Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of they tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:1, 2 & 7

Last Monday, we discussed the “cleaning agent” that is better than Tide.  But, the best laundry detergent in the world cannot remove the stain of sin. It takes the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  That is the process David describes in Psalm 51.

The idea of purging appears again in Isaiah 1:25 where God says, “And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:” Purging was not only used by the person who did the laundry; it was referred to as a process used by refiners as well. Malachi 3:3 says, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” When the Bible talks about purging something that is unnecessary or something that is impure out of our lives, it illustrates it with the process by which gold, silver, and other precious metals are purified.  Ore, dug out of the earth, has impurities and less valuable metals mingling with the gold or silver.  That must be removed before it is valuable and useful.  Because God is filled with mercy and truth, He places us in the crucible of affliction and turns the heat up on our lives.

When God turns up the heat on your life and puts you under pressure, the dross comes to the surface.  Have you responded to something and been surprised by what you said or did?  Put in the right situation, you will say things that you never though you would say.  Where does that come from?  It comes from the inside heart of man having been brought to the surface by pressure.  We tend to think that if God loved us, He would not allow us to experience so much pressure; but in reality, God’s love is why He puts us in those situations.  God, in His mercy and in His truth, is so committed to seeing us be pure and clean and white that He brings the pressure.  God wants to bring the dross to the surface so that we will deal with it and remove it from our life.

We see the concept of purging again in an agricultural setting.  Matthew 3:12 says, “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Wheat is a wonderful and useful grain, but it comes encased in chaff which is completely worthless.   The process of purging the wheat removes that which is unnecessary and unproductive so that only the good remains.  In Bible times, wheat was threshed—literally beaten with sticks to knock the chaff loose.  I am sure that if a grain of wheat could talk, it would have said something like, “Whoa! I don’t like this winnowing.  It hurts when those sticks hit me.  Somebody make this stop!”

Purging is the result of God’s mercy and truth.  I am convinced that much of our praying is spent asking God to take away things He has sent into our lives to make us more like His Son.  The next time you endure painful circumstances or difficult situations, instead of trying to get out, look for something God is trying to purge from your life to make you more valuable and useful to Him.

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Dr. Paul A. Kingsbury

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Good morning to all!  I want to continue to share with you some of the privileges of being a child of God.  When we’re born for the first time, it is not with divinity in us.  We are sinners and a part of a family with the devil as our father.  The devil is the spirit of bondage.  He wants to make a slave of you as well as wreck and ruin your life.  He uses fleshly pleasures which are fleeting.  With our new adopted family, we have a new Father.  We are no longer in bondage and fear, left to wonder if our needs will be met.  For many people with adult salvation coming out of a troubled background, whether it’s the absence of a father or abusive parents, there is a lingering skepticism.  Last week, we discussed the importance of being adopted into the family of God and the first privilege of being a child of God; personal leadership of the Spirit of God in your life.  In this blog, we will evaluate two more privileges of being God’s child; consistent undying love, compassion, and protection of God; as well as the assurance we belong to the Lord.

It is a great privilege to have a compassionate Father Who loves and protects His children.  The word “father” for some people has a negative connotation.  When you became saved, you were placed into a family with an absolutely perfect Father.   Through the Spirit of adoption, we are not taken in as slaves, but as sons and daughters.  I like how the Scriptures demonstrate how wonderful and personal this relationship is.  For example, in Romans 8:15, “Whereby we cry, Abba Father”; the Bible refers to the cry of a child.  The cry of your children even amongst a large group is easily identified.  This is how it is for our heavenly Father.  He is so close, personal, and loves you so deeply that He hears your cry regardless of any situation or circumstance.  Why should we linger on serving the devil and sin when we’ve been adopted into a new family?  We don’t have to work there any longer.  Nor do we have to be a slave to the devil anymore.

Another privilege of being a child of God is the assurance that we belong to the Lord.  Romans 8:16 says that the Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit which reveals that we are the children of God.  He’s the Spirit of communication.  However, He does much more.   Our relationship and the knowledge of Him comes froma desired revelation through the Spirit of God.  In John 14:7, Jesus declared to His disciples that when the Holy Spirit would come, He would be the Spirit of truth.  He also said that the world would not receive Him, but you are going to know Him and He’s going to be in you.  How do we know Him?  How is His word illuminated to us?  That is a ministry of the One who bears witness.  He carries a testimony.  The Spirit of God is the One Who internally explains how God the Father and the word of God operate.

