“YOU SHALL ENCAMP!”

Exodus 14:1-2                                   (ESV)

“1 Then the LORD said to Moses,

2 "Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; “YOU SHALL ENCAMP” facing it, by the sea.”

As recently made known, I have been an undiagnosed ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) patient most of my life.  Jumping from one project to another without completing the first was a staple in my life.  Furthermore, allowing GOD to use me was fine, but as long as HE moved in the time that I thought best.  I never considered that GOD wanted us to WAIT ON THE LORD (Psalms 27:14!)!!!

The Children of Israel were in the process of exiting Egypt, a country that had held them captive for 430 years!  They left in haste (Exodus 12:33) on the first Passover, with blood sprinkled over the doorways of the Israelites house’s. They were still traveling quickly when Moses was directed by ALMIGHTY GOD to turn around, go through a passage, and an ENCAMP next to the Red Sea.  All that hurrying and now the Israelites were ENCAMPED, waiting for further instructions from GOD!  

From experience, going from a life of haste to a life where you are forced into a standstill can cause problems!  The Children of Israel had left Egypt in a big hurry, but now they were sitting on the banks of the Red Sea with mountain ranges on either side of them.  Why had GOD directed them to turn around and go to this spot where they could become entrapped?  Moving with swiftness had turned into sitting on their proverbial thumbs with nothing to do.  

There can be no greater FAITH CHECK than to stop DOING and to WAIT ON THE LORD!  When HE says “YOU SHALL ENCAMP”, you have no choice but to do what it is you are told!  They couldn’t wander around.  They couldn’t go ahead, for the Red Sea was in front of them.  They couldn’t turn to the left or right because mountain ranges were on either side.  “YOU SHALL ENCAMP” was the only option they were given.  Their FAITH had to be in GOD, and HE said “YOU SHALL ENCAMP”!!!

“EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY!”

Acts 17:10-11                                           (ESV)

“10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

11 Now THESE JEWS WERE MORE NOBLE than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY” TO SEE IF THESE THINGS WERE SO.”

My school years were not the most productive days of my life.  I didn’t have the discipline to develop study habits that would benefit me in my later life.  There was always the feeling of urgency that I had to get tasks completed as quickly as possible. When it came time for an EXAMINATION, I usually was unprepared for the test before me.  The term or condition of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) was treated with a switch or a paddle in those days!!

The JEWS at Berea were more noble than the JEWS in Thessalonica in that they constantly were “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY” to SEE if what they were being told at the synagogue was TRUTH!  “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY” was not for the people with ADD!  My younger self would have been content with hearing and ACCEPTING whatever I was told, and suffering the consequences of living in error whenever the process of APPLICATION came about.  The JEWS at Berea weren’t afflicted with ADD though!  

As a child, that method of living was sometimes painful as I didn’t heed the alerts that were being given to me by those assigned to teach me.  Allowing the WORD OF GOD to be “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12) can be even more painful though!  That “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit” has proven to be something that is good for me, but not always enjoyable!

“EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY” does not always bring smiles and laughter to a life.  My life is so far from what I find when I “EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES DAILY” that I find myself cringing at times as to why JESUS sacrificed so much for me!  But there is a DRAWING TO, almost an addiction to, Scripture that I MUST be “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY” to conform to what GOD has called me to be!  

“THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH!”

Romans 6:20-23                                              (ESV)

“20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of GOD, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

23 For “THE WAGES OF SIN” is death, but the FREE GIFT gift of GOD is eternal life in CHRIST JESUS our LORD.”

With all of the COVID-19 hysteria that is being generated, it stands to reason that someone is going to develop a supposed cure and market it to the entire world and profit greatly!  The thing is, the supposed cure may have side effects that cause greater harm than the actual disease itself?  We don’t know?  Humans didn’t CREATE our bodies so we can’t say what is good and what will eventually cause BAD things to happen to our physical bodies!  

The amazing thing is that we have the SURE FIRE cure for the most dangerous virus known to mankind, and most of us won’t apply it!  The “WAGES (payment) OF SIN IS DEATH”!  There is no other way to cancel the debt for SIN.  Wages are a reconciling of what is owed by one party to another party.  ALL of mankind owes a debt to our CREATOR, and this debt is immensely more than we can dream of paying.  ALL of mankind is guilty.  Romans 3:10 explains “as it is written: "NONE is righteous, NO, NOT ONE;”!

