GOD SPEAKS

Remember always, you are separated from this world after accepting the Lord as your savior. Therefore, you should determine to follow the Lord in all circumstances. The circumstance may not appear favor to us but still our faith in the Lord should continue in us. Mischievous thing that our heart does is that we try to solve everything on our own. At this juncture, we search for the entire alternatives for the problems and immediately implement them. There is a chance that we may opt for the methods of this world here. We never think about the Almighty who can guide you here. Does not the Bible say -I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go : I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalms 33:8

The Lord can give you better understanding in all your problems in an innovative way. Different methods are available with the Father for all your problems. Most of the times, you may seek or try to imitate the methods used by this worldly people for your problems. Even in the expansion of Church ministries, unfortunately, you may observe the leaders/elders/members of the church are devising or imitating the methods used by the management of various worldly organizations/political organizations. This kind of thinking may be a peril to you. In this connection read this verse :

and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in  thy ways : now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee : for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 1 Samuel 8: 5-8

What is the problem of Israel here?  The sons of Prophet Samuel were not after the way of his father. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment 1 Samuel 8:3. This was the issue. What did they think? : His children who were appointed as Judges over them perverting the judgment. Therefore, they all came to Prophet Samuel to seek a king.

This meant that – (1) They identified the problem (2) They made a solution: If a king was appointed for them, he would take care of them. They were free to identify the problem. But their decision to choose a king should be subject to the approval of the Lord. It came out of their mind. It is apt to say that they made this decision to have a king was simply an imitation of the worldly methods which they had observed in the world. and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in  thy ways : now make us a king to judge us like all the nations The distinct point here to note that they had not consulted the Lord, who appointed the Judges, can solve their issues. Were they more intelligent than the Lord to invent solutions to their problems? Did they need to tell the Lord to appoint a king to be judge for them? Did not they forget that they were special in the sight of the Lord?

We should remember that you are not alone on this earth. The Lord resides with you. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23.  What does this verse say? Is it not your responsibility to consult Him who lives with you always? Is it right to make your own decisions without consulting Him? Does not it mean if you take a decision without consulting him, who thinks well than you, is insulting the Lord? Those who do not recognize that the Lord made an abode with them will take their own decisions and REJECT the Lord.

Whether it is either a Judge or King, he may ultimately rule them. This may not be of much difference to the people. But, to the Lord it differs. Your decisions may hurt the Lord. In the above verse, it may be observed that it displeased Samuel when they asked him to appoint a king for them instead of judges. It also displeased the Lord. Look at what the Lord said: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

From the above, it may be understood-

(1) You are free to identify your problem

(2) Remember to bring every problem, every thought into the presence of the Lord who resides with you(John 14:23)

(3) Consult Him; otherwise it would mean that you disrespect Him or it may hurt the Lord.

(4) ask the Lord whether your thoughts are correct in his point of view. Do not haste to make decisions and thereafter bring them to the Lord as it may hurt the Lord.

(5) The omnipotent Lord has different methods to solve every issue on his own way. For example, look at how the Lord solved the issue of bitter water. The method used by the Lord is excellent! This was only possible when the Lord servant Moses cried unto the Lord. The problem was brought to the Lord not the decisions. So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur ; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter : therefore the name of it was called Marah [bitterness].And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink ? And he cried unto the Lord ; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet. Exodus 15:22-25

(6) Your decision may be approved by the Lord, but it may not be a blessing as it happened to  Israel while choosing a King instead of a judge whom the Lord appointed.

It is written in the Bible –and that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? Job 7:18. & Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing: I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Psalms 17:3

From the above, it can be understood that the Lord visits every one of us every moment, every morning and night. Why? He always wants to try you and prove you. But it may be also observed that the Lord can see anything or your heart from His throne.  Therefore, he can consider all our works or better say He can understand these things from afar. The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. Psalms 34:13-15.

There is no such God like our Lord who can visit their devotees. This has been proved in many instances that can be seen in the Bible itself. Even now if you believe, you will surely experience it.

Let us look at some of the instances from the Bible – How and why the Lord visits His people:

(1) Look at this verse- And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die ; and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Genesis 50:25. Joseph was talking about the visitation of the Lord. The same was told by the Lord himself to Abraham. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them ; and they shall afflict them four hundred years ; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge : and afterward shall they come out with great substance Genesis 15:13-14.

The Lord himself had told that the seed of Abraham would be afflicted for four hundred years. Could not the Lord stop this from being happened to the seed of Abraham? The promise to give the land flowing with milk and honey was granted to Abraham even before his first born son Isaac. The Lord can solve everything on the moment itself when He sees your problem or even before it happens to us. But he takes His time and makes everything right in His own way. Why? In this instance, it may be understood that the land of honey and milk was granted to the seed of Abraham after 400 years. That does not mean that the Lord cannot do it before 400 years. All His actions are followed by His rules of justice. Just because He has promised His follower Abraham, He cannot break His natural justice and take away the land from the existing inhabitants of the land and give it to Abraham. We know, He was, is and will be a God of justice. Therefore, it may be understood that His VISIT is end of problem or end of a process adopted by the Lord to fulfill His promises or to solve all our problems in His own way. Therefore, it may be seen that when some problem or issue involves others, there needs to be some rule of natural justice. As it is written in the Bible –But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full Genesis 15:16. God took 400 years for giving the Promised Land. The reason was told by the Lord that- for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. Here the Lord of justice clearly works for us and visits thereafter.

(2) The Lord visits His people to correct their ways: We know our Lord is a perfect God. He does not even see one spot of uncleanness in you at any time. He is the Most Holy. Therefore, He desires you also to be holy. As it is written – ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:45. Therefore, he tries us every moment, every day and every night.

and that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? Job 7:18. & Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing: I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Psalms 17:3

This is because –

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed ; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. Job 33:14-18.

While making His visit, He – (1) tries your heart (2) opens your heart to receive His instruction. This instruction is to correct our ways. (3) He speaks it once or twice. Therefore, it is very much essential to keep your heart and ears open at every moment of your life as the Lord may visit you at any point of time. He is the Lord who loves you more and hence He will not leave you alone un-instructed. But it is up to you whether to follow or not to follow His instruction. You may refer to the part of the Bible teaching about what happened to King Solomon when the Lord had told him to be away from the heathen women whom he had married.

(3) The Lord may have his own reasons to make his time to visit: Read this verse- And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:21.

Hannah was like any other common woman desiring for a child. Her prayer was answered or the Lord visited and granted her Prophet Samuel. The Lord would have granted her even before her coming to the temple of the Lord. but unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion ; for he loved Hannah :  but the Lord had shut up her womb. 1 Samuel 1 : 5. We know the Lord knows you even before you were born (Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5). Therefore, it may be understood that the Lord had seen Prophet Samuel before he was born. On the other hand, you may notice that the word of the Lord confirms that- but the Lord had shut up her womb. Why?  One of the reasons could be the unfaithful family of God servant Eli. His sons were not faithful unto the Lord. Therefore, the Lord chose him Prophet Samuel at the appointed time.  At this appointed time and for the right cause, the Lord might have visited Hannah.