July (part 1 of 2)
JULY 1
"But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).
Esther was brought in favour with the great king Ahasuerus. We are told that many young women were brought before him one by one. Before they were presented before the king, they were told that whatever they desired they could ask for it and they would be given. Whether garments, gold, silver, or things for purification; nothing was withheld from them. But we are told that Esther required nothing (Esther 2:15). Other women has a long list daily. But Esther required nothing. What a miracle for a person to say, "I want nothing". I do not know of anyone who has said, "I do not want anything". Some are never satisfied with whatever they are given. You may give your wife 100 sarees, she will ask for 10 more and some more. They want something new every month. You may give them any kind of jewels, they are not satisfied. Some husbands take all their salaries to their wives. They wait for the pay day of their husbands; if the husband gives Rs. 25/- less, she will question him, "What happened? Why this month Rs. 25/- less? Where did you spend it and what did you do with it and to whom did you give it?" And the whole salary will be spent within 10 days and they want more money. They are not satisfied whosoever they are.
Here the story says, when Esther's turn came she required nothing. The result was, she found favour. Esther found favour from all who looked upon her. Not only was she brought in favour with the king, but she found favour with everyone in the palace. She became the most God-fearing queen, and through her life and faith the whole nation of Israel was saved. She learned that secret, how to be content and how to be satisfied. She knew that nothing in the world could satisfy her. There are so many men and women, who think by eating and drinking or by buying garments or gold or silver or jewels, they can get pleasure. That is why their lives are a failure. Before marriage they go on making enquiries through relations, brokers and friends, as to how much dowry they will get, or how much land they can have. They will not say openly but secretly they enquire how many children the father has and how much she will get. After making sure they will say, "Now I am satisfied". But supposing they are not satisfied they will say "We have no peace in this alliance", because their eyes are upon worldly things, or upon the girl's complexion, qualifications etc. That is why they are disappointed. Contentment makes a home happy.
JULY 2
"... he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
In the year 90 A.D. the apostle John became a prisoner in the Isle of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. There the Lord Jesus appeared to him. At that time believers were going through much tribulation. Some were scattered, some imprisoned and others were going through persecution and there was a great spiritual decline everywhere. We find the same conditions prevailing today in every part of the world among the Christians. That was the prophecy made by the Lord Jesus Christ that in the end days, "...the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24:12). According to 2 Tim 3:5 the believers will have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. Today we find worldliness increasing among Christians and they are becoming colder and colder every day. Very few will be able to stand persecution for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some Christians want to become spiritual but at the same time they do not want to give up worldliness. Once I saw a little boy who had a dirty jillebi in his hands. I felt sorry for the boy and told him to throw it away and that I would give him something better. He held the jillebi tightly in one hand and stretched out the other hand for that which I wanted to give. He knew what he had was very dirty but he would not give it up. He wanted both. Like that, some Christians want both the world and the Lord. One cannot have both. If you want the Lord, you should love Him whole-heartedly.
John saw the Lord Jesus Christ walking between seven golden candlesticks. The Lord said to John, "I do not want a mixed multitude or a worldly Church. I want a holy Church, a heavenly Church where My life can flow freely". But we find people bringing worldliness into the Church. There are quarrels, love for money and every kind of worldliness. The Lord Jesus Christ is not satisfied. He wants pure gold. That is why He permits refining fire among His people, because gold can only be refined by fire; fire beneath and fire above. Our Lord was saying to John the apostle, "John, I have permitted the refining fire among the people to refine them". Whether we have buildings or not, it is immaterial. Whether we are few in number or more, it is not important. Whether we are educated or illiterate, it makes no difference. Our Lord wants those people in whom His life can flow and who can come into divine order.
The Lord wants us to build His Church according to His plan, not an Indian Church, or an American or an English or a Japanese Church, but His Church, free from customs, practices, rituals and worldly ways. As far as possible we try to follow God's Word, and do all things according to His will, yet we find a few falling into sin. But then we have to pray for them because they find that the world it too strong for them. That is why in Revelation 1, the Lord appeared to John the apostle as the heavenly Advocate or High Priest. As our everlasting High Priest He is willing to interceded and pray for us. We as His coworkers should do the same ministry.
JULY 3
"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law" (Psalm 119:18).
