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Nothing Happens By Accident
Or, Especially, Nothing Happens By Accident When We Practice The Presence Of Jesus
by Tom Stewart
"In the beginning God" (Genesis 1:1).
Preface
From the very first words of Scripture, God leaves no doubt that He is The One "With Whom We Have To Do"
(Hebrews 4:13). Whatsoever happened in the Beginning, existed
and exists by His permission. "All things
were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). Who but God "telleth
the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names"
(Psalm 147:4)? If He is the Master of the greatest totality,
why should He not account for the smallest detail? "But
even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of
more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:7). For this reason, the Child of God rests in the Almighty, for "no man is able to pluck them out of
[the] Father's hand"
(John 10:29). God's Providence directs all the "paths of righteousness"
(Psalm 23:3) for His Saints, but the world's self-reliance
calls for more of an accidental theory for the occurrence of daily events, which
presumes ultimately that all events take place without anyone's foresight,
design, or expectation, i.e., "There is
no God" (Psalm 53:1). For the world,
chance merely happens to make them winners or victims of windfall or mishap.
"He that trusteth in his own heart is
a fool" (Proverbs 28:26). Of course,
when things go favorably, such Accidentalists would most probably point to their
success, as coming from their own hand, e.g., perspiration, industriousness, tenacity
of will, ingenuity, creativity, persistence, etc.-- coupled with a little luck. "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me
this wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:17).
Negatively, the Accidentalist would probably fault their difficulties to inopportune
circumstances or limited personal resources, i.e., bad luck. "Time and chance happeneth to them all"
(Ecclesiastes 9:11).
How different for the Godly, who understand that nothing happens by accident!
"God hath from the Beginning chosen you
to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth" (2Thessalonians 2:13). As a Christian, I must be
possessed with the understanding that everything about me-- my present circumstances,
past, opportunities, limitations, comprehension, etc.-- is part of the Providence
of "God Only Wise"
(Romans 16:27), that "performeth
all things for me" (Psalm 57:2).
Why should we not trust Him for all things, if we claim to have trusted Him in the
first place to save us? "12 That we should be to the praise
of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of
Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise" (Ephesians
1:12-13). We dangerously disassociate ourselves from Christ, when
we seek any cause other than the Great First Cause Himself, for the Truth, understanding,
and wherefore of our present circumstances. "Seek
ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Remember, the Almighty is capable
of using even man's wrath to accomplish His purpose, i.e., "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of
wrath shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10).
Specifically, it is our constant trust in Him that pleases Him, because "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6); and, it sustains us, as well, for
"we walk by Faith"
(2Corinthians 5:7). We have the privilege of fellowshipping
with the Infinite One, i.e., "truly our
fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ"
(1John 1:3), because we have been adopted in the Beloved into
the family of God, i.e., "Having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good
pleasure of His Will" (Ephesians 1:5).
It only remains to be seen what we will do with this Marvelous Grace! "Receive not the Grace of God in vain" (2Corinthians 6:1). We shall see in the following
sections from the Word of God, the Will of God, the Person of God, and particularly
from the Necessities of God, how each affects the understanding that not only
does nothing happen by accident, but especially nothing happens by accident when
we Practice the Presence of Jesus.
The Word of God: Is the Means of Understanding Our Predesign by Omniscience
The Word of God gives us a mental framework to establish that our lives are far from
accidental, but are predesigned by Omniscience. "Whom
He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified:
and whom He justified, them He also glorified" (Romans
8:30). Scripture must be the very foundation of our thoughts, that
is, we must seek to frame all our actions with the question, "What saith the Scripture?" (Romans
4:3). Instead of a dry or pedantic attempt to follow only a catechism
of pre-fashioned ideas of what others say God has said, we must allow the Holy Spirit
to direct our mind through His Word with the realization that our thoughts are actually
His thoughts, when (and only when) we have submitted ourselves to Him "to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). "These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Scripture is the Voice of the Spirit
of Christ, for it was the Holy Spirit that inspired the writers to record the completed
Canon of Scripture. "For the prophecy
came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved
by the Holy Ghost" (2Peter 1:21).
Instead of being overpowered by our lack of knowledge of the contents of God's Word,
we need to use our ignorance as a launching point for God to give us what we lack.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him" (James 1:5). Read the Scriptures
themselves, not just what someone else said about the Scriptures. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1Thessalonians 5:21). Give the Holy Spirit a voice
and vocabulary to address your mind in a reasonable, rational, logical way by filling
your hearing and thinking with the Scriptures. "This
Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8). Edification from others who minister
to us through writings, sermons, fellowship, etc. have their place, but with the
understanding that they are only secondary to the Word of God-- valuable only to
the degree that they support the Word of God. "For
this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word
of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is
in Truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1Thessalonians 2:13). In the world, it is easy to
hear the words of man, but the Incomparable Word of God must be sought after as when
men search for treasure. "The Law of Thy
Mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver"
(Psalm 119:72).
