Three Questions

            

I’m sure every one of us can say with David, “A day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” God has been more to us than we could expect Him to be. Worldly expectations invariably don’t come up to the mark. “From the best bliss that earth imparts, We turn unfilled to thee again.” He has taken us into His banqueting house and His fruit has been sweet to taste. 

It is a lovely thing to come into the shade after having a long walk in the sun. How good we can come under His shadow and taste of fruit sweet to our taste. Some of the meetings have been the most searching I have sat in. God seems to have been taking stock. While there is stock taking there is stock replenishing too. I would like to come with a soft and tender heart. There were three searching questions put to others in Bible days and they could be put to us today. It is a simple question and just requires a straight answer. 

Ruth was steadfastly minded to go all the way. Twice she was asked to go and return to her country.  She could not go back. Why couldn’t she go back? It was because her heart was won. There was never a thought in her heart to go back. She was steadfastly minded to go all the way. She didn’t know what she was going to in a strange land but she learned to love and admire that one who was in tune with God. If our heart is won, there will never be any thought of going back. “Come brothers on and forward, With us the Father goes .... Praise God we will go on.” 

Columbus felt sure of finding land even though his crew were not so hopeful. It was not smooth going and no one had gone that way before, and over and over they said, “We will go back.” But every time Columbus said, “We will go on.” In the log book each day it was written, “And so we sailed on.” I looked at the question Ruth’s mother in law put to her, “Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou?” Where have we been during the year? What have we wrought? Have we been gathering material for eternity? Time is one of God’s greatest assets to man and the sacrifice of time one of the hardest there is. The adversary of our souls will see we won’t have time. Pharaoh said to the children of Israel, “Ye are idle.” “We’ll give you more work to do.” The adversary would keep us so busy today. It is very easy to waste time. There are places we could be gleaning that wouldn’t be any help. Naomi said to Ruth, “Go not to glean in any other field.” 

There are places that are not good for children of God to be found. There are places a child of God could frequent, and those that know them would wonder what you are doing there. There are places in Malaya that have this notice up, “Out of bounds to the troops.” Whether Australian or natives of country, they know it is not good for them to be in those places that are out of bounds. We are soldiers of the King of Kings. There are  no notices up, but there is something that tells us that it is no place for us to be found if Jesus should call us that day. Ruth had stood by the maidens; she stood fast. It is a lovely thing to stand by those who are in God’s harvest field. There are bits of encouragement all along the way. No, we will never lose if we are gleaning in the place where God wants us to be. There is every help for those who stand fast in the place where God has put them. 

In Luke 13 Jesus said, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another?” Is that a searching question to you? What are our communications one to another as we walk in the way or sit in homes. Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.” We can’t help hearing but we can help repeating. The only way to pass on helpful communication to one another is keeping the line of communication between us and God. It is our communication with God and His dear children that helps us to pass on good communication. 

These men had been discussing that which was near to their heart. If Jesus were to draw near and ask us what our communications were, would we be afraid to tell Him, or ashamed to tell Him. Someone said if we could listen in to a record of all we have said in a day we might be very ashamed. 

A short question was asked three times. “What seek ye?” This was another searching question. The Bible tells us what to seek, how to seek and when to seek. “Seek me early and ye shall find me.” Early in the day might be the greatest sacrifice you have to make in the day, but make it and it will do you good. Without God’s presence we shouldn't dare to go. “Seek the Lord while he may be found.” “When the Lord said unto me, Seek ye my face, my heart said Thy face Lord will I seek.” The Lord does speak to us. How are ye to seek? “If you seek me diligently with thy whole heart ye shall find me.” Seek for the things of God as for hid treasure. People put a lot of strength and time in seeking for the things of the earth. 

In the gold rush men and women were willing for anything. They left homes and jobs in seeking for the earthly treasure. To find hidden treasure calls for diligence. There was a great deal of time and strength put in seeking for this wonderful treasure. We want to let Christ come in, “in whom is hid all the treasures of the god-head bodily.” We should be seeking not our own. If the love of God is in our heart we will not be seeking our own. “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” We are seeking one another’s benefits, not seeking our own. We are going to be in the way of God and co-operate,  seeking to be a help to promote the wealth of God’s children. 

We might only be one, but can do much with God's help. A worm and a mulberry leaf make silk. It is  very humble combination but something very fine is produced. If we all are combined and seek to be a help to one another, something very beautiful and fine will be produced. Every claim upon the life of Jesus was subordinated to God’s claim. Paul said, “I seek not my own profit, but the profit of many.” He lived for others, not seeking his own. Moses, if he had been seeking his own, could have been great. God said, “I will make of thee a great nation.” Moses was very meek and meekness is just the absence of self. It was very evident in the life of Moses, because he never sought his own. It is a lovely thing to have in our hearts that we will seek not our own but others’ welfare. 

We are told what to seek. “Seek the Lord and his righteousness.” We want to seek His face continually. After times of great blessing, usually there will come times of great testing. We could be prepared to go forth to times of great testing. We need to seek His face continually if we want to prevail. “If thy presence go not with us, carry me not up hence.” None of us are equal and we need to seek His face continually. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…” Seek not great things for yourself. If we seek grace we’ll find a place, but if we seek a place we’ll bring disgrace. 

Joseph was asked, “What seek ye?” He gave wonderful answer, “I seek my brethren. Is it well with them? Is it well with the flocks?” Are we seeking the welfare of others? There was no question of Joseph not going to his brethren. Their spirit to him didn’t alter his spirit to them. Jesus said to His disciples, “Whom seek ye?” Jesus was asked, “Master, where dwellest Thou?” They were seeking the Lord. If we are seeking to get close to Jesus, how good it will be. 

Mary Magdalene stayed a little extra time and she was rewarded. She was asked, “Whom seek ye?” and she said, “They have taken away my Lord.” She heard the voice of Jesus to her heart, “Mary.”   Her beloved spoke. “My Beloved speaks, and lo, the riot of my heart is still. I am his and he is mine.”   The beloved bridegroom of our souls is seeking to speak to us today. The riot of our thoughts can be stilled. In the Song of Solomon there is a wonderful union between those people and Christ. He is our beloved. Song of Solomon 3:6, “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness?” We have come out of the wilderness and are leaning on our beloved, One who can tide us over every experience. “Lean hard, my child, lean hard.”
We can go forth wholly dependent on our beloved, so He can lead us on to victory. 

