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Friday a.m. 11:00 – 12:30
Joyce Peterson
This convention celebrates global unity in Jesus amid the pandemic.
Leaving all for the gospel yields hundredfold blessings, even with persecutions.
In Japan, hearts are open to the gospel, reminding us of the need for continued effort and faith.
Grateful to be part of this work, we seek to decrease, allowing God’s work to continue.
It’s a great privilege to share in this convention together. We are experiencing God answering Jesus’ prayer, that we would be one, as we walk in God’s precious way. We are united, one with Jesus, one with our Father, one in our little meeting, in our field, in different fields, different states, different countries, and around the world. I just marvel at the miracle, feeling the oneness, the same joy of what God is doing for us, even through this pandemic that is making our lives richer. Things God is teaching us and helping us to see and settle us. It’s the same here as it is in Japan. Proverbs 10:22 – “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, And he addeth no sorrow with it.”
Mark 10:28-30 – “Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed you.” So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Leaving all. When we go in the work, wherever we labor, it is a call to leave all. It can feel so big. We will receive a hundredfold of all, my old a hundredfold, your all a hundredfold. Above all that, eternal life. Beyond all measure.
How I felt going to Japan, and coming home. My fourth time to have a home visit. This time I felt that I was leaving home to go home. The open homes because of the gospel. Their all has been multiplied a hundredfold. They are so happy and don’t want to miss this opportunity for the workers to be with them. They want to have a place where the workers can pray and get ready for meetings. They want their friends and family, etc. to meet their workers. The dark things happening around them are overcome by the hope of the gospel. A time when the friends couldn’t meet because of the pandemic. They were sharing all over Japan. They are sending you their love and greetings and thanksgiving.
Some Japanese hymns, How great is the love of God, that He would send workers all across the +seas and even to Japan. Japan is not a Christian nation, but they love foreigners and want to be our friends. They come to English bible classes. One time we were studying with a man in Acts 1, and it says there that they would receive the power of the Holy Ghost, and that they would carry that to the uttermost parts of the earth. When you ask people in Japan who’ve heard the gospel and embrace it to tell their story, they always say: God sent His Son all the way from heaven and He sent his workers all the way to Japan, and He sent them all the way to my home, to the uttermost parts of the earth, and they’re so thankful.
The gospel first went to Japan before WWII. After WWII they were so happy for any help that would come from anywhere. A miracle that they didn’t hate us. The miracle of God’s softening, opening the way that the gospel could go there. They were once such a closed nation and now they love foreigners. Ps. 61:2 – “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, When my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” There were those who were praying.
God has heard their prayers. Each one is a miracle story. The fresh zeal for the gospel. The work goes very slowly. One that comes out from a multitude, one that feels drawn. That’s why workers are still being sent. I’m thankful we have a part in this miracle in our day and I want to be decreasing in myself that God’s miracle could continue.
Lisa Sanderson
Grateful for the call and being sent into the world, despite the pandemic delaying a return to Israel.
Reflecting on Jesus’ sending and the fruit of dying to self.
In Israel, preaching is restricted, but God’s work continues, opening doors for salvation.
Thankful for being called and for the continuing call and that not only are we called, we are sent. I’ve been on my home visit for almost two years. A year ago I was supposed to return to Israel, but because of the pandemic, the borders were closed and still are closed, although it seems that they are opening soon. And I am looking forward very much to going back and I’m thankful to still feel the call. We are not only called into the ministry and into God’s family, but sent into the world.
Mt. 4:18. Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” I’m so thankful that God does the work and the drawing.
Mt. 28:19-end. Jesus promised to be with them until the end.
Jn. 20:21 – “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
I’ve loved thinking about the way that Jesus was sent, and the love with which he was sent, and that he was filled with light from God and he brought that to us, and he sent us with the same message of love and hope and light.
John 1:14. Jesus came and dwelt among the people so that they could see and hear and feel all that Jesus was.
Fruit comes from being willing to die. I’ve been so aware that I can’t go and find people myself, but what I can do is die to myself and then there can be fruit.
Many have asked how the work goes there in Israel, many would know we’re not free to preach the gospel there as we are in this country We are bound, but the word of God is not bound. Many of us have probably felt that this year. We’re bound, in a sense, we’re not free like we’re used to being free to move around, or we haven’t been, but the Word of God is not bound and God’s work is still very much manifest and even a deeper work taking place.
Going back to Israel six years ago after my last home visit, searching for a new bach, and finally finding one. The next day meeting a man who began to ask questions. “I’m a Catholic, but am having a serious crisis of faith.” God opening up the visit. This man professed in Joppa this year after listening for six years. He wants to be baptized. God opens doors. He knows where every needy soul is and is still sending laborers. God’s work in all of our lives. The process of being saved.
Judy Hordyk
Returning home from France, grateful for the labor and unity among workers.
Reflecting on the impact of a sister’s dedication and the need to leave peace wherever we go.
Praying for more laborers and openness to God’s work.
It’s a privilege to labor. One of the sisters who labors in Africa shared on a home visit, “No place is difficult if the Lord has placed us there.” I am returning home. I have a ticket. The doors are open, so I am going. France is the size of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. We are a staff of 14 and two of us are on home visits. Each corner has a set of workers and one set is in Paris. A Catholic country. Thankful for those who have responded to the love of God. It is the love of God that draws us. Even though we are few in number, we are very united. Murmuring begins in the tent. One of the friends who died recently. She never allowed murmuring to take place in her tent, but thankfulness. Where there is a death there is a birth.
