March 22, 2012

  • Lenten Reflections: "so Joel had another appointment"

    As Hosea was appointed a Prophet to the kingdom of Israel, so Joel had another appointment; for he was to labour especially among the Jews and not among the Ten Tribes: this deserves to be particularly noticed.

    – Calvin's Preface to Joel
    I read these words yesterday and was struck by them. So often we as Christians question and fight the appointment God has for us. So often I question and fight the appointment God has for me... particularly when what I'm seeing with my naked eyes is not lining up with what I expected. And that's what's been happening recently.

    The devil prowls and schemes – and know this: he is constantly seeking to take us any and every where, so long as it is NOT in middle of God's will for us! That place may even be a relatively good place (i.e. - not morally bad) – however, know this:  if that place is not God's place for us, then it is not a good place! Let us not be deceived and settle for something "good," but in reality we are walking arm and arm with the devil, and in direct disobedience to God and all the while we are depriving ourselves of the best – for God is always seeking what is best for us for His children – even though it may not appear to be so to us – as we look upon it with fleshly eyes, rather than spiritual eyes.

    Rather than fixing our eyes on the invisible God and walking by faith, we begin to walk by human sight, and we fix our eyes on the visible – and, as a result, we begin to sink down, down, down as we consider and entertain those deadly "What ifs". As we begin to conjecture, "Why?" or "Why me?" or "Why can't I?" or "Why didn't God...?" or "Why doesn't God...?" or "What hasn't God...?" – we head straight down the paths of the destroyer, and we rob ourselves of the rest and peace that Christ offers to us through taking up His easy yoke.

    David struggled with such temptations, and as children of God, we all will. Remember – even our Lord Himself was tempted by the devil!

    Look at Psalm 17 and see how David kept from going down the paths of the destroyer...

    3 You have tested my heart;
    You have visited me in the night;
    You have tried me and have found nothing;
    I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
    4 Concerning the works of men,
    By the word of Your lips,
    I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
    5 Uphold my steps in Your paths,
    That my footsteps may not slip.

    6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
    Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
    7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
    O You who save those who trust in You
    From those who rise up against them.
    8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
    Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
    9 From the wicked who oppress me,
    From my deadly enemies who surround me.

    David continued to immerse Himself in God though the Scripture and prayer, and in doing so, David expected God to reveal Himself in living and felt ways so as to sustain and uphold his soul, to have his heart and his spiritual sight renewed and refreshed. For example...

    "By the word of Your lips..."
    "I have called upon you..."

    And the same applies to us as well! We can't expect to fight the good fight of faith and finish our race without God's means! Many people keep looking for a new technique or a magic program – but instead, what we must do is to go back to the basics: to the Word of God and prayer! As we keep sinking ourselves deeper and deeper into Christ through the Word and prayer, we will flourish. On the other hand, if we're not doing that, we're going to wither! (See Psalm 1 & Jeremiah 17:5-8) In fact, abiding in Christ in such ways is one mark of Christian discipleship. It grieves me to see how many professing Christians continue to go to any and all places but to God! You go to your counselors, to your pill bottles, to your self-help books, to your friends, to your hobbies, to your activities, to your support groups – but when was the last time you went to the living God and pleaded with Him all night like Jacob : "I will not let You go unless You bless me! I have no power here at all – for these are too strong for me! Be my support!" (See also Psalm 18.)

    And know this: the Christian life is a fight! There are some unbliblical teachings that tell us we just need to "let go and let God" and poof! it all will magically happen without any effort on our part. Well, there is one way we must let go: we must let go of the despicable, man-centered notion that we can do anything apart from Jesus Christ. And then, as we freely acknowledge we are truly poor and needy, like the man at midnight (Luke 11), we will importunately storm the gates of heaven and plead for God's supplies to come to us through His Holy Spirit, so we might walk in God's will for us. And then, as God strengthens us, we will obey and walk in His will for us (despite our flesh fighting us from within and temptations rising up from without) – and, in so doing, we end up working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who has been working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). All glory to God! God does in and through and with us what we cannot do ourselves! Apart from Him we can do nothing! With Christ we can do all things! And just a reminder here: this working on our part doesn't earn us our salvation, but it is evidence of our salvation. God is never opposed to efforts wrought of His Spirit. After all, it is God who commands us to work out what He is working in us!

