(All Scripture Quotations are from the King James Bible)A Daily Look at God's Word with some thoughts to Help you in your Christian Walk.
November 8, 2008
James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,"
I have used this verse more times than I can remember. It is a verse that I pray often and refer to often in my preaching. Why has this verse become so important to me over the years? I believe the answer for me is the same answer you would give. We all understand that the most important need in our lives is wisdom. We need wisdom to make right decisions and wisdom to know the direction for our lives.
I have made many decisions in my life that I lived to regret. I made them in haste and based my decision on emotions and my desire instead of God's will and God's Word. Decisions can be made that do not in the wrong run cost us much, if they are not the best decisions. But there are some decisions that are so important, that to mess up is to cause damage to us, our families and our ministries, the rest of our days.
After going through more than thirty years of ministry, I am facing some major decisions. These will affect my family, and many others that I serve with, as well as those I serve. As a family, we are praying and will continue to pray in the months ahead. But one thing that I have stressed to my family and to myself on a daily basis, is patience. It is important that I wait on God and not get ahead of Him. That is probably my greatest challenge.
In our own thinking, we often get impatient and move too quickly for our own good. We get to looking at the circumstances, and we grow anxious and excited and tend to move too quickly without realizing the danger that lies ahead. We must learn to slow down, wait on God, and let the path before become clear through the Word of God. The Word is a "lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." When we follow the Word, it will shine before us a clear path wherein to walk. If we get ahead of the Word, we will endanger ourselves and our families.
We also must learn to trust God totally in these decisions. He knows the future and the path we are to travel. We cannot afford to get out of God's will at this point in time. The same thing applies to you. You cannot afford to miss God by moving too fast.
Just ask God to give you the wisdom you need. Wait on Him to explain the steps you are to take. Move slowly and cautiously and be sure that the peace of God is traveling with you as you go. If you lose the peace, stop and examine where you are. Don't get out of the light and don't go without His peace. That will ensure that you stay on path and that you will arrive at the place God has for you.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 23, 2008
Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."
There are many places in the Bible that you find the word "rest." We all can relate to this word, for most people I know are so busy, that if they were given the chance to do something for themselves, it would probably involve something restful and relaxing.
I travel all the time. As an Evangelist, my schedule is sometimes very hectic. Miles, long hours, and weeks away from home, all cause the heart to beg for some rest. I always look forward to the end of a long trip, so I can enjoy the rest that I can only get at home.
For the Christian, this world causes the heart to look forward to that eternal rest that is promised to every believer. After this life is over, and time is no more, we shall all rest from our labor and enjoy the prepared place that Christ promised us. There will be no more labor, no more toil and strife, but only eternal rest in the presence of God. We will lay down our armor and we will be at peace. No more conflict. No more war with self, Satan, and the world.
Should you die today, you will enter into that promised rest. Your body will die, but your spirit will live on. You will awake in the presence of God and you will rest from all your labor. But note, your works will follow you. What you have done will live on. You will leave behind a legacy. It will either be a good legacy that will continue to bring glory to God through the lives you have touched for Him, or it will live on in unfinished tasks and wasted opportunities.
As I have gotten older, I have come to realize that I do not want to leave this world without leaving behind some things of eternal value. I want to pass on to the next generation, my faith, hope, and values. I want to touch lives that will continue the work after I am gone. I want to inspire others to carry on when I am no longer on this earth. I want my works to follow me.
Have you made preparations for your works to continue for God after you are gone?
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 22, 2008
Psalms 121:1-2"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."
I had the joy of being Pastor for many years. One of the duties of a Pastor is to visit the sick and afflicted. I have spent many days in the hospital, praying and comforting those who were suffering.
I had the joy of being Pastor for many years. One of the duties of a Pastor is to visit the sick and afflicted. I have spent many days in the hospital, praying and comforting those who were suffering.
Always in those situations, a Pastor tries to comfort the sick by praying for them and by reading some portions of Scripture. The Word of God is always a comfort in times of trouble and suffering. It has a way of getting into the soul and producing a calming effect and giving hope that the situation will get better.