U. Hedderman  - 1958 - 3 Questions  - Booyong,

Poems By Perry

Today everything is so iffy,
I can't decide which way to go,
They say I'll be there in a jiffy,
But that was two day ago.

I wonder why they can't just say;
I have more on my waiting list than you,
I guess some people are just that way;
Until they say there is money due.
I obey the law so I won't get fined,
I eat at home to at least save a little,
I pay my bills, so I don't get behind,
Life today is so iffy, kind of like a riddle.

By: Perry Oberg

I have such sorrow in my heart;
For those who believe in God but take no part;
In going to hear the Gospel story,
As told by Jesus in all his Glory.

My sorrow deepens even more,
For those who don't know what's in store;
When they don't believe in God at all;
But the day will come when they hear his call.

And on that day when Jesus returns to earth;
We need to remember upon His birth;
The reason God sent Jesus to suffer so;
Was to pay for our sins, and by doing so show

That the way was in the path that He Laid out,
The only path that we must never doubt,
By the New Testament we must always abide;
For when our time comes we won't be able to hide.

The Gates to Heaven will be open to those;
Who follow the teaching of Jesus who chose,
To lay out the pathway for those who believe,
I pray that I can stay true and thereby achieve.

Being one, when I stand before God on His Throne,
I will be able to stand without fear of hearing I do not belong.
For I know that day will be coming , I know not when,
I just pray that I will be ready both today and then.

By: Perry Oberg

I wonder if children and grandchildren knew;
The trials and tribulation the elderly go through,
Would it bother them, would they care,
The difficult times that the elderly bare.

When you are unable to mow the grass;
On painting the outside we just must pass;
Oh, why aren't we able to do what we have done before,
I guess with getting older, the abilities we had are no more.

So here we are after many years of giving;
Not able to do so many things. but we are living,
So for that we are so very blessed and give our thanks
To our God on high. for the answers of our prayers he grants.

Each day at night on our knees we pray,
And each morning give thanks for a new day;
Life is still good, in spite of our many needs,
For those who have gone before us, our heart bleeds.

We remember our friends and family that are here no more,
And think of them often, and the suffering they bore,
Don't ever give up on your self or those you love,
Just keep on believing and praying, to our Savior above.

By: Perry Oberg

God and Jesus come first in my life;
And after that comes my loving wife;
Our children also I have to say
Each day that passes for them I pray.

God is merciful, this He will show.
As He answers our prayers and let us know.
That if we ask, we shall receive,
If indeed we truly believe.

By: Perry Oberg 

Winter is gone, and I am so glad;
I got cold even with a coat I am clad;
Now spring is here, and the flowers are in bloom;
The wonderful smell, much better than perfume.

But with the coming of spring comes falling of leaves,
And the pollen is so heavy it makes most of us sneeze;
Running noses, heads that ache, this goes with spring
So now I am waiting for summer to see what it will bring.

With summer I know that the mosquitoes will swarm,
And also the fire ants will cause some alarm,
So I guess each season has it's good and bad points,
But summer is best for me, less pain in my joints.

Then as I am writing the thought comes to me,
That God created all seasons so we should be,
Glad that we are blessed to see all He has done,
And for giving us the blessing of knowing his Son.

For Jesus came to earth and laid out a path,
That Believers must follow or feel his wrath,
We need to thank God, for his mercies each day,
And thank Him for Jesus, who shows us the way.

By: Perry Oberg  

Sand And Stone

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face."

They kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but his friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life."

The friend, who had slapped and saved his best friend, asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand, and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away, but when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it." Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your blessings in stone.

-Unknown

The Voice Of God

Listening to our brethren who spoke last night, it was perfectly evident that one of the principal thoughts in their minds was that God might speak to us again. I suppose a Convention never begins without that thought being expressed, “Lord be not silent unto me, but in Thy mercy speak again.” I would like to say a little about this voice we are hoping to hear.

Psalm 29. This psalm tells us a lot about what the voice of God can accomplish. I remember when I was young and small what my father’s voice meant in the home. He was respected to a great extent and we feared his voice because we knew he would sustain his word. I give advice to fathers, “Sustain your word.” Otherwise you lose the respect of your children. My father sustained his word and we respected his voice. We also respected our mother’s voice which was a different voice. I had two headmasters whose voice was the voice of authority and I respected their voices. 

But there came a time, as there comes with most of you, when you and I heard another voice. My father’s voice was a voice of authority and my mother’s and my headmasters’ voices were voices of authority, but they were not like the voice of God. It is not possible to express what the voice of God is. There is no voice like it. Although there were voices of authority I was accustomed to listen to, there was no voice before I heard the Gospel, that was like the voice of God. My father’s voice gave fear and respect and it humbled us. The voice of God has a different effect that no other voice ever had, never, never, never. 

That was the voice that spoke to Jacob, the still small voice. It is also a voice speaking sweetly and gently but it is not always like that. I felt like Jacob when he said, “This is a dreadful place.” I had come face to face with the choice of determining my eternal destiny. My experience was like Jacob’s. Jacob said, “This is none other than the voice of God and the gate of heaven.” He feared. He had never heard a voice like that before.

Psalm 29:5 speaks of the voice of God breaking the cedars. One man in the Scriptures reminded me of the cedar and that was Paul. God’s voice was sufficiently strong to break the will of a man like that. Paul was deeply rooted in the tradition of the elders who had lived before him and he was confident in it. You can be thankful for the one voice alone that could break your spirit and humble you and change your course. There is no other voice that could do that.

Psalm 29:4, “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” I will be very, very thankful if in some little measure this voice that is powerful and different from any other voice is majestic. There are superlatives we could use but they are hardly sufficient to describe the greatness of God and the greatness of His voice.

The voice of God to John in Revelation was like the voice of many waters. There are two huge waterfalls where I labour. There are very few like them in the world. It is very sobering to listen to them for they speak of power and they can speak of other things too. It is sobering to listen to them and remember what John said. He said he heard the voice as of a trumpet. I am very thankful, extremely grateful that I heard a clear, penetrating sound that I could never mistake when I heard the voice of God in the Gospel. Jesus said to Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” Peter had heard this voice of God as a trumpet.

In Revelation 4 John heard this voice as being like a trumpet and that was how I heard it the first time. I believe God would like us to hear His voice here as clearly as you heard it the first time. It should be a clear, penetrating sound leaving no doubt in your mind as to who was speaking.

