VICTORIOUS FAITH NO. 1 (Old Testament)
INTRODUCTION
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness
unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.
In the business world, most business establishments that continue to fail to
achieve the results for which they have been established, will seek professional
help before all their effort and investment is lost, In such cases, an
efficiency expert is generally employed to search for the trouble. This expert
will check the weak spots of the business, faults, failures, wastes, etc. He is
not influenced by the way things have always been done, but when he has
completed his investigation, he will present facts and a perfect plan of
operation to achieve top performance in the business.
The Church was established by Jesus Christ to evangelize the world, but it has
consistently failed to achieve the results for which it was established. It is
only wisdom to consult some experts where God’s work is concerned. In this
lesson and the next one we will look right into the Word of God to check our
faults, failures, etc., and we are going to find some answers. Not only will we
find WHY we have failed to achieve the results God requires of us, but we ARE
GOING TO HAVE A PERFECT PLAN OF OPERATION FOR THE SUCCESS GOD EXPECTS. When we
begin to employ the methods of advance and conquest, it will hasten the return
of our Lord!
According to the Bible, “ . . . this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14. “ . . . the gospel must first be published among all nations.” Mark 13:10. Again God’s Word says, “ . . . Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. Christ will not return until this is accomplished. No sane person dare contradict the divine urgency of this command. The sooner we get the gospel to every creature, the sooner our Lord can return.
The gospel means GOOD NEWS to the sick, the oppressed, the demon possessed,
those bound with demon powers and unclean spirits, and to those bound by sin. It
means to PREACH THE WORD, HEAL THE SICK AND CAST OUT DEVILS.
The only way Christ ever ministered to the sick was to HEAL THEM! The only way
He ever ministered to the oppressed and to the demon possessed was to cast out
the demons. His method of ministering to the sinner was, “ . . . I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19. “Preach the word;
be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.” II Timothy 4:2.
Nothing but the miraculous ministry of Christ has ever or ever will turn the
heathen masses to Christ. Our concern is PREACHING THE GOSPEL WITH SIGNS
FOLLOWING; confirmed with miracles and wonders.
The supreme task of the Church is to evangelize the millions of heathen people
in the world. One person cannot accomplish this task alone. Many believers in
many places, moving as one body can get the job done quickly.
Just before Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot He prayed and asked God to
glorify Him with the glory which he had with God before the world was. At the
same time He prayed for His disciples and all believers who were to be added to
the number.
“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world . . . Holy
Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may
be one, as we are.”
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou
gayest me I Have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that
the scripture might be fulfilled.”
“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil.”
“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the
world.”
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me
through their word;”
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us . . . :”
“And the glory which thou gayest me I have given them; that they may be one,
even as we are one:”
“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; . . .” John
17:11, 12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23.
SIGNS! WONDERS! MIRACLES! This is the means by which we get the ears of the
heathen open to the gospel.
“ . . .let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1.
If you ever have a supernatural ministry, a ministry of the miraculous, you are
going to have to keep your eyes on Jesus, stay in the race and finish your
course and be able to say, when YOUR time of departure from this world comes, “
. . . the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith:” II Timothy 4:6, 7.
VICTORIOUS FAITH
World evangelization may be accomplished only by preaching the gospel with signs
following - - - SIGNS! WONDERS! MIRACLES! The time truly is at hand when BOLD
METHODS will have to be used if we hope to get the job done quickly.
This is a task far beyond the abilities of any individual or group. It is a task
that will
require the resources of the WHOLE CHURCH. Just before Jesus went back to
heaven He prayed, not only for His disciples, but also for those who were to
follow
- - - OTHER BELIEVERS. He prayed that God would keep believers from the evil
in the world. GOD WILL KEEP US IF WE WILL ALLOW HIM TO DO SO! If
God keeps us from evil, and we pay the price for God’s faith - - - WHAT IS
KEEPING SO MANY FROM FOLLOWING HIM INTO THE WHITENED
HARVEST FIELDS?
Jesus, in praying for believers, told God He was not praying that God would
take us OUT OF THE WORLD, but that we would be kept FROM THE EVIL. As
God had sent Him INTO THE WORLD, HE REMINDED GOD THAT HE WAS
SENDING HIS DISCIPLES INTO THE WORLD. If we are followers of His
today, THE SAME COMMISSION IS OURS! “Neither pray I for these alone, but
for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” John 17:20.
