Prepare Ye The Way

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. Matthew 17:10-13

Thoughts on the life of John the Baptist, the 2nd Elijah:

No school on earth with which he could connect.

Learning was obtained away from the cities.

Old Testament and nature his study books.

Fitted by God for the work of preparing the way of the Lord.

Simple vegetarian food.

Customs and practices of men were not part of his education.

Worldly engrossment acted no part in formation of his character.

He did not feel strong enough to stand the great pressure of temptation he would meet in society.

He feared his character would be moulded according to the customs of the Jews.

He chose to have his mind properly educated and disciplined from God's book of nature.

In the wilderness he could more readily deny himself and bring appetite under control.

He dressed in accordance with natural simplicity.

Nothing in the wilderness to take his mind from meditation and prayer.

His habits of life were so pure and natural that he could discern the foe in any guise. Satan could not move him from his integrity.

He had strength of spirit and decision of character to resist Satan.

He sought the favour of God and the Holy Spirit rested upon him and kindled in his heart a glowing zeal to do the great work of calling the people to repentance and to a higher and holier life.

He fitted himself by the privations and hardships of his secluded life to so control all his physical and mental powers that he could stand among the people as unmoved by surrounding circumstances as the rocks and mountains of the wilderness that had surrounded him for 30 years.

He could stand unmoved before earthly monarchs, because he had bowed low before the King of Kings. 

As the third Elijah we have the same role that the first and second were given in their missions. 

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. Malachi 4:5

Common characteristics of the 3 Elijahs:

They arise in a time of crisis in Israel and the world.

They live their life in a country setting, separate from the world around them.

They wear modest clothing.

They eat simple, healthful food.

Each have a message that is present truth for the time in which they live.

All suffer persecution.

They feel alone and discouraged at times.

Their life and message call for a decision.

Each one knows the Lord personally and follows His instructions.

1.Elijah Messenger - Elijah, John The Baptist, Remnant/144,000

2.Political/Civil Power* - DRAGON - Ahab, Herod, UN

3.Unlawful marriage - Unholy woman/Impure church - BEAST - Jezebel (behind the scene), Herodias (behind the scene), Papacy (behind the scene)

4.Deceiving Power - Dancing - FALSE PROPHET - Priests of Baal, Salome, USA

5.Death Decree – Jezebel, Herodias, Papacy - *No.2 totally shocked by this unexpected demand of the Beast/No.3

6.Outcome for Messenger - Translated, Beheaded - Martyr, Beheaded - Martyr/Translated

Prepare ye the way of the LORD. Isaiah 40:3

But the end of all things is at hand: (Romans 13:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:2, Revelation 1:3, 22:10) be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1Peter 4:7

Your time has come!

Christianity Is...

Christianity is simply living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. We are to believe in, and live in, Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. We have faith in God when we believe His Word; we trust and obey God when we keep His commandments; and we love God when we love His law. FW 122

Christianity is the revealing of the tenderest affection for one another. 1 SM 114

Christianity is always intensely practical, adapting itself to all the circumstances of actual life. MYP 200

True Christianity is a religion of progress. LP 124

Christianity is an intensely practical thing, and those who have put on Christ should walk even as He walked. RH Sept 28, 1897

Christianity is a system, which, received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony, and happiness throughout the earth. 4 SP 47

Christianity is the solace of the poor. WM 172

Practical Christianity is the revealing in word and action of the will of God. UL 184

Christianity is the only hope for perishing souls. 3 SM 194

Christianity is an active principle. BE June 1, 1887

Christianity is...a full conversion to God. 17 MR 44

Christianity...is the word of Him who liveth and abideth forever. It is a living, animating principle, that takes possession of the mind, heart, motives, and the entire man...It is a vital, personal experience, that elevates and ennobles the whole man. SpTA09 57

The Dedication

They brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, Then took He him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. Luke 2:22-39

The priest went through the ceremony of his official work. He took the child in his arms, and held it up before the altar. After handing it back to its mother, he inscribed the name “Jesus” on the roll of the firstborn…

Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. In the temple the Son of God was dedicated to the work He had come to do. The priest looked upon Him as he would upon any other child. But though he neither saw nor felt anything unusual, God's act in giving His Son to the world was acknowledged. This occasion did not pass without some recognition of Christ…As Simeon enters the temple, he sees a family presenting their first-born son before the priest. Their appearance bespeaks poverty; but Simeon understands the warnings of the Spirit, and he is deeply impressed that the infant being presented to the Lord is the Consolation of Israel, the One he has longed to see. To the astonished priest, Simeon appears like a man enraptured. The child has been returned to Mary, and he takes it in his arms and presents it to God, while a joy that he has never before felt enters his soul. As he lifts the infant Saviour toward heaven, he says, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

The spirit of prophecy was upon this man of God, and while Joseph and Mary stood by, wondering at his words, he blessed them, and said unto Mary, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna also, a prophetess, came in and confirmed Simeon's testimony concerning Christ. As Simeon spoke, her face lighted up with the glory of God, and she poured out her heartfelt thanks that she had been permitted to behold Christ the Lord.

These humble worshipers had not studied the prophecies in vain. But those who held positions as rulers and priests in Israel, though they too had before them the precious utterances of prophecy, were not walking in the way of the Lord, and their eyes were not open to behold the Light of life.

So it is still. Events upon which the attention of all heaven is centered are undiscerned, their very occurrence is unnoticed, by religious leaders, and worshipers in the house of God. Men acknowledge Christ in history, while they turn away from the living Christ. Christ in His word calling to self-sacrifice, in the poor and suffering who plead for relief, in the righteous cause that involves poverty and toil and reproach, is no more readily received today than He was eighteen hundred years ago. DA 52,55,56 (1898)

In the temple Simeon and Anna had testified to His divinity. DA 231

The mothers that brought their children to Jesus, did well. Remember the text, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Let mothers now lead their children to Christ. Let ministers of the gospel take the little children in their arms, and bless them in the name of Jesus. Let words of tenderest love be spoken to the little ones; for Jesus took the lambs of the flock in His arms, and blessed them. RH March 24, 1896. 

Parents, give your children to the Lord, and ever keep it before their minds that they belong to Him, that they are lambs of Christ's flock, watched over by the true Shepherd. Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord; and it is said of him, “Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words [the Lord's words through Samuel] fall to the ground.” In the case of this prophet and judge in Israel are presented the possibilities that are placed before a child whose parents co-operate with God, doing their appointed work. CT 143

How beautiful that as a tiny baby Jesus “was dedicated to the work He had come to do.” Many parents today still choose to dedicate their precious children to the Lord. Do they understand the work that He wants to do in and through these little ones? Do they think about and allow the work that He wants to do in and through themselves? Because their lives were influenced by the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna were blessed to behold the Saviour of the world. It is only as we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts that we too will see Jesus our Saviour, be changed into His likeness, be prepared for the work that God has for us to do and finally be taken to live with Him for eternity.

As A Little Child

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. Luke 18:17

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3,4

Much has been said in the 2000 years since these words were spoken by Christ concerning the various attributes of children to be able to fulfil these words fully and it is certain this subject will be revisited in future posts. 

One thing is certain “a little child” is totally dependant on their parents for everything, especially all of their essential needs. Absolute dependance is what Christ is wanting each one of us to have in Him. It is the example that He set for us. So, despite all of the many thoughts that have been suggested, maybe this aspect of “a little child” could be at the top of the list. 

We are all beyond the 4th generation of the era that is “rich, increased in goods and in need of nothing” but there is no need whatsoever for us to remain “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked” Christ has offered us the remedy for our condition: “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in his throne. Revelation 3:18-21

Let us open the door of our heart and depend totally on Him from this moment on for eternity.

Absolute dependance.

Wait

We have only referred to a couple of texts so far in this trilogy of posts; there are many to be found in the Bible on this subject.