John said, “I heard his voice as a trumpet and as many waters.” John heard it then as he had heard it the first time and God would like us to hear His voice as we heard it the first time.

I will tell a simple illustration from where I have been labouring in the hope that it will help you to understand how great is the voice of God. It is a voice that is powerful and full of majesty. Psalm 68:33, “To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.” It is no ordinary voice. Over where I have been labouring we have a president and he has a lot of authority. He is not just an ordinary man. Often a newspaper will publish, “Tomorrow at such and such a time, the President will address the nation.”

Even though I am not a Brazilian it impresses me. I am an Australian with a little bit of John’s nationality mixed in with it. [This would be John Clark who spoke with a strong Scottish accent.] “Tomorrow the President will speak to the nation.” A little while ago you got advice about these meetings. It is a little like saying to you, “On 23rd December at 10:00 am, God will speak to His nation.” When the President speaks to the nation of Brazil it is a very special occasion. Why have you come so far in the summer heat to be here? It is because it is for you a very special occasion. The God who presides (a term used in the Portuguese Bible) over His nation will speak.

I Peter 2:9 speaks of a holy nation: a royal priesthood, an holy nation. From the beginning God wanted His nation an holy nation, different from other nations, a great nation. God said to Abraham, “I will make of thee a great nation.” He was not thinking of numbers. It is not good to measure by numbers and it is not numbers that make a great nation. God was not thinking solely of numbers but of a conduct totally different from the nations about. The hill of God is a high hill. The teachings of God are high above the teachings of men. God will put before us teachings that are far superior to any other. God is high and lofty and inhabiteth eternity and He wants a holy nation whose conduct, manner of life, conversation is far above the people round about.

When the newspaper announces that the President will address the nation, the address is on radio and television. Then the following day, the newspapers publish what he said. In all Brazil there are nearly a hundred million people but there is no voice like the president with so great authority, no voice more worthy of respect. So the greatness of God, who has presided over this nation since the beginning of time, has plans for this Convention. The Lord is presiding as He presided in old time. There is no voice in Brazil with so much authority as the voice of the president. The day after he speaks, I buy the newspaper and find the complete text of the president’s address to the nation. Sometimes I read every bit of it to find out what he had in mind.

Samuel let none of God’s words fall to the ground. He was very young but the voice of God was very great to him. One time our old Brother Tom Turner was preaching and having a very good meeting. He said, “Would you like to be like a Samuel?” God would like to awake that in us, a response like, “Yes I would, Lord.” Sometimes I read every word the president said to try to understand what he has in mind for his people. I am surprised at the thought, the feeling, the understanding of the problems of his people. You might be surprised here what the great God who presides over His nation, has in mind for you. I read of people being amazed. I hope you go out amazed at the depth of privilege, amazed. I am amazed at how much this great man thinks of the Brazilian nation. He wants for it to be a great nation.

Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation.” A standard of conduct will exalt a nation. When a nation has decent laws and honourable laws it becomes great. When the standard deteriorates, their prestige goes down. Even in a natural sense, righteousness exalteth a nation and it is more so spiritually. Righteousness exalteth a nation and individuals.

Brazil is very different from Australia. It has a frontier with ten other countries. There are twelve nations in Latin America and Brazil has a frontier with ten other countries. The President’s mind is on what could happen on the frontier. Neighbours are friendly but they have to be particular regarding the frontiers and to avoid undesirable elements infiltrating. This holy nation, this great nation to which we are privileged to belong to, also has a lot of neighbours.

Think of the map of Israel in old times. There were the Ammonites, the Edomites, the Moabites, the Philistines. Was the influence of any of them ever desirable? Would the people of God and the kings of old time feel uninterested in their frontiers of the Ammonites, the Edomites, the Moabites and the Philistines? They had to think a tremendous lot about the frontiers where they were very close to neighbours.

Our field is near Paraguay. People over the border line are not subject to our president nor to our laws. They have a different constitution and a different government. We are in touch daily with people not under the same God nor the same laws. Are our frontiers important? The president wants loyal men on the frontiers and I like to think our God could put us on the frontier and we would not let Him down. Never let any influence come in from any other government. On the frontiers of Brazil are little groups of soldiers willing to give their life for their country, that nothing foreign to the country could come in.

Are we loyal and valiant for the truth? On the frontier, never let God down. Keep the nation holy and clean and great. Our president is a wise man. There is national security and most governments are very concerned about it. These Brothers and Sisters each side of the platform are also concerned about national security in a spiritual sense. When they give advice different from what you spiritually would like to hear, it is in the interest of national security.

The harp has some very sweet sounds but also deep, solemn sounds. Not all we hear is sweet. Some has a deep and solemn sound. Our human father’s voice wasn’t always the same. When God speaks in a deep, solemn voice it is in the interest of national security. Before going to Special Meetings I was reading in a newspaper. The president had spoken and made a decree that bus drivers show a certain deference and kindness to passengers to give greater comfort and security and safety. He decided the passengers should do all they could to help the motorists.

The president was interested in this little thing. If you want to know how much God is interested in the affairs of His holy nation, and your individual affairs, read John’s writing to the seven churches in Asia. The great God of Heaven has studied your needs before hand. He has been trying to prepare these men and women to minister to your needs so they might be met. He said, “I know thy works...” He knew when they were sick and when they were wrong. He knew.

I read to an elder Brother in Brazil, an Englishman, this bit in the paper of the president’s message to drivers and passengers. He listened and said, “I wonder will they co-operate.” You know, would I hurt anybody’s feelings if I said that probably God has that in mind about you and me? It is no trouble to get you to come and no trouble to get you to listen, no difficulty to get you to sit quietly and listen. Would the great God who presides over all this, wonder if we will co-operate? A young Brazilian Worker said about his own nation, “That’s the unknown quantity.” It is not difficult to get you to come and listen, but when you leave here how much are you going to co-operate?

How much do people co-operate? People may be driving a car and the speed limit says 35 mph and they are doing 45 mph. Is that co-operation? The authority responsible for safety on the roads determines what is safe. Do we co-operate with good laws? The Lord who presides over our nation tells us wonderful things and we enjoy them, but do we co-operate? That is the unknown quantity, how much we are going to co-operate. Our future depends to some degree on being in meetings and listening, but it depends more on the degree to which we co-operate. We have wonderful meetings and a wonderful atmosphere at Convention but the future depends on the degree to which we co-operate with what the God of this great nation presiding over us says.