To get the world evangelized we are going to have to MOVE AS ONE MAN,
OR ONE BODY. Jesus prayed that we might be ONE -- “That they all may be one;
as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.”
John 17:21a.
This task will never be accomplished by criticizing the efforts put forth by
other
believers on the field. EVERY WORKER IN THE VINEYARD IS NEEDED.
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them,
because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the
labourers are few;”
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers
into his harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38.
Instead of criticizing others who are laboring on the field, too, we should be
obedient and pray that God will send forth MORE laborers into the whitened
harvest
field.
“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy
name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not
us.”
“But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in
my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.”
“For he that is not against us is on our part.”
“For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye
belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
“And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is
better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast
into the sea.” Mark 9:38-42.
EVERY WORKER ON THE FIELD IS NEEDED! Some may accomplish
more or less than others, BUT ALL OF THEM ARE NEEDED! God is not sending
us forth into His whitened harvest field to find fault with others and sorely
criticize
them -- OUR TASK IS TO PREACH THE WORD, HEAL THE SICK, CAST
OUT DEVILS, AND TO BREAK THE YOKES OF BONDAGE THE DEVIL
HAS PLACED ON PEOPLE. The weakest of God’s children can be used in God’s
harvest field --- if they do no more than give a Christian a cup of water to
drink in His
Name. They should be encouraged to continue to serve God in that manner, and TO
EVEN DO MORE FOR GOD! They need to know that their labors are necessary.
WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE BODY, AND NONE CAN SAY TO THE
OTHER, “WE HAVE NO NEED OF THEE.”
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of
another.” Romans 12:5.
HOW WILL WE EVER ACCOMPLISH THE TASK SET BEFORE US? Just
as people in the business world call in efficiency experts to search out reasons
for
failure and lack of success, let us go to God’s Word. We are going to examine
the lives
of some of those who were obedient and faithful to God. These people brought
forth results that were so wonderful and encouraging that God had them recorded
in
His Word.
ABRAHAM
The study of the life of Abraham is of great importance because he was chosen
of God to become the father of a new spiritual race. Spiritual seeds were
planted in
his heart which have blessed the children of God down through the years. Abraham
was the file leader of a great spiritual host.
While living with his father in Haran, God called Abraham to go into a new
country that He would show him. God promised him divine favor, many descendants
(as numerous as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the
seashore,
Genesis 22:17), and that he should become a blessing to all the families of the
earth.
By faith, Abraham obeyed the call of God and became the leader of the great
host of God’s children - - - those who have sought a city whose builder and
maker is
God.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should
after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither
he went.”
“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling
in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.”
“For he looked for a city . . . whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10.
WHAT GOD SAID HE WOULD DO, ABRAHAM BELIEVED HE
WOULD DO IT! He did not hesitate to take God at His word when He promised
him a son - - - Abraham was ninety-nine years old when God promised to give him
a
son by Sarah. The Word says, “He staggered not at the promise of God through
unbelief; but was strong In faith, . . .”Romans 4:20.
Sarah bore a son unto Abraham when she was ninety years old, and Abraham
was one hundred years old.
Through this son, Isaac, God was to bless Abraham with a host of descendants
which could not be numbered. One day, God spoke to Abraham and said,
“ . . . Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee
into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of
the mountains which I will tell thee of.”
“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two
of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and dave the wood for the burnt
offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.”
Genesis 22:2, 3.
“ . . . Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound
Isaac
his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood,”
“And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.”
“And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham,
Abraham: and he said, Here am I.”
“And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto
him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy
son, thine only son from me” Genesis 22:9-12.
Abraham is one of the most likely candidates in the Old Testament when we
look for an example of some one with great faith. Student, would you believe God
if
He told you something like He told Abraham - - - even though you were about one
hundred years old, and your wife, or husband, whichever were the case, was about
the
same age - - - WOULD YOU STAGGER AT SUCH A PROMISE? Do you have a
son? If God told you to offer that son as a burnt sacrifice (if we still offered
God such
sacrifices), COULD YOU DO IT? Could you build an altar, bind your child with
cords, place him on the altar, take a knife and strike the deathblow to that
child, light
the fire, and then burn him as a sacrifice unto your God? We do not offer
sacrifices as
people were required to do before Jesus became our sacrifice for sin, BUT IT WAS
JUST AS HARD FOR ABRAHAM TO DO SUCH A THING AS IT WOULD BE
FOR YOU TODAY. YET WE READ HOW ABRAHAM OBEYED GOD, EVEN
IN OFFERING HIS ONLY SON AS A SACRIFICE TO GOD.
