Friday, February 3, 2023

 Glad Tidings
of
Good Things


Jack Davis


Oh beloved, do we ever have “good news” to tell? Oh yes, from the vents of the past, through the present, and on and on into a glorious future. We have been loosed at the cross long ago. We also now have divine authority and enablement to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. It has been promised, “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” We are free to walk in newness of life; and reign in life by one Jesus Christ, and serve the true and living God.


We are glad to have committed to our trust that which our God calls good. Our tidings of things, news from afar causes us to rejoice, knowing that our traveling days here are about fulfilled. We have enjoyed the privilege and the thrill, to walk in our beloved’s will. He has spoken to longing hearts, “arise my love my fair one and come away.” We will be glad some day that we have accepted a bridal call to separation, are we now?


He has kept His promise to supply all our need. He has made His grace abound toward us. He is finishing the good work He has begun in us, working all the good pleasure of His will. And now He is about to descend with a shout, and catch us up to that meeting in the air. Glory to God, what good tidings of great joy!!!


 Gratitude


Gordon Crook, Pastor
Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas



“And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:” 1 Chronicles 16:4.


David truly understood gratitude. Reading through his Psalms, you can find that over and over again. I’m interested in considering what it is that brings true gratitude. A person that feels that they deserve something will have no need to show gratitude. So, the first thing to consider is understanding that we do not deserve anything from God.


Many have and still do believe that there are certain things that God owes us, and that there are some things that we just can do on our own and so we do not need God for those things. For example, it is very common to be told that we deserve what we work hard for, and that those things are “earned” by us. So, no need to have gratitude for our job or the things that we worked hard for.


“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” – Deuteronomy 8:18. God reminds us that we are and cannot do anything without Him. When we come to truly understand this, it will raise in us a true gratitude for all that we have. “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God” – Ecclesiastes 5:19.


“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee” – 1 Chronicles 29:14. We find David gathering all of the materials needed to build the temple, and there was a lot of truly valuable materials. They could have bragged about how much they gave, but instead we see David’s attitude of gratitude which recognizes the all of what they gave belonged to God because it came from Him.


Job also understood that everything he had, including his children belonged to the Lord, and came from the Lord. “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” – Job 1:21. As I read this, I realize the great understanding that Job has. This is clearly the most difficult thing a person could go through, but when we truly understand that everything we have came from God, we can more easily trust Him and be grateful regardless of our circumstance.


Even Jesus teaches us something important about gratitude. You might think that Jesus did not need to give thanks, since He was God and all things consist by Him. However, we find Him giving thanks more than once. I especially want to consider one account. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” – Luke 22:19-20. Not only does Jesus give thanks, He does so for the bread and drink that signified His body and blood that He was about to give for us.


Not only are we taught to give thanks for all that we have and all that God has done for us, we are also to be thankful for other people. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” – 1 Timothy 2:1. This one is very difficult, because there is always someone that we don’t feel too thankful for. However, remember that we are not supposed to live by our feelings. We live by God’s Word by faith. Certainly, this exhortation reminds us that gratitude can be a sacrifice. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” – Hebrews 13:15.


We have an enemy that would prefer that we not show gratitude towards God for anything, let alone for everything. However, we will find that our life is significantly better when we learn to have true gratitude. Don’t allow the world or Satan to convince you that you deserve or are owed something. Everything you have; everything you are comes from God and we should be grateful to Him every single day. 


Finally, and most importantly, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” – 2 Corinthians 9:15. If there was nothing else for which to be grateful, this alone would occupy all of our time for showing gratitude.

 FEAR THOU NOT


Anita Clark – Pastor
Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas


“Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’  Isaiah 41;10.


Fear is an natural emotion for the human race. The word ‘fear’ means “a state of alarm caused by exposure to danger, to feel anxiety, apprehension, dread, terror or horror, panic, or fright.” The phrase, “Fear thou not”  is not a suggestion, but a divine command from God. In Luke 21:26 says, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”  As the end of all things approaches, much fear comes into the hearts of human beings.


In the Old Testament alone the word “fear” is spoken of 307 times. There are several Hebrew words for the word “fear” in the Old Testament.  There is the word “pakh-ad”, which means a sudden alarm, dreadful fear, to be reverent.”  The Hebrew word “yaw-ray” means “to fear, morally to revere, to be in reverence.”


