All The Counsel of God

Every Christian should be looking to the Lord for something to do in the kingdom of God, and everyone ought to be asking God to honour him with a job too big for him. That’s why I pity anybody who can do everything he is trying to do, who limits himself timidly to that which he knows he can do.

What a sad thing for a Christian to say, “I’m going to serve the Lord, but I’m going to serve God strictly within the framework of my own ability to get the thing done.” If we are to accomplish what God expects of us, the improbability of our task will surely drive us to our knees with the cry, “O God, who am I?” I think it may be safely said that God is still looking for men who know their own insufficiencies so well that He can perform the miraculous through them.

A prime illustration is in the life of Moses, as recorded in Exodus chapter three. Moses asked the question, “Who am I?” in the face of a staggering call from God- a call to go back and face a hostile empire and to liberate and bring out of Egypt a whole nation of more than a million people.

Moses said, “I can’t.” God said, “Moses, I know you can’t, but go and do it!” If Moses had arisen immediately upon receiving the call, and said, “All right, when do I start?” God would have had to put him through another furnace of testing.

This is a principle so true of us all in our human experiences. Whenever I think I can stand up and say, “I am now strong enough, sufficient enough, I can do it!” then God fades out, and there comes only grief and woe and sterility and fruitlessness and, finally, eclipse.

So, we are faced with new tasks, with the need of cleansing, with the need of atonement, with the mysteries of life and death and immortality, and I say, “O God, who am I?”

And God replies, “Son, it doesn’t make too much difference who you are- I am all you need!” So, I give to you today the One Who is everything you need. Jesus Christ is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He is our holiness forevermore, redemption full and sure-He is all we need.

In this day of glorification of human talent, we are grateful for all human abilities, but we are not envious of any of it. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

It is Scripture which says, “His watchmen are … all dumb dogs, they cannot bark … ” (Isaiah 56:10). What a terrific indictment! Of what value is a “dumb dog” when danger is near and those in peril are not warned?

Who are God’s watchmen? Every Christian leader, every Christian worker, every missionary of the cross, every pastor, evangelist, Bible teacher, heads of Bible institutes, editors of Christian papers, and all true Christians are God’s appointed watchmen. God commands that they “Cry aloud, spare not… ” (Isaiah 58:1). But who today is doing this? Who is laying the needs of this fateful hour to heart? Who is sounding the alarm in Zion and blowing the trumpet in God’s holy hill? Through the lips of Jeremiah, the Lord says, ” … the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart” (Jeremiah 12:11). This is God’s indictment upon us today!

America-A Vast Sodom and Gomorrah

America is facing the greatest crisis of her history. People must be shocked and shaken loose from their deadly lethargy. The church and the nation must be aroused to instant action!

When the church was aroused by the preaching of such men as Jonathan Edwards, Peter Cartwright, Sam Jones, and Billy Sunday mighty wrongs were righted. Because of their bold and fearless denunciations against the sins of the people, the towers of iniquity tumbled into the dust. Today we need to pray for fearless, spiritual, God appointed leaders in church and nation to clean up our cities, and hurl anathemas against the liquor traffic and a thousand other evils which threaten our very existence.

Sound An Alarm

Let us quit the “Pilate act” of trying to wash our hands of the responsibility of crying out against the sinfulness of this generation! America is being driven by the forces of Hell. These forces must be checked and challenged by the forces of righteousness. America must be shaken to a deep consciousness of its need of God by God’s watchmen crying out and lashing out against the spiritual and social iniquities of this hour!

God’s watchmen may be alarmists. They may be extreme in their stand. They may be too loud, but their message is as necessary as a burglar alarm when thieves are busy.

Brethren, let us hear and heed the Word of the Lord! He commands His watchmen to “Cry aloud … ” (Isaiah 58:1), and not be ” … dumb dogs … ” (Isaiah 56:1 0). We may say it is no concern of ours; we fool ourselves, but we do not fool God.

It is my affair, and it is your affair! We think someone ought to do something about conditions- but not me! Oh, hear the Word of the Lord! “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression … ” (Isaiah 58:1). Cry aloud, then! Warn the people of impending judgment. Call them to repentance. Be no longer on of Satan’s “dumb dogs.” Be a trumpet for God!

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm … ” (Joel 2: 1) “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children … Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep …let them say, Spare my people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach … Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto His people … I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: But I will remove far off from you the northern army … And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten … And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh … And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered … ” (Joel2: 15-32).

Who will blow the trumpet? And when the trumpet sounds, who will answer it?