The president is so often grieved because people are ill, and some are ill unnecessarily. Yes, he made it clear in an address to the nation that he wants to raise the standard of righteousness, the standard of conduct, the standard of education, but also he would like them to be a healthier people. He has done a lot to put remedies for good health within their reach. I don’t know you people in NSW very much. What is the state of your health? I think that on the part of many it is good but I suspect some are a little sick spiritually. I have no doubt that the God of this holy nation we are privileged to belong to is deeply interested to help. The promises God made to His people were that if they would keep His promises then no diseases of Egypt would come upon His people. That was a marvelous thing. There were probably several million people and this was a real possibility.

II Peter 1:16, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is not a fabulous story without basis or solidarity. It is not a story without facts. This was Truth. They were eyewitnesses of His majesty. There are some great things in the Scriptures and they are absolutely true. Here was a whole nation surrounded by the diseases of Egypt physically, spiritually and naturally yet God promised that if they would keep His laws there would be no illness, no place for a doctor. There was not one sick person in that nation. It was well within their reach. Perfect spiritual health is within your reach and mine.

Jeremiah 30:12, “This saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable and thy wound is grievous. There is none to plead thy cause that thou mayest be bound up. Thou hast no healing medicines.” That is an excellent message for a Gospel meeting. That is like the state people find themselves in before they turn to the great Physician. There is no one to bind up their wounds, no one to plead their cause, no one to give medicine, no eye to pity. But it was the people of God who got into this state. Some may be discouraged. Discouragement is the weapon of the enemy. God doesn’t discourage. Some may be bruised, grieved and discouraged.

Verse 16, “Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured.” Those are wonderful words. The discourager will be devoured. We can go away feeling God has devoured the devourer, discouragement is swallowed up. “All thy adversaries, every one of them shall go into captivity and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil and all they that prey upon thee shall I give for a prey.” It is a wonderful verse. “For I will restore health unto thee and I will heal thee of thy wounds.” God who presides over His holy nation had that in mind before you came to Silverdale. If the devourer discouraged you he will be devoured. The adversary will be spoiled and made a prey. Although there seemed no remedy, He will give the remedy. “I will restore health unto thee and then I will heal thy wounds.” 

 

The voice of this great God is so mighty and powerful and so different from every other voice. How much He has thought about us and has studied our individual case and need, and he wants to supply the remedy so that you might be healed again. May we hear His voice as in the beginning, as the voice of a trumpet. May we respond to it and go out to co-operate. 

 

DON McINTYRE - 1972 - The voice of God - Silverdale I, WA

Hold High The Banner

You seem to mean what you were singing. Maybe you know why we were singing that hymn. 

“Hearts that lift on high the banner, Where the conflict fierce doth fall,  Not afraid of death or danger, Hearts that understand God’s call.”

Maybe two years ago I began to make a study of references to banners. In some places it is called an ‘ensign’ and in others a ‘standard’. In the Portuguese Bible it is called a ‘flag’, but there is no significant difference with any of these names. I will tell you what caused me to begin this study. I was reading in the paper of a group of young men (not in Australia, and I hope it never happens here) trampling the flag of their country, tearing it apart, spitting on it and finally burning it. I was horrified to think that those young men had reached that state of disrespect and irreverence to make them feel the flag of their own country was so worthless and merited so little respect.

Customs where I have been labouring may help us to learn a few little lessons. There are a number of days set apart, one, the day of the flag. Before that day, for quite a considerable time, for some weeks, the Brazilian flag is in more prominence than usual. It is always in prominence. For some weeks before this particular day the flag is more prominent. A great deal is written about it and said about it and the president tells the people something about their flag. In the newspapers there is a picture of the flag in full color. Everywhere one sees small and large flags.

The president and his ministers are very anxious that the flag would be a symbol to that nation. The flag itself is not of great value being of silk or linen, not of extraordinary value, but what it signifies is of value. Of all the flags existing on the earth, they feel it is the most beautiful. They say, “No flag on all the earth is as beautiful as our flag.” What it symbolizes is glorious. It symbolizes for them, everything that is noble.

Maybe some days in our Convention could be called a day of the flag when He who presides over this holy nation tells us what His flag symbolizes. He has a flag flying over this holy nation. The Brazilian flag symbolizes everything holy, desirable and decent. To those people it is a flag worth living for and a flag worth dying for. Some people are willing to die for their flag. There is not much of this now. The earth is poorer for it. There is a disappearance of the spirit of reverence towards things like that.

I remember when I was a boy going to school. I remember the place where we used to stand and where the flagpole was situated. A boy unfurled the flag and ran it up the pole. Every morning, every child stood to attention and every child would salute the flag. I believe every day Jesus lived He, in the spiritual sense, stood to attention and saluted the honour of God’s nation. God’s Kingdom, His presence was established to look up to, to honour and respect, to be willing to live for and to die for. The respect Jesus had for the Scriptures meant they could not be broken. When He was faced with going to Gethsemane He could have asked for legions of angels, but how then could the Scriptures be fulfilled? How much more should we not have respect. I am glad I have not lost respect for the flag and I hope you will never lose respect naturally for your flag.

The Children of Israel were fighting against Amalek. Moses was weary. When his hands were raised Israel prevailed. When they went down, Amalek prevailed. Aaron and Hur held up his hands. Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-nissi, ‘God is my banner’. I wondered why he said that. He meant, “The eternal God is the source of all my inspiration and strength, representing everything noble and worth living for. God is my banner.” I am ashamed how some give their lives for a cause that is despicable, communist soldiers for example. Maybe they are deceived into giving their lives for what is not noble. Moses called the place Jehovah-nissi, “From God I got my inspiration.”

Psalm 60:4-5, “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed of the truth, That thy beloved may be delivered, save with thy right hand and hear me.” When were you given the banner? It was the day you yielded your heart to God and told Him you wanted to serve Him. He gave into your possession a banner He wanted displayed, a banner displayed because of the truth. “That thy beloved may be delivered.” I am thankful for some who have lifted high the banner and understood God’s call and lived and died for it.

