Be Open-eyed

There was a blind man who sat begging at the road near Jericho. When he heard that there were crowds passing near him he asked what all the activity was. He was told that Jesus of Nazareth was just passing by. The man called to Jesus to have compassion on him. The people tried to silence him, but he called even louder. Jesus stopped, and asked this man be brought to him. “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee”, he asked, and the man bid Jesus give him back his sight that his life might be worth living. He must have known of Jesus, and believed in Him. Judging by what Jesus said to him, it becomes evident what the prerequisites that he be given his sight were: the word of the Lord and the man’s faith. Together they brought help.

That which Jesus did then has become general knowledge today, but was known to a few only at the time. Those affected by Jesus’ miracles knew, obviously. And those witnessing Jesus’ work and who spread the news also knew, but, all the miracles of God. Some, reading or hearing about these wonders, ask why they are no longer performed today. But many an Apostolic Christian could testify of the wonders of God performed upon him because he believed. When the Lord takes His own home to the Father and they then see what He did for His children, there will be no end to their praise. Can we see the wonders God still does today? What God is doing is primarily spiritual wonders like the rebirth with water and the Holy Spirit, His forgiveness of sins, the partaking of body and blood of Jesus through the Holy Communion, and the spirit inspired word of God.

In the cities where Christ performed most of His miracles very few of the inhabitants, in spite thereof, changed their opinion, so that the Lord cried a woe over them (Mathew 11: 20 – 24). We the inhabitants of the present city of God do not only want to witness wonders but we want to follow the Lord and act according to His will.

Through a Revelation Jesus warned the Christian community in Laodicea of spiritual blindness, and ignorance of their spiritual condition: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” (Revelation 3:17). This admonition which was not directed at the general population but at the congregants of the Christian Church, is valid still today for the congregation of Christ. Satan is out to blind the children of God to the wonders of the Lord today and to infect them with the terrible illness of ignorance. Once affected one no longer recognizes one’s own condition so that one is tricked into believing that one does not need the word of God.

In this state there is only one possibility and that is to seek the Lord to be healed. He who bids Christ be compassionate and accepts His word faithfully, will be helped to regain his sight. He who has His spiritual sight is able to see His true condition and distinguish the signs of the times of which Jesus Christ said: “When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (Luke 21:31). Those who come to the altar open-eyed pray the Lord preserve their ability to recognise Him and His wonders.

Every day we must fight the good fight of faith. We will be victorious if we adroitly use the
spiritual armor which the Lord provides for His own.
In our text the word of God is called the sword of the Spirit. Blessed is the one who makes good
use of it. In Hebrew 4: 12 we read: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and to the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hence the word of God must
penetrate the heart of every child of God and work great blessing. We not only read about the word
of God in the Holy Scripture, we can hear it in the activity of the Holy Spirit. And it is fulfilled
upon us. Apostle Peter already wrote to the children of God: “But the word of the Lord endureth for
ever. And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you” (1 Peter 1: 25). This must be
accepted in Trust. Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he
knoweth them that trust in him.”
This is an ancient word but still very up to date. God’s acts are determined through His
righteousness and goodness. All people benefit by them, but only a minority recognize this
(Matthew 5: 45) “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his
sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Only His
children can be fully aware of His goodness (Romans 11: 22) “Behold therefore the goodness and
severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” He is also a fortress, and a place of safety and
security. This is the community of His son which was founded on the rock. (Psalms 18:2) “The
LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my
buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” There is no trouble. Trouble is usually
measured against earthly conditions. The biggest trouble, however is the affliction the soul can
suffer, and the cause can lie in its distance from or separation from God. This will bring about
illnesses like dissatisfaction and hopelessness. These can only be healed by the Lord through His
word. It would be to the advantage of every soul to come to the house of the Lord with the plea;
that His word washes over him like a healing stream.
Those that trust the Lord confess Him. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will
I confess before my Father which is in heaven” (Mathew 10:32). This is the Son of God performing
something very decisive for us when He confesses us before the Father (1 John 2: 1). Therefore we
should take the trouble and with joy confess Him before the people and be found following
faithfully. In this way we make it easier for the Lord to represent us before God (Hebrews 9: 24)
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true;
but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

With the revival of the church in the United Kingdom in the 1830’s, many articles were written by novelists and poets and church ministers to encourage the people to again return  to the truth of the scriptures as revealed by the Holy Ghost, again active in the world.  One such writer was a George MacDonald in Scotland who wrote an article which is still used today by many modern day speakers.
It reads:
“In whatever a man does without God, he must fail miserably, or succeed more miserably.”

He cited our text as the inspiration to those words given him and stated rather than merely trying to suppress our natural desires, he said that true self-denial means “we must see things as Christ saw them, regard them as He regarded them; we must take the will of God as the very life of our being, we should not think, what would I like to do?, but rather what would Jesus have me do?”

He wrote getting only what we want is succeeding miserably.  True success is found in “losing our lives for Jesus sake and finding them again full and free in this will.”