    Sadly, at one time or another, all of us end up in the position of Peter in John 21 – even after God has given us explicit instructions as to His appointment for us (v. 15-19) – and like Peter, we end up questioning our Lord. Why do we do such a thing? We take our eyes off Jesus!

    20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

    22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

    23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

    What is that to me if God has given me another appointment? What if Joel were to say, "No! No! I don't want to minister in this place! Send me somewhere else!" Here's God's response to such sinful thoughts:


    Isaiah 29:16

    Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
    For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
    “He did not make me”?
    Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
    “He has no understanding”?

    God have mercy on us when we do such a thing – when we esteem ourselves above our Creator and Redeemer! God grant us grace so we might not harden our hearts and grieve His Holy Spirit. God keep us from becoming Jonahs – from running away from Him and His appointment for us! And when we begin to question and doubt God's appointment in even the smallest way, may He give us grace so we and our prodigal thoughts might be turned ("turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God" ~ Jer. 31:18, KJV), that we might come back to our senses and fervently embrace our God and His particular appointment for us in the way Mary did:

    "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38a, KJV)

    How can we do this? Again, it is impossible with us! – but it is possible through Christ who dwells in us! Our Lord Himself willingly submitted Himself to His Father's appointment for Him to condescend, to become incarnate, to take the form of a servant, and to become obedient to the point of death – even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:4-11). Jesus was consumed by His Father's glory and purposes – and through the new birth, we have been united with Christ, being given the same desires by the Holy Spirit who lives in us, so we might offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God as Christ did. Even though our souls might be troubled, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to respond to God's appointment just as Christ did:

    John 12:27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”

    During this Lenten season, many Christians set aside more time to consider the suffering and the crucifixion of Christ – and yes! Amen to that! But let us not only contemplate Jesus' example, let us not only contemplate His sacrifice rendered in our place to satisfy the wrath of God and justify us and reconcile us to God, but let us go on even further – so we might contemplate God's magnificent power that worked in Jesus so He might finish all the work the Father had given Him, and then let us plead for such sanctifying power to fill us, so God's love might compel us to joyful obedience to His commandment "You follow Me!"

    Yes, our souls may be troubled by what we see – and they may often be troubled – and rightly so at many times, for we live in a troubled, fallen world, and Jesus told us we would have tribulation in this world. But let us look away from what's troubling us and look into the Word of God to the character and promises of God, and let us look away to Jesus, and then let us pray without ceasing and plead for God's Pentecostal power to rain down upon us from on high, so we might have the mind and heart of Christ, so we might not worry about what others are doing, but render ourselves wholeheartedly to doing our Father's will as our Lord did, to delight in the appointment God has for each one of us:

    Psalm 40
    7 Then I said, “Behold, I come;
    In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
    8 I delight to do Your will, O my God,
    And Your law is within my heart.”

    Isaiah 64
    But now, O Lord,
    8 You are our Father;
    We are the clay, and You our potter;
    And all we are the work of Your hand.
    9 Do not be furious, O Lord,
    Nor remember iniquity forever;
    Indeed, please look—we all are Your people!

    Related:

    Scripture unless otherwise indicated is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Photo credits:

    Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tissot_Joel.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0 / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}
    Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Walpurgis.jpg / / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}
    Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kneden_van_klei.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0

Comments (14)

  •          And the same applies to us as well! We can't expect to fight the good fight of faith and finish our race without God's means! Many people keep looking for a new technique or a magic program – but instead, what we must do is to go back to the basics: to the Word of God and prayer.  YES--this spoke to me the most.  Spirit has been speaking this to me as well.  Thanks for this needed and timely post.

  • @stephensmustang - You're welcome! John 16:13-16.

  • I like what you said about "looking away from the things that trouble us" to purposefully focusing on Christ. I was recently thinking about this and gained new appreciation for Psalm 42 -- David responded to his struggles with a desire for God and repeatedly reminded himself of His power and goodness. Its so true! "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."

  • That part about doing "good" things as a solution to the problems of the church: lack of fire, lack of attendance, lack of power - really speaks to the churches today. And yes, the devil most likely has "helped" in this endeavor. I am afraid that all the marvelous inventions and progress of the technical arena have caused us to rely on them for spreading God's word and doing His work when the power of the Holy Spirit in us is far more effective (the only thing effective) in the work of the gospel. I am not saying we should ditch all of that, but certainly we must realize that it is God who must bring the things we so dearly desire. So, prayer, consistent prayer which brings us to His throne is the right way to approach any problems or weaknesses. His strength is made perfect in our weakness!