It was to be through Isaac that God would give many descendants unto
Abraham, but by faith he offered up Isaac accounting that God was able to raise
him
up, even from the dead . . .
“By faith, Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son,”
“Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:”
“Accounting that God was, able to raise him up, even from the dead; . . .”
Hebrews 11:17-19.
If we will only study God’s Word, we will learn the secret of success as God
counts success. THE FAITH THAT GOD GIVES IS THE ANSWER! If you will
pay the price that God requires, HE WILL GIVE YOU HIS FAITH - - -FAITH
THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO DO ANYTHING GOD ASKS YOU TO DO!
MOSES
Another example of great faith expertly used in the Old Testament is Moses.
One of the kings of Egypt, who was afraid that the Israelites would outnumber
them
and perhaps would turn against Egypt in some future conflict, ordered all
Israelite
babies, if boys, to be put to death at birth. Moses’ mother placed him in a
basket and
hid him among the bulrushes along the river. Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the
river to bathe, found the child, took him as her own, and reared him in the
courts of
the palace of Pharaoh. When he came to manhood, he chose to identify himself
with
the Israelites, slew an Egyptian who was smiting one of Moses’ brethren, and had
to
flee to save his life from the wrath of Pharaoh.
Moses fled to Midian where he spent forty years in obscurity.
God heard the cries of the Israelites In Egypt, who were crying out because of
the sore persecutions of the Egyptians. One day Moses was on the backside of the
desert, taking care of the sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of
Midian. When
he came to Horeb, the mountain of God, he saw a bush burning, but it was not
consumed. Out of the burning bush, God spoke to Moses.
“ . . . I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and
have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;”
“And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and
to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land
flowing with milk and honey; . . .”Exodus 3:7,8.
“ . . . I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth the children
of Israel out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10.
“ . . . take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” Exodus
4:17.
“ . . . see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in
thine hand: . . .” Exodus 4:21.
Moses returned to Egypt to obey God and bring the Israelites out of bondage.
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened against Moses and he refused to let the Israelites
leave
Egypt. God used Moses with signs and wonders in sending ten plagues on Egypt
which caused Pharaoh to finally give in and let God’s people be taken out of
Egypt.
The first plague was turning their water into blood, (Exodus 7:14-25). The next
three
plagues in succession were frogs, lice, and flies which covered all of the land
with the
exception of the portion of land designated to the Israelites, (Exodus 8:1-32.)
The
next three plagues were murrain on the beasts, boils, and hail, (Exodus 9:1-25).
The
plagues of locusts and thick darkness followed the first seven plagues, (Exodus
10:1-29). The last plague was the death of the first-born of every Egyptian family,
Exodus
12:29.
“And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the
firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of
cattle.”
Student, just as surely as the Israelites were crying out for deliverance from
the
whiplash of Pharaoh, God’s children are crying out against the bondages and sore
distresses being imposed upon them by Satan. JUST AS SURELY AS GOD SENT
MOSES DOWN INTO EGYPT TO DELIVER HIS PEOPLE FROM PHARAOH,
HE IS SENDING HIS MINISTERS OUT INTO THE WORLD TODAY TO
BRING DELIVERANCES TO HIS CHILDREN, AND TO REAP THE
HARVEST THAT IS ALREADY WHITENED AND FALLING. Satan is working
at full speed seeking whom he may devour.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
“Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished In your brethren that are in the world.” I Peter 5:8, 9.
Get the Word of God hidden away in your heart. Pay the price for God’s faith
and fasten your eyes upon Jesus. Get into the race and run quickly to the rescue
of
God’s children who are chafing under the constant onslaughts of Satan, and pluck
the
lost ones from Satan’s grasp as you would pluck a firebrand from a fire.
Rescue the Perishing, duty demands it; strength for thy labor the Lord will
provide;
Back to the Narrow way, patiently win them, tell the poor wanderer a Savior
has died,
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace
can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that are broken will
vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the
grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus the mighty to
save.
Rescue the Perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.
CAN IT BE DONE? IT CAN! By faith, we like Moses, will have to turn our
backs upon the world and sin. We must set our faces like flint to follow Jesus,
even to
a cross if necessary, in order to carry the gospel. As it took great faith for
Moses to
lead a great host of God’s children out of Egypt, it will take great faith for
us to carry
out the GREAT COMISSION - - -
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. . . .” Matthew 28:19,
20,.
“ . . . preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized
shall
be saved; . . . And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall
they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:15-18.
“And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the word with signs following.” Mark 16:20.
Student, if Jesus bore heavy loads and lifted great burdens - - -YOU WILL
HAVE TO DO SO, TOO! The works that Jesus did, YOU WILL HAVE TO DO, if
you follow Him. THIS IS A DAILY WALK WITH JESUS!
“And he said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23.
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of
me.”
“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake
shall
find it.” Matthew 10:38, 39.
As the early disciples were sent forth to win the lost, heal the sick, cleanse
the
lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils, believers today are sent forth by
God to do
the same things. These are the things Jesus did, and these are the same things
included
in the Great Commission.
We are sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves with the admonition, “ . . .
be
ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16. If we are
obedient to God, He has promised to be with us always --- “ . . . lo, I am with
you
always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. We are told to have no
fear
of those which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear
him which
Is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. (Matthew 10:28).
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on
the ground without your Father. . . the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31.
As God was with Moses, so will He be with us if we are obedient and in faith,
do the whole will of God for our lives.
It is going to take supernatural miracles to win the people of today to Christ.
Just as it took the miraculous in Moses’ day to sway Pharaoh and also to keep
the
hundreds of thousands of the Israelites submissive to the leadership of Moses,
we are
going to have to pay the price to have God’s miracle working power flowing
through
our lives! When people see SIGNS, WONDERS, AND MIRACLES, they recognize
that it HAS TO BE GOD DOING THE WORK --- FOR NO MAN CAN DO
THESE WORKS EXCEPT GOD BE WITH HIM!
Let us look at some of the miracles God did through Moses. When he had led
the Israelites as far as the Red Sea, the sea was in front of them, and
Pharaoh’s army
was behind them, for Pharaoh had hardened his heart against the Israelites and
was
pursuing them.
“And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and
went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and
stood behind them:”
“And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it
was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that
the
one came not near the other all the night.”
“And Moses stretched his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go
back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the
waters were divided.”
“And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry land:
and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.”
Exodus 14:19-22.
The Egyptians followed the Israelites into the midst of the Red Sea, and the
Lord troubled the Egyptian host by TAKING OFF THEIR CHARIOT WHEELS
SO THAT THEIR CHARIOTS DRUG HEAVILY! They tried to flee for they saw
God was fighting AGAINST them and was fighting FOR the Israelites, (Exodus
14:23-25).
At God’s bidding, Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea and the waters returned and drowned the Egyptians. NOT ONE OF THEM REMAINED ALIVE!
Beholding this miracle take place before them, the Israelites feared the Lord
and
believed Him and His servant, Moses.
Moses brought the Israelites from the Red Sea into the wilderness of Shur.
They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to
Marah, they could not drink the water found there because it was bitter. The
Lord
showed Moses a tree, which he cast into the water, AND THE WATER WAS
MADE SWEET!
The Israelites came into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai. Being
hungry, they began murmuring against Moses for having brought them out of Egypt,
away from the flesh pots and bread, where they had plenty to eat. God heard the
murmurings of the Israelites and caused quail to come up in the evening, and
manna
covered the face of the wilderness. God instructed Moses to have the people to
gather
just enough of the manna each morning for their use for each day, with nothing
left
over. Some of the people disobeyed, leaving some manna until morning. This
leftover
manna bred worms and stank.
On the sixth day of each week the people were to gather twice as much manna
as was needed for one day, thus making provision for the sabbath. They laid up
the
extra portion of manna for each family for the next day, “ . . . it did not
stink, neither
was there any worm therein.” Exodus 16:24. WHEN THE PEOPLE DISOBEYED
MOSES, THEY LOST THE MANNA KEPT OVER UNTIL MORNING --- BUT.
WHEN THEY OBEYED HIM, THE MANNA GATHERED FOR THE
SABBATH WAS STILL GOOD THE NEXT DAY!
God even instructed Moses to have an omer full of manna gathered and put
into a pot, and laid up before the Lord to be kept for the generations of the
Israelites,
that they might see the bread they were fed with for forty years. WHEN THEY
OBEYED GOD, THE MANNA THEY GATHERED LASTED FOR MANY
GENERATIONS OF THE ISRAELITES AND DID NOT STINK, NOR WERE
ANY WORMS EVER FOUND IN IT!