The doctrine of the Lord’s return is a valuable means of motivation in relation to Christian living. Some people say that this doctrine is unimportant and not at all practical. Since it deals with the future, it is held by those who oppose it that no practical good comes by teaching it. Some even go so far as to say that those who do teach and preach it are mere visionaries and up in the air, theologically unsettled, and stargazers. It is contended that we should teach doctrines that have to do with the present realities and refrain from worrying about things that are still in the future. What about this line of argument? Is it sensible or is it based on mere prejudice and unbelief?

We observe also that many today would deny the possibility of the soon coming again of our Lord. Even in spite of the fulfilment of prophetic signs, there are many who, as our Lord prophesied in Matthew 24:48, are saying, ” … My Lord delayeth his coming.” Similarly, there are scoffers saying, ” … Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:4). On the contrary, the Scriptures teach the imminent (soon to occur) return of the Lord, and we observe also that the notion that the Lord delays His coming is harmful. In the parable of Luke 12:35-48, concerning the returning lord and the waiting servants, that notion led to beating of fellow servants and to evil excesses and careless living. This can be one of the terrible dangers of so called Post-millennialism. Put the coming of Christ away off and you will have a worldly and factious church.

Many professing churches of today, instead of seeking to win souls along Scriptural lines and seeking through the preaching of the Word to edify the believers, have become apathetic and are nothing more than religious clubs. Feasting, sporting, dancing, fairs, banquets, entertainment, and all types of flesh gratifying things are now the order of the day. On the contrary, the honest belief in the imminent and premillennial coming of Jesus leads to sanctification of life, separation from the evils of the age, as well as to earnest, urgent evangelism and faithful preaching of the Word of God. When we take the Bible in hand and open its pages and carefully study its teachings, we readily come to the conclusion that any contention against the imminent premillennial return of Christ is founded on prejudice and unbelief, and has no scriptural foundation at all.

The Bible most assuredly has a great deal to say about this doctrine. It is interwoven in the very fabric of Scripture and referred to directly and indirectly some three hundred times in the New Testament, and about one thousand two hundred times in the entire Bible. It is a vital part of Bible doctrine, promise, exhortation, duty, virtue, and practical Christian living. It is so thoroughly interwoven in the fabric of Scripture that if it is rejected the Scriptures themselves will be mutilated and made practically useless. If we accept the Scriptures at all, then we must, by the force of commonsense and honesty, accept the doctrine of the Second Coming of the Lord as authentic, imminent and important. This fact of the Lord’s second coming will have a very practical effect on your whole way of life and our attitudes.

Let us observe a few aspects of the practical nature of believing and teaching the Second Coming message:

1. The truth of the Lord’s soon return will cause the believer to be alert regarding behaviour, service, and consistent witnessing for Christ. We are exhorted to so abide in Him as to be rewarded rather than rebuked at Jesus’ coming. 1 John 2:28, ” … abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

2. This truth has a powerful appeal to holiness and purity of life. Titus 2:12-13, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

3. The doctrine of the Lord’s return is bound up with the appeal to watchfulness and Christian behaviour. Matthew 24:42, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

4. This message is associated with teaching about our love of God and patient waiting for Christ. (Read 2 Thessalonians 3:5 and James5:8.)

5. In view of the soon coming of Christ, we are exhorted to abound in love to one another and indeed all people. 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men … “

6. The doctrine of our Lord’s return is bound up with exhortation concerning our Christian walk or manner of life. We are to press onward and upward with Heaven in focus while we look for our soon-coming Lord. Philippians 3:20, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Read Philippians 3: 12-21.)

7. Paul exhorts Timothy in 1 Timothy 6: 11-14, in view of the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, to “Fight the good fight of faith … ” (verse 12).

8. Similarly, in 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Paul uses this doctrine as a challenge to fidelity in pastoral and preaching service.

9. This great truth is used in Hebrews 10 as an exhortation to steadfastness, and this includes a solemn appeal concerning corporate worship and encouragement. We might here also recall 1 Corinthians 11 :26 and Paul’s reference to keeping the Lord’s Supper to remember our Lord’s death until He comes again.

10. If we need assurance and encouragement in this sad and grief-stricken world, what an encouragement is had in remembering the future hope. For the Scriptures use this messages as a word of encouragement and comfort to the bereaved. (Read 1 Thessalonians 4: 18; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; and Luke 21 :28.)