John 4 – Worshipping the Father in Spirit and in Truth.
A contact told the workers to come back when her daughter was home so that she could interpret for her. She wanted what they brought because they brought peace. Leaving peace wherever we are. Someone who has invited many to the gospel meetings. She said, I talked to God this morning and I said, “There’s so much of me, please fix me.” That’s my prayer too.
Belgium has one set of workers. They cover the whole country. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers. There are still sheep out there who are not of the fold. God can bring them into contact through your lives. Simply beg the Lord to speak to you.
John Mastin
God’s work is consistent globally, urging earnest seeking and ensuring one’s calling and election.
A story illustrates returning to faith and the need for spiritual fulfillment over worldly satisfaction.
With the pandemic waning, there’s a call to avoid carelessness.
Pray for authorities and gospel outreach.
The work is the same. It produces the same. Different languages, different customs, and different ways that people do things, but the work that God does is always the same. What He does in people’s hearts, giving them a love for things they weren’t interested in before. Sometimes those who labor in the Philippines from other countries are envied because the country has been so fruitful. The three we’ve heard from today will eventually return to their lands of labor. That is behind me now. Everyone has a little different story, but the same results.
Matthew 11:12 – “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
Not the kind of violence we think of with people fighting with one another, but the fight to get into the kingdom. The struggle we have with our old man and the struggle to overcome him. Willing to do violence to our human nature and desires. Those who are determined to be inside. Nothing is going to keep me outside. We have the privilege of seeing that.
Lk. 13:23-24. “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
Strive to enter in. The gate is going to be closed and only those who have entered into the gate will be in.
II Peter 1:5-10. What we want to add to our faith. Make your calling and election sure. Not just coasting along, casually going to meetings, taking part. Always present, but not determined to get in. Not taking the kingdom by force.
Times when we feel so helpless and at loose ends. Waiting for the guidance of the Spirit. God opens doors that no man can shut. A young boy whose grandparents and mother professed. When he was 11, he made his own choice. His mother and grandparents had denied themselves, left all. It’s necessary to love this more than anything else and more than anyone else. Not that we would love them less, but that we would love this more. I love my family even more and would love to see them loving these things.
This young man went to college and that’s when things began to slip. Times when he couldn’t go because he had classes. Other times when he could have gone, but he was tired and had studies. One compromise led to another and gradually he slipped away. When he was home, he would go with his mother to the meetings faithfully. Rain or shine, regardless of the weather, his mother walked to the meetings. Times when one or two of her children would go with her. This young man would go when he was home and take part, but when he went back to school, he would let things slip. He wanted a connection, but he wasn’t taking the kingdom by force.
The time came when he married, and his wife wasn’t interested in the meetings at the time. Eventually, they moved to London and lived there for 17 years. He had some contact with the friends. He didn’t want to lose connection completely, but he wasn’t striving. He wasn’t getting the victory over the old man. His wife had work over there, lots of acquaintances, people she worked with. They invited her to their church but didn’t feel like it had anything for her soul when she went. Their 17 years finished there and they went back to the Philippines. She continued going with others to their church but wasn’t finding anything that would satisfy her or give her anything for her soul.
Her husband wasn’t going to the meetings himself, his mother was gone. He just stayed home. The time came when his wife said, “Let’s go to the meetings where your mother went.” He thought it was just a light thing to her and that it wouldn’t last. He told her just to go herself. So she went and took their daughter. Formerly she had been in high school with one of the friends. One of the brothers went to visit her.
The husband realized that his wife was very interested and he started going with her. The contrast between the two homes, the meeting home and their home. No pride that caused them to look for a better place to go. Peter staying with Simon the tanner. What kind of home that would have been, the smell there would have been, but Peter was content there, they had fellowship there.
This man was wanting back in and he meant it. Not wanting to pressure the wife. They didn’t test the meeting. He stood up and told the workers that he wanted to come back. He was hoping they would test the meeting. He was taking the kingdom by force. Not wanting to miss his chance. Not wanting to let any more time go by. He made it very clear and he sat down and we all sat up.
Then she stood. She said that she thought many were thinking she had been coming because of her husband, but that wasn’t why. For a long time, she had been looking for something that would feed her soul, that would give her peace and she hadn’t found it, but now in these meetings, God had spoken to her and shared with her what she had always wanted and she also wanted to come in and be part of this.
Some wanted in so desperately that they made it in, striving to enter into the strait gate. Making her calling and election sure. Both of them. It’s wonderful to see. We can become very casual. At least it’s easy for me about things that are so precious.
Things are starting to loosen up regarding the pandemic now. Someone who was concerned, having had time to read and pray. Do we want to go back to normal? To slip back to what it was before? I don’t want to slip back into carelessness, lack of caution, letting things slip, letting things come in and rob me that I could have given to precious things. What is normal anyway? If normal is being careless and taking things for granted, not valuing what I have, no, I don’t want to go back there.
There are lots of adjustments in being locked down, but there are bigger tests in having liberty again. It’s not a free ride from here, there are still plenty of things that will take our time, our thoughts, our zeal from what is most valuable.
Protesting. So far from what we’re admonished to do, to pray for the leaders of our countries. Those who are in authority. Praying for the need of the harvest. Pray that we might lead a quiet and peaceable life in godliness. They will put things in motion that we don’t want to see, but our protesting won’t make any difference.
