Late harvest

The last of the garden is harvested. I pulled up the pepper plants and the tomatoes are all through. Persimmons on the tree are bird food now. The lemon tree has fresh lemons and some that were left from last year are still on the tree the size of oranges.

I see the harvest of souls in our nation like this late crop. Some refuse to come to Jesus and are under the wrath of God, the birds devour them like the last persimmons. Some do not know what they need. Some are in addictions or just too much entertainment and cannot see the need, rotting on the vine. Others are family members with hardened hearts like a winter squash. These we pray to God for their souls to be harvested. Some in the church are looking for a great revival. If the church will be ready and be active in witnessing then the last of the crop will come in. I do not see a harvest field, but Jesus said it is ready for harvest; look up, he sees and will guide us to them.

John 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 

Our prayers are needed to bring the last of the harvest to Jesus. Perhaps we should also be seeking the ones who have fallen back into the world?

Luke 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 

The devil will send his drones out to confuse the fruit and to block our way. Recognize this and use the sword of God's word; keep going and keep the faith.

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 
Psa 40:4  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 

Fall back, but not away

In the Fall we fall back an hour to be off of daylight saving time and back to normal. I like the extra hour that we gain this way. Sometimes we need to take time to fall back and to seek the LORD's presence and his direction for our life. We do not fall away and hide from the LORD and our problems, Jesus loves us and we take our problems to him. As I was reading in Amos 9, the chapter was about God's judgement on his own people Israel. They had left him for other gods and he was telling them that they could not hide from him, they would be judged. The story ends with a promise of restoration for a remnant who would return to the land and it would be rebuilt and the land would produce an abundance of good things. This is happening and it refers to a time when they would be ruled by a righteous king. This king is Jesus at his second coming. These things are coming very soon, so fall back and pray and be refreshed, but do not hide from God. The safest place is in Jesus and he is in you.

 

Amos 9:1  I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.

 

Luke 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

 

Jer 23:24  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

It is terrible thing to run from the wrath of God. Where can you go, that he is not there?

 

Jude 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

The greatest thing we have is his love and the Holy Spirit, his truth and power with us. Fear God, but not the things that are coming. Pray for his peace and his salvation in our land.

Three things that are needed

2Ti 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

I started the day playing trombone duets with Bob. He brought some music with extremely high notes to be  played in harmony. He said in order to play this music it requires three things: practice, practice and practice. I quipped to him, "what about chance"? He laughed. But, how many of us lack the discipline to do what is required of us? Instead of study and practice, we leave it to chance and call it spiritual.  Now I am in dangerous territory. The truth is  if we are in Christ we can do nothing apart from God's spirit. We receive a lot of grace, yes and even grace when we fail. In an earlier testimony I mentioned wasting a lot of time seeking the wrong goals. When we are on the right path, then it is a joy. We should not be slack and lazy in our walk with the LORD. The apostle Paul put all of his effort into bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. He had much success but also much pain and persecution. Can we stand the pain? the persecution? We must, if we are to stand for Jesus. Our pastor has related a message from Billy Graham on being successful as a Christian; pray, pray and pray. Then we can put to practice what we learn from God's word.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 
Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 
Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 
Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

Job's friends

Think of Jesus taking our sins and blame to the cross, being stripped of all that he was and yet having no sin of his own. Most of those who followed him had left him. His friend and disciple Judas, betrayed him with a kiss. Peter, as Jesus had predicted, had denied him three times and had fallen away in sorrow. The greatest friend we have is God. So no matter what your friends do, we have God and we love God and our friends. Our friends are human with human weaknesses as we have. Job's suffering was not helped by his well meaning friends, but we can learn from this ourselves. God's love is so much greater than any feeling or emotion, lust,  or misunderstanding that we may suffer from.

Job 16:20  My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

As Jesus wept for our sorrows and has experienced cruelty, he cares for you who trust in him.

1Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Job 19:14  My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

His closest relatives had failed him because of unbelief. I myself remember those times that I lay in the hospital and my best friends never once visited or made contact with me. We need to be a friend especially when a friend is in need.

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Job 32:3  Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Do not bring condemnation to a friend. God was upset with Job's three friends, but Job had never spoke against God, he remained faithful. We are not to be faithful to other people by following them in sin, this is wrong. We are to be faithful to God, keeping our self from sin. In this way we becoming a true friend to others.

Job 42:10  And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

A great truth here, when we pray for others we receive favor from God. One night in our Internet Bible chat room we had a woman who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was a mother of four children, she was soon to die and her concern was for her children. On this night we prayed and the woman did not pray for her own needs, but for the needs of her children and for their care. Something happened as she was praying...she felt a warmth from here head down to her feet. God was touching her and healing her. She went to the doctor the next week and they found no trace of the cancer that was there before. Her unselfish prayers for her children brought the compassion of God upon herself. Praying for others brings healing to ourselves. Unforgiveness is not good. Experience the love and power of God in your life, be faithful to God and receive Jesus, who is the only way to God and forgiveness. He is our eternal life and joy. He is our savior from our sins and separation from God. 

2Cor 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Persistent prayer

Luke 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luke 18:3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luke 18:4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luke 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luke 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luke 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

He is coming for the people of faith. Faith and prayer, belief and communion. The walk of faith cannot be done in the natural, we need God's help. Prayer is connection and power from God to do his will. Faith comes by hearing and hearing God's word. How many meetings have we attended about learning the things of God? I used to go to business seminars, but after a while I thought, why do this if I don't apply what I learn? Faith requires prayer to be  effective. If God has laid something on our hearts, continue to pray to him until you get a breakthrough. He answers and we obey giving him thanksgiving and praise.We are always to pray, to share our thoughts and life with God the Father.

Be of good courage

  

Josh 1:7  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Josh 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Josh 1:9  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Be strong and of good courage, not bad courage. Some are bold to do evil, this is not God's command. We are to observe to do all according to God's word. We fail when we leave his word. Our courage is not just our bodies strength but also our soul, our godly Character and trust. Our faith in God keeps us going and not with many words but by his word and promises.

1 Cor 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1 Cor 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 Cor 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Cor 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Watch out for lusts of the flesh and pride of life. Submit all to God as the Proverb says.

Prov 3:1  My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Prov 3:2  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Prov 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Prov 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Prov 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Prov 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Prov 3:8  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Have good courage and obey God.

Lev 26:6  And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
Lev 26:7  And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
Lev 26:8  And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

The people of God are to have courage, for God goes with them. Pray for our military and our government leaders that they trust God and are of good courage. We are not to serve the devil, but the Living God. We take our orders from above, not from evil but from our righteous commander. Be a good soldier of the LORD, stay in his word and his will so that we will go forward as the victorious people of God.

Incense

Exo 30:1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim (acacia) wood shalt thou make it.

Exo 30:3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.

Exo 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
Exo 30:8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

Morning and evening, our prayers are the incense before Jesus who intercedes for us.

Heb 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Rev 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Pray continuously, the incense to our eternal intercessor, Jesus our Lord.