Month: May 2021

The counsel of God is worth seeking above all other, but are we prepared to seek Him for it?

The story of Balaam continues in Numbers with his arrival at the Moabite town of Arnon where he was met by Balak, king of Moab. Balaam was out of his own territory, in a foreign land with different people. Sometimes we can be disoriented in unusual or unknown situations, but Balaam continued to seek the Lord in this strange environment. We don’t have to loose contact with the Lord, even when the circumstances of our lives change!

The late Derek Prince and his wife Ruth travelled a lot with their ministry and part of their daily routine was to take communion every morning before the business of the day had begun. Their practice of taking communion gave them something stable (an anchor) in their day, as they moved from place to place. A constant in the midst of continual change.

At a long stretch we could say Balaam was on a ministry trip, unfortunately with the wrong motive, personal gain. Balaam, though a gifted prophet, wasn’t esteemed in God’s Word, but I believe we can learn some positive lessons from the Biblical account of him.

1 Balaam said, ‘Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.’ 2 Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Numbers 23

Balaam Prepared to seek the face of the Lord! He presented an offering to the Lord and included Balak, the man who wanted his help. Many times in the Psalms David speaks of worshipping the Lord as he and we seek His Face;

4 ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING
AND HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. Ps 100

God deserves our Praise and Worship and it lifts our eyes from our earthly concerns towards Him. We can’t seek His Face if we’re locked in our own situations.

3 Then Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stay here beside your offering WHILE I GO ASIDE. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.’ THEN HE WENT OFF TO A BARREN HEIGHT. Numbers 23

Balaam offered a sacrifice to God (we can offer our worship and thanks to Him, initially, that’s maybe as far as we’ll get, but God honours those who search for Him) and then drew aside from the others to be alone with God. The Moabites had no connection with God. I believe he couldn’t have heard from God with them present. There are some people who will draw the presence of God and others,  the majority, who will hinder it. Balaam had to get away by himself to hear God speak and so will we.

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4

Please Donate and help the work of this ministry, if you’re being blessed by it. We can only reap what we sow, true in the natural and the spiritual. We may be spiritually impoverished because we haven’t been sowing to God’s work.

The Lord is no one’s debtor. Romans 11:35

Donate now at;  fathersloveministry.co.uk

We are willing to seek the Lord for a word for those wishing personal direction and encouragement. We are also available for counselling online. Contact us on the above webpage. A donation is required for this service.

May God bless you as you seek His Face today.

12 You MUST NOT put a curse on these people, because THEY ARE BLESSED! Numbers 22

Numbers 22, gives the account of Balaam the prophet, who was known as a man who could curse people for money. In the verse above God spoke to Balaam directly, in the night. God had said only Joshua and Caleb, would enter and possess the land of their inheritance or Promise, yet God Himself told Balaam these same people were Blessed. God’s people are a Blessed people! Even in His judgement God wouldn’t allow them to be cursed; they were under His protection.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest. Proverbs 26

Balak, king of Moab, had sent messengers to hire Balaam to curse Israel. He called them ‘a People has come out of Egypt’, too powerful for him. He didn’t say anything about the fact that God had ruined Egypt because of them. Nor did he say that they had destroyed two Amorite kings and were living in their land. But Balaam didn’t jump at the money they offered. He told them to spend the night there while he sought God – he showed wisdom in that. Important decisions in our lives should be brought before the Lord for His approval or not. Balaam didn’t know the situation and so he laid it before God at night. A well known Christian speaker said he had learned through experience not to accept speaking engagements on the phone, but to pray first. Pressure to accept an offer at once may well indicate it needs further prayer and consideration.

In the same conversation, God told Balaam NOT TO GO WITH THEM. Balaam initially obeyed that command but Balak the king, ‘sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first’, with an improved offer. Balaam followed the same routine by seeking the Lord again that night.

God eventually gave Balaam permission to go with them, but warned him, ‘Do only what I tell you’. Numbers 22:20

Balaam was in this situation for personal gain, but God had warned him to do nothing except what He permitted. In a further dramatic encounter on the way to Balak, he was again told, ‘Go with the men, but Speak only what I tell you’.