There is not a surplus of those who will pray and whose prayers will reach God. Praying that we might lead a godly and peaceable life. Some doors are closing for the gospel right now. I know that I don’t want to protest, but I do want to pray. I’m ineffective if I protest and I will only cause division, but if I pray, I can leave an influence behind that might help. Our prayers, blending with many others, may be of some help. Settling it that we’re going to strive to enter in and make my calling and election sure.
Friday p.m. 2:00 – 3:30
Cara King
Our love for Christ is most important
Danger of losing our first love and the need for repentance
Love for God above all else
Importance of prayer and meditation on God’s word
John 14, Hymn 220 – More Love oh Christ to thee.
Love and how our love for Christ affects our love for him.
Romans 5:8 – God has already shown how much He loves us. He’s asking to see our love in return.
Revelation 2:2, 4 – “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.”
The importance of our love and the possibility of repenting.
Just considering again the danger of letting go of our first love. I just appreciated the solution here is to remember and repent. Just thinking about the importance of repenting.
Matthew 10:37 – “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of me and he who takes not his cross and follows after me is not worthy of me.”
It’s not about not loving people, but it’s about being careful about who our first love is, and, it’s when our first love becomes someone other than God, that they start to cause problems and it hinders our obedience to Him and it hinders our love to him.
Matthew 10: Being careful about who our first love is. It hinders our obedience and our love for Him if He is not our first love.
Luke 14 – the excuses. Things that had taken first place. They didn’t love him more than their yoke of oxen or their marriage. What a terrible thing, if God asks us to do something, and we are unwilling to do what He asks because something else has taken precedence. Luke 14:31 – The two kings.
Ephesians 3:17-19 – “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
When we can have our eyes opened to see the greatness and the power of God, it helps us to realize how much we need His power on our behalf and our need to repent from anything that can get in the way of that love.
Times of prayer and meditation on the word of God can help us to see God’s love, mercy, power, and wisdom and our need to simply repent. Being more willing to simply do and love and simply trust that God’s way is best.
Leilani Price
Importance of humility in cultivating gratitude.
Despite challenges and times of weariness, being thankful is an act of faith.
Even in difficult circumstances, have confidence in God’s plan.
Luke 17. The ten lepers. They cried out to Jesus that he would have mercy on them. One returned to give thanks.
Why didn’t the other nine return and give thanks also? Maybe they were overwhelmed with what had just happened to them. Thinking of their immediate future, being able to go back to their family and friends, they had their life back. That’s very normal. It was centered around themselves.
Humility helps us to be thankful. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” All the things that were made possible for them, but as long as they were centered on themselves, there wasn’t a lot of room for being thankful and thinking of the one who had helped them. If we feel we deserve something, we don’t feel very thankful for it. Feeling that we don’t deserve something makes us much more grateful for it. Humility helps us to be more thankful.
It’s easy to be thankful when everything seems so good. This man had been cleansed from a disease that would have brought him death.
“We thank thee for weary days…” Times when we don’t feel so thankful.
Job 1 – He wasn’t feeling very thankful for what had happened, but even in that he was able to say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Giving thanks whether we feel thankful or not is faith. God coming and speaking to Job. “You don’t know this, and you don’t understand this and you aren’t able to do this, but I am.” Coming up against our weakness. Things that happen outside of our control. Having the faith to believe that God sees and understands and knows what we don’t.
Jesus gave thanks to God, “… because it seems good in your sight.” “I thank thee that thou hast heard me.”
What seems good to God is going to be for the best for our souls. If we have faith in that, then we can give thanks even for the days that seem weary, understanding that it is for the good of our souls.
Zechariah praying in the temple. The angel Gabriel was sent to give him good tidings. Zechariah spent those next months not able to speak because he hadn’t believed.
Every time he tried to open his mouth and speak, he would remember the angel coming and speaking to him and the message from God. What could have felt like a punishment or discouragement could greatly increase his faith. When his tongue was loosed, he spoke and praised God. When those 10 months were finished, what it brought was an increase of thankfulness because God was working. Even in the darkness, the dark experiences can help us to see God more clearly.
Sometimes we get ourselves into situations that are our own fault. Being willing for anything that we can have life. Things we can bring to God in gratitude. Having the confidence in God that in His hand all is working for our good and we can give Him thanks for whatever situation we might find ourselves in.
Scott Price
Acts 3:19 calls for repentance and conversion, leading to times of refreshing from the Lord.
Renewed purpose in living for Christ, more unity with others, finding renewal in God’s presence.
A continual cycle of responding to God’s voice and finding newness in Him.
Acts 3:19 – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
Looking forward to these meetings as a time of refreshing. Some things that need to be refreshed and some of the ways that they are refreshed. The time when we first responded to the voice of God.
“Repent and be converted.”
It’s a time when our soul is refreshed, but it’s given a brand new purpose. “I will no longer live for sin and the motives of sin, but I will live for Christ. It’s Christ for me today and it’s Christ for me forever.”
When we surrender to the voice of God and we begin to obey it. That’s a fresh and wonderful purpose. We walk along in the way of God with that purpose. Time passes and we need that purpose refreshed. “It’s Christ for me today, and it’s Christ for me forever.” That’s the wonderful thing that happens when we hear the voice of God clearly and personally. Every child of God has that because they’ve responded.
One of the things that I’ve missed is being able to sing in harmony with other people. Singing recently with a few in different parts. I needed to be ‘tuned up’. I’d gotten rusty in my ability to blend in harmony. The privilege we have when we meet together and can get back in tune again. Unity is when we’re all singing the same note. We’re united also when we’re singing the same song, but different parts in the same song. Our spirit can get tuned up again in meetings like this. We can come back into harmony again with Heaven above. “In harmony with Heaven above, one spirit with the God I love.”