In I Kings 21 we read of a man who gave his life for the banner, Naboth. He had a very good vineyard and the wicked king Ahab provoked by his more wicked wife wanted it. Naboth knew the vineyard should not go out of the family. It cost him his life. On the other hand, Judas sold out cheaply. It is terrible to sell the Truth. May we be concerned to buy the truth and sell it not. Naboth gave his life for God’s banner. He understood God’s call and lifted high the banner where the conflict fierce did fall.

Psalm 20:5, “We will rejoice in thy salvation and in the home of our god we will set up our banners.” You know what our Brother Gordon (McNab) said today, and what our Brother John (Clark) said yesterday and it is no surprise to me that they felt it necessary to speak of these things.

I was trying to see what this banner some were willing to give their life for would really symbolize. It represented to Moses everything noble, honorable, decent, clean and beautiful. God’s banner consists of those things. Paul in writing to Titus wrote of young men, young women, old men and old women and spoke of great things. He said to be sober. Sobriety is one of the parts of God’s banner, not lightness or frivolity. Gravity would be similar.

There is also modesty. I would like to say a little about that. At Mudgee I tried to speak about the cross of Christ. I cannot help approving what Paul said in Galatians 6:14, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In Philippians 3 some were enemies of the cross of Christ and Paul said, “I tell you even weeping.” He was not shedding tears without a very, very deep reason. He was not effeminate. He said, “I tell you even weeping that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.” I don’t know of anything worse since I have been in the Work, that this immodest fashion in the world. It distresses Workers in the United States, in Brazil, in England. They are enemies of the cross of Christ. Where would we be without the cross? No cross, no crown.

I cannot help feeling that if some of you folk and not only young folk, could only think of the distress you are causing men and women who have made a sacrifice you do not fully appreciate. I am not in Brazil because of my comfort. There is not much comfort as we labor among poor people. Think of the distress when Paul wrote to the Corinthians in II Corinthians 11:2, “I was jealous over you with a godly jealousy.” “If only you could understand.” “I have espoused you to one husband.” Our husband is the King of Glory, the altogether lovely One. He is no ordinary person. Paul’s said, “I was jealous over you and espoused you to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

That’s why the Workers are distressed and why they speak. Our Brother Rex (Truran) spoke about flattery and I don’t want to flatter but I look into your faces and my heart goes out to you and I love you, but I am often sad because you are following the fashion of men and women who are enemies of the cross of Christ, following the fashion of the enemies of Christ rather than a good, honest and attractive of the older Sister Workers and Brother Workers.

I remembered today a verse in Psalm 20, “In the name of our God we will set up our banners.” A woman professed in Brazil and she had a lovely head of hair. She was very, very poor. There was a woman who made wigs and she wanted to buy her hair but she said, “No, I am not going to sell it.” She said, “I would like to give you a bigger price.” She was poor and poorer than anyone in this shed. There is poverty in some countries more than Australians ever know. She is awfully poor. She accepted the Truth. This wig maker came back the third time but the answer was, “I will not sell for any price what God has given me for my glory.” The last time I was in Queensland I looked at the people and noticed some I had known who had had their hair cut. I spoke about it and I had a little comfort this time to see some had taken it to heart. It causes us great searching of the heart. I hope we haven’t spoken in a hard way. I love God’s people. No one can lay down their life and deny themselves everything they want by nature if they have not a deep love for souls. I hope there will be a deeper searching of souls.

I wonder if the devil has a flag. There was a flag flown on the high seas, the flag of the buccaneers. They were unprincipled and murderous men. The background of their flag was black and in white were the skull and crossbones. They didn’t always fly it. Ships with the right motive fly their flag to identify themselves and the nation to which they belong. The buccaneers didn’t fly their flag as they didn’t want to be identified. The enemy of our soul is a buccaneer to rob and destroy so why would we co-operate with him? If he has a flag it has a black background with a skull and crossbones, to speak of death.

The flag represents modesty, sobriety, prudence and chastity. There can be no question about that and there are so many other things too. There is honesty. When men go back and rub shoulders with their business associates, remember that honesty is part of the banner of God. Anything shady has nothing to do with it.

Numbers 1:52, “And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, every man by his own standard throughout the host.” It meant every man, no question about that, every man and every woman. God looks on the large company and also on individuals. Numbers 2:3, “Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch his own standard with the ensign of their father’s house.” That is beautiful. Can you feel as the people of Brazil, that it is the most beautiful ensign. It speaks of purity, chastity, sincerity and sobriety. To pitch their tent meant they were travelling, but they were to pitch their tent by their father’s house. They were never to forget to what house they belonged. Do we forget to which house we belong? It would be sad if we were to forget to carry the banner and display it. “That thy beloved might be delivered.” There is no help to others if we don’t display the banner.

Verse 3, “To the east side.” Verse 9, “These shall first set forth.” There is the camp of Judah in Genesis 49. Jacob said of Judah that he would be the lawgiver (Jesus) and the sceptre. Judah was to go first always and that teaches me whenever I preach the Gospel and stand in Convention the one foremost is Jesus Himself. He must always be foremost in every move I make. It also tells of who would be on each side: the south, the east, the west. Verse 25, “The standard of the house of Dan shall be on the north side.” Verse 31, “They shall go hindmost with their standards.” Verse 34, “And so they set forward everyone after their families according to the house of their fathers.”

In Numbers 10 there is something similar. Verse 14, “In the first place..” Judah again. The one from thence became the lawgiver and the sceptre speaking of the king. “In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah.” Verse 18, “And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies.” Verse 22, “And the standard of the camp of Ephraim.” Verse 25, “And the standard of the camp of Dan set forward, which was the rearward of all the camps throughout their hosts.” Dan brought up the rear. I don’t know if every family carried a banner. I have a feeling they did. 

We read of the numbers belonging to each camp and the picture of hundreds of thousands of people marching and each family having a banner. It would be a significant sight. As we go out from here understanding God’s call we will be to our God a significant sight. If we go out from here resolved to lift up the banner it will be a significant sight to God. Dan was in the rear. He was not seen first of all. There was Judah and Ephraim and Reuben and last of all Dan. There is a hymn we sing,

“It may not be my part in the conflict with sin, In the front ranks of battle to fight, But unhonoured, unknown, where He wants me alone, I can faithfully stand for the right.”

may belong to the camp of Dan but does it matter? We have a banner to identify ourselves with our Father’s house.