In Matt. 1:20-25, we see how an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. News had reached Joseph that Mary his espoused wife was with a child. He began to wonder and even thought of putting her away privately(v. 19). Any man would have thought as Joseph thought, because he had never heard in the history of the world of a virgin being with a child. Joseph was much troubled and distressed. So God sent an angel to make him know how it hath happened. "... that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost" (v.20). No man would have succeeded in convincing Joseph about the Child being conceived by the Holy Ghost. Similarly, the message of salvation cannot be understood by any human being. Man may try to explain but one cannot understand, "... because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14). Man with his natural wisdom cannot understand or comprehend the things of God. It does not matter how intellectual a person may be; spiritual things cannot be understood by any one easily. The very same thought is given in Romans 8:5-7. The ordinary human mind cannot grasp or comprehend the divine truth about salvation.
To understand the Scriptures we have to claim the anointing of the Holy Spirit again and again. That is why before giving the message we pray, and after giving the message also we pray and at home we pray several times. Supposing a man goes on reading the Bible the whole day and also consults very good books in the library but does not pray sufficiently before giving the message, everyone will soon know that there is no life in the message and that they are mere words. But when the preacher prays sufficiently, then they see new life. Even though we read the Bible many times it cannot be understood by human wisdom. We need the anointing every day and every time we read the Word of God. Some great scholars though they know everything, bring doubts about the Bible. They say "This part of the Bible is not true and that part of the Bible is not true". And like that they go on. But they are fools and they do not know that these things are prophesied by the Holy Spirit and they cannot be understood by the ordinary mind. Even though one may be a teacher of the Law, without the Holy Spirit he cannot understand.
It is not only study of the Scriptures, which is going to give us spiritual life, but the inward working of the Holy Spirit in our lives is also necessary. We have to pray again and again, "O Lord, open my eyes that I may see wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psa. 119:18). Because it is the Word of God, and not the word of man, it cannot be understood by our ordinary, natural and corrupt minds. Do not let your human wisdom deceive you.
JULY 4
"... Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:2,3).
In Rev. 1:14 our Lord Jesus Christ was seen with beautiful white hair. In Dan. 7:9 we read '...the hair of his head like the pure wool." There He was called the Ancient of days, and the white hair speaks of his eternal wisdom. John the apostle was trying to understand his problems by human wisdom, and got puzzled. When however, we receive by faith the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, then whatsoever may be the situation, we will easily get the answer. With the help of divine wisdom, we can answer all questions. "Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts" (Psalm 119:98-100). You may be a wise man but that will not help you to solve your problems. Yet by reading God's word and receiving God's wisdom, you will find day by day your questions being wonderfully answered. What a privilege! Things that have been hidden from wise and great men, and even from prophets, are not being revealed to us, because the Lord Himself is our wisdom, and that wisdom is received by faith. Do not depend on your own wisdom for these matters. Day by day, ask God to give you His wisdom as in James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
One day a man came to me and said, "I have thirty-five questions. Will you answer them?" I said, "That requires lot of time. Wait a while till I call you. Put your questions on a piece of paper, and keep it with you". After three days I has some time, and called him and said, "Please bring your paper". He said, "I do not have any questions to be answered." "What has happened?" I asked. He said, "As you spoke in the meetings, the Lord answered my questions. I have torn up the paper, as now I have no question to be answered." He was born again and was baptized. It is only God's word that can answer your questions. We do not use the Word of God sufficiently. We go here and there and get no answer, -to aunts and uncles but not to God. Call upon Him for help, with confidence, claim Him as your divine wisdom, and you will find that He will answer every question, provided you go by faith and perseveringly.
JULY 5
"Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life" (John 6:54).
When we testify that the Lord Jesus Christ has become our spiritual food, then by faith we partake of the bread and cup. We say, "I am satisfied. I have no more longing for worldly music, worldly friends etc." We have to say so truthfully, otherwise we will come under condemnation. It will be a false testimony. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "...he that cometh to me, shall never hunger...never thirst". Then He tells us several times how we can eat Him and drink Him to have the same experience. "I am that bread of life" (John 6:48). "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (v.51). "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whose eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (vs. 53, 54). We have a hope that one day we shall be raised up with an immortal body. The same Lord Who died for our sins and rose again is coming back to receive us unto Himself that we may be where He is (John 14:3). That is only possible when we are given the same body as He has, an immortal body, a heavenly body. Now we have that hope that one day our Lord is coming back again for us. We shall see Him and shall be like Him. Now that hope gives us great joy. Rather than taking part in the Table as a habit you should say, "My Lord is coming for me. He will receive me and let me stay with Him forever". That hope automatically takes away the desire for worldly and perishing things.