Eph. 5:19 – “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
We’re brought to the right interval and timing with others and we’re able to blend in harmony with others who are singing the same song that we’re singing.
Prov. 25:25 – “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.”
Something is refreshed within us because we hear in someone else’s experience the same things that have happened to us. We’re tuned up again and refreshed again. Cold water that refreshes a thirsty soul.
Rev. 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
There’s a breath of fresh air that comes with an opening door. Jesus comes in and brings a breath of fresh air into our heart and spirit. Maybe a door is closing, but another door opens. A breath of fresh air that happens with that.
Hymn #227 – Lord Be Not Silent Unto Me. Thou hast oft refreshed my soul, in times when I was sore distressed.
The purpose we started with is brand new all over again. That same peace is brand new all over again. That’s what it means to be refreshed. We look forward to more of it these days.
Heather Hansen
2 Peter 1:3-4 God’s power granting us all we need for life and godliness, through knowing Him.
Promises enabling us to partake in the divine nature and escape worldly corruption.
Escape corruption and align our minds with Christ, treasuring what is incorruptible.
2 Peter 1:3-4 – “according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
How precious it is that because of that faith, we can escape the corruption of the world and the corruption that is in us.
“Change and decay in all around I see, oh thou who changest not, abide with me.”
Everything that we know as a human being is corruptible, including our bodies.
Through this wonderful precious faith and the power of God we are made partakers of the divine nature. Being careful that our minds aren’t corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Our mind is very useful to us. We use it to think and to choose. We want to be careful with our minds because it affects our hearts and our souls. We want to be careful what we think and that we don’t believe everything that we think with our human minds. Wanting to escape the corruption even of our own minds. How can we escape the corruption? Having that like, precious faith.
Matthew 6:19-21. Lay not up treasure on earth, but treasure in Heaven.
It has a lot to do with what we love. Make sure that what we treasure most is incorruptible.
1 Pet. 1:23 – “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”
That wonderful seed of faith and love. The voice of God that will put that seed into our lives. Not by men, but of God and that will be incorruptible.
Wonderful that God has preserved His way and it’s still here. Aiming for the incorruptible crown. Striving for the mastery. Seeking God’s approval. Seeking the reward that God gives. Laying aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us.
Gal. 6:7-9 – Sow to the Spirit.
Not letting our flesh decide, we’ll just have corruption. Having the right spirit in us. Sowing to that Spirit.
Noah. Gen. 6:12 – “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”
God destroyed the corruption. Noah had faith that helped him to choose what couldn’t be destroyed, what was incorruptible. Seeing all the changes in life. Taking my focus off the things that are corruptible.
Doyle Smith
David’s faith against Goliath: While fear spread among the Israelites, David, though young, was unafraid.
He questioned the importance of the battle and chose to fight for God’s glory, not self-defense.
He used spiritual weapons, not carnal, proving true victory comes from faith and obedience to God.
1 Sam. 17 – David came to the battlefield where Goliath was. Everyone was afraid, including King Saul, who had been in many battles. Fear spread like wildfire, from one heart to the next heart. We have to be careful that we’re not any part of something like that. We can promote faith, or we can promote fear.
When this epidemic came to the heart of a young man, called David, everything stopped. David wasn’t afraid. His older brother was angry with him for coming to the battlefield and for asking the questions he did. His judgment was in haste and so it was harsh. He accused David falsely.
David said in v. 29 – “Is there not a cause?” Is it not a matter of importance? David asked a good question and he asked with understanding. Some things are important and things are not important. Things that are worth fighting for and things not worth fighting for. Such wisdom in such a young heart.
Young people who are full of faith and wisdom, make very good, Spirit-led decisions in life. You have an opportunity that the rest of us don’t have. An especially impressive light that shines forth from young lives. David asked what he had done. It’s a hard thing to be misunderstood. If anything provokes us to be a little self-centered, it’s when we’re being misunderstood negatively.
David wasn’t motivated to fight the less-important battle of defending himself. He saw the real battle. There was a great big 9 ft. tall enemy who was a threat to the kingdom. He was defying the name of the living God. There are a lot of causes that are way more important than fighting for ourselves or defending ourselves. David went and found 5 smooth stones and put them in his bag. Five stones and a sling and most importantly, faith in the living God.
Goliath didn’t stand a chance. He was on the wrong side. “You have to know how to choose your battles.” There are all kinds of battles that you could get stirred up about, causes, but some aren’t worth fighting. If we choose too many battles, we miss the most important cause. What John shared this morning, there are a lot of people protesting, but not a lot of people praying.
What is the most important cause you could ever involve your heart in? Fighting the battle on our knees, accessing all the power of the living God. That is the battle that produces real results. When we find the most important cause we put our heart into that and set ourselves aside, that is where our efforts result in the sweetest victories. The God of Heaven is anxious to be a part of those battles.
A lot of unfair things happening in the world. It could seem so legitimate to get involved. When we find the Kingdom’s cause and carry the blessing of God into the battlefield, that’s where the purpose of life becomes so rich.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” I appreciate Paul’s very definite, confident language. Spiritual weapons.