Isaiah 11:10. This speaks of the day the Gospel came to us, “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek.” We are the Gentiles. If there had never been this ensign where would we be? “His rest shall be glorious.” That is worth a lot of consideration. What would I know of the rest of God if there was never this ensign? Absolutely nothing. I value this ensign.

I made a study of “in that day”. Isaiah 59 has a very, very nice verse. Verse 19, “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” We don’t want to have any doubt when the enemy has come in like a flood. The floods of ungodliness are not diminishing.

In II Timothy 2:2 Paul wrote, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection.... having a form of godliness.” This is a flood that is growing stronger and stronger. I’d like to have a part in turning the flood back. I believe you and I can. This verse is for us, “The spirit of the LORD shall lift up the standard.” Some day this flood of ungodliness will be pushed back forever. I’d like to have a part in stopping it now. If we accompany it, we increase it. If I accompany what is wrong I make the volume stronger and make it harder for others.

Jeremiah 50:2, “Declare ye among the nations and set up a standard; publish and conceal not.” I think that is what God would say: declare by life and words by conduct, by dress, by everything, that you are holding up this banner. Don’t conceal it. It is the only hope the world has. God’s people are the hope of the world.

Song of Solomon 6:4. I would like to finish on this note expressed in this chapter and I have a feeling that the Lord might want me to say what is in these people: sincere, noble, sober people. We should not leave your heart discouraged. “The LORD of Heaven said, Thou art beautiful.” There are lots of people in Queensland where I know them best, and a good few in Brazil, and I could say that they are beautiful. So many haven’t changed and they consolidated my heart and so I could say they are beautiful. The Lord says to those who love Him and understand His call and lift high the banner, “Thou art beautiful O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.”

Verse 10 is a lovely verse too, “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” Many times in Brazil I walked miles before daybreak. Daybreak is beautiful. The bride is like the dawning, clear as the moon and bright and pure as the sun, terrible as an army with banners. Don’t be fearful or with an arrogant spirit. I believe God wants us to have the boldness the apostles had in the Acts of the Apostles. They were not uncouth but went like an army with banners. They had a righteousness that people had to respect. They were raising up a banner.

Joseph in Egypt was tempted and there was no one to see him. He raised up a banner and the very king respected him. Daniel and his companions were told to eat of the king’s meat and they set up a banner. Those banners still fly and inspire us. The greatest king of earth had to listen to them and respect them. The cross is the greatest treasure the world has ever seen. Let us go out and lift up our banner and understand God’s call.

DON McINTYRE - 1972 - Hold high the banner - Silverdale I, WA

The Return Of Christ

Twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, regarding his coming again.  I certainly don't feel I have all the answers, but there are a number of things here.  It says fear not.  I think all of us would agree as to their meaning and if we can just talk a little bit about their words and about the power that they should have in their lives, and what they can do for each of us. 

 

It tells us in the beginning of the chapter about the disciples coming to Jesus and pointing out the huge stones in the buildings. Jesus said the time is coming when there will not be one stone left upon another.  These things are not important things.  It is easy for us to get taken up with the events of what is going on around us today. People are certainly doing great things and they are getting greater and greater.  But the Lord would like to turn our attention from that to something that does matter,  and something that is going to last forever.  We sing in that hymn: "All the kingdoms of the earth, all their pride and power, shall be humbled to the dust in that promised hour." Then the things that are going to remain will appear. 

 

The disciples came to him then and asked him to tell them about this. It so reached their hearts and they were so concerned about it that they asked him questions, some of them. I remember one companion of mine, an old man of God, used to say that he often prayed to God,  "Lord, please tell me certain things that I need to know.  Tell me what does this scripture mean so it can be applied to my life?" 

 

Let's say that the two of us were reading a book.  One of us would say it means this and the other would say 'no' that is not what it means.  I know quite well what it means.  How would we settle this?  We would go to the author and say to him if he was still alive, 'What did you mean by that statement?" Then, if he said what he meant by that statement, the argument would be settled. 

 

If we can have the answer as to what the Lord means by certain things he said, and if we go to him and say, "Please tell me," we would then know exactly what he meant.  The disciples did that on this occasion.  They came to the Lord and they asked him to tell them. Jesus began to tell them about his coming again.  He began to tell them about the end of the world.  Those are not just the same.   Sometimes people confuse the two. The Lord's coming again is not the end of the world. According to what we read in the book, the Lord's coming again is at least a thousand years before the end of the world.  It seems as though his coming is in two stages.  He comes to meet his people in the air and it is at that time the angels gather up his children.  It's then that the first resurrection takes place.  It's then that the dead are caught up with the living - the living changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.  It says so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

 

I used to think that the dead in Christ that rose first would get there first. It doesn't really matter, but it doesn't sound like it.  It sounds like both will get there at the same time.  Caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. 

 

The second stage of his coming is when he comes back with thousand, thousand of his saints to execute judgment.  The first is like the thief. He comes as a thief.  The next was when every eye shall see him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.  It was this that Jesus was telling the disciples about. 

 

I noticed that he mentioned when he started to explain certain things that first of all they were not to believe.  There are five things in this chapter that Jesus encouraged them to be careful about being deceived regarding.  We don't need to be deceived because Jesus makes them crystal clear.  In the 4th verse, the first thing was he was simply saying, "Don't be deceived about who I really am.  Don't let anybody deceive you about who I really am, because many will come in my name saying I am Christ."  There will be a lot of people who will be claiming this honor and claiming this name.  He said, be sure in your mind who I really am.  Then if you are sure in your mind who I really am then nobody can deceive you on that point. He tells in this chapter about being able to deceive the very elect if it were possible. 

 

Our brother here has told us one time. He said, "It is not possible to deceive the elect because they have the Holy Spirit. You can't deceive people who have God's spirit because they have the Author's approval.  Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

 

One time some us were talking about the Lord's coming again.  I was asking this brother, "Do you think that the overwhelming theory that is on the hearts of Gods' servants and people might be one of the greatest evidences that we have, that the Lord's coming is nearing - the overwhelming theory that this time is here?  We sing it in our hymn, 'Art thou waiting for the day of the Lord's appearing?  He has promised He shall come and time is nearing.'  That brother said, "I think this is one of the greatest evidences we have existing amongst us today.  It is the overwhelming theory in the ears of God's servants and people that the coming of the Lord is drawing near.” 