In John 6:55,56, the Lord said, "For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him". The proof of my taking that bread as my heavenly food and that drink as my heavenly drink is, I am living in Him and He in me (v.57). That means, we will be kept conscious of His presence always. Even though we have many earthly trials, we will be conscious of the divine presence always. Only sin can take away that consciousness. Any thought of hatred, enmity or pride can take it away. Supposing you get angry with your wife or children and then you try to pray, words will not come to your mouth. Having got angry a few minutes back, you try as you may, the words will not come to you. But when you say by faith, "Yes Lord, I grieved Thee, I did get angry with my wife or husband or children or servant. Please forgive me" and then pray, you will feel the presence of God.
JULY 6
"... the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
In these days the word "Church" is used very lightly and carelessly. People speak of the "Lutheran Church" or "St. John's Church" etc. But in the Bible a building is never called "a church". Such a usage is entirely a human idea. Whenever God speaks in the Bible of a church, He always refers to the company of people who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. In the epistle to the Ephesians seven names are given to the church. The Body of Christ, One New Man, The Heavenly Family, The household of God, God's Building, God's Temple and The Bride of Christ. (Eph. 1:23; 2:15; 3:15; 2:19; 2:21a; 2:21b; 5:32). All these names refer only to the people of God and never to a building.
The Greek word "ekklesia", which has been translated as "Church", means "a called out people". The Lord Jesus said to His disciples: "I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you". Thus we are a people who have been "called out of the world", and that is why the Lord calls us "ekklesia".
The Church of God is compared to a building. You might have plenty of stones and cement, but you would not mix them up in a haphazard way to build a house; you would have a plan prepared by qualified engineers and employ skilled workers to build according to the plan. While the work of construction is going on neither the workmen nor their supervisors would have any right to make alterations in the plan. Likewise in the Church of God the Lord Jesus Christ Who is our Master Architect, has revealed His perfect plan to His servants for building us, who are the "living stones", into a holy habitation for God: and whereas the servants of God can help and supervise the work of God, they are not authorized to deviate from the heavenly plan. We, who are God's servants, should take heed that we are faithful to God's revealed plan and not build according to a "Church of England Plan" or "Methodist Plan" or another man-made plan. He has His own perfect plan, which He will reveal to those who are willing to come under His leadership and Lordship.
When Solomon has completed building the Temple in Jerusalem, the glory of God came down and filled it. But that Temple did not last long, for it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. But the Lord Jesus Christ is now building a heavenly Temple which will contain and manifest God's glory for eternity.
Have you realized the love of God? Do you know that He needs you? Perhaps you are thinking you are of no use to God. When God called me for His service, I was so conscious of my weakness and foolishness that I wondered why He chose me. I could not speak fluently; I stuttered and stammered; I could not sing a single note of music. I had never attended any Bible college. What could God do with a man like me? Yet He spoke to me very clearly and said, "I want you". God wants you also. He will work in you and transform you into His own likeness and make you shine with the glory of God. When you go to heaven the angels of God will wonder and question. "This man was so black and ugly, Lord; how did you make him so beautiful and glorious?" God will reply, "I did it by my faithfulness!"
JULY 7
"And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do...?" (Genesis 18:17).
The disciples were feeling very, very sad because the Lord had told them in a very plain way how He was going to be betrayed and crucified. They were all feeling downcast; they did not know even what to say, as they walked in the dark night in the small path leading to Gethsemane, when our Lord began to say something. Those words are found in chapters 14 to 16 of the Gospel of John. He said, "Henceforth I call you not servants;...but...friends". They thought they were being left alone and forsaken, but He said, "All things I have heard of my father, I have made know unto you."
