The Morning Star
THE MORNING STAR
Once we learn the secret of hearing the Voice of God, all our questions, no matter how difficult they are, are answered, and our problems, however complicated, are solved. Again we repeat, the Lord does speak. He is a loving God, a living Person whom we can hear and whose love we can experience.
There was a time-in my life when out of ignorance and folly and pride I used to say: “There is no God”, and also made fun of those who believed in God, Then one day, without my going to any meeting or anyone coming to speak to me, I heard the Voice of God speaking to me in my own room and I knew that it was God who was speaking lo me. He changed my life forty years avo, Thank God that He has saved a sinner like me, and that I now have the privilege of hearing His voice every day, I can testify to His glory that He answers my questions and solves my problems day by day, however difficult they may be.
Wien I started reading Genesis in January 1930, I came across these words several times in every page, ‘God said’, ‘God said’. It is repeated 558 times in the first five books of the Bible, IT began to mark my Bible and said to myself, “H God is speaking, then I must listen", and as I read I prayed, “O God, my loving God, speak to me and help me now”. What I am telling you, I am telling you from my own experience, not from other people’s experiences. We can see as we study the different portions of the Scriptures, how God came into the lives of many men and women of old, and enabled them to hear His Voice. God uses many different ways and circumstances to teach us to know His ways. May He teach each one of us the secret of hearing the still” small Voice of God.
This secret is revealed to us from the passage in Matt. 17:5, in the words that came from heaven: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him”. These words were spoken for the benefit of those disciples who were with our Lord Jesus Christ, when He was transfigured on the mount, that they might understand the privilege His children have of hearing His Voice again and again. Those disciples had seen many miracles performed by our Lord Jesus Christ for three long years, and had also heard Him preach. They had listened to Him attentively, yet when that Voice came from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him”, they could not understand, at that time, what it meant. To them it was words and sounds only. They could not enjoy what God said.
On the other hand, something happened when Saul heard the Voice of God. When Saul and his companions were on the way to Damascus (Acts 9) these words came clearly to him: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” Now Saul’s companions heard the Voice but not the words, It sounded like thunder to them, But Saul was able to ask, “Who art thou Lord?” The Lord replied, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest”. Then Saul further asked Him, “What wilt thou have me to do?” Saul questioned God because he had heard His Voice, but to his companions the Voice seemed to be sound without words. They could not understand. This was the condition of the people in Matt, 17. They heard many sermons which were quite simple. but they could not understand what their real meaning was.
On one occasion our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Beware of the heaven of the Pharisees” but it so happened that day they had forgotten to take bread with them. In those days they had to carry their own food when traveling. The disciples thought that because they had forgotten to do so the Lord was warning them. Many a time, they could not understand what He meant. In the same way you may be hearing many sermons but the words do not become your daily experience. In many cases they enter by one car and go out through the other. We appeal to you not to give up till you learn to hear and understand when the Lord speaks to you. It is only when you learn this that your lives will become transformed. You will find your burdens lifted, your eyes opened, your fears and doubts cleared and all the enemy devices defeated. It is a wonderful thing to hear the Voice of the Lord.
Now in Matt. 16 our Lord Jesus puts two questions to His disciples in vs, 13-15. The first question 18, “Whom do men say I the Son of man am?” It is for a purpose that a second question was put by our Lord Jesus Christ. It was to show them. the secret of hearing the Voice of God. In answer to the first question the disciples replied. “Some say you are John the Baptist and some say that you are Jeremiah or Elias*, The second question He put to them was, “What do you say about me?" Straightway Simon Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God". The Lord Jesus Christ answered: “Simon, don't get excited thinking that. you have understood Me. Flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but My Father which is in heaven.” - Peter could have told Him that he had seen ail His miracles during the three years he was the Christ, or he could have said it was because of His sermons that he knew, but our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Flesh and blood have not revealed.... It is not these that give you this revelation, viz. my miracles and my sermons. Simon, unknown to you, some divine light has been brought into you to let you know about Me."
Remember that you cannot hear the Voice of God without divine light. This is the first step if you want to know clearly and definitely the Voice of God. The light of God will come into you and it will go on shining brighter day by day (Pro, 4:15). That light may come into you like a tiny ray, but it will become brighter and brighter as you obey Him. Without divine light you cannot know, er see or hear God.
In 2 Peter 1:16-2] again Peter testifies how our Lord Jesus Christ had become so real to him, We read in Matt, 17:1-7, that our Lord took Peter, James and John on to a high mountain and was transfigured before them and His garments began to shine brightly, brighter than the mid-day sun. Then the Voice came from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him”. Peter testified in his letter that he was not following cunning fables. On the mountain top they had seen the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and had heard His Voice, and that glory and that Voice had changed them completely (2 Peter 1:18).
