Walk With GOD

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Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, ‘You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.  Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?  Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.  The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”  Amos 3:1-8 (KJV)

Walking with the LORD might be considered a difficult endeavor; however, there is only one thing that it takes; and that is believing God.  Believing Him means that I agree with what He says; and without doubt, without wavering, without fear I trust everything that He says.  We must remember that He is the One who has even made it possible for man to walk with Him.

The LORD stepped down from heaven; in the person of His Son Jesus, and died for our sins.  By His death on the cross He bridged the gap that was between GOD and mankind, making it possible to walk with Him.

One of the blessings and fruits of walking with God is that He reveals “His secret” to His servants the prophets.  We are not all prophets, but through the prophets of Scripture, such as Amos we can better know GOD and walk with Him.

-T.A.

 

The Rich One’s

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And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; ‘These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”  Revelation 2:8-11 (KJV)

For further reading and study you may want to read THE RESURRECTED ONE

-T.A.

Salvation: Provided and Kept by Him

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Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”  2 Timothy 1:6-12 (KJV)

If Timothy was fearful, then he fit well with the rest of us who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.  It is wonderful to have someone who is not only a spiritual mentor [teacher and guide], but a father in the faith to cheer us on as Timothy had Paul.

The Salvation of God is both provided by God through the shed blood of the cross of Jesus; and kept through the glorious power of the presence of Jesus [the Holy Spirit] within.

-T.A.

Councils, Sparrows and Enemies

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Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, ‘Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man be come.’  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.”  Matthew 10:16-39 (KJV)

Notice the three “Fear nots” in the text above.  The word also of Whom we are to fear.

-T.A.

God’s Word Today 081712

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Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, ‘Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; ‘Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.  But I will deliver thee in that day,’ saith the LORD: ‘and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.  For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in Me,’ saith the LORD.”  Jeremiah 39:15-18 (KJV)

-T.A.

Elijah, and a Still Small Voice

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Following the victory at Mt. Carmel Elijah has ran from Jezebel, in fear of losing his life; then, prays for God to take his life.  Depression, fear, and doubt has crept into the man of God’s life.  However, as I can look at this and see it God is by no means silent with Elijah.

God sends an angel and provides food and water for him (1 Kings 19:5-8), and then, he goes for forty days and nights in the strength of that bread and water.  Now, only God can give a man the physical energy and strength to make that type of journey with no other physical bread or water.  Moses did it on Mt. Sinai, evidently twice at least (Exodus 24:18; 34:28).

The LORD led Elijah to Mt. Horeb called the Mount of God, which is Mt. Sinai where Moses had been with God.

Elijah was in need of a learning experience, as many of us are at times.  We are pretty given to believing that God only moves dramatically, and visibly, and always powerfully; but that is not always so.  God will move in His own way and His own time; and it may not be through answering by fire.

The man of God, the prophet came to a cave, and he made his lodging there.  That is when the word of the LORD came to him again,

“And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said unto him, ‘What doest thou here, Elijah?’  And he said, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.’  And He said, ‘Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.’  And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”  1 Kings 19:9-12 (KJV)

Maybe, after the victory Elijah was expecting God to remove Ahab and Jezebel from the kingdom, or some kind of powerful and miraculous thing; but it did not happen.  We do not know what was in the mind of the man of God, but he ran for his life.  God asks Elijah, “What are you doing here?”.  It is kind of like He asked Adam in the garden, “Where are you?”  Have you ever had someone ask you a question they knew the answer to; only to get you to think things through.

The LORD and His prophet are in session together, and Elijah tells the LORD that he is the only one of the prophets of the LORD left.  He has felt that way since before the victory on Carmel (1 Kings 18:22).  He had much to learn yet.

The LORD sends the prophet out of the cave, to stand and witness events the LORD would cause to pass before him.  A strong wind which tore the mountain, and broke the rocks of the mountain; then, an earthquake; then a fire.  In all three of these catastrophic means we are told, “the LORD was not in” them.  There came that “still small voice”, and Elijah covered his face;

“And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, ‘What doest thou here, Elijah?'” 19:13

The wind, the earthquake and the fire did not spark much action from Elijah; but when he heard the still small voice he covered his face.  Surely he must have realized his fear, and realized the voice was that of God at work in his life.

