Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the Work Whereunto I Have Called Them - Acts 13:2
Jul 20th, 2020
Morning MeditationF. B. Meyer
Categories: Commentary;Inspirational;Book Study

The Holy Spirit, as the representative of the ascended Lord, is supreme in the Church. It is His sovereign voice that summons His chosen workers to undertake missionary or home enterprise. Dr. Ryland, who at first opposed Carey's idea of going to India, said afterward, "I believe God Himself infused into the mind of Carey that solicitude for the salvation of the heathen which cannot be fairly traced to any other source." And the same is true of all missionaries. The true call is always of the Divine Spirit. Whom He wills to call, He calls. Whom He calls, He separates. Whom He separates, He endows and sends forth.

But, Divine and absolute though the selection is, the Spirit seeks the concurrence of the Church. It was in answer to the Church's prayer for direction that the Spirit designated Barnabas and Saul for the great work of world-evangelization; and it was when the Church had fasted and prayed, and had offered these two to God as their wave offering, that they were sent forth by the Holy Ghost. Thus the Spirit and the Bride cooperate.

In determining whether you have been called by the Holy Spirit to be a missionary, you must certainly call in the advice of Christian friends, and specially of the church with which you worship. If the Spirit of God is in you and them, they will ratify the movements of your heart. It is right, too, to consider whether you have been specially gifted and qualified for the work. In this also, the advice of the Church is most valuable. Of course, the Church herself must fast, i.e., be separate from known evil and indulgence, that she may hear God's voice, and be able to advise her children.

Revelation 8:10-12 - Exploring Revelation
Jul 20th, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

When the first trumpet sounded, a third part of the trees were burned up and all the green grass was burned up. The second trumpet sounded a third part of the sea became blood and a third part of the creatures in the sea died and a third part of the ships were destroyed. Man's world is disintegrating, God did not give man his beautiful home to live in rebellion against Him.

Now we come to the Third trumpet, "and there fell a great star from heaven", Perhaps an asteroid that disintegrates upon entry into the atmosphere. There is something different about this star, its name is "wormwood", which means bitter. Perhaps this asteroid is radioactive? We do not know, but we do know that,"many men died because of the waters, because they were made bitter". One third of the fresh water lakes and rivers were piosoned. Man's environment continues to disintergrate.

We are reminded of the waters of Marah which were made bitter, bitterness is a result of sin, the ultimate bitterness of sin is descending upon man and his world. God did not make man's beautiful home for man to live in rebellion against Him.

The fourth trumpet sounds, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and a third part of the moon, and a third part of the stars. The light from the sun, the moon and the stars is reduced so that the days are shortened and the night becomes even darker. The blessing of light is greatly reduced, man is descending into darkness as God withdraws His hand of blessing from man. Man has ignored God, ascribing the creation to evolutionary processes. It says in Pslam 2, " He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh".

These four trumpet judgments have fallen in quick succession, God will let rebellious men know that He is the sovereign Lord of the universe and that man is but as the dust before Him. Today men live as if God does not even exist, they defy His word concerning marriage, homosexuality, creation, abortion and worse than all of these they just ignore God altogether. God's payday does not come on Friday, but it will come!

As fearful as these four trumpet judgments will be, they are only the beginning of God's judgments on man and his world.

It is good that man should try to save the environment of his world, however man cannot have this world to enjoy if he turns away from the God who created it and rebels against Him. God created man to live in fellowship with Him and sin and rebellion separates the creature and the creator. The way to restore the environment is to live in fellowship with God, and that involves repentance and faith toward Jesus Christ. God has a day to restore His creation, read about it in Isaiah chapter 11.