February (part 1 of 2)
FEBRUARY 1
"Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6).
In Psalm 127:1,2 we have the secret as to how to build the House of God. "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it... It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late. " We have a double responsibility towards God's Dwelling Place. We have one responsibility as labourers together with God in building it; and another responsibility is His building material, "lively stones," in being built by Him. Since we are co-workers with God we must take heed how we build His House. We cannot build it with our human zeal or wisdom and we are warned against doing so, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late." We must build God's House only according to His plan, on the true foundation and under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must learn how to find and take our share in this work. It does not matter to God how many handicaps and disadvantages we have, or how few our talents are. What matters is that we should be willing to take our share and that it should be under the Headship of Lord Jesus Christ even in small things. When we work in an office or factory we ask permission from the person-in-charge if we want to go out for a few minutes. The same rule applies to all of us. Learn to consult with and to ask permission from those with whom you work. Learn also to go to the Lord for every matter.
We cannot build God's House on man's plan or on a man-made foundation. The Lord Jesus alone is our foundation. He is also our Architect and our Engineer as well as the Supervisor of the whole work. Therefore ask His advice at every stage of the work. Consult Him and find out if your plan is in accordance with His heavenly plan, whether you are building on the right foundation and so on. He will answer you and show you if you make a mistake. It will be a great joy to you and to Him when you take His advice and obey Him in every however small or unimportant it may seem to you. If you do not get a immediate answer, wait patiently and He will reveal His plan to you in answer to private or corporate prayer. Only do not follow your own wisdom. When we come under His Headship and Lordship and build according to His plan on His foundation, then we shall be a source of blessing to others, otherwise our Labour will be in vain.
FEBRUARY 2
"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Hebrews 12:22).
"For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels..." (Heb. 12:18-22).
Mount Sinai brought bondage and fear. Nobody became righteous and just by the Law. By the Law people learned what sin was, their mouths were closed, they began to see the horror of sin and the Law prepared them like a schoolmaster for Christ. Now we are come unto Mount Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and the Heavenly City. This is our Heavenly goal. Whether we worship under a tree, in a brick or stone building, in a tent, under the starry sky, or by a river bank, the place does not matter very much, but it is the spirit among the people that matters. When we worship God in spirit and in truth, He is pleased. He does not want a big building. He wants us to build His Heavenly City. Nowadays, men are very proud of their big, grand, stone buildings, but often there is no real life of the Lord Jesus Christ there.
Do not go into bondage again, but look for the Heavenly City, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and where we have the benefit of His advocacy, His blood for cleansing, the protection of God's angels, and the fellowship for God's saints, where there is true oneness. That is our privilege. But where there are rites, ceremonies, and rituals, it means the devil has robbed people of their liberty and their joy.
Do not allow the enemy to deceive you any longer. The Lord has set you free; remain free, and enjoy your liberty as a child of God. Worship Him in spirit and in truth. Do not go back into bondage and be a slave to any formality but live in the spirit. You may say you are born again and may take part in the Lord's Table in a simple way, but if you do not live the life you profess and live in enmity and jealousy, you will bring death and bondage. The Spirit of God must work freely. May the Lord break every bondage and keep us free.
FEBRUARY 3
"... the situation of this city is pleasant, ... but the water is naught, and the ground barren" (2 Kings 2:19).
During the time of Elisha, the prophet, the condition of Jericho was barren; and this can be compared of unfruitful churches in many places these days. Where similar conditions prevail spiritually, in the churches, the Lord needs men like Elisha to take away the barrenness. Among God's servants there are many who have hectic activities, without much fruitfulness.
There were many sons of the prophets studying the Word of God under the prophet Elijah and yet they were full of doubts concerning it. That is why, in their ignorance of God's ways, they tried their best to prevent Elisha from accompanying Elijah from place to place. Elisha knew very well that Elijah would be taken away from him by the Lord. The sons of the prophets also knew this (see verse 3). Yet instead of themselves going with Elisha, they tried to hinder him from following Elijah. Elisha was willing to go through any trial or sacrifice in order to be with Elijah right to the end. The Lord needs fruitful servants like Elisha.
The sons of the prophets watched Elijah and Elisha with doubting minds. When Elisha returned alone, they expressed their doubts to him (see verse 6). Fifty strong men among them wanted to go in search of Elijah's body which, though taken up by the Spirit of the Lord, they argued, might have fallen on a mountain or in some valley. Their desire was perhaps to have a grand funeral service, although they had not bothered to be with Elijah till his departure.