To close this brief consideration of the topic here are a few more references — 

I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord. Genesis 49:18

Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause...Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day...Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee. Psalms 25:3,5,21

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalms 27:14

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield. Psalms 33:20

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass...For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth...Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Psalms 37:7,9,34

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalms 40:1 

Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Psalms 52:9

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation...My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. Psalms 62:1,5

Let not them that wait on Thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek Thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Psalms 69:3,6

These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. Psalms 104:27

Our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that He have mercy upon us. Psalms 123:2

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope...My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Psalms 130:5,6

The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Psalms 145:15

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and He shall save thee. Proverbs 20:22

And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him. Isaiah 8:17

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. Isaiah 25:9

Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee. Isaiah 26:8

And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him. Isaiah 30:18

O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for Thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. Isaiah 33:2

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me. Isaiah 49:23

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him. Isaiah 64:4

We will wait upon Thee: for Thou hast made all these things. Jeremiah 14:22

The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25,26

Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Daniel 12:12

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. Hosea 12:6

Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3

Therefore wait ye upon Me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey. Zephaniah 3:8

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Luke 2:25

And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him. Luke 8:40

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. Acts 1:4

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Romans 8:23,25

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 1 Corinthians 1:7

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Galatians 5:5

And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:10

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. James 5:7

Without the accompanying blessing of God but little can be accomplished. We hope you will wait on God, and seek wisdom from above. “Without me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing.” Lt23 1870

Let us each wait on God, and He will teach us how to work and what work we are best adapted to perform...Look not to man for guidance, but to the God of Israel. 5T 463

Remember that the time spent in waiting on God is not lost. Act ever under the guidance of the Spirit of God. Ms 84, 1897

Christ will bless you abundantly as you wait on Him.

Waiting On God — Only

Continuing on with the present theme:

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation.” Psalm 62:5-6

It is possible to be waiting continually on God, but not only upon Him; there may be other secret confidences intervening and preventing the blessing that was expected. And so the word only must come to throw its light on the path to the fulness and certainty of blessing. “My soul, wait thou only upon God. HE only is my Rock.” 

Yes, “My soul, wait thou only upon God.” There is God, the one source of life and happiness for the heart; He only is my Rock; my soul, wait thou only upon Him. Thou desirest to be good; “There is none good but God,” and there is no possible goodness but what is received directly from Him. Thou hast sought to be holy: “There is none holy but the Lord,” and there is no holiness but what He by His Spirit of holiness every moment breathes in thee. Thou wouldst fain live and work for God and His kingdom, for men and their salvation. Hear how He says, “The Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth,” He alone “fainteth not, neither is weary. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” He only is God; He only is thy Rock: “My soul, wait thou only upon God.” 

“My soul, wait thou only upon God.” Thou wilt not find many who can help thee in this. Enough there will be of thy brethren to draw thee to put trust in churches and doctrines, in schemes and plans and human appliances, in means of grace and divine appointments. But, “my soul, wait thou only upon God Himself.” His most sacred appointments become a snare when trusted in. The brazen serpent becomes Nehushtan, the ark and the temple a vain confidence. Let the Living God alone, none and nothing but He, be thy hope. 

“My soul, wait thou only upon God.” Eyes and hands and feet, mind and thought, may have to be intently engaged in the duties of this life; “My soul, wait thou only upon God.” Thou art created not for this world but for eternity and for God. O, my soul! realise thy destiny. Know thy privilege, and “wait thou only upon God.” Let not the interest of religious thoughts and exercises deceive thee; they very often take the place of waiting upon God. My soul, wait thou, thy very self, thy inmost being, with all its power, “wait thou only upon God.” God is for thee, thou art for God; wait only upon Him. 

Yes, “my soul, wait thou only upon God.” Beware of thy two great enemies—the world and self. Beware lest any earthly satisfaction or enjoyment, however innocent it appears, keep thee back from saying, “I will go to God, my exceeding joy.” Remember and study what Jesus says about denying self: “Let a man deny himself.” Pleasing self in little things may be strengthening it to assert itself in greater things. “My soul, wait thou only upon God;” let Him be all thy salvation and all thy desire. Say continually and with an undivided heart, “From Him cometh my expectation; He only is my Rock; I shall not be moved.” Whatever be thy spiritual or temporal need, whatever the desire or prayer of thy heart, whatever thy interest in connection with God’s work in the Church or the world — in solitude or in the rush of the world, in public worship or other gatherings of the saints, “My soul, wait thou only upon God.” Let thy expectations be from Him alone. HE ONLY IS THY ROCK. 