The kind of weapon we choose has everything to do with our strategy for fighting the battle. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. The Spirit of God and the word of God are such powerful weapons. They can cast down imaginations and bring thoughts into captivity to the will of God. When we involve God in the battle He chooses the weapons that we go forth to fight with. Weapons that we pick up in the place of prayer. The battle becomes so effective. Goliath never had a chance. David fought the battle with the presence of God, with faith in the living God. The Devil himself doesn’t have an answer to a weapon so powerful as the Word and the Spirit of God.
Carnal weapons, I suppose the list could go on and on forever, but some of the words that come to my mind the quickest when I think about a carnal weapon – impatience, unkindness, anger – that little tiny weapon we pick up, sometimes called anger. There’s a little voice that says to me sometimes. What do you hope to accomplish by fighting the battle like you’re fighting? What will your anger produce?
We know that things like anger, impatience, unkindness, and sharp words, we just know they’re there. They’re not a weapon that God would ever put into our hearts. We know from our experience that they never make worthwhile contributions to the cause of seeking real victory.
A mind can be difficult to change. Opinions are set like cement sometimes. Sometimes they’re set by centuries of traditions, cemented by deceitful influences, and difficult experiences. The word of God has an incredible capacity to change our thoughts. We thank God for every way we’ve experienced that. There is nothing that affects my mind like just thinking about Jesus.
The incredible effect that his quiet patient spirit had on people. “Now I see again, I’m refreshed, concerning what really is important and what real victory is about.” Some people have never thought to use anything but a carnal weapon. They feel victorious because they have squelched people. Aren’t we thankful that we can look at Jesus and know that is not what real victory is about? Fighting the battle on our knees.
Ephesians 6:12 – the armor we need if we’re going to fight the battle like we need to. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” It helps when we settle it that the enemy is never people. We wrestle not against flesh and blood.
The battle we’re fighting is against a much greater battle than people, than our brother. We’re fighting against the Devil himself. David didn’t decide to start a battle with his brother. He looked out on the battlefield and saw a much bigger enemy and that’s the battle he chose to fight. On a completely different level. There is an enemy, an adversary who is responsible for every wrong choice people have made, for every heart that is hardened, every sin that is committed. That is who the real culprit is. That’s the enemy we have to be concerned with.
When it becomes clear who the real enemy is…then these little carnal weapons we are so quick to pick up sometimes, it becomes so clear that those weapons will never be effective.
What we need to fight this battle is the Spirit of God, the grace and wisdom of the living God. The armor that we need to put on to fight this kind of enemy. Loins girt with truth, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit – these are all things that God provides. No one finds these things in himself.
We’re fighting this battle against spiritual wickedness in high places. It could almost sound like an impossible battle, but there are weapons that are more powerful. We know it’s true by what we see in Jesus. Jesus being tempted. Three times he responded, “It is written…” He resisted three times and the enemy departed from him. He knew he was no match for faith in the living God. We have access to that kind of power, but it’s not carnal. It’s spiritual.
The last piece of armor, the sword of the Spirit – is the word of God. The first weapon the Spirit thinks to pick up is the word of God. The word of God is what gives people life and changes minds, softens hearts.
John 14, 15, 16 – those wonderful promises Jesus gives us concerning what the Comforter will do for us when he comes. Jesus told his disciples when the Comforter comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will remind you of everything that I’ve taught you. He won’t speak of Himself, he’ll be a humble influence that glorifies me. That’s how you’ll know the voice of the Spirit when you hear it, it will always be the voice that says everything Jesus said is right and true and important. The voice that discounts the Word of God is not the Spirit of God.
The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. I like how Paul presents that to us. It’s the Spirit. Jesus said the Comforter will glorify me. He won’t speak for himself. It won’t come to you in the form of a proud man seeking his own glory or behaving in a way that lifts himself up. That’s not what the Spirit of God ever produces in a life. But the Spirit recognizes that the greatest cause we could ever live for is glorifying God.
Sometimes I get frustrated with just how automatic it is to pick up a carnal weapon in the heat of the moment, having never once in my life proved that a carnal weapon produces anything called real victory. And you wonder why does that happen? I think I’m just speaking for myself now, one problem is that I have too much training using carnal weapons. It’s such an instinctive thing. That is the adversary.
I’m trying to be careful this afternoon to use the word adversary and not enemy so much because sometimes the adversary is our brother, isn’t he, and most certainly our brother isn’t our enemy. It’s so easy when the adversary is using a carnal weapon to decide that that strategy has to be responded to in kind, but that’s just a basic human instinct. There’s nothing like anger to inflame anger, and we don’t want to be on either side of that equation. We can’t ever afford to let the adversary dictate the terms and the way we fight the battle.
Goliath had a great big sword and he had armor. Saul offered David his armor. David said, I haven’t proved that, and he set it aside. I don’t have any experience proving that is the way you get victory. He knew he could trust God and didn’t let Goliath dictate how he fought the battle. We don’t have to fight anger with anger or impatience with impatience and so on.
Peter, just before he went to the garden where Jesus gathered that last night of his life with his disciples, picked up a sword and strapped it on his side. Of all things to take with you to the place of prayer, to take the sword. It didn’t express, obviously, to God that he was there because he needed the help of Heaven and he knew that God was his only hope. I have nothing carnal to contribute, I only need the help of Heaven.
Maybe Peter didn’t give it much thought. He must have had the passing thought that he might need that sword. Someone else might have one and he might need it. When he cut off the servant’s ear, he must have felt that what he was doing was legitimate. He was defending Jesus, the Son of God, but he didn’t choose the right weapon.
