Author: Intern'l Christian Ed. Aux. (ICEA)

Now God Knows!


“For now I know that thou fearest God…”
(Gen. 22:12. Read chapter 22)

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In Genesis chapter 22, God tested Abraham by asking him to take his son Isaac to a mountain and offer him as a burnt offering. This test was tailored for Abraham to prove his love, loyalty, devotion, worship, sacrifice, and commitment to his Lord! It’s likely that nothing else on earth was more precious to Abraham than the son God had promised him.

After hearing God’s voice, Abraham took his son and the wood to consume Isaac upon God’s altar!  We see the succession: Abraham journeyed three days to the mountain. And at the base of the mountain, he was prepared to climb with the wood, items for the fire, and the knife to slay his son. God (I’m speaking in human terms) watched to see this progression. This series of events still did not prove Abraham’s loyalty until he attempted to plunge a knife, directly into the body of his son. We see Abraham performing the ultimate sacrifice in vs. 10, when he extended his hand and would have killed his son, but the voice from the angel of the Lord stopped him! The angel of the Lord now knows. Thousands of years later we come to know — what type of man Abraham was, as well. It’s the story of his life, from the book of Genesis, that speaks of his progressive faith and maturity. We see his devotion and loyalty and his ability to “worship” (vs. 5) during his greatest time of testing! What an example to us who read about the details of a man who loved God and ultimately overcame by his faith in God!

The child Isaac was saved. He remained God’s promised seed and through him, God would multiply and bless the earth! What a test of faith, to be set to kill your son, believing that God would raise him from the dead (Heb. 11:19). Abraham passed his test and a nearby ram caught in the brush was sacrificed instead!

How is God Proving Us?

There are special times when God wants to test our integrity, loyalty, commitment, love, or devotion, as well (Ps. 26:2; Ps. 66:10). Sometimes He does it in the smallest ways until (speaking again in human terms) He knows what we will do. More importantly, God tests us to HELP US UNDERSTAND what WE will do! He may do this with progressive steps, as with Abraham. He takes us through these steps…each a bit harder than the prior one, until hopefully, we pass the test.

Have you passed your recent test?

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Attempting to Define Hope Versus Faith


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ICEA – “Church at Study”

The word “hope” is often associated with a person’s expectation of God’s final deliverance or salvation. In the Old Testament, God was the object of the righteous. They waited for His salvation. Many of the Old Testament saints also hoped for the final deliverer (Messiah), who would establish His kingdom on earth. We, (the church), look (or hope) for Him, also. He is the risen One: the “first-born” from the dead, and our hope is that we will (like He did) rise; and we will meet the Lord in the air. Hope, in large part (for the church) has to do with our trust that God will one day physically deliver the righteous from earth to heaven. It is a hope in a final deliverance or resurrection. New Testament scriptures are mainly used IN THE HANDOUT BELOW, to attempt to define the word hope. The object of hope in a number of the scriptures from the handout refer to either God the Father, or the Lord Jesus Christ. Hope, therefore, is often in expectation of the Person, Jesus, who God has made both Lord and Christ (Messiah). Hope (not always, but in large part) speaks of something more eternal than faith. This means, for example, that the word “hope” is rarely defined as someone believing that God will heal them of a condition. Faith, many times, is a word better used for our belief in “temporal” healings and believing God for His temporal “blessings.” Our faith in temporal things can waiver. For example…let’s say someone had faith to believe God to “fix” some condition. Years went by and the condition remained. Over those years, they had highs and lows. There were times they believed God with great faith and other times doubts crept in. The point is, again, our faith often waivers and we can become of “little faith” (Matt. 8:26). Here is another example: we have faith that God will heal a sick loved one. They die. We question why. What went wrong? Did we have enough faith? We often wrestle with our inability to have faith in God for temporal healings. But, we should never lose HOPE in the person of Jesus; the One who controls death and life. That’s why we are at peace when we have prayed and had faith that God would heal a loved one…only to watch them pass away. It does not take away from…nor diminish…our hope in the existence of the person of Christ or God. Faith waivers, but hope in God should never waiver. Examine this scripture: “Lord, I believe [in other words, I have faith], but help my unbelief.” We see from the verse that this man’s faith waivered, but not his hope in the existence of God. It is possible to have little faith to believe for something and yet have hope in the Eternal One. Here is how Hebrews 6:18-20 reads: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the HOPE set before us: Which HOPE we have as an ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus…. This verse reminds us that hope is more eternal. (This doesn’t mean that the word hope is in all instances defined as eternal, neither is faith always considered temporal.) The hope we have in Jesus should never waiver, because the hope we have in the person of Jesus ANCHORS our souls and hope is not volatile like our faith can be. We can sometimes lose our faith, but we must not ever lose our hope. We see an instance where the disciple Peter and the other disciples lost their HOPE. The angels told the women that Christ was risen, the bible states that the men did not believe them. In other words, the Son of God had died, and their was no HOPE in His resurrection. This would have been the saddest occurrence in the bible had Jesus not have shown Himself alive to his hopeless followers. Explore the handout below to view scriptures explaining the difference between faith and hope.