11. There is hardly any more practical and pertinent appeal than the one that says, ” … be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). The truth of the Second Coming is one of the most powerful motivating truths for the preparation of our personal life, and gives a most solemn warning to those who are outside of Christ.

Much more could be stated about the practical value of the great truth of the Lord’s soon return. From what the Scriptures teach about this doctrine, we cannot deny its prominence or its importance. Take away this truth and you do despite to the Gospel and greatly imperil the lives of men and women. Let us who still believe the Scripture teach this blessed doctrine in all faithfulness and earnestness.

Nothing recovers evangelical fervour or rekindles a passion of holy zeal or gives a yearning for practical sanctification as much as a realization of the great fact that Jesus will come again to receive those who are ready unto Himself, and that He may come at any moment.

There are many true believers who are not enjoying the fulness of the Spirit as they should. They need a crisis, a step of surrender and faith, a yielding to the control of the Holy Spirit who dwells within.

There is one great crisis taught in Scripture, the crisis at regeneration, passing from death to life, from darkness to light. The normal life for a Christian is to go on in the power of the Spirit, abiding in Christ, and growing in grace. But what of the Christian who is not doing this, who is defeated and dissatisfied, who perhaps has not had a clear-cut experience of conversion? He needs a crisis! Not a second work of grace, but getting back to what he had, or entering into the realization of what salvation means.

Let us not limit God in his working and let us not fail to be ready for new and great outpourings of the Holy Spirit in the closing days of this age. For the days are upon us when nothing will avail to break through the overwhelming power of the enemy except supernatural power beyond what most Christians have known anything about.

There is a great and mighty power awaiting any Christian who will truly believe the Word of God. For no part of the word of God is void of mighty power.

Here is a missionary who has had miracles of answered prayer and marvels of God’s grace at home and abroad. The great flood-tide of new power came into this missionary’s life through accepting our Lord’s prayer promise in John 14:12-14,”… He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do … whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do … Here is another missionary whose testimony for Christ is beginning to shake a whole continent; his transformation came, and his whole being was shaken with joy and power when he realized the meaning of the words that “… Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13:5). This young missionary’s hunger for God was stirred by Hudson Taylor’s testimony of the transformation of his own life through learning the meaning offaith; then it was that Hudson Taylor entered into the meaning of John 4:14,”… whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst … “”

We might go on and tell of the miracles that followed when some Word of God was believed. I am thinking of miracles wrought through Christians who believed one or another of these mighty words: ” … Have faith in God” (Mark 11 :22); “… My grace is sufficient for thee …” (2 Corinthians 12:9); “… yield yourselves unto God … ” (Romans 6: 13); “For to me to live is Christ … ” (Philippians 1:21 ); ” … God is faithful…” (1 Corinthians 10: 13).

All the most mighty promises of supernatural power are conditional upon that which is simplest in the Christian life – believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is to those who believe that the rivers of living water are promised (John 7:37-39). It is those who believe on Him who shall do greater works than those Christ did in the days of His flesh (John 14:12). Faith is the key that unlocks the reservoirs of power laid up for us in Christ, which the blessed Holy Spirit is eager to make available in our lives (Mark 11:22; John 16:14-15). Whatever the mystery of His working, ours is to yield and to believe. This is all we can do (Romans 6:13).

In the Middle Ages, as the lord of a manor lay critically ill, he asked a servant, “What do I have to do to go to Heaven?”

The servant replied, “Go to the pigsty, get on your knees in the mire and muck and pray, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!”

The lord said, “I couldn’t possibly do that.”

The servant went away.

When the lord’s sickness became worse, he sent for the servant again and asked, “What did you say that I would have to do to go to Heaven?”

The servant said, “Sire, you will have to go to the pigsty, get on , your knees and pray, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!”‘

“Well,” said the lord, “if that is what I have to do, I am ready to do it!”

The old servant smiled and said, “Sire, you don’t really have to go, but you have to be willing to go!”

Psalm 10:4 says, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thought.”

Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

Are you willing to come to Jesus to be saved?

If you are, please contact us at All the Counsel of God Ministry (allthecounselofgod@gmail.com)

The blood is important because “… the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1 :7). It is through the blood that we have redemption, “…for thou…hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

Through the blood we have “…propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Through the blood we have forgiveness from sin, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Through the blood we have peace with God, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross … ” (Colossians 1 :20).

Through the blood we have nearness to God, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2: 13).

Through the blood of Christ we are sanctified, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Hebrews 13: 12).

Through the blood we have cleansing from sin as we walk in the light as He is in the light, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1 :7).

Through the blood of Christ we shall have victory over Satan in the last and final conflict, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12: 11 ).

There is no salvation without the blood of Jesus. Beware of any religion without the blood! There may be solemn services, but without the blood there is no life. There may be splendid ceremonies, beautiful music, scholarly preachers, but without the blood of Jesus there is no life.

There are various features of the work of the Holy Spirit of which it is interesting and important to distinguish. We know that He is the active Agent of all God’s work. Thus, in connection with creation, we read that, “… the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1 :2). So, too, in God’s providential care and the administration of order upon the earth, no doubt, the Spirit is the Agent. But in speaking of that work which is connected with salvation, it is important to distinguish between what is common to all time and what is limited to the present dispensation.

1. NEW BIRTH. ” … Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

Water is a type in Scripture of the Word of God, the instrumentality used by the Holy Spirit. In the same connection, our blessed Lord declares, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh … ” (John 3:6) or, as we read elsewhere, ” … they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). Thus, if one is ever saved, irrespective of what dispensation he may have lived in, new birth has necessarily taken place. One would be without the faculty of enjoying God – he could not endure His presence – unless he had a nature imparted by the Holy Spirit in new birth, capable of such a relationship. As birth brings one into the natural family, so new birth, by the Holy Spirit, brings one into the family of God, of which the saints in all ages and dispensations are members, by faith in the Word.

2. SEALING AND EARNEST. “…In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession … ” (Ephesians 1: 13-14).

This is a distinctive truth for the present dispensation alone. We never read of Old Testament saints being sealed with the Holy Spirit, for the simple reason that the Holy Spirit was not given until Jesus was glorified (John 7). The gift of the Spirit was bestowed at Pentecost, and, ever since, believers have received this divine sealing. Its meaning is very plain. A seal is a mark of ownership with which no one can interfere. No one dare disturb that which is marked as belonging to God. What a wondrous mark this is! A present, living, divine Being, the Holy Spirit! Each one who has believed, no matter how feebly, or how little his apprehension, has received this seal of the living God. It is a great mistake to confine this to those who have made special attainment in knowledge, or even have a full and distinct apprehension of all that the Gospel means. If there has been faith to touch ” … the border of His garment … ” (Luke 8:44), a single look of faith at Christ, God seals the soul; not according to its measure of apprehension, which would be incomplete in any of us, but according to His knowledge of the value of Christ and His work.

Closely connected with sealing is ” … the earnest of the Spirit … ” (2 Corinthians 1 :22). The “earnest” means a pledge and a foretaste. As the “sealing” is upon the ground of the finished work of Christ, so the “earnest” looks forward to the coming inheritance. It is thus a pledge that those who are marked as belonging to God shall be brought into the full fruition of redemption in glory; and during all this time the believer has the Spirit abiding in him, according to our Lord’s promise in John.

3. THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body … ” (1 Corinthians 12: 13).

When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He took up His abode not only in the individual believer, but formed that assembly of God which is the body of Christ upon earth. He links each believer with Christ and unites them as members one of another, each in his appointed place in that body upon earth. The moment one believes, he is united to Christ and united to that one body which is the only true church, composed of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4).

The Spirit, who has put us into the body of Christ, endows each one of us with the special functions appropriate to our individual membership. As the body emphasizes the unity of the church of Christ, so the gifts declare the variety of individual activities in that body, ” … all members have not the same office” (Romans 12:4). As each member of the body has its own special function, so every single believer in the body of Christ has a function which none else can perform and which, if neglected by him, affects the entire body. The Spirit has qualified each one of us for just the work that is our privilege to perform. All that is needed is an ungrieved Spirit and abiding communion, and we will, by the very nature of our gift, make use of it.

5. THE ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT. “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you … ” (1 John 2:27).

This is partly what is suggested by the anointing. It was the mark of induction into office in the Old Testament, whether priestly, kingly, or prophetic; but apart from its official significance, it was typical of the bestowal of power, enabling for the right fulfilment of official duties. Thus, in the anointing of the Spirit, we have no mere official designation of our position in the body of Christ, but rather that endowment of power which enables us for every true activity. This includes instruction in the Word of God and the power of testimony and indeed of the entire life.

