Abraham's Approach

 

Abraham’s Approach

In my bible reading this morning there was something in the scriptures that leaped out at me. Yet, it was simple. It perhaps is not revelatory to most. But still it impacted me and so it may you as well.

The story is Abraham and GOD in discussion of Sodom. This is found for your reference in Genesis, the 18^th chapter. It starts out as Abraham not knowing GOD’S plan. It starts out as a question of GOD. The LORD asks, “Shall I hide my plan from Abraham?” It is apparent that GOD has trust in Abraham. It is also apparent that GOD has already had conversations with Abraham. Abraham has already shown himself as an altar builder. He has already shown himself as one that trusts in GOD. He has already stepped away now and is way beyond Ur and has since left Haran. He has done this in search for that city whose builder and maker is GOD. Abraham has shown he’s willing and is on course of showing his faith in his continued journey. What I find amazing is Abraham’s approach to GOD about this city called Sodom. Of course, Abraham knows his nephew Lot is there with his family. So, here is the debate between GOD and Abraham. Abraham’s approach to GOD wasn’t just it the behalf of his family. In fact, Abraham never even mentions Lot or his family. The argument. The sticking point. The case presented before the LORD doesn’t even include his family. Abraham mentions no one by name. Abraham mentions no traits of certain individuals. Abraham doesn’t reach for reputations or names of the so-called greats. He does not mention any standing of attribute of certain individuals. Abraham does not bring before GOD the wealth or riches of any particular individuals. Abraham doesn’t point to any individuals’ talents, giftings, or one’s intelligence for sparing the city. Surely, they were all there. I am sure they had those people. However, none comes to the mind of Abraham. No name is mentioned. Nor is anything that is possessed by those who live in Sodom does Abraham bring up. Other words, Abraham did know what to mention. Abraham knew how to approach GOD in persuading GOD not to destroy Sodom. How crazy is that? Abraham brought it up because he knew what to bring up. Abraham knew the sticking point. Abraham stayed with his argument to the end. And when Abraham brought it up, notice this. GOD never corrected him in what it was he brought up. When Abraham stood before the judge in the court of GOD. GOD never told Abraham. Your presentation is wrong. Your constitutional argument is in error. GOD never said, “Abraham you would be more apt to convince me from this standpoint.” “Abraham here is your case. Here is your argument. “Article such and such number.” Nope, both knew the one thing that would destroy or keep GOD’S destruction from coming.” Just the one thing, that’s it. This one thing that had to be there. It wasn’t power, prestige, position, positivity, or popularity. The one thing that will always win the argument. Abraham knew where to point. Abraham as the appointed attorney for Sodom’s defense. He knew if he was to win the case. There was one standing argument. It’s the same argument that still prevails with GOD today.

Gen 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?    KJV

And Abraham and GOD both stay within the argument, the debate, the question of; IF THERE BE 50 RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY WILL YOU STILL DESTROY IT?

RIGHTEOUSNESS… The question, the only question. Is there 50, 45, 40 and so it goes all the way down to ten. If there be but ten found righteous, GOD said, I will spare the city of Sodom.

While Sodom did what Sodom did. While Sodom slept. Just a few miles away the great debate for their existence was found in the courtroom of GOD.

I can’t help wander for the generation of today. Will GOD? Can GOD find righteousness amongst us today? Not righteousness that we have defined for ourselves or others in what it looks like. But righteousness as GOD has determined it to be. Is it present? Or is found absent and wanting in this present day?

I do find with much amazement I might add. That in today’s world in contrast to the days not so long past. Righteousness seems to be just another relative term that can be changed, and/ or manipulated, to meet our design. The existing pressures today, maybe they are being put upon us to see just what we are made of. GOD does seem to be placed on the outside to only be looking in where righteousness was easily found.