Please click on the text below to view typed
out scriptures, noting the difference
between faith and hope:

Church at Study – Faith Compared to Hope

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Engaged for One Another!


Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan,
and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days,
night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and
so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law:
and if I perish, I perish.
(Esther 4:16)

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Esther the queen was warned by her uncle that the position she held as queen would not exempt her from escaping the same fate that was planned for her people, the Jews. It’s hard to say what thoughts she entertained at this initial announcement that Haman had planned genocide for her people (Esther 4:14).

We are those who have been physically hard-hit by a current virus. Some have even lost their fight. We have heard some testimonies of others who are recovering. It is God’s mercy that there are some around us who, like Esther, have not had to grapple with this sentence and deep “shadow of death”. Those who contracted this virus face extreme mental and physical challenges. Imagine a similar account of the Jews in Esther’s day, knowing that they would be executed in a matter of days! There was great mourning and many laid prostrate in sack cloth and ashes (Esther 4:3). There was fasting, weeping, and wailing! Although Esther seemingly was not affected by what her fellow-Jews were facing (because her identity, as a Jew, was hidden), she still did the right thing by interceding for her people before the king. She approached the king and ask for mercy for those she loved. She could have lost her life by approaching him and eventually revealing to him that she was a Jew, as well.

Esther is an example to us. Those who have not been physically challenged with what is infecting others still have a responsibility to not only be concerned, but to be engaged! Like Esther, we owe it to those around us to intercede on their behalf with seasons of fasting and continual prayer. These are the times when those who feel secure in their homes are to become engaged! Mordecai told Esther, in so many words, that a palace and shelter would not save her. (She had to be engaged!) Only God has the option of saving us and those we know. Pray for those you know who are suffering severely. Also, fast for those you know who are suffering severely. Get out of places of comfort and, if physically possible, prostrate yourself before God! Cry out for those who need your voice!

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with
them; and them which suffer adversity, as being
yourselves also in the body. (Heb. 13:3)

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one
for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience,
in all things willing to live honestly. (Heb. 13:18)

I thank my God, making mention
of thee always in my prayers. (Phl. 1:4)

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that
through your prayers I shall be given unto you. (Phl. 1:22)

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:32)

And when he [Peter] had considered the thing,
he came to the house of Mary the mother of John,
whose surname was Mark; where many were
gathered together praying [for him.] (Acts 12:12)

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through
your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. (Phl. 1:19)

 

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word
of the Lord may have free course, and be
glorified, even as it is with you. (II Thes. 3:1)

 

 

 

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An Assuring Thunder!