As we read the word of God, the Spirit guides and directs us.  As we learn more about spiritual things through the ministry of the Spirit of God, He bears witness.  He’ll guide us into all truth and alert us to danger ahead.  God knows what’s waiting in the future. This exemplification lies in 1 John 4:6:

The privileges of being a child of God are designed to lead us to a life of fulfillment in Christ.  Next week, in the last selection in this series on privileges of being a child of God, we’ll discuss the last two privileges:  ultimate gain through Christ and the glorification of God. Let’s appropriate our adoption into God’s family and appreciate all its benefits, that we may live victorious Christian lives.  Spend some time today to bask in God’s mercy and undying love for you!

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Imagine that you’ve been invited to meet with the President of the United States in the Oval Office. You’d likely look forward to your appointment with great excitement. Now imagine that someone much more exciting – the God of the universe – wants to meet with you personally. This scenario is true; God really does want to meet with you, and He wants to do so every single day through a private quiet time alone.

I have had the privilege of traveling for several years, training good lay-people in local churches to start the Reformers Unanimous Addiction Program. I never teach on the “It’s Personal” Daily Journal without seeing many tears. I sense hearts being turned towards Him. Just yesterday, I received a call from a Pastor in Florida, where I had been a few weeks prior. He shared with me that the church members who were involved in their addiction outreach were experiencing revival! He contributed it to their participation in the RU Daily Journal. In fact, he told me how his wife, a 29-year old Christian, testified on Sunday night on the effect the journal was having in her own life. I can verify here testimony and place before you hundreds that would say the same thing. However, I wonder how many started journaling and stopped? I wonder how many more started but now, just pencil whip it, to “get it done”?

Keeping a journal allows the individual to review their thoughts, moments of clarity, and assist them in developing Spirit-led insight. Daily journaling is a very powerful tool to keep one in the reality of HIM. I often teach how the journal, when approached properly, will give you a “fresh” awareness of God’s presence in your life. Have you had one lately?

Those appointments with God should be a source of great joy for you. But unfortunately, quiet times can sometimes seem too intimidating to schedule or maintain regularly. Here are some ways you can enjoy your appointments with God; I can promise you they will be more enjoyable than with any President:

* Seek God Himself rather than anything He might give you. Know that God will meet you where you are and reveal much about Himself to you if you’re sincerely seeking Him.
* Listen carefully for God’s voice, which you’ll recognize better and better the more time you spend with Him. Wait expectantly in silence for a while for the Holy Spirit to speak. Resist the outside pressure and listen for the inside persuasion.
* Write down your thoughts, feelings, and prayers in the journal during your quiet time to more clearly express them. Read through your Journal often.
* Think about how much God loves you, and expect to be blessed as a result of spending time with Him. View your quiet times as cherished meetings with someone you love.
* Realize that the more time you spend with God, the greater the intimacy you’ll develop with Him. Although the idea of a daily quiet time might seem awkward at first because you might not know what to say or how to recognize God’s voice; after a while, you’ll look forward to the appointment because it will be like meeting with your best friend.
* Listen to the Daily Journal CD again. I promise you there are parts you have forgotten. This will refresh your look at particular section in your journal time.
* Set aside a consistent time every day to meet with God. Choose a time at which you’re most alert and can block out distractions. I believe God always ask us for the “first.” He made it plain to give him the first fruits of our income, the first day of the week, etc. Many times, the mentors from the pages of God’s Word spoke of the first part of the day.
* Designate a special place in which you can meet privately with God. The place can be either indoors or outdoors, such as a home office or in the woods. I suggest you have several places, as to eliminate all excuses. If you are traveling like I do extensively, look for a place as soon as you are at the location you will be sleeping. Prepare to go there when you awake.

Remember: the best evidence of the value of a Quiet Time is remembering the day you skipped it.

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Benjamin R. Burks

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Recently, we have discussed the reasons for painful chastening from the Lord.  As a matter of review, allow me to reiterate…No matter who you are, whether you are saved or unsaved, life is difficult.  If you are unsaved, your life is difficult because you do not have the Lord Jesus Christ in your life.  If you are saved, your life is difficult because you do have the Lord Jesus Christ in your life.  If you got saved thinking your life would not be difficult any more, you were wrong.  Whether you are saved or unsaved, life is difficult and full of trouble.  Now, for the unsaved, there is no hope.  At the end of the road is Hell—a lake of fire forever and ever.  For the saved, we can look forward to a better land.  But, throughout life, we are going to be dealing with pain and struggle and difficulty; and for those of us who are saved, the chastening hand of God.  In Hebrews 12:10, we see three purposes that lie behind the chastening we receive.

