The Hairy, Grass Eating, Clawed King/Beast in Babylon....(and in Us)

   God says -- My ways are higher than your ways... (No problem convincing me of that!) I am often bewildered by His ways.

 

    God could have brought the bible into existence with  a mere thought, but chose instead to employ men to write it for Him under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The words of many other ordinary humans are also quoted within the scriptures, and then there are a few significant passages which appear to have been written or dictated by still others. One of these appears in Daniel 4, where the narrative is in the first person voice of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. That's right, Nebuchadnezzar, the same guy who once laid siege to Jerusalem, and ransacked the Temple, stealing everything of value it contained and enslaving God's chosen people.

   As the story begins, Daniel interprets a dream for the king, telling him that if he fails to repent his pride and sin, and begin to worship God, he will spend seven years living as a wild animal. Nebuchadnezzar refused to yield to God for twelve months and then, in his own words, The king spoke, saying, 'Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence [fn] by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?'
31 "While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came [fn] from heaven, saying, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty [fn] has been removed from you,
32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods [fn] of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.'
33 "Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

  

      In the bible, Babylon is often used as a metaphor for the world system. As I watch the madness of the world we live in as nation upon nation rejects the Truth of God, I wonder how the result of our Godless madness will be made manifest. Nebuchadnezzar's madness was what psychologists call boanthropy (the delusion that one is an ox). I pray that our understanding will be returned to us, before humanity loses all remembrance that we have been made in His image and are turned loose as beasts.  Paul wrote to the Romans -- Therefore God [1] gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored [2] among them. (1:24)

 

    Nebuchadnezzar learned that he could not really ever see and understand the truth about himself until he first understood the truth about God. Amen. Me too. And for those of us blessed to already have received His Grace in the form of salvation from our sin, let us at least respond as Nebuchadnezzar did -- and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:  

 

    Surely we can out praise and out worship this heathen king. Has the Lord heard your words of praise and worship today?

 

Copyright 2013 Mission of the Master Ministries, Inc. Can be reprinted in whole or in part if a link is provided to http://wordworkswedesday.blogspot.com

 

  

.

My Weirdest Prayer....

   My connection to Christ, my spiritual rebirth, began many years back when I read an explanation of the process of salvation written hundreds of years ago by John Wesley. I don't really remember much of what he had written except the term indwelt by the Holy Ghost. I had never heard that ordinary flawed folks like me could be occupied inwardly by God's Spirit. I began questioning people who said they were Christians, asking, "How can I be indwelt by the Holy Ghost." I got a wide variety of answers, but really no one I asked seemed to have a clue. Frustrated, one day I weirdly and nervously prayed to the Holy Spirit and/or Jesus (sort of a spiritual to whom it may concern) and asked to be indwelt by the Holy Ghost. I'm not really sure what I thought would happen, but at that moment, I was certain that nothing had happened. Spiritual fail. Rejected again.

 

   When I prayed that prayer, my image of the Father was of an angry old man who resented the life I had led and was looking forward to the day He's light my bones on fire. Man, was I wrong. The first notion I had that my prayer may have had some effect was a few days later when I unexpectedly realized that the Father was maybe mellowing on His anger toward me, then after a few more days I was startled to realize that I believed He actually loved me. These remarkable changes happened without opening a bible or hearing the Gospel message. Within another few weeks, I understood the Gospel, repented my sin and gave my heart to Jesus.

 

   How could I have known what was never told to me?

 

   1 John 2:20 NKJV says -- But you have an anointing from the Holy One and you know all things.

 

    The Greek word translated as anointing is chrisma, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defines it wonderfully -- anointing, referring to the teaching ministry of the Holy spirit, guiding the receptive believer into fullness of God's preferred-will. This anointing functions through faith (pistis), with God inwardly persuading the believer of His preferences.

 

   Wow. That's exactly how He saved me. Through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the Father guided me into His preferred-will, inwardly persuading me of His preferences. All born again believers experience this anointing through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but not all seem to be equally aware of His guiding presence. Romans 8:16 says -- The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

 

    So, the inner witness -- with knowledge of all things -- is active within us, witnessing to our spirit. He has also left us that same witness in a written revelation called the bible. Yet we often flail and worry and weep about life's circumstances as if it is impossible to discern an answer, when all we really need to do is ask, then listen.

 

   Remember, Strong's definition said that the receptive believer will be guided by the Holy Spirit into the fullness of God's preferred will. You know you are a Believer. You know you are indwelt by the Holy Ghost. But, are you receptive to His guidance? 

 

   What mystery of life are you trying to solve by the power of your own intellect, that could be simply understood by seeking the guidance of God who has united Himself with your spirit, and searching the written revelation He has left you?

 

   Ask, and it will be given to you. (Jesus of Nazareth, A.D. 33)

 

 

Copyright 2013 Mission of the Master Ministries, Inc. May be quoted in whole or in part without prior written permission if a link is provided to http://wordworkswednesday.blogspot.com

Hey Jude......

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God [fn] and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3,4 NKJV)

 

    Jude, the half brother of Jesus, wrote this small epistle. Imagine his life. He grew up in an ordinary working class home in the village of Nazareth in a large Jewish family. Little brothers often look up to and emulate their older brothers. In Jude's life his older brother, Jesus, became known to him as God's anointed Son. The are few secrets among siblings. Jude's testimony of his faith in Jesus as the Christ, coupled with his brother James', may make them the most compelling witnesses ever.

 

    Jude says that he found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith..... He was properly concerned because he'd learned that certain men have crept in unnoticed... who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny

the only Lord God [fn] and our Lord Jesus Christ. The spirit which animated those deceptive "certain men" still exists and animates the enemies of Christ today. Our culture stands in stark opposition to the cause of Christ, incessantly attempting to redefine God and His Word in ways that suit their flesh driven purposes. This is not a new phenomenon, but rather a continuation of an ancient battle over Truth. Moral decline has always ebbed and flowed. We appear to be living in a period of acceleration of this decline.

 

   So, what to do?  Jude answers us with an exhorting voice -- contend earnestly for the faith.....  The Greek word translated as contend is a term often used to describe the continuous struggle experienced by a wrestler who refuses to be overcome by his opponent. Do I put that kind of effort forth every day for the cause of Christ? I cannot say that I do, so Jude's challenge resonates in my soul.

 

   What Christian efforts qualify for this kind of earnest contention? Of course, sharing the Gospel qualifies. This is God's plan. Saved people save people by sharing Christ. Also. sharing the Word. The bible needs to be on our tongue. Secular conversations rife with opinions can be often redirected by simply saying -- I'm a Christian and I believe the bible which says.....

 

   In addition, we can support, with prayer, encouragement and finances, faithful pastors who unflinchingly declare the Word from their pulpits. Provide the same supports for lay teachers. Likewise, we should withhold support from those who are unfaithful to or oppose God's Word.

 

     Missionaries epitomize contending for the faith. We should support them, but also every form of local missionary like Sunday school teachers, those who make communion preparations, and small group leaders.

 

     Finally, we should contend for the faith by the daily witness of our transformed lives, always deflecting all the glory for our transformation to the One who saved us.

 

   Have you responded to Jude's call? How will you earnestly contend for the faith today?

 

Copyright 2013 Mission of the Master Ministries, Inc. May be quoted in whole or in part without prior written permission if a link is provided to http://wordworkswednesday.blogspot.com