So often in churches and among so-called, “Christian ministries” we see the wrong example of men appealing to other men for their support and help. Yet, the scriptures make it very plain that we are to, “Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phi 4:6-7 KJ2000). I think we rob ourselves of that deep inner peace and rest that should be ours in every situation because we have the habit of looking to the wrong place for our help. After seeing Him supply all our needs and experience Him doing so in such miraculous ways our faith, hope and rest grows until we are complete in Him.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore. (Psa 121:1-8 RSVA)
I think in the days ahead as this world economy continues to collapses, God will give us many opportunities to prove to ourselves that Jesus is our Good Shepherd who watches over us and neither slumbers nor sleeps. Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
A Wilderness Voice 
Michael, thank you for posting this. The first thought I had after reading it is simply this. Jesus is our everything, our all in all, our ALPHA and OMEGA, our Life. If we do not believe this and walk in these truths then He is not and, sadly and tragically, we are doomed.
I love you Brother.
Ken
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Ken, with what you have gone through, I know that these are NOT empty words, dear brother. Thanks for keeping in touch. The house is empty once again. Feel free to give me a call when you can.
Love you too, Michael
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Weigh the words of Jesus against the wisdom of the day. Men, seeing that we are in calamitous times, are storing up supplies as never before. “Preppers” they are called. It has even reached the Saints where many we know are hording food for themselves and their families ALONE! Why we ask them? We are Christians! Do not withhold food from the hungry in times of prosperity or in want! Jesus has always taken care of His own.
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Kirk, You know that I used to be a survivalist and that all that right wing stuff that was killing me is what I have been saved from that I might enter into HIS rest and learn to trust in HIm. So many of us read Jesus’ words and look on them like so much pretty poetry. Words like, “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do… Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luk 12:4-7 KJ2000).
I have a friend who works at a local sporting goods store and they are completely sold out of semi-automatic riffles, high capacity magazines and ammunition for them. Since that school shooting in Connecticut, they have been doing a land office business. I wonder how many of those buying weapons in such a panic as this also claim to be Christians? Something else that Jesus said which is also ignored as so much “poetry” is,
“Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away [This addresses the very thing you wrote about]. You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven…” (Mat 5:42-45 KJ2000). If we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us that we might manifestly be children of our heavenly Father, I wonder which father we manifest when we take up arms against our enemies to destroy them (Answer: John 8:44)?
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Hi Michael
Yes, looking at the world and its ways, I am so thankful that my security lies in our Lord Jesus alone. Although we might not see Him with our physical eyes, the only absolute is His omnipresence and His constant presence deep inside each and everyone of us. That will never change. It does not matter what happens on the economical, political or religious scene, it cannot change the beauty of our Pappa God with us always. Oh, praise His glorious name.
I want to wish you and your family a blessed new year.
Much love
Mia
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These times bring clarity to the scripture, “He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Revelation 13:10
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So true! Having grown up with parents who used “let your needs be known only to God and not men” as their modus operandi, I am a living witness to the amazing ways God provides when we go to Him instead of man! Whether our need is food, prayer, encouragement or support, He has promised to supply ALL our needs. We honour Him when we go to Him with our needs instead of to man, it reveals who we really depend and rely on. And as you say, we often rob Him when we do not go to Him first, we rob Him of the opportunity to provide miraculously for us and to show us His care and ability as our Father/Provider/Protector!
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Lynette,
Thanks for taking the time to write, dear sister. You have quite the heritage in having Godly parents like that who understand the nature of true faith. The further I walk this life out, the more I see that true faith, rest, hope, peace, patience, etc. are all intertwined together as on great life in the Son as we sit IN Him in heavenly places with the Father. As I grow older (just turned 68), I at times look at the limited days I have left on this earth (less left than I have wasted in that old Adam) and wonder if I will be able to apprehend that for which He has apprehended me. I am such a slow learner. Yet, I have to believe that He knew my end from the beginning and has arranged my days to allow me to get to the goal (being conformed to the image of His Son) before they are over. Even in THIS I must have faith, hope, patience and rest in His peace.
I hope all is well with your daughter. She remains in my heart and prayers. Even in this experience you are given another chance to rest in Him and see His hand in all things.
Thanks again for the wonderful ministry you have as you share the writings of T. Austin Sparks (http://www.austin-sparks.net/). He has been such an inspiration to me. I have never read a Christian author who had such scope in his vision of the kingdom of heaven in Christ as he does. Know that your work in the Son is precious to Him and blesses thousands.
Love to you and your family in Christ,
Michael
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Yes, yes! He truly is our Good Shepherd. By faith, He asks us to believe and trust in Him, and Him alone! With the world’s systems crashing all around us, how wonderful to know and experience a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Thanks, Michael, for your encouraging words.
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Dollea,
Thanks for writing. You have also encouraged me with your note. Keep pressing into His rest, dear sister. He will and is using these days of growing chaos to get us to see that only those eternal things, things which can not be shaken, is the only place to put our hope and where we will find out rest IN the Son.
Michael
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Amen brothers and sisters…agape
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