In Exodus 14:8-13, Moses said, unto the people. “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show today.” This was spoken to the Israelites who were fleeing Egypt with Pharaoh’s army following fast behind them ready to annihilate them.  In circumstances where any child of God is being tried, where there seems to be no way out and no help, that’s when to rely upon God - the AlMighty God.  Exodus 15 explains that Moses and the Israelites after passing  through the Red Sea, sang and rejoiced that Pharaoh’s army was destroyed.  Verse 16 says, “Fear and dread shall fall upon them (Pharaoh’s army); by the greatest of Thine arm they shall be still as a stone; till Thy people pass over, which Thou hast purchased.” The word “fear” (which is Ay-maw) in this verse means, “to dread, fear, horror, terrible terror.” This word is repeated three times in this chapter.


Back in Isaiah 41:10 - “Fear thou not.”  Why?  This world is going “bananas.”  Increased disasters, financial distress, more disease, and  more crime, with less apprehension of the criminals. This above Scripture says, “be not dismayed.” This phrase means be not “bewildered, or depart or be dim.”  Often this is exactly how we react to shocking circumstances, which come upon our situation suddenly. Sometimes, we don’t know where to go, what to do, or what to say. How can we (little insufficient human beings) deal with situations and trials? The next four phrases show us the only way of victory, “For I am thy God, I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Relying upon our Great God is the only way to victory.


Think of when Jesus was in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew children in Daniel 3.  They didn’t fear because Jesus was there with them.  When the disciples were in the boat in the storm and were very fearful, Jesus stilled the waves - He was there with them.  He rebuked the waves, saying “Peace, be still.” Jesus says to us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5).  The knowledge that He is with us invites faith into our hearts.  Why should I fear, He is with me and will not forsake me. 

 

Notice another part of our lead verse, “I am thy God.” We are the children of the living God.  Romans 8:31 says. ‘What shall we say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?” Vs. 37 the Word says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”


Note the phrase, “I will strengthen thee.”  The word “strengthen” means “be confirmed, courageous, steadfast minded, established.”  He is saying to us, “I will hold you up, surround you and protect you, and aid and succor you.” Also, proceed to the phrase, “Yea, I will Help thee.”  This is mentioned as a double affirmative.  He will do both things, “strengthen and help.” The word “help” is very significant.  It means “to sustain (keep us going), surround thee, protect, aid, or succor, to take us up as a shepherd does his sheep or as a father holds his children.”


 What does He use to uphold us?  The verse says, “Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”  The right hand is usually the most dexterous hand , most powerful, more movable. Various places in the Bible the right hand of God is spoken of.  For example, Jesus sits in the heavens at “the right hand of God..” Note “His righteousness.”  He is our strength, and through His power is our overcoming and victory.


Our assurance of our justification by faith is through His righteousness, as He is the perfect sinless sacrifice.  The word “justification” means to “make righteous.” II Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”  We as Gentile believers were really never under condemnation of the law, but many Gentiles put themselves under the law and condemnation. This is a love relationship.  We are in the family of God because we have accepted Jesus Christ’ death on the cross.  


In closing I will speak again about “Fear.”    Jesus himself said, “Be not afraid, only believe.”  I Peter 3:14 says, “Be not afraid of their terror.”  We live in a wicked world. But our God is faithful.  In the New Testament the word, “afraid” speaks of “phobia, alarm, fright or terror.”


The world we live in is full of happenings that could really cause us to have all these descriptive words manifest in our lives.  I John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  Perfect love - (agape) is God’s love for us.  The word “perfect” in the Greek means” complete, growth of full age, man-maturity.” How is our love perfected?  This perfection takes place as we walk in the Spirit, and grow up in Christ into a mature grown up son in Christ.  As our love is perfected, we are able to “cast out fear” by the Holy Spirit power.


“In righteousness shalt thou be established; for thou shalt not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near thee.”  Isaiah 54:14.

 Prophecy


Earlene Davis



Looking Into Heaven continued – Rev. 4 & 5


Rev. 4:8, “And the four living ones had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Their “six wings” tell us of their freedom of movement, they are not bound, but free to do what the Lord wants them to do. They never move or act independent of Him, but in harmony and agreement with Him. Ezekiel calls these living ones – cherubims. These saints execute God’s will on earth and they will continue their spiritual activities in heaven.  