These sons of the prophets had faithful servants of God like Elijah to expound the Word of God to them and yet they were full of unbelief. In the same way there are many today who are taught God's Word by strong and faithful servants of God, but remain weak in faith, and are full of fear. When trials and suffering come to them, they start murmuring and go about with very sad faces. We must learn how to be like Elisha, so that the Lord may use us to take away barrenness, and bring fruitfulness into every situation.
FEBRUARY 4
"O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river ..." (Isaiah 48:18).
In 2 Thess. 3:16 we read about peace which God Himself will give you, and the Lord Himself will be with you always. This peace will make you and keep you conscious of His presence with you. You will be conscious of His actual presence. Christ says: "I am with you, don't be afraid." That consciousness of His presence is a wonderful thing.
In Phil. 4:7, we read "the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." This peace will keep you strong within. Like a strong army around you, God's peace will garrison you. Let there be famine, calamity, earthquake or war, you are safe and secure. The Scripture says, your hairs are all numbered and your tears are bottled up. You are safe in Him.
In Jer. 33:6 we find these words: "Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and... reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." True peace will heal all your wounds. When friends betray, they cause a very deep and painful wound. In the same way, when you find children are unfaithful, they leave a deep wound, which cannot be healed by any medicine. But this peace heals every kind of wound caused by friends, or enemies (Psa. 119:165). "Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them". How many believers get offended very easily. They sometimes keep away from meetings for many, many months. Their peace has gone away, because it is worldly peace. But with the peace of God nothing can offend them. It is a great peace.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee" (Isa. 26:3). This is perfect peace, which gives you strong faith in all situations. You can trust God's Word and His promise. "Have you got that peace? How can you find it?" Eph. 2:14: "...he is our peace". Romans 8:6 "... to be spiritually minded is life and peace." By receiving the divine nature, we find true peace. The Lord Jesus Christ died, that we might die to our old nature. He died also to take away our punishment, and rose again to give us a divine nature. That nature gives you peace and by obeying God you have it multiplied. "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river" Isa. 48:18.
FEBRUARY 5
"O come, ... let us kneel before the LORD our maker" (Psalm 95:6).
Daniel was promoted to a high position. Though his enemies were against him yet God exalted him to a high position. Do not let the enemy's activity discourage you. The Lord will use the same circumstances to promote you. The enemy will try to drag you down in the dust but God will lift you up as long as you honour Him and refuse to bow down to the gods of the world.
Now Daniel was given the highest place in the kingdom of the Medes and Persians, that of being the president over the 120 princes of their kingdom. The jealousy of his enemies became all the greater. I warn you beforehand, that as you enjoy divine favour in your different places, as you live a life of honesty and sincerity and as you work hard and refuse to take bribes or eat the king's meat, your co-workers will join together against you. By many wicked devices, scandals and other means even your own ungodly relations will persecute you. If they can drag you down by any means they will certainly do so. Daniel's enemies wanted to drag him down from his high position. They made a very clever scheme. But Daniel went on praying three times a day. (Dan 6:10) Sad to say many of us are ashamed to kneel down. We say in our hearts, "What will he or she say if I kneel down? God knows my heart and I can pray sitting." Some young men who earn even a small amount are ashamed to kneel down. So proud are they that they sit down in the presence of the Almighty God. Do you call that prayer? O foolish and blind people, people refusing to bow down and kneel before your Creator and your God! When you are in trouble you call upon Him for mercy. When you want promotion, when somebody is sick you want prayer. But you refuse to bow down your God and your Saviour.
Daniel went on praying three times a day. All the high officials brought him and threw him before the lions in the den. But God sent His angel to shut their mouths. All the lions gathered around Daniel for he was a heavenly king, so much so that even the lions had to bow down before him. Our loving and living God is calling you to be such a king. All the evil powers will bow down before you. In this world people may mock you, but a time is coming when the evil powers will bow down before you provided you now refuse to bow down to the world.
FEBRUARY 6
"They looked unto him, and were lightened" (Psalm 34:5).