Servants cannot understand all things about the master. But a friend can, and that is how you know divine friendship. God was trying to show the very same friendship to Abraham in Gen. 18:17. What a wonder this is! God had every right to do what He wished. God's time had come to judge the inhabitants of those wicked cities called Sodom and Gomorrah and He was about to do so. But He said: "How can I hide it from Abraham?" Abraham was not saying: "Oh God! You must tell me everything," because he had not yet understood the heart of God for him. No doubt he had been obeying God as far as he could, but so far he had not entered into the heart of God. Now God was saying about him: "How can I hide my counsel from Abraham?" This is God's purpose also for you and me as we are redeemed and purchased and washed and cleansed by His blood. We are not cleansed and washed to live as we like. No, we have been called to be friends of God, the most high and living God. God wants you to climb that Mountain of Friendship and then you will know how God, as your friend, reveals and shows you many, many truths and mysteries. If you are really a child of God and if you are truly born again, then in your heart will be a great longing to know the Bible. This was my longing, and I went on reading the Bible sometimes 12 to 14 hours a day. But that did not solve my problem. Bible knowledge itself does not satisfy your hunger. Similarly I thought that by spending many hours in prayer I would be satisfied. I tried that too, and whenever and wherever possible I spent hours in prayer, but even then I could see defeat in my life. Then I began to long for some miracles in life and through prayer and by God's grace, I have seen many miracles also. But even that did not satisfy me, till I learned God's purpose to make me His friend, and how to enter into pure friendship with the holy, just, might and great God. Now God Himself began to speak to me and tell me things which I could not learn from any man, in other words how to be God's co-labourer and partner and friend.
JULY 8
"...he that is dead is freed from sin" (Romans 6:7).
Our old nature causes us much trouble. As long as we are controlled by that corrupt, defiled, wretched nature we cannot posses divine life. We must find a way to get rid of this old nature. But the trouble is we do not realize how corrupt the human nature inside us is and so we are not anxious to be delivered from it.
There are some diseases like gangrene which cannot be treated by doctors. If gangrene sets in on a part of the leg there is no remedy except to cut off that part. God says very clearly in the Bible that human nature is incurably corrupt. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer. 17:9). It cannot be changed by any human power. Many have tried to change it by education or social reform, but have failed. By money or prosperity or even by fasting, penance and long prayers man's heart cannot be changed. The only remedy is, the old nature of man must die. Our sinful nature must die. There is no other way to get rid of it. Only then the divine life can flow into us. For that purpose the Lord Jesus had to die. He died so that we may die to sin. The Lord Jesus did no sin. (1 Pet. 2:22; 2 Cor. 5:21; John 8:46). No man could bring any charge against Him or find any fault in His words or deeds. He was perfectly holy and pure. At the same time He was endued with all power to rebuke the wind and storm, and make the sea calm (Matt. 8:26). So great was His power that no man could have laid his hands on Him. Yet He allowed wicked men to pierce His hands and feet and nail Him to the cross. He died to save sinners. He died to take away the condemnation of our sins. He died to take away our punishment.
Also He died to bring into us a new power which will help us to die to our old nature. This latter part many people fail to understand. No doubt they believe that first part. They believe that Christ died to take away the punishment of their sins. But they do not believe the second part that He died to take away their will power and their own wisdom to get victory over their temptations. The result is, they go on falling into sin again and again. You can never conquer sin that way. The only way is this: by faith you must take into you the power of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
JULY 9
"For we are labourers together with God" (1 Cor. 3:9).
The apostle Paul sees three things in Eph 1:17,18. The first is the hope of His calling. Our eyes should be opened to understand the heavenly calling of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we travel in bus or train or aeroplane we meet many strangers and when we start talking to them we come to know about their business or occupation. After some time we talk very freely. Similarly anybody can question us what our business is as Christians. Paul is praying for the believers at Ephesus and also for all of us because whatever he has written is intended for the whole Church. That is the beauty of the Word of God. It can be claimed by anyone. Paul is praying, "O Lord, if Ephesian believers are questioned about their calling, teach them to give a proper answer. They may give an answer truthfully and joyfully. "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). God expects us to give them answer. "I am a co-worker, and a partner with the Lord Jesus Christ; we share together the same heavenly business". All of us have become equal partners to build a heavenly habitation for Him. That is the hope of the calling of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have a big business, and people question you about it you may say, "I am a qualified engineer" or "I studied in many universities". They may ask you, "What is your salary?" If you say, "Rs. 100,000" they have to believe because you have been qualified from many universities, and your job and business demands such a salary. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are a co-worker with Him in building His heavenly habitation. What is your salary for this work?" You can say joyfully, "All that is the Lord's is mine".
We are partners with God and are building for Him a heavenly habitation, far more glorious than any worldly mansion. All the palaces of the whole world put together are nothing when compared to the heavenly sanctuary, because all this will one day fall down, A day is coming when all things will pass away, heaven and earth and mansions will pass away but the heavenly House now being built by the Lord Jesus Christ with our cooperation will never fall, because we have been accepted by the Lord Jesus Christ as His co-workers and partners. This is the hope of His calling for every believer. Even though upon the earth for the sake of our livelihood we might have some job or business, that is not our true business. Someone asked a poor believer "Who are you?" He replied, "I am a Christian". Again he was asked, "What is your occupation"? He replied, "To eat my bread, I am a labourer but as a believer I am a co-worker with my Lord working with Him for His heavenly habitation".