Balaam was no doubt enticed by the money being offered to him. (It’s interesting that the Bible recorded he was sent a divination fee. A fee to curse, yet many fail to bless the Lord’s servants, to their own loss). He went with the princes of Moab to see if he could get something from the situation. However, on the way, the Angel of the Lord confronted him and warned him, ‘that his path was a reckless one’. His own donkey had saved him three times, but he’d beaten her. He was angry with the donkey, but she’d saved his life! This man had power to curse, even a nation, but he didn’t see the Angel nor his reckless path. Even people with strong spiritual gifts can completely ‘miss it’. WE need to be asking God to show us His way for our lives and then obey.

God bless and keep you today.

Today is Ascension Day, commemorating Jesus return to heaven 40 days after the resurrection (David Pawson, a well known international Bible teacher, went home 1 year ago today, aged 90; God’s Timing in the life of His faithful son).

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, WILL COME BACK IN THE SAME WAY you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1

Jesus was lifted up for us all, though we didn’t deserve it. John 3:14, 12:31

Numbers 21:4-9 gives another account of the Israelites, now wondering in the wilderness through disobedience, complaining against the Lord and Moses their leader. It’s probable that all of us have spent time in the wilderness, but sometimes God’s Spirit takes us there to teach us. In the wilderness we may be stripped down to the basics, no luxuries and no distractions. Jesus and Paul both spent time there alone with God’s Spirit.

On this occasion their complaints brought them into real trouble with God and He sent poisonous snakes among them and some died from their bites. They had to come to Moses and repent (Turn Around) and ask him to pray to God to forgive them.

7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned WHEN WE SPOKE AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST YOU. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us”. Numbers 21

The first step to change the situation was to repent before God. They had to admit they had been wrong and ask forgiveness before relief could come to them (same for us today). God answered Moses prayer in an unusual way;

8  The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it on a pole, anyone who is bitten can look at it and live”. 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Numbers 21

Moses made a replica of the problem, a ‘bronze snake’ and lifted it up on a pole where it could be seen by everyone in the camp! Everyone who looked at the snake on the pole lived. God didn’t take the snakes away (unlike Saint Patrick, there are no snakes in Ireland!), but made a way for the people to survive their bites. Was He giving a reminder to Israel not to complain against Him? The people would also have been keen to stay close to the bronze snake, their lives depended on seeing it.

John’s Gospel has various references to Moses lifting up the snake in the desert. God was going to have to intervene in human history once again, to save humanity from death.

14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.” John 3

31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. John 12

God was annoyed at His people’s constant complaining, but answered Moses prayer of repentance on their behalf. No one in that day realised the significance of the snake on the pole being lifted up in sight of the people. That generations later, God become man would be lifted up for the sins of the whole world. What an amazing and gracious God we serve. Next time we’re tempted to complain when under trial remember all He’s done for us.

God bless and keep you today.

 

The Midianite spirit seeks to steal the harvest, but God has His Gideon and 300 faithful men to stop it. Judges 6-8

God’s people were in an awful situation because they had turned away from the Lord. The Midianites and other eastern peoples came in and ravaged the land and left nothing for Israel; their harvest was devoured and destroyed. Gideon, the hero of the account, was threshing grain in a wine press, trying to save some for himself and his family. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him, ‘The Lord is with you mighty warrior’. Judges 6:12

Gideon was astonished and asked why God had given them into the hands of their enemies, when He was so Mighty? The angel didn’t answer his questions (God doesn’t always answer us but may still direct us!) but told him, ‘to go and save Israel out of Midian’s hand’. Judges 6:14 God could have come down and saved Israel in a moment, but He’d chosen to send a little known man, least in his family and from a small clan to accomplish this (as David the shepherd boy, youngest of Jesse’s 8 sons).

Fast forward to Gideon calling the people to come and help him fight and deliver Israel;

34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. Judges 6

Gideon called out the army of Israel to go to battle against Midian and they went out and camped nearby.