Sometimes you may be troubled by your wandering thoughts. You want to pray but your mind is disturbed. That is how the prayer time is so often occupied. But do not give up, you have got to stay upon your knees. By faith, you can rebuke Satan. Say by faith, "Lord Jesus, I am being troubled by wandering thoughts. Will you help me now? Will you please bring my thoughts under captivity to Yourself?" Only He can do it! Nobody else can control your thoughts, but the Lord Jesus Christ can bend them and bring them to captivity. When you spend sufficient time upon your knees, and feel God's presence, you will be happier and better.
I remember many years ago, I went to a barber for a hair cut in Canada. The barber said to me. "What a miserable day! What a rotten day! What a cold day! What a bad day!" It was raining and it was a very, very cold day. I said, "There is sunshine in my soul". He said, "You come from India". I said, "I am not talking about the sunshine in India. I have a new sunshine which keeps me warm and rejoicing every day. I have never once said, "It is a rotten day". Every day is a good day for me, --rainy, or sunny, or cold. As long as I feel my Lord's presence, to me it is a happy day. I find how from His face the sunshine goes into me, healing me and curing of many germs many times. Evil thoughts are like germs. Most diseases are caused by germs of some kind. Even though you are careful yet somehow or the other they push through the food into your mouth. You may drink boiled water every day. You can wash your hands and feet with carbolic soap many times a day, and you avoid going to any filthy place, or eating food anywhere. Every fruit which you eat, you first wash with potassium permanganate. Even so these germs will find their way here and there, for they are very clever.
In the same way evil thoughts are like germs. You can shut your eyes and ears, but evil thoughts are still there. Only the sunshine of His face can kill these evil thoughts. That is why we have to remain on our knees in the presence of God, to be washed in His sunshine. And you say by faith, "Lord, these thoughts are troubling me. I cannot control them. Please control them". Thus you will get victory over your thoughts, and your prayer will be a delight and an inspiration. You can talk to the Lord as a friend to friend: and you will feel healthy and fresh the whole day. And many will say that the light of God is shining upon your face.
FEBRUARY 7
"...and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment" (John 12:3).
Our longing and desire for all believers is, that they should have such real happy Christian homes. Happiness does not depend on furniture, clothes, jewels and other worldly goods or any other qualifications such as university degrees. These cannot bring real or lasting joy. True joy depends upon our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and on how far we honour the Word of God and obey His Word. We do not usually come across many happy homes. We mostly come across many sad homes. They are sad because they neither honour God's Word, not consult or obey it.
Now let us see from the Word of God how a happy home can become possible. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:6). This the first pre-requisite for a happy home. Be positively sure that you are joined by God. You might say that all are joined by God because they are married in some church building. It does not necessarily mean they are joined by God. Only those who have sought to know God's will for their marriage and then are sure of doing God's will are joined by God. For the Word of God say, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). We consider the highest privilege of believers to be the ability to know and do God's will. I do not know any other joy comparable to this joy. In many marriages couples are joined together by their personal feelings, for the sake of money or gold, and some because of their liking for outward appearances or other qualifications like belonging to the same caste. Some are joined by brokers. In all these cases the motives are wrong and unworthy. God's Word says that those who are joined by God should not be separated by man. Believers have the right and privilege to seek the face of God and find Gods will before they agree for marriage. It may take one year, two years or even more. It is up to God to decide the time and the partner. We cannot dictate to God. As far as possible it is better to wait for Scripture guidance. "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17) and "...prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2). Those who are born again are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will enable them to say, "Not my will but Thy will. I will gladly accept Thy will Lord, kindly speak to me".
FEBRUARY 8
"...let every man take heed how he buildeth" (1 Cor. 3:10).
On the 31st of May, 1935 there was an earthquake in the city of Quetta. I remember in 1933 an expert engineer came to Quetta. He warned the Government that there would be an earthquake in the city area in about a year, and he advised them to make some provision for it at once and also construct earthquakeproof houses. The Government did not take it seriously. Only the Railway officials agreed to the proposal and they had six earthquake-proof houses. Suddenly the earthquake came, and in 18 seconds 58,000 people were killed and except for these six specially prepared houses every other house, whether of stone or brick or mud, became rubble. It is high time for us, who are God's servants to learn our lessons also.
