“THEY STILL DID NOT BELIEVE!”

John 12:36-43                                      (ESV)

“36 While you have the LIGHT, believe in the LIGHT, that you may become sons of LIGHT." When JESUS had said these things, HE departed and hid HIMSELF from them.

37 Though HE had done so many signs before them, “THEY STILL DID NOT BELIEVE” in HIM,

38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "LORD, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the LORD BEEN REVEALED?" 

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 "HE has BLINDED THEIR EYES and hardened their heart, LEST THEY SEE with their EYES, and UNDERSTAND with their HEART, and turn, and I would HEAL THEM." 

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw HIS Glory and spoke of HIM.

42 NEVERTHELESS, MANY even of the authorities believed in HIM, BUT FOR FEAR of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;

43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from GOD.”

Why are we here on the planet Earth?  Why did an Omniscient GOD create us to live on a relatively small amount of matter that is in constant orbit around a ball of fire and let some of us not SEE that HE made all of this for HIS Glory?  Apparently HE wanted a few, select people who would submit to HIS authority to Praise and worship HIM as the GOD OF CREATION?  Since our EYES have been opened, we cannot help but sing the praises of GOD, while other cannot SEE HIS CREATION that they are even apart of???

We are CREATED to praise HIM, period!  All of CREATION was made to praise HIM (Romans 1:20), but humans are the only creatures that GOD gave a choice of PRAISING HIM, or rejecting HIM.  For those of us to whom THE LORD HAS BEEN REVEALED, praising HIS Name is apart of our fabric.   For those who can NOT SEE, “THEY STILL DID NOT BELIEVE” in HIM!  It doesn’t make them bad people, although some are, it does indicate that they will not be able to praise HIM for eternity.  

John 1:12-13 explicitly states “But to all who did receive HIM, who believed in HIS name, HE GAVE THE RIGHT to become children of GOD, who were born, NOT OF BLOOD NOR of the will OF the FLESH NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, but (by the WILL) of GOD.”  GOD created me to PRAISE HIM!  If I choose to be of “this world” instead of praising HIM, I become as if the Pharisees are controlling me (v42), electing to avoid criticism and ridicule to live in obscurity and a fake-peace!  JESUS IS PEACE (John 14:27), but not peace that the world brings!  HE came to SEPARATE (Luke 12:39-43), to SET APART we who are CHOSEN from “THEY STILL DID NOT BELIEVE” in HIM!

Never get full of yourself because others do not Believe.  The aforementioned John 1:12-13 states that “HE GAVE THE RIGHT to become children of GOD”!  We did not CHOOSE HIM (John 15:16), but HE CHOSE US!!!  We are CHOSEN, not because of our Holiness, but because our EYES have been OPENED, because GOD fore knew that we would Praise HIM.  Don’t be like “THEY STILL DID NOT BELIEVE”!!!  Have you heard GOD CALL you yet?  Have you listened?  It is never too late while HE still gives you breath!!!

“BELIEVE!”

Matthew 21:23-32                                                                              (ESV)

“23 And when HE entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to HIM as HE was teaching, and said, "By what authority are YOU doing these things, and WHO gave YOU this authority?"

24 JESUS answered them, "I also will ask you one question, and if you tell ME the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?" And THEY DISCUSSED IT AMONG THEMSELVES, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' HE will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

26 But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet."

27 So they answered JESUS, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

28 "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'

29 And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.

30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go.

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." JESUS said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of GOD before you.

32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not BELIEVE him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes BELIEVED him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and BELIEVE him.”

The mind of man is an interesting phenomenon.  We THINK we know what is best, then we discover that what we thought we KNEW was wrong!  Operating with anything less than TRUTH is an extremely dangerous position to find yourself in.  “The chief priests and the elders of the people” found themselves in a precarious position while questioning JESUS.  

