What's Ahead?

Jeremiah 8:20, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

Jeremiah lamented the future state of Judah, seeing through the prophetic that they would languish in sorrow as a people who had failed to reap the spring or summer harvest. God had presented them with the opportunity to repent and return to His provision but they insisted upon holding to their false gods.

Much in the same way, I lament the future state our nation and our world seeing that mankind as a whole has refused to repent and return to the Lord. What does the immediate future hold for the world, this nation, the Church and each individual? God alone knows what is ahead and only He can position us where we can be of the greatest benefit to Him.

Where am I in relation to where he wants me to be? Do I hear each “still small voice” expression and command? Or am I so easily distracted that I miss part of the message. It is expedient that we hear and receive His directive without delay. We do not have the luxury of “wasted time.” Each moment is precious as we pull lost souls out of the fire. No one is expendable. Jesus Christ is the answer to our dilemma!

God's Champion!

1 Samuel 17:40, “40And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”

1 Samuel 17:45, “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand;...”

What is the significance of the smooth stones that David chose? The smooth stones were more aerodynamic. They would fly straight. David knew this not because he had studied physics at the Jerusalem University. He knew this through his own practical experience with a slingshot. This was a tried and true weapon in the hands of a proficient champion. David used what he had in his hands. He used what he knew best, his faith in the Lord God of Israel and his slingshot. The combination of the two was a sure formula for victory.

What do we do when confronted by the enemy. Much like the armies of Israel when confronted by the Philistines and their champion, we stand motionless in fear at the very prospect of defeat. Thoughts of doubt and uncertainty flood our minds and cause us to lose heart.

God sent young David to the battlefield that day because He needed a champion and He had chosen David. He didn’t choose someone who would be measured as a warrior. The kings armor would not fit this ruddy young lad but nevertheless, he was God’s champion. He left the field with a resounding victory because he gave himself into the hands of God.

The Body of Christ is facing its own spiritual giants. At the same time the Holy Spirit is raising up God’s champions to render the enemy helpless and deliver a resounding victory. We know how this will end. God will be the victor! But are we willing to answer God’s call and become His champion for His cause. David used what was familiar to him, his faith in God and his slingshot. He became a willing participant in God’s cause. Will you give yourself into the hands of God, become a willing participant in His cause and become His CHAMPION?

But By My Spirit Saith The Lord!

Zech. 4:6, "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

I feel inspired to remind us that we must continue in the unabated freedom of the Holy Ghost. The knowledge and wisdom of man is not sufficient for the time ahead.

The Holy Spirit is an indispensable confidant in the time ahead of us. Unabated means “continuing at full strength or force without becoming weaker. Being at full strength or force.” We will require the full authority, presence and perspective of the Holy Ghost every moment of this journey. We dare not proceed without being fully immersed in His person and baptized in the power of His presence. His guidance is essential. The choices and decisions ahead will be difficult. Not difficult to make but difficult in the sense of their consequences. A step forward without the absolute wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit could put us on a path of irreparable error. At the very least choices made without the full assurance of the Holy Ghost will cause unnecessary sorrow and suffering. The road back is always burdensome.

The storms of darkness will rage against the souls of light. These storms will respond to only ONE voice, the Master’s voice. When the storms of life are raging, He will stand by me. At the mere utterance of His command the winds cease and there is peace.

Psalm 31:19, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”

I must run to my hiding place, my refuge from the storm. My soul craves the quietness there. In the stillness, I find peace and rest. He lifts me above this world's raging sea. He quiets the winds and calms the blustery waves. He commands “peace, be still” and the wholeness of my life returns.

Joy Is Coming In The Morning! by Myra Boozer

Sorrows may last for the night...
But Joy is Coming in the Morning.
Sickness may seem to have its way...
But Joy is Coming in the Morning.
Heartaches my swell and your heart may bleed...
But Joy is Coming in the Morning.
Friends may withhold their love from you...
But Joy is Coming in the Morning.
Troubles may pound upon your door...
But Joy is Coming in the Morning.
Your pantry may be empty and the rent may be due...
But Joy is Coming in the Morning.
The family you have counted on, all your life may all be gone...
But Joy is Coming in the Morning.
Your finances may dwindle and finally run out...
But Joy is Coming in the Morning.
The night may be long and weary no doubt...
But Joy is coming in the Morning!!!

Psalms 30:5, "...weeping may endure through the night, but joy comes with the morning."
Remember faith grows in darkness. He is Coming. Don't give up but hold to His promise!

Specific Instructions From The Lord Jesus! Part 2

1 Samuel 3:11, “And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.” Note: there was a time for repentance, (see 1 Sam. 2:27-36), but it was too late at this point. “14And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. 15And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.”