There will be many severe attacks by Satan upon God's people. He will come as a roaring lion, or a ravening wolf, or like a flood, or even like an angel of light. God's servants are responsible for the flock and have to make every provision for their spiritual protection. This can be done only if we build according to the heavenly pattern. Some people think they can serve in their own way. They say, "God is blessing us anyhow!" Please do not be satisfied with a temporary blessing. God is gracious. That is why He blesses our work in a way in spite of the fact that our obedience is only partial. We need to recognize that; nevertheless God always keeps to His original plan. Paul the apostle says in 1 Cor. 3:6, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase". He admits that he had need of co-workers, and that although he was an apostle he was not sufficient by himself. God uses some servants to plant. Others are needed to come and water. Thus all have to labour in oneness and unity. If you have been called only to sow the seed, and have no other calling or burden, then you should pray that God may send an "Apollos" to come and water that seed. Paul could remain in a place long enough only to do the planting. Before he left that place, he would tell those who came after him, that it was God's work. Therefore, "Let a man take heed how he buildeth thereon".
FEBRUARY 9
"...there was a famine in the land ... of Bethlehem - Judah" (Ruth 1:1).
Those were days of spiritual darkness in the land of Israel. If you compare the opening words of Ruth chapter 1 with the closing words in the Book of Judges, you can understand something of the conditions prevailing in the land at that time. "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes". When there was famine in the land Naomi and her family thought that by running away from these troubles and going to the land of Moab, all their problems would be over; they had no thought of seeking the will of God. They were being governed only by "that which was right in their own eyes". Even today, for the sake of money and worldly prosperity, many believers neglect the fellowship of God's children. For a time, everything went well with Naomi and her family. They had more food than they had in Bethlehem. But soon death came into the family; and the two sons went and married women of Moab.
One can easily see that the cause of all the failures in Naomi's family was that they had despised the fellowship of God's people, and had gone away from them. First Naomi's husband, Elimelech, died. Naomi thus became a widow, and she had no control over her sons. There was no one to guide the two young men in the proper path, and they married women of Moab. We are more exposed to temptations when we are alone, than when we are in the company of other children of God. When we are with other believers, we are strengthened by their prayer and fellowship, and thus better equipped to face the devices of the enemy. So never neglect the fellowship of God's people. Disobedience to the Word of God and to divine principles invariably brings us into loss and this, in turn, leads to sorrow.
It was only then that Naomi began to think of Bethlehem-Judah. It drawned on her that she would be better off in Bethlehem and that she had done wrong in coming away from the land of God's promise. Whatever be the failures in our lives, when we truly repent of them, and are willing to put things right, we find God working on our behalf turning our failures into triumphs. Unknown to Naomi, God was working behind the scenes. Her Moabitish daughter-in-law Ruth became the channel through whom His Son may be brought into the world, thereby revealing the riches of His mercy. But before He could do any of these things, Naomi should return to the land of God's promise. The moment she decided to return, God began to work. In the same way, whatever be the failures in our lives, when we decide to return to God. He will change our sorrow into joy, and reveal the riches of His grace through us.
FEBRUARY 10
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ..." (1 Cor. 15:10).
Through the mitre which the high priest wore we have a message of grace. "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Cor. 15:10). We may wonder why human beings like so frail, so weak and so foolish, should be filled with His fulness. Why does God want to fill us with His fulness? The answer is not because of what we are, nor because of our cleverness or our gifts or our talents, but because of His grace. Perhaps you may think, a man like Paul can attain to that standard of fulness, but I cannot, because I am so weak. But Paul himself declares that he is what he is only by the grace of God. It has to be the same with you and with me. Do not think that you can receive God's fulness because of your Bible knowledge, or intelligence or other qualifications. It must be only by God's grace. Therefore we should never take pride in our family or in our education or in any thing else. The Lord shows us that if we want to be a partaker of His glory and beauty, we must learn how to claim His grace for every thing. We are saved by His grace alone and after that, day by day, we have to claim the same grace for every need.
Sometimes, through very painful experiences the Lord teaches us that His grace is sufficient in every situation (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul, the apostle, had gone through many hardships without a murmur or complaint (2 Cor. 11:23). We read that God permitted him to suffer from a painful "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7-9a). We do not know what this thorn was. Evidently it was something exceeding painful, because Paul says, "I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." This proves that the thorn must have been an extraordinarily painful one. At such a time, God's answer was, "My grace is sufficient for thee." God allowed the thorn to remain with Paul for a definite purpose. First of all, it was meant to keep him humble, lest Paul should be exalted above measure through the divine revelations given to him. Secondly, it was meant to teach him a little more of God's grace. This cannot be understood easily. Even though Paul had received many revelations and wonderful experiences, he still had to suffer this very painful thorn in the flesh in order to learn more of the grace of God. Thus we see that God permits all kinds of painful experiences in the lives of His children in order to teach them more of His grace.