    "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.”

  • @TigerLily_24 - Yes! Psalm 42 is a wonderful example for us! And then go Psalm 43 (many believe the two psalms were at one time a single psalm) and notice how David prayed – "Send out Thy light and Thy truth!" That's how we combat the devil's darkness and lies!

    "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." - Yes! Everything else comes into right perspective when God shines upon us in such ways!

    Numbers 6:24-27. :)

  • @quest4god@revelife - You know I'm in full agreement re: your assessment of how the church is operating in this day and age (with a few exceptions) – and that's what I emphasized in my previous post on revival and our need for prayer – but in this post I was trying to bring home that general principle to the individual, so each one of us us might apply to his/her own particular walk – for I had found myself running through those same questions I proposed at the beginning of the post. I was doubting and questioning where God had me – even though I knew I was right where God wanted me to be – and so I was in desperate need to look away from the visible to the invisible God. God had already brought me through that temptation a few years ago, but as I read those words of Calvin, I found them to be a wonderful and refreshing confirmation to my soul: "so Joel had another appointment."

  • @naphtali_deer - Thanks for your reply.  I didn't mean to swing the focus to the churches as opposed to the individual....It's just that, to me, the individual is looking to the church for his own spirituality and to provide the means for spiritual power instead of looking to God Himself.  Maybe I still don't understand?

  • @quest4god@revelife - First off, typo in my last comment: should be a few DAYS ago!!!

    This post is primarily about our being enabled to rest in the place God has for each of us as individuals ("Jesus, I  am resting, resting...") – and we do that as we look to God through the Word and prayer.

    Your observation is true: "It's just that, to me, the individual is looking to the church for his own spirituality and to provide the means for spiritual power instead of looking to God Himself"   – and though this post does touch on that, it really wasn't my emphasis here.

    It seems to me this is an example of how communication in writing breaks down and can be incomplete and inadequate. Yesterday I met w/ a couple friends, and one of them made a comment to the effect that there was no way I could ever convey all I was saying to her in writing. Anyhow, if this post has helped you in some way, then thanks be to God! Psalm 115:1.

  • Good Afternoon, Karen. I  never know how to respond to these wonderful writings about the Christian life, since I seem to run in  different park. My wife and son are always asking me is something God's will. It is frustrating and perplexing since there is not way to know. God is not going to come and visit me visually or audibly.  If they are doing something unscriptural, unethical, or dishonest that is one thing, but usually it is about some activity. 

    Most people I run into seem to be worried that they are doing something out of God's will.

    I don't know.

    I think Christ resides within me with His resurrection power, adding the divine plus to my daily living. I had to work and support my  family. Working was God's idea. I had to stay married to my wife. That was God's idea. I had to take my kids to church. That was God's idea. A big part of life is supporting ourselves and taking care of our families.

    The rub is that no one does it perfectly. I think some where along the way two things happened--A large group of church goers were just church goers--that is something good. Another group seems to have got worried about things.

    I am 78 and still confused. I sure know I am not perfect. I am currently reading through Job as part of my annual read of the Bible. He was sure wrong about some things. He thought God was beating him up. In this life, we make assumptions when things go badly--so we start the Why questions.  Then we introspectively examine ourselves looking for some fault. Then we check God out again to see if we missed something.

    I don't know---I think John 3:16 and Colossians 2 says that God has taken care of our sin and in time He will have us where He wants us.

    My wife is using her new I-Pad to teach our grandson in Tennessee the Bible at night. They talk to each other about what she is sharing from the Bible. I think that is God's will.

    She is sending our tithe to a Chaplaincy in Hawaii. I think that is God's will, but local pastors would like to debate that.

    I don't know. It seems so complicated sometimes.

    Thanks for sharing Karen--you are like an artist in spiritual writing about the things of God. You do make me think. I admit again that I am not good a the Spurgeon depth of writing. I sill like Christian fluff. lol

    blessings

    frank

  • Thank you for this post, Karen. Your post resonated with what I'm struggling with. I struggle greatly with past regrets concerning career with the what if's and if this is the right appointment for me. And I don't remember the last time I went to the living God and pleaded with Him all night like Jacob, saying "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" I think I'm going to try doing that. Praise be to God.