In 1 Samuel chapter 4, we observe the fulfillment of God's judgment upon the house of Eli. Israel went into battle against the Philistines and the battle did not go well for them. The Israelites sent for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought to the battlefield presumably to elicit the intervention of God and encourage the soldiers to press on to victory. However, the Israelites were already defeated. There was nothing that could be done, “the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever,” v14. This was all according to God's plan to bring Hophni and Phinehas to the battlefield as they accompanied the Ark. The Ark was captured and Eli's two sons were killed in battle. Eli, having received the news of what had happened, fell backward off his seat, broke his neck and died. Phinehas' wife, being with child, went into labor when she heard of her husband's death. She named the child Ichabod which means “the glory is departed from Israel.” God's warning was that He would cut off the house of Eli. 1 Sam. 2:31, “...there shall not be an old man in thine house.”

The death, devastation, and destruction in Israel was because there was not a man who would hear the Word of the Lord. The glory was departed from Israel because they would not hear the Word of the Lord. The death, devastation, and destruction in our world is because of man's failure to hear the Word of the Lord. In 1 Samuel 7:3, we observe the beginning of Samuel's revival ministry, “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only... 9And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.” It is imperative that the Body of Christ continually receive specific instructions from the Lord Jesus for our mission each day until He returns for us.

Do You Know Him! by Myra Boozer

Do you know the love of Jesus? Has He come into your life and brought peace where confusion and turmoil once lived? Has He come with a whisper of the love that He has for you and your family? Has He given you joy beyond measure, sharing with you the abundance of the heavenly rain that covers all souls that delight in Him? Do you feel His arms of security and have confidence in His plan for your life, instead of feeling like a lost ship on the sea of time? Do you awake each morning with hope that today you will be able to share good news with a world that so desperately needs it...all because you know JESUS, the author of good news? Do you have a laughter that comes from a deep deep well of living water...that springs forth giving life? Do you know the love of Jesus...the compassionate one who feels every heartache and sees every tear that falls from your eyes? Do you know this man that gave His very life so that you would not have to receive punishment for the sin of Adam that dwelt in each of us? Do you know Him? Do you know that He is coming to take those who love Him to live with Him forever in a place that eyes have not seen and ears have not heard. There is nothing on earth to even compare! He is the one who picks me up and turns me around when I feel dizzy from the hustle of this life, the one I depend on to give me strength, the one who gives me HOPE. No matter what may come, no matter what may happen I can be FAITHFUL to Him and TRUST Him for the outcome....#Doyouknowhim?

Specific Instructions From The Lord Jesus!

In these evil and uncertain times is imperative that the Body of Christ receive specific instructions from the Lord! We need His counsel daily to position us how and where He wants to use us. Our every move is critical to His mission and our assignment here.

1 Samuel 3:1, “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” There was not a prophet in Israel, no open communication with God. Ryrie states, “Apostasy and prophetic inactivity characterized the days of Eli.”³³ Eli was the High Priest of Israel. He had allowed his sons to pervert the worship of God and bring the worship of Baal into the temple. Ellicott states “Hophni and Phinehas, the grown men prostituted the holy work to their own vile worldly ends.”³⁴ Eli's failure, which brought God's judgment upon his house, was the gross neglect and inability to bring his sons under control. We are accountable to God and as such determine our own destiny.

1 Samuel 3:10, “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” Young Samuel ministered unto the Lord under the direction of Eli. Samuel's job was to ensure that the lamp located just outside the veil to the Holy of Holies stayed lit. The lamp burned from evening to morning. It was during this time that Samuel encountered God. Three times God called his name and three times Samuel went to Eli to reply “Here I am.” The third time Eli, realizing that Samuel was hearing the voice of God, instructed him to answer, “Speak Lord for thy servant heareth.” Samuel followed Eli's instructions and God began to inform him of what was ahead for Israel, Eli, and his sons.

Young Samuel was looking to Eli for his direction. It was only after he recognized the source of the message that he could understand the significance of the message. Life is full of disappointments but I have found that many disappointments come because I am looking to man to do what only God can do. The ultimate source of my supply is God and God alone. Although, a man may give support, counsel, encouragement and prayer, we must guard against putting our faith and confidence solely in mortal resources. Man's ability to intervene for us is limited, therefore we must turn to and ultimately trust in the infinite resources of Jesus Christ. He is the one, the only one who can go with us all the way to the end of the matter. Thereby, the peace that surpasses all human understanding will accompany us until we complete this journey (Phil. 4:7). The Message, p. 104-106, available at Amazon.com.

33 Ryrie, Charles C. (1978). Ryrie Study Bible. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, note on 1 Kings 3:1

34 Ellicott's Commentary. (2016, June 28).

Retrieved from http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/1_samuel/3- 1.htm