FEBRUARY 11
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
When we come to the Lord Jesus Christ, we all have some fault or failure or weakness in us. Nobody is free from them. We inherit these weaknesses from our fathers and they from their fathers and so on. We are born in sin (Psa. 51:5). If the father has a bad temper, invariably the children will have it. If the father is greedy for money, the children too are of the same type. If the father has a haughty, proud spirit, the children will have the same. Thus we inherit the weaknesses of our parents. We cannot overcome our weaknesses by reformation or tears or other things. But the Lord Jesus Christ can transform us as we humble ourselves and confess our failures and weaknesses day by day.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest and He bears our weaknesses on His shoulder. We are privileged to go on Him with all our weaknesses, shortcomings and failures. So by faith we say to Him. "My Lord, I confess my shortcomings, failures and faults. Have mercy upon me. Give me victory over all these." As our High Priest He bears our burdens also (1 Pet. 5:7). Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has a very strong shoulder to carry you through any kind of weakness, shortcoming or failure. He is our strength in our weaknesses and failures. He is our Advocate (1 John 2:1). By His advocacy all our shortcomings are transformed into divine virtues (Heb. 7:25). These virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ are symbolized by the five materials of the ephod: gold, blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen. Through these garments, God shows us how the virtues of Christ should be woven into our lives. Five is the number of grace. Divine virtues are given to us as we willingly obey Him. Here the gold speaks of the divine nature by which we are enabled to know heavenly things, and which is manifested by Christ-like virtues. These virtues become apparent when we, with strong faith endure patiently trials and temptations (1 Pet. 1:7). The blue speaks of divine wisdom, purple speaks of the Lord's authority, scarlet speaks of His precious blood and fine twined linen speaks of the pure life of our Lord.
FEBRUARY 12
"... that ye may know ... what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead ..." (Eph. 1:18-20).
God wants us to be filled completely with His power. It is by that power we conquer our temptations, trials and difficulties and by the same power one day we shall have immortal bodies (Rom. 8:11). It is the power of resurrection, that power which God manifested in raising up the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Upon the earth, we are being quickened daily with the same power to overcome our temptations and burdens. By the same power we shall be given immortal bodies in heaven and by that same power we shall enjoy eventually our share in God's fulness. It is only by the power of resurrection that our inner man can be strengthened, and that we can be deeply rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:16, 17). We see tall trees on mountains. Let there be any big storm, the trees do not fall down, because their roots go very deep over large areas. That is why no storm can uproot them, rather they go on growing taller and taller and the roots go deeper. In the same way by the power of resurrection, in the inner man, we are rooted deeply in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let there be any trial, persecution or hardship, it will not shake us. We will rejoice in our trials and at the same we will become stronger spiritually. As we grow spiritually, we know that eventually we shall be filled with God's fulness. Thus we will find in a practical way the love of God filling us more and more. We become loving, tender, patient and gentle as a result. We can love our enemies. we can love the unlovely and pray for those that hate us and curse us. That is the evidence of the fact that we are being deeply grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope is that one day, we will be filled by His fulness. God help us to learn that secret more and more.
FEBRUARY 13
"And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom" (Numbers 17:5).
Korah and his company were jealous of Moses. They along with 250 princes rebelled against Moses and Aaron. God judged them very severely, and yet we see that the children of Israel did not stop murmuring against Moses (Num. 16:41). That is why God told Moses to take twelve rods, one for tribe and keep them in the tabernacle. Then He said, "And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you. And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness" (Num. 17:5, 7). The next day, they saw to their surprise that the rod with the name of Aaron had blossomed and yielded almonds. Normally it takes a long time for an almond tree to bear fruit. Here in one night, the rod brought forth buds, blossom and fruit. Through this God was saying that even though Aaron's rod appeared to be the same as other rods, there was a vast difference. There was some kind of life in that rod which other rods did not have. It was heavenly life. When a seed is sown in the ground and watered, it grows because the seed has life in it. But Aaron's rod was completely a dry one and yet the same dry rod yielded blossom and fruit. The same power was manifested when God created everything as we read in Gen. 1:11, "God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so." There was no sowing, tilling or gathering. God just spoke and different kinds of trees came forth straightway. That is the power of the word of God. Even though Moses and Aaron were ordinary men, yet God had put new life into them. The Spirit of God was working through them.