 

I was reading a book a while back and it was telling about a hunter who was hunting man-eating tigers.  A lot of people have been killed and eaten in India. He said he had an unfailing instinct, and that unfailing instinct was that he always knew when that creature was near. He said it never failed.  There was never a time when he was stalked by that creature that it failed him.  Call that whatever you may, a sixth sense, or whatever, but he had it. God's people have an unfailing monitor, and that unfailing monitor is the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and the wisdom that, that power is unfailing. Jesus said first of all, "Don't be deceived about who I am." 

 

Then he said, "Don't be deceived about where I am."  There is a possibility about being deceived about who he is and then there is the possibility of being deceived about where he is.  Then he said, "Don't be deceived about when this time is going to be,"  because nobody has the answer.  He said that himself. He said I don't know.  He said the angels in heaven don't know; only my Father in heaven knows. 

 

Then he said, "Don't be deceived about what he is going to do when he gets here.  Don't be deceived about who he is.  Don't be deceived about where he is.  Don't be deceived about when he is coming. Above all, don't be deceived about what we ought to do in the meantime.  These five things Jesus made abundantly clear in this chapter. 

 

One of the first things that the angel told Mary, "Jesus is the holy thing that shall be born of thee and shall be called the Son of God."  Two times when Paul was writing, he wrote about the awful possibility of hearing about another Jesus and another gospel.  The popular gospel that is written here in the world today presents another Jesus than the Jesus who came to this world in his simplicity, in his humility. 

 

You wouldn't recognize the Jesus that God's servants preach in the popular gospels of today.  It is an altogether different Jesus. Oftentimes Jesus is presented just as the one who died for us.  He did that and we could never emphasize that too much.  But Jesus is more than just the one who died for us. Jesus is the one who lived for us before He died. Those years that he lived count for some things.  They count for something now and they will count for something throughout the countless ages of eternity. 

 

Those years that Jesus lived are important because Jesus was teaching during that time by his example as well as his words. He was teaching whom he really feared.  He was teaching what he would like you to believe about him.  We have heard from the very beginning that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light.  Jesus is not just somebody who died, but someone who lived to show us the way. 

 

When we listened to the gospel we understood real well that this is not just something that we accept, but somebody that comes into our hearts and lives with us.  The life that we receive is not just something that comes from God, but somebody who comes and lives in our hearts and walks the way with us. We are so thankful that we are not dealing with 'something', but that we are dealing with 'Someone'.  One time our brother George Walker was speaking of the fact that Jesus was God in the human flesh. If we accept anything short of that, "God with us", then we are being shortchanged.  Be not deceived it says, about who he is.  Then he said be not deceived about where he is. Remember one of the first questions that was asked by the wise men?  It was, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews, because we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship him." It is impossible to worship him if we don't know where He is. 

 

These wise men almost missed it.  They almost missed it because the Lord had given them guidance. He had sent the star, and as that star crossed the heavens they followed it. As long as they followed that star they were on the right track.  Then when they refused to follow that light any longer, it was then they had to go right back to the very place where they missed it - right back to the very light they had refused to follow.  As they continued following that light they found him. 

 

There are a lot of people in this world today that have the right idea of who Jesus is.  They believe him to be God's son, and they certainly believe that he was God's image, the statement of his very Father, the statement of His image.  But they don't know where he is.  It is very touching to hear the testimony of a people who have found him.  Very touching to hear the testimony of a people who saw a light.  A light in God's servants or a light in God's children. Maybe it was somebody they worked with.  Maybe it was somebody who knocked on their door.  Maybe it was somebody they were related to and had grown up amongst, but they had to see the light. 

 

Now as long as they follow that light they are getting closer and closer to where he is. Then if they stop following that light they miss the way and they never find him.   We feel very thankful that we know where he is, that he dwells among his people today.  It says of him in those first chapters of Revelation that he is still the one who walks amid the golden candlesticks. If there is anything we have to be thankful for today is that he is still there, walking among the candlesticks.  Still there among his people.  As we meet together this evening  it is as we sang this morning, 'God is here amongst His people.'  As we meet together this afternoon we know again that the Lord is here. 

 

Jesus tells how the Lord's people are going to be drawn to him on that day.  It is an infallible thing that they will be drawn to him. He gave that answer in verse 28.  "For wheresoever the carcass is there will the eagles be gathered together."  There is a side to that. Some will reject it because of the outward appearance.  The point is the infallible instinct in the eagles to find the body.  One of our brothers explained it like this: "This infallible instinct in God's children that brings them to Jesus is the very same instinct that will moves them to pray in the morning, the same that moves you to read your Bible, the same that will make you feel, "I haven't read today."  I need to read my Bible.  That is the very same instinct that will bring you unfailingly to the Lord when the Lord comes back.  The very same instinct that causes you to love the fellowship of those who love the Lord.  That is the instinct that brought you to meeting today. It is the instinct that will bring you unfailingly to Jesus.  You won't miss him because he wouldn't miss you. 

 

You depend on that instinct that was born within you when you received the gospel and received the Lord in your heart - trusted with all the heart that you had and trusted with your soul. I will never forget the testimony of a woman whose husband went out to work one morning and she has never seen him again.  She lost complete track of him.  She has no idea today where he is, as far as I know. He never returned.  The only thing is, his father was connected with the Mafia before they left a certain eastern city.  That is the only evidence they have.  Whether that has anything to do with it we don't know. Her first testimony in convention that fall was: "When this first happened to me I thought the Lord had forsaken me and our little children." But then she said at her next convention, "When I think that I trusted God with the salvation of my son and daughter, then I am sure I can trust Him with everything that happens to me between now and eternity.  That is the instinct that will draw us to Jesus.  That is the instinct that will never fail us in this life and it will bring us to him. 

 

Then how does he bring them in?  He draws them. He always draws them, but in verse 31 he gives us a double assurance that we will not miss the Lord when he comes.  It says he shall send his angels with the sound of the trumpet.  We will hear a trumpet sound and by that trumpet sound he will gather together his elect from the four corners of the earth. 

 

Just let me go over that now with this assurance and reassurance.  The very same little voice that moved us to pray will be as urgent on that day. The very same little voice that moved us to seek his word won't fail you in that critical hour.  The very same little voice that brought you here and spoke to you in this meeting today is the same voice that will bring you home.  The very same voice that moves the love of God's people in fellowship, more than they love their own lives and that moves you to love His people with all the being that you have, is the very same instinct that will assure you of being at the right place and at the right time when Jesus comes. 