He was still feeling as though he were the only prophet of God left in the land.  God tells Elijah to go and call Elisha the son of Shaphat (19:16) to be prophet in his place.  He also tells him that there are “seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal…” (v. 18)

It would seem that God is about to do something spectacular in the life of Elijah.  Even in our doubts and fears God is with us.  He still speaks to us.  Just because there is nothing dramatic with falling fire happening in our lives does not mean that we are forsaken; it is really the time for us to hear that “still small voice” and believe.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Elijah, and the Hand of the LORD

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The prophet of fire had been told by the word of the LORD that he would send rain on the earth (1 Kings 18:1), that he was to go and show himself unto Ahab.  The greatest trial of Elijah’s life had been won, the prophets of Baal defeated, and even sentenced to death, and the sentence carried out; and the rain had come, just as the LORD and the prophet had said.

“And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”  1 Kings 18:46 (KJV)

It seems to be abundantly clear by all that has came to pass, with the challenge of fire, the death of the false prophets of Baal, and the rain; that the hand of the LORD is upon Elijah.  Evidently Elijah was a very fast runner.  With Ahab in a chariot, and Elijah on foot; Elijah seems to have out run the king to the entrance of Jezreel.

We begin seeing something about Elijah that shows us that Elijah was only a man who had human flaws, just like the rest of us.  He had his moments of doubt, of fear, and feeling as though he stood alone against the mobs of Ahab and Jezebel.

Elijah coming off the greatest victory of his life; at least up to this point; faces the threats of Jezebel.  Upon hearing what Elijah had done,

“Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.” 19:2

Elijah, the man, the prophet who had the “hand of the LORD” upon him, then, runs for his life.  Not only that he begins requesting that he might die (19:4); instead of taking his life the LORD sent and angel to care for his needs; feeding him a baked cake of figs, raisins, or something else, and giving him water to drink.  My, how the prophet was being ministered unto by the LORD through an angel.  It is proof that the LORD is not finished with Elijah.  The hand of the LORD is still on him.  The angel prepared the cake and the cruse of water.

My  the power of the angel’s food, the LORD’S food.  For Elijah went forty day and forty nights in the strength of that food (19:8).  I find it fascinating that often after great victories, comes great let downs.  Fears, doubts, and just not knowing what lies ahead, can bring temporary defeat.  This was a time of renewing for Elijah.  He was hearing from the LORD.

God took him to a place where he would learn about the greatness of the LORD and His Word, again.

The hand of the LORD is on all those who put their trust in Him.  Your trust is in Him through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ; His death, burial and bodily resurrection.  Believe Him, trust Him, and God’s hand will be on you for blessing and eternity.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Day 84 – Instructions To a Young Preacher

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The title does not mean that I am giving instructions to young preachers.  God knows I still need instruction.  There are many young pastors and preachers who are better instructed, than myself, and do so much better a job than myself, and some other older pastors I know.

Paul, in giving instructions to Timothy instructs all who will hear God’s call and follow Him.  My reading today was in the first two Pastoral Epistles – First and Second Timothy.  They are “Instructions To a Young Preacher” that we all need to hear and heed.  There is much sorrow on my mind and life for the many things I have not done according to these instructions.

First we can see that Timothy must have been struggling a bit with timidity and fear.  We hear Paul say to him,

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God…” 2 Timothy 1:6-8 (KJV)

As you can see this is addressed in the second epistle.  It was probably a problem with Timothy from the first, though it could have also have became a problem following some time in ministry.  Timothy needed encouragement from his teacher, the apostle Paul; and Paul was giving it.

In these letters the apostle addresses several issues; prayer, leadership, and praying for those in authority.  He addresses the matter of women teaching men.  Because of the cultural prostitution, there is even instruction for women concerning the way they dress.  Do not dress like prostitutes.  Which, still needs to be heard.   It is a matter of creation  order, not equality that we should realize.  It was not a cultural issue it is a life issue for every culture.   The apostle Paul addresses the qualifications of pastors and deacons.  Who can fully measure up to these, but by the grace of God?

The apostle reveals Jesus Christ as “the man” in Heaven,

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”  1 Timothy 2:5-6

The young pastor is also instructed to “Flee youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22).  The young pastor, preacher; and the old pastor/preacher needs to heed this cautions.  Youthful lust is not the only problem.  Old men can lust too.  There have been far too many pastors and preachers, young and old who have fallen to the seductive calling of applause, approval, and power.

There is much in these two letters for us to read, to hear and to heed.  Let me leave you with these last verses,

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”  2 Timothy 4:1-2

It is needed by the world of 2012 just as much; if not more than in the first century A.D.  Let us all be faithful to preaching the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Word of God.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Day 50 – Israel, Egypt and Assyria

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My apologies for my inability to count in yesterdays title.  It was day 49 not 48; and if you noticed it was not until the end of the day that I noticed the error.