Read the Word (39 books of the Old Testament, 27 books of the New Testament, containing
1,189 chapters):
Fret not about the antiquity of the Shakespearian prose of the translation of the
Authorized Version (King James Version, 1611), for it will take the guidance of the
Holy Spirit for anyone to understand any translation of the Scriptures.
"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law" (Psalm 119:18). If reading is difficult, listen to pre-recorded Scripture. "Thy Words were found, and I did eat them" (Jeremiah 15:16).
Just as reading the Scriptures gives us fluency and understanding of the overall
record, which God has seen fit to preserve for humanity, meditation upon a portion
of Scripture allows us to focus upon a Truth, which the Spirit is attempting to develop
in our consciousness. "O how I love Thy
Law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97). Our attention span is somewhat limited, for we seem incapable of processing
but a small amount of information successfully; therefore, it is wisdom that we attempt
to meditate and cogitate upon succinct and discrete portions of Scripture, generally
when we are alone and disengaged from interaction with others. "Mine eyes prevent [Hebrew,
qadam, anticipate] the night watches,
that I might meditate in Thy Word" (Psalm 119:148). Perhaps the only reason for awakening at night, in a bout with sleeplessness,
is the Holy Spirit's attempt to isolate you at a very quiet time to allow you to
think through a portion of Scripture. "5 My soul shall be satisfied as with
marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: 6 When I remember Thee upon my bed,
and meditate on Thee in the night watches" (Psalm
63:5-6). If we do not solve the great mysteries of Scripture in our
nocturnal watches, the LORD knows what good might be done for His Kingdom as we pray
ourselves back to sleep with our midnight intercessions. "Finally,
brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the LORD may have free course, and be glorified,
even as it is with you" (2Thessalonians 3:1). When we more systematically dwell upon the Word of God, as when we study
a topic or a book of the Bible, we engage in Bible Study to more fully arm ourselves
with His Word, increasing our usefulness to God in whatever He designates us to accomplish
for Him, as well as better appreciate Him. "But
let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I
am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the Earth:
for in these things I delight, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah
9:24). Bible Study may be parsing a verse of Scripture by investigating
the cross-references contained in many Bibles; or, even more efficiently, we may
use the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (promoted by R. A. Torrey) in computerized
form, e.g., incorporated in the Online Bible, to survey large amounts of Scripture--
"not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1Corinthians 2:13). Our responsibility with the
Word starts with our willingness to put into practice whatever the Holy Spirit reveals
to us is the meaning of the commands, warnings, promises, and precepts of His Word.
"If any man will do His will, he shall
know of the doctrine" (John 7:17).
Patience in approaching His Word is requisite; therefore, we had better make it our
life's pursuit-- not a flash in the pan-- to patiently develop a better understanding
of God's Word. "Till we all come in the
Unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians
4:13). And, if we find ourselves referencing the same verses of Scripture
repeatedly, we will find it efficient to memorize both the text (for our benefit)
and the reference (so others can find It and be benefitted, as well). "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not
sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11).
The Holy Spirit will enable us to profit from His Word-- trust Him. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things
to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you"
(John 14:26). The Scripture that we practice and to which we
conform-- we are most likely to remember. "But
Strong Meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil"
(Hebrews 5:14).
The Will of God: Knowing His Will Concerning Us Was Settled Before the Foundation
of the World
The Will of God has ordained a "Kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew
25:34). His Will reveals to us, who are armed with the "Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17), that we must analyze our
circumstances to find the leading of the Holy Spirit in every case. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
The dawning of that Scriptural Understanding in our mind is sufficient to give us
Moral Responsibility, which gives us Spiritual Growth when we conform to that Revealed
Will of God, i.e., "He that hath My Commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of
My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21), or Spiritual Death, when we disobey
that Revealed Truth, i.e., "If I had not
done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now
have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father" (John
15:24). Understanding the Will of God from His Word requires the leading
of the Spirit, since it requires us to interpret His Will for our circumstances,
i.e., "If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25); or, comprehending His Will may be thought of as the leading of His Providence.
"I being in the way, the LORD led me" (Genesis 24:27). True, God's Word reveals to us that
God desires for us our present sanctification, i.e., "this
is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1Thessalonians
4:3), but our sanctification was chosen and intended by Him from the
Very Beginning. "We are bound to give
thanks alway to God for you, Brethren beloved of the LORD, because God hath from
the Beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief
of the Truth" (2Thessalonians 2:13).