First, chastening is for pleasure.  “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure.” Now at first glance, this seems to be rather strange.  In fact, chastening someone for pleasure sounds sadistic and sick.  But, God is not evil and sadistic.  He does not take pleasure in the fact that we are being chastened; but rather, the pleasure is because He knows that chastening has divine blessing and benefit as its end result.

Secondly, we discussed that chastening is for profit.  “But he for our profit.” Personal profit or benefit is only realized following pain.

Today, let us look at the third reason for painful chastening.  Chastening is for partaking of God’s holiness. “That we might be partakers of his holiness.” God saved the best reason for last! We see the word “partakers” twice in this passage; here in verse ten and also in verse eight.  Though the same word is used in English, two different ideas are being expressed.

In talking about the chastisement every Christian experiences, the word means “one’s share as a participant.”  We are chastened because we have not yet attained perfection.  We are going to be in “Adversity University” until we have breathed our last breath and God takes us home.  The word “partakers” in verse ten is different; in fact, it is the same as in Acts 2:46 where it is translated “to eat.”

Here is the distinction between the two words.  Everyone who gets saved is invited into the training camp.  They have a share of chastisement as a participant in the family of God.  But only those who endure chastening get to sit down with the Lord and eat.  Every believer is a partaking in His chastening; only those who endure are partakers of His holiness.  When we are faced with adversity, we must run to God in faith.  If we do not, we will quit.  It is a tragedy to partake of the chastening without partaking of the holiness.  That means we have suffered without gaining the purpose and benefit that was the intended purpose of our chastening.

An improper response to God’s chastening will leave you thin and spiritually emaciated.  When Karen Carpenter died in 1983, most of us had never heard of anorexia.  It is a disorder that makes people quit eating.  Refusing to endure chastening affects you the same way—you are giving up spiritual food.  It will wreck and ruin your life.  I have observed many Christians who lost their spiritual vitality during a time of adversity.  They either ignored what God was doing, or they got angry at God and turned away from Him.  Both are improper responses.   They failed to see what God was trying to do in their lives.  Ultimately, the best and greatest profit of chastening is that it allows us to be partakers of Christ’s holiness.  This means that we take on the very nature of Christ.  When something is referred to as holy, it carries the idea of being perfectly cleansed.

Think about the way a washing machine works.  Open the lid while a load of clothes is being washed and look at it.  There are clothes and water and soap in the machine, but they are not just sitting there.  They do not get clean by simply being in the water.  A washing machine has something that moves them around—an agitator.  You will have to hold the little button down to watch it work with the lid open, but what you will see is the clothes are bouncing up and down, pulsating and spinning around.  Do you have any agitations in your life?  They are there to move things around so that you can be a partaker of His cleanness and holiness.  God knows that without something to stir us up, we will not become more like His Son.

For the process to work though, you have to stay in the machine.  The agitation may be painful, but it is necessary if you want to partake of Christ’s holiness.  If things are difficult and agitated in your marriage, stay in.  If you are having a tough time at work, stay in.  If there are troubles at your church, stay in.  That agitation has been put in your life by God for a reason.  If you get out, you will miss it.  If we endure chastening, then one day we will be all cleaned up and presented to the Savior as a bride, spotless and white.  Why?  Because we made the decision, “I’m going to endure chastening.  I’m going to stay in the washing machine and endure the agitation.  I’m not going to quit.  I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to stay out just because things are tough.  I’m going to stay in.”  Enduring chastening is easier if we keep in mind the purposes God has for having us go through it.

My friends, if you have endured chastisement, or if you are in the midst of it as you read this blog…don’t quit!  Remember, it is for His pleasure, for your profit, and it will result in a partaking of His holiness!

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II Kings 5: 1-14

Whatever is not of faith is sin; and faith is integrally linked to recognition of, and conformity to, the Word of Truth. Are we walking by faith, allowing the Word to lighten each step of our pilgrim pathway; or by sight, trusting the frailty of the flesh and the foolishness of self? Are we seeking to please ourselves or our Lord? Elisha and Gehazi illustrate these two different options left to every servant of God. Today, we look at Elisha; and in two weeks, we will look at Gehazi.