Moses had to obey the Lord and give His message at His command. Whatever God told him he spoke without adding anything to it. But Korah and his followers thought that Moses was saying everything in his own wisdom. Even though Moses and Aaron spoke the same words as others, yet there was life in their words. One could find new life flowing through their words. There was power and authority in every word. But these men, because they were princes, thought surely they too could speak like Moses. God showed them through the budded rod that they were only like dry rods. Whereas Moses and Aaron had power in them. God proved that He had chosen them for His service. Many people want to become great preachers in the world by getting much knowledge. There is no joy and no power in them. One can see only dryness, though they may teach and preach very cleverly in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matt. 7:22, 23 we have a solemn warning. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
FEBRUARY 14
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger" (John 6:35).
God knows where we live and in what surroundings. He knows our difficulties. So He asks us to come to Him Who is the Living Bread. The manna which fell from heaven is a type of the real bread, our Lord Jesus Christ. How the manna was made, how it came, we do not know. But it came, and they ate it and were kept strong. How much better to have the Living Bread!
But to eat Him, you must first be hungry for Him. It is possible you might be hungry only for Bible knowledge, or miracles and signs and outward things, but not for God. The hunger for the Lord may be very little. If so, that is the reason why you are deceived so easily by Satan. Do you desire to overcome Satan? Then this is the Lord's provision for you-The Hidden Manna.
God wants to do a new work in you, and for this purpose He will give you new and fresh food morning, noon and night, wherever you may go. After my conversion, while I was in Canada, I had no money with me, so I had to work as a cook, and prepare food for four to five hundred people in a hotel. I had to pray every morning, how much of every ingredient to use for each dish. I found the food had new taste every day and a new flavour. The people thought I was an excellent and experienced cook, even asked me for my recipes. If the Lord enabled me to prepare the food with new taste and flavour everyday, how much more will He not give you the living Bread to satisfy your hunger and thirst? By eating that Living Bread you will also receive new taste, new love, new hunger for the Word of God.
The hidden manna speaks of the secret of feeding on the Lord, eating His flesh and drinking His blood; being occupied in adoration and worship for the One Who is altogether lovely. Many look for miracles and outward signs and Bible knowledge for their spiritual growth. But none of these can fully satisfy us and bring us victory. The enemy comes with much subtility to lead you to a defeated life. God knows how weak you are and how you try to face the devil wrongly. So to help you to overcome, He had made this provision of feeding upon the Living Lord Himself daily. The simple test is to note how much time you can spend before the Lord in worship and adoration without any supplication. Learn to wait upon Him first, for the joy of it. You will find that for hours you will not be tired, and when duties call you away you will be sorry to go. Have you learned to eat the hidden manna? By faith we can eat Him as the Living Bread and drink of Him also.
FEBRUARY 15
"And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethern!" (Matt. 12:49).
When Joseph brought his two sons before Jacob, he laid his hands on them (Gen. 48:14). By doing so, he identified those boys with his whole family saying, "You are my children, even though you were born in Egypt. You belong to my family. Now you have an equal share in the blessings which God has given to Abraham and his seed." By laying his hands on them he also reminded them, "Now my grandsons, do not be deceived by Egypt and its wealth or glory. God has given you a great spiritual and eternal inheritance along with the other children of Abraham." Thus, by the laying on of hands, we show our spiritual oneness and relationship with God's children who are bought by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In your town there may be many people, but only those who know the Lord Jesus Christ are your brothers and sisters. In Matt. 12:50, our Lord said, "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother". In the laying on of hands we declare that we belong to those who love the Lord, irrespective of nation or culture or education. We belong to the same family. We cannot be deceived any more by the world and its attractions. So the first significance of the laying on of hands is our spiritual relationship with other believers.
Secondly, by the laying on of hands we declare our identification with the Lord Jesus in His sacrificial death. "And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him" (Lev. 1:4). Whenever anyone brought a sacrifice to the door of the Tabernacle, he would lay his hands upon the animal and confess his sins. The animal was then killed and sacrificed upon the altar. By laying his hands upon the animal, he declared, "This animal is going to die in my place". He himself could not go inside. In his place the animal was killed and taken inside for a sacrifice. Similarly, by faith we declare that the Lord Jesus Christ is our stead. Thus our spiritual identification in the death of the Lord Jesus is expressed by the laying on of hands.
