Dear fellow sojourners, I pray all is well with you. I can't thank you enough for tuning in to Jehovah Productions yet again. If you are a new, or an older, visitor to this site, my expectancies remain the same. That the Words here will be from the Lord of Glory and not my own. That they will quicken your hearts with His love. That we all may grow closer to Him and each other as we are washed with the Living Word. That all of us would be encouraged and strengthened to endure the times in which we live. Let us pray, Holy God, we come to you yet again on bended knees before the One who loved us first. Praising You, worshipping You and thanking You for all You have, are and will do for us...Your children. Please reduce us to love. Give us grace to be light to those around us and may we have joy and faith at Your Appearing. We love You. In Your Son's name we pray, and in our Lord's name we kneel....in Jesus...AMEN.
Let's start off with a funny story that happened to me not so long ago. And of course, just like every incident that happens to me, the Holy Spirit gave me a message about it. Enjoy ! Not so long ago, I was on my way to the eye doctor. This particular journey takes about an hour and a half, and the highway runs right through the most beautiful sections of mountainous North Carolina. I have noticed previously, that about five miles from my destination there was a pullover, or rest area of sorts. It was just a large paved section, a guard rail where you could stand and see the most breath-taking view, and a path. Now it seemed to me that the path wound itself down quite a slippery slope and was intended for the most experienced of hikers. I figured that I am one since I live on a mountain and walk up and down it many times a day. I brought my boots to change into after my doctor visit. My friend, Mr. Camera, was sure to come too, along with a pack of crackers and a good ole Mountain Dew. I had it all planned out, or so I thought. I just had to check this place out. Why? Because I could hear rushing water from somewhere way, way below. How could you fault me from investigating?
So, after my visit at the ole eye clinic, I got back on the highway headed home. I was quite excited because I knew that in about fifteen minutes I would be off on another of thousands cool adventures. I couldn't get my seat belt off fast enough as I came to a stop near my path, which I hoped would lead to yet another waterfall out in the middle of nowhere. What a picture perfect day, not a cloud in the sky. On with the hiking boots, grabbed my camera and munchies and off I go. Well, right away, I noticed that this path went almost straight down into a rain forest like setting. Hunted and found an appropriate walking stick which would help me traverse this hazardous setting. Down I go with sounds of a waterfall echoing off the trees and finding its home in my ears and heart. If anyone was watching, they first might say to themselves, "look at that fool." But after careful observation they would change their tune to, "wow, that boy knows what he is doing." I must admit, I was pretty proud of the way I used that walking stick, tree branches and anything else I could find to scoot down that mountain. Getting back up though....umm, well, we will cross that bridge when we get there.
And there she was in all her glory. Mrs. waterfall herself, cascading from a height of about 100 feet and dumping into a meandering river below. I can never get enough of these things. Snapped about 20-30 pictures and sat down to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells while I sipped on my Dew and let the peanut butter and cheese crackers do their magic. How can anyone deny that we have a most glorious God who created so much for our enjoyment. As I pondered such things, along with how I would climb back up to my awaiting chariot....things turned ugly.
Instantly, and out of nowhere, came high winds; lightning; thunder and torrential rain. This was one of those praying moments for sure, and pray I did. "Please Jesus, help me get back up this slippery mountain. Oh God, please keep my camera dry, shelter me please from this horrific onslaught of just plain nastiness." This is just great, here I am in the middle of nowhere. No umbrella, no protection and the slope is getting more slippery each passing second. Oh Jesus, please help! And there it was folks. Like an oasis in the middle of a parched, barren desert. Like a life preserver found floating nearby a drowning man. Like a hot fudge brownie delight appearing in all it's glory at the end of a fast. OK, I got a little carried away there. There it was, about thirty feet away. My own personal Rock cleft.
I don't know if you can slip your way uphill, but I sure did. What a difference here in my cleft of the Rock. My enemies, those things which sought to destroy me and make my life miserable were still there. Just inches away the rain was still coming down in sheets. The trees were bowing to the gusty winds and the thunder rolled. (Hey that reminds me of a Bob Seger song). Like my doctor says, "Stay on task." So with that said, Jesus, thank you so much for my Rock. I guess that I stayed in that shelter for about 45 minutes total. During that time, the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about how Jesus is my Rock.
