The Secret Things Belong to God - Day 93 Through the Bible

The Energy Xchange in Burnsville, NC, near Mt. Celo Church.

"EnergyXchange's mission is to apply the use of renewable resources and practices for educational opportunities and economic development in the fields of art and horticulture."

My Lessons/Reflections/Applications From Today's Readings

The Secret Things Belong to God - One of the sermons that most impacted by life - my need at that time - was from an elderly Scottish minister visiting the United States.  The sermon was entitled, "The Intercessory Work of the Holy Spirit."  I have linked to that sermon below.  It may take a moment to get accustomed to the beautiful, deep Scottish brogue, but the wisdom to be gleaned from that message will be worth it, I think.  One of the more salient points Alexander made was that we are to deal with what God has revealed to us, not spend time trying to figure out what God has chosen not to reveal.  Deut. 29:29:  "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

A Heart to Perceive, Eyes to See, Ears to Hear - (Deut. 29:4)  These come from the LORD and were withheld from the unbelieving Israelites but are given to believers today through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:  (Eph. 1:17-18) ..."that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints..."

The Curse - Following the Dictates of One's Own Heart - (Deut. 29:19-20)  '...he blesses himself in his heart, saying, "I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart" - as though the drunkard could be included with the sober...the LORD would not spare him; ...every curse written in this book would settle on him.'  This, of course, happens throughout Israelite history (and our own) and becomes a warning of the prophets and proverbs: a man doing what is right in His own eyes and ignoring the Word of God.(Proverbs 14:12, 21:2, 26:12; Judges 17:6, 21:25; Isaiah 1:18, Jeremiah 5:18-25.  "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (Deut. 30:14).  "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing...therefore choose...love the LORD your God...obey His voice...cling to Him." (Deut. 30:19-20)

I Am Not Worthy / The Compassion of Christ for the Glory of God - (Luke 7)  The centurion - a Gentile - showed more faith than any in the nation of Israel - God's chosen people.  We have seen this comment before coming from Jesus in regard to Gentile believers.  They realized they were not worthy of the Lord's mercy, but they also were led by great faith to call on His compassion.   Christ's compassion extends to those in extreme sorrow and distress and leads to His bringing the widow's only son back to life.  'And He said, "Young man, I say to you arise.  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.'  The result, as with all of Christ's miracles:  God was glorified. (Luke 7:14-16)  In this miracle, we see a glimpse of the coming passion of Christ - dying that men might live eternally, presenting the redeemed to His Father - all for the glory of God. (John 17)

Encouragement for the Discouraged - Jesus encourages the condemned prophet, John the Baptist: The Mission is being accomplished, the promised Messiah is fulfilling prophecy - "the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them."  (Luke 7:22-23).  There are, of course, both physical and spiritual implications to these miracles. But the greatest encouragement is reserved for us as believers:  "For I say to you among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7:28)

The sermon mentioned in the blog post: "Intercessory Work of the Holy Spirit"  Dr. Eric Alexander (Message by the Scottish Minister from Glasgow, Scotland.)