Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The grandest triumph of
all the ages is seen as Jesus Christ entered in once into the
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for his people, the
sheep of his pasture. His greatest victory was won
by the shedding of his own blood to secure the deliverance of
his people, who had sat in bondage and were all their lifetime subject
unto death. The wars of the nations of this
world served to set the stage that men might be given an understanding
of such triumph. Without the knowledge of war,
it would be impossible for men to grasp the nature of that victory
which Jesus Christ fought and died for, then rose again in
utter triumph over the enemy death. David writes, Even fools
know that there is a God, because that which may be known of God
is manifest in them, for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead,
so that they are without excuse. Because when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain
in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools. Their foolishness is not
in their ignorance of God, but rather in their desire to throw
off His rule and to live according to their own desire. All men
by nature are born into this rebellion, and in time they gladly
join themselves together in its purpose. We see this confederacy
in action on the plains of Shinar as men came together to build
a tower unto their own glory. And they said, Go to, let us
build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven,
and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the
face of the whole earth. This is the dawning of the religion
of free will, whose altars are scattered throughout the earth
and has no shortage of adherents of various persuasions. All of
man's religions have the same basic premise, which is that
God can be influenced in one fashion or another to bless men
according to their own activity. Now it is certain that they acknowledge
that there is a God, but they in reality in their confederacy
seek to limit him and make him subservient to their own will
and thus deny his supremacy. He said, I am the Lord and there
is none else. There is no God beside me. I
girded thee, though thou hast not known me, that they may know
from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none
beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the
light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil.
I, the Lord, do all these things. We see this confederacy in action
as the Sadducees and Pharisees, who were normally not the best
of friends, akin to Democrats and Republicans, nonetheless
coming together with a common purpose, to destroy him who was
sent by God. But last of all, he sent unto
them his son, saying, they will reverence my son. But when the
husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, this is
the heir. Come, let us kill him and let
us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him and cast
him out of the vineyard and slew him. All of the Jews were agreed
that they would not have this man to rule over them. The Lord
ordained their actions even as He did those of Judas, whom they
paid to betray the Lord. Even their prophecies were correct,
though not as they considered. And one of them, named Caiaphas,
being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know
nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us that
one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish
not. And this spake he not of himself, but being high priest
that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation,
and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather
together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Then from that day forth they took counsel together, for to
put him to death. Though men were confederate with
evil intentions, yet God meant it for good, as He ordained the
cruel death of His only begotten Son as a substitute for sinners.
And such were some of you. But ye are washed, but ye are
sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God. By His grace, His children are
called to join with one another to worship and adore Him who
is worthy of all praise. Their worship of Him is not conditioned
on what they have done for Him, but rather they are met together
to revel in what He has done for them. What foolishness has
wrought among those who would spend their time in recounting
their service and obedience to Him? He has bought His people
with His own blood, and they belong to Him. He alone is worthy
to be praised. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.