You see that the official approached My Son out of desperation, for his son was near death and had a sickness that was beyond the power of man to heal. And you see that My Son’s words tested him, because the majority of those who came to him were demanding or at least desirous of seeing miracles. But in the face of this test, this man insisted that My Son as far as he was concerned was the only hope for the sparing of the life of his child. Are you not surprised that My Son said to him that he could go back to his home because his son would live? And you see that the man took My Son at His word and departed. What does this indicate? Does it not show that there was something more than desperation that was working in the official’s heart, for he not only begged My Son to come and heal his son, but he put his trust in My Son’s word without the evidence of a miracle? Then ultimately you see that his faith did not depend on the evidence of a miraculous work, but rather upon the word of My Son. And you see that initial faith was carried farther, so that he and his household believed in and became followers of My Son. It was not the desperation alone or the interest in seeing a miracle performed that secured not only the healing of the son who was near to death, but the on going faith of the official and his whole household to become followers of My Son. And you see that the test that My Son laid before this man was intended to determine whether the official’s appeal was merely out of desperation, or one of genuine faith. I want you to understand that desperation is not necessarily a bad thing, for when it is mingled with faith it can not only gain a response that resolves a desperate situation, but it can also be the spring board to an even greater step of faith. You do not know the fruit of those who may come for help to My Son or to you as His representative. But it will be surely seen whether their coming is out of mere desperation or even a desire to see a miracle, or whether it is also mingled with genuine faith, even if that faith initially is only born out of the desperation. I point this out to you so that you may be confident that My work in the heart or the lack of it will certainly be manifest by tests and by time.
Tags: Desperation, Faith
Posted by: admin in Psalm
As you read these words you might think that the appreciation of who I am and what I have done that is the substance of the exhortation of the Psalmist is the basis and the foundation for all that he declares about My refining work and My great deliverances, both for My people and for him as an individual. But I want you to see that the praise and the recognition of My greatness and the confident expectation that all the earth will one day praise My name is not that which came first, but it is the result of the dealings, the refining process that he mentions in the following words. It was this refining process through which My people were brought that enabled them not only to come to worship and praise Me, but also to come to the place where their desire as well as their expectation was that all the earth should praise My name. In several of My Words to you on this passage I asked if your heart was inclined so to praise Me, and if My works had stirred you to want not only to praise Me yourself, but that others should come and praise Me. But I want you to see that without that confidence expressed by the Psalmist that I keep you in life, that I preserve your foot from slipping, and that I try you in order to refine you and to bring you into that place of abundance, that without this process, the great desire expressed for praising Me and for others also to join in that praise would surely not come about. So why am I emphasizing this to you after all the other things that I have said to you through this Psalm? It is because I want you to see and appreciate first of all that the trials, the hard experiences through which you and all of those who trust Me must pass are the very means by which you are able to come to that place where you deeply desire to make My praise glorious, and also to desire that all the earth will sing praises to Me. Is that your present passion? How deep is it rooted into your hearts so that, as it were, it is the frame of your life? Yes, even so that you will meet every circumstance with this exuberant praise, and you will unceasingly encourage others to do the same. Since that praise will be the genuine expression of your heart, you will surely desire that others will praise Me, will shout joyfully, sing My glory and declare My wondrous works. So do you not understand that it is the refining process that brings you to the place where your heart will continually be filled with the desire to make My praise glorious?
Tags: God's Dealing, Praise
When I declared to My servant John that the mystery of God was to be finished in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, I directed him to take the little book that was in the hands of the angel. And you see that the angel directed him to eat the book. I have already said much to you about the significance of this act, and especially about the fact that the book was sweet to My servant’s taste, but bitter to his stomach. I want to emphasize to you that this little book was not just My Word in general as it has been contained in the Scriptures. It is rather the prophetic word concerning the unfolding of the last days and the completion of the revelation of My mystery. You will recall that I declared to you in a previous word that John is a representative of the remnant. And I want to emphasize to you that in the last days as My mystery is completed that it will be given to the remnant to prophesy, even as John was directed to prophesy concerning many peoples, nations, tongues and kings. So then it is not just My Word which in general will be preached in those days, but rather that special prophetic word. And it will not just be a word sweet with hope and encouragement for the believers, but it will also be a word that is bitter, for it shall contain as well the declaration of judgment; not just the passing judgment, but a final judgment upon peoples, nations, tongues and kings. You may ask what this has to do with you? Are you not part of that remnant through which this prophetic word shall be declared? But it is not to be declared merely in a formal sense, which is by preaching as it is commonly practiced, but it is to be declared in ways that are unconventional, in ways that are bolder and more aggressive than have been the usual case. It will be that declaration which will bring warning and provide a way of escape and salvation to those who hear and believe. And it will be for those who do not receive it and believe, utter destruction. Therefore you understand that this message is both sweet and bitter. And you may ask will you be among those who proclaim what is written in the little book? This I will say to you, you will be among those who are recognized as the remnant. And all those who are truly of the remnant will surely have a part in this prophetic declaration. You must wait and draw closer to me while you are waiting, and you will surely be given to recognize your part.
Tags: Remnant