Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The incidence of the flood
of waters which covered the earth occupies a most notable place
in the unfolding of history for two reasons. One is that we see
the glory of God revealed in his judgment of the wickedness
of men as he destroyed all living things. Secondly is that we see
an even greater display of his glory in the salvation of mankind
as he showed grace unto Noah and his family. The Lord shut
him in the ark where he safely rode above the destruction and
mayhem visited upon that race of which he was a part. The Lord
alone made Noah to differ from all those hapless souls who perished
in that flood, some of which no doubt were cursing God, while
others simply perished in their ignorance as transgressors of
the commandments of God, happy with their religion of one type
or another until the rain began to fall and the fountains of
the deep were opened. Another notable occurrence, which
involved the same waters, was seen when the Lord parted the
Red Sea, delivering the Israelites and destroying the Egyptians.
Once again, we see that they were only made to differ from
the Hamites because of the grace of God. For thou art an holy
people unto the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen
thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that
are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love
upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than
any people, for you were the fewest of all people. But because
the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which
he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out
with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen
from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. When the Israelites
were crossing the Jordan River into the promised land, the Lord
caused the waters of the Jordan to stand up as a heap, and they
crossed over on dry land. In this the Lord would demonstrate
that it is not by might nor by power that the promise of God
is visited upon his people, but by his Spirit's operation. Who
art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt
become a plain, and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof
with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Elijah, that prince
of prophet, along with his understudy and successor, Elisha, both parted
the waters of Jordan in demonstration of the Lord's power upon his
word. And who can forget the answer of the Lord by fire upon
Mount Carmel, as it licked up the waters which were in the
trench surrounding the Sodden offering, as he demonstrated
that he alone is the God of all gods, having the prophets of
Baal in derision. Was this not a foreshadow of
his utter triumph over all principalities and powers which he manifested
upon Mount Calvary and the Garden Tomb, blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross? And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing
over them in it. When the Lord Jesus embarked
upon His ministry among men, He sought out a man clothed in
camel hair and eating locusts and wild honey, who was immersing
men in water. This water had no power at all,
yet the Lord used it to demonstrate His humility in being baptized
unto repentance in the behalf of those whom the Father had
given unto Him. It was upon this baptism that
the Father spoke from heaven in approval of this one who came
to manifest His kingdom. And Jesus, when he was baptized,
went up straightway out of the water. And, lo, the heavens were
opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like
a dove and lighting upon him. And, lo, a voice from heaven
sang, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. God,
who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things,
by whom also he made the worlds. He turned the water into wine
in Cana to make glad the heart of man. He gave living water
to an unworthy and sinful woman in Samaria. He calmed the raging
water and calmed the fears of his troubled disciples. Yet it
was by the cruel stroke of men that he was pleased to bring
forth healing and forgiveness of sin. But one of the soldiers
with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith there came out
blood and water. Rock of ages, cleft for me, let
me hide myself in thee. Let the water and the blood from
thy riven side which flowed be of sin the double cure. Cleanse
me from its guilt and power. Have you drunk of this living
water which is Christ? Those who do shall never thirst
again. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.