Peter would tell us, if he was speaking in the meeting this afternoon, remembering Jesus praying in the garden three times, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.” He would tell us that the time he had spent strapping on the sword, he would have spent praying if he could do it over.
Jesus never responded by picking up a carnal weapon. His spirit was perfect, “Father forgive them, for they know now what they do.” He knew that the Spirit of God had tremendous power to soften their hearts. Maybe the moment when we’re tempted the most to pick up a carnal weapon is when we’ve tried to use the Spirit of God and the word of God. Not even the perfect Jesus succeeded in changing every heart.
Friday p.m. 4:00 – 5:30
Sean Apodaca
Human nature relies on carnal weapons, like a strong lion.
God calls us to be humble and reliant on Him, like the defenseless but wise conies.
Pride leads to downfall, but God values humility and fruitfulness.
Meetings may be simpler now, but God blesses obedience over formality.
We should be humble and fruitful, like the rock badger and the strawberry plant.
These last 15 months have been very unique. A storm.
Prov 30:26, 30 – “The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks; A lion which is strongest among beasts, And turneth not away for any.”
The conies, also known as a rock badger, are similar to a marmot. Our human nature is very much like this lion. We tend to turn to carnal weapons because that’s what we’re practiced with. God gives us this new nature that is kind of like the conies. They are defenseless, but what a defense those rocks are. Lions tend to die through fighting. At some point, they are taken down by a younger, stronger lion. We need to feed this second nature. Maybe it seems weak, but it will be our salvation if we protect it.
The Lord of Hosts will bring down everyone who is proud and lofty, all who are high and lifted up. Pride comes before a fall. We’ve seen a lot of trees toppled these last 15 months, a lot of damage done. We are that way by nature, tall and strong like these cedars. God wants to make us more like something lowly, something fruit-bearing, like a strawberry plant. God is looking for fruit. The banana tree is an amazing tree. They produce. They’re very fruitful, very bountiful.
Things in life that are going to cut us down, but if we’re small and humble and teachable and admit that we don’t know very much, we will rise again.
1 Corinthians 1:26-27 – “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”
We often talk about the lowly way, and it is a lowly way, the way we meet in homes. We sing some hymns, we pray some prayers, and sometimes the singing is not very good. And sometimes the testimonies are pretty simple.
These last 15 months under the circumstances, the meetings have become even lowlier. Whether you’ve met through email meetings, or text meetings, or conference call meetings, those who have just been willing to humble themselves and accept that the only way is the way to peace, you’ve been blessed. It’s wonderful, that God has been trying to show us that He can see us in any, in every circumstance, and that blessing comes through obedience, it doesn’t come through through a form. And maybe God has been trying to show us that the form of meeting isn’t the most important thing. And the form of how we get together for convention or special meetings or even, possibly, the form of how we are taking the emblems. The most important thing is that we’re being obedient to the spirit of the Spirit of Christ.
We read of a man in 3 John, his name is Diotrephes, and we don’t know a lot about him but it tells us that he loved to have the preeminence or he loved to be number one. And he wouldn’t receive the workers.
How do we get to that point? We get there by not humbling ourselves by thinking our thoughts are better than others’ thoughts. I want to learn to be like the rock badger, like the strawberry plant, humble and bearing fruit.
Patricia Doland
Matthew 7:13-14 describes the choice between the broad and narrow ways.
The narrow way, though challenging, leads to life and a closer relationship with Jesus.
It requires humility and repentance, but brings peace and love.
Few find it, but those who do experience the joy of walking with Christ.
Matthew 7:13-14 -“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
When we’re walking in the narrow way, we have Jesus’ presence with us. There is provision made for our needs and God’s will is being done. It’s where we have peace and where we feel His love.
What’s not in the narrow way is like our Hymn #42 says – Where self can have no place.
That is a burden lifted, when we have more of Christ and less of self. There is no room for our sin. Sin is dealt with as we walk in the narrow way. There’s repentance in our hearts and the burden of sin is lifted. The only way to enter is as a child and to keep that spirit.
John 6: A separation of who would continue in the narrow way. A lot of people chose the broad way. They didn’t have a clear vision. In the narrow way is eternal life.
John 6:68-69 – Peter answered Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life.”
Peter was willing for the cost of walking in the narrow way. Peter loved his relationship with Jesus, it meant his salvation. Life was so worthwhile because of his relationship with Jesus. Many were choosing to go a different way. It was so personal. Peter chose, “No matter what, I’m going to follow Jesus.” The people murmured and said that it was a hard saying. There is thankfulness in the lives and mouths of God’s people who are walking in the narrow way. What’s in the broad way is lots of complaining and murmurings.
When we are trusting in God and in the living Christ, that will help us be settled and willing and have a thankful heart. The Spirit quickens, the flesh profits nothing. The word Jesus speaks to us is eternal life. He was sharing the very best with them. That is all part of the narrow way. The broad way is walking in our own way, but it has no eternal blessing.
In Isa. 35 it talks about the wilderness way and that chapter ends with the holy way – the redeemed walking in it. There is fruit, there are miracles, and there is encouragement in walking in the narrow way. People who had joy and a song in their hearts because of the way of God they were walking in. Be willing for changes that need to happen within our lives. Letting go of self, of sin. Getting to know the depth of it better and to know the love and peace and joy of walking with Jesus.
Melissa Kunz
God gives us gifts of repentance and self-denial to perfect our spirits.
Repentance is not just about sin but changing our thinking.
Self-denial helps us turn from sin before it bears fruit.