He was not well known or highly regarded by the dignitaries (vv. 5-6), but certainly was known as God’s man by a “little maid” (vv. 2-3). A faithful servant of the Lord today is not out to please men or impress the religious masses; his desired recognition is among those who are themselves seeking to walk according to Truth – God’s faithful remnant.

God’s power and glory (v. 8), not Naaman’s honor or self-aggrandizement (vv9-12), was Elisha’s concern. He wanted all to know that there was, in fact, a God in Israel; and that there was still a prophet of God who stood uncompromisingly as his servant. Elisha’s desire was to honor his Lord, not bring attention to self by trying to dazzle Naaman and his cohorts with a sensationalized or colorful ministry. Unpretentious, humble service is the crowning mark of the selfless servant.

Elisha was also careful as to how his ministry was perceived by others; he refused their gifts (vv. 15-16). A clear testimony, honoring to God and honest before men, was far more important than personal gain. Nor did he seek self-vindication when he was misrepresented by Gehazi before Naaman (v. 22). God’s judgment, not his own wrath, was pronounced by Elisha. God will set things straight and administer justice in the end (vv. 25-27). Until God finally sets things straight, we are to obey our Master’s commandments whether the immediate consequences might be favorable or not.

Our motivation for ministry must be pure and selfless, too. We must constantly guard against the temptation to trim the message or let down the Biblical parameters for faithful ministry in an effort to enhance our image or broaden our fellowship. God’s glory is the issue here, not our popularity. If we are identified with Truth in every way possible, then we will necessarily be out of step with this current evil age. God is seeking workers today who are willing to bear his reproach. Let’s all be selfless servants!

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As the old song says, “We’ll understand it better by and by.” Sometimes God wants us to use blind faith in times of desperation, despite our lack of understanding in the ways and means of His solution.  We’ve seen in this series on leadership how God requires that we make certain assumptions, take certain actions, and as we’ll see below, in the conclusion of this series, understand certain analogies, when leading those in their time of need.

Let us look at the analogies which must be understood when leading those who have a basic need that is unmet.  One effective strategy is to look for the analogies of the Old Testament.  These are the “meatier” portions of the Word.  Ask yourself, “What is He really trying to teach?” The first of the analogies is that water was a need.  In John 4, Jesus sat at a well and told a Samaritan, “I can give you water that will take your thirst away.  I am the Living Water.” Jesus was the fulfillment of the analogy that took place in Exodus 17.  God always does more than simply what we see on the surface.  Here, we see that the big picture.  The Israelites needed to observe that the Water of Life came from the smitten Rock, which symbolized the Son of God.  The Bible declares very candidly, in 1 Corinthians 10:4, that the Rock which Moses struck was, “The Rock of Christ!” When the rock was struck, this was a prophetical smiting of the Son of God.  He was smitten for our sins that the Water of Life might come out, and all who would drink by faith may live forever.  It’s teaching Biblical salvation through Christ.

Now, there is also the analogy of the rod of Moses.  This rod was useful in balancing his walk. Moses had forty years of balancing his walk by traveling over the rocks and rugged terrain with his sheep.  It kept him from breaking his neck, as well as, defending and rescuing his sheep when they were in trouble.  God then used him in a supernatural way.  God needs to do a work personally in us before He can do anything through us.  Learn to be stabilized by the Lord.  Walk with Him.  Consistently depend on Him and His power. The rod was a symbol similar to the scepter in the hand of pharaoh.  It was key in dividing the Red Sea, bringing the plagues, and in bringing forth water from the rock.  Be reminded, Moses didn’t simply pick up the rod at a “nickel and dime” store, he honed it over forty years of applying Godly principles to his own life.  It was then that God used the rod in an awesome way.

Moses understood that God was the reason for stability in his walk, self-preservation, and security in life. It all depended on the power of God represented by this walking stick.  These verses in Exodus 17, indicate to us that we should not think God is wrong when He says, “I’ve not seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread.” There are other aspects to consider.  If you are where God wants you to be, you may have needs which are unmet.  You may need a miracle.  He’s the One Who can give you that miracle!  You don’t have to manipulate Him.  He can bring you the miracle in His time.  You may get thirsty and complain. However, be careful not to criticize others.  You can take your burden to God and cry out to Him.  See what He can do.   He can do much through your need!

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Dr. Paul A. Kingsbury

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Psalm 96: 1-13
“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness…” This exhortation in verse nine is familiar to most believers. Sadly, it is not always practiced. As we study this Psalm, it would be well to ask ourselves if we are worshiping the Lord in the beauty of holiness, in our hearts, in our homes, and in our churches.