JULY 10
"... my refuge, is in God" (Psalm 62:7).
Going by the signs of the times and the prophesies in the Word of God, God's people should be prepared for the coming situations which may lead them to some more trials and afflictions. But thank God for we have a strong refuge in the Lord to which we can run for shelter, protection and safety. Among many names given to the Lord Jesus Christ in God's Word, one is Refuge. As we see in Psalm 18:2. "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower". Also in Psalm 46:7,11 we read, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge". Those who know Him as their personal Saviour can run to Him for everlasting refuge.
In the Old Testament period the Lord told Joshua to assign six cities of refuge for the slayer who killed a person unawares and unwittingly, to flee there for refuge from the avenger of blood. (Joshua 20:2,3). This refuge was only for a short time, that is, as long as the high priest was alive. But the shelter and refuge which we have in the Lord Jesus Christ is forever. The six cities of refuge were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan. These names help us to understand more fully the kind of refuge which we have in the Lord Jesus Christ.
First city of refuge was Kedesh which means holy. Some people think that God may forgive some of their sins but not all because they are many. There is a constant struggle in their hearts as to how they can become holy and righteous before God. Heb. 12:14 says, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord". Similarly Matt 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect". Again in 1 Peter 1:16 we read, "Be ye holy; for I am holy".
With that longing to become holy, many people give charity, go on pilgrimage and some even afflict their bodies. Roman Catholics think that by taking part in the Holy Mass at least some of their sins will be forgiven though not all. That is how many try to become holy by some means or the other, but they become worse and worse. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our holiness. He was "delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25). He covers all our sins, past, present and future. It is a complete salvation. In many cases this truth becomes our experience after many years. The devil creates doubts in many hearts saying God does forgive some sins because He is merciful, but to have the other sins forgiven, one must fast and pray and go on pilgrimage or give charity. This is how they are deceived. Going by 1 Cor. 1:30 the Lord Jesus Christ is our holiness and righteousness. He gives us full salvation. None of us can add anything to it. We have to thank Him constantly for becoming our righteousness. Then the peace of God will come into us and we will become holy.
JULY 11
"Trust in him at all times; ... God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:8).
The second city of refuge was Shechem (Joshua 20:2,7). Shechem means shoulder. The Lord Jesus Christ is only our Redeemer and Saviour, but He is also our Burden-bearer. He says in Matt. 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He undertakes to bear all our burdens. Many people know Him as the One Who forgives sins, but never enjoy Him as their Shechem. We can put any burden upon His shoulder however heavy it may be. "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee" (Psalm 55:22). We can put all our burdens upon the Lord, whether they are personal, or pertaining to our family or assembly, as His shoulders are strong enough to bear all our burdens. The same Lord Who helped us in the past is able to help us now and in the future.
Thirdly, Hebron means fellowship. First of all our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son our Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). Then we have fellowship with other believers. We must maintain our fellowship with God the Father and God the Son regularly through our quiet time, and share our thoughts, problems and burdens in prayer. Before we seek human sympathy, we must seek the favour of God. Then He will make every provision for our fellowship with other believers, not only for food but for spiritual help by sharing burdens and praying together.
When we have to go to a strange and far off place, our first concern is about fellowship. But believers need not feel lonely, as the Lord will provide helpful fellowship. When a believer is transferred or sent on promotion, the first reaction is to try for cancellation and seek prayer help. They are worried about their children's education and many other family matters. But we have the Lord Who will make every provision for our fellowship and all our needs. I have found during the past many years how the Lord has made wonderful provision for all my needs through fellowship. After my conversion in December 1929, my first prayer was, "Lord, I have been to good homes with high class furniture and all comforts but I have never lived in a real Christian home, I do not want any comfort; I only want a true Christian home". The same week a lady came to me and said, "We have heard that you are a stranger here. We have one room lying vacant. As long as you are here you can stay there", I said, "I will pray about it," but in my heart of hearts I wanted to accept the offer. When I prayed about it, the Lord said to me, "That is the home I have provided for you". After some weeks I shifted to that house. It was a happy Christian home. It was there that I read the whole Bible for the first time, and it was there that I heard God's call for His service and decided to serve Him; through them I had an opportunity to meet many good Christians. Now I thank God for all the provision He has made for my fellowship. Thus God provides fellowship in every country. In a true sense my Lord becomes my Hebron.
