Tenth
Month, Tenth Day
So it was around our New Year’s Day
that Noah made a profound discovery from his Ark: mountaintops were sighted, just
as Yahweh had promised!
Yahweh hadn't forgotten Noah, his kin, his
creation, although all others may have perished. And although Noah couldn't see
ahead, he listened for and followed the voice of Yahweh through the treacherous
waters, and after 150 days, Yahweh showed him the great high peaks of divine
providence out yonder yet not too far distant!
Those same grand mountain crests speak to us
in our day as we begin another new year. Though we can't fully see what's ahead
for us, Yahweh has given us a hopeful glimpse.
In spite of the fog of low-hanging clouds, we see in these
mountaintops of the future certain "grand securities." And we hear the voice of Yahweh calling us
forward, from apex to apex. Let's now
stand upon the Ark
of our faith, put on faith's binoculars, and examine what may lie ahead for us
in 2002.
Peaks
of Divine Promises
Can you envision this church building as the
ark of Noah’s salvation? It’s shaped
something like the deck of an ark! If
so, look across the ark, over the water, to the WEST. Observe in the distance the "Peaks of
Divine Promises," promises made to us by the One who can’t lie.
(2 Pet 1:4) He has given us his precious and very great
promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in
the world and may become participants of the divine nature. And his promises
are that we might enjoy...
three
things:
(1) divine
protection. Jesus promised,
(Luke 12:4) "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those
who kill the body."
For
we be friends of Yahweh! Who dare strive
against us without our consent? Yes, he
protects us and promises
(2) divine
provision, as well. Jesus said,
(John 14:14) "If in my name you ask me for anything, I
will do it."
Tell
him what you want, then watch and wait in faith and expectation for your wants
and needs to be fulfilled. And while you wait, enjoy the promise of
(3) divine
presence:
(Matthew 28:20) "Remember, I am with you always, from
age to age."
From
age to age, stage to stage, phase to phase, day in, day out,
and every step of the way, remember that your powerful friend Yahshua is
with you!
Peaks of Spiritual Possibilities
Now look across the ark, over the water, to
the SOUTH. Not too far distant are the "Peaks of Spiritual
Possibilities." John encourages us that
(John 1:12) All who received [the Light], who believed in
his name, he gave power to become children of Yahweh.
These
peaks of spiritual possibilities never bring to mind "what might
have been" or "what has been;" only "what will be" and
"what Yahweh wills through me."
In watching for these wonderful peaks of possibility, let us proclaim
afresh, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Peaks
of Privileges
Now look across the ark, over the water, to
the NORTH. Can you see the mountain peaks ascending out of the water? These are
the "Peaks of Christian Privileges."
Incredible human rights and benefits are befitting a child of
Yahweh. They include
(1) access
to the Heavenly Throne:
(Heb 4:16) Let us approach the throne of grace with
boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Also
enjoy
(2) unceasing
fellowship and friendship with Yahweh through his son, Yahshua Messiah. As
the Beloved instructed us:
(1 John 1:3) "We declare to you what we have seen and
heard so that you may have friendship with us; and truly our friendship is with
the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."
And
you have the privilege of
(3) spiritual power that you may not
even realize: power to do good, power to change circumstances, power to
forgive, power to cast out demons, power to work miracles, power to achieve
usefulness in this life and happiness in eternity. This is the power of the
Holy Spirit, and it's yours through the experience of Pentecost, for
(Acts 1:8) “You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit
which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses to earth's end."
Peaks
of Divine Opportunities
Now look to the EAST and site the
challenging "Peaks of Divine Opportunities.” And what incredible
opportunities and open doors challenge us as Christian people in 2002! Missionary Sidlow
Baxter illustrates the opportunities Yahweh gives us for service in these
words:
There are open
doors in every life, doors of high achievement and wide usefulness and
spiritual discovery. Many of us, in moods we allow too often, look upon our
circumstances in life as barriers to attainment; but in our moments of truer
perception we discern that the imagined prison bars are in reality open doors
of opportunity.
But there are never
opened doors without opposition. [As the Apostle has written,] "For a great
door is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." There is an
opportunity in every difficulty and difficulty in every opportunity. That is
why so many blessings are missed, so many heights left unscaled,
so many fine chapters of service left unwritten. Some of the finest foreign
missionaries are those who never went! They heard the call, they felt the urge,
they were keen to go, they saw the open door and would have gone through; but
there were adversaries, obstacles, discouragements;
there was hesitation; the vision faded; and the grand vocation was never
fulfilled.
