POURED FORTH

"Because he hath poured out his soul unto death..." (Isaiah 53:12)



I want to be effective and used of God? In light of Scripture do I know what I am asking for? Isaiah 53 says that it pleased the LORD to bruise him, his soul was made an offering for sin. One cannot offer 10% of their soul, it is all or nothing. His soul was made an offering. Not a wave offering, not a praise offering, not a first fruits offering, but an offering for sin.



If Isaiah 53 is taken in context of Christ offering on our behalf, it is a sobering thought that the Only Beloved of the Father, the Son of God, was put to grief and bruised by the Father.



Because Christ fulfiled the pleasure of the LORD, He will see the travail of His soul and be satisfied with the product of His effort. The product is us! Through the pouring out of His soul, His being numbered with the transgressors, intercession for sinners and baring the sins of many, we are accepted into His kingdom because of His sacrifice. What humility! What love!




It will take an eternity for me to comprehend what He accomplished on my behalf during His time of travail, mockings, scourgings, and obedience to the death; even the death on a cross. To live among men for 30 years, be baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit, then led into the Wilderness to be tempted of Satan; led there by the Spirit of God, none the less! As He learned and was being pressed as an olive in an olive press, He knew that a man cannot live by bread alone, but by the word of God. Isaiah 53:11 says by His knowledge He shall justify many. As do we, He learned obedience through the things He suffered. All the while, learning and suffering without sin; bearing our iniquity.




Truly, as the Song of Songs (1:1-3) says, because of the savor of His good ointments, as He was pressed beyond measure; His name is an ointment poured forth. As He draws we must run to Christ our King, and be brought into His chambers as the days of calamity befall us. Draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. Current events confirm that His time of visitation is at hand.




We have been tried. We are being tested. Our faith will go through the fire. In the process every purpose of the LORD will be performed (Jeremiah 51:28). He sits in the heavens and observes the sons and daughters of men. He looks for those who have a heart for Him. Christ's sacrifice will not be wasted; He died that many would be saved.



Our mighty King did not pour out His soul to no avail! We are purchased with a price; a price beyond comparison or measure. The ointment of His sacrifice will be savoured throughout the Ages to come. Don't let the enemy try to convince us that we have failed, that we will not make it, that God is mad at us! It's a lie! Don't fall for it! Believers have been purchased with a price. The Father saw the travail of Christ's soul and was satisified! Satisfied! Satan is a liar.




In the time of our visitation, may we be found full of faith; no matter the circumstance. We live by His faith! It is His faith! It is His sacrifice! He is called Faithful and True! It is His will that we enter into His presence with fullness of joy. The joy of the LORD is our strength. Even as sorrows fill the earth we can have great joy that we are saved, we have been bought with a very heavy, heavenly price. NONE, no principality, no power, no devil, no evil, no doubt, no event, no fear can snatch us out of the palm of His hand. Of this fact we are most confident!




Have a wonderful Sabbath thinking upon and searching for Him! He is near, even at the door!

VOICE OF OUR BELOVED

Song of Songs 2:8,9 ~
"The voice of my Beloved! behold, He cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My Beloved is like a roe or a young hart; behold, He standeth behind our wall, He looketh forth at the windows, showing Himself through the lattice."




In my walk with Christ I desire intimacy with Him. I desire seperation from the world. As the Song of Songs infers, there is a place hidden from everyone where the Beloved meets His loved one and they enjoy intimacy in all of its forms. This is where a relationship begins, develops and grows. Christ for me! But what if I desire to never leave the place of intimacy and wait there for Him to enjoy His presence all for myself? Is this fair to a lost and dying humanity I am in contact with every day?




Everyone I meet is searching. Most are lost and do not know which way to go. Is it possible to be converted and to know the value of His death on the cross, without knowing how to apply it to my everyday life? Yes, I believe this is possible. Imature or new Believers only realize what the LORD has been TO THEM! They have the LORD, but the LORD does not yet have them. Christ FOR ME is my cry; I am not yet wholly for Christ and His purpose in my life.




I concentrate on the voice of my Beloved. He is mine! He comes leaping upon the mountains and skipping over the hills. Mountains and hills in a Biblical sense represent trials, tribulations and obstacles in our life. He won complete victory over every trial, tribulation and obstacle through His death and victorious resurrection! His victory is our victory! There is power in the resurrection life and He wants to get me out of the secret place to share the victory with the lost and dying. They will see the victory over trials and tribulation in my life as I walk in His life. People will see and want this victory in their lives. Truly, a living sacrifice for God.




He is risen! We are in Him! He has defeated all foes! He leaps-there are no hindrances. The wall He looks behind is the wall of seperation I have built to shelter myself from the world. He begs me to "come away with Him"! He and I can leap and skip over every difficulty I face. There are victories to be won, souls to influence and save, mountains to conquer. I must not be like Peter in Mark 9:5 when he wanted to settle in and built three taberancles and dwell therein, when at the bottom of the mountain were lost souls and a dying world.




I must remember Christ's perspective. He is here for me. He died for me. He loves me. He is coming again for me. But He also has a job for me to do; to be His witness in the middle of what may very well be a social tornado in these closing days of time. He will not be imprisoned behind my wall; He must move! I must move with Him. Communion and victory go hand in hand. One feeds off of the other.




I must not look inward, selfishly all of the time. This is my tendacy. I must start looking at Him; following Him. If I shut up the LORD in myself only, I shut Him out of the world that surrounds me. His presence is with me no matter my surroundings. Andrew Murray said, "The LORD'S presence should not only be a reality in your prayers, but a reality in your factory."




Our Beloved says, "Come away with Me". As I start to leave my place of safety, security and intimacy, I will begin to realize that no matter the circumstance I may be in, I can trust, believe and feel His ever abiding Presence.

~ SONG FOR THESE THOUGHTS ~

CONSTANTLY ABIDING

There's a peace in my heart

that the world never gave,

A peace it cannot take away;

Tho' the trials of life

may surround like a cloud

I've a peace that has come there to stay!

All the world seemed to sing

of a Saviour and King

When peace sweetly came to my heart,

Troubles all fled away, and my night turned to day,

Blessed Jesus, how glorious Thou art!

This treasure I have in a temple of clay,

While here on His footstool I roam;

But He's coming to take,

me some glorious day,

over there to my heavenly home!

CHORUS

Constantly abiding

Jesus is mine!

Constantly abiding

Rapture divine!

He never leaves me lonely

Whispers O so kind,

"I will never leave thee"

JESUS IS MINE!

Have a wonderful weekend dwelling on Him and His love for us!