JULY 12
"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, ...in whom I will trust; ..." (Psalm 18:2).
The fourth city of refuge was Bezer. Bezer means strong. The Lord Jesus Christ is our strength in our weakness. Many times we feel very weak and discouraged. Paul says in 2 Cor. 12:10, "I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong". In our weakness God gives extra strength to conquer our trials and temptations. The Lord Jesus Christ personally is our Bezer, our strength in all our weaknesses and shortcomings. I know my weakness, that I stutter and stammer. I have to claim the Lord's help for every word to be spoken. In the beginning of my ministry I questioned the Lord why He made me a stammerer. He told me that He wanted me to depend upon Him completely. In the early days sometimes I had to walk thirty miles in Punjab, North India, to take meetings. The Lord put strength in me for walking, with the bedding on my shoulders and also for taking the meetings. We have to pray with faith, "Lord, we are Thy servants. We are going in Thy will for Thy service. Give us strength". Similarly, when we have any heavy responsibility in our family, or office, we can claim His strength. He is our Bezer in our limitations and weaknesses. He is our unfailing and sufficient strength.
Fifthly, Ramoth means height. The Lord wants us to rise very high in our spiritual life. We see in Deut. 31:11-13 how an eagle makes its young one to fly high when they are small. In the same way our Lord wants us to rise high spiritually. The mother eagle comes and starts shaking the nest till it is broken. Then the eagles start falling from the nest. The mother eagle takes them on its wings, goes high and again drop them. This is repeated many times till the young birds learn to fly high. In the same way the Lord wants us to fly very high, that is, to have a deeper experience of Himself. For that purpose He must break our plans. We may go on crying. "Lord, have mercy upon us, see our condition". But the Lord goes on breaking us till we are brought to a high place spiritually where He has everything best for us. He breaks our plans to bring us into His plan. Then we enjoy all the hidden mysteries of God's Word, and know what high purposes He has in saving us (Isa. 58:14). That is God's desire for us. The more we delight in doing God's will the more we rise high.
Sixthly, Golan means circle. In a circle there is no starting point. Every point can be the starting as well as ending point. A circle stands for eternity. There is no beginning or ending, light or darkness, day or night in eternity. Day by day the Lord is preparing us for eternity. There are some lessons which we have to learn upon the earth to make us fit for heaven. Upon the earth, we want to become very clever teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers and so on. The Lord has sought us and saved us to keep us in His heavenly plan. When we go to heaven, we will know the value of the lessons which He has taught us upon the earth. That is why we can rejoice in all circumstances (Rom. 8:37,38). Whatever may happen to us, it is allowed by God to make us effective servants. Our poverty, sickness, trials and difficulties train us for effective ministry. That is how we can conquer all our temptations.
We should say by faith that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Kedesh, our holiness; our Schechem our shoulder; our Hebron, our true fellowship; our Bezer, our strength; our Ramoth, our spiritual height; our Golan, our eternity. That is how He become our perfect, everlasting, strong, refuge.
JULY 13
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men" (Proverbs 4:14).
On the battlefield, Ahab suggested to Jehoshaphat that he wear royal robes, while Ahab himself went in disguise (2 Chron. 18:29). Ahab might have thought that he would be able to save himself, and direct attention towards Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat, on the other hand, had become so foolish that he had even lost common sense. Apparently his brain was not functioning. Being such a wise king he should have thought, "Why does Ahab want me to put on my royal robes when he himself is going under a disguise? Whenever we disobey God, our brain will not function properly and we will behave like fools, rushing even to our own destruction.
Ahab's enemy had instructed his men to attack only the king of Israel and not any of the soldiers. So the men were specially looking for the king to kill him. When they saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they left everyone else in the armies of Israel, and surrounded Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat might have thought, "When they see my robes they will recognize that I am the king of Judah, and they will not come near me". But in the battlefield Ahab had put Jehoshaphat in the front, and the enemy was deceived into thinking that he was the king of Israel. Thus Jehoshaphat was brought into such a situation that any moment he might have been killed. We see here how the downward path that Jehoshaphat had taken, lead him to its natural end-DEATH. Any moment he might have been killed.
In the hour of crisis on the battlefield, Jehoshaphat repented, and the Lord saved him (v.31). How merciful our Lord is! After all, Jehoshaphat was a man of God, even though he had fallen under the influence of Ahab and Jezebel, which had brought so much loss and blindness into his life. So now, when Jehoshaphat cried unto the Lord, the Lord saved him. But Ahab, the king of Israel, was killed (v.33). His disguise was no protection for Him.