“This world” attempts to twist words to make them say what they WANT them to say, all the while their actions PROVE a completely different narrative.  JESUS told the chief priests and elders that “the tax collectors and prostitutes” would go into the kingdom of GOD before them, for their opinion of themselves was too elevated.  When questioned by JESUS about WHO gave the authority to John to baptize Believers?  “THEY DISCUSSED IT AMONG THEMSELVES”, meaning they put their MINDS together and came up with their best response!  “So they answered JESUS, "We do not know”!!  The chief priests and the elders were stumped by an uneducated carpenters helper who “this world” hierarchy could not control!

WHO do you “BELIEVE”?  Do you believe “this world” and its baseless theories?  Or do you BELIEVE in THE CHRIST, the SON OF THE LIVING GOD?  It is really quite simple.  You can have proof that is based from lies (John 8:44), or you can “BELIEVE”, AND TRUST, that JESUS is WHO HE says HE is!  The chief priests and elders believed LIES!  I “BELIEVE” TRUTH!!!

“GOD SPOKE!”

Hebrews 1:1-4                                             (ESV)

“1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, “GOD SPOKE” to our fathers by the prophets,

2 BUT IN THESE LAST DAYS HE has spoken to us by HIS SON, WHOM HE appointed the heir of all things, through WHOM also HE created the world.

3 HE is the radiance of the glory of GOD and the EXACT IMPRINT of HIS nature, and HE upholds the universe BY THE WORD of HIS power. After making purification for sins, HE sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become as MUCH SUPERIOR TO ANGELS as the name HE has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

Identifying who is speaking to you is quite important, especially when you are not familiar with their voice.  Knowing when GOD has spoken to you is even critical.  There have been many times that I have had a “gut” feeling about something, but that “gut” feeling hasn’t always proved to be what I thought it was going to be.  Sometimes it was FAR from an EXACT IMPRINT of what my inclination was.  

Knowing that “GOD SPOKE” is more than hearing what sounds good to us in a time of need.  Hebrews 1:2 instructs us that “...IN THESE LAST DAYS HE has spoken to us by HIS SON, WHOM HE appointed the heir of all things, through WHOM also HE created the world”.  The first three verses of the Gospel of John states “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD.  HE was in the beginning with GOD.  All things were made through HIM, and without HIM was not any thing made that was made.”  Now I am may be very conservative in what I believe GOD is able to accomplish, but the only thing that I understand that GOD is unable to accomplish is go against HIS WORD!  

The people that claim that GOD has told them anything contrary to HIS WORD might need to start listening a little bit more closely?  JESUS “...is the radiance of the glory of GOD and the EXACT IMPRINT of HIS nature, and HE upholds the universe BY THE WORD of HIS power.”  The EXACT IMPRINT of HIS nature (GOD’S nature) is to speak the TRUTH, not deception!  Even a “white-lie” is deception and that is the EXACT IMPRINT of the enemy!  

Knowing for sure that “GOD SPOKE” can found while observing TRUTH in HIS WORD!  “GOD SPOKE” to our fathers by the prophets, BUT IN THESE LAST DAYS HE has spoken to us by HIS SON, JESUS, TRUTH, THE WORD!  THE WORD is readily available for a lot of people, but few there be that seek what JESUS has to say about  any matter.  It is VERY DANGEROUS to ignore HIS SON, JESUS, TRUTH, THE WORD when navigating through “this world”.  But “GOD SPOKE” through HIS SON, JESUS, TRUTH, THE WORD, why should/would we not immerse ourselves in Scripture to discover HIS TREASURES???

“PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR WAYS!”

Exodus 33:12-18                              (ESV)

“12 Moses said to the LORD, "See, YOU say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but YOU have not let me know whom YOU will send with me. Yet YOU have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in MY sight.'

13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, “PLEASE SHOW ME NOW YOUR WAYS”, that I may know YOU in order to find favor in YOUR sight. Consider too that this nation is YOUR people."