The Israelites journeyed from the wilderness of Sin and camped in Rephadim,
and there was no water for them to drink. Following the instructions of God,
Moses
took the elders of Israel and the rod of God with him to a certain rock in
Horeb. God
stood before Moses on the rock --- Moses struck the rock with the rod, as God
told
him to do, and WATER CAME OUT OF THE ROCK FOR THE PEOPLE TO
DRINK.
The Amalekites came out and fought with the Israelites at Rephadim. Moses
sent his men out to do battle under the command of Joshua. Moses took Aaron and
Hur with him to the top of a hill. He stood on the top of the hill with the rod
of God
in his hand. WHEN HE HELD UP HIS HAND, ISRAEL PREVAILED IN THE
BATTLE --- WHEN HE PUT DOWN HIS HAND, THE AMALEKITES
PREVAILED. When Moses grew tired, Aaron and Hur had Moses sit upon a rock,
and they stood on either side of him and held up his hands until the sun went
down.
THE ISRAELITES WON THE BATTLE THAT DAY!
After leaving Sinai, the Israelites came to Taberah. Again the people were
hungry and remembered the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic they
enjoyed back in Egypt, and cried unto Moses for flesh to eat. God told Moses He
would give the people flesh to eat --- not for just one day, two days, nor five
days, nor
twenty days, “But even a whole month, until it come out of your nostrils, and it
be
loathsome unto you: . . .” Numbers 11:20.
“And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea,
and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day’s journey on this side, and as
it
were a day’s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were
two cubits high upon the face of the earth.”
“And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day,
and they gathered the quails: . . .” Numbers 11:31, 32.
At Kadesh-Barnea, the Israelites had no water. God told Moses to take the rod,
to gather the assembly together, and to SPEAK unto the rock before their very
eyes.
Moses obeyed God in that he gathered the assembly together and took the rod, BUT
instead of SPEAKING to the rock, he SMOTE it twice. The water came forth
abundantly, though, and all the people and all of the beasts had water. (Numbers
20:10, 11). HOWEVER, this was not the end of the episode in Moses’ life. The
fact
that the water came forth abundantly is proof positive that God’s abundant mercy
was
extended to the people. The very next verse expresses God’s displeasure at
Moses’
disobedience.
The Israelites spoke against God and against Moses as they journeyed on,
because they did not have bread and water, and they had come to loathe the manna
God was giving them each day, so God sent fiery serpents among them, “ . . .and
much people of Israel died.” Numbers 21:6. The people repented and came to Moses
confessing their sin in speaking against him and God, and they asked him to pray
unto
God that He take away the serpents from them. Moses prayed for the people, and
God told him to make a fiery serpent, set it on a pole, and to tell the people
who were
bitten by a serpent to look up at the serpent of brass and they would live.
THOSE
WHO WERE BITTEN BY A SERPENT AND LOOKED UPON THE
SERPENT OF BRASS LIVED! (Numbers 21:4-9).
What God did for Moses and through Moses, HE WILL DO FOR AND
THROUGH YOU! If it was necessary for God to part waters, make bitter water
sweet, send manna and quail for food, give water from rocks, fight whole armies,
open the earth to swallow enemies, send fiery serpents to stop an uprising, and
come
to Moses in thunder and lightning and an earthquake which made all Mount Sinai
shake and tremble FOR MOSES’ SAKE --- HE WILL DO THE SAME THINGS
FOR YOU!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God.” John 1:1.
“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.
“John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He
that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.” John 1:15.
“ . . .John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God,
Which taketh away the sin of the world.”
“This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before
me: for he was before me.” John 1:29, 30.
“ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.
The Word was in the beginning --- the Word was with God --- the Word was
God - - - the Word was made flesh --- the Word was Jesus. Jesus is the same
today,
yesterday, and forever. WHAT HE DID FOR MOSES, HE WILL DO FOR YOU!
If you are full of faith and obedient to God, HE WILL DO WHAT YOU NEED
HIM TO DO FOR YOU. IF YOU ASK HIM TO OPEN THE GROUND AND
SWALLOW YOUR ENEMIES FOR HIS GLORY, HE WILL DO IT!
If you need to be delivered out of a burning fiery furnace like God delivered
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - - - GOD WILL DELIVER YOU FOR HIS
GLORY IF YOU ARE FULL OF HIS FAITH AND OBEY HIM PERFECTLY!
(See Daniel 3:12-18).