What an open door of opportunity we have in
2002! The Holy Spirit is moving on the earth like at no other time. So is
the devil. Will you defy the devil and step through the open doors Yahweh
is already providing you this year? Or will you be too wrapped up in your own
worldly goals and miss those things that count in eternity? Opportunity
stands outside the door of your heart and knocks; now will you answer?
The
Highest Peak of All
LOOK UP! Can you see the highest summit of
all -- the great hope of nations -- our burning desire as followers of the
Messiah? I'm looking up for the
immanent return of our Savior, Yahshua ben Yahweh.
I'm considering his mission -- to separate the sheep from the goats. I know the Christ is coming soon. He’s here right now. So think -- are you truly a sheep of his hand
or a goat in the wilderness? Are you a child of the Light, or does your
business prefer darkness? Are you a goat
in sheepskin or a sheep in goatskin? Are
you merely a religious hobbyist with no spiritual foundation or experience –
only tradition or curiosity? Or are you
willing to go all the way for the Mighty One in 2002?
Observe
and Consider
And as we observe the four peaks and the
great summit, as we consider the scene that spells either our greatest hope or
greatest fear, let us reflect on these truths:
We
yet see the mountain peaks from the safety of the ark. One Apostle wrote
that the ark of safety for us is our baptism into Jesus Christ, who died to win
our rescue. No such radiant peaks greet those outside the Ark. Outsiders are
already dead to life and live only to eventually die and die twice. They’re drowning in the currents of popular
culture. Drowning in
religious dogma. Drowning in luxury, poverty or apathy. They think that they will be safe treading
water, but they may only discover the truth after it’s too late.
Unlike these swimming dead, we who are
living eternally owe our Father in Heaven a great thanksgiving for extending
his lively grace to us who least deserve it.
For us and for all who will accept them:
Like sunlit peaks his mercies rise before our grateful,
wondering eyes;
Then let us trust him, and confess His endless, glorious
faithfulness.
Coming
to Rest
Noah's Ark finally came to rest among the highest
mountains, which are still called "Ararat," or "holy
ground." Ararat itself is a great mountain peak we might call "divine
assurance." And it is upon Divine Assurance that we must finally rest in
order to see the other great high places of Yahweh.
Some of us live in the basement of the Ark, in the stench of a
dead faith that’s never quite sure of anything. Such folks, like John Wesley on
his trip back to England
from Georgia,
lie hard against the ribs in the bowels of an unstable ship, hearing the thud
of the waters, while nervously asking no one in particular whether the ark can
survive the strain -- whether or not salvation will last.
Friends of Yahweh -- without true biblical
holiness, consecration and commitment, there can be no clear vision of
the blessed peaks, but only a faint light observed through the murky mire and
caustic haze of a dangerous world. But
for us above board, settled on Mount Ararat,
anxiously seeking to inhabit the divine peaks of promise, possibilities,
privileges, and opportunities, we realize just where we are now standing -- on
holy ground.
Just are we getting used to enjoying our
pleasant surroundings in the presence of Yahweh on our own Ararat, gazing out
in amazement at the other high peaks about us, just as we are becoming
acclimatized to the great altitude, we suddenly hear the trumpet-voice of
Yahweh’s Angel admonishing:
"Why are you standing around looking up? This Jesus,
who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you
saw him go." (Acts 1:11)
Yes,
indeed. Although we have arrived at the very apex of Ararat, the holy place, there
is work to be done! Seeds to be
planted! Vines to be dressed! Homes to be built! Worlds to be won!
The Prophetic Word for Ministries
We
have a double portion anointing as we flow; effectual doors open wherever we
go.
Angels
protect us with great care; signs and wonders follow us everywhere.
Favor
surrounds us on all sides; we’re walking in meekness, not in pride.
We’re
on the razor’s edge preaching your Word with great boldness, proclaiming what
we’ve heard.
We
have wisdom to know and discernment to see; the Holy Spirit leads us totally.
We
are financially blessed abundantly. We are free from the curse permanently.
We
are strengthened in all areas of life; we are abiding in peace and not in
strife.
We
have ears to hear and eyes to see; Father, we’re flowing in Your
perfect will continually.
--Stephen D. Johnson
Jackson Snyder,
January 2, 2002
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