There is much wisdom to be found in these simple words.

He concluded his writing with a simple daily poem-
More like the Master I would live and grow,
More like His love to others I would show;
More self-denial like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be.

Psalm 65 is intended for the divine service of thanksgiving. God who guides this “program” of the natural creation with such goodness, that the praise, which is due to Him in view of the beauty, richness, and kind benefits, what the harvest means to us human beings, broke forth out of the psalmist David’s heart with genuine gratitude. At “the beginning” the water flows out of “God’s fountain”, which moistens the prepared ground and at “the end” it is the same water which ripens the fruit. “Everything is to hand in superabundance and the joy breaks forth with loud voices, because of the goodness of God”. Could we still write such a psalm in our time? To praise God, because of His eternal goodness and kindness and acknowledge that this praise is alone due to Him, that only “He” begins and finishes the harvest.

In our day, man claims himself as “manager”. Among these the influence and direction of sowing right up to the harvest. He considers himself to be the one who does the greatest part of the task and thinks therefore that the “success” of a big harvest is gained by “his” know-how and ability. That the sun shines and warms, that the rain waters the earth at the right time, happens “automatic” and is therefore quite “normal”, so that we don’t feel moved to compose a Psalm! But if now and again a late frost, the rain does not fall at the right time, then arises at once a chorus of complaints to God! The interruption of relationship, between God the creator and man the steward of His creation, is noticeable in the natural and as well, openly noticeable in the spiritual realm.

The different gifts that are given to man, to be able to be fruitful in life. Knowledge and ability, which through intelligence can be obtained by study. It may make it possible for him to manage a business. This often leads many people to the conclusion that God’s gifts are “made” of themselves and that they can lead and master their own destiny. Also, when God performs some miracles in using the gifts He lent man, man becomes very quickly “idolized” by those who have witnessed such incident; though man can only work “with” God’s help! It is important to take heed to what Paul cried aloud, when he warned the people in one such situation: “Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth and the sea and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”. (Acts 14:15-17).

The goodness of God is still present in giving us crops of food, despite man’s unthankfulness, and so it is in the spiritual, the time of Grace will end one day and then the ungodly will cry to God for “Bread”. The offer of natural bread allows us to choose. Soft, grain, fresh, no crust etc. Spiritual bread offered to the hungry satisfies everyone’s appetite. Jesus Christ is the living bread which came down from heaven, yet we see it is being refused by more and more as not acceptable.  As we celebrate the “Thanksgiving” festival, we should remember with joy which bread God gives us. “The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread”. (1 Cor. 10: 16-17).

Bread from heaven and bread from man: to receive both is a gift of mercy from our God! And when we are allowed to enjoy it at the Lord’s table, there will arise a psalm of praise from our joyful hearts, for God’s goodness and kindness and as well a deep desire that the still many enhungered souls would find this precious bread.

THE WORRY OF TO-MORROW ROBS US OF YESTERDAY’S GRATITUDE.

“Seven Steps to the Fullness of God“

1. Therefore I bow my knees before the righteous Father

Kneeling, doffing one’s hat, submitting—that seems to have gone out of fashion. Many received an anti-authoritarian upbringing; they are self-confident and view their neighbours, including their father and mother, very critically. Therefore, quite a few come to the conclusion that there is no one to whom they must submit. Only when it is unavoidable, for example, with superiors or in the military, do they do so under duress. But if one has beloved parents, one will follow them willingly and wholeheartedly. If we want to experience what a just father is, we must look to God. He cares for us; gives us commandments whose observance is helpful to us; He “braces us” or lets us feel the consequences of our own actions when necessary.  He does everything to ensure that we remain His children, His heirs. When we gain such knowledge, we will bend our knees before His wisdom, omnipotence, power, and greatness.

2. Power according to the riches of His glory

The world belongs to the strong – God’s world belongs to the weak, who become strong through faith! These are sometimes inconspicuous, physically frail people on the margins of society. There are numerous examples of this. God has countless ways of giving us strength. We receive strength from the knowledge of His guidance, His support in all situations, the community of believers, His creation, through prayer, worship, the Holy Scriptures, and much more.

3. Becoming strong in the inner man through His Spirit

Physical strength can be trained. Strength in the inner self is always a gift, a grace. But we can ask our Heavenly Father for it for ourselves and our neighbours. But do we really want to do that seriously? What are we praying for? It is God’s Spirit who creates it. The sender is there! Is the receiver attuned to it?

4. That Christ may dwell in your hearts and that you may be rooted and grounded in love

This is the true strength of Christians: that Christ dwells in their hearts. We teach this even to small children in the night prayer: “…no one should dwell there but Jesus alone.” If this is so, His love will rule us, and our works will be a living sign of His love. Nothing can suppress this love! But what and who dwells in our hearts? Aren’t we to find the need for recognition, unbelief, greed, envy, doubt, lies, and much more? This dampens the work of Jesus and prevents us from recognizing the works of God. But God wants us to understand.