Peter says: “Don’t think we were the only people who have had the privilege of hearing God’s Voice. You may say in your heart: ‘Peter, it was your privilege to be on the mountain top and see His glory and transfiguration. What about men like us? How can we hear His Voice and see His glory. It may have been true in I that period, but men like us of this period cannot hear I His voice.’"” The answer is in the verse following (2 Peter 1: £9) “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in the dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” Peter says there that if you really receive by faith the Word of God in your heart, the Word coming into you will become the shining light to let you see for yourself that God is right. That is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In God’s Word first we see Ourselves as we are, then we see God in His time glory and love.
Many people get frightened when they see their true condition, and they think: ‘No, no, I am a sinner and I want to be perfect. However Tam not like my neighbour or brother or sister, I may tell a lie, but not often, I may take bribes, but I don’t ask for them, People come and put the money into my pocket. I am not so bad after all.”
In the eyes of the Lord. way sin of any kind is equally bad. One defiling touch in a wound could bring death. One tiny germ can bring death to a whole family.
You will find that when a person has a cold the whole family will get a cold. Even though you put your handkerchief to your nose when you sneeze to prevent the cold spreading, yet somebody else gets it.
Sin of any kind is easily destructive, horrible, and terrible. Only the light of God that comes into us delivers us from the damage caused by our thought, word or deed, and the very same light shows the glory, beauty and majesty of our living Saviour. When men uncover our sins they do so to put us to shame. but the light of God uncovers our sins to help us to confess them and have them cleansed away. We have the assurance of prophecy that we do not have to co on the mountain-top to see His glory. Anywhere, wherever we are, there we can see His glory and beauty. This is possible only when divine hight comes into us, and we receive in our spirit the Word of God.
If you want to receive the light of God, then first of all believe from your heart that the Bible is the true Word af God, from Genesis to Revelation, Even though we cannot understand what we read sometimes, it still remains the Word of God. It can never change. It is not of any private interpretation, holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Hear and read the Word af God with respect, reverence and faith and go on saying step by step: “Lord speak to me from Thy Word”, That is how you can learn to hear the Voice of God.
I was convinced at the first reading of the Bible, that it was the Word of God. In my B-A., I read the books of different scholars but I never saw a book like this. When 7 read the first chapters of the Gospel of Matthew I said, “No man, no scholar from any part of the world can write like this. Only God can write in this special way.” 50 I said, “Lord, I respect this book, this is Thy Word. Kindly teach me and speak to me through its pages. Even though I may not understand everything in the beginning, Lord, I will never doubt Thy Word. Do take Your own time and teach me the meaning of Your Word, cither tow or even of it takes one or two years. I will not worry You. I want You to speak daily according to my need.” Then I found the light of God coming in brighter and brighter day by day. On the one hand, I saw my inward corruption, but on the other hand I saw His abundant grace ta forgive me and wash me, and how He has made every provision to help me daily in my need.
“This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, heer ye Him.” These words which the disciples heard at that time I found very hopeful, and believed them. At first I thought that by having Bible knowledge I would become more righteous. but then I discovered that it is neither knowledge, nor signs nor miracles that can mage me righteous. Righteousness comes only by hearing the Voice of God. Before going to bed I used to pray, “Lord, tell me please. did my life today please Thee? Tell me if I made any mistakes and have grieved Thee by thought, word or deed. If I have: done something wrong, Lord show it to me.” He showed me. I confessed it and my Lord forgave me, and said to me; “I am well pleased with thee, go", Straightaway I would go to bed, and have a nice sleep. But if I had done something wrong and had not confessed it, I would find it hard to sleep. I would toss this way and that way, till at last I would go on my knees again and say: “Yes, Lord. I am sorry. It was my fault. I have grieved Thee. Kindly forgive me. I believe in the efficacy of the precious blood. Lord. forgive me." Then He would say to me, “My child go to bed again. EL am well pleased with thee.” Now Lam happy every day.
It will happen ta you also in the same way, given the same conditions, I learned to say day by day: “Now Lord, will you kindly show the way for me today? I am helpless, show me clearly what Thou at expecting of me. Tell me where to go, and what to say”. Having found the plan, f would obey at once. When night came I would ask the same question upon my knees again. “Lard. has my love given you full satisfaction. Art Thou satisfied? Speak to me, are You fully satisfied??
In my school days, if I scored high marks, say 600 marks or 60%, I would say to all my friends. “I have passed" and I would show the results to my father, He would say, “What? only 609,2?. What have you been I ‘doing? You have wasted your time.” I was satisfied that I had passed, but my father was not, and said: “You must get 95%".