14 And he said, "MY presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

15 And he said to HIM, "If YOUR presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.

16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in YOUR sight, I and YOUR people? Is it not in YOUR going with us, so that we are distinct, I and YOUR people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"

17 And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in MY sight, and I know you by name."

18 Moses said, "Please show me YOUR glory." 

“Please show me YOUR glory” is an important sentence to begin this study with.   Moses was about to get to see GOD, our CREATOR, pass before him.  The event caused Moses to glow so much that his face “shone” for an extended period of time.  But Moses was BEGGING the LORD to “PLEASE SHOW ME NOW YOUR WAYS” so the people would know that GOD was speaking through him, not just Moses saying what he wanted.   

Proclaiming what we want to say can be awfully easy, especially when we THINK we know what is best.  However, when we compare what ALMIGHTY GOD has Planned for us to what we THINK we want, what HE has in our future ALWAYS overshadows what we THOUGHT would be best.  We don’t know, because we AREN’T GOD!  

“PLEASE SHOW ME NOW YOUR WAYS” is a testament of how much we really need HIM and HIS guidance.  It is like we have to have GOD to breath (Isaiah 42:5)!  HE “gives” us the breath we breath, we just don’t decide we want to take it!  “PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR WAYS” is an admission that we don’t know what/where/when to do anything without HIS Guidance!  

When will I realize that I am NOTHING without HIS direction and sustenance?  LORD, “PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR WAYS” so I will do precisely what YOU have planned for my life, and nothing more.  

“I AM GOD!”

Psalms 46:10                                                                (ESV)

“"Be still, and know that “I AM GOD”. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"”

This morning I am reading an article entitled “3 Things to Remember When You’re Tired of Waiting on God”.  I’ve not had the opportunity to finish the article, but I HAD to share this excerpt from the article, for it was akin to being slapped in the face for me!

“His (GOD’S) plans don’t need our approval and they don’t run on our schedule. If He said it, He meant it and He will do it.

Could God be calling us to slow down and stop living in today’s incredibly fast-paced culture—to stop believing that unless we have something now we will never get it at all? Could God be telling us to trust that He has amazing plans in store for us, plans that may not look the same as the plans He has for other people? Could it be that God is calling us to a level of trust so deep that we literally have to stop doing anything in our own strength and just wait for him, to simply be still and know that He is God?”

Why does GOD always seem to draw me back to Psalms 46:10 when I am trying to get things done in my own timing?  It isn’t as if HE hasn’t given me plenty of opportunities to SEE that “...MY ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9)!  Why can’t I understand, AND LIVE, that ALMIGHTY GOD has delivered me countless times from the valley of the shadow of death, and HE hasn’t become a bit weaker since.  When it is time for my journey to be completed, ONLY then will HE call me HOME!  

Until then, my goal is to serve “I AM GOD”, wherever HE leads me, AND IN THE TIMING THAT HE LEADS,  because I am NOT GOD!   I don’t have to understand what GOD is trying to accomplish, nor how HE wants to use a worthless man in rural America to fulfill HIS PLAN, all I need to do is follow where THE CLOUD (Exodus 13:21-22) leads me, WHEN IT LEADS ME, and be content that “I AM GOD” is in CONTROL!!!

“GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU!”

Deuteronomy 7:1-6                               (ESV)

“1 "When the LORD your GOD brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you,

2 and when the LORD your GOD gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then YOU MUST DEVOTE THEM TO COMPLETE DESTRUCTION. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.

3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons,

4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then THE ANGER OF THE LORD would be kindled against you, and HE WOULD DESTROY YOU quickly.

5 But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.

6 "For you are a people Holy to the LORD your GOD. The LORD your “GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU” to be a people for HIS TREASURED POSSESSION, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

The song “GOD IS IN CONTROL” (Twila Paris 1993) might give you the impression that GOD is kind of like banks of a river, steering a stream where HE can be best Glorified?  However, ALMIGHTY GOD not only guides our actions, HE orchestrates circumstances surrounding us so HIS Plan will be fulfilled.  Admitting that we are simple humans who are being used for HIS Glory, not living out our dreams of how “we think” our future should go, is paramount in our happiness.  Regardless of what we think and how we act, we don’t have the POWER to control our present, much less our future!

