Greatest Famine - Pass the Potatoes

What will be the greatest famine in the last days?

When I was a kid growing up in a denominational church, if someone said to me, "Isn't it great that we are saved?" I might have replied, "Yes, would you please pass the potatoes?  In my heart having my physical appetite met was just as important as my spiritual values.  My heart may have been more like Esau than I want to admit.

Jesus evaluated His generation in a very similar manner.  "They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying, 'We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we mourned to you and you did not weep.'"  In other words, they chose to be mere spectators who refused to respond to the message given to them.  Several times He addressed the crowd, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."  There must be a difference in having physical ears and choosing to hear.  

Flesh is flesh and has not changed since Adam sinned.  Romans 8 points out that flesh is at enmity with God and cannot please Him.  So sin abounds but He gives more grace.  He has given every man the measure of faith to receive His grace and be saved.  Yet we have to deliberately respond to His grace, His gift of eternal life through Jesus' death and resurrection.  The Spirit of God empowers our spirit to choose life, and reveals truth through the Word that sets us free from the flesh.  The Word accomplishes His purpose to bring us to God and change us.  Jesus said we are to abide in Him and let His Word abide in us.   

Solomon, in his wisdom, likewise gave us instruction on how to receive God's Word.  "Apply you heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge (Proverbs 23:12)   Ezekiel was told by God, "Son of man, receive into your heart all my words I speak to you, and hear with your ears."  On the other hand, Ezekiel understood that he was "in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house (Ezekiel 12:2)  When you hear and respond to God's Word, you often have to go against the stream of public opinion.

So what is this great famine coming to the earth in the last days?  Not food or drink, but according to Amos 8:11, "Famine of hearing the Word of God."  (Notice it is not the Word of God, but rather "hearing" the Word of God.)

Isaiah reminds us (50:4) that every morning God awakens us to behold His image and opens our ears to hear.  Therefore, let you ears "hear" the Word of the Lord.  Let the Word dwell in you richly.  Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed in your mind through God's truth.  In the days of this famine, you will be a light that shines in the darkness and leads many to safety. So let's obey in faith with Solomon, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ears to my sayings.  Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh."  Proverbs 4:20-22  Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.

Oh, that Men would Give Thanks

Truly God is absolutely good.  Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His mercy endures forever! Do you hear the heart of God, as expressed many times in Psalm 107, after God responds to our desperate need: "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

Yet man in his fallen nature condition seems frozen in his response to all God has done.  1 Corinthians 4:7 asks us the question, "What do you have that you did not receive?"  We may be aware for the moment when God intervenes, but there is a reason Psalm 103 calls us to "forget not his benefits." He has done so much for us, forgiven us our iniquities, delivered us from the consequences of sin that we deserve, healed our diseases, filled our mouth with good things, and crowned us with loving kindness and tender mercies.  Yet our natural mind tends to only think about the negative.  So God gave us the Word of God to transform our thinking and reveal the truth of what an awesome, loving God He is!  

Let's consider three situations that demand a response.  First, there are many times when things go well and it is only reasonable and even compelling to return to the Lord Jesus to give thanks.  For example, the tenth leper was quick to return to Jesus to give thanks after he realized he was healed.  Secondly, there are times when we have to remind ourselves of how blessed we really are and we "count our blessings one by one." The truth is we are infinitely blessed.  We have been given the gift of salvation (saved and delivered from all the evil consequences of sin) with an eternal future of rejoicing in His presence with all our needs and desires perfectly met forever.  Luke 12:32 encourages us, "Do not fear little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  

Perhaps the third situation is the greatest challenge, when things aren't going well.  Yet, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 instructs us to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  In other words, God wants us to live giving thanks to Him in everything that happens.  This takes faith that God's way is perfect and that He is working all things for our good.  We show our faith by obeying the command to give thanks.  It also glorifies God to thank Him when our feelings want to complain and entertain self-pity.  The good news is that even in that situation Jesus Christ has already defeated the enemy and all his attacks and we can afford to focus instead of His victory.  Hebrews 13:15 calls us to "continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."  He is always worthy of praise and thanksgiving, and when our eyes are opened for eternity, we will be so glad that we chose to give thanks and trust Him. 

We are not in this fight of faith alone. The Holy Spirit is here to help us, to lead us into all truth and to bear witness all Jesus has done so we have a grateful heart.  Line upon line and precept upon precept, He teaches us the Word so we can know the truth that sets us free.  We then have the foundation to take every though captive to obey Christ Jesus, and use the divine-powered weapons to overcome the enemy.  When we fail He reminds us that God "delights in mercy" (Micah 7:18).  He reminds us  "Now thanks be to God who always lead us in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14).  He works in us "to will and to work" for His pleasure.  All that the Lord does for us is deserving of our thanks, now and always.  The Spirit empowers us and bears witness as we thank God.

So today, the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) gives life to your mortal body and encourages you to receive the goodness of God with thanksgiving.  Hear His plea in a personal way, Oh that you would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness to you, for His wonderful works done for you.  

Taste and See that the Lord is Good!

Taste and See that the Lord is Good.  Doesn't that sound great?  However, the subtitle may also be, "He is a very present help in times of trouble."

Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). The truth is that we all go through battles.  David in Psalm 86 cries out to God to preserve his life, yet not without hope, declaring that "You are my God."  He reminds himself with this bedrock line, "For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you."

