Exodus 33 presents a paradox. Verse 11 tells us, “The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” Then, just a few verses later, we read, “(God) said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live” (33:20). This means, literally, “My face shall not be seen.”
What are we to make of this? One verse tells us Moses saw the Lord’s face. But another states clearly that nobody can see God’s face and survive.
In Revelation 8, we read of seven angels sounding off trumpets. These mighty horn-blasts warn all of humankind about awesome calamities coming upon the earth.
The first four blasts warn of incredible pollution that poisons the trees, grass, rivers and seas, as well as the air. Waters become bitter, and skies darken over one-third of the earth.
Then, in chapter 9, a fifth warning comes. It describes a worldwide invasion of locusts:
You probably remember the story from Genesis in which God appeared to Abraham. The patriarch was sitting at the door of his tent during the heat of the day, when suddenly three men appeared before him, standing under a tree. Abraham went out to meet the men, prepared a meal for them and visited with them.
During their conversation, the Lord asked Abraham where his wife, Sarah, was. Then God said something incredible: "...lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son" (Genesis 18:10).
The apostle Paul writes that when Jesus comes again, "...he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15). Paul is saying, in essence, "When Christ comes, he's going to show everybody who's Lord!"
Is it possible for righteous, godly, Spirit-filled Christians to become so low and downcast, they feel they can't go on - and they come to the brink of giving up?
Think about it for a moment. I'm talking now about believers who are close to Jesus - who know His heart and mind, have done battle in prayer, have experienced His miracles, have seen victory after victory in their lives. Such people are dedicated to the Lord's work. They present themselves daily as living sacrifices.
God's purpose for every one of His children is that we surrender to the reign and rulership of the Holy Spirit:
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit"(Galatians 5:25).
In other words, "If He lives in you, let Him direct you!"
In this message, I want to show you two things: 1) What it means to walk in the Spirit; and 2) How you can obtain such a walk.
I have not yet fully arrived in this glorious walk -- but I am gaining ground!
A few weeks ago I asked those on our mailing list to write to us and tell us about their church. In other words, if yours is a good church, tell us about it — or, if your church is in a difficult time, tell us why. I requested that no one name their church or pastor, and that the information given be without gossip, rancor or bitterness. I simply wanted to take the spiritual pulse of America's churches.
The whole world is frightened, perplexed and confused! Even the saintliest Christian must be wondering about all the fast-moving prophetic events that are rapidly unfolding.
I know that believers all over the world are asking themselves a question that I, too, am wondering: Are we in the last decade of human history?
”For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
"Yea, truth is fallen in the street, and equity [holiness] cannot enter.Yea, truth faileth: and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment" (Isaiah 59:12-15).
The prophet Isaiah said, Truth is fallen in the streets — the door is being closed to holiness — and those who want to follow the Lord wholly are becoming victims because of soft preaching.
