Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. It is predominantly taught
and believed by multitudes that God is the one who causes only
good and not evil in the earth. Yet the Lord plainly said, I
form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil.
I, the Lord, do all these things. There is nothing that transpires
in all of the heavens or the earth that is not directed to
occur by him who is in the heavens. He hath done whatsoever he hath
pleased. Now these words are fighting
words to that man whose heart has not been subdued by his grace
to bow at his feet in trembling worship. The natural man does
not want to be told that he is helpless to help himself or that
God has no respect unto his personal endeavor. In fact, most men entertain
the notion that God helps those who help themselves. Others say,
well, if you take the first step, He'll do the rest, or let Him
come into your heart, or other such nonsense as gives men the
idea that they can approach unto the high and holy God who inhabits
the eternity and find Him by human effort. That man who thinks
he knows some path that he can tread to approach God is full
of conceit and self-approval. Let all men know of a certainty
that it is not by wisdom, learning, power, or any morality that he
could ever hope to find out the dwelling place of Jehovah, or
gain an entrance into the presence of Him who is high and lifted
up, and whose train fills the temple. The only possible way
for a man to ever be given any sort of understanding of who
God is or enable to enter into his presence is strictly by his
revelation and illumination. This is exactly what the Lord
meant when he told Nicodemus, except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God. He meant that a man had to be
radically changed, given new life from the dead, and made
something that he was not before, that is, a new creature. Whereas
the man was simply flesh and blood, the one who is born again
is now transformed into a spiritual man, who is born not of the flesh,
but of God. But ye are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
One of the first indications that a man has been transformed
by the Spirit of God is that he is suddenly aware that it
is impossible for him to approach God, and is convinced that he
has no hope of coming to know the Lord apart from the mercy
of God making it possible. As he is unable to hear the gospel,
he is given faith to embrace Jesus Christ as the Savior and
Redeemer of sinners. He is made to willingly bow down
in obedience and worship with Him, who he now knows to be the
Lord of lords and the King of kings. He has now found out the
God who cannot be found out, except by the gift of eternal
life being granted according to His sovereign mercy. God is
truly no respecter of persons, because He grants this gift to
men on the basis of His own sovereign choice, and not their merit or
knowledge. Great is the mercy of God, who
has not left us without hope, but has brought us out into a
wealthy place by a way which we knew not. Christ is that way. He has made a way into the very
presence of the Father for us, by a new and living way which
he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say his
flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us
draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession
of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful, that promised.
Christ is the one who has put us in the way. He came not only
to die for His sheep, but to go into the wilderness and find
each one of the little lambs of His flock, and bring them
safely back to the fold. For the Son of Man has come to
seek and to save that which was lost. Christ is the one who has
taught us the way by his example. For even here unto where ye called,
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth. Who when he was reviled, reviled
not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.
That we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness, by whose
stripes ye were healed. Christ is the one who will keep
us in the way. Being confident of this very
thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ. Now unto him that is able to
keep you from falling and to present you faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise
God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both
now and ever. Amen. For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at
windstream.net.