  • @ANVRSADDAY - Hi Frank, There was lots to your comment here. ;) There are definitely ways we should be living that are clearly delineated in Scripture which involve our character - i.e. - the inner man (e.g. - Ephesians 4-5; Colossians 3, Galatians 5 re: being led by the Spirit vs. the flesh), and so we have absolutely no excuse to try to get around that at all. However, when it comes to the places God has for us (places, as I said in the post above, which may not be morally bad at all – and we will have times when we have lots of good opportunities put before us), that's when it gets more difficult. As we place ourselves before God and let His Spirit examine us, He will clearly direct us in the way we should go and will bring conviction to us when we're not in His will.

    Psalm 32

    8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

    9  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,

    which must be curbed with bit and bridle,

    or it will not stay near you.

    10  Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

    but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

    11  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,

    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

    We need to be careful to discern God's will for us from a guilt trip that's brought on us by men. I'm not saying God won't and doesn't use the counsel of people, for He certainly does; however, some people may be coming to us with a definite agenda which may not be God's agenda!

    So often we (I!) get antsy and want to move, except the pillar of cloud/fire (so to speak) isn't yet moving yet. My personality is one that is impetuous, and I often want to move on quickly in my own flesh when I don't see things working out as I think they should, so that's something God has to continue to discipline me in. Consider, for example – Moses' killing the Egyptian, Peter cutting off the ear, and Moses striking the rock when he was supposed to speak to it – those are some of the Biblical examples I can really resonate with. I know that's common to people to some extent, but I've found that's something I really need to constantly to guard against.

  • @daniel626 - Daniel, thanks so much for your humble response! It really blessed me.

    I've had a LOT of those past regrets, many of them because of my own past sins and impetuousness (see my comment above). However, that said, in God's inscrutable and wonderful will, God has worked even my sin for my good and His glory! And God's character is such that He is working all things for the good of all Christians – all those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). God must do good to us – for how can He not do good to His only begotten Son, to whom we are now joined?! I know that sounds bold, but it's true. That said, we have to remember that our idea of "good" is often very different than God's idea, His idea of good is to conform us to Christ's image, to further the Gospel and to bring Himself glory.

    Consider how Joseph readily welcomed and forgave his brothers who had abused him, and his wonderful proclamation in Genesis 50:20: "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good." We can keep beating ourselves up over our past mistakes, sins and failures, and yes, we need to confess our sins, and not willfully sin and see how we can learn from all of that – but God has been sovereign over them all! Read Psalm 105 and see God's sovereignty running throughout – through famine, through Joseph's being sent ahead into Egypt, and so on! As I continue to profess: God's sovereignty is my sanity!

    Keep pleading with God (He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him) and keep obeying in what you know to do now – and then tarry and watch until the answer comes, for it will come (Habakkuk 2). And I venture to say first and foremost the answer will come in the increasing assurance of God's love for you in Christ: that you are His child and that His hand has continued to be upon you through all those grievous circumstances.

    LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS
    (William Cowper)

    God moves in a mysterious way
    His wonders to perform;
    He plants His footsteps in the sea
    And rides upon the storm.

    Deep in unfathomable mines
    Of never failing skill
    He treasures up His bright designs
    And works His sovereign will.

    Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
    The clouds ye so much dread
    Are big with mercy and shall break
    In blessings on your head.

    Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
    But trust Him for His grace;
    Behind a frowning providence
    He hides a smiling face.

    His purposes will ripen fast,
    Unfolding every hour;
    The bud may have a bitter taste,
    But sweet will be the flower.

    Blind unbelief is sure to err
    And scan His work in vain;
    God is His own interpreter,
    And He will make it plain.

    (You may find this post on Joseph helpful: http://naphtali-deer.xanga.com/701963237/gods-sovereign-grace--care-in-genesis-the-story-of-joseph/ )

    Ezekiel 36:11 "I ... will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD."

    Romans 8:31-39.

  • Hi Karen. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to me. I am seriously so blessed by what you wrote. I praise God for using you to help instill God's truth into my mind and heart. The scripture verses you shared with me give me boldness and I find strength in the Lord through His Word. 