It is a very sad fact to contemplate, but most Christians are well aware that much of what goes on in the name of worshiping the Lord today is not in the beauty of holiness, but in the ugliness of unholiness. It is easy to blame someone else for this sad situation, but what fills your heart and mind when you gather with fellow believers to worship the Lord?

Many churches are being torn apart today because so many people come to church just to criticize the preacher or to find fault with others in the church. Even for one hour many believers seem unable to bring their own lives fully into subjection to the Lord and His Word so that a worship service can be truly in the beauty of holiness – in an attitude of reverence – and with a spirit of forgiveness and understanding in connection with the needs and problems of others.

How will we be able to proclaim the true gospel message to the heathen, and remind him of his righteous judgment (v. 10) if we are not worshiping Him in the beauty of holiness ourselves? Note also verse 13 where God says that He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth. Those who would sacrifice truth on the altar of expediency are denying God’s righteous judgment, and ignoring His will.

Only those who worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness can be faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ. Only those who worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness can sing unto the Lord a new song (v. 1). If we would give the Lord the glory due His name, and bring an offering that would please Him, then we must not follow those in our day who are willing to tolerate error. We cannot give the excuse that unholiness in the church and in the proclamation of the Gospel are justified in an attempt to fulfill the Great Commission.

It is difficult to obey the word of the Lord when the majority of the Christians are disobeying it. But let us not forget that the results of disobedience are always disastrous. Let us desire to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!

Dr. George Crabb D.O.

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Good Morning! We are 138 days into 2010…how are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions?  One of the most popular resolutions is the promise to stop smoking. However, it is also the resolution that usually doesn’t last past January.  Why is it so hard to stop smoking?

Tobacco, with its drug nicotine, is probably the most widely abused chemical substance in the world. It is one of the most difficult addictions to conquer. It is difficult to conquer because there is not only a strong physical addiction to the nicotine which basically touches every part of the body but there is a significant psychological addiction to the activities associated with smoking. I have had some patients who struggled more with the psychological addiction than the physical, but both can be a formidable foe. Tobacco is dangerous and deadly and needs to be taken seriously.

Cigarettes are designed to addict. They are chemically engineered to deliver nicotine to your brain. Along with the nicotine there are numerous other dangerous substances in the cigarette smoke which cause devastating health issues. Some of these substances are acetone, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. These chemicals are added to the tobacco which makes the cigarette even more deadly. These added chemicals are given the general name “tar” and include everything in a cigarette but nicotine and water. The cigarette is manufactured with a deadly delivery system, designed to efficiently send high doses of nicotine to the brain. As you inhale the cigarette smoke, the tar infiltrates your lungs, and the nicotine “rides the tar” into the blood stream. As the cigarette smoke is inhaled there are over four thousand compounds present in that smoke to make that “rush” of nicotine faster and more enjoyable. Out of the over four thousand compounds present in cigarette smoke, at least sixty of them are known to be carcinogens (cancer-forming chemicals).

Tobacco is quite insidious with its consequences. Unlike cocaine, heroin, or other dangerous drugs, tobacco’s nicotine and poison can go undetected for many years. Tobacco can gradually create addiction to nicotine and gradually kill. Tobacco is legal and accessible, but it is one of the leading causes of death throughout the world, causing almost half a million deaths in the United States annually.

As people smoke cigarettes they are not only exposing themselves to the dangers of tobacco but also their loved ones and friends they smoke around. Second-hand smoke was once considered harmless but we now know better. Second-hand smoke is poisonous and it kills. It is estimated that exposure to second-hand smoke causes an estimated three thousand lung cancer deaths each year among non-smoking American adults.

Nicotine withdrawal is a very unpleasant process to go through. For you see, when you take nicotine away, your body craves it, and makes you feel like you need more nicotine or you will die or get sick. Your body will rebel with all kinds of symptoms such as: headaches, anxiety, depression, fatigue, hunger, trouble sleeping, thirst, decreased attention span, agitation, irritability, anger, and frustration amongst many others. The above symptoms can occur in just a few short hours after your last cigarette. They will be at their worst two to three days later and can last for weeks. It is not only a physical withdrawal from nicotine that a smoker goes through. In quitting tobacco, there are physiological and emotional changes that occur. For you see, smokers just don’t depend on nicotine physically. They depend on it behaviorally and psychologically. Smoking is what they do when they get together with friends. And, in fact, it is a major means by which they blow off steam when they are feeling tense. It is what they do while drinking their morning coffee or relaxing after dinner. That is why breaking the bondage of nicotine addiction can be difficult and, in fact, be harder to quit in some instances than heroin or cocaine. A patient of mine that was involved in polysubstance abuse (including tobacco) stated to me, “It (tobacco) was the hardest to quit, and it was the last to leave.” He went on to say, “The thoughts of tobacco use still haunt me.” But, breaking the bondage to your nicotine addiction is of vital importance for you and those around you. Breaking this bondage is well worth the effort.