 

Then the next thing that he said was what will we do when he comes. I just want to mention it briefly.  We will be gathered together, his elect, from everywhere.  That is what he is going to do, the first thing when he comes.  It says there were two in the field, one taken and the other left.  Two being in the bed, one taken and the other left. What makes the difference?  It is because one has obeyed that little voice. The other has somehow disobeyed.  We have told some that when we first listened to the gospel we heard a voice that we had never heard before and every time that we have listened to that voice then have thanked God for it. Every time we have disobeyed then we have been sorry.  This has been without intention.  Can you say the same thing?  You have a little voice in your heart and that little voice tells you the right thing to do. 

 

Have you ever been glad when you disobeyed it, ever?  Have you ever felt better off for having disobeyed it?  I don't think so.  Every time that it's true you have been sorry when you disobeyed it and you've been glad when you obeyed it.  That has been without exception in my life, and it is the unfailing thing that will bring us to him when he comes back. 

 

Then it mentions the last one that I spoke about.  That is, what are we supposed to be doing in the meantime?  The next is, what is he going to do whenever he comes back?  Then as he comes there, where is he? There is where we still find him, in the same place, among God's people and among those who have been used to preserve his life here in the earth.  The last one is, what are we supposed to be doing while we are waiting for him to come back? There are a number of things we need to be doing.  One man said in a meeting, "If you knew that this was going to be your last day on earth or if you knew that the Lord was coming back today, what would you be doing?  He just spoke right out in that meeting, "Man, I would be praying."  I just thought, that's part of it: we should be praying. 

 

But he mentions something here.  It takes prayer like we were hearing this morning to have it.  It takes reading our book to have it. But he mentions something here that would be outstanding in the lives of those who are really expecting him.  If we are found doing that we won't miss it on that day. This is what it says in the last verses.  Verse 45: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his Lord has made ruler over his household to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all His goods.” He said here that may be one of the outstanding things.  All these others will be there.  Prayer because it is necessary in our lives and in the lives of others. Reading the book because it is necessary for us and for others.  Going to meeting because it is absolutely necessary to keep that life going.  And then visiting with others, well whatever, that's all there, and it seems to be all understood. But then one of the most outstanding outward characters that we are ready for daybreak to meet the Lord is this faithfulness in keeping apart to others and this faithfulness in standing for what Jesus left behind. 

 

When he left Peter, he said to him, "Peter do you love me today?"  He used that statement three times.  The first time he used it the word was ungodly love.  Then it's brotherly love, a love for a friend, a love for a family. Then there is divine love.  Peter always answered in terms of brotherly love.  'I love you as the dearest friend I have.'  I think that is the reason he asked him over and over.  Why would Peter never claim divine love?  I don't know but the thought in my mind is this: 'Could I claim divine love, Lord, after having failed in the way that I have?  Could I claim to love you with the same kind of love that you have, never failing me?  Could I claim it?' Then Jesus said to him, “You feed my lambs and feed my sheep. If you really love me, you love the body.  You show such love for the body that you will do anything under heaven you need to do to see that body is well cared for.  You show such love for the body that you will be willing to give anything you have that the body will be comforted.” 

 

In the Second World War, one of our friends was in that war and they had taken a little town that had been in the German hands for months.  The Germans had been keeping those people down with machine guns and threats. When the Allied soldiers took over they drove into town with a truck load of bread and other food.  This brother said, “We did more with a truck load of bread than the Germans had done with their arsenal.”   One of our old brothers told us when we first started out in the work,”If you go out in this world and feed people as they have never been fed before; if you put something before them that they have never had; you show a care for their souls that nobody else has ever shown, then you will be able to bring those people back to you. They will come back to you,” he said.  It is a very simple thing. 

 

I was talking with one of our brothers yesterday and he was telling us about an experience where God's servants were bringing the truth to people and some preachers came to interfere with them.  The preachers hated these servants of God and they didn't even give them a chance to talk.  They just kept going right on, pouring it into them, their hatred and their venom. Our brothers didn't understand very much of anything.  But toward the end of that session a woman who had received the gospel spoke up and said to one of these preachers; "I went to your church. I went for years and you never fed my soul, never. The day came when two men of God knocked at my door and they have given me something that has fed my soul like nothing else.” Those men were dumfounded. They had no answer.  Our brothers could have argued with them all night.  But it was just like the testimony of that man: “Once I was blind and now I can see.”  Nobody could argue with that.  He could see. 

 

What should we be doing till Jesus comes back? We are to abide in the body. We are to love it more than we love ourselves. We are to prepare for it with all the meaning that we have. One of our brothers was talking with one of the friends.  She seemed very discouraged, and this can happen in the lives of anybody.  She was so discouraged that she wondered if she was really saved.  He said to her; "Do you love God's servants?" She said, “I most certainly do.” “Do you love those who meet with you in the little church?” She said, “I do with all my heart.”  “Do you love the Lord above all else, and before anybody else?”  She said, “I love God, I love His people and I love His way.” Then our brother said, “You have no need to fear for your soul because you have what Jesus said.” 

 

In closing, our brother asked the question, and he answered the question himself: Jesus said in this chapter in verse 44, “For in such an hour as ye think not the son of man cometh.” And our brother said this, “When is the time that we least expect him?”  Then he answered, "Right now!. Right now is the time we least expect him.”  Some day his coming will be right now. 

 

Paul Lyon - The Return of Christ

Handy Bible Chart

God has a positive answer      YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES You say:  "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27) You say:  "I'm too tired" God says:  I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) You say:  "Nobody really loves me" God says:  I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34 ) You say:  "I can't go on" God says:  My grace is sufficient  (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15) You say:  "I can't figure things out" God says:  I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6) You say:  "I can't do it" God says:  You can do all things (Philippians 4:13) You say:  "I'm not able" God says:  I am able (II Corinthians 9:8) You say:  "It's not worth it"  God says:  It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 ) You say:  "I can't forgive myself" God says:  I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1) You say:  "I can't manage" God says:  I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19) You say:  "I'm afraid" God says:  I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7) You say:  "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says:  Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7) You say:  "I'm not smart enough" God says:  I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30) You say:  "I feel all alone" God says:  I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)