My reading today was Isaiah 7 – 20.  That reading is interesting, full of Messianic prophecies, and hope for the rest of the world.  The language toward Judah and Israel is quite strong and warns them of their need to return to right worship of YHWH [the LORD].

In chapter 7 we have the prophet telling the king Ahaz to ask the LORD for a sign, he refuses, and the LORD gives him the sign of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son (7:14), of course, ultimately prophetic of the coming Christ hundreds of years later.  There are also more prophetic pictures of Jesus’s coming in chapter nine.  In verses 1-2 we have Him coming as a Light; and in verses 6 and 7 a ruling Prince of Peace; whose rule will be forever.

A personal word is given to the prophet Isaiah, by the LORD in 8:11-18 and I want you to note especially verse 13;

“Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.” Isaiah 8:13 (KJV)

The prophet of God was not to walk in the way of “this people”.  They were fearful, and afraid of enemies conspiring against them.  The LORD tells Isaiah to fear only the LORD.  Set Him apart in your heart alone and when you do that you will fear nothing else.  When a person fears nothing but God; there is nothing that will be impossible to that individual.

Though God has warned Judah and Israel of their future captivity, He also gives them hope of a future back in the land of Promise, and the envy between the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah will be over;

“And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.   The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.  But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.” 11:12-14

What is taking place in the Middle East today with the nations of the world trying to bring peace to Israel is a part of prophecy; and God still forever reigns, and is accomplishing His purposes in this world.  There is also coming a day when Israel, Egypt and Assyria will be united in Christ the Messiah of Israel.  Hear the word of the LORD:

“And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.  And the LORD shall smite Egypt: He shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and He shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.  In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.  In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, ‘Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance.” 19:21-25

Let those of us who know the LORD through the Son of God trust and believe that one day every knee will bow to God and every tongue will confess to Him that Jesus Christ is Lord.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Day 39 – Thoughts from Psalms; Wings

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Men have thought of flying for all times and generations.  We have watched the birds of the air, and wondered what it would be like to fly through the air and the skies.  Of course in the age we live now there is not too many people who have not experienced flight within the confines of a passenger plane or an airplane of some sort or other.  Some have flown on hang gliders, using air currents to stay up in the air, and those who are good at it can stay up for as long as they want or until they get too tired to continue.

Well this is not supposed to be about flying, but about “Wings”.  The shelter which our God provides us is often likened to wings and we see plenty of evidence of that in the Psalms.  My reading today was Psalms 52 – 65, and within those 14 chapters the word “Wings” is mentioned four times.

The first of the day is Psalm 55:6,

“And I said, ‘Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.'” Psalm 55:6 (KJV)

Now, when we think of a “dove” we think of the symbol of peace.  The psalmist is thinking of a peaceful flight to get away from his enemies who were oppressing him.  He wanted peace, and the first thought was having the “wings like a dove” who would find no rest except in the ark of God (Genesis 8:6-12).  David’s thought must have been that the wings of a dove to fly away could only find rest in the hands of our faithful Creator.

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” 57:1

Of this verse, particularly the latter part, Charles Spurgeon wrote,

“‘Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge.’ Not in the cave alone would he hide, but in the cleft of the Rock of ages. As the little birds find ample shelter beneath the parental wing, even so would the fugitive place himself beneath the secure protection of the divine power. The emblem is delightfully familiar and suggestive. May we all experimentally know its meaning. When we cannot see the sunshine of God’s face, it is blessed to cower down beneath the shadow of his wings. ‘Until these calamities be overpast.’ Evil will pass away, and the eternal wings will abide over us till then. Blessed be God, our calamities are matters of time, but our safety is a matter of eternity. When we are under the divine shadow, the passing over of trouble cannot harm us; the hawk flies across the sky, but this is no evil to the chicks when they are safely nestling beneath the hen.”  From THE TREASURY OF DAVID by Charles H. Spurgeon

When we write about “Wings” one of my first thoughts was where Jesus says,

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”  Matthew 23:37

A mother hen protects her young by calling them under her wings.  She protects them there from rain, or predators.  Of course as we contemplate the matter of God having wings we do need to understand that these are speaking metaphorically, at least as far as we know.  We can and do know that the LORD desires to protect and help those who trust in Him.  We can know too, that even when the wrath of God is in open display we can be sheltered beneath those “Wings” for all time and eternity.  Nothing can touch or harm us except that that the LORD Himself allows under His wings.

