Thursday, February 14, 2002
Dear Family:
Each time I read the book of Exodus it just gets better and better. As the children of Israel left Egypt to go to the promised land we find that God didn't abandon them to figure out for themselves how to get away form the Egyptians and slavery. He actually showed them the way.
Exod 13:21-22 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (KJV)
He didn't tell them to get out of Egypt and then leave it up to them to figure out what route to take. As we saw before, they would have gone straight through to Philistine. If they had taken the easy, short route the Egyptians would have caught up with them and would have destroyed them. But God knew what was best so he led them by day with a cloud and a pillar of fire by night.
There have been so many times that I have heard people say I just don't know what God wants me to do or how I should do it. My advice is always the same. Do what you know to do and trust God to guide you and he will.
The Bible says that when we accept Christ as our Savior that we receive the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts, we are given the light of life. The light has special meaning to those who trust in God. He gives us the light of understanding of the word. He opens the door of understanding to spiritual things.
Ps 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV)
Ps 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (KJV)
John 1:4-9 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (KJV)
When we come to Christ we are then given the ability to understand the things of God and the Bible because they are spiritual and only those who are alive spiritually can understand spiritual things. We say God spoke to my heart thus and so.. That is the Holy Spirit speaking to God and relaying the message back to us. When that still small voice speaks to you from inside, it is time to listen. I like to write those things down because I can then go back and read those words and know they were not from me. I know me and my words and when I go back, get blessed by what is written, I know it ain't me! It is God telling me something I need to know. But sometimes I am just like the Children of Israel. I'm hard hearted, stubborn and impatient. I can't see beyond the now and thus miss out on a tremendous blessing because I try to run ahead of God or do it my way.
When we become alive spiritually we are different than those who are not alive spiritually. Look at what the Bible says about this:
John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (KJV)
Ever wonder why Saturday night is the most sinful time of the week. It is the night of the Sabbath. God never changed the Sabbath from being his chosen day of rest. It is still holy and separate. But Satan has chosen to profane it in every way possible. During the week I get 1-3 porn sites slammed into my e-mail in box but 15 on Saturday. We worship the risen Christ our Lord on the first day of the week (Sunday) but that doesn't change the fact that Saturday is a Holy day of rest. It is not a day of celebration. "Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil". That's Saturday night.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (KJV)
I John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (KJV)
Saturday is a day of rest and relaxation for us to recuperate for next week. I like to spend as much time as possible studying. That is refreshing to me. You may find getting your hair or nails done, etc. refreshing, or you may even find catching up on you work refreshing. Whatever gives you peace, rest and relaxation is the purpose of the Sabbath as I see it.
God has always sought to be a light to our path and to the path of the children of Israel but notice what happened to that light in Exodus.
Exod 13:21-22 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (KJV)
It remained in front of the children of Israel day and night except for one time and for one reason. Look at what happened in the 14th chapter.
Exod 14:19-20 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. (KJV
He put the light between the children of Israel and the Egyptians and notice that the Israelites could see the Egyptians but the Egyptians could not see the Israelites. The light was a blessing to God's people and a curse to the Egyptians. That has not changed.
1 Cor 1:18-21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (KJV)
1 Cor 2:8-16 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (KJV)
People who do not know God or Christ think spiritual things are foolishness. They are even critical of those who are spiritual (Christians). There is the continual effort to shut us up and make it difficult for us to have a say in the way our government, schools and society in general are run. Christians should be more involved in the political process. Not to force our beliefs on others but to protect our freedom to worship and express our beliefs. When school policy promotes alternative life style as normal and labels those who disagree as fanatical, homophobic and discriminatory, we must take a stand. These groups are using the political process to redefine sexuality and the family, as we know them. We should stand up and speak out. The Bible says, God created man and created woman from man's rib, brought her to him and told them to multiply and replenish the earth. There is a bill currently before the house that would criminalize anyone who opposes teaching the alternative life style. It is hidden in the ENDA bill scheduled for debate in congress later this month.