These gifts lead to a divine nature and joy in righteousness.
Sorrow can lead to repentance and the development of godly qualities.
Jesus’ joy gave him strength in suffering, showing us how to endure.
A couple of the gifts of God that He gives richly, with an open hand, if we’ll receive them, handle them, use them. The more deeply we apply them, the more of God’s power they bring into our lives. We’ve talked about the perfecting work of God in our lives, not perfecting of the human side, but of our spiritual self, this perfecting work happens as we use the gifts, applying the understanding that God gives us. Often the gifts look like little mustard seeds. It’s easy to miss our opportunities to use them. The gifts have the power to change our lives from who we are humanly, to being the souls that stand around the throne.
Ps.19:7 – “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
The simple teachings of Jesus present the greatest gifts. Repentance is fundamental to entering the Kingdom of God. He taught that we cannot be his disciples without self-denial. The flesh thinks these are hard things, the Spirit knows they are the most direct avenue to the grace and the power of God. They are wonderful gifts, not burdens and shackles.
Repentance is a verb, something we do. But first God prepares us for it. Repentance is a prerequisite to forward steps, to fruitfulness, to clearer vision. Technically, Jesus never had to repent because he never sinned. We connect repentance with sin because that’s our experience. Jesus turned around way before he ever got close to sin. Jesus practiced self-denial. When a thought sprouted, he cut off the root before it could grow a stem or a leaf. That’s why it never bore fruit, the fruit of sin. Self-denial is repentance before we sin, it keeps us in the safe zone. Repentance is receiving a different thinking. The thinking that got us into the problem will never get us out of it.
When God leads us to repentance, He is doing his perfect work. Jesus’ baptism is an example of dying to the old life, saying no to the flesh, and yes to walking in the Spirit of God. Heaven was open to Jesus because he was in complete agreement with Heaven and the will of God. Without repentance and self-denial, we can’t be deeply honest and soft. There is fruit we’ll never bear, a spirit we’ll never have. Because of repentance, we can be clean and soft. We can be different.
2 Peter 1:4-5 – “whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.”
Leaving ourselves behind. As we practice God-guided self-denial, we’ll have wisdom. We can be out of balance in good things. Jesus cautioned his disciples about what they were finding joy in. It was appropriate to be happy and thankful for the power that Jesus had given them, yet their primary joy needed to be in their relationship with God, and the gift of their own salvation. Not having our joy misplaced.
Heb. 1:9 – love for righteousness, hate for iniquity. A growing love for righteousness and hate for inequity will bring a godly balance and joy into our lives.
2 Cor. 2:7 – A danger of being swallowed up in overmuch sorrow.
Isaiah 53 – Jesus a man of sorrows. He wasn’t swallowed up by it though. He trusted in all the promises of his Father.
2 Cor. 7:9-11: The valuable work that sometimes only sorrow can do. They sorrowed to repentance. Some of the qualities it worked into them. Carefulness, zeal… Bring forth fruit meet for repentance. These qualities testify to the work of God in our lives.
Mk. 10:18 – There is none good but one, that is God.
Heb. 12:2 – Jesus’ joy was so deep that it gave him strength to endure the humiliation of the sins of the world lay on him. It helped him so profoundly that the agony of his present experience couldn’t swallow him up. As we face painful and extreme circumstances, they don’t need to swallow us up.
Jan Demmon
We should savor heavenly things, setting our affections on them.
Mark 8:31, 33 – “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”
Caterpillars about ready to turn into butterflies. Little dark blobs clumped together. Looked like there was no hope. So much was going on to make the change inside of them. So much was going on when it looked like they might even be dead. Mark 9 – The transfiguration. When the caterpillars became butterflies, they would have a completely different appetite.
John 12:2 – “There they made him a supper, and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.” When Lazarus was resurrected from the dead – maybe now he had a different appetite. Love to feed on sweet things, on the word of God. Love to be in fellowship with Jesus and enjoy being in fellowship with each other. Before Lazarus was raised, Martha said to Jesus that she knew her brother would rise again in the resurrection on the last day. She knew there would be a resurrection.
What about Herod? Mt. 14 – even though he wasn’t professing to know God, when he heard about Jesus, he felt that maybe John the Baptist had risen from the dead. He had a concept of the resurrection. David, Isaiah, Hoseah, and Ezekiel knew there would be a resurrection. The Transfiguration. It seems that God knew that Jesus needed some real encouragement from Heaven.
Jesus told Peter, “You’re not savoring the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” Seeing things from an eternal point of view, the need of a Savior. Savoring, feeding on the things of Heaven. Six days later, God produced a miracle. He called Jesus up to the mountain. He brought down two who would not be savoring the things of men. They had been in Heaven for hundreds of years. They would have seen the bigger picture. They were savoring things of eternal life. It was like Jesus had a taste of a resurrected life. His countenance changed, his raiment was white as snow. Nothing on earth that could make it that white. The resurrection life is holier and more noble than anything the world can produce. Heaven is far more able to do the things that would glorify God.
Colossians 3 – Savor and affection are the same word. Set your affections (your thoughts, what you savor) on things above, not on things of the earth.
Joyce Long
Jesus teaches non-retaliation
Ephesians advises managing anger and working
Peter cites Jesus’ non-retaliation in suffering
Noah found grace by obeying God
We can focus on God’s kingdom amidst evil
Matthew 5:38-39 – “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Eph. 4:26-27 – “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
Thinking about Jesus. 1 Peter 2:21-23 – “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” When he suffered, he threatened not.