If you need to be delivered from a den of lions as was Daniel, GOD WILL
DELIVER YOU AS HE DID DANIEL, FOR HIS GLORY, IF YOU LOVE AND
SERVE GOD PERFECTLY!
If, for God’s glory, you need to bring waters of refreshment in times of
drought, increase a widow’s store of food, raise the dead, as did Elijah and
Elisha,
GOD WILL SEE THAT IT IS DONE, IF YOU ARE PERFECTLY OBEDIENT
TO HIM!
God sent waters of refreshment in times of drought for Elijah and Elisha, (I
Kings 18:41-45; II Kings 3:9-20). GOD IS THE SAME AS HE WAS THEN --- HE
WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU!
God increased a widow’s store of food for Elijah and Elisha, (I Kings 17:10-16;
II
Kings 4:1-7). GOD IS JUST THE SAME AS HE WAS IN THEIR DAY --- HE
WILL DO THE SAME THING FOR YOU TODAY!
God raised the dead for Elijah and Elisha, (I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:18-35).
God is the same today as He was In their day --- HE WILL DO THE SAME
THING FOR YOU!
“ . . . If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross
daily, and follow me.”
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his
life
for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23, 24.
“ . . . what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26.
Student, pay the price to have God’s faith, get into the portion of the harvest
where God wants you to labor for Him, believe God for the miraculous in your
life
and ministry, AND HELP ME AND OTHER DELIVERANCE MINISTERS TO
GET THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THE WORLD QUICKLY.
Are you WILLING TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, DAILY, AND FOLLOW
JESUS ALL THE WAY?
If you follow Christ FULLY, it will mean following Him to the place where He
was filled with the Spirit, and then on into the wilderness where you will spend
hours
of fasting and prayer, to hours of service that will not be appreciated. There
will be
misunderstandings and persecutions for Jesus’ sake. THERE WILL BE NIGHTS OF
WATCHING ALONE IN PRAYER WHEN THOSE YOU LOVE SHOULD BE
WATCHING WITH YOU, BUT THEY WILL BE ASLEEP. It will mean following
Him into the garden --- bearing the burden of a lost world. You may even be
ushered
into the judgment hail and receive false accusations and unjust decisions. You
may be
scourged for Jesus’ sake. Instead of hearing sweet words of comfort and love at
times
like this, you may hear more false accusations, railing, mocking and scoffing as
you
suffer agonies of pain and anguish of soul. There is NO PLACE TO STOP AND
DROP OUT OF THE RACE, NO PLACE TO EVEN DRAW BACK FROM THE
PAIN AND SUFFERING. IT MAY MEAN A LITERAL CROSS FOR YOU AT
THE END OF THE WAY. ARE YOU ABLE?
Get alone with God NOW --- PRAY THROUGH TO VICTORY --- the kind
of victory that OVERCOMES THE WORLD! God must come FIRST in your life if
you would have a miracle ministry, COUNT THE COST FOR YOUR LIFE AS
GOD SHOWS YOU THE WAY YOU MUST GO --- PAY THE PRICE AND
LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY WITH YOU.
This is LOSING YOUR LIFE FOR JESUS. Jesus said,
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his
life
for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul?”
“Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:35-37.
“ . . . let him. . . , take up his cross, AND FOLLOW ME.” Mark 8:34.
FOLLOW ME
I traveled down a lonely road, and no one seemed to care.
The Burden on my weary back had bowed me to despair, I oft’ complained to Jesus
how folk were treating me, And then I heard Him say so tenderly, “My feet were
also weary upon the Calvary road; Be faithful weary pilgrim the morning I can
see, Just lift your cross and follow close to me.”
“I work so hard for Jesus” I often boast and say, “I’ve sacrificed a lot of
things to walk the narrow way, I gave up fame and fortune; I’m worth a lot to
Thee,”
And then I hear Him gently say to me -
“I left the throne of glory and counted it but loss My hands were nailed in
anger upon a cruel cross, But now we’ll make the journey with your hand sale in
mine, So lift your cross and follow close to me.”
“Oh, Jesus, if I die upon a foreign field some day, Twould be no more than love
demands, no less could I repay, No greater love hath mortal man than for a
friend to die.”
These are the words He gently spoke to me, “If just a cup of water I place
within your hand, Then just a cup of water is all that I demand.”
“But if by death to living they can Thy glory see,
It’ll take my cross and follow close to Thee.”