Because God's Will is anchored to His Omniscience, we can be assured that every requirement
necessitated by His Word has already been infallibly certified to be in the best
interests of His Kingdom, and therefore, in our best interest. "They that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing" (Psalm 34:10). Not all things about being a Christian
are sunshine "for He maketh His sun to
rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45), but even a cursory examination of
the New Testament reveals that God wills that "all
things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans
8:28). This has been the ceaseless pattern of God's conduct toward
His people from the Beginning, emanating from the fact that "God is Love" (1John 4:16), which He was "yesterday, and
to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8).
Omniscience describes God only. "9 Remember the former things of old:
for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the End from the Beginning,
and from Ancient Times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall
stand, and I will do all My pleasure" (Isaiah 46:9-10). God is not an automaton, incapable of Free Moral Choice, unable to will
anything but a necessitated action; and for that reason, when God's Natural Attribute
of Omniscience enables Him to foresee your repentance and trusting Christ, His
choice of you "before the foundation
of the world" (Ephesians 1:4)--
occurring before your repentance-- highlights His Moral Attribute of Love.
"We love Him, because He first loved us" (1John 4:19). In our Predestination to Heaven by
the Almighty, "Who worketh all things
after the counsel of His Own Will" (Ephesians 1:11), He consulted only His Own Foreknowledge, when He "predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ
to Himself" (Ephesians 1:5). But,
Praise God, He foreknew us before He predestinated us! "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29).
God's choice of us is "according to the
Election of Grace" (Romans 11:5);
therefore, Saving Grace is Sovereign Grace. "4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for
His Great Love wherewith He loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,
(by Grace ye are saved;) 6 And
hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ
Jesus: 7 That in the
ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His Grace in His Kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. 8 For
by Grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of
God: 9 Not of works,
lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:4-9).
Those who argue against the Will of God sow to the wind, and "they shall reap the whirlwind" (Hosea
8:7). They really only persuade those, who were themselves unwilling
to do the Will of God. For this reason, the "servant
of the LORD must not strive [Greek, machomai, war of
words, quarrel, wrangle, dispute]; but be gentle
unto all men" (2Timothy 2:24). As
much as we would like to persuade the obstinate, e.g., "3 For I could wish that myself were
accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 1 Brethren, my heart's desire and
prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved"
(Romans 9:3; 10:1), we must-- like the Apostle Paul-- listen
to the Spirit to know when the gentle persuasion of a thoughtful answer to a sinner's
question will become only an argument without the other party listening. "23 And
when they [the Jews] had
appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded
and testified the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the
Law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some believed the things which were
spoken, and some believed not. 25 And
when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken
one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias
[Isaiah] the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and
say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and
not perceive: 27 For
the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and
their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should
heal them. 28 Be it known
therefore unto you, that the Salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that
they will hear it" (Acts 28:23-28).
Whoever truly asks the question, "LORD,
what wilt Thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6), is a True Christian, and will never be denied the revelation
of the Will of God. "9
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given
you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11:9-10). The place to begin in searching for
the Perfect Will of God for you is a fully submitted will to do whatever the LORD
may prospectively reveal to you. "If any
man will do His will, he shall know" (John 7:17). Only a Self-Deceived Professing Christian does not possess a fully submitted
will. "He that saith, I know Him, and
keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him" (1John 2:4). As you can see, manwardly, your most
important possession is a "conscience
void of offence toward God, and toward men" (Acts
24:16). Godwardly, the Infallible, God-Breathed Scriptures are the
Primal Foundation for any reasonable understanding of the Will of God for you. "The entrance of Thy Words giveth light; it giveth
understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:130). Prayerfully approach the Word of God, i.e., "Teach
me to do Thy Will; for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land
of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10).
Examine the Scriptures with a Concordance, especially a Computerized Concordance,
e.g., incorporated in such programs as the Online Bible, that can help you
isolate Scriptural phrases that the Spirit of God has brought to your remembrance.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). Memorized portions of Scripture, especially
from the earliest days of our childhood, are powerful in testifying to the Perfect
Will of God. "And that from a child thou
hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through
Faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2Timothy 3:15). Knowing that God guides through our circumstances-- if nothing happens
by accident, then my possession of this opportunity makes me believe that I should
exercise it, unless shown differently-- enables us to comprehend God's Providence
in determining His Perfect Will, when everyone else is looking for a little luck.
"Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the
Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth
thee by the way that thou shouldest go" (Isaiah
48:17). When God grants the certainty of the knowledge of His Will,
then we will have His Peace, as well. "6 Be careful for nothing; but in every
thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God. 7 And the Peace
of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
The Person of God: He is the Alpha and Omega in Whom We Breathe
The Person of the Living God has chosen to dwell in man. "God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and
I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (2Corinthians
6:16). Unaccidental, purposeful contact motivated by Love has always
defined God's manifestations to man, i.e., "He
made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel" (Psalm 103:7). One cannot read the Scriptures without
noticing God's great interest and involvement with man, unless the reader carelessly,
thoughtlessly, or antagonistically approaches the Sacred Pages. "10 As
with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me,
Where is thy God? 11 Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in
God: for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the Health of My Countenance, and my God" (Psalm 42:10-11). Creation's epoch is identified
with the Father, "Who created all things
by Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:9).
Salvation's focus is the Passion at Calvary of the Son of God, Who "made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile
all things unto Himself" (Colossians 1:20). And, the Spirit of God is most closely associated with His New Covenant
outpouring at Pentecost. "31 Behold, the days come, saith the
LORD, that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house
of Judah: 33 But this
shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days,
saith the LORD, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts;
and will be their God, and they shall be My people. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk
in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them"
(Jeremiah 31:31, 33; Ezekiel 36:27). Scripture contains a progressive
revelation of the Person of God-- the Father gives the Son, Who sends His Spirit,
Who testifies of the Son, Who magnifies the Father. "Nevertheless
I tell you the Truth; It is expedient [Greek, sumphero,
helpful, profitable, i.e., in your best interest]
for you that I [Christ] go
away: for if I go not away, the Comforter [the Holy Spirit]
will not come unto you; but if I depart, I
will send Him unto you" (John 16:7). Our approach to the
Father is through the Son by the Spirit. "For
through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father"
(Ephesians 2:18). From the Alpha of Creation to the Omega of
the Consummation, the Scriptures declare the "wonderful
works which [the LORD] hast
done" (Psalm 40:5)-- and specifically,
"to the children of men" (Psalm 107:8).
A Trinitarian concept of God, i.e., One God in Three Persons, the Divine Trinity
in Unity, existed in embryonic form in the Hebrew Scriptures, e.g., "Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken
in secret from the Beginning; from the time that it was, there am I
[Christ the Son of God]: and now the Lord GOD [the Father], and His Spirit [the Holy Spirit], hath sent Me" (Isaiah 48:16). The True Christian correctly understands
Jehovah as Sole and Supreme among the world's pantheon of so-called gods-- even as
did the Ancient Jew. "4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 17 For the LORD your God is God of
gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not
persons, nor taketh reward" (Deuteronomy 6:4; 10:17). Before the Christian Era, the idea that God is a Father had already been
received by the Jews. "6
And He said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall
build My house and My courts: for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be His
father. 10 Wherefore
David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be Thou,
LORD God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever" (1Chronicles
28:6; 29:10). It is interesting that those who believe the Genesis
Account of Creation rightly do not see themselves as polytheists, i.e., "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2); and yet, both Elohim (Hebrew,
God) and His Spirit are mentioned in the first two verses of Genesis. Of course,
both the Ancient Jew and the Modern Christian correctly understand that Elohim
and His Spirit are one; but, the realization that the Messiah (Hebrew, Mashiyach,
Anointed One; Greek, Christos, Christ, Anointed One) would be God manifest
in human flesh brought in complications that embarrassed all but the spiritually
supple mind of the True Believer. "41 While the Pharisees were gathered
together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying,
What think ye of Christ? whose Son is He? They say unto Him, The son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth
David in Spirit call Him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make
Thine enemies Thy footstool? 45 If
David then call Him Lord, how is He his son? 46 And no man was able to answer Him
a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions" (Matthew 22:41-46).
Ralph Erskine (1685-1752), an evangelical Scottish pastor,
wrote of the exquisite relationship in the Trinity:
When the Spirit reveals to us Christ in His Word, we are learning of the Father,
for the intention of God is our reliance upon the Spirit to testify of Christ, Who
always magnifies the Father, i.e., "The
Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever
He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John
5:19). The emphasis upon being taught by the Spirit through the Word
must result in the exultation of Christ, for only then will the Father be magnified:
So, the centrality of Christ to the Gospel message of Present Salvation and Ongoing
Sanctification is the appointed means of our relationship to God. "He [the Spirit] shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it
unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall
take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John
16:14).
Petition, Fellowship, Communion, Worship, Praise, and Thanksgiving
strengthen the reality that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are more than an influence,
but that they are the Real Presence of Individual Personality-- One God in Three
Persons, with Whom and in Whom we have innermost contact, e.g., "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). Because
Christ taught us the Pattern of Prayer, Petition is normally addressed to
the Father, e.g., "Our Father which art
in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name" (Matthew 6:9). But, recall that we appropriately addressed the Son for Salvation, e.g.,
"Jesus, come into my heart and save me"; and, we effortlessly petition
the Holy Spirit for a Greater Understanding of Christ, e.g., "Spirit of God,
grant me a fresh revelation of Jesus." "But
when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit
of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me" (John 15:26). Our lack is His Supply. Our dependence
creates an ongoing relationship in which Jesus encourages us to sign our petitions
with His Name. "Hitherto have ye asked
nothing in My Name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24). Fellowship is a commonality
with, a friendly association, or, in fact, the companionship of the Person of God.
"God is Faithful, by Whom ye were called
unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our LORD"
(1Corinthians 1:9). Unequal Friends-- but Friends-- especially
where we are receiving understanding from the Word of God, when He draws alongside
us to give helpful explanations, i.e., "Howbeit
when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall
not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will
shew you things to come" (John 16:13).
Our Communion with God, i.e., the "Grace
of the LORD Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost,
be with you all" (2Corinthians 13:14),
like fellowship, is sharing, but we are directing our thoughts in a conversational
way to the LORD, i.e., "10
And there was a certain disciple at Damascus,
named Ananias; and to him said the LORD in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold,
I am here, LORD. 11 And
the LORD said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and
enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 13 Then Ananias answered, LORD, I
have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy Saints at Jerusalem: 15 But the LORD said unto him, Go
thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles,
and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:10-11,
13, 15). In Worship, we willingly, lovingly acknowledge who
God is, e.g., "God is a Spirit: and they
that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth"
(John 4:24). Praise is extolling, magnifying, and honoring
God for what He has done, e.g., "Thou
art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created
all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created"
(Revelation 4:11). Thanksgiving is expressing gratitude
to God for what He has done for us. "9 And they sung a new song, saying,
Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof: for thou wast slain,
and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation; 10 And hast
made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the Earth" (Revelation 5:9-10).
As you can see, we have come quite a distance from the path of the Accidentalist,
for instead of worshipping at the image of some Accidental God, we have unfolded
before us and in us the most intimate relationship with Christ, the God That
Is-- "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58). It is evident that we can build a life
solely upon the relationships that we find revealed to us that Christ is. One verse
alone-- John 14:6-- may illustrate the Truth of what can be duplicated throughout
Scripture, i.e., "Search the Scriptures;
for in Them ye think ye have Eternal Life: and They are They which testify of Me" (John 5:39). Jesus Christ is:
The difficulties of coming to the Father are overcome through Christ the Way. The
problems of knowing when we have come to the Father are met with Christ the Truth.
The results of having found the Father are lived in us through Christ the Life. "Jesus saith unto him, I am The Way, The Truth, and
The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John
14:6). [For a more thorough discussion of this most important idea
of Christian Sanctification, see Charles G. Finney's "The Relations of Christ to the Believer"
---New Window.]
The Necessities of God: The Precision of the Seemingly Unrelated Facets of Our
Life Coming Together Are Anything But Accidental
The Necessities of God are that "Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). And, since we know that "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of
God" (Romans 10:17), then it is
a necessity for us to have Faith in God. "But
without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Further, if, as a good man, "we walk by Faith, not by sight"
(2Corinthians 5:7), then the "steps
of a good man are ordered [without accident] by the LORD" (Psalm 37:23) in the Word of God. "Order my
steps in Thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalm 119:133). Practically speaking, "we have the mind of Christ"
(1Corinthians 2:16), when we walk by the "Word of Christ" (Colossians
3:16); and, we are merely Practicing the Presence of Jesus
as Possessor, i.e., "He hath purchased [us] with His Own blood" (Acts 20:28), Indweller, i.e., "Abide in Me, and I in you" (John
15:4), and King of Our Life, i.e., "He
is LORD of All" (Acts 10:36), when
we look to Him for everything concerning our circumstances.