~ Is God satisfied with you? When He ts satisfied the Voice comes “My son, my daughter, I am well pleased with thee. Now go to bed.” I found it so helpful daily in all my ways. I don’t want the satisfaction of friends or neighbours, I believe my loving Saviour has under- “taken for me and helped me. He is ready to forgive me and restore me,
First of all, He comes unto us like the Morning Star (2 Peter 1:19), “the Bright and Morning Star™ (Rev. 22: 16) (Num. 24:17). Read also Isaiah 60:3. Christ is the Bright and Morning Star. Have you ever lived in villages? You will find most farmers are not governed by clocks or watches. Whenever they go to the field early in the morning, or when they want to travel early in the morning. they are governed by the Morning Star and say, “Now it is time, I must get up and go”, They find their direction also by the same Morning Star.:
You will find in many cases when you want to get up, the body says, “My dear master, will you please Jet me lie down for a few minutes? I am tired”, Then the head, stomach and knees begin to hurt, as if to say: “Master, I am very tired. Please let me sleep. Last night I did not sleep properly. My neighbours troubled me, and my stomach troubled me too. My dear master have “mercy on me. Let me stay here for a while.” Then when you get up your journey seems longer, for the sun is very hot and the night is far spent.
The Lord Jesus Christ comes to us as the Bright and Morning Star, and even though in the beginning we may know some darkness, remember nobody becomes perfect as soon as they are born again. We have many difficulties and problems to face in the’ beginning. We see darkness around us, but the Morning Star tells me, “My child, do not lock at the darkness, After one or two hours the sun will be getting up”, and true enough, we find the sun shining upon us after a few hours. The Morning Star enables us to overcome all our worries and doubts without any human help, and we shall be able to find the way. The more we obey, the more light we will receive.
In the beginning you cannot understand so many things. I read the Bible-more than one hundred times and then at last began to see some meaning, but now I know what these words mean: ‘In the beginning’, Gen. lt. I did not’ know at first what they meant, and often went to sleep while reading. After many years these same chapters or verses or passages have become new to me.° That is the Light of God shining upon the path more brightly, provided we receive the Word of God as the Word of God and make it a practice to stay upon our knees till God speaks to us.
In the beginning do not ask God many questions but only one thing: “Lord, are you satisfied with my life? I came to you only with one question. I have not come with any need. But only this ‘Lord, is my life giving you full pleasure? Are you fully satisfied with my deeds and words?’ Then wait patiently and don’t worry God for an answer, He is our Creator, Be reverent before ‘Him. Don't say to Him. “Lord I am a very busy man, If you don’t speak to me within five minutes I won't talk _ te you. Twill go away. I am willing to give you seven minutes, but not more.” Say rather, “Lord take Your own time”, and I am sure He will speak to you.
The Lord told his disciples in Matt. 16:21 that He would suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and be killed and raised again the third day. All this He told them before taking them to the mountain and being transfigured before them. He explained to them in plain language that it was for the sake of them sins that He was to suffer, be killed and rise again. Peter even took him aside and rebuked Film. Then after six days, the Lord took him on to a high mountain, and these words came, “Hear ye Him!" It is not through sermons, or the knowledge of Hebrew literature or Greek philosophy that we know the way of the cross. The Voice said, “Hear ye Him™. Hear His Voice daily, hear it fully, and then you will know the full meaning of His suffering, death, burial, resurrection and glory. A man who tries to understand spiritual mysteries by human wisdom will be confounded and confused and perplexed. So listen to His Voice as you begin the day. Wait patiently and quietly and say, “Lord speak to me morning, noon, and night. Speak to me from Thine own Word”. Wait till He says, “Yes, my son, I am well pleased: go".
For this purpose you must welcome the living Lord into your heart. Only then will He speak to you. He cannot came and live in your heart till you ask Him to come in and He forgives your sin. I have travelled for many years to many Places and visited many poor homes, some even small huts. Sometimes we go unexpectedly and as strangers, and they say, “Sir, wait for a while, while they take up the broom and sweep the hut. Then they will spread a mat or a blanket. Sometimes women. will spread their sarees. Then only they say, “Come in, Sir”.
How are you going ta welcome the Lord Jesus Christ? He will come only into a pure heart. He Himself will undertake to cleanse your heart with His precious blood.. He will come and stay in your heart for eternity and not only for a few days. Then you can speak to Him and tell Him all that has happened, and you can go out and tell others what has happened to you, till your face shines. with the joy of’ His presence.
Chapter 4