 

Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving 2020. It would be a disservice to look at this year and even with all that is gone on and at this very moment and not find something to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving a time of sharing and caring. Thanksgiving for our GOD, our family, friends and the many blessings we have. I know we cannot but help look at the adversity of what we see today. To even find the words to describe the time of trouble we are currently living in. Well, it seems almost too much to keep count of. I ask, has there ever been such a Thanksgiving like this one? The demands of social distancing. In certain parts of the country we see the mandatory “no more than ten people gathered together…” Just up the road from me if you are caught without a mask it’s a $200.00 fine. The talk has been that there are possible lock downs for weeks. We see the numbers going up with the number of virus infections. And there are many other things that can be said of the ever more increasing of other things that have many stressed, angry, and confused as how we are here.

Yet, the challenge for many is not just having a Thanksgiving with its turkey and dressing and all the fixings, but a challenge of Giving Thanks.

·        Can we be Thankful?

·        Can we give Thanks?

Maybe the more pertinent question is.

·        Will we give Thanks?

Paul left us this word to take care of where we are all at.

1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.    KJV

In everything give thanks. That is quite a feat when in contrast of the times we are in. Yet, this is exactly what is to be expected. This is not a suggestion but a commandment of Paul. What we can see is this. The church is to give thanks in every thing. The saints of GOD are to give thanks.

It is worth noting from whom this is coming from. The guy that has been beaten and on more than one occasion. This is coming from a guy that has been cold, naked, shipwrecked, much labor, persecuted, perils of robbers and perils of his own countrymen. On and on we could list this from a guy who has suffered in weakness and in loss. Yet, this same guy gives forth this commandment. IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS. Then Paul from this command tells from whence this comes… FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD. Paul here gives no way out. There is no excuse. Paul does away from any reason that could ever be given to not GIVE THANKS. How? FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD.

I could draw from the many blessings that come from being thankful. I could point out the fact of having favor with GOD and with man when having such an attitude of gratitude. I could draw from the fact of just how having a grateful heart is the defeat of stress, sickness, and disease. I could make a strong case that a person who dares to GIVE THANKS in the face of the devil. It is that kind of individual that cannot be defeated by satan himself. But no, I don’t have to. Because Paul already stated the obvious truth. TO GIVE THANKS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST CONCERNING YOU.

YOU!!! Now that seems to also do a way with any argument of us putting this on our neighbor or anyone else. That this as Paul states and with no wiggle room I might add. THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST CONCERNING YOU.

SO, IT IS TO YOU AND ME THERE IS NO WAY OUT. TO BE IN THE WILL OF GOD WE MUST GIVE THANKS.

As I asked above. Can we give thanks? Can we be thankful? Well no need to ask when the answer is right in front of us. There is no choice in the matter but as the song says, WHEN I THINK OF THE GOODNESS OF JESUS AND ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME. Well, I think reader you get the message.

1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.    KJV

Bless you. Thank you for reading.

 

 What is Truth

What is truth? My what a question. Have you ever considered this question or had this thought? It’s a question, that while many may not give thought to it. It is a question that is being answered every day.

Now that is a thought. How can we all be answering that question today? How did we answer that question yesterday? How will I answer that question tomorrow? How you ask? Simple answer. What I give myself to is my truth. I answer that question every day with that which I pursue. Whether its nothing at all. Leisure answers the question of what is truth. Leisure says ease. Leisure says comfort. You may say well that defines leisure. But the question is. How is leisure made to be truth? Because if leisure is pursued that is what we have said, that is what is important to me. Therefore, leisure being made the point of my existence for this or that particular day, I have defined it as what I need or I want therefore it’s not a lie it’s my truth.

I just used leisure as an example. Truth today can be made to be anything. How about money? Money answereth all things, so says Solomon. Money can be defined as one’s truth. One may say, money can be used to pursue a lie. That is true. However, the lie that is pursued. In the eyes of the pursuer the thought is, I need money for whatever reason we define for ourselves. Whether we see it as a need, a want, or simply to possess. Money then is defined as our truth.

Anything and everything can be our truth. Today more so than ever before. Man is defining for himself what is truth. But here is the thing to know. The truth that we have pursued is going to be tested and one day, HE that is the Truth will test it. HE will measure it. He will weigh it and the truth that we all have defined for ourselves will either pass HIS test or it will be found wanting.