God’s “Wings” are as a “hiding place” as we read the psalmist say,

 “I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.”   61:4

The place of safety, security, and for hiding from the enemy is under these mighty wings of the Almighty.  We are not to flee from the enemy, but let us face the truth, there are times we get tired in the battle, we need to hide, we need to get away, pray, seek the face of God, and recuperate.  There is no other place for the child of God, the Christian to be than in “The covert of Thy wings”.

“Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” 63:7

Our place of rejoicing is in the shadow of His wings.  He stands between us and the world.  He stands between us and all harm that could come to us.  In being between us and the harm and danger His wings form a shadow of light from the darkness of the  world outside.

You may find this peace, this place of safety, this place of rejoicing only when you come to the One who took your place on Calvary’s cross, died for your sins, was buried, and was raised bodily from the grave after three days, and now He lives.  Because He lives you too can live eternally with Him.  Believe Him, trust Him and be saved today.

Christian, if you are fearful, struggling with problems in this life, and who is not; then you can flee to His sheltering “Wings” and rest from the battle, renew your strength, then be strong for the battle ahead.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Day 19 – Kings of Honor and Kings of War

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The reading for Day 19 was 1 Samuel 15 – 28, much about the fall of king Saul; yet also about the rise of a man after God’s own heart.

Saul began his reign as the chosen, anointed king of Israel, chosen by God.  His heart was right, humble, and honorable.  He seemed not to be grasping for power, nor leadership, but was content working for and with his father keeping donkeys.

We have all heard the phrase, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely” and we can see an element of that in Saul.  He seems intent of doing the “right thing” without obedience to God.  A for instance; when God had given him commandment to go and “utterly destroy” the Amalekites (15:3) here is what he did,

“And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”  1 Samuel 15:7-9 (KJV)

Some might argue, “Well, he was at least partially obedient”.  That is not much argument.  Obedience is carrying out the command to the letter, which Saul did not do.  No matter what his intent was he sinned against God and the kingdom was removed from him and given to another.

Saul was a man, after this that had much fear in his reign.  He himself was fearful.  He was afraid of a little giant challenging the army of God (chapter 17).

Then a youth who was a shepherd boy who was not afraid of lions and bears heard the giant bragging of his abilities and powers against the God of Israel.  He became angered by this, and took up the challenge himself.  With nothing but a sling, five stones and most of all his faith in God he faced the giant Goliath, and God gave David the victory that day.

David had already been anointed king to take Saul’s place.  When Saul saw this he was jealous and enraged by David, hating him and trying to kill him.  There is no honor in king Saul; only jealousy and fear and hatred.  He no longer loves God, God’s Word, nor His plan for himself or Israel.

Even Jonathan, kings Saul’s son recognized David as the future king of Israel,

“And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.  And he said unto him, ‘Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.”  23:16-18

Jonathan was more a man of honor than was his father.  He was not afraid of David being king.  He honored David and he honored God.  David was that man after God’s own heart.  This was the king which God has used to bring the Lord Jesus Christ into this world to save us from our sins.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Day 5 – Mediator Desired

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It seems in the reading in early Genesis that Adam must have had a fellowship with God; walking with Him in the garden on a regular basis; before there was sin in the garden.  After their rebellion and disobedience, God came walking to them, they heard His voice, and they hid themselves.

The voice of God is a fearful thing to sinful man.  Nothing vile, and unclean can stand in His presence, and it seems that is ingrained in every unredeemed heart.  It is seen in Exodus following the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt.  After the powerful and fearful working power of God in the land of Egypt you would almost think that there would be a heart that longed to hear the voice of God, but no, that did not happen.  Hear their voices;

“And they said unto Moses, ‘Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’  And Moses said unto the people, ‘Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.  And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.”  Exodus 20:19-21 (KJV)

We can see in this that what the people wanted was actually a Mediator.  Someone to stand between them and God, and someone to speak for God, rather than hear Him themselves.  Moses says to them, “‘Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”  Another translation says it like this,

 “Don’t be afraid,” Moses said, “for God has come in this way to show you his awesome power. From now on, let your fear of him keep you from sinning!”  Exodus 20:20 (NLT)

It is definite that we do need a Mediator between us and God; and God has provided His Mediator.  That Mediator is Jesus, and makes it so much different.  The apostle Paul has written by the inspiration of the Spirit of God,

“For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”  1 Timothy 2:5-6

We need to see sin as a very fearful, hurtful, destructive, eternally deadly thing in our lives.  We need to see that we need God in our lives, lest we go to death and destruction – eternal death and destruction.  God requires perfection by the law.  The law shows that we are imperfect, and cannot reach God; however God has provided a way; the Mediator who gave Himself a ransom for all who will believe.

