The Psalmist was going through a difficult time and was looking for a refuge from the difficulties that overwhelmed him.
In the midst of it all, he remembers: “You are all I really want in life.“ Isn’t it so for so many Christians? Life can overwhelm us. Sometimes the troubles are within us and sometimes outwith us; and we can become consumed by the problems we encounter. We can forget why we were drawn to Christ in the first place, and sometimes, even for a moment, there comes that longing in our hearts to find the real reason again. It is because the presence of God is what we want in life. Never lose sight of this goal, no matter what life throws at you. Whatever stage you are at, there will always be something to draw you away from His presence. If only Satan could distract you a little longer. The presence we seek is like gold. It is the essence of our faith. It drew us in the beginning and has held us through many years. There will always be something to bog you down, whether it’s the passions of youth, the busyness of a young family, the pressures of work or even church problems. Nothing is worth losing your spiritual focus. Be like the psalmist who seemed to be surrounded by problems in this psalm. When your spirit is overwhelmed within you, when others have secretly laid a snare for you, when no one acknowledges or cares for you, or when you feel low, remember: “You are all I really want in life.“ And suddenly, in all your troubles, the breath of His presence will breathe life, relief and joy into your soul, and you will remember why you started this journey in the first place. If we don’t want to sink beneath life’s waves, we must continually remind ourselves of this principle: the presence of the Lord Jesus is what we really want in life.
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‘At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath.’ Matthew 12:1 NLT15/4/2024 What a lovely picture! The Lord Jesus walking through some grainfields. Can you see it in your mind’s eye?
One could imagine a beautiful day with blue skies and warm sunshine. The quietness of the countryside, the twittering of birds and our Lord Jesus strolling with His disciples through fields rich with ripened grain, just ready for the harvest. We know this because His disciples were hungry and broke off heads of grain to eat. A moment spoiled by the Pharisees who protested at the disciples for breaking the Jewish laws. The menacing cruelty of hell was all around, and even this peaceful picture was spoiled by criticising voices who found fault with everything. Have you known such a moment when all the world feels right, and suddenly there comes a breath of hell that seems to spoil it all? The enemy of souls is cruel. He will not want you to be sublimely happy and at peace with the world. He is here to create havoc, and he dared to try that with Christ. Our Lord Jesus deals with the situation in a moment. He deftly takes two portions of the Old Testament, puts them together and quickly demonstrates with the accuracy of the word of God that their religious teachings allowed this on more than one occasion. How bizarre! The Creator is being criticised for enjoying His creation. How wonderful! Christ defends and describes His disciples as innocent. How perfect! He draws out further teachings from the Old Testament on this occasion. How victorious! He turns the whole thing around against His enemies. Lessons indeed that we could all learn. When the enemy strikes at you because that is what he is good at, take a deep breath and learn to respond as Christ did. After reading through this portion, you get the unmistakable impression that the Lord Jesus was unperturbed by the comments from the Pharisees. The passage finishes with the glorious words: “For the Son of Man is Lord.” Matthew 12:8 NLT This verse immediately reminded me of our Sunday morning services. There comes such a sense of overflowing happiness amongst us as we give Him thanks, Sunday by Sunday, for His death and resurrection.
We have a group of happy, worshipping Nigerians who join us each Sunday. They are so zealous in their worship, so expressive, and somehow, we all find ourselves uplifted by their praise. As this verse says, my heart throbs and swells with joy. Easter Sunday is always a unique service for us. We love to rejoice in the victory of Christ over death. My heart swelled with joy as I saw our wee church looking almost packed last Sunday. I had to stop several times and ask folks to move up to allow others into the rows. Many years ago, when Graham and I married and moved to Cumbernauld, God spoke to me of starting a work here. We began as a small house group with five people. Over the years, it is as if God has shown me the next stage in the work. When we were 5, I had a vision of 20 people coming; when we had 20, I had a vision of 40-50 coming; when we had 40-50, I had a vision of 70-80 coming; and the last I had was of our church crowded, from wall to wall, not with visitors for outreach, but with the redeemed. Last Sunday morning was the nearest I have seen that vision fulfilled. It was fabulous to see what God is doing amongst us. My heart throbbed and swelled with overflowing joy. It was too much to contain! The surrounding verses say: “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.” Isaiah 60:4-5 NIV These verses have held much significance for me for many years, and now I see them being fulfilled. The riches of the nations, not speaking of those who are wealthy naturally but those who are wealthy spiritually, are being brought to us. Even this week, a lad received a lovely baptism in the Holy Spirit. He has had to flee for his life from persecution in his country. During the prayer meeting, I felt compelled to go to him despite the fact he hadn’t responded to the appeal. The presence of God surrounded Him intensely, and I became aware as I prayed with him of his deep hunger for Christ. How accurate the word of God is! Perhaps He has whispered a word in your heart—a hope for the future of better days and promises of new things. Hold on to the promises of God. He will fulfil them in His time and in His way, and until then, be confident in Him with joy. His word makes us sing. ”For God’s Word is something to sing about! He is true to his promises, his word can be trusted, and everything he does is reliable and right.“ Psalms 33:4 TPT As the day broke that first Easter Sunday morning, Jesus' followers were broken men. They were afraid. They had no idea that there would be a sequel to the story.
The disciples were huddled together in fear, the door locked because of fear of the Jews, as they wondered what to do. Peter was broken because he had denied Christ. Yet, within a few hours, everything changed. The tomb was empty! More than sixteen of Jesus’ followers had seen Him on at least five occasions. Jesus showed them the wounds in His hands. He offered Thomas the opportunity to touch them. He talked with them and ate with them. Despondency and fear were things of the past, and now came indescribable joy! On His resurrection rests the whole of Christian history. Christ not only appeared to the sixteen but at a later point to over five hundred at one time. Since then, He has appeared to billions. All over the world, in every continent and country, there are those to whom Christ has revealed Himself. Some, like Paul on the Damascus Road, have had a vision of Christ. I found Christ through vision as a 16-year-old rebellious teenager. Others have listened to His voice. One in our fellowship heard an audible voice and came forward to give her life to Christ when no appeal had been made. Others have been convinced as they have read the Bible. Others found Him through dreams, whilst others have been floored by His power and been utterly convinced of His reality. There are to date over two billion people who follow Christ. It is the largest religion in the world, and all because Christ rose from the dead and has promised to be with us: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt 28:20 NKJV Never look back and wish you had lived in Bible times. You are living in the most exciting times now, as the Resurrected Christ stands in the church today over two thousand years later, working miracles, convicting of sin, breaking chains, and transforming lives miraculously. Rejoice! No religious leader from any other worldwide religion has returned from the dead. No other can claim: “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25 NLT ‘As soon as Jesus heard the news, He left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.’ Matt 14:13 NLT25/3/2024 Our Lord Jesus had just received the bad news that John the Baptist had been beheaded. He wanted to be alone. Perhaps He needed time to process the whole event and to spend time with His Father. His childhood friend, cousin and most loyal supporter had been beheaded. We don’t know who was with him in the boat, but we know He wasn’t alone. The presence of the Almighty was there with Him.
Recently, in our garden, I could hear a lot of squawking from a resident blackbird. When I went into the garden to see what all the noise was about, a magpie was hovering, probably attempting to find the eggs in the nearby nest. I didn’t do anything but stand silently in the garden, but it was enough to drive the magpie away, and soon peace resumed. Sometimes, the devil looms large in our lives or circumstances, as I’m sure he did on this occasion in the mind of our Lord. Occasionally, we find ourselves squawking with fear! When the enemy intimidates, the presence of our Heavenly Father is enough to drive him away. When life is troubling and threatening and dark clouds attempt to rob us of peace, we must learn to do what our Lord did. Sometimes we yearn for the steadying hand or voice of a familiar friend. Let us learn to turn to the One whose calming presence brings total peace within our hearts. When we have learned to find Him once in this way, we can come again and again into His presence and find the quiet reassurance of His peace, no matter what life has in store for us. ‘And He said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”‘ Exodus 33:14 KJB Does it ever cross your mind that you will never fully know everything there is to learn about God? Even in eternity, I am not sure we will know all. Our God is infinite, eternal, and unending. We will never grow bored of learning about Him, for there is no end to God.
You might know everything there is to learn about your husband or your wife: their favourite meal, where they like to go, and the music they listen to. You might even know your son or daughter pretty well, but there will never be a day when you can turn around and say you know everything about God our Heavenly Father. How fascinating is that! You may have a great thirst to learn, listen to online sermons and attend all the meetings you can, but you can never know it all. “To those who listen to my teaching.” We find ourselves on this fabulous Christian journey absorbing His teaching. Now, mark these words: we are not listening to teaching about His teaching but listening to Him. That means not rushing from one sermon to another but, as you read, letting the teachings of Jesus sink into your soul. “More understanding will be given.” The words of Christ are eternal. Each verse in the Bible is like the title of a book. Meditate on the verse, and the book will open to you. You will begin to see untold depths and wisdom in His teachings, for they are profound. Let them unfold as you ponder. “And they will have an abundance of knowledge.” Each part of this verse is like a step into deeper waters. First, you listen to His words. Secondly, you meditate and begin to understand in a way you have never done before. Thirdly, there will come an abundance of knowledge. This is not describing learning about doctrines, although understanding in these areas will follow, but it is speaking of the abundance of the knowledge of God. We begin to listen, understand, behold, and worship Him. All because we have listened to His teachings, our journey into incredible depths of beauty and revelation has begun. 'Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.' John 4:6 NLT11/3/2024 It's a comfort to know that our Lord grew weary. He had just walked a long way in hot weather, and he was more than a little tired.
Are you also weary? Have you had a long walk in challenging circumstances? Are you too tired even to read? Then here is a small word for you. Find a well where you can sit and rest. You are not meant to keep going until you can't cope anymore and feel exhausted. God will give you somewhere to pause and gather strength. There will be a well just for you. The Queen of Sheba travelled many miles to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Others travelled far to hear and see Jesus. There were the wise men who travelled thousands of miles to worship the new King. We read of the crowds who followed Jesus for three days in the wilderness until they had nothing to eat.
The compelling draw on a soul to be in the presence of God is something that cannot be explained, for it is a miracle. It increases during revival times when you read of large crowds gathering in churches and long queues outside waiting for hours to attend services. It was said in the Isle of Lewis that services weren’t announced, but people would come from all over the place when a meeting started, standing outside in the graveyards listening as the church was packed. There are occasions when we feel that compelling draw to be in the presence of God. It is glorious when it comes, and we should make the most of it by responding to its draw. It is easy to go to church when you feel like it. It is a precious drawing near, a revival atmosphere, and one we should treasure with all our hearts because there will not always be an open heaven. Sometimes the heavens feel like brass, and then we drag ourselves to church! We have little enthusiasm and interest and would rather stay home, locked up in our little world. The Queen of Sheba felt the draw of God and travelled many thousands of miles to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Since Solomon’s wisdom was a gift from God, this would have been the equivalent of being in the presence of God. The Magi felt compelled to come and bring gifts and worship in the presence of this new-born King. The crowds couldn’t resist the teachings, the voice, the presence and the company of Christ. They possibly didn’t understand why they stayed and didn’t return home to their families. All over the world the Spirit is moving. All across social media, we see great crowds gathering to worship, people standing in the open street proclaiming the gospel in song and worship, faces turned to heaven and hands raised in praise. There has never been a time when this was widely seen and known in almost every nation. Only this week, it was reported that a Ukrainian woman was preaching the gospel on a bus, and women, men, and even soldiers were coming to Christ with tears running down their cheeks. We are part of this great move of the Spirit of God. Yield to the increasing draw of God on your life. Get yourself into the presence of God again and again, for He is doing a new thing, even amongst us. Open your eyes and see the changes that He is making. And respond like the Queen of Sheba, the Magi, and the crowds who followed Jesus. Follow the magnetism of His presence and let your spirit rise in the Spirit of praise coming across the nations. Praise God! We are not being left out but are part of the moving of His presence. A demon-possessed man who could neither see nor speak had been brought to Jesus and was instantaneously healed. The Pharisees immediately began to criticise Jesus for this and said that He got His power from Satan. Jesus replied with these powerful words that if He is casting out demons by the Spirit of God, the Kingdom of God has arrived.
So often, we look to the future for something better. We spend half our time wishing our lives away! But here Jesus is saying the Kingdom of God has arrived. It is here, in this moment. There is no more need to look into the future and wish for happier days. They had arrived. The Kingdom of God was all around them. The presence and the power of God had come. The prayer ‘Thy Kingdom come’ had been answered right there. We hear and read of the moving of God in other places and long to experience the same. We long for the Kingdom of God to come amongst us. Jesus told His critics, friends, and those who listened that the Kingdom of God had arrived. There need be no more looking, searching or seeking: God has come. He goes on to say: “For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods?” (29a) In other words, He asks the question: who is powerful enough to enter Satan’s territory? He answers, “I am.” He asks the question, who can plunder Satan’s goods? He answers, “I can.” And He did. ‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive (He led a train of vanquished foes.)’ Ephesians 4:8 AMP We cannot enter Satan’s house and plunder his goods. Only Christ can do that. And He was here to do it in Israel. He had just demonstrated His power and plundered the house of Satan by setting this demon-possessed man gloriously free. He goes on to say: “Only someone even stronger – someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” (29b) He told the people He was mightier than Satan; He could tie him up. And He did at Calvary! He bound the power of Satan. He plundered Satan’s house. He set us free! Nothing is too hard for the Lord. What a Saviour we have! Jesus could have said, “Let me teach you because I know everything.” Or He could have said, “Let me teach you because I am the most powerful being in the universe.”
Both of these would have been true and perhaps would be attractive to some. To have a teacher that knows everything sounds pretty cool or to learn from the most powerful being in the universe would certainly be intriguing. But instead, our Lord Jesus encourages us to come and learn from Him because He is humble and gentle at heart. In other words, He will teach us to become humble and gentle at heart. He will not teach us all knowledge or all power (even though these qualities belong to Him) but instead He will teach us how to be humble and gentle right to the core of our beings. These qualities cannot naturally be obtained. We are not humble by nature; we all have our dignity and pride. To be humble means to be understanding, warm-hearted, peaceable, merciful, kind-hearted, and respectful. We are not gentle at heart by nature. To be gentle at heart means to be kind, compassionate, tender, caring, gracious, loving and forgiving. Jesus was all these things. Wow! What a teacher! And so Jesus says: “Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart.” There is no other who shows greater understanding, who can be more warm-hearted, who is patient, loving, gracious, and forgiving of our mistakes. There is no excuse for any of us not to come to Him. We couldn’t ask for a better teacher than our Lord Jesus Christ. We need never be afraid to come to Him. It doesn’t matter if we are slow to learn, or wrestle with our rebellious hearts, He will help us and keep us close beside Him. No wonder Jude could so confidently say: “(He) who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” 1:24 NLT |
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