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I awoke last night to the low sound of thunder with brief flashes of lightning. Thunder can be a very frightful thing but, to me, it was a reassuring sign that God is over the people and controls the universe! Thunder speaks to me! As I laid there — there was a comforting assurance that this God, who has the power to destroy nations, was my God! I was taken away from the daily noise of our world, along with its fears, and brought into a reality that God judges all who live on the earth, but He is also a shelter from the storm! As the thunder began to die down, I so wanted to hear the sound of the noise increase, not with great blasts of judgment, but loud enough to hear God say that this is His world! The loud rain falling reminded me of God’s provision to water the earth that the earth might produce. God’s judgments are mixed with His mercy. His mercy is extended to all who will call on Him in truth! God will save those who turn to Him and He will make himself known. Thunder, as we know it, does not need to be frightening, but it can be a sign to us that the owner of this world reigns sovereign and that He is in control!

The clouds poured down rain.
The skies rumbled with thunder.
Lightning flashed back and forth like arrows.
Your thunder was heard in the windstorm.
Your lightning lit up the world.
The earth trembled and shook.
Your path led through the Red Sea.
You walked through the mighty waters.
But your footprints were not seen.
You led your people like a flock.
You led them by the hands of
Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 77:17-20
(Read all of Psalm 77)

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An Excellent Spirit!


Daniel did a better job than the other two leaders or
any of the royal rulers. He was an unusually good and able man.
So the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.
(Daniel 6:3 NIRV)

 

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The world is currently looking for and calling up top notch nurses, doctors, scientists, researchers, inventors, social forecasters, along with anyone who has expertise in fighting a disease that challenges our way of survival. On the other hand — God is calling for men and women in the body of Christ who have many abilities. Those who God calls (to use their abilities) are needing one prevailing ingredient, which is an excellent spirit!

Many who serve God also have their professions, careers, and jobs, and make up a lot of the world’s workforce. Others have the task of home and family responsibilities. Daniel was such a man, who daily took care of the affairs of a nation and — according to the king — he maintained and excellent spirit! His “secret” no doubt, was his love and devotion toward his God!

Another great leader was Esther. This writer has heard some negative comments about Esther: how she planned evil to catch Haman in a trap. This writer strongly opposes this viewpoint! God judges evil intentions and actions, and He certainly would have judged Esther had she done any wrong. This would have been woven in the story, but we don’t see any trace of this in the author’s writings. Queen Esther was a women of integrity who stood up against what was evil and base. She knew her life and the lives of her people were at stake as she went before the king. We see her integrity, her caring, and so many other qualities that made up an excellent spirit! She appeared to be a women of prayer and had long been taught integrity by the example of her uncle Mordecai. God gave Esther the plans to overthrow evil Haman. We never see one time where Esther used her beauty or authority as queen, to undermine anyone. She simply asked for an audience with the king and Haman. This was her way of “going to the law” (who was the king) to expose the evil intents of a very evil man. Jesus told us to be wise as a serpent. Esther was simply wise as the serpent, Haman. She did nothing outside the bounds of God’s spiritual law and did not violate any of His principles, but maintained her excellent spirit!

The bible is filled with shining examples of those who maintained excellent spirits, like Joseph, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, Nathanael, Dorcas, and others. Biblical history has taught us, it seems, that leaders who have had excellent spirits have come forth, to make a great difference, and keep the people alive in times of great trials!

While we work on our ministries, let us equally work on our spirits. It’s imperative that the two be one!

Finally, it’s important to note that an excellent spirit is a spirit that does not entertain unwholesome thoughts. We have the power to dismiss even thoughts that attempt to bombard our minds (Eph. 6:16)! During those times we may constantly quote the scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding (Prov. 3:5).

Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.
(Ps. 51:10)

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which
are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,
and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
(Heb. 12:23)

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find
such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
(Gen. 41:38)

My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior…he hath regarded
the low estate of his handmaiden…He hat put down the
mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
(Luke 1:47-56)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and
if there be any praise, think on these things.
(Phil. 4:8)

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