“TO LIVE QUIETLY!”

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12                      (ESV)

“9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by GOD to love one another,

10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,

11 and to aspire “TO LIVE QUIETLY”, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”  

February 17, 1984 was a MAGNIFICENT day for this man!  I was able to convince (some say swindle!) my girlfriend into becoming my wife, and she is still by my side after 34 1/2 years!  Some kept waiting for her to “come to her senses”, but I’m beginning to think she is going to stick around for awhile!  She gave me this passage of scripture recently and did not know that I was almost instantly spoken to by them. 

My wife has never had a problem with “TO LIVE QUIETLY”!  She didn’t have much of a choice, as I was very talkative, maybe to a fault!  However, the Brain Hemorrhage caused both of us to “adjust”, as I was “brain damaged” and she was thrust into the “head of the house” roll very quickly.   The leak in my brain occurred in the “word recall” portion of my brain, so my speech is not as fluent as it once was.   In fact, my speech has become much more deliberate and more thought is required to be put into words before I speak since the recovery.   

GOD ALMIGHTY definitely has a Plan, not just for my life, but for each of us!  HE knew that I needed to SLOW DOWN my life, especially my mouth, and to only orate the words HE approved.  There have been many times since the Hemorrhage that the opportunity was presented to me to voice my thoughts, and a few times I have actually listened to HIS Guidance.   However, I am still working on “TO LIVE QUIETLY” as my old nature is still a part of me.  

“TO LIVE QUIETLY” is something that has taken a bit of getting used to, but it has certainly been rewarding!  As a matter of fact, the following verse above says “so that you may walk properly”, something that we all should strive to accomplish.  Formerly I was very quick to speak, but have had that ability curtailed by GOD above!  I am learning “TO LIVE QUIETLY” and more and more to “walk properly” as a result!  My wife says she kind of misses the old man I was, but “TO LIVE QUIETLY” has to be more peaceful than I was???

“WAIT ON THE LORD!!!!”

Eleven years ago TODAY I awoke at 5:30AM to go to the restroom.   Low and behold, my legs  would not carry me, so I ABRUPTLY introduced myself to the bedroom floor!  Without boring people with the gory details, necessity caused me to take a two year hiatus from work, and allowed me the opportunity to SLOW my life DOWN and properly evaluate why GOD elected to allow me to remain on earth.  

My life has changed rather dramatically since.  This morning my blood pressure is 121/83, and that is before I take my morning medicines.  Of course, priorities have most definitely been adjusted with ALMIGHTY GOD being elevated to HIS rightful Throne!  Formerly, I would say that HE was LORD of my life, but very often I was living my life at such a pace that I didn’t have time to defer to HIS SPIRIT leading me.  Operating “in the fast lane” is no longer an option, as my critical thinking skills won’t allow me to burn both ends of the candle.  

Sure, I am the same person that I was before July 09, 2007, but I am taking time for the LORD to lead me in the paths HE desires for me to go.   Psalms 27:14 (KJV) says “WAIT ON THE LORD: be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD.”  

My prayer is that I will never again be caught up in the vortex that “this world” attempts to suck us into!  PLEASE, PLEASE, don’t allow yourself to be drawn into a similar situation.   “WAIT ON THE LORD”!!!!

“FOR ALL!”

Hebrews 10:8-10 (ESV) “8 When HE (JESUS) said above, "YOU (GOD) have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), 9 then HE added, "Behold, I have come to do YOUR (GOD’s) will." HE does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we (Believers) have been sanctified (made HOLY ) through the offering of the body of JESUS CHRIST once “FOR ALL”.” From time to time, I type memos to myself so that I can remind myself of what GOD is speaking to me at a particular time. Recently I had occasion to do so during video my fellowship is watching on Sunday evenings entitled “BEHOLD YOUR GOD”! While pondering the great sacrifice JESUS paid out of LOVE for me, I jotted these words:: JESUS CHRIST died “FOR ALL” of mankind knowing that the majority of people would refuse to serve HIM, would reject HIS free pardon for sin,,and elect to spend an eternity suffering GOD’s wrath for their sin, when JESUS had already paid the sin debt for them. How can a HOLY GOD “call” a person and they reject Him??? (Are they) Too busy???? (Are they) Too wealthy??? While trying to grasp why the crucifixion had to be so brutal and inhumane, I finally saw that GOD ALMIGHTY had to have a sacrifice “FOR ALL” the sins, from Adam to the last sinner, before JESUS judges the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1). Can you fathom “such a loving GOD” declaring “depart, I never knew you”, and sentencing those who rejected HIM to an eternity in torment? The was recently a post shared on a social media site that says “GOD is not WHO you think HE is. HE is what HE says HE is”!!! The WORD of GOD is rather explicit about what the outcome for our choices will one day be. It matters not what “you think”, it only matters what GOD says will transpire!!! Scripture says what will happen “FOR ALL”. Where will you spend eternity???