“Full of eyes within,” speaks of having discernment and understanding. We should all have a discernment of truth and error by knowing the Word of God. But there is a gift of discernment given by the Holy Spirit. These saints can see (view) the things of God. What is their chief activity? Worship. In Revelation, the living ones generally lead in worship, they are first to praise the Lord. 


The 24 elders and the four living ones together represent the highest rank of believers, the kings and priests mentioned in Chapter 1:6 & 5:10. The elders are ruling kings on thrones and the living ones are seen in priestly activity. This company of overcoming saints are priestly kings and kingly priests. Song of Sol. 6:13, “What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company (one company) of two armies (kings and priests).” They shall reign with Christ con-jointly. As to the kingly nature, we are learning to overcome and rule now over different things. We become kings even now because we are going to judge angels one of these days. I Cor. 6:3, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” Concerning the priestly nature, we worship Him now, pouring our love upon Him.


Vs. 9-10, “And when those living ones give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,” They suffered to get those crowns and they held fast to keep them, but when they come before the Lord Jesus Christ they don’t care to keep them any more. They have come before Him who is more worthy than they. No matter how much we attain from the Lord, or how much we grow, we always realize that it is His worthiness that we have anything.


V. 11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” They worship the Creator, their Creator. He is going to take that authority as Creator of all things that belongs to Him, The authority has been given Him. He is the worthy One, all glory, honor, and power is His. The worship of Him grows greater and greater throughout this book. We learn to worship the Lord now, but we will praise Him more in heaven than we do now.

Chapter 5 next time.

 JONAH


Debra Isenbletter, Pastor
Christian Assembly, Springfield, Missouri


Jonah 4:2—”And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” 


This is the second time that Jonah prayed and his attitude is completely different than the first time. His first prayer was from the fish’s belly, it was from a place of suffering, sorrow and defeat and he prayed with a broken heart.  Jonah’s second prayer is from a different place, instead of the worst place it is the best place. It is a place of victory, he stands on resurrection ground but he has lost sight of that great truth. He is no longer in a confined place, he is not restricted and constrained except by the Word of God. Jonah has experienced the Lord’s deliverance and he has seen that deliverance shown to others. That is a wonderful place, it should be a joyous place.  The problem is that his heart is no longer broken, he prays with an angry heart.  The attitude of the heart makes all the difference, instead of a submissive heart, we see a rebellious heart, which is how he started out. In Jonah’s first prayer he asked God to save him and in his second prayer he asks God to kill him. What a startling contrast! Jonah stands in a place of victory but he sees only defeat, he is not seeing clearly.  This is about feeling and not faith. This is about his view and not God’s view.  


But Jonah does pray, the problem is he prayed not as a prophet but as a man. As a prophet, he would have prayed moved by God’s Spirit but as a man he prays moved by his own spirit for the wrong reason, with the wrong attitude. He should have rejoiced over the repentance of the city. I wonder if the city rejoiced when they were spared. I wonder if Jonah heard shouts of joy or saw the people rejoicing. Jonah prayed unto the “Lord,” to Jehovah, to “the One who reveals Himself” but he does not see that the Lord has revealed Himself to Nineveh. He revealed His mercy, but the Lord had also revealed Himself to His prophet but Jonah does not see this.  He may not see this because he thinks he already knows the Lord.  Jonah does know God’s attributes because he lists them but that is head knowledge and not heart knowledge. There is a lesson here showing that there is a continual revelation that the Lord gives to His people, it is ongoing, it never stops. We never reach a point where we know it all. Jonah does not realize that he needs a deeper revelation of God’s character and that revelation is revealed through His mercy to the Gentiles.  This is what bothers Jonah, that same attitude can be seen among the Jews when Paul preached his gospel to the Gentiles and they received it.


Jonah’s prayer is a plea, a petition, is has an urgent tone to it.  “I pay thee, O Lord” or “I beseech thee; Oh now!” Jonah knows Who he is praying to and he knows he has a right to pray and he knows his prayer will be heard. He knows all this and he takes it for granted. His prayer is a complaint and not a compliment about God’s character, about God’s mercy. But the very fact that Jonah can complain, can talk to the Lord this way should have told Jonah that mercy works both ways.  The Lord let Jonah talk the way he did and did not stop him.