FEBRUARY 16
"O love the LORD, all ye his saints" (Psa. 31:23).
We need to be prepared as the Bride of Christ so that we may appreciate and return the love of God. As we are we have little capacity to understand God's love; we think of God only when we are in trouble or in need. As His Church He wants us to be co-workers with Him to gather the material which He requires for the coming new creation. For this purpose we should be able to discern what things really give Him joy.
Imagine a newly married couple. The young bride is very anxious to please her husband. She will not take her food until her husband comes home. She is so zealous in her love for her husband. In many cases, after few months, things become different; but those who are really joined together by the Lord will find their love increasing day by day. Even trials and difficulties fail to quench their love for one another, because it is not based upon their complexion and upon the wealth which they possess. They are joined together in a threefold manner, in a union of spirit, soul and body. "...a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Eccles. 4:12). Often family-happiness is made to depend upon sarees, or food, or earthly pleasures and possessions. That is why it does not last long and we find so many unhappy homes. A few days after the wedding, quarrels begin. Husband and wife are not able to agree. If the husband says, "Let me go North" the wife says, "No, let us go South!" On the other hand those who are joined together by the Lord have no need to argue: they go upon their knees to find God's will. Their love for one another increases day by day.
In the same way when we are joined to the Lord Jesus as His Bride we learn to love Him, and as we grow spiritually our love increases. In the beginning we might say, "LORD, these are the things I require. Thou art my loving Saviour, so give me all these things and satisfy my desires". As we increase in spiritual understanding our prayer changes. Now we say, "Lord, what is Thy wish, what is Thy will? Tell me what things will please Thee, and I will do them". It gives us great joy to please and satisfy our Lord. We obey Him, not out of compulsion, but with willingness. It becomes easy to obey the Lord because we have full assurance that He knows more than we do. He knows the end from the beginning. His way is perfect, and He makes my way perfect. (Psa. 18:30,32).
FEBRUARY 17
"...the God of peace ... brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus" (Hebrews 13:20).
The risen Lord appeared the fifth time on Easter evening itself when the disciples were gathered together in a room in Jerusalem. The Lord came into the room, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst. His first words were, "Peace be unto you" (John 20:19). He repeated these words in verse 21, thus showing us that it is only by maintaining our peace that we can continue to experience His power of resurrection. The enemy is bent upon disturbing our peace. To this end he brings into our hearts all kinds of fears, doubts and subtle temptations of the flesh. But as we humble ourselves and keep on claiming the cleansing power of His precious blood we can enjoy His great peace which passeth all understanding. God's Word says, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (Psa. 119:165) and "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. 16:20). The more we have peace the more can we enjoy victory over every attack of the enemy. But we must exercise our faith more strongly to make his peace reign in our hearts and flow like a river, not allowing the enemy to robe us of our peace. In case we have to put right anything with God and man we should do so immediately by His grace and with humility. It is also by this growing, multiplying, inward, spiritual peace that we can be sure of His will. Only when we have this inward peace shall we be willing to go anywhere He may send us, and be prepared without any question to give Him all what He demands for His glory. When He had said this to the disciples He breathed on them and said "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22). As we obey Him, He anoints us afresh with the Holy Spirit to help us carry out His commands joyfully.
FEBRUARY 18
"That I may know ... the power of his resurrection" (Philippians 3:10).
The subject of the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ is very important. By the power of resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. By this power He has been highly exalted far above all principality, and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (Eph. 1:20-21). This power is also manifested to make us more than conquerors, and to enable us to be with the Lord as kings and priests with immortal and glorified bodies. With a heart full of worship and praise, Paul the apostle says in Eph. 1:3. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ". In the first part of the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul mentions a few of those great spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus which have been prepared for us by our loving God from before the foundation of the world. From verse 15 onwards, he goes on to explain how these blessings can be abundantly enjoyed by all of us who have been spiritually united with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, through simple faith in His finished work on the cross on our behalf. In this connection the apostle is praying very earnestly that the believers at Ephesus might know, "...what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all...and hath put all things under the his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:19-23). The very same power by which the Lord Jesus Christ rose again and was so highly exalted after His resurrection is also poured into us. Yet, how much spiritual poverty exists today among believers because they fail to appropriate this power daily for all their needs!