Scientists, physicians, biotechnology and pharmacology experts, all wise in their own realm, spend their whole lives attempting to develop cures for diseases.  Some of these cures come with “side effects” that are deemed a necessary evil to extend our physical lives.  The only TRUE CURE for our eternal illness is JESUS!  The “WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH” and HE paid my debt on Calvary.  This is the only debt that has eternal consequences.  We need to get our EYES off of the temporary and begin looking at the eternal!  

“THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING!”

Colossians 3:5-11                                             (ESV )

“5 Put to death therefore what is EARTHLY IN YOU: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 On account of these “THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING”.

7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the OLD SELF with its practices

10 and have put on the NEW SELF, which is being renewed in knowledge AFTER THE IMAGE OF ITS CREATOR.

11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but CHRIST is all, and in all.”

JESUS came to earth to break traditions and to establish a NEW LIFE (Colossians 3:10-11) for mankind.  The establishment church (Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees) were the ones who were after HIM at every turn.  They had traditionally done things their way and when HE contradicted them, they balked!  JESUS was ruining their hierarchy and their “way of life”!  They are “comfortable” with the OLD MAN and his way of doing things.  

The realization of being a NEW MAN cannot be experienced by the OLD MAN!  As a matter of fact, being a NEW SELF appears to be “foolishness” to the natural person (1 Corinthians 2:14) and they even scoff at the things of FAITH.  They THINK they are being level headed, when in reality they are headed to destruction on a rapid pace.  Regrettably, remaining in their “comfort zone” will send many people straight to hell!

We who Believe in GOD and HIS Promises don’t have anything to boast about though.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For BY GRACE you have been saved THROUGH FAITH. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of GOD, not a result of works, SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST”.  We are CHOSEN before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) to exhibit HIS LOVE to a lost and dying world!  Why, only to Glorify HIM!

To those who deny HIM though, the outcome is going to be eternally horrendous!  JESUS went through an unimaginable sacrifice for us on the way to Calvary and during HIS crucifixion.  Accepting HIS “gift” for me is worth the temporary ridicule from “this world” and its inhabitants.  “THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING” and it will be excruciating and never ending.  People, PLEASE LISTEN, you want to escape “THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING”.  While there is time, please consider the alternative!!!

“TAKE HEED!”

2 Corinthians 10:12-17                                (ESV)

“12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands “TAKE HEED” lest he fall.

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. GOD is faithful, and HE will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation HE will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY.

15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.

16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of CHRIST? The BREAD that we break, is it not a participation in the body of CHRIST?

17 Because there is ONE BREAD, we who are many are ONE BODY, for we all partake of the ONE BREAD.”

The rhetoric being used in today’s society has become so partisan that one side makes it sound like their side is without error and the other side is always in error!  There is NO ONE (no, not one...Romans 3:10) who is without sin, so we need to realize that we are ALL on a level playing field, and that playing field is at the foot of Calvary!!!

Since we are CHOSEN by GOD to simply be a reflection of HIS GLORY, nothing we do should elevate us above others!  It should be purely a reflection of GOD through our lives.  Nobody should think of themselves higher than others, because all we are reflecting is HIS LIGHT by and in our actions.  

There are those who have never experienced the LIGHT OF THE WORLD and cannot SEE the benefits of doing so.  We should pray for them to have their EYES opened and their hearts enlightened to understand the things of GOD.  Telling them the error of their ways IN LOVE needs to be something that we never neglect.  Unless they are told (Romans 10:14), how can they KNOW they are headed down the path to destruction?

GOD’s WORD tells us that there will only be a “few” that enter into Heaven (Matthew 7:14).  HIS CHURCH is tasked with spreading HIS GOOD NEWS to those who are blinded by the god of this world.  We will probably be ridiculed and castigated by them, but remember that their EYES have yet to be opened to Spiritually SEE!  

It is time to “TAKE HEED” my friends to the certain JUDGMENT that lies ahead!  A friend is not much of a friend if he allows others to drive off a mile high cliff without warning him.  I am telling you now that you must “TAKE HEED” for the cliff is near!!!

“SALT and LIGHT!”