Isaiah 42:5 says in part “Thus says GOD,....WHO gives breath to the people on it and Spirit to those who walk in it:...”.  When HE decides to stop giving us breath, continuing to live will become extremely difficult.  So when unscrupulous world leaders (Pharaoh, Julius Caesar, Pol Pot, Hitler, or any other despot), or nations such as “..the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites”, they are being used to Glorify my GOD, even though we may not be able to SEE it from where we are.   

Not being the Spiritual Giant that some are, it is sometimes difficult for me to SEE the Spiritual Warfare that is transpiring all around me.  But that doesn’t mean that ALMIGHTY GOD is hamstrung by my immaturity, only that I don’t PRAISE and celebrate HIM enough for what HE has done for me.  To grasp that “GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU” for a specific reason and work confounds me to no ends!  Why would our CREATOR CHOOSE ME, out of ALL HIS CREATION, to serve HIM?  It has to be that I am part of HIS PLAN, not because I am worthy?

“GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU” when HE selected me to do HIS work, even when I am “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV) in HIS sight!  We will never be WORTHY of serving HIM until we have Glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:53) when we graduate to immortality.  Until then I will perform the tasks HE has assigned me, especially when it offends “this world”!  But I am happy that the same “GOD WHO IS IN CONTROL” is the “GOD WHO HAS CHOSEN YOU” to be used by HIM for HIS GLORY!!!

“THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN!”

Ecclesiastes 1:8-11                                                     (ESV)

“8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; THE EYES IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SEEING, NOR THE EAR FILLED WITH HEARING nor. 

9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and “THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN”. 

10 Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? IT HAS BEEN ALREADY IN THE AGES BEFORE US. 

11 There is NO REMEMBRANCE of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.”

There was recently an article on social media sites entitled “Science Says Silence Is Much More Important To Our Brains Than We Think”.  I thought that “Scientists”, generally thought of by this world as some of the smartest people in existence, were just now figuring out what GOD’s WORD has been trying to tell us for millenniums.  Only GOD has all of the answers, yet mankind wants to believe that we have discovered new health benefits, and new discoveries in the computer age, and new this, and new that, but Scripture says in Ecclesiastes 1:9 “THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN”!

Colossians 1:16 (ESV) says “For by HIM ALL THINGS were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-ALL THINGS were CREATED through HIM and for HIM.”  Even the knowledge of man, both current and former, was given by the ALMIGHTY and we SHOULD give HIM credit. Even the wealth that man acquires from the knowledge that GOD Blesses him with is from GOD, and we will be held accountable for our “earnings” one day!  

It might be beneficial for us to take into consideration that “THERE IS NOTHING IS NEW UNDER THE SUN”, but IT HAS BEEN ALREADY IN THE AGES BEFORE US!  Only what GOD REVEALS TO OUR BLINDED EYES IS NEW TO US!  Ecclesiastes 3:15 says “That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and GOD seeks what has been driven away.”  Another translation finishes the verse with “...for GOD will call to account what has passed.”  ALMIGHTY GOD will hold us accountable for what we have relayed to others, and for what/who we credit the knowledge HE has Blessed us with.  HIS revelations are not from our wisdom or knowledge, they are from ONLY HIM!

It is true that “Silence Is Much More Important To Our Brains Than We Think”, but WHO are we listening to when we are SILENT?  “This world”, or THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES?  “THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN”, but we MUST come to grips with THE SON CREATED everything for HIM, not for our pleasure!  HE is GOD and we are not!  We ALL will be given the opportunity to explain our decisions regarding HIS LORDSHIP over ALL soon!  What will your response be to HIM???