One of my favorite verses to read to those that were sick, was this passage. There is just something comforting about knowing that we can lift up our eyes and look toward the hills, and get help from God. We know that God resides in heaven, but in the Bible, the writers often refered to Mount Zion as the hill of God or the place where we met with God. The reference to the hills seems to point the one suffering, to the God that resides above all and sees all and is powerful enough to met our needs.
The writer also reminds us that our help comes from the Lord. There are some things that we need that doctors cannot provide. The Lord is our help and He is the one we look to.
Whether or not you are suffering, or you are just living life everyday, trying to get by. Recognize that God is your help. Look to Him today. Lift up your eyes to the hill of God. Don't be downcast and down-hearted. Look toward heaven and believe God for a better day. There is a better day coming in just a little while. We will leave behind all the suffering, sorrows, pain, and sicknesses. It will be better after while. Keep looking up. Jesus is coming soon!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 21, 2008
Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."
No one likes to talk about death, but the fact is, death has touched us all. We all have followed loved ones and friends to the grave. And if time remains, we too shall walk that path to the graveyard all so very soon.
I sometimes get to thinking about death. The thought of the grave is something that none of us cherish. I remember when my mother died, I could not hardly bare the thought of leaving my mother in that cold grave, the day we buried her. As I walked away, I felt as if I was leaving her all alone, and my heart was saddened. That is looking at it, of course, through the eyes of flesh.
But for the saved, we know that death is not the end. When we die, our bodies do return to the dust. This verse says that the dust returns to the earth. We are made from the dust of the earth, and to that dust, our bodies will return. But this verse goes on to say that our "spirit shall return to God who gave it."
Just a split second after we draw our last breathe, we shall be in the present of our Lord. As our bodies wait in the grave for the resurrection morning, our spirit returns to the very presence of God. Paul talks about his in II Corinthians 5. He explains that we shall not be found naked in our spirit state, but God will "clothe" us until the resurrection. When the resurrection takes place, the body and spirit will be reunited into a new glorified body, fashioned like unto Christ in His resurrection state. This new body will be sinless, eternal, and without sickness or pain. What a thought! No pains, sickness, or fatigue! I can't wait.
So remember we are but dust and one day, this old body will return to the earth. Our spirit will return to God until that day when we are raised and given our new body. That is something to look forward to!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 20, 2008
Judges 2:10 "And also all that generation were gathered unot their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel."
The setting for this passage follows the death of Joshua. God had used him to carry Israel across the Jordan and possess the land. When they came into the new land, they brought along with them the bones of Joseph, keeping a promise to bring him when they possessed the land.
There is a new generation on the scene. All the generation of Joshua has died. There is an entirely new generation that has taken over. They do not know the works of Moses or the great victories of Joshua. The story of Joseph is only faintly remembered by only a few. This new generation does not know the Lord. Somewhere along the way, someone forgot to tell the next generation. They failed to pass on the laws of God, the ways of God and the power and miracles of God. Instead, this new generation is left to figure out who they are, what they believe and which direction they will go in. Without instruction, they make up their own rules. Here are the sad results. The Bible says, they did "evil in the sight of the Lord."
This sounds alot like today's generation. Someone failed to teach this generation about God, His love, and His law. Someone failed to present salvation and a better way of life to this generation. Someone failed to put restraints on this generation. Someone failed to introduce this generation to old time religion and the power of God. Someone failed to teach and warn this generation of the judgment of God and the truth of heaven and hell. The results are that we now have a generation that makes up their own rules. This generation has no fear of God and no fear of judgment. We have created a Christ-less generation. We need to pray that God will turn this generation around with a real move of God. We need revival. May God grant mercy to this generation and may their eyes be opened.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 12, 2008
Job 19:25 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."
Job was a man of great integrity. He was no doubt a man of great faith. In spite of all he went through, he still refused to curse God and turn his back on Him.