How to Practice the Presence of Jesus
Ask the LORD Jesus the following questions concerning your circumstances:
First, What wilt Thou have me do? God's answer, in plain speech: The necessity
that is uppermost in your mind is what needs to be done. "I
have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me"
(1Corinthians 9:16). That is the leading of the Holy
Spirit. "And thine ears shall hear a Word
behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isaiah
30:21). Remember the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the proud persecutor
of the early Christians? It was not man but God that initiated the sequence of events
that secured the conversion of the future Apostle Paul, i.e., "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there
shined round about him a light from Heaven" (Acts
9:3). God's timing was perfect. Saul was ripe for the picking. There
was little else that Saul could do, so "he
fell to the Earth, and heard a Voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou Me?" (Acts 9:4). He knew that
the followers of Jesus of Nazareth claimed their Messiah to be the Divine One, so
everything in Saul's troubled heart must have come crushing down, when Jehovah
responded audibly to Saul's question, "Who
art Thou, Lord? And the LORD said, I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest: it is hard for
thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 9:5). At that time Saul's worst fears were confirmed-- Jesus is Jehovah!
He truly is the Son of God, the Son of David, the Messiah! A converted Saul
immediately began to Practice the Presence of Jesus with the query, "LORD, what wilt Thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). A humbled, contrite Saul asked, and the
LORD graciously answered, "Arise, and
go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do"
(Acts 9:6). The same Gracious Jesus that answered Saul expects
to do the same for you, as well. "And,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world"
(Matthew 28:20).
Second, How does this affect my understanding of Thee? If we were the world,
we would not bother with any such investigation; but, we, as the Children of God,
enjoy the company of God, as a loving family enjoys each other's companionship.
"Grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of
our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2Peter 3:18). Even
more, our God is an Unlimited Reservoir for discovery that Eternity can never exhaust.
"12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us
of God. 13 Which things
also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1Corinthians
2:12-13). This writer recalls past days of youth when the foolish
talk of companions would repine: I wouldn't want to go to Heaven yet because I've
got so much living left to do. Wouldn't Heaven be kind of boring? What would you
talk about forever? "A fool hath no
delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself" (Proverbs 18:2). If such thoughts should ever creep
into your head, petition the LORD immediately for a fresh filling of His Spirit!
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians
5:18). We have not been left here accidentally but with the predesign
that we grow in our heart-knowledge of God. "As
newborn babes, desire the Sincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby" (1Peter 2:2). "That
ye might walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good
work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians
1:10). Just as our necessity suggests the teaching occasion, our yearning
to know more about Jesus, will give us fresh revelation of our LORD, even as the
Holy Spirit provided the Ethiopian eunuch a human instructor in the middle of the
desert to expound Isaiah's revelation of the Suffering Messiah. "26 And
the angel of the LORD spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto
the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man
of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians,
who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in
his chariot read Esaias [Isaiah] the
prophet. 29 Then the
Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard
him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except
some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with
him. 32 The place of
the Scripture which he read was this [Isaiah 53], He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb
dumb before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth: 33 In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who
shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the Earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said,
I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth,
and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus"
(Acts 8:26-35).
Third, What Scripture sheds light on my circumstances? Since 1999, world population
surpassed 6 billion people. With people so many and life so cheap in many parts of
the world, why should God be so concerned about me and my circumstances? "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout
the whole Earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect
toward Him" (2Chronicles 16:9).
If the world were exponentially more crowded, still the Father "gave His Only Begotten Son" (John
3:16) for all the world. And greater still, the Father and
the Son have an even More Special Love for you and me, if we are numbered
among those who obey Christ. "He that
hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth
Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to
him" (John 14:21). That relationship
between our obedience and further manifestations of the LORD Jesus to us, is also
the key to a greater heart-understanding of God's Word. "Through
Thy Precepts I get understanding" (Psalm 119:104). John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of Methodism,
wished himself to be "homo unius libri," a man of one book-- the Bible--
just as we need to be, if we would find Scriptural Light for our circumstances. "The Judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than
honey and the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:9, 10). The very fact that you are even investigating the Word of God indicates
your willingness to be taught of God. "Lead
me in Thy Truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I
wait all the day" (Psalm 25:5).
Do not neglect some unconfessed sin that would prevent you from being taught of God.
"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh
to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:8). If we truly learn the Scriptures, then
we will be taught about the Person of God, i.e., "Search
the Scriptures... They are They which testify of Me" (John
5:39).
Fourth, What promises may I claim to help me overcome my situation? God has
wisely designed life that our problems would be the occasion for our Ongoing Sanctification
in which our necessities would draw us closer to the LORD Jesus-- our Overcomer--
when we choose moment by moment to trust Him again and more to overcome our problems.