So, we see the significance of breaking the bondage to nicotine/tobacco addiction. It is so important from the physical side as well as the mental side, but also, and even more importantly, from the spiritual side. What you need to do instead of picking up your cigarette with your morning coffee, pick up your Bible and read it. Instead of lighting up a cigarette on your drive home, put in a preaching CD or a Joy Belle music CD. Instead of a cigarette after dinner, take a walk and meditate on the things of God.

Friend, regardless of where you may be in your struggle with nicotine addiction, the good news is that there is life after cigarettes. Please trade in your cigarettes for Christ Jesus and your nicotine for the name above all names – Jesus. Let Him, the Truth, make you free…finally.

If you failed to keep your New Year’s resolution, don’t wait until January 1, 2011 to try again!  You can start today!  Give God the glory for what He can do in you!  I Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Dr. George Crabb D.O.

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See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.  For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (Hebrews 12:25)

I heard about a little boy who was not getting good grades in school because he had not been paying attention to his teacher.  One day, his teacher sent a note home for his parents about his conduct and his grades.  The next day, he came up to the teacher and said, “I don’t want to scare you, but my dad told me last night that if I don’t start getting better grades somebody’s going to get a spanking!”  However, we know the teacher is not the problem!  Bad things happen when we do not pay attention.  I do not know how many times someone has sat in my office who was desperately seeking help, and I heard them say, “I wish I had listened.”  This concept of listening is not just hearing; the idea is listening with the full intention of heeding what is said.

For the past several weeks, we have been discussing how God speaks to us in four distinct ways.  The first way is through Jesus’ blood; the second way is through His Word; the third way is through His Spirit.  Today we will discuss the final way that God speaks to us and that is through others.

God speaks to us through the testimony of faithful believers. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another daily while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” God’s plan is for us to encourage and uplift each other.  He speaks to us through other believers.  Thank God for those people who care enough about you to come alongside and say, “Listen, you need to change this.  You need to dedicate your life to Christ.  You need to serve Him with your whole heart.”  Sometimes, people resent those who correct them; that is foolish and dangerous.  God is speaking to you through their words.

Also, understand that if you are listening to the voice of the Spirit of God and walking in fellowship with the Lord, God wants to use you to encourage others.  Your words and your testimony and your encouragement can make the difference for another believer who is struggling with adversity.  Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” So often we speak rashly, without thinking about the impact of our words.  If we speak through the flesh instead of the Spirit, we have a negative impact on the other runners in the race.  God wants us to encourage and exhort each other.

It is interesting that this is not meant to be an occasional action—God says to do it “daily.” You can be walking in fellowship with God on Saturday and be walking away from God on Sunday.  We need daily exhortation.  Not only can we be inspired by living believers; but we can also learn from the pattern and example of those who have gone before.  Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” Abel has been in Heaven for thousands of years, yet his testimony of faith still encourages us today.  Your testimony, whether good or bad, will outlive your life.

I first heard Richard Wurmbrand speak when I was sixteen years old.  He was a pastor in Romania, who spent fourteen years in a Communist prison, being tortured for his faith.  When he walked to the pulpit, I saw a little man, thin and emaciated, with hollowed out eyes and sunken in cheeks.  But, when he talked, his face lit up with a radiant glow.  As he told the story of his ministry in the underground church, God used his testimony to stir my heart.  He has been with the Lord for several years now, but his voice is still speaking today.  The impact of his testimony is still encouraging and motivating me and thousands of others who heard him speak.  That is the kind of testimony I want to leave behind for the glory of God.  But, I can only leave that testimony if I listen to His blood, His Word, His Spirit, and the testimony of other faithful believers.  When you hear God speak, do not refuse Him.  Do not turn away.  Do not turn back.  Obey His voice.  Run to Him and find His will. Do His will and forever you will be blessed. Listen to your teachers!

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