Matthew 5:13-16                                  (ESV)

“13 "You are the SALT of the earth, but if SALT has lost its taste, how shall its SALTiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 "You are the LIGHT of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Nor do people LIGHT a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives LIGHT to all in the house.

16 In the same way, let your LIGHT shine before others, so that they may SEE your good works and GIVE GLORY to your FATHER WHO is in Heaven.”

SALT and LIGHT were two items used by JESUS to demonstrate the LIFE of a Believer in HIM, someone who accepted that HE and the FATHER were ONE (John 10:30)!  But we seem to think that EVERYONE should hear THE GOSPEL from our lips and immediately be moved to transformation, have their lives regenerated by GOD.  Remembering that GOD CHOSE us, even before the foundations of the world, to Believe in HIM (Ephesians 1:4), not because of ourselves, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9)!  We have NOTHING to Glory in!!!

Abraham BELIEVED and it was counted to him as righteousness.  FAITH is a gift from GOD (Ephesians 2:8), and we are to understand that with everything that is in us.  It is not because we are worthy that we are CHOSEN (2 Timothy 1:9), but because GOD HAS A PLAN for our lives, for HIS GLORY!  

Our “SALT and LIGHT” is not to elevate ourselves, but to GIVE GLORY to the FATHER!  There is NO-THING (nothing described!) in me that is worthy of a drop of BLOOD from the precious LAMB OF GOD.  Yet HE left HIS throne in Heaven to live a spotless, blameless life and then die a brutal, sacrificial death, but then was raised on the third day because of GOD’S PLAN!  We are charged to be LIGHT in the darkness of “this world”, and to be SALT where “this world” begs us to “fit in”, to Glorify HIS Name.  Our “good works” aren’t intended to do anything but GIVE GLORY to GOD IN HEAVEN!  

HEAVENLY FATHER, cause me to understand that I am CHOSEN by YOU for a purpose, and that purpose is to complete the mission YOU have planned for me.  For me to be anything but “SALT and LIGHT” says that I need to “be thrown out and trampled under people's feet

“I AM PRAYING FOR THEM!”

John 17:6-9                                          (ESV)

“6 "I have manifested YOUR name to the people whom YOU gave ME out of the world. YOURS they were, and YOU gave them to ME, and they have kept YOUR WORD.

7 Now they know that everything that YOU have given ME is from YOU.

8 For I have given them the WORDS that YOU gave ME, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from YOU; and they have believed that YOU sent ME.

9 “I AM PRAYING FOR THEM”. I am not praying for the world but for those whom YOU have given ME, for they are YOURS.”

Listening to a devotional recently given by a man of GOD who I deeply respect, the SPIRIT spoke to me when John 17:9 was read, “I AM PRAYING FOR THEM”.  I AM NOT PRAYING FOR THE WORLD but for those whom YOU have given ME, for they are YOURS.”  This is from the High Priestly Prayer that JESUS prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36) just before HIS arrest.  

The phrase that jolted me was JESUS, the ONE WHO spoke the worlds into existence (Colossians 1:16), the SON of the living GOD, prays just before HE was headed to Calvary, “I AM PRAYING FOR THEM”!!  JESUS was about to face brutality indescribable, yet HE said “I AM PRAYING FOR THEM” right before HIS persecution and crucifixion.  Now I am not royalty or of noble bloodlines, yet THE KING OF GLORY took time out of HIS HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER to pray for me at what had to be a very dark hour for HIM?  What was HE thinking???

In John 17:6 JESUS prayed “I have manifested YOUR name to the people whom YOU gave ME OUT OF THE WORLD. YOURS they were, and YOU gave them to ME, and they have kept YOUR WORD”.  HE loved us so much that HE knew that the only way for us to spend eternity with HIM was to offer HIMSELF as THE PERFECT SACRIFICE on Calvary.  We were called OUT OF THE WORLD to reflect HIS LIGHT, not to act just like the world!  

To have our EYES opened to SEE that JESUS prayed for us just before HIS torment and crucifixion just blows my mind!  And to further realize that HE STILL intercedes for us (Romans 8:34) should let us all know that HE is interested in us.  JESUS says “I AM PRAYING FOR THEM” for a reason, for us to know that we are not alone in our service for HIS KINGDOM!  We have THE CREATOR saying “I AM PRAYING FOR THEM”!!!