The story in the bible where Jesus is brought before Pilate. Pilate the one who had built his life on the strength of the throne. One who gave himself to the strength of man’s law. His truth. Pilate the one who pursued the question with his life. A question that he asked Jesus that day.

38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.    KJV

It is a question that we do not see Jesus answer. Why? Jesus, lets everybody answer for themselves this question. WHAT IS TRUTH? Jesus seems to let man make a choice and define for themselves everyday they live. What is truth?

How will we answer that question today? What is truth? We just may as well ask it this way. What is my truth? Because in a day like today everything is open to just how we want to answer it. The pervading thought is, your truth may not be my truth. My truth may not be your truth.

Know this that which provoked Pilate’s question of Jesus. Jesus gives us the significance and the importance of what is truth.

John 18:37 Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Who or what is your truth? It matters, because only those that can hear HIS voice are the ones of the truth. Jesus said Truth was HIS cause. Are you in pursuit of truth or is truth what you have made it?

WHAT IS TO BE THE SINNERS RESPONSE

Its been quite some time since I have published anything on this blog. It has been intentional for two reasons. One being that time as of late as been little and precious. The second reason is to allow the last of my five blogs to marinate with time. I can’t think of anything that I have written that has been I feel so vitally important. Its easy to read something and just go over it and cast it off. My hope is that in the last of these blogs. They have been read and re read over time. And even raised the the thought and prayer of many for revelation in this subject.

I hope that the truth of the word of GOD has impacted the minds of every reader on this last series. “WHERE IS THE SINNER’S PRAYER?” and “WHAT IS THE SINNERS PRAYER?”

WHAT IS TO BE THE SINNER’S RESPONSE???

I am reminded of Paul’s question of such and perhaps much more direct when he asked the church of Galatians.

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?    KJV

It was a question to a church but that were at one time like all of us, were sinners. 

The question Paul is asking of the Galatians is what happened to you? Who tricked you? Who has cast a spell upon you that you should not obey the truth?

Galatians you know quite well Jesus Christ is the one crucified for you. You know this. What has happened to you that you would not obey the truth?

Then Paul asks three more questions that tells us what happens when you obey the truth.

Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

There is something that will cause a sinner to be transformed from a sinner to a sinner saved by grace. And this we see with the obedience of the truth. Its easy to see that when the Galatians and all that follow Christ arrive to the knowledge of where the beginning is and what that beginning looks like. That is the knowledge of Jesus Christ leads us all just like the Galatians to obedience by the receiving of the Holy Ghost. Which is HIS Spirit in us.

In the beginning when the Spirit of Christ was poured out. It was the same for the Jews in the beginning. In Acts chapter 2. What was preached? Better yet, who was preached?

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:      KJV

Hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth. When you hear these words that Peter preached, Jesus of Nazareth, one can easily see where the sinner is to arrive. The exact place where the church of Galatia had arrived and yet in our text had left.

Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

They had left off the Spirit. Now it was perfection by the flesh. I don’t want to go off on a tangent here but this is exactly what we are seeing in the “church world” today. To many churches and yet, no Spirit. To many churches and yet no Jesus Christ in them.

When you obey the Lord Jesus Christ there is but one place you can arrive. Just as Peter preached Jesus. The sinner arrived to the place of this one singular question that matters to us all. A question that we should all ask ourselves. A question that Paul was asking a church that had gotten away from it.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?     KJV

If we are concerned about our arrival to salvation. Then should we not ask and pray the question the sinners asked. “What shall we do?”

The answer Peter gave was the answer that the Galatian church had once arrived to but suddenly thought that the power was within themselves to improve upon what only the Holy Ghost can only do.

Just as Peter gave the answer, so too is our answer.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.     KJV

This is where the gospel of Abraham took them. All the families of the earth shall be blessed. This is where the gospel took those of Acts 2. And this is where the gospel took the Galatian church. And this is where your faith is to take you as well. 

Obedience to the faith will always bring us to the arriving of HIS SPIRIT IN US. It is Christ in us the hope of glory.

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.     KJV