Today, a single mother, told me her son, who is retarded, was sodomized by a 16-year-old neighbor. The 16-year-old is in jail charged with sodomy (a crime) yet ENDA will make it a crime to discriminate against those who practice it. My purpose for writing my thoughts is to share with you the love God has shown me. I believe God had a reason for giving us the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. I don't believe He destroyed these cities because they were wonderful alternative places to live. I believe he knew the destructive influence they would have on the family and society. I do not believe he made a mistake and put a woman in the body of a man or a man in the body of a woman. Adultery and fornication are sin. So is sodomy. Child abuse and murder are sins. So is sodomy. Stealing and lying are sins. So is sodomy. Denying the existence of God is the unpardonable sin not sodomy. One goes to hell for not accepting Christ forgiveness not for sinning. But forgiveness comes with repentance (a change – turning away from). Repentance is to turn away from what we know as unacceptable to God and turning to what is acceptable. When we come to God he doesn't change to look like us, we are to change to look like Christ. It breaks my heart every time I do something I know causes others to see something other than the character of Christ in me. Everyday I ask God to help me not be more like me but more like his son. Every now and then he is able to do that. If I fail to change I let sin soften my concept of sin and separate me from the light of God's love.
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (KJV)
The Egyptians wanted to keep the children of Israel as slaves. The Egyptians were doing what was natural for them. They were blind to God's people and to the principles God would pass on to us through the children of Israel. When we read the newspaper and see arrests for drug distribution, murder, rape, robbery and other crimes, we know that these are simply the extremists of those without the light of God in their hearts. The light of God is the path of knowledge of God. It is also a road map to a greater degree of civility. Remove the Christian principles from society and we are back in pagan times. While our motivation for worshipping God and enjoying His love and care for us is one of self-gratification, it also raises the level of civility in our society. Satan seeks to keep us as slaves to him to further his cause and his war against God. We permit him victory after victory by not seeking and following the light God has put in our hearts. The light represents the spiritual life in communion with God and the darkness represents the life absent of God. Those who are not spiritual seek to live out every fantasy that man can dream up and legitimize it. We must be about the business of protecting our right to freely worship our God and protect our right to practice it openly. We must be about the business of letting God live through us.
2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (KJV)
God commanded the light to shine and he commands us to shine to give light to the world.
Matt 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
We are to live our lives in such a way that others will want to know why we are different. We are to live our lives in such a way as to bring glory to God not ourselves. We are to be vigilant not militant. Our war is spiritual and against principalities and powers of darkness. Our victories should be reflected in the way we live not on live TV. We know that we were once in darkness but now only by God's grace we are part of the light.
Prov 4:18-19 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.(KJV)
Eph 5:8-10 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (KJV)
Phil 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (KJV)
When the children of Israel sought to escape the Egyptians, the light blinded the Egyptians not only to protect the Israelites but it shined on the Israelites to show them the way. Our light is a guiding light in this world not a blinding one. Our duty to God is to shine and to bring glory to him. Our responsibility to the world is to shine to show the way out of the darkness into the light. It is your duty to your children to introduce them to God and let your light shine before them so that they too will want to be like you. Our role is a leader before them not a dictator over them.
Veiled in darkness Judah lay,
Waiting for the promised day,
While across the shadowy night
Streamed a flood of glorious light,
Heavenly voices chanting then,
"Peace on earth, good will to men."Still the earth in darkness lies.
Up from death's dark vale arise
Voices of a world in grief,
Prayers of men who seek relief:
Now our darkness pierce again,
"Peace on earth, good will to men."Light of light, we humbly pray,
Shine upon Thy world today;
Break the gloom of our dark night,
Fill our souls with love and light,
Send Thy blessèd Word again,
"Peace on earth, good will to men."
Love ya
Dad
Copyright © 2001 Churcheshosting.com. All rights reserved