    I believe that being a child of God means trusting in His sovereignty. Through everything that has happened...my past decisions that have led me to regret...God is sovereign over this. Yes, I have so many what ifs...but what if this is part of God's plan...and it is. I'm trying to remind myself of God's sovereignty always, especially when life's circumstances get me down.
    I love what you wrote here because I keep doing this to myself. I beat myself up so much for my past mistakes, sins and failures. But I believe that I am learning something as a result of this:
    We can keep beating ourselves up over our past mistakes, sins and failures, and yes, we need to confess our sins, and not willfully sin and see how we can learn from all of that – but God has been sovereign over them all! 
    I am learning that nothing should take the place of God. I've idolized careers and my mother and put them at the center. I believe that God is breaking that down, purifying me to see what should be of the utmost importance in my life. I've come to a point in my life where nothing matters anymore. My career, money, respect, fame, are all meaningless to me now. It's all about God now. Only God. I just want to be known by God. I surrender everything to Him and just ask Him for His presence. I pray for His forgiveness for my doubt, lack of trust, bitterness, and rebellion towards Him. I love that verse in Ezekiel 36:11 when God says that He "will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD." That is such a golden statement. 
    Without God, I am lost. With Him, I have fullness of joy, purpose, and motivation.  
    I love what you wrote here:
    God must do good to us – for how can He not do good to His only begotten Son, to whom we are now joined?! I know that sounds bold, but it's true. That said, we have to remember that our idea of "good" is often very different thanGod's idea, His idea of good is to conform us to Christ's image, to further the Gospel and to bring Himself glory.
    I'm actually speechless right now because my idea of God being good this whole time was Him answering my prayer requests, but how foolish of me to make up a false idea of who God is. Yes! God's idea of good is to conform us to Christ's image, to further the Gospel and to bring Himself glory. And if that means taking away film school and even dental school from me for me to see what life is about, then so be it. God is so good in taking away my idols because He knows that I will be destroyed in worshipping these idols, but that I will be saved in worshipping God and God alone. 
    I read your post on God's sovereignty in Joseph's life. Praise God for His truth being revealed. 
    I will plead with God and continue to be faithful in what He has called me now, and I will wait for His answer. I will surrender my plans, fears, and depression to Him and hope in Him, trusting that God is in control of EVERY SINGLE DETAIL. I praise God for everything that He has done and for purging me of my idolatry and taking everything away so that I can live for God alone. I am beginning to understand the purpose of this life and I am finally understanding what it means to be free in Christ. 
    Thank you again for revealing God's truth in my life. I am so thankful for you, Karen. I praise God and may God bless you.

  • @daniel626 - Daniel, I am praising God and rejoicing at His work in your life, and humbled to be privileged to be used by God's Spirit, for He is the one who opens these things up to us ~ John 16:13-15. As soon as we are given grace to get above and beyond own puny, fleshly ways of thinking and begin to see our lives from God's throne room above (and as Christians, we are seated in heavenly places with Christ!), that makes all the difference. We won't have all the answers at once, but we know the God who is sovereign over all and begin to entrust ourselves to Him for nothing can ever separate us from His love for us in Christ, and He is always for us and not against us!

    I'm remembering the verse right before those in John 16 which I just referenced:  John 16:12  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." God alone knows how much we can bear. If we knew all that lay ahead for us at a particular time, then we would most likely shrink back in fear and doubt and questioning or else become prideful and puffed up. God's leading of each one of His children is absolutely perfect. Isaiah 28:23-29 ~ In that passage God talks about the farmer dealing with different types of seeds and then crops in particular ways, perfectly suited to each one, and the same is true for our individual souls. As soon as we have the truth written into our hearts that God IS "wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance" at all times, then we can entrust ourselves to His keeping, even though it may seem to us by all appearances that there is nothing wonderful and excellent happening at the current time! I wrote this http://naphtali-deer.xanga.com/739550884/so-you-led-your-people-to-make-for-yourself-a-glorious-name-isaiah-6314b/ after a time when I'd come through some experiences like that.

    Psalm 121, Habakkuk 3:17-19, Isaiah 40:9-11 & Romans 15:13,
    Karen

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naphtali_deer

About me...

Christian hedonist in training. Pressing on to know more and more of the joy of the LORD. Pleading with God to rend the heavens and revive and refresh my own soul, as well as His Church, to His praise, honor and glory.

Thank God. He can make men and women in middle life sing again with a joy that has been chastened by a memory of their past failures. ~ Alan Redpath

My other websites

tent of meeting: Prayer for reformation & revival

(See also Zechariah821. Zechariah821 is a mirror site of tent of meeting, found on WordPress)

deerlifetrumpet: Encouragement for those seeking reformation & revival in the Church

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