5. What is the breadth and length and height and depth

This statement makes us sit up and take notice. Aren’t there only three dimensions of space? But let’s consider it spiritually. The three dimensions of length, width, and height determine the space of our sphere of activity on Earth.  We are placed in a specific place and are meant to fulfill our mission. We can only guess at what depth means. Depth belongs to the world. It permeates everything in space and time. We speak of understanding something in its entirety, of diving deeply, but also of the profound fall. The deepest fall came through human sin in this world! And not a few sink into the depths of guilt in their lives through strife, selfishness, hatred, etc. But the fourth dimension belongs to God alone. He has the power to pull us out, to lift us up. That is why the cross was erected. Jesus, the Savior, who leads us from the depths, from the realm of our humanity, to heaven!

6. Know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge

When I experience and recognize love, I don’t need laws and regulations just to do the right thing. When I recognize love and pass it on with all my strength, it leads me to true divine knowledge.

7. That you may be filled with all the fullness of God

If we take the aforementioned steps of faith and make them an integral part of our lives, we will attain God’s fullness, step by step. If we realize that we lack this fullness, it helps to tirelessly search for the causes through prayer and heartfelt contemplation. This is how our lives become beautiful, worth living, and truly fulfilling!

The conclusion: We have every reason to join in Apostle Pauls concluding verse:

“Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus through all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Our heavenly Father has chosen us before the foundation of the world and has called us to be His children. Through the sacraments He has made an eternal covenant with us. With this covenant we have received the promise that Jesus Christ will return to take His own unto Himself. Daily we pray that this promise may be fulfilled.

Already in our everyday life we are pleased when we receive a reward for some special service rendered or as recognition for a special effort. A gifted pupil that has learnt conscientiously is rewarded with good marks. A diligent worker finds recognition for his honesty and effort in the form of a higher salary. How great will be the joy of those on whom the promise of the Son of God will be fulfilled: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12). Our hope and joy in this day gives us strength and power to faithfully walk upon the strait and narrow way.   Matthew 7:14 “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

In the parable of the talents, the Son of God made it clear what He expects of us: we should work with the talents we have received from God and use them in His service. In so doing, we are like the faithful servant to whom his Lord said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).

We also want to be faithful to our Lord and God. This we do when we remain steadfast in labouring, displaying the virtues of Christ, praying and offering. Thereby we have experiences of faith, gain insight and receive strength and joy.

In addition, we today already receive as a rich reward for our faithfulness the blessings of our heavenly Father. We do not take this for granted but see it as a gift of grace like all other gifts from God. For this reason, we take heed that we do not lose any of these gifts, so that we may receive a full reward: the crown of eternal life or, to express it differently: to be in the fellowship of God the Father and His Son for all eternity!

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people”.

Timothy 1:12

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the Ministry.

By this it appeared that He took them for his faithful friends when he crowned their heads with such a mighty confidence. He reposed the affairs of his Kingdom of this lower world and as ministers in the Church administration, the treasure of the gospel was committed to them.

They were ordained not to sit, but to go about being diligent in their work, and lay out themselves worriedly in doing good. God does not do things at random. He has a plan, for us and for our God planned birth before we were even conceived, just as He did explain to the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 1:5) “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”. He chose us, created us and then delicately placed us on His sovereign time continuum. God never makes mistakes.

If God had wanted to, He could have caused us to be born at another time. We could have been born any of the years before Christ. But for some reasons He wanted us to be born and live now, in this century in this day and age. He also could have programmed it so that we are living in a nation other than the one we currently call home. But He didn’t why? He has a plan for us.

God determined the exact places where we should live and He decided the precise generation into which we would be born. The Bible says (Ephesians 2:10) “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”.

God prepared our paths beforehand, and He has for each of us, and now it is our responsibility to find out what that plan is, so we can walk in it. God chose you for a very specific purpose, and if God didn’t have expectations for us to succeed in that purpose, He never would have bothered to create us. We now have only one life to live for Christ on Earth. Invest it wisely for the Honour and glory of God.

(2 Corinthians 9:8) “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”.

In our daily life we often think that we love God by saying that God has created us. He gives us sources to meet our daily needs. He protects us from any mishaps.

He guides and blesses us in every field of life and in many other ways God shows His love. Which is only possible with His mercy and kindness not with our thought that we love God.

We can claim that we love God when we have a strong faith that God has sent His only begotten son into the world to give His life for the forgiveness and remission of our sins so we can have reconciliation with our Heavenly Father. This is possible when our faith shows works according to the Word which is written and spoken from the living altar of Grace. Man can be justified by works not by faith only, which can make us to say that we love God because faith without works is dead like the body without the soul. James 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” It is recorded in Romans 10:15-17, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Our Lord promised before He was ascended to the Father that He would return and will take those to His Heavenly Father to live with Him forever in His eternal peace, those whose love for God is like the love that He has for us, which has no excuse, no boundary and no burden.  This is only possible if we have faith, full of works on the Word that comes to us from the living Altar of Grace.