He also had to be a man of hope in the future. In the midst of suffering and loss, and even the misunderstanding by his friends, he looked far ahead and saw that great day when His Redeemer would stand upon the earth. He saw his Redeemer alive and in control of the affairs of man. This is what man Job a great man.
We too are often faced with circumstances that challenge our faith. Our world as we know it, is turned upside down. Everythng we have dreamed and hoped for, seems to all vanish in a moment. But we that are saved, have a hope beyond this life. We know that we trust a living God who will not fail us. He is alive because He has conquered all enemies, including the last enemy called death. Having overcome death, He lives to make intercession for us. He has conquered so we may become conquerors. His victory provides for us, victory.
We also can look forward to the day, when God's plan will be implemented. Our Redeemer will stand upon the earth. All the enemies will be put down. All sorrow, suffering and pain, will be done away with. Christ will rule and reign on this earth, and we too will be a part of this wonderful kingdom.
With all of that as a backdrop for our lives, we can face each day and each challenge, knowing that at the end, when time is no more, we shall be victorious and the battle will be won. That alone gives us what we need to declare with Job, I know my Redeemer lives! Thank God, because He lives, I can face today, tomorrow and look forward to the future!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 11, 2008
Mark 10:23 "And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"
There has always been an issue when it comes to riches and rich people. Class envy and jealousy is a part of our culture. Even in religious circles, there are problems that arise out of the abundance of things.
Jesus dealt several times in his ministry with the issue of riches. He has faced a rich young ruler with the challenge of forsaking all and following Christ. Because of the ruler's riches, he refused to give up his "things" and went away sorrowful. Now you need to understand that it is not the riches that kept him or keeps any other person out of heaven. Poor people don't go to heaven because they are poor, nor do rich people go to hell because they are rich. It is one's desire and passion for the things of this world, that causes a person to reject Christ.
I want to say very honestly that there are many wealthy people who have served God faithfully through the years. Men who have prospered in their business or been blessed by a family's inheritance, have in turn been a great blessing to the kingdom of God. They have taken their abundance and put it to work in the work of the Lord. A man can have wealth and still serve God. But the fact is, that more often than not, money, wealth, and riches often stand in the way of a man's walk with God. Jesus said as much in this text.
He made it clear that it is difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom, but not impossible. If a rich man, or any man, is willing to follow Christ, believe on Him, and trust in Him for salvation, then he can be saved.
On the same hand, a poor man is at times difficult to reach with the Gospel, because of their circumstances. Their poverty makes them feel either embarrashed and ashamed, or in some cases bitter against God for their circumstances.
Whatever case you may be in, rich or poor, or just average, let me tell you for certain, that there is nothing worth going to hell over. Don't let anything stand in between you and salvation. Trust Him today!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 10, 2008
John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
It is clear to us that believe the Bible and have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, that Jesus is the Eternal God, and He and God are co-equal. Before time began, Christ existed in the beginning as well as God the Father and the Spirit. He is all God and as God, enjoys all the characteristics and powers that the Godhead possesses.
Here, Jesus is speaking of His eternality. He has no beginning or ending. He has always been. He did not begin in Bethlehem. There, He was born of a virgin and begin His earthly life as the God-man. But this was not His beginning. He was before Abraham. He was before Adam. He was before all things. All things were created by him and for Him and without Him, nothing that was made was made.
Christ uses a phrase here to speak of Himself that was introduced to Moses. God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush and told Moses to tell his people that the one that sent him was I AM. This name describes the self-existent one, the Yahweh, Jehovah. This same Jesus is the eternal God.
In the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, there are several different references to the I AM. I am the Resurrection and the Life. I AM the First and the Last. I AM the Light of the world. I AM the Door. I AM the Way, Truth, and Life. I Am the Good Shepherd. I AM the Vine. All of these depict Christ as the self-existent one who reveals himself to man. He reveals Himself in whatever situation they are in. Those who are in darkness, He becomes the Light.
Whatever you need, Christ will become that to you. He loves and cares about you