“My soul, wait thou only upon God.” Never forget the two foundation-truths on which this blessed waiting rests. If ever thou art inclined to think this “waiting only” too hard or too high, they will recall thee at once. They are: thy absolute helplessness; the absolute sufficiency of thy God. Oh! enter deep into the entire sinfulness of all that is of self, and think not of letting self have aught to say one single moment. Enter deep into thy utter and unceasing impotence ever to change what is evil in thee, or to bring forth anything that is spiritually good. Enter deep into thy relation of dependence as creature on God, to receive from Him every moment what He gives. Enter deeper still into His covenant of redemption, with His promise to restore more gloriously than ever what thou hadst lost, and by His Son and Spirit to give within thee unceasingly, His actual divine Presence and Power. And thus wait upon thy God continually and only. 

“My soul, wait thou only upon God.” No words can tell, no heart conceive, the riches of the glory of this mystery of the Father and of Christ. Our God, in the infinite tenderness and omnipotence of His love, waits to be our Life and Joy. Oh, my soul! let it be no longer needed that I repeat the words, “Wait upon God,” but let all that is in me rise and sing: “Truly my soul waiteth upon God. On Thee do I wait all the day.” 

“My soul, wait thou only upon God!” 

Waiting On God — Continually

There is one thing that the whole world has been forced into during the present circumstances caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic; that is — waiting.

As Christians, looking for the return of our LORD, we are very familiar with this approach to living; but while we are waiting, are we really waiting on our God?

This post and the two following will consider a few points of this most essential and important subject. It would also be advantageous for us all to further examine this topic very carefully.

“Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” 

Hosea 12:6. 

Continuity is one of the essential elements of life. Interrupt it for a single moment in a man, and it is lost, he is dead. Continuity, unbroken and ceaseless, is essential to a healthy Christian life. God wants me to be, and God waits to make me, I want to be, and I wait on Him to make me, every moment, what He expects of me, and what is well-pleasing in His sight. If waiting on God be of the essence of true religion, the maintenance of the spirit of entire dependence must be continuous. The call of God, “Wait on Thy God continually,” must be accepted and obeyed. There may be times of special waiting: the disposition and habit of soul must be there unchangeably and uninterruptedly. 

This waiting continually is indeed a necessity. To those who are content with a feeble Christian life, it appears a luxury, something beyond what is essential to being a good Christian. But all who are praying the prayer, “Lord! make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made! Keep me as near to Thee as it is possible for me to be! Fill me as full of Thy love as Thou art willing to do!” feel at once that it is something that must be had. They feel that there can be no unbroken fellowship with God, no full abiding in Christ, no maintaining of victory over sin and readiness for service, without waiting continually on the Lord. 

The waiting continually is a possibility. Many think that with the duties of life it is out of the question. They cannot be always thinking of it. Even when they wish to, they forget. They do not understand that it is a matter of the heart, and that what the heart is full of, occupies it, even when the thoughts are otherwise engaged. A parent’s heart may be filled continuously with intense love and longing for a sick spouse or child at a distance, even though pressing business requires all their thoughts. When the heart has learned how entirely powerless it is for one moment to keep itself or bring forth any good, when it has learnt how surely and truly God will keep it, when it has, in despair of itself, accepted God’s promise to do for it the impossible, it learns to rest in God, and in the midst of occupations and temptations, it can wait continually. 

This waiting is a promise. God’s commands are enablings: gospel precepts are all promises, a revelation of what our God will do for us (see COL 333). When first you begin waiting on God, it is with frequent intermission and failure. But do believe God is watching over you in love and secretly strengthening you in it. There are times when waiting appears just losing time, but it is not so. Waiting, even in darkness, is unconscious advance, because it is God you have to do with, and He is working in you. God who calls you to wait on Him, sees your feeble efforts, and works it in you. Your spiritual life is in no respect your own work: as little as you begin it, can you continue it; it is God’s Spirit, who brings the life of Christ into us, that has begun the work in you of waiting upon God; He will enable you to wait continually. 