6. THE FILLING WITH THE SPIRIT. “…but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5: 18).

This is in contrast with the mere stimulus of human energy, however given. We have the Spirit dwelling in us, but, alas, we may not be filled with the Spirit. Mind and heart may be occupied by other thoughts, so that practically the Spirit has not control in every department of the life. This is intensely practical. If one is to be used of God, if the anointing which we have received is to be practically manifested, it must be in a Spirit-filled life, the opposite of which is the allowance of anything which would grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

7. THE LONGINGS OF THE SPIRIT. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come … ” (Revelation 22: 17).

The blessed Spirit of God has come to glorify Christ. This is His one object in whatever form His activity may appear. Therefore, He forms in the heart of the Lord’s people the longing for His coming again. This has precedence over everything else. No attainment, growth in grace, service, nor Gospel testimony can usurp the mastering desire which the Spirit produces, when unhindered in the hearts of the saints, for the coming of the Lord Jesus. In proportion as He fills the heart and life, the cry will be, ” … Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). May this be true of us all!

In Isaiah 48: 18 are the striking words, “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river…”

Now, one great feature of a river is that it never stops, it always goes on and on until it empties itself into the mighty ocean. It is even so in the Christian life, it must be a constant going on, going forward, going over (or through). When the river comes against any hindrance along its course, it either rises above it or goes around it.

Go on … go on … is the only motto for the child of God.

Have you on the Lord believed? Still there’s more to follow; Of His grace have you received? Still there’s more to follow.

GO FORWARD

The children of Israel found themselves in a seemingly impossible situation with the Red Sea in front, the armies of Pharaoh behind, and no means of escape on either side, so they gave way to murmuring and complaint. But God is always the God of the impossible, and His word to Moses was, ” … Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Exodus 14:15).

Whenever God says, ” … go forward”, He intends us to go through- any and every obstacle- with Him. He always goes before His people.

GO OVER

This time God’s command was to Joshua. God’s set purpose for His people was not only to bring them out of Egypt, but also Canaan, so now He commands His servant Joshua, ” … arise, go over this Jordan … ” (Joshua 1:2).

Note the precious promises which accompanied this command. ” … as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1 :5); and ” … for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1 :9). So they went through with God.

GO ON

Here, it is the apostle Paul who speaks, “…let us go on unto perfection … ” (Hebrews 6:1). There was no standing still in the life of this Christian warrior. Writing to the Philippians, he says, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3: 12). Then follow the significant words, ” … forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3: 13-14 ).

Paul’s great ambition was ” … that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3 :8), and for this it meant a continual “going on.”

The Apostle John says, ” … it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).

So then, let our motto ever be, “Go Forward- Go Over- Go On” with God.

A retired minister doing hospital work, says, “The chaplains try to combat the seven enemies of the sickroom – pain, anxiety, hostility, guilt feelings, boredom, despair, and loneliness.”

How wonderfully the Saviour, by His presence, power, and grace, can meet each of these problems.

As to “pain” or any other thorn in the flesh, Christ has said, ” … My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

As to “anxiety,” Jesus said, ” … Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26).

As to “hostility,” “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine 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 which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). Impossible with men, but possible with God!

As to “guilt feelings,” it is strange that conscience and plain old conviction for sin should be reckoned an “enemy.” If there is one thing a Gospel minister, a true minister, longs to see today, it is conviction of sin. But since psychology reckons a sense of sin as only a “guilt feeling,” then conviction, good old Bible conviction, must be fought off as a foe.

As it is the work of the Holy Spirit to ” … reprove the world of sin … ” (John 16:8), is He then to be resisted in His work of conviction? Must the Holy Spirit then be treated as an “enemy” of the sickroom? Once the convicted person has confessed and forsaken his sin, then there is the all-sufficient remedy, ” … the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1 :7). Thereafter, thank God, “guilt feelings” need to be no more.

As to “boredom,” God’s mercies ” … are new every morning … ” (Lamentations 3:23). Those who meditate day and night in God’s Word are only “bored” with blessing and joy. Blessed boredom!

As to “despair,” the man without Christ may well despair, being without God, without Christ, and without hope. There is no use saying, ” … Peace, peace … ” to despairing souls, ” … when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 8:11); and “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21). The only foundation for peace is the blood of Christ, ” … having made peace through the blood of his cross … ” (Colossians 1 :20).

As to “loneliness” – how lonely is the godless man! If even Christians need to be visited in their affliction, how forsaken and lonely must be the lost! But to all Christian persons comes the sweet promise, ” … I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13 :5).

Whether the enemies of the sickroom be “seven” or “seventy times seven,” Christ can overcome them all!

” …How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God follow him: but if Baal, then follow him … ” (1 Kings 18:21).