Yet there are times when we stand in the battle, wondering if and how He is going to come through. In our minds we know He is infinite and faithful, so the challenge is to trust that victory to our situation. He is a very present help in times of trouble.  I compare this to how the disciples must have felt between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, sort of a mental and emotional roller coaster challenge to believe when things look lost.  As we know, in desperate situations, David encouraged himself in the Lord.  

Draw near to God with thanksgiving and fresh consecration.  Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  This is a time to hold on to some of the powerful Scriptural promises. For example, Psalm 34:19 states that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.  Revelation 12:11 "They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives even to death."  Or how about 1 Peter 5:10-11, "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  

Clearly, as the song "Waymaker" reminds us, "even when I don't feel it, You are working."  My point is that during the battle is not the time to doubt or quit standing on God's promises, but rather to choose to fight the good fight by speaking the Word, and trusting God to confirm it.  Nothing (or no one, especially the devil) has a right to steal your joy.  Run for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24)  What is the prize?  Giving glory to God (He is worthy).  Abraham chose to glorify God until he tasted the goodness of the Lord.  Every attack is an opportunity to be thankful that Jesus has overcome, and by our faith we overcome the world (1 John 5:4).  All things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  

With Jesus in the battle, we taste and see that the Lord is good.  The Holy Spirit is here to always lead us in triumph.  So lets just receive the Romans 15:13 promise, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  In the name of Jesus, and by the power of the resurrection, may you experience His overcoming peace, joy, and victory.  Jesus reveals that "as the Father loves Me, so do I love you."  His love overcomes all.  He is with you and for you.  

 

Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory Forever!

 What eye has not seen or ear heard, nor the mind of man conceived, what God has for those who love Him.  We have no idea of what an awesome and absolutely perfect God we serve, and how beyond description it will only get better and better forever!  A billion years from now, we will be completely overwhelmed with and "satisfied" to enjoy His glory and beauty.  Psalm 21 is right, we are the most blessed forever who know our God.

God is the master at understating His goodness and power.  He is exalted "far above" all gods.  As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy toward us.  The heavens declare the glory of God and His handiwork. This simple work of God, His handiwork, seems to man to be almost infinite when we view the heavens and consider the way the planets and stars are set and maintained in space. Likewise, take the description, God is good.  Notice Jesus wouldn't even let men call him good, saying there is only one who is good, God the Father in heaven.  In Ephesians 1, consider the adjectives necessary to describe what God does when He reveals "the knowledge of Him."  The eyes of your understanding will be enlightened so you may know "what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power." Clearly God has to touch us and enable us to receive all He has for us.  What an awesome God!!!

So this final provision in the Lord's prayer opens up our imagination and allows us to express our heart appreciation for Who He is and how great His everlasting kingdom will be.  Sometimes in the daily routines of life, in the chaos of the world, and maybe in the trials of our own situation, we tend to focus on our difficulties.  But Jesus gave us a prayer with a conclusion that helps establish a correct understanding and vision of reality. Without a vision the people perish.  His kingdom and His power, and His glory are now and forever.  Amen. (That is the way it will always be!)   

Taught to Know War

 Do you know war? More important, do you know how to use the weapons of your warfare and how to make sure you overcome?  The good news is "Blessed be the Lord my Rock who trains my hands for war,  and my fingers for battle" (Psalm 144:1)  The Holy Spirit will lead us and teach us how to fight the good fight of faith, because if God is for us, who can stand against us?

We are in a war, but not with flesh and blood.  This battle may be the Lords, but He clearly waits on us to execute the authority He has given us.   It is a lot like turning on the lights--unless you flip the switch, the electricity (the abundant power of God in my analogy) will not  illuminate the lights and dispel the darkness.  In Luke 10:19 Jesus states "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  When God uses the word "behold," it is something amazing.  We may wonder why God wants us to have this authority, but He obviously will help us learn to use it well because in Revelation 12:11 it points out that "they (meaning us believers) overcame the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."  Our testimony is receiving the Word with meekness and speaking that truth no matter what the flesh wants us to believe.  Romans 16:20 encourages us that He will "crush Satan under our feet."  

In the Old Testament, God left some of the enemy tribes in the promised land, so the young men who had not seen the miracles and deliverance of God over the Egyptians "might be taught to know war" (Judges 3:1-2).  Likewise in the New Testament, Hebrews 2:8-9 remind us that Jesus completely defeated Satan and everything is put in subjection to Him, "but now we do not yet see all things put under Him.  But we see Jesus,"  The point is that God wants us to use the authority Jesus has given us to stand against the devil wherever we see evil working. Our choice in the battle is really two fold, one) submit to God, and two) resist the devil and he will flee from you.  This same principle is found  Peter 5, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith,"  And the conclusion is that God Himself will "perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  

We are equipped with supernatural weapons, His armor, the blood of the Lamb, and the name of Jesus.  It is up to each of us to put them on and resist the enemy's lies and attacks.  Faith and patience inherits the promises and so does taking a stand and refusing to submit to the yoke of slavery.  Ephesians 6 bluntly states, "take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  God is glorified when we choose to declare and trust His Word, and use the standing time as an opportunity to give thanks and praise rather than give up.  We serve a mighty God who confirms His Word.