2 The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, “My own strength has saved me.” Judges 7

The first cut came, when Gideon told the men anyone who was afraid could leave, 22,000 departed. God still said there were too many;

4 But the Lord said to Gideon, ‘There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift/thin them out for you there. If I say, “This one shall go with you,” he shall go; but if I say, “This one shall not go with you,” he shall not go.’ Judges 7

God reduced the force to 300 men, by only taking those who drank from their hands and not those who put their faces into the water. Judges 7:7

I believe there is a huge harvest coming for the Church in this day, but the enemy has already sent the harvest stealers/Midianites to obstruct the workers and steal the harvest. God will not allow the harvest to be stolen this time and will raise up faithful workers to bring in the souls to His Kingdom. This will be the Lord’s work and He will choose those who will work with Him to win this harvest.

Judges 8 describes how Gideon and the 300 with Him pursued a much larger force of Midianites and captured Zebah and Zalmunna, two of their leaders. He followed them until those enemy leaders were dead (see yesterday’s blog).

Gideon was opposed by some of the people in Israel and it’s possible that some of God’s people/ religious people in this day will also seek to hinder the harvest. May God have mercy on us not to oppose His work.

God bless and keep you today.

Elijah ran in fear for his life, but God gave him rest and recommissioned him for total victory. 1 Kings 19:15-17

Elijah had confronted and destroyed the prophets of Baal (450) and Asherah (400)  before the people on Mt Carmel. However, the enemy was furious and through Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab, swore to murder God’s prophet, Elijah. Elijah fled to Mt Horeb with angelic help, for the long journey. There he met with God and was recommissioned by Him to continue the next phase of the battle against idolatry in Israel. Elijah was told to, ‘Go back the way you came’. God doesn’t often tell us to go back! Elijah had abandoned the battle before it was completed and God wanted total, not partial, victory.

Is God speaking to someone today? Maybe we’ve left something incomplete, walked away from the battle before God said ‘Its Finished’. Jesus spoke that word on the cross,  John 19:30 He knew He’d fulfilled His calling on earth. The good news in the account of Elijah was that God sent him help. Elijah believed he was the only one standing for God among God’s people, but he wasn’t.

15 The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 1 Kings 19

God told Elijah to anoint two men as Kings and Elisha to succeed him as prophet in Israel. God also told Elijah that there were others in Israel who hadn’t bowed the knee to Baal;

18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.’ 1 Kings 19

The enemy always wants to isolate us and make us think we’re all alone in our struggles, but remember God sent an angel to strengthen Elijah. Elijah had stood alone for a time as God’s prophet to the people, but after Jezebel’s threats, God took him aside and restored him. Don’t become discouraged if you’ve had to withdraw from the battle for a time of respite. God understands and He can strengthen us again and lead us forward to final victory. He may well draw others alongside to support and encourage us to complete the battle.

In God’s time it was Elijah who pronounced Jezebel’s end at the hand of Jehu, son of Nimshi. 1 Kings 21:23 The very man God had told him to anoint as king over Israel sealed her fate.

May God strengthen us to see the battles we face through to complete victory in our Lord.

God bless and keep you today.

What we talk about and continually think about will determine our Destiny. Psalm 19:14

18 When he (the king) takes the throne of his kingdom, HE IS TO WRITE FOR HIMSELF ON A SCROLL A COPY OF THIS LAW, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 IT IS TO BE WITH HIM AND HE IS TO READ FROM IT ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees. Deuteronomy 17:18, 19 NIV

19 That copy of the laws shall be his CONSTANT COMPANION. TLB

19 That scroll is to REMAIN AT HIS SIDE AT ALL TIMES MSG.

Every king of Israel, no exceptions, had to have his own handwritten copy of God’s Word. It was first imprinted on the page and then through constant attention, also to be engraved on the heart. It’s relatively easy for many people to buy a copy of God’s Word, but how much of our time do we give to write it on our hearts? Can the Holy Spirit bring it to our minds when we face personal challenges? I’ve read of believers having experiences with God and having a large number of scriptures implanted in their minds. It may be that they needed them for their own ministry. I feel it’s much better to be led by the Spirit to feed on particular scripture than just learning a number of verses by rote, though it’s all valuable and time well spent.

