Art: Kourtney AxelbergA Child’s Simple Plea
Art: Kourtney Axelberg
Month: December 2014
Autumn Blueberry
Whispering Hope (Lee and Fran 2012)
Sheet Music Hymnary.org
Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.
Refrain
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.
Refrain
Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart.
Refrain
Words and Music by Septimus Winner 1868
Images of Jesus ~ A Sheep’s View
In following the Shepherd, I have attempted to keep my mind pure. I have learned not to read certain books or articles. But, online it is difficult to avoid images that may be offensive; those that we know are abominable to God. There are some that cause me to tremble, and others grieve my heart. The main problem with these is that once seen they are etched in my mind, and difficult to delete. I used to use the symbol of the cross to white out the picture in my mind. But that did not always work because it is not a full picture. Recently I knew I needed something broader; and so with the following picture imposed Psalm 23. (If you know the source of this picture please let me know.) The image represents the power of God’s word over all things; the source to which I turn in any situation. The cross is simply a reminder of how God’s word and power have been brought to me. Psalm 23 is one of the first Psalms I learned as a child, and on which I have relied in my life.
You may ask me why I did not choose a picture of Jesus to replace unpleasant images. In a few simple terms I will explain where I have come in relation to these images.
Jesus Christ is the image of the living God (Colossians 1:15); the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3). God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24) Christ is the truth (John 14:6) I am in the Father, and the Father is in me (John 14:10). I and my Father are one (John 10:30).
Jesus has said, and I believe that He is God, the visible image of the invisible God. No one has seen God except the Son. Neither Jesus, nor anyone in His day attempted to paint a true picture of the invisible God, nor did anyone from His day leave an image of Jesus. Anyone who has drawn from their own imagination what they think Jesus looked like are using figments that will never come together to form anything close to His spiritual beauty and holiness. These images have become ludicrous to me as I desire to worship God in spirit and truth.
These images are used in many different forms, even as animations to aid in presenting the gospel. They are fictitious and can stand in the way of the gospel being presented to a hungry soul who needs the Holy Spirit to imprint the truth of Jesus Christ in their hearts. The true Jesus needs no images. He leaves His own impression in the mind and the heart. The lives of His followers are the true images that are portrayed in this world.
Like the images on canvas, many people are portraying a false impression of Jesus Christ to the world.
A second point is that images of Jesus depict Him here on earth. He is no longer just a baby in a manger, nor a teacher/preacher/shepherd, nor a man dying on a cross, but He is the risen Savior/Redeemer, the High Priest of Heaven, King of kings and Lord of lords, interceding for us; ruling and reigning until He has put all enemies under His feet. Only a few men have seen God in his glory. Moses, Elijah, Isaiah had special revelations before Jesus came to earth. John beheld His glory after He ascended back to the Father, Paul saw His light. But none of these were given images. Neither His glory nor the essence of His holiness can be captured by the human mind.
Leave me with God’s word and the true Shepherd, Savior, Prophet, Priest and King will lead me by His Spirit to remember Him. He will keep me and transform my thinking and images according to His truth and His love.
“Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
Dear heavenly Father, we need your protection for our eyes and ears. Make us to know your presence and power with us today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
HUMILITY and Happiness ~ Chapter 11
The last two chapters of Andrew Murray’s Humility (PDF) are extremes. From this chapter that deals with the valley, the last chapter takes us to the pinnacle. When we reach the depths of humility then we are lifted to the heights of Christ’s glory. And here is true happiness on this earth. This is not the experience for most believers. Most of us know nothing of the consecration and persecution that comes from following Christ. And we must remember that none of this is our own work. It is always the supernatural power of God working in the believer.
In this chapter, we see how Paul got where he was; from the height of his own glory, to the depths of his own weakness, and then to the glory of Christ’s sufficiency. He, like some of the Old Testament prophets and like John in his recording of Revelation, had been blessed with revelations of a higher kind than is usual for man. Paul did not record these, but they were of such that, he could have been exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations.
From His Own Glory
He was brought down so as not to glory in such visions. How? The thorn in the flesh was not described as a physical infirmity, but as the buffeting of Satan.
“Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;” 1 Corinthians 4:11
What he learned in his state of humility was how to live in response to infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distress; he knew they were all for Christ’s sake. He could glory and find pleasure in these things because he knew they were his sufferings for Christ.
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Philippians 3:10
It is in our own experiences that we will know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings, so as to be humbled and made conformable unto His death ~ the death of self.
There are people in the New Testament that our heavenly Father has recorded for our imitation ~ especially Jesus Christ His Son, and then the apostle Paul. If we spend our time in this life researching the life of Christ, and how Paul was called and given up to follow Christ we shall see the purpose of Christ’s coming and dying for His people. We shall see the work of the Holy Spirit in drawing a person to Christ, and the devotion and obedience of faith that only He can bring about in this world.
Other Examples
So that this review will not be so long I ask you, the Reader, to read this chapter from the book. In this article I want to allude to other examples that reflect the truth that Murray is sharing, and to record my own impressions.
Beginning with our Lord’s own words from Matthew 5:10-12 we remember:
“Blessed (happy) are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
The name, the glory and power of God and Jesus Christ are revealed in the New Testament as relating to times of persecution because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the book of Acts when the apostles, having been beaten and commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts 5:40-42
From Simon Peter’s Letter
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;” 1 Peter 3:14
Peter reminds those believers who were being persecuted, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
As they were a part of Christ’s sufferings He was being glorified. They could be happy knowing and experiencing the spirit of glory and of God resting upon them.
They could endure the evil done to them knowing the promise that just as Christ suffered for them they could suffer for Him and also share His glory.
“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:” Colossians 1:24
We owe our thanks and praise to the work of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s life. His sufferings and afflictions were counted to him as for the sake of the church. As we see in Paul’s life what it meant to deny self and follow Christ, we have enough visions to lead us to humility and to follow Christ. In this is our only means of survival and true life here and for eternity.
Others are following in our footsteps. What do they see; do they see the true Christ in us? Do they see the happiness in our humility in serving Christ? Will they be led to self-denial, willing to suffer for Christ’s sake and His church, to rejoice in the Lord through any circumstance?
Gracious Father, we, in this country know nothing of the persecution that Paul and the early Christians endured. We pray for those who are suffering for Christ’s sake, that they not only endure but be filled with the power of your Spirit to rejoice in the Lord in the middle of persecution. Let their oppressors see the joy and power of Christ in them and wonder at such great salvation that you bring to your people.
Prepare us for such persecution that is sure to come in this nation. Have mercy upon us as your people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
And the Lord Said Unto Me: Scripture Tunes