Greetings again my Brethren. This month we will finish up the need for the call of God individually and the great need for the call of God for billions of people who are lost unto themselves and the world, countless billions of people who live in great darkness. Jesus was amazing how He used the elements of light and darkness (something everyone knew about) in projecting the need of man to hear His call and come to salvation. In John we find Jesus sharing these words, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4-5) Today in the world the hour is drawing nigh darkness is seen on every hand yet there is nothing new under the sun. Jesus says He must work the work of His Father. Now Jesus was not trying to stop the darkness as we cannot stop the darkness from coming, but Jesus was talking about bringing people into the light of understanding of who His Father is and how much they need Him in the face of spiritual total pitch black darkness. Darkness will come and darkness will go, our focus should not be on the darkness, but on the light that dispels darkness. There was a real urgency in the voice of Jesus here, my friend darkness is coming and we cannot stop it, but what we can do is work sharing the good news of the Gospel message whereby Jesus is the only light to see (understand) by. How shall the people understand (see) if no one tells them? And how can someone tell them if they are not sent? And how can they go unless they hear the LORD telling them to go? The LORD sends His word to His people and to the lost by His servants who hear His voice. The word of God goes forth not because God wants to talk, but because of the great need of the people and His love for man. Those with spiritual sight know just how precious God’s word to His people is. Even in the Old Testament there was a love for God’s word, “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” (1 Samuel 3:1), but sadly as time marched on the love for God’s word seemed to be lost to the cares of the day, distractions, and organized religion. How “precious” the word of God is! To those who use it to prosper financially and soften their living not so precious, but those who count on the word of God for their very survival it is life. I am afraid in 2013 the western church may learn that lesson again. We see this thought in Proverbs,
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18) Now here we see the word “vision” and all kind of things come to our mind, but the word “vision” here has nothing to do with planning for the future. Here the word “vision” means restraint. Where there is no restraint the people perish. Where there is no love for the word of God (add anything of God here) the people perish. If we do not restrict ourselves, limit ourselves to the things of God we will perish. We see this on every hand today. New doctrines, new denominations, new religions and yet no witness of the Gospel message and the people are perishing, darkness is coming. Now I really like Samuel; as a small child the word of God says he “ministered unto the LORD” and God’s word was precious. Then as a man we read, “And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 3:20-21) Did you get that, “the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” Where did Samuel learn how to recognize the word of the LORD? From his youth he ministered unto the LORD. Why Samuel? Could we plug in our name here? Why not?
Was Samuel any more special than the other kids? No. He was willing and available. God always uses those who are willing and available. Now I know that because He is using me and I am no more special to God then you. God is always looking for someone to use. I would think one of God’s major tasks is to find someone who will hear His call (like Samuel) to ministry. God needs a channel in which to flow through. In Ezekiel we see God seeking a channel, a vessel to flow through, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 22:30-31) and He found none so He poured out His wrath out on the people. How sad to read God demonstrated His wrath on His people instead of His love (which He wants to do) because He could not find someone to flow through. What a thought to ponder.
Next month we will start a new section with regards to the call of God; qualified witnesses, not just anyone is called by God to do His works there is a price we must pay. Do you hear Him now?