Look at the difference the apostle John offers in the New Testament;

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.  And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”  1 John 3:1-3 (KJV)

Those who are redeemed through the blood of Jesus are the “sons of God”, unknown by the world, because it knew and knows not Christ.  The son of God seeks God out; and seeks to be just as pure and holy as He is pure and holy.  No more fear to hear His voice, because of the Mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood on Calvary’s cross.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Marks of Iniquity

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Our sins can many times be very grievous to our minds and hearts.  Our iniquities are many; at least mine are.  It gives me great peace, strength and courage to read in the Psalms such verses at this,

“If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?  But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.” Psalm 130:3-4 (KJV)

We are a wretched lot.  We carry our sin around as a weight, even after we have sought forgiveness, received forgiveness, and we never forget it.  It is baggage that burdens us down.  Who do we think we are?  When we have asked God’s forgiveness; and that is the One whom sin really and truly offends.  He is the only one who can forgive.

If God “marked” or counted our sins and iniquities; there is not a one who could stand before Him.  We would all be doomed, condemned, and done for.  When we sin, and we ask for His forgiveness in repentance; the sin, the iniquity is gone for ever.  There is only forgiveness because of the gift of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, His burial and resurrection.  Jesus paid the price for our sin debt.

The following are the comments of Charles H. Spurgeon on verse 3,

“If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” If Jah, the all-seeing, should in strict justice call every man to account for every want of conformity to righteousness, where would any one of us be? Truly, he does record all our transgressions; but as yet he does not act upon the record, but lays it aside till another day. If men were to be judged upon no system but that of works, who among us could answer for himself at the Lord’s bar, and hope to stand clear and accepted? This verse shows that the Psalmist was under a sense of sin, and felt it imperative upon him not only to cry as a suppliant but to confess as a sinner. Here he owns that he cannot stand before the great King in his own righteousness, and he is so struck with a sense of the holiness of God, and the rectitude of the law, that he is convinced that no man of mortal race can answer for himself before a Judge so perfect, concerning a law so divine. Well does he cry, “O Lord, who shall stand?” None can do so: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Iniquities are matters which are not according to equity, what a multitude we have of these! Jehovah, who sees all, and is also our Adonai, or Lord, will assuredly bring us into judgment concerning those thoughts, and words, and works which are not in exact conformity to his law. Were it not for the Lord Jesus, could we hope to stand? Dare we meet him in the dread day of account on the footing of law and equity? What a mercy it is that we need not do so, for Psa_130:4 sets forth another way of acceptance to which we flee.

Once Jesus has forgiven our sin, the only marks of iniquity are in our own head.  The only one who desires to remember, and wants to condemn us is the accuser- the enemy of Christ and Christians.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Preserve My Life from Fear

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This was the Psalmist prayer in Psalm 64.  There are times we all have people speak against us with hateful, malicious, envious words; and these words do harm to our thoughts and can affect our physical strength and stamina.  However, if we go around in fear of what people may say, may be saying, then we will continue in those losses.

“Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.  Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: that they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.”  Psalm 64:1-4 (KJV)

As I was reading Psalms 61 – 65 this morning these verses stuck with me more than others.  I like many other preachers have preached about the tongue.  The Bible speaks much about the human tongue and the evil within an uncontrolled one (James 3:1-12).

The enemy is ultimately Satan.  He has vitriolic words; especially against anything good and godly and righteous and just.

The Psalm shows words as being like a sword, bows and arrows; referring to “bitter words”.  How many lives have been taken by the use of hateful, envious, bitter, malicious words?  Maybe not physical life by the words themselves; but ultimately leading to the death of a young person, or a spouse, or a parent, because of these words.

Let me write for you here what I wrote in my journal this morning concerning these verses –

It was 64:1-4 that invaded my attentions.  It concerns the mouth and words and the tongue as a sword and bow and arrows.  Words do harm us.  In fact we can murder with our words the character, reputation, confidences, and sometimes even faith of others by hurtful words.

