Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The way of man is usually
at odds with the way of God. This can be demonstrated even
in something as simple as what constitutes a day. Isn't it interesting
that God describes the first day as the evening and the morning,
when we most commonly refer to it in the reversed order as the
morning and the evening? Men think that they will accomplish
great things in the name of the Lord and thereby earn His favor.
Yet He said His strength was perfected in our weakness. Men
say, Surely God will be impressed by our great effort, bless our
generosity, and reward us according to our faithfulness. Yet the
Lord said that when we have been obedient in all these things,
we are yet unprofitable servants, for we have only done the things
which He commanded us to do. We hear much preaching today
about giving money to the Lord's work. To hear some tell it, one
would expect heaven to be littered with adding machine paper, where
the scribes of the city are busy keeping up with each nickel,
dime, and dollar that men give. It is quite common to hear men
preach about man's duty to tithe without even so much as a hint
of an explanation of how the freeborn sons of God are brought
back under such legal bondage. Tithing is often presented as
though it is some business contract, which if a man enters into, God
will bless his finances in like manner. Some make such impassioned
pleas for tithes and offerings that one might be led to think
God might have to go out of business if men don't help him out by
sending in some money. God owns the cattle on a thousand
hills, and all the treasures of the earth are His, so we can
be certain He does not need anything which a man can bring before
Him. Much of the work which needs support is simply the establishment
of man's religious kingdoms in the earth. It has nothing to
do with the ongoing of the true kingdom of God. The simplicity
of true worship is most times not enough for our modern mindset,
which thinks that worship can be enhanced by buildings, entertainment,
and fleshly activity. The Father seeks such as worship
Him in spirit and truth, and hardly needs the inventions of
men to bring this to pass. The gathering of God's people
and their communion with Him is not affected whether it be
in a house, a barn, or a cathedral. The description of a day as being
the evening and morning has significance beyond the simple definition
of what a day is. There are many lessons in this
description. Number one, the Lord created
the earth out of nothing. There was no light in the creation
except that which was brought about by the Lord. Of course,
the darkness was created by him also, but he would have us to
see him bringing light out of darkness. Did he not say, I am
the light of the world? He that followeth me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. He dispels
the darkness wherever he goes. We also learn that the blessing
which God intends for His people shall increase. But we all, with
open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord. He brings us out of the darkness
into the light. Not just initially, as when He
awakened us out of the deadness of our sinful nature, but continually,
just as He said, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He
will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself,
but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will
show you things to come. Then we learn of the gospel of
the new covenant, which is clearly proclaimed as that which dispels
the darkness of the old covenant of law. For the law made nothing
perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the
which we draw nigh unto God. It was necessary that the darkness
of law precede the light of the gospel, as the blackness of midnight
precedes the dawning of the new day. Wherefore, the law was our
schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified
by faith. We had not known sin, except
the law had said, Thou shalt not, and brought us under its
awful condemning power. But thank God that he has not
left us in that legal bondage, but has set us free, just like
the beams of the dawn dispels the lingering gloom of the darkest
night. If the sun therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free
indeed. We are without condemnation and
are now the children of light. And finally, we see the unfolding
of His kingdom, which will not be overtaken with darkness. We
are now living in a time of great light when the gospel has been
sent into the earth to call God's people from the corners of the
earth and from every land to which they have been scattered.
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory
of the Lord as waters cover the sea. For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at
windstream.net.