There are numerous accounts in the Bible where the word rock is used. Mostly the definitions refer to God as our shelter, covering and safe place. God put Moses in the cleft of the Rock and even covered him with His hand as His Glory passed by. In that case, God was shielding Moses from certain death. You cannot see God's Glory and live. Or at least not without the mercy-seat of Jesus to filter it. A little rabbit trail if you don't mind. You know me, I will get back to the message soon enough. Not only did God cover Moses from His Glory, but He allowed him to see the backside of God. I find that fascinating. Why? Because just in that shadow of where God had been, there was enough wisdom and knowledge imparted to Moses which enabled him to write much of the Old Covenant. That included all the laws, exact plans for the ark of the covenant, and so much more. If Moses lived today, he would be first in line to experience the fullness of God's complete Kabod. Unlike many of us, who are always running around looking for where God has been. Listen up my dear brothers and sisters, covered by the blood of Jesus, we can wrap ourselves up in God's magnificence NOW. Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
OK, I am back. Remember that old hymn, "Rock of Ages?" "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee." God wants to be our Rock. Think about it. Wouldn't that posture make God, God. The position of relying on Him for everything. He is our provision, peace, joy, healing, wisdom, grace, protection, salvation, friend and lover. He is our Almighty God. He must be our everything, or our nothing at all. Have you made Him your everything? You can right now if you want. Do you need your sins forgiven? Is sickness racking your body with pain? Do you need comfort over the loss of a loved one? Are you homeless? Are you without parents? Do you stress over not having enough provision? Would you like to have assurance of eternal life with a loving and glorious God? Do you feel hopeless and all alone? Say it with me dearly beloved. "Jesus, would you be my ROCK? And He will because He died just for that small, but powerful utterance. Those few words will bring all of heaven down for your disposal.
What I am about to tell you might seem utterly foolish on my part. I will take a chance..here goes. While I was pondering these things under my certain security of Mr. Rock, I spied another most amazing cleft not 20 feet away. Well, in my lighting fast brain, I said to myself, "Hey, there is an even bigger rock not too far away. From there, I could probably snap a few more pictures of the water fall. Because at this point, with all the rain, the falls had picked up at least ten fold. Besides, I am starting to get a drip from time to time where I am." Off I went as fast as I could. Going up more wet, and very slippery terrain, so I could snap my little picture. About five feet from my goal, down on my butt I go. Pants completely covered in mud, along with my camera case (thank you Jesus I had a case) and right arm. Got back up and went the last five feet. Took an inventory..what a mess. So much for going shopping. Guess what? From my new rock, I couldn't even see the falls.
The Holy Spirit brought me up to speed real quick. He said, "Kenny, did I lead you to that new shelter, or did you?" That was an easy one...ME. He went on to say, " You and so many others do this all the time. You get your eyes off of Me, and in that posture, you see so many things which you think will bring you better results at the moment. I am not God at that point. You are not living by faith at that moment. You have made something else God. You have put your faith in something other than Me. You have found another Rock." OUCH !!
Back to rock #1. While I was calmly waiting out the storm, (boy, that will preach) I noticed Tarzan vines everywhere. I mean the kind that are big around as your arm. I used to love watching the old Tarzan movies growing up. They designated him as, "Lord of the Jungle." He would swing from tree to tree on vines which seemed to always be at his finger tips. He would use them to haul supplies up from down below. He would use them to traverse the jungle in a short amount of time. He would be high above his enemies. Always outmaneuvering them. Tarzan was one with the Vine. It was his very own life line.
Chapter 15
The Vine and the Branches
1 "I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. 2 He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. 3 You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. 4 "Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. 5 "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. 6 Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. 7 But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. 8 This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. 9 "I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. 11 "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. 12 This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. 13 This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. 14 You are my friends when you do the things I command you. 15 I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. 16 "You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. 17 "But remember the root command: Love one another.
Hated by the World
18 "If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. 19 If you lived on the world's terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you. 20 "When that happens, remember this: Servants don't get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them. 21 "They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don't know the One who sent me. 22 If I hadn't come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn't be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. 23 Hate me, hate my Father—it's all the same. 24 If I hadn't done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn't be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. 25 Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, 'They hated me for no good reason.'
John 15:1-25 (MSG)
Goodness gracious ! Boy, that dog will hunt. You can meditate on the above passage over and over again and hardly gleam all the nuggets of gold Jesus is so lovingly laying before us. Being one with the Vine. Like the Rock, we are supposed to come to a place where our breathing in and our breathing out; where our rising up and our sitting down; where our thoughts, wisdom, peace and joy come from Him, and Him alone. We worship Him, we mediate on His Word daily...we allow Jesus to love us and we love Him in return. The Vine (Jesus) gives us all we need to sustain life. Are you one with the VINE (Jesus) today? Or are you still relying on your own smarts to get you through life? In Him, who we have our being, fruits of righteousness are produced. There will be many "good" people in hell. Does your love and goodness come from being one with Jesus, or do they come from your own abilities?
And of course we have come back to the same thing which we still seem to have problems with in the Church. And it is this:(and always will be) if we love God then we will be obedient to His commands. And His commands are not grievious. Did you know that if you are truly a desciple of the Lord Jesus, you will suffer persecution? Are we greater than our Master?
I surely can't leave you on such a sour note as that, now can I? God loves you so, so, so much that He took your place on Calvary's tree. Jesus bore the penalty of your sin on His own celestial/human body, which was death, hell and the grave. By showing this great love for you, God has basically pledged to be your all. He will never fail you or forsake you. Nothing can separate His love for you. Jesus went back to the Father and is seated at His right hand, but He is coming back. He is coming back for you. Will you be one with the VINE today? Would you make God your ROCK today? He is waiting. His heart yearns for you. So does mine.
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