Be careful today how you speak.  Do not be anyone’s enemy.  Be a friend.  We all need a friend.  Let me give you a “Thumperism”  – “If you cannot say something good about some one, then do not say anything at all.”  Good words.

Speak especially well of Jesus our Lord and Savior.  He alone is worthy of worship and praise.

-Tim A. Blankenship

To Dwell at Ease

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We people who are citizens of the world enjoy our comfort and ease; especially those of us who are citizens of the USA.  We hardly know anything but our own comfort and ease.  Even the poorest among us is far more wealthy than some of the people in what is known as “third world countries”.  Where did that term ever come from anyway? “Third world country”.

God has given a promise to a certain lot of people for an ease to life through the words of the Psalmist –

“What man is he that feareth the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way that he shall choose.  His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.”  Psalm 25:12-13

Fear is a part of human life.  What we fear, and sometimes who we fear will affect how we live.  There are people who fear the unseen, the unknown, the future.  Fear of these things are fruitless and can help no one except cause you pain and grief.

There is a fear that is worth while for all the human race, and that is to fear God, the LORD.  It has been said by godly men down through the ages; I do not think it can be credited to any one individual; that “If a man fears God he will not, nor needs not to fear anything else”.

The Psalm above shows us a bit of that thought.  The one who fears the LORD the LORD will teach him in the way he chooses.  When we fear God we will choose the right way, the right things, the godly things and God will bless them.

To dwell at ease does not mean there will be no problems; but that even in the midst of our problems we will be at ease knowing it is in the hands of our Lord.  The choices the righteous make, or the ones God makes in their lives will be a blessing even to their heirs.

From the Matthew Henry Commentary we read –

Him that feareth the Lord he will teach in the way that he shall choose, either in the way that God shall choose or that the good man shall choose. It comes all to one, for he that fears the Lord chooses the things that please him. If we choose the right way, he that directed our choice will direct our steps, and will lead us in it. If we choose wisely, God will give us grace to walk wisely.
2. That God will make them easy (v. 13): His soul shall dwell at ease, shall lodge in goodness, marg. Those that devote themselves to the fear of God, and give themselves to be taught of God, will be easy, if it be not their own fault. The soul that is sanctified by the grace of God, and, much more, that is comforted by the peace of God, dwells at ease. Even when the body is sick and lies in pain, yet the soul may dwell at ease in God, may return to him, and repose in him as its rest. Many things occur to make us uneasy, but there is enough in the covenant of grace to counterbalance them all and to make us easy.
3. That he will give to them and theirs as much of this world as is good for them: His seed shall inherit the earth. Next to our care concerning our souls is our care concerning our seed, and God has a blessing in store for the generation of the upright. Those that fear God shall inherit the earth, shall have a competency in it and the comfort of it, and their children shall fare the better for their prayers when they are gone.

There are many things in this world to fear.  You can find them, even without looking; but if you will trust the LORD you can face those fears, by knowing that all is in His hands.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Quiet from the Fear of Evil

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The following is from Morning and Evening a daily devotional by Charles H. Spurgeon.  I found this very encouraging and thought it might be for someone else as well.

Morning …

Proverbs 1:33
Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Divine love is rendered conspicuous when it  shines in the midst of judgments. Fair is that lone star which smiles through the rifts of the thunder clouds; bright is the oasis which blooms in the wilderness of sand; so fair and so bright is love in the midst of wrath. When the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry, He punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land was visited by a sore famine; but while He did this, He took care that His own chosen ones should be secure. If all other brooks are dry, yet shall there be one reserved for Elijah; and when that fails, God shall still preserve for him a place of sustenance; nay, not only so, the Lord had not simply one “Elijah,” but He had a remnant according to the election of grace, who were hidden by fifties in a cave, and though the whole land was subject to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed, and fed from Ahab’s table too by His faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah. Let us from this draw the inference, that come what may, God’s people are safe. Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the skies themselves be rent in twain, yet amid the wreck of worlds the believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest. If God cannot save His people under heaven, He will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall be the place of their reception and their safety. Be ye then confident, when ye hear of wars, and rumours of wars. Let no agitation distress you, but be quiet from fear of evil. Whatsoever cometh upon the earth, you, beneath the broad wings of Jehovah, shall be secure. Stay yourself upon His promise; rest in His faithfulness, and bid defiance to the blackest future, for there is nothing in it direful for you. Your sole concern should be to show forth to the world the blessedness of hearkening to the voice of wisdom.

-Tim A. Blankenship