It looked like a great day for the followers of Baal as they gathered on Mount Carmel. There was no doubt in their minds that they were right and Elijah was wrong. Were there not four hundred and fifty of them and only one Elijah? Was not the vast majority of people on their side? Did not Queen Jezebel support their work and worship at their altars? Had not King Ahab accused Elijah of being the troubler of Israel? Was not the worship of Baal the accepted, popular religion? They would silence that fanatical fellow, Elijah, who refused to accept their god.

So the great contest was on! Baal’s prophets appeared in heathenish pomp and splendor. Elijah, without friends or followers, dared to stand alone.

If ever a man had an excuse to compromise, Elijah was that man. If ever a man had a right to cut comers and hedge to avoid enmity, Elijah had. If ever a case looked hopeless, this one did. If ever a man could claim a legitimate reason for not raising his voice against evil, Elijah could. Fear, compromise, despair, and the dodging of issues, however, failed to move Elijah.

None of these Satanic darts should make a coward of the true Christian today. Elijah stood firm and determined to tum the nation back to God. His faith was anchored in God. God had found a man on whom He could depend. How much easier it should be for Christians to stand for God in this day of grace!

Notice the boldness of Elijah and how quickly he took the initiative. Knowing that he was right and that God was with him, he hurled a stunning challenge into the faces of his enemies, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. Secondly, Elijah s challenge was an analysis of the cause of their troubles. Ahab had called Elijah the troublemaker, but Elijah reversed the order and bluntly stated that the cause of their troubles was their failure to serve God.

Firstly, observe that this challenge was an accusation that they were not following God. The worship of Baal being the popular religion attracted the masses. It required neither repentance from sin nor deeds of righteousness. It appealed to the vanity of the proud. Dead religion has always been popular, but it has only helped to fill the bottomless pit.

The worst thing the prophet could have done was to question their religion. Such a man is never popular with the crowd. Naturally, he would not gain the support of the multitudes. It is the same today. The greatest need of our nation is for men like Elijah; men full of the Holy Spirit to declare the whole counsel of God.

Happy is the individual, the church, the nation that will frankly and honestly face the cause of any problem. No lasting correction can ever be made unless we are willing to face the fact that disobedience to God is the root of every trouble. ” … How long halt ye between two opinions? … ” he asked. The very word implies hesitation; failure to go forward. They halted. They feared the Lord to a certain point, and they could not totally abandon Him; yet they also feared King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and would not abandon the religion of the state. Their conscience forbade them to do the former; their fear of man persuaded them to do the latter, but in neither were they heartily engaged.

So there they stood “halt,” making not progress. They had four hundred and fifty prophets but no prophecies; an altar but no fire; long prayers but no answers; people but no power; much trying but no triumph.

God save us from such a condition! We cannot serve two masters. We cannot ” … halt … between two opinions … ” and be happy. The only joy and the only victory comes by definitely taking sides with God and standing there, even if we must stand alone.

Thirdly, Elijah s challenge was an argument in favour of action. What he actually said was, “Since you are not serving God as you ought to, and since your failure to serve Him has caused you trouble, the only reasonable thing to do is to repent and return to God and serve Him.”

The failure of the Christian church today to stand for God has caused much trouble. The “halting between two opinions” on the part of God’s people has led to the development of ecumenical apostasy. 0 what compromise there has been! Failure to obey God has resulted in backsliding and worldliness. We have lost the glory of His presence. The desire to follow the crowd and be a part of popular religious movements has brought in false movements. God’s message has been so watered down that thousands upon thousands of regular church goers never hear the Gospel. Modernism and liberalism are stronger than ever before while ordained ministers of the Gospel grow weaker. Isaiah said, ” … darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people … ” (Isaiah 60:2). This is true today. People on every side are in almost total darkness as far as the Word of God is concerned. Only here and there do we find a pulpit where the Gospel is preached, the new birth emphasized, salvation made plain, an invitation given, and God’s people instructed and warned concerning the issues of the day.

May the Lord raise up Elijah’s today. He needs men who, realizing the responsibility of their Holy calling, will fearlessly proclaim the great fundamentals of the faith in these closing days of grace. No other message avails before the God of Elijah. Oh, for an awakening among the people of God. When are we going to get the burden and become conscious of our responsibilities? The Word of God challenges us to repentance and to take our stand for God in the old-fashioned way.

Like Ahab and the followers of Baal, religious leaders today cannot escape. We must either serve God or the devil. We are either right or wrong. We are either all out for God, or not out at all. There is no middle ground. There must be no compromise. No one can be neutral. We must choose. We must stand. Why” … halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him … “