"These things I have spoken unto you,
that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), an English Baptist
preacher of London's Metropolitan Tabernacle, wrote for us a devotional, "Faith's
Checkbook" ---New Window in which he put
forth a promise for each day of the month, to be cashed like a check. "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" (2Peter
1:4). Promises are not just a special part of the Word of God, but
the Scripture appropriates for All of Itself, the title, "The
Word of Promise" (Romans 9:9). Whenever
we receive the Word of God with the premise that something will happen if we fulfill
the Divine Condition, then we are treating the Word of God as the Word of Promise.
"God is not a man, that He should lie;
neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do
it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?"
(Numbers 23:19). It is in our best interest to accumulate as
many promises as we can to fortify our claim upon God to fulfill His Word to us;
but, in truth, we need but one promise. "We
will rejoice in Thy Salvation, and in the Name of our God we will set up our banners:
the LORD fulfil all thy petitions" (Psalm 20:5). Samuel Clarke (1684-1759), an English academic and
theologian, gave to the Church a small handbook of promises, now called "Precious Bible Promises" ---New Window, in which God's
promises are catalogued and classified-- waiting for some thoughtful, needy Saint
to employ. "Unto whomsoever much is given,
of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48). The overabundance of promises from Scripture makes it easy for us to choose
one, but we must not give up or we will never see the promise fulfilled. "36 For
ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the Will of God, ye might receive
the promise. 37 For yet
a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto
perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul"
(Hebrews 10:36-39).
Fifth, How can this help the rest of the Body of Christ? In keeping with the
Law of Love, we are to seek the good of our neighbour as ourself, but "especially unto them who are of the Household of Faith" (Galatians 6:10). "3 Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others" (Philippians
2:3-4). Perhaps our intended action may be used by God to reach someone
for Christ; but, even if that someone is not reached, it justifies God in the Judgment
Day that He did all that could have been done to prevent that someone's Final Damnation.
"For there is no respect
[Greek, prosopolepsia, partiality] of
persons with God" (Romans 2:11).
We understand that the Presence of Jesus is with the humblest Saint, who seeks not
"his own, but every man another's wealth" (1Corinthians 10:24). Since the rest of the Body
of Christ needs as much of a revelation of Christ as we do, can this intended action
help? "If I then, your LORD and Master,
have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14). Our attempted ministry to the Body
of Christ is always received by the LORD as a ministry to Him. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these
My brethren, ye have done it unto Me" (Matthew
25:40). Even if the Body of Christ is unable to receive our ministry
to them because their preconceived notions of the Truth are imprecise and they misunderstand
our message, then have patience that God will find a way to work it out for their
good. "All things work together for good
to them that love God" (Romans 8:28).
And, if the Professed Body of Christ is adamantly unwilling to receive our ministry
to them, again, be patient, for God will break the rock. "So
shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My Mouth: it shall not return unto Me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto
I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). As we
attempt to minister for Christ, we will become like Christ, for in so doing, we will
"follow His Steps"
(1Peter 2:21). Beg of the LORD for His Mercy that we would
"not be weary in well doing: for in due
season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians
6:9). In the end, whatever we accomplish for Christ in this life will
be a product of the character and life of Christ developed in us through our own
Ongoing Sanctification. "Abide in Me,
and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine;
no more can ye, except ye abide in Me" (John 15:4).
Sixth, How can this hasten Your Soon Return? God has always known when He
would Return the Second Time to judge this planet. "Known
unto God are all His works from the Beginning of the world"
(Acts 15:18). Our confidence in Him Who Holds Tomorrow breeds
in us Peace, i.e., "Thou wilt keep him
in Perfect Peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3), but that causes us all the more to
render to Him the obedience in praying for the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. "I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus
saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to
do it for them" (Ezekiel 36:36, 37).
If indeed this is the Will of God that we contemplate performing, then we will certainly
be advancing His Return and His Kingdom. "And
He said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be
Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, as in Heaven, so in Earth" (Luke 11:2). It has been the experience of the Church,
as discovered from the Prophetic Scriptures, that certain actions are pointedly conducive
to promoting the Return of the LORD Jesus Christ. "He
which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come,
LORD Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).
For example, the 19th Century Church understood Christ's words, "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the End come" (Matthew 24:14), to compel them to evangelize the
world in their generation (by the end of the 1800s), for if all the world had the
Gospel preached to them-- "then shall
the End come"-- the LORD Jesus would return. [See our
article on a key promoter of this concept-- A. T. Pierson-- "Meet Mr. Philadelphia" ---New Window.] Another example that has only recently become forcefully apparent to
this writer is the Salvation, in particular, of the Jews hastens the Coming of
the LORD. An excerpt from the Preface of another of our articles, "His Resurrection Is The
Highest Proof That Jesus Is The Messiah" ---New Window:
We may not always find such a connection, but we should try, for how do we know that
the action we are contemplating may not be the last thing necessary to complete Christ's
program before He Raptures His Church and begins the Tribulation Week preceding His
Return? "37 For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come,
and will not tarry. 38 Now
the just shall live by Faith: but if any man draw back, My Soul shall have no pleasure
in him" (Hebrews 10:37-38).
Seventh, Will this stand for Eternity? If we lack wisdom, we are to "ask of God" (James 1:5)
and Christ will reveal Himself to us as our Wisdom. "But
unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God, and the
Wisdom of God" (1Corinthians 1:24).
In truth, those things which are done with a right heart, unselfish, and without
sin, regardless of how mundane, they are the "gold,
silver, precious stones" (1Corinthians 3:12), for which we will be rewarded, and will stand for Eternity. At the Bema
Seat Judgment for the Believer, the question of sin will not be discussed, instead
rewards will be based upon the "gold,
silver, precious stones" (1Corinthians 3:12) that result from Christ-centered, unselfish actions, while "wood, hay, stubble" (1Corinthians
3:12) will be burned up, since those actions are worthless because
they were sinful. They will not be mentioned against us, because we have already
repented of them; but, just as a "mortgage burning" signifies that a debt
has been paid off, no debt is owed and cannot be mentioned against the former debtor.
Just so, the "wood, hay, stubble" are ceremonially annihilated by fire. "13 Every man's work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and
the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14
If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward" (1Corinthians
3:12-14). [See our article, "The Judgment Seat of Christ" ---New Window, for a better understanding of this
event that concerns all True Christians.] We only ask this question about our intended
action's relationship to Eternity to insure that our focus is always on Christ. "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of Our
Faith" (Hebrews 12:2). How could
the Presence of Jesus ever be with those "who
mind earthly things" (Philippians 3:19),
who do not look "unto the King Eternal,
Immortal, Invisible, the Only Wise God" (1Timothy
1:17)?
Conclusion
What the world calls accident, the Christian calls design. "Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee
from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the Heavens
alone; that spreadeth abroad the Earth by Myself" (Isaiah
44:24). And, what even may surprise the Christian as accidental, he
subsequently understands it to be God's design, as when Isaac realized God's design,
when he had mistakenly given Esau's blessing to Jacob, i.e., "And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is
he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou
camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed" (Genesis
27:33). God's people know that things do not just fortuitously happen;
and, our success and prosperity in this world results from our confidence in God
that He will do just as He said. "The
Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man, that He should repent" (1Samuel 15:29). As Christians, we are not merely
living in negation of the world's premise that life happens accidentally, but we
must be Living Epistles "known and read
of all men" (2Corinthians 3:2) that
this Same Jesus is the One in Whom "we
live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28). And, we cannot honestly give this testimony, unless we Practice the
Presence of Jesus. "18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come
to you. 19 Yet a little
while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live
also. 20 At that day
ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you" (John 14:18-20).
Father, "Teach me to do Thy Will; for
Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10). "Guide
me" (Psalm 31:3), O Thou Great Jehovah.
Cause me "to will and to do of [Thy] good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13) and Practice the Presence of
Jesus. Make me "to see Thy Power and
Thy Glory" (Psalm 63:2) to see Jesus
in all my circumstances. "Father, glorify
Thy Name" (John 12:28). "Make Thy Face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach
me Thy Statutes" (Psalm 119:135).
"Make me to understand the way of Thy
Precepts: so shall I talk of Thy Wondrous Works" (Psalm
119:27). "Make me to go
in the path of Thy Commandments; for therein do I delight"
(Psalm 119:35). "Uphold
me with Thy Free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy Ways; and sinners shall
be converted unto Thee" (Psalm 51:12, 13). "Preserve me, O God: for in
Thee do I put my trust" (Psalm 16:1).
"Keep back Thy servant also from Presumptuous
Sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be
innocent from the Great Transgression" (Psalm 19:13). "Sanctify
[Thy Church] through Thy Truth" (John 17:17). LORD, "restore
to [us] the years that
the locust hath eaten" (Joel 2:25).
"Let Thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed
with Salvation, and let Thy Saints rejoice in goodness"
(2Chronicles 6:41). Enable me to "shew
forth Thy praise to all generations" (Psalm 79:13). Cause Thy people to "be made
perfect in one" (John 17:23). "Perfect that which concerneth me" (Psalm 138:8). Accomplish all Thy Will concerning
Thy servant, and may "Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven" (Matthew
6:10). "Make no tarrying,
O my God" (Psalm 40:17) that Thy
Son would soon appear. "Even so, come,
LORD Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).
Amen, and Amen.
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