AUSTRALIAN BIBLE CHURCH

A Presbyterian Church following the Bible without Qualification
and the Lord Jesus Christ without Compromise by Faith,
in agreement with the thrust of the PC of Australia Constitution 1901

August  14, 2011

 

THE BLOSSOMING OF THE SEED OF FAITH

Psalm 27

There is no change with God, but change with man, in Christ,
has two major categories for his new creations (II Corinthians 5:17ff.):
 
REDUCTION OF UNLIKENESS TO HIM

INCREASE OF LIKENESS TO HIM

THINGS AS THEY ARE v.1

The Lord is my light ...  As in Israel, even at night, this was so, this being especially clear in the dark, as His word is clear when one looks ONLY to Him in faith; and with light in the night was found also guidance as to situation. You see where the light is going, and follow; you go where it goes, and find what He has in mind. It is as with the wheels in Ezekiel 1,

"wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went," Ezekiel 1:20.

Moreover, when the wheels (full of eyes so that they might the more see all the Lord had for them -. Matthew 15:13ff. in reverse!), how did they go ? It was like this:

"When they went, they went in any one of four directions:
they did not turn aside when they went,"

 Ezekiel 1:17. Firmness and fixity of purpose is as for the soldier or athlete, a thing to be desired! (II Timothy 2:4-5, Galatians 6:14, Philippians 2:15).

WHAT WILL BE vv.2-3

An army encamped against one (as was the position for the then-to-be King David), is not to be feared! Where God is concerned, the size of the opposing army is of little importance.

See II Chronicles 20:1-5 concerning the fearless cry of King Jehoshaphat, and listen to the end of his careful statement of application for divine aid.

"O our God, will you not judge them ?
For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against  us;
nor do we know what to do,
but our eyes are upon You."

 Then Jehaziel the prophet showed them to proceed with praise and singing, which they did, to discover the enemy divisions had turned on each other, and the victory was indeed the Lord's.

 Again see II Chronicles 14:11, where  King Asa was faced with over a million troops, but in the Lord he put his trust, crying:

"Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power: help us O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name, we go against this multitude, O LORD. You are God; do not let man prevail against You!"

Psalm 46 expresses the same vigilant conviction in the Lord:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea,
though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling," Psalm 46:1-3

In each of these two cases in Chronicles, reform had been carried out with no small zeal, before the confrontation. Fear God, follow Him, and fear none but He: and in the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), as in the love of God is the joy of the heart which no man can take from you (John 16:22, I Peter 1:3-8).

THING DESIRED  v.4

ONE THING! has David desired of the Lord. His heart is united, not divided, and he knows his own mind (Psalm 86:11):

"Teach me Your way, O LORD: I will walk in Your truth.
Unite my heart to fear Your name :
I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
and I will glorify Your name for evermore.
For great is Your mercy toward me,
and You have delivered my soul from the depths of hell."

What is it that David wants then ? It is to dwell in the house of the Lord (with His people where He is at work in their midst, where His truth is revered and His word is held to in wisdom and zeal - John 17:8). There would he be always, not in mere form, but in actuality, to look longingly on the beauty of the Lord, His splendour and majesty, His equity and truth, His lovingkindness and His reliability. It reminds one of John 15:7, find His will and do it.

THINGS TO BE DONE  vv. 5-6

Hidden for time, he is to be as a jewel in the hand of Christ (cf. Malachi 3:17), just as the Lord's people will be as a diadem (Isaiah 62:3, cf. II Timothy 4:8). Paul declares (bold added):

"Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

 The righteousness is that gift from God (Romans 5:17-18), free, perfect, the donation divine. The love of His appearing is not primarily about that to come (though this applies there too - Hebrews 9:28), but for all who HAVE LOVED His appearing. That is, Christ came and showed God in human format, and if you have loved Him as there shown, the express image of His Person, then on His return, the reality will be adorned with glory, you in Him, this in Him.

THE FAITH-WAIT  vv.7-10

Facing things is good, but seeking the face of God is far better. Abiding in Him outclasses mere endurance, and an energetic response to the call of God for prayer or program, principle or practice (cf. Acts 16:6ff.) is particularly fruitful, especially when as it ought, it flows from the long intimacies of normal friendship with Him (John 15:7). All living branches have the 'sap' of the Spirit of God, and it shows; but what is moribund, the dead, mere form, is neither fruitful nor of the vine at all. It is not the quantity of fruit which is the point: it is abiding in Him, for what is merely outer form, this has to be pruned as lifeless rubbish. We remind ourselves that you are saved without works, but not without faith, and faith works: it is its nature so to do, and this is the way it is. Faith without works is dead, just as love without expression is so, for how COULD you disguise what is there, or implant what is not!

As you WAIT on the Lord, so you gain His strength (Ephesians 3:16), grace (II Cor. 3:17-18) and liberty, the liberty of love which constrains on the one hand, and rests in Him on the other (cf. Matthew 11:28ff., Isaiah 11:10, 26:1ff.). While it rests, it is strengthened (Isaiah 40:27-31).

WAITING ON GOD IS NOT A QUEUE BUT A QUEST  vv. 10-14

When some great loss is sustained,  your house is lost, your friend, wife, husband, wife, post or position, reputation or acceptance in society, then as you abide in Him, as David is moved to express it, "the Lord will take care of me." If in fact you SUFFER for Christ, then "the Spirit of God and of glory rests upon you," I Peter 4:12-14, and when His glory is revealed you will be exceptionally glad!  These are simply some of the facts of SPIRITUAL life.  Do not lose heart if the world hates you; it would be perilous for you if it did not (cf. Luke 16:15 - "what is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the sight of God").

Do not despair of seeing any good, for where God is, it is always available in liberal ration if not from the environment, then far better, from Him who made it: as you wait, He secretly strengthens your heart (as in Isaiah 40:27ff.). That in itself, like flying from the wing of a parent eagle, learning to fly, and then soaring (cf. Deuteronomy 32:11-2  ), is a delight in repose and a restoration in reality and realisation. Praise the Lord.

In all these phases and frames of reference, vicissitudes and invigorations, it is as if a seed of faith has been sown in the receptive heart, and it grows, puts down roots, abides in its ground, sends up shoots, buds and then blossoms, and the fragrance emanates (II Corinthians 2:14), reminding us of the glorious depiction of faith in action in the Lord, of Hosea 14. Such is the floral side. On the other side, the seed leads not only to beauty, that of holiness (II Corinthians 3:18, I Peter 3:4 "the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit"), but to the oak-like strength WHEN filled with the Spirit of God, one is strengthened with might in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16).

So abide, for He gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:31 cf. Romans 8:9, 10:9); and just as He abides in all His people, so in obedience is found the choicest fruit. Trust then in the Lord, with ALL your heart, never lean to your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your steps. Trust in Him, feed on His faithfulness,  delight also in Him and HE will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:3-4, Pr. 3:5-6)..