Jonah’s complaint: “was not this my saying when I was yet in my country?” Was this not “my thought” or “my feeling.”  The problem is that what Jonah thought about the Lord was right concerning his character but he could not reconcile that character with his own feelings about the Gentiles. What Jonah thought and felt about the Gentiles is not what God thought and what God did would show Jonah this.  Here we see where Jonah was when he was called to preach to Nineveh.  Here we see what Jonah felt when he was called to preach to Nineveh.  Did Jonah tell God what he “thought” and “felt” about the Gentiles?  Did Jonah tell the Lord this at the time he refused to go, that he knew God might show mercy?  Even if he did not tell the Lord, the Lord knew Jonah’s heart. He might change Jonah’s mind about preaching but He still needed to change Jonah’s heart after preaching. 


Jonah’s complaint about God’s character, is his justification for fleeing from God’s Will originally.  Jonah says, “Therefore I fled unto Tarshish.” Therefore because “I knew” the type of God that you were.  This is the type of knowledge that comes from both instruction and observation. There is a national knowledge, this is based upon the nation’s experience. The nation saw these wonderful traits of God’s character in the wilderness and in the promised land. The book of Judges is about, departure, discipline and deliverance. Jonah would recognize these traits he describes by looking back at how God dealt with the nation.  Jonah also knows this through personal knowledge, this is based on his own personal experience. Jonah had also disobeyed, been disciplined and been delivered and seen God’s character in his own experience.  But is seems that Jonah did not think that God’s grace and mercy applied to others. He is fine with the Lord showing these traits to Israel or to him personally but he is not fine with the Lord showing these traits to the Gentiles.  Jonah has forgotten that the Lord cannot change Who He is. His character cannot be turned on for one group and off for another group. If He shows these traits to His people, He must show these traits to others. If Israel repents then the Gentiles can repent. If Israel is spared, then the Gentiles can be spared.  Jonah knows these traits and lists them but he does not understand the full potential of their use.


So, what are these traits? Jonah names five and none of them stand alone, all work in harmony one with the other.  Many are found together in the same references in the Old Testament. (Psa.86:15; Psa.103:8; Exo.34:6, 18-19).  All are found in the Person and Personality of the Lord Jesus Christ. First: He is “a gracious God.” This word comes from “to stoop in kindness to an inferior” and “to grant.”  That is grace. It is a gift given freely, it is not earned, it is not deserved. Second: He is “merciful” which means compassionate, it is often translated merciful. Third: He is “slow to anger” which also means longsuffering. That is God’s patience.  Fourth: He is “of great kindness.”  This is the fourth great in Jonah (great city, great wind, great fish, great kindness). This is a positive greatness also translated mercy, merciful and lovingkindness. It is hard to separate these traits, they are all connected, they work together. Fifth: God’s Fairness: “and repentest thee of the evil.” God felt pity, He had compassion, because He had a just reason, the people repented. Both Israel and those in Nineveh. God is always fair. He saw something, He felt something and He did something.  Jonah knew this from Israel’s past and from his present. God does not change, this is Who He is and this is what the Gentiles saw. 


This is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ; all of these traits were made visible and were unmistakable when He ministered. All of these traits are made visible in the gospel that was preached by His disciples and by His Apostles; by those He called originally and by those He would call later. All of these traits are seen in the wonderful gospel of grace preached by the Apostle Paul, it is what so many Jews, saved and unsaved struggled with and objected to,  just like Jonah. But no amount of objection can change who He is and for those that see and embrace these traits, there is found a glorious liberty and wonderful joy.

To be continued

 God’s Timing and Purposes – Ecc. 3:1-8

Part 13


Pastor Vicky Moots
Kingman, Kansas


Ecc. 3:7a: “A time to rend…”  “To rend” means “to tear.”  In Old Testament times, the tearing of one’s clothes was considered a powerful outward expression of an inner grief.  It was done as a sign of mourning, sudden loss, or in repentance.  Some Jews still practice this today in a modified manner.  According to tradition, a mourner was supposed to tear the clothing over the heart to signify that his heart was broken.

In II Chron. 34 we read that the book of the Law was discovered by Hilkiah, the high priest, in the house of the Lord and brought to King Josiah.  Verse 19 tells us, “And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.”  Josiah was grieved to learn of the curse that would be upon them because they had been disobedient to God, and so he tore his clothes in repentance and mourning.

But God knew his heart and comforted him as we see in v. 27: “Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God…and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also…”  God looked past the outward tearing of his clothes and saw down into his broken heart.