Joshua, Moses successor, was instructed by God to meditate (think deeply) about the Law, day and night and was also given promises of blessings for doing it;

8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1

Joshua was the man called to lead the new generation of Israel into their inheritance and God told him a number of times to be bold, but also to feed on His Word. What would God say to us today about going into our inheritance? He might tell us to begin to think and see things from His viewpoint.

1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and WHOSE LEAF DOES NOT WITHER –
WHATEVER THEY DO PROSPERS.

The book of Psalms begins with the direction to Delight in the Word and Feed on it. God’s Word is Life and Light and will bring untold blessings as it becomes fixed in our hearts!

Please support Father’s Love, you can Donate today on our Webpage;

fathersloveministry.co.uk

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart (our hearts always follow our treasure) will be also. Matthew 6

Please support the work of the Father’s Love.

We also seek the Lord for individual words of direction and encouragement for those who need them. Personal counselling; appointments can be arranged on our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service.

God bless and keep you today.

What we value most highly, we keep close to us. Someone on a journey with valuable items e.g. jewellery might well carry it on their person.

9 But Moses did not give any(carts and oxen) to the Kohathites, because THEY WERE TO CARRY ON THEIR SHOULDERS THE HOLY THINGS, for which they were responsible. Numbers 7

There were three different clans of Levites, but the Kohathites carried the Holy things used to worship the Lord. (People who interpret dreams believe that the shoulder often represents the things we are carrying). They all had their duties assigned to them, what each was to carry. In order to carry the things God has marked out for us we may have to let go and discard other unnecessary things.

There is a short 5 minute talk by the late Derek Prince on YouTube entitled, ‘Ordering your priorities for your Calling’. He talks about how he disciplined his mind, allowing virtually no TV or newspapers (today the Internet), in order to fulfill the Call God had put on his life. He rejected the things the media were projecting in order to keep his mind free for the work God had for him. He also emphasised the importance of (his) time and how much would be wasted on trivial media stories.

In Psalms 42 and 43(often one psalm in Hebrew scripture), the sons of Korah write about passion for the things of God;

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
SO SOUL PANTS FOR YOU, MY GOD.
2 MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR GOD, FOR THE ‘LIVING GOD’.
When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42

There is a beautiful chorus based on these words, where the psalmist is longing to know God. He is experiencing difficulties and it’s driving him to cry out to God. It’s sad that many times it takes the trials and struggles of this life to drive us to God.

3 Send me your light and your truth,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, MY JOY AND MY DELIGHT. Psalm 43

We need God to show us the way to come to Him, but the psalmist wants to be in His presence, he longs for Him.

We can’t pass on the things of God, there are things we have to carry, like the Kohathites. They couldn’t put the sacred items into a cart, they had to carry the things of worship themselves, on their own shoulders. There is responsibility to carry things for God but also much blessing, now and later with Him.

Please support Father’s Love, you can Donate today on our Webpage;

fathersloveministry.co.uk

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

If you are being encouraged and blessed by this ministry please support the work of the Father’s Love.

We are also available to provide personal words of encouragement for those who need them and online counselling. Please contact us on our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service.

24 ‘“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’” Numbers 6

INVESTING IN A BANK THAT CANNOT FAIL – Hudson Taylor.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbour,
‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’–
when you already have it with you. Proverbs 3

I had an experience in a European city a few years ago when I passed a man sitting in the street begging for money. I gave him some change, a small amount, from my pocket and walked on. But I felt convicted at my giving and returned and gave him some more and he gave me a lovely smile(could he have been an angel?)  To be honest, I don’t think I gave him enough the second time either, but the moment passed and was gone. Roman proverb, ‘Carpe Diem – seize the day or in my case, SEIZE THE MOMENT’.

Hudson Taylor was the founder of the China Inland Mission CIM 25 June 1865. He had decided to build his faith by going directly to God for all his needs while still living at home. His kindly employer had forgotten to pay him and he was left with one half crown (1/8 of £1) coin in his pocket and one dish of porridge at his lodging.