Jesus was surrounded by evil. So much was going on that wasn’t good. Jesus didn’t resist it, but he never let it enter his heart. He never let it change how he reacted. When he was reviled, he reviled not again. He was mocked, scourged, beaten, spit upon. “Father, forgive them.” He commended his spirit to God. So much for us to keep focused on that will help us not be affected by the evil around us.
There is so much in the kingdom that we can keep our hearts and focus on. Noah. The earth was filled with violence. It was corrupt. Everyone’s thoughts were on the wrong things. Noah was a just man. The earth was filled with violence, so some of it must have been close to Noah. We don’t ever read about the difficulties and the sufferings that he faced. He found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
He was looking for the help that he needed, every step of the way. The grace of God is the help of God that He gives us in what He’s asking us to do. “God said.” Noah did. He did all that God commanded. Noah never stopped listening to God. He was a man of patience. He wanted to be used by God. Every day he made himself usable. He humbled himself, he asked God for help and he kept listening. He had a full surrender and a full commitment every day.
Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand. The devil can be very loud, but he can also be very subtle. Even though we can’t understand all the evil that is going on, we can seek God and seek His protection from it. The privilege of having faith and truth and righteousness, the Spirit of God. We don’t need to try to understand how wicked the world is and how evil it might be. We need to choose what we read.
The shield of faith, we need to use it. What we know to be true. God wants us to remember our source of peace and what is true. He wants us to remember that He is always right and we want to be right with God. There is every provision, no matter what is going on around us. There is so much to feed on as God’s children. So much to seek God for, for His protection and help.
We need to keep free from evil and not let it enter our hearts, not have any place in our hearts where the devil can get a foothold. Having our faith strengthened. Live in a way that will bring a deep joy and peace and will help us to be approved of God.
Hilda Hansen
Moses sweetens bitter water with a tree, symbolizing Christ
Obeying God’s commands brings healing and sweetness
Our speech should be seasoned with salt.
Exodus 15 – Moses had brought the children of Israel over the Red Sea. They went three days into the wilderness and they found no water. The waters of Mara – they were bitter. They murmured against Moses. Moses took it to the Lord. Take it to him and find out what the Lord had in mind. The Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the water, the waters were made sweet.
The waters of this world are bitter. The only one that can make the difference is the one that God sent. Jesus, the tree of life. The tree of life was put in the garden. A tree of life and a tree of good and evil. Adam and Eve could have partaken of the tree of life. They could partake of any tree in the garden except one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Many things are good and ok and won’t harm us, but we’re tempted with the very thing that will harm us. A picture of the coming of Christ.
When God sent His tree of life into the waters of this world, it brought a sweetness that those who were willing to receive him received. “If.” There are conditions to the promises of God. “If thou wilt diligently hearken.” Not just hear, but listen. Obey. Hearken and then do what we heard. To do it and give ear to his commandments. To keep His statutes. If we hearken, if we give ear and keep it. That is the condition to have Christ, that tree of life, with us. “I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
They came to Elim and camped there by the waters. 12 wells of water. All of them bringing the word of God. A picture of His true ministry. Lots of water.
Exodus 15:27 – “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.”
2 Kings 2:21-22 – “And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.”
Jesus is also the salt of the earth. It changes the whole picture. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt. If we have that salt in us, our speech will be different. It wasn’t what was taken out of the water that made the difference, but what was put into it. Knowing more about that sweet water that we can have from Him, by being willing to hear, keep, do His will. Being willing for it.
James Lindsey
God provides confidence and assurance through His righteousness.
He knows how to deliver the godly from temptations.
The torn temple veil symbolizes access to God’s presence.
We have a living hope through Jesus’ resurrection.
We will be like Him one day.
Trusting in Him gives us an anchor to our soul.
Five verses that have come to mind. God has provided confidence and assurance to all of us. It has been a blessed assurance and a blessed confidence. There are a lot of advertisements about where to place your confidence, assurance, and hope. One of God’s many blessings that flow to us through His righteousness. When His righteousness becomes our possession, we will know His blessing.
2 Peter 2:9 – “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” God knows how. A wonderful assurance. He has spoken. The Potter and the Clay. The Potter knows how. We are on the wheel. We can have confidence that He knows how. Feeling fragile. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. It’s all figured out. My part is to cooperate with Him.
At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, “the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.”
Only once annually, the High Priest could enter. When it was ripped from top to bottom, it opened the way for any to enter. Being able to enter fully into the presence of God. We have boldness, an invitation, a welcome from God. He will meet us there and commune with us there.
The wonderful privilege of entering into the very presence of God. Meeting with Him and being comforted by Him. A wonderful assurance. Everything will happen on time. Mary and Martha were concerned about Jesus being late in helping Lazarus. While He may not be early, God is never late. We can have confidence and assurance. A wonderful welcome to enter into His eternal presence.
1 Peter 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” A living hope. We can have confidence and assurance, boldness. We have been born again to a living hope.
1 John 3:1-7 – As Jesus now is, we will be one day. Lie still and let Him mold us, according to His will and purpose. His kingdom is everlasting, established. There are enemies of the kingdom of God. Satan and all his legions are arrayed in all their force. It will fail in the presence of the Lord Jesus. In times of distress and profound challenges, we can’t just depend on common sense.
We need to go forward in faith and by faith, trusting in him. An anchor to our soul. Heb. 6:18-19. A wonderful, blessed assurance.
Truth Archive 