Did God listen to Josiah’s cry of repentance because he tore his clothes? Do our outward actions impress God or earn His favor? No! Because “…man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (I Sam. 16:7).

In Joel 2:12-13 God exhorted the backslidden Jews through the prophet to repent: “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart…And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God…”

David tells us in Ps. 34:18, through his own experience, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart…”  When we rend our hearts and we are broken before Him, then His ears are open unto our cries, David also assures us of this in Ps. 51:17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Even though it was the custom at that time, not everyone was allowed under the Mosaic Law to tear their garments in response to grief.  Lev. 21:10 informs us that the high priest was not allowed to do this: “And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured…shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes.”

Since Jesus is our spiritual High Priest, it is not surprising to find that God did not allow His clothing to be torn at the time of His crucifixion.  This event was recorded in John 19:23-24: “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.  They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots…”  Jesus’ garments were not torn, but His heart was.  It was broken for us.  Nor was his head uncovered, for He wore a crown of thorns, His priestly mitre.

However, there was something else which was very important that was torn at the time of Jesus’ death, as we discover in Matt. 27:51: “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom…” The veil was the curtain in the temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.  Only the high priest was allowed to go past the veil into the Holy of Holies, and that was only once a year on the Day of Atonement in order to place the blood of the sacrifice on the Mercy Seat to atone for the sins of the people.

When the veil was rent, it allowed free access into that sacred place where only the high priest had been able to meet with God.  Who rent the veil? It was God, Himself, because it was torn from top to bottom.  

We learn from Heb. 10:19-20 that the veil represented Jesus’ fleshly body which was sacrificed for us to make atonement for sin.  The veil of Jesus’ flesh had to be torn away on the cross so that we might have access to God’s presence without fear.  The work of salvation had been completed when Jesus cried, “It is finished.”

From that point on, it was no longer necessary to have an earthly priest to intercede for us, because Heb. 9:11 explains to us that Christ became our High Priest, and v. 12 declares, “…by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”  Then in v. 24 we read, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

Because of this, Paul states in Heb. 4:14,16 that we can now safely approach God in prayer for all our needs: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Praise God for the veil that was rent on Calvary! Now is the time to rend our hearts and to enter into God’s presence through the veil that was rent for us: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest [Holy of Holies] by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” (Heb. 10:19-20,22).

 “BEHOLD MY HANDS!”


Jack Davis


This precious three word command speaks volumes to my heart. Considering these three words, I am caused to think of far more than just His hands of flesh and blood. I think of what He has done for us, and would do in us. He says to me, “Appreciate My suffering, and appropriate My sufficiency!”


In John 20:24-31 Jesus is showing His hands as evidence – marks of identification – saying, “Behold” and “believe.” I offer here some outlining thoughts concerning the hands of Jesus. They were: Suffering, Surrendered, Successful, Securing hands – wounded, willing, working, wooing hands – Bleeding, blessing, building hands – or our Beloved.


SUFFERING HANDS

Jesus was wounded, pierced, and bleeding that He might heal, help, and hold us. At the time of His appearance here, Jesus had been to the Cross, the tomb, and to Heaven. Yet His wounds still remained. They were reminders, means of proof, a testimony. They remained as an assurance of coming deliverance and judgment. I am persuaded that He will wear those scars with pride throughout eternity. They are precious to Him.


Psalm twenty-two is prophetic of Jesus’ innermost feelings as He cried out from the Cross: “My God, My God, who hast Thou forsaken Me?” Oh, I marvel how accurately many of these psalms have been fulfilled, having been written several hundred years before. In verses seven and sixteen of this Psalm, we see where they scorn Him and shake their heads and scoff at our beloved Lord. They pierced His hands, His feet, and His side.


The Roman form of capital punishment was to crucify; and exactly where the nails were driven – whether closer to the hands or wrists – I am not willing to argue. I know the way it was expressed in the Old Testament prophecies of our crucified Lord. Consider Zechariah 12:10 and 13:6 – “What are these wounds in Thine hands?” Those wonderful wounded hands are attractive to us, when we remember that “He was wounded for our transgressions” – Isaiah 53:5.


SURRENDERED HANDS

His hands are willing hands. He said in the garden, “Not My will, but Thine be done.” He came to do the Father’s will. “I delight to do Thy will, O My God.” We read of His stretching out those wonder-working hands in helping the poor, healing the sick, and binding up the brokenhearted. Today, He is still strengthening and encouraging our faith, and making us to know more and more deeply what He is ready and willing and able to do in us, for us, and by us.


