September 29
Isaiah 57:15-59:21 | PS 71:1-24 | Prov 24:9-10 | Phil 1:1-26
Peace, don't we all desire this? Yet, all too often it seems to be lacking. Yet, as we read the words of some of the men of faith from the past, like David in Psalm 71 when he was being conspired against by his son, Adonijah, or Paul as he was writing from a Roman prison, we see peace in the midst of dire situations. What did they see that many of us do not. Their faith was real. Their trust in God is real. Our times that we are living in are bad, really bad. Though we might not be in the exact position as the two men mentioned previously, it is conceivable that we might find ourselves in similar situations as them. How will we fare? If the recent pandemic is any indication, the church as a whole did not fare too well. Our response was often indistinguishable from that of unbelievers. Yet, can we compare the risk encountered during that period of time with what David and the Apostles faced on a daily basis? We need to be men and women who stand firm with sincere faith. Our hearts have to match our words. Our motives have to match our works. When we stand on Scripture, we must put our full weight on God's Word.
The prophet Isaiah calls out the people for their superficial religiosity in Isaiah 58. They fasted, they followed the Sabbath, etc. But God knew their hearts, and he saw through the facade of their insincerity. They didn't experience the power of God in their lives, not because God was unable, but because they were not willing to trust and act in a bona fide relationship with God, as we read in Isaiah 59:1-2, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." Paul knew of God's strength and ability, but also understood what was often missing, as he prayed for the saints in Philippi in Philippians 1:9-10, "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,". What Paul possessed could not be moved, as we see the depth of his trust in 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Everything that we do in the name of God is meant to deepen our walk with Him and our trust in Him. When we read the Bible, when we pray, when we go to church, when we fellowship with other believers, it is all meant to get our eyes off of ourselves and onto Him, and be in a position to serve as His vessel for others. Things are heating up. There appears to be very few ceasefires from the enemy any longer. We can expect these things. We need to focus our eyes on the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), so that we can glorify God during these difficult times.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: