"What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?" (Isa 5:4)
One of the great tragedies of the human race is the nation of Israel. Though created and loved by God, it provides an excellent example of the poverty of the natural man, or people without a new heart and spirit. In his fallen state, man is utterly hopeless. Even when every conceivable advantage is given to him by God Himself, no good comes from him. For some, this is too hard to receive. Yet, it is the clear declaration of Scripture.
Israel is a case in point. Its beginnings were noble, and its blessing unexcelled. It is not possible for a people to have more advantages than they. God said of them, "He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes" (Isa 5:2). The way was cleared for Israel, giving her every possible advantage. Hindrances were removed. The best vine, or most noble human stock, was planted – even father Abraham. Provision was made for God to gain glory through her, and outlets for Divine glory were created in her. God Himself "expected" good to come from her – good that would delight His heart. But it did not happen. He received "wild grapes."
The Lord reasoned with Israel. "What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?" They were given the best progenitor among men – Abraham, "the friend of God" James 2:23). They were given their own land, with the nations being driven out before them. They had the best Law, the presence of the Lord, and all of the prophets. They had the exclusive privilege of serving the Lord and possessing all of the promises. It is not possible to have more advantages than that.
Yet, after all of this, the harvest they yielded was nothing more than "wild grapes." They actually produced no more for God’s glory than the heathen who had no advantages at all. What came from them was not different from what would come from a people with no Divine benefits or promises at all. "WILD GRAPES!" What a description!
If anyone imagines men are inherently good, they need to hear what God said of this Divinely-cultured nation. They were the BEST among the nations – the most favored among the nations. Yet, they yielded "wild grapes." They had exclusive rights to "the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises." The "fathers" whom God honored belong to them, and even the Lord Jesus came from them (Rom 9:4-5). Yet, they brought forth "wild grapes."
The human race does not need mere information – not even commandments, or directions – or even benefits. None of that will change them, and that is what needs to occur – a CHANGE. New hearts and new spirits – a new nature–that is the issue. Settle it in your heart, no person, regardless of the benefits and advantages given to him, will produce anything but "wild grapes" until they become "a new creation in Christ Jesus." There is no need to philosophize about this, the Lord has given us the supreme proof in Israel, His people according to the flesh. No pleasing harvest can be produced by the natural man! He can only bring forth "wild grapes."
– Given O. Blakely
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME
"And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me." – Genesis 42:36
OVER THIRTEEN YEARS had passed since Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, had been seen. Jacob was endeared to Joseph because he was "the son of his old age" (Gen 37:3). After having sold their younger brother into slavery, Joseph's brothers had brought his blood-stained coat to their father, asking if that was Joseph's coat. Jacob concluded an evil beast had devoured his son, tearing him into pieces (Gen 37:32-33). It was a sad day, indeed, for the aging patriarch.
NOW, THIRTEEN YEARS LATER,, a hard famine had struck the land, causing hope to wither. Hearing that Egypt had a supply of grain, Jacob charged his sons to go and purchase grain for them so they could live and not die (Gen 42:2-3). Ten of the brothers went, leaving Benjamin, whom Jacob "did not send," reasoning, "Lest some calamity befall him" (42:4).
UNBEKNOWN TO JACOB, Joseph was not dead at all. Instead, he was actually "the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land" (42:6). As soon as his brothers came, Joseph recognized them, but acted like a stranger before them. He remembered the dreams he had about them, and subtly chided them by saying they were spies trying to find unprotected parts of Egypt (v 9-12). If they wanted to prove they were not spies, he told them, they would have to bring their youngest brother to him. The words rang in their ears, stirring all kinds of conviction in their hearts: "Bring your youngest brother unto me" (v 20).
UPON RETURNING HOME, the brothers gave the message to their father. When he heard the demand, Jacob replied, "You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me." Indeed, it did appear that way, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Joseph was alive and well, Benjamin was not going to be lost, Simeon was well, and Jacob was about to receive one of the greatest blessings of his life. The circumstances were not against him at all.
OH, CHILD OF GOD, Jacob is not the last person to be struck down with hopelessness, fearing everything was against him. One of the great infirmities of the flesh is that of ignorance – not being able to see what the Lord is doing. Great men of God have been driven to despair by their circumstances – men like David (Psa 18:4), Elijah (1 Kgs 19:10), and Paul (2 Cor 1:8). But faith enabled them to recover. It will do the same for you also.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE, grievous though they be, cannot change the facts. God is keeping you from falling. The angels are faithfully ministering to you. The Lord Jesus ever lives to intercede for you. The Holy Spirit is strengthening you within. And, your heavenly Father is "working all things together" for your good. That is the way things really are. Our God will "never leave" us or "forsake" us. That is His promise (Heb 13:5). So, when the experiences of life seem to be against you, ask the Lord to help your unbelief. He will do so, and you will again be joyful–in the midst of trial.– Given O. Blakely
OVER THIRTEEN YEARS had passed since Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, had been seen. Jacob was endeared to Joseph because he was "the son of his old age" (Gen 37:3). After having sold their younger brother into slavery, Joseph's brothers had brought his blood-stained coat to their father, asking if that was Joseph's coat. Jacob concluded an evil beast had devoured his son, tearing him into pieces (Gen 37:32-33). It was a sad day, indeed, for the aging patriarch.
NOW, THIRTEEN YEARS LATER,, a hard famine had struck the land, causing hope to wither. Hearing that Egypt had a supply of grain, Jacob charged his sons to go and purchase grain for them so they could live and not die (Gen 42:2-3). Ten of the brothers went, leaving Benjamin, whom Jacob "did not send," reasoning, "Lest some calamity befall him" (42:4).
UNBEKNOWN TO JACOB, Joseph was not dead at all. Instead, he was actually "the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land" (42:6). As soon as his brothers came, Joseph recognized them, but acted like a stranger before them. He remembered the dreams he had about them, and subtly chided them by saying they were spies trying to find unprotected parts of Egypt (v 9-12). If they wanted to prove they were not spies, he told them, they would have to bring their youngest brother to him. The words rang in their ears, stirring all kinds of conviction in their hearts: "Bring your youngest brother unto me" (v 20).
UPON RETURNING HOME, the brothers gave the message to their father. When he heard the demand, Jacob replied, "You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me." Indeed, it did appear that way, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Joseph was alive and well, Benjamin was not going to be lost, Simeon was well, and Jacob was about to receive one of the greatest blessings of his life. The circumstances were not against him at all.
OH, CHILD OF GOD, Jacob is not the last person to be struck down with hopelessness, fearing everything was against him. One of the great infirmities of the flesh is that of ignorance – not being able to see what the Lord is doing. Great men of God have been driven to despair by their circumstances – men like David (Psa 18:4), Elijah (1 Kgs 19:10), and Paul (2 Cor 1:8). But faith enabled them to recover. It will do the same for you also.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE, grievous though they be, cannot change the facts. God is keeping you from falling. The angels are faithfully ministering to you. The Lord Jesus ever lives to intercede for you. The Holy Spirit is strengthening you within. And, your heavenly Father is "working all things together" for your good. That is the way things really are. Our God will "never leave" us or "forsake" us. That is His promise (Heb 13:5). So, when the experiences of life seem to be against you, ask the Lord to help your unbelief. He will do so, and you will again be joyful–in the midst of trial.– Given O. Blakely
Monday, June 1, 2009
THE END IS NOT YET
"And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet." (Mark 13:7)
JESUS was with His disciples on "the Mount of Olives opposite the temple." Only four of them were present, Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mk 13:3). Prior to this, Jesus had been watching "how" people put their money into the Temple treasury. After beholding "a certain poor widow" put in two small coins, Jesus called His disciples aside and said, "Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" (Mk 12:41-44). Then, as He "went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!'" (13:1). It was as though the disciple was saying, "These buildings cannot be maintained with small coins! How is it that You say this woman has given the most?"