SUCCESSFUL HANDS

His were working hands. He said from the Cross, “IT IS FINISHED.” In Luke 24:36-53 He was there in their midst, as the One who had conquered the grave and won the victory over sin and death. The triumphant One asked, “Why are ye troubled?” “Behold” and “believe!” BY WHOLEHEARTED BELIEf WE ENJOY RELIEF FROM TROUBLE AND GRIEF. Faith in Him is still the best answer when troubling thoughts arise in our hearts. He went with uplifted hands, lifting them up in their spirits. 


He would have us see by faith’s eyes, that those same bleeding hands are also blessing hands. All of God’s rich blessings flow out to trusting humanity through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the extension of all God’s love and grace. Isaiah 53:10 – “THE PLEASURE OF THE Lord shall prosper in His hand.” Here real success was promised.


Those bleeding blessing hands were also building hands. He who was called the carpenter’s son was also the wise Master-builder. “The house” that lie built is the greatest royal family” – Heb. 3:3. “The Church” that He is building is to be fiercely opposed – Matt. 16:18. “The hates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He is building a glorious Kingdom that will stand the test of the ages – II Sam. 7:12-16. So He says, “BEHOLD MY HANDS.” “Yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” – Isa. 41:10; 40:10.


SECURING HANDS

He hold us in love’s strong embrace, and makes us to know that our “life is hid with Christ in God.” In Revelation 1:7-8,14-18;2:1, John describes the pierced One: His head, feet, and hands. He is seen walking “in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks,” and holding “the seven stars in His right hand.” Now as we behold Him, sitting at His feet today, we wonder at His words, walk, and work. Our thought is not “watch your step,” but we watch His. He holds the whole Church, the local assemblies and their pastors, in His hand. That is not all, He also holds each individual believer – John 10:27-29. THANK GOD, I HOLD NOT THE ROCK BUT THE ROCK HOLDS ME.


“His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doeth embrace me.” “O My dove…let Me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice” – Song of Sol. 2:6,14. Through close communion with Jesus, during this time of apostasy, we are being prepared for a throne. In our Lord’s right hand we may get the sense of His caressing, and in His left hand His correcting. Our trials and triumphs - for nothing comes to us without His allowance, and only from Him do we gain any victories. With His left hand, so to speak, He turns our faces upward, lifting our sights from the earthly to the Heavenly, off ourselves and unto Him. He says, “LOOK to Me. SPEAK to Me.” In the midst of our trials we can very plainly see that Satan is trying to defeat us and rob us of God’s best. In each trial we are far better if we can SEE Jesus, behold his hands, consider HIM – Heb. 12:2-3.


“My Beloved put in His hand by the hole of the door.” He says, “Open to Me, My sister, My love, My undefiled” – Song of Sol. 5:2-4,14. BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK” – Rev. 3:20-21. Today, He knocks at individual heart doors. Our OPENNESS unto Him becomes more and more important as the days swiftly pass until He comes.


Consider a paraphrased version of Song of Sol. 5, verse three, in application to the attitude of most of Christendom today: “Oh, I am so comfortable, clean and neat.. I smell so sweet. I have washed my feet. I do not want to be disturbed. I just want to take my ease and do as I please.

HE SAYS, “BEHOLD, MY HANDS”

Verse four – Oh, how tenderly and patiently He gives us renewed vision from time to time. He gives us glimpse, after encouraging glimpse, of His hands, He does it to stir us out of indifference and self indulgence. Sometimes correcting then caressing; but, He is always working to draw us closer, into deeper sweeter fellowship with Himself. He is reminding us to APPRECIATE HIS SUFFERINGS AND APPROPRIATE HIS SUFFICIENCY.


“His hands are as gold rings” – 5:14. Rings can be seen as seals of authority and ownership. These rings can also show us a picture of the sweet, complete, secure enclosure of Divine love.

 The Encouraging Word



“But you, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3 


“O LORD of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in you.” Psalm 84:12


“Yes, my soul, find rest in God, my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5 (NIV)


“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105


“And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, The LORD, The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, a bounding in love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:6


“Pray at all times – on every occasion, in every season – in the Spirit, with all prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18


“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.” Psalm 4:8


“I am the Lord, the God of all living things! Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27. (ceb)


Martha Wainright