“THIS BOOK OF THE LAW!”

Joshua 1:5-9 (ESV) “5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 “THIS BOOK OF THE LAW” shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT. For THEN you will make your way prosperous, and THEN you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go."” In earlier years, I was honored to serve as a member of the Board of Directors on the local school district. When the administration would bring a proposal to the Board of Directors, the request would normally say “We seek the Boards ‘guidance and direction’ in the matter”. In hind sight, most of the time the administration would be seeking the Boards approval, but asking for “guidance and direction”. The WORD of GOD, or better known as the HOLY BIBLE, IS where we as Believers are to look for “guidance and direction” for our daily lives. Joshua, and his cohorts, had only been exposed to the first five books of the HOLY BIBLE, called the “Pentateuch”, which many believe were written by Moses under the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT. GOD explicitly told Joshua that the Israelites should meditate on “THIS BOOK OF THE LAW” DAY and NIGHT, meaning that they should continually seek GOD’s “guidance and direction” as they made decisions during their journey. We all should learn and benefit from the instructions delivered to the Israelites, GOD’s chosen people. Staying in GOD’s WORD can make us prosperous and bring us good success, but not necessarily monetarily. We were created to Glorify GOD ALMIGHTY, and our main focus should on accomplishing what we were meant to be! Regardless of what some say, we aren’t created to enjoy our best life here on earth. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says “But, as it is written, "What NO EYE HAS SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED, what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM". Our requests to GOD can become like the requests to the School Board I mentioned previously. We can try to put a “spin” on our requests by saying “in JESUS name”, but GOD knows our hearts...... and HE knows how time much we have been TRULY seeking to know HIM better by being in “THIS BOOK OF THE LAW”! It is amazing how the closer I get to the LIGHT, the more filth and dirt I can SEE! There MUST be a purpose for GOD instructing us to not depart from “THIS BOOK OF THE LAW”???

“NO WARNING!”

“NO WARNING!” Ezekiel 3:17-19 (ESV) “17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from MY mouth, you shall give them warning from ME. 18 If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him “NO WARNING”, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, IN ORDER TO SAVE HIS LIFE, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at YOUR hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.” Sharing is a joy and a privilege when it is something that isn’t opposed by the elements of “this world”. There are social media memes that say if you agree with the message, the invitation is to LIKE it and SHARE it with others. The choices that the prophet Ezekiel was given of whether or not to relay the message given to him by GOD ALMIGHTY were plainly spoken. He could be quiet and keep GOD’s Judgement to himself (and pay the price!), or he could SHARE with others what GOD had said HE would do if they refused to listen (and leave the Judgement up to GOD!). His options were very clear! Today, GOD called pastors have the same options. They can elect to tickle the ears (2 Timothy 4:1-5) of the people that listen to them, or they can opt for the TRUTH and let GOD’s Message have “free course” (2 Thessalonians 3:1) to accomplish all that HE has planned! Surely we all would rather not experience the WRATH of GOD ALMIGHTY, so why don’t the Messengers deliver what GOD has said? HE is the ONE that will deliver Judgement, not the preachers!?! SHARING memes isn’t performed by many because we have no concern about worldly issues. Many “preachers” don’t love their flocks as much as they love their salaries, or the message would be totally different! Ezekiel had a choice, and he chose wisely. But I am not a Messenger from GOD! Or am I? Everybody has a means of SHARING HIS Word, whether it be verbally, written, and especially by the lives we live! It is IMPERATIVE that we send a message that they are speeding recklessly to a certain end that IS coming, as sure as their last breath! After reading this Message, you can never say you had “NO WARNING”!

“REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT!”

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV) “1 I charge you in the presence of GOD and of CHRIST JESUS, WHO is to judge the living and the dead, and by HIS appearing and HIS kingdom: 2 PREACH THE WORD; be ready in season and out of season; “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT”, with complete PATIENCE and TEACHING. 3 For the time is coming when PEOPLE will NOT ENDURE sound teaching, but having ITCHING EARS they will accumulate for themselves TEACHERS TO SUIT THEIR OWN PASSIONS, 4 and will TURN AWAY from listening to THE TRUTH and WANDER off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” “You can be a youth minister, a Bible teacher, a pastor, or a missionary.” This advertisement was on a social media site recently and it caused me to ponder the real reason that pulpits have become greatly ineffective lately. A “man of GOD” used to mean that this person would speak the TRUTH, even if it cost him his life. Nowadays, pulpits are being filled by whomever can attract the largest crowd, tickle their ears with three points and a poem, and get the audience released in time to make it to the restaurant before the other churches! The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD inspired the Apostle Paul to write to Timothy to PREACH THE WORD, “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT” Believers. He didn’t require Timothy to do this to “gain control” over the flock, but to avoid them turning away from THE TRUTH! Tin doing so, Timothy was to preach with PATIENCE and TEACHING, allowing GOD HIMSELF to change the lives of the chosen who were hearing the Word delivered to them. It can be very frustrating and discouraging when people are BLIND to TRUTH, even when it is delivered to them in a calm and loving manner. It might be that “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT” was delivered IN THIS ORDER specifically, because hardheaded people such as I must be corrected before they can be EXHORTED? However, when I err, I must have correction IN LOVE lest I remain on the path of deceit! “You can be a youth minister, a Bible teacher, a pastor, or a missionary”, but you must be called by GOD or you will not have HIS HOLY SPIRIT guiding and directing you. When you “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT”, more than likely you are going to upset the people who are of “this world”! They are offended by THE TRUTH and will argue with you with every thing they have to convince you they ar right. Remember that “REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT” definitely includes EXHORTATION, but it begins with REPROVE and REBUKE!!

“LET THERE BE!”

Genesis 1:1-3 (ESV) “1 In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT of GOD was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And GOD said, "LET THERE BE” light," and there was light.” ALMIGHTY GOD created everything that is, and HE did that from NOTHING, HE did not have instructions nor blueprints! The very ground we are walking on was non-existent before GOD said “LET THERE BE” (Genesis 1:3)! I’ve heard it said that the silence of “nothing” being interrupted by that VOICE saying “LET THERE BE” must have sounded like A BIG BANG??? It will be glorious to one day understand everything (1 Corinthians 13:12)! However, just because we don’t currently understand how GOD has accomplished everything doesn’t mean that we need to know to make HIM more complete. We are HIS creation, not HIS equal who “deserve” anything except HIS Judgement! When JESUS (GOD IN THE FLESH) walked among us, HE was doing so because there was “no other way under heaven” by which man could be reconciled to GOD! GOD requires HOLINESS and the only way for us to be Holy is through the IMPUTATION of the righteousness of JESUS into our lives, and JESUS bearing the punishment for our sinfulness! Understanding that GOD knows all, one has to accept that HE knew beforehand that mankind would cost HIM a perfect sacrifice, and that sacrifice could only come from HIM? Yet, HE created us anyway, all because of HIS Love for ALL! HE had to have known that when HE said “LET THERE BE”, it would cost HIM HIS SON’s life?!? But why would HE allow me to be born if my sinful life would cost HIM such a tremendous price? These words (which I will not attempt to improve upon!) were written by the late Rev. R.C. Sproul. “As we approach the subject of the holiness of God, let us be mindful of the importance of this divine attribute. R. C. Sproul makes this insightful observation from Isaiah 6: “The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory.” ALMIGHTY GOD IS HOLY! The ONLY way we could ever be anything close to HOLY is to accept the FINISHED work of JESUS CHRIST! We cannot earn our way into Holiness, for “our righteousness is but filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) before a HOLY GOD! HE has provided the only HOLINESS that I will be able to offer at the Judgement Seat. And HE did this before HE said “LET THERE BE” anything! THAT is LOVE!!!!