IT WAS THEN that Jesus boldly declared, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (13:2). The saying perplexed the disciples. Later, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, "Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" (13:3-4). Matthew unveils the fact that they actually asked three questions: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt 24:3). Jesus then began to unfold to them facts concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the holy city, as well as events related to the end of time. He showed them how the devastation of Jerusalem was also a portent of the end of the world, in which all men would made accountable.
FOREMOST in His answer was the warning NOT to be deceived by any man (v 5). "Many," He said, would come in His name, actually saying "I am Christ," or the one appointed to bring deliverance and resolution to the world. Tremendous global disturbance would occur among the nations, as "wars and rumors of wars" would rise to the consternation of many (v 7). Frightening things, indeed – at least to the flesh.
IN SOVEREIGNTY, however, Jesus allays the fears of the interrogating quartet, adding that there is yet more to come. "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet." The words sound strange. Why did He say them?
THE POINT of His Word was that the world is operating under a Divine agenda. Jesus was not simply announcing grievous things to come, but pointing them to "the end." There is a purpose being fulfilled in the earth, and it is strictly governed from heaven. The troubles rising in the earth are evidence of iniquity boiling over, revealing the wickedness of men and the extent of their rebellion against God. "The end" will not come until this has been sufficiently manifested to declare God is righteous in His judgment of the wicked and exoneration of the righteous.
WITHOUT being filled with morose or fearful, God's people must adopt "the end is not yet" mentality. In other words, they must recognize that until the end, trouble and disturbance are actually normalities in this wicked world. They should neither frighten nor discourage us. Rather, they are to assist us in preparing for "the end," when they will all be terminated.
– Given O. Blakely
JESUS was with His disciples on "the Mount of Olives opposite the temple." Only four of them were present, Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mk 13:3). Prior to this, Jesus had been watching "how" people put their money into the Temple treasury. After beholding "a certain poor widow" put in two small coins, Jesus called His disciples aside and said, "Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" (Mk 12:41-44). Then, as He "went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!'" (13:1). It was as though the disciple was saying, "These buildings cannot be maintained with small coins! How is it that You say this woman has given the most?"
IT WAS THEN that Jesus boldly declared, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (13:2). The saying perplexed the disciples. Later, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, "Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" (13:3-4). Matthew unveils the fact that they actually asked three questions: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt 24:3). Jesus then began to unfold to them facts concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the holy city, as well as events related to the end of time. He showed them how the devastation of Jerusalem was also a portent of the end of the world, in which all men would made accountable.
FOREMOST in His answer was the warning NOT to be deceived by any man (v 5). "Many," He said, would come in His name, actually saying "I am Christ," or the one appointed to bring deliverance and resolution to the world. Tremendous global disturbance would occur among the nations, as "wars and rumors of wars" would rise to the consternation of many (v 7). Frightening things, indeed – at least to the flesh.
IN SOVEREIGNTY, however, Jesus allays the fears of the interrogating quartet, adding that there is yet more to come. "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet." The words sound strange. Why did He say them?
THE POINT of His Word was that the world is operating under a Divine agenda. Jesus was not simply announcing grievous things to come, but pointing them to "the end." There is a purpose being fulfilled in the earth, and it is strictly governed from heaven. The troubles rising in the earth are evidence of iniquity boiling over, revealing the wickedness of men and the extent of their rebellion against God. "The end" will not come until this has been sufficiently manifested to declare God is righteous in His judgment of the wicked and exoneration of the righteous.
WITHOUT being filled with morose or fearful, God's people must adopt "the end is not yet" mentality. In other words, they must recognize that until the end, trouble and disturbance are actually normalities in this wicked world. They should neither frighten nor discourage us. Rather, they are to assist us in preparing for "the end," when they will all be terminated.
– Given O. Blakely
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