‘That Sunday was a very happy one…After attending Divine service in the morning, my afternoons and evenings were filled with Gospel work, in the various lodging-houses I was accustomed to visit in the lowest part of the town…
After concluding my last service about ten o’clock that night, a poor man asked me to go and pray with his wife, saying that she was dying. I readily agreed, and on the way to his house asked him why he had not sent for the priest, as his accent told me he was an Irishman. He had done so, he said, but the priest refused to come without a payment of eighteen pence (Religion loves money, Jesus cleared His Father’s House of money changers John 2) which the man did not possess, as the family was starving.’ Hudson Taylor

He went to the man’s house and saw a terrible situation, 4 or 5 small children starving and a sick woman with a very small baby, all in great need. Her husband pleaded with Taylor to help them if he could and a great internal struggle arose over his single half crown piece. He said inwardly that he would gladly have given, a part of the money but God had arranged it so that it was all or nothing! He was brought to the ‘moment of decision’, what would he do?

“You asked me to come and pray with your wife,” I said to the man, “let us pray.” And I knelt down.
But scarcely had I opened my lips with “Our Father who art in heaven” than conscience said within, “Dare you mock God? Dare you kneel down and call Him Father with that half-crown in your pocket?”
Such a time of conflict came upon me then as I have never experienced before or since. Hudson Taylor

At length Taylor gave the half crown to the needy family, the money they so desperately needed and all he had. Joy returned at once and all feelings of hypocrisy were gone.

‘Not only was the poor woman’s life saved, but I realised that my life was saved too! It might have been a wreck, would have been a wreck probably, as a Christian life, had not grace AT THAT TIME CONQUERED, and the striving of God’s Spirit been obeyed’. Hudson Taylor

He received a gift of four times more next day by post!

lexloiz.wordpress.com link to the story of Hudson Taylor

God bless and give us grace today to surrender what He asks of us.

It’s the PRAISING LIFE THAT HONOURS ME.
AS SOON AS you set your foot on the Way,
I’ll show you My salvation.” Psalm 50:23. MSG

I liked the little phrase, ‘It’s the Praising Life that Honours Me’, from the Message Bible.

23 those who SACRIFICE thank-offerings honour me,
and PREPARE THE WAY so that I may show them my salvation’. NIV

The older NIV translates it that ‘WE prepare the way’ so that God can help us in our time of need. It’s Old Testament so it’s called Sacrifice, but sometimes God still looks for our sacrifice today to see our sincerity of heart. We may have to bless and thank Him to prepare the way for His salvation in our situations.

Isaiah 12, only six verses (unusual in Isaiah) speaks of Praise and Thanksgiving;

It repeats the phrase ‘In that day’ twice, so when is it? I believe it’s happening in our day.

12 He will raise a banner for the nations (gentiles)
and gather the exiles of Israel;
he will assemble the scattered people of Judah
from the four quarters of the earth (today, now). Isaiah 11

12 In that day you will say:

‘I will praise you, Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and YOU HAVE COMFORTED ME.
2 Surely God is my salvation;
I WILL TRUST AND NOT BE AFRAID.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG;
HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION’.

God is not angry with His own children, He longs to show mercy/salvation to us His people. So Isaiah says God has become his Strength and his Song, he’s rejoicing again in God. He also refuses to be afraid, he’s going to trust in God. I’ve heard before and again recently that there are 365 references in the Bible, ‘Not to fear’, one for each day of the year. God knew that there would be temptation for us to be afraid, but Isaiah says he won’t give in to fear, ‘I will trust and not be afraid’.

Another good scripture in Isaiah, which God spoke to my heart when I was much younger is Isaiah 41:10;

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

It’s good to have these words in our hearts, to encourage and strengthen us when we’re facing trials.

3 WITH JOY you will draw water
from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12

The prophet speaks of the Joy that we’ll have when we draw water/God answers us. Jesus used this type of analogy when He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the Well of Sycar in John 4 and a whole town came to believe He was the Messiah.

4 In that day you will say:

Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his name;

Have you tried Thanks-offerings and Praise to the Lord, they may ‘Prepare the Way’ for God’s salvation for you?

God bless and keep you today.