Waiting continually will be met and rewarded by God Himself working continually. Would that you and I might learn one lesson: God must, God will work continually. He ever does work continually, but the experience of it is hindered by unbelief. But He who by His Spirit teaches you to wait continually, will bring you to experience also how, as the Everlasting One, His work is never ceasing. In the love and the life and the work of God there can be no break, no interruption. 

Do not limit God in this by your thoughts of what may be expected. Do fix your eyes upon this one truth: in His very nature, God, as the only Giver of life, cannot do otherwise than every moment work in His child. Do not look only at the one side: “If I wait continually, God will work continually.” No, look at the other side. Place God first and say, “God works continually, every moment I may wait on Him continually.” Take time until the vision of your God working continually, without one moment’s intermission, fill your being. Your waiting continually will then come of itself. Full of trust and joy the holy habit of the soul will be, “On Thee do I wait all the day.” The Holy Spirit will keep you ever waiting. 

“Wait on thy God continually.”

Famine

There have been many news reports, over the past few weeks, of the various predictions that many more will die due to the economic crisis caused by the ensuing Great Lock-down of 2020, than will ever die from the COVID-19 global pandemic itself.

You may have heard the news today, that because of the current economic fallout, a very significant percentage of the world’s population will have to endure the immense suffering of a “famine of Biblical proportion”. This on top of the many “unprecedented” situations that have already affected the world, and all of these unfolding so quickly.

Christ said, “And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7 as a sign of the end of this world.

He also said, I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. John 6:35

This will remind us all of another time fast approaching:

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it. Amos 8:11,12

So, while constantly partaking of Christ, the Bread of life, “let us strive with all the power that God has given to be among the 144,000” and be diligent to - Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6,7

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:19,20

They Found The Secret

It is with great pleasure that we are now able to welcome those who join us from the referral sites of Facebook, Twitter and our website aboveveryname.org

As you join us here we invite you to walk with Christ as did those Bible characters who Found The Secret:

ENOCH: walked with God

NOAH: found grace in the eyes of the LORD 

ABRAHAM: God will provide

ISAAC: we saw certainly that the LORD was with thee

JACOB: I will not let thee go except Thou bless me

JOSEPH: ye thought evil against me but God meant it for good

MOSES: who am I that I should go?

JOSHUA: as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD 

GIDEON: the people are yet too many

RUTH: Kinsman Redeemer

SAMUEL: speak LORD, for Thy servant heareth

DAVID: a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfil all My will

SOLOMON: I don't know how to come in or go out 

ELIJAH: how long halt ye between two opinions?

ELISHA: a double portion of thy spirit 

EZRA: prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD and to do it 

NEHEMIAH: I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down

ESTHER: who knoweth but thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this

JOB: though He slay me, yet will I trust Him

ISAIAH: woe is me for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips

JEREMIAH: I cannot speak for I am a child 

EZEKIEL: thou shalt speak My words

DANIEL: purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself

HOSEA: I will allure her 

JOEL: the LORD is the hope of His people 

AMOS: seek Me and ye shall live 

MICAH: I will look unto the LORD, I will wait for the God of my salvation, my God will heal me

NAHUM: the LORD is good; a stronghold in the day of trouble

HABAKKUK: the just shall live by his faith

ZEPHANIAH: the LORD in the midst of thee is mighty, He will save

HAGGAI: the Desire of all nations shall come

ZECHARIAH: take away the filthy garments from him, clothe him in change of raiment

MALACHI: the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings

JESUS: I came not to do Mine own will but the will of Him who sent Me

STEPHEN: full of faith and power

PHILIP: preached unto him Jesus 

PAUL: Christ liveth in me

JOHN: we love Him because He first loved us

PETER: the trial of your faith being much more precious than gold 

JAMES: if the LORD wills we shall live or do this or that

JUDE: to the only wise God, our Saviour