Like Jehoshaphat, many Christians, even servants of God, enter into contracts with worldly friends and worldly associations, and thereby bring much damage and loss in their lives. They too may come to the state when they despair of life-whether spiritually, or even literally. They wait till that last minute to repent, and then some of them find that it is too late.
JULY 14
"As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" (John 15:4).
Our loving Lord wants us to be abundantly fruitful. Such a life of fruitfulness will not be easy. You must be near to the heart of God, to bear much fruit spiritually. By abiding in Him you can be fruitful (John 15:4).
Secondly, by longing for His life to be poured into you constantly and freely, just as the sap flows into the tree and the branches, you can be fruitful. Sometimes, one branch of a tree will be withered because that branch is affected by some disease. You have to search yourself constantly to be sure that the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is flowing into you freely and abundantly. If not, examine yourself to determine what is preventing the flow, and confess such a sin and receive the Lord's forgiveness.
Thirdly, by pruning we can bear fruit. "... every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it" (John 15:2). Watch the gardener purging the branches of the vine. Every branch is cut in such a way that it yields bunches of grapes. At Hampton court Palace, near London, a vine was planted more than two hundred years ago. It is a very old vine but it is wonderful to look at, as it fills a large dome-shaped room. When it starts yielding fruit we can see thousands of branches. For two hundred years it has been yielding fruit because it is pruned very carefully. Our Lord is saying that we need to be pruned and purged to bear fruit. Only a careful gardener knows how to purge and prune. That is why God permits painful sorrows and trials to make us more fruitful, not to punish us.
JULY 15
"...walk honestly toward them that are without, ...that ye may have lack of nothing" (1 Thess. 4:12).
"And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee" (Gen. 31:3). "So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him" (Gen. 35:6). There was an interval of about thirteen years between these two events. Although Jacob left Mesopotamia immediately after God spoke to him, he did not go straight to Bethel, but halted for many years at Shechem. It was because of this partial obedience that Jacob suffered many things there. Sometimes we also, like Jacob, do not obey God fully. Jacob should have returned to his father's house earlier. But instead of depending upon God and His promises, he began to depend upon his own cleverness, and set about to deceive his father-in-law Through his scheming, all the strong cattle became his and weaker ones Laban's. Jacob might have argued within himself that he needed wealth for this children. There are many people who say that they have large families and that is why they have to tell lies and take bribes. But whatever gain they may get by such means, it will never bring them any real prosperity or happiness. So even though Jacob's cattle increased he was not at peace. Laban's children became jealous of Jacob and talked among themselves saying that he had got all his wealth from their father by foul means. Whenever we use worldly ways to become prosperous we must be prepared to face people's jealously, hatred and strife. We cannot put all the blame upon them for this, seeing that our own behaviour has provoked them to jealousy.
It was at this point that God appeared to Jacob again, saying, "Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee" (Gen 31:3). If Jacob had been an honest man he would have frankly told his father-in-law what had happened, trusting God to make him to send him back happily with his wives, children, servants and cattle. Instead of this he departed secretly without Laban's knowledge. Since Jacob had got his cattle by wrong means, he must have felt guilty and uncomfortable in mind, and thus his faith was weakened. Whenever you do something questionable your faith will be weakened and you will fall an easy prey to Satan.
JULY 16
"Ye are the salt of the earth... Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13,14).
The girdle held Aaron's long, loose white robe in the proper place. The girdle speaks of faith and reminds us that we have to claim the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ day by day, and that we should not depend upon our own abilities in serving Him. We must depend upon His strength all the time, and receive His life by faith. Usually we forget to do this, and that is why we fail so often to serve Him effectively, and find at last that our labours have been wasted. It may take many such failures for us to learn to put our faith in Him. So the girdle reminds us that it is by faith we receive strength to serve Him, and not by our own talents nor by our own wisdom.
The blue robe and the ephod worn over the white robe by the high priest teach us an important lesson. In Matt. 5:13-15, the Lord compares us to salt and light. We have this two-fold thought in the blue robe and the ephod. The blue robe and the ephod stand for salt and light. We have to be like salt to our fellow-believers. When we gather as believers for worship and prayer, we help one another to enjoy God's presence. Only believers can really partake with us at such times. Thus like salt, we are useful to one another.
For unbelievers we have to be like light. The life which we live as Christians will be of great help to them. They will be blessed by the life of Christ which they see in us, and will be inspired through our testimony. Thus the blue robe and the ephod show us the two-fold responsibility we have towards believers and unbelievers. Believers are few in number as compared with unbelievers. Yet they have a powerful influence in the world, like the small quantity of salt which gives taste to our food. Believers who are comparatively few in number, form the Church of God upon the earth and show forth God's glory to the world.
JULY 17
"And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16).
The Lord Jesus Christ has to teach all of us much about His grace. He came into the world to bring grace and truth. "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). In John 1:16 we read about His fullness. He came into this world to bring us into His fullness which can be received and enjoyed by His grace. The apostle is testifying that as apostles they had the privilege of beholding the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and this glory is described in these two words, "full of grace and truth". What they had seen and what they called glory is grace and truth. Now you see the more you enjoy the grace of God, the more you will enjoy His fullness; it is not by seeing some signs, miracles or wonders that we see the glory of God. The apostles had the privilege of seeing almost all the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. But they did not see His full glory through the miracles. When they saw the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth, they behold His glory. It is the enjoyment of God's grace that helps us to see His glory.
The apostle Paul spoke much about the grace of God. He never had the power to speak or preach except by the grace of God. In all his life and preaching we find the word grace coming again and again. In Eph 2:8 he writes "For by grace are ye saved". Man does not have the least part in that salvation. It is only the gift of God which is received by grace and grace alone.
In 1 Cor. 15:10, Paul says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am...". Others might say, "Because of his education, culture and some other qualification he became a great apostle". But as far as he was concerned, he said very clearly that he was what he was by God's grace and that is true of every servant of God. In our folly we think because of our qualification, property, nationality and culture we are what we are. But when we see our own limitations, we realize that we are nothing in ourselves. Then alone can we be His servants and serve Him in many ways. The apostle Paul says in 1 Cor 3:5-8, how we are nothing. "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour". In our blindness we take pride in our gifts and talents, and because of this we think we can do this or that for the Lord. But we see clearly from Gods Word that no one can serve God by His own accomplishments of any kind and all that we do is only by God's grace. By ourselves we are nothing. It is not how you work or how you preach; if it is in your own strength you will not find any fruit in your labours and that is why Paul was saying that as far as he was concerned, he was nothing. We see in every epistle which he wrote, he begins with God's grace and also ends with God's grace. That means the main message which he wants to convey to us is the grace of God.
JULY 18
"... Why do ye also transgress the command of God by your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3).
Aaron and his sons were washed with water before the congregation (Lev. 8:6). Water in the Bible represents the Word of God (Eph. 5:26). As they were washed with water before everybody, they were showing to the people that they were being set apart for God's service for the whole nation, and they had to be kept under the Word of God for everything. Aaron was not to follow any man-made custom or tradition but only God's Word. Many people, instead of following God's Word, follow traditions, practices and customs of man. That is why they do not grow spiritually. We have instructions given in the Word of God for all our needs, problems and activities. Unless we honour God's Word fully we have no right to claim our full share in His fullness. We lose our share in God's fullness by ignoring Word of God. We have to make very strong decision and promise to God saying, "Lord, I will obey Thy Word implicitly in all my activities, ways and plans." With that vision, the Lord led us in the work in Chennai many years ago. We saw believers everywhere slaves to customs and traditions of man. We noticed that those who were free from customs of man had gone on well with the Lord, but those who were slaves to customs were blind spiritually. They cannot enjoy God's Word fully and they cannot know God's plan and purpose for their lives. That is why, before the congregation of many lakhs of people Moses washed Aaron and his sons. It was not for the public display but for an example.
First of all, Aaron had to be blameless. By God's power he become blameless. As God chose him by His own mighty hand, he was made without any blemish. Similarly, if we try our best to be without any blemish, we will never succeed. We are bound to have some fault, failure or weakness somewhere, sometime. It is not by our human efforts we are made righteous. The Lord Jesus Christ is our righteousness and justification. He makes us complete and perfect not by ourselves but as we read in Col. 2:10, "ye are complete in him." This is very helpful and important verse. The Lord Jesus Christ is my perfection and my justification. That is why we pray in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowingly or unknowingly we declare, "Lord, by myself I have no right to come unto Thee, but because of what Thou hast done for me, I come to Thee. " God was reminding Aaron that if he had to serve Him, he must keep himself in subjection to God's word completely in everything. He was to make it a practice daily.