“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
“And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly ,touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. (Daniel 9:20-23)
This biblical passage says that Gabriel started out toward Daniel at the moment God commanded him to go. God commanded him as Daniel first began to pray for Israel and himself. So let’s just say Daniel was praying for about an hour. Maybe more. Maybe less.
And that it took the angel about an hour to get to Daniel.
That is a bit surprising. I thought that the travel-time for angels would be instantaneous. I have no real basis for thinking that. I just did.
“But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.” (Hosea 1:7)
The Old Testament is full of verses of this kind. Where we are brought back to seeing God, Himself, as our deliverance.
These verses speak of men involved in desperate circumstances. Against-the-wall kind of situations. Where there is nowhere to turn but to God.
Elijah found himself alone and exhausted in the wilderness. But God sent ravens to feed him.
The Israelites found themselves without water in the Arabian desert. And God sent water gushing out of a rock to revive them and keep them going.
In numerous Old Testament accounts, the Israelites were facing overwhelming odds against powerful enemies. But God stepped in to tell them that it was His battle and not theirs. And amazing victories were won when they stood back and watched what God would do.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18)
This is the season that serves as a special reminder of all that God has provided for us.
But this simple truth is not always easy to see. Our “storehouse” mentality does not allow us to “rest” in Christ and follow this command of scripture.
Yes, it is a command. We are to be thankful in EVERY thing.
We want a big store of money that we can draw from at any time. A storage that we can see physically. That is obvious to us when we go to our online checking account to see our balance.
Or we need a big pile of strength, or self confidence or a clear path that can take us a good distance down the road.
“And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out , saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion . . . Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.” (Acts 19: 23 – 41)
This account of a riot in ancient Ephesus contains a perfect application to our present-day turmoil. I recommend reading the whole account. The ending is unexpected.
Riots, violence, unrest, and anger are not new to this world. There is always something that will set off one group against another.
When I first became a Christian, I was attending the United Methodist Church where I had grown up. But, strangely, it was not through the teachings of the UMC that I came to Christ. It was by reading the scriptures themselves. Along with other books that focused my soul toward salvation.
I remained at my church for about two years after I became a Christian. At first, I did not see the real conflict that the UMC beliefs had with my new life. But, point by point, this conflict became apparent to me.
As I look back, my eyes were opened in a very dramatic way when my friend, Ron, opened the Bible to Psalm 1:1.
“Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
“But speaking the truth in love…” (Ephesians 4:15)
Jonah, the prophet, provides us with an example of truth preached without “love”. Or, without true, heartfelt compassion for the people he preached to.
However, people were still saved. And Christ later honored Jonah. Despite his unloving attitude. Despite his original disobedience. Jonah actually did the best thing anyone could do for the Ninevites. The greatest thing anyone could ever do for them.
So, what would have happened if Jonah had “loved” them, had shown deep compassion for them, and then preached a “softer” message than God had commanded him to preach?
What if that softer message or a delayed message (waiting for a better opportunity at a later time) did not lead them to repentance?
Nineveh would have been destroyed. They would have died in their sins.
How “loving” would that have been?
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)
I miss hearing the old hymns played the old way in church. There are a lot of old hymns not heard anymore. They have been replaced with what might be called “Christian mantras”. Shallow, repetitive songs with a beat. Not much to distinguish them from average pop music.
There is one old hymn that comes to mind called, Arise, My Soul, Arise! I first heard this hymn back when I visited Bob Jones University while I was still in high school. We had just arrived at the school and were in the dining commons for dinner. Back then, you met in a huge hall, with the rest of the student body, to share dinner together. Just before dinner, someone on an upper balcony would lead the whole building in a hymn.
When that hymn was played, I was blown away. I saw the Lord’s power and majesty when listening to all those voices joined together. That is one of the reasons I decided to go to that school. It was not a perfect place, but it had the reverence and respect for the old hymns I had grown up with. I found there a great mixture between the Fundamental Baptist and the old-time Methodist style. Something you rarely see anymore.
The words of that hymn stick with me today. I am referring to the original score and words by Charles Wesley in 1742.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy 3:16)
The word “inspiration” literally means “God-breathed”. That term applies specifically and only to the original words that God “breathed out” through the mouths and hands of men. These original, written words were perfect. They were without error. They were written exactly as God intended them to be. And to believed at face value, in context.
Note that this means words were inspired, not the men. Men were “moved by the Spirit of God” to speak or to write. But men were not “inspired”. Men were not “breathed out” by God. This is a critical distinction. Because, all that we believe comes back to the written Word of God. To every, specific word. And to the specific promises that God gave us regarding His words.
Continue reading “The Miracles of Inspiration and Preservation”
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