Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Balaam decided to curse
the Lord's people with his whole heart, and did everything in
his power to do so. Yet the Lord caused him to speak
forth the truth which he despised. Surely there is no enchantment
against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel.
According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel,
What hath God wrought? He recognized the folly of men
in trying to overturn the blessing of God upon that people which
he chose. Down through the ages of time,
mankind has demonstrated their hatred of God's way and his people,
as we read in the book of Hebrews. And others had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sewn asunder, were tempted, were slain
with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins
and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom
the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and
in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. In spite
of all these manifestations of man's malice toward God, the
Lord has preserved His people and caused them to grow stronger
by these same afflictions, meant by their enemies to destroy them.
Who can observe this history in honesty and not be compelled
with Balaam to exclaim with wonder at what God hath wrought? Whether
or not you love the Lord and the unfolding of His purpose,
you cannot deny the faithfulness of the Lord to watch over those
that are His. They shall never perish, nor can any man pluck
them out of the Lord's hand. Behold, I have created the smith
that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth
an instrument for his work. And I have created the waster
to destroy. No weapon that is formed against
thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against
thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants
of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. Paul
says, We have a building of God, a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens. He speaks of that dwelling place
which the saints shall occupy in the ages to come, in which
there will be no groaning or longing, as we now experience.
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened, not
for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality
might be swallowed up of life. This tabernacle in which this
groaning takes place is clearly referring to these houses of
flay in which we presently dwell, that is, our bodies of corruptible
flesh and blood. These bodies are those which
are susceptible and subservient to the law of sin and death according
to the curse of Adam. That which causes this grief
in the sons of God is the sin which doth so easily beset them,
and its result which cannot be escaped. The wages of sin is
death. It is against this flesh that
the spirit does ever war, and this flesh does resist the spirit.
This causes great grief to those who are exercised by it, and
a desire to be rid of the body of this death. While the man
who has not made a new creature in Christ may groan because of
the natural decaying of this flesh, yet he does not long be
rid of that which is the root cause of his maladies, only its
symptoms. Thus is manifested the difference
between the natural and the heavenly birth. God, who is the first
cause of all events, has created His people to be the dwelling
place of His Spirit through the ages to come. Thus He has ordained
a new tabernacle, that is, an incorruptible body, for our future
habitation. In this present tabernacle, that
is, in which we presently groan, He has blessed us with the earnest,
that is, a pledge or security deposit of our inheritance. This
ministers to His children in the midst of their groaning a
very present help in time of trouble. Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant
mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven
for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. What wondrous
things the Lord hath wrought in becoming the firstfruits of
them that sleep, that is, those who die in these mortal bodies.
Christians, dismiss your fear. Let hope and joy succeed. The
great news with gladness here, the Lord is risen indeed. The
promise is fulfilled. Salvation's work is done. Justice
with mercy is reconciled, and God has raised His Son. His death
procured thy peace. His resurrection's thine. Believe,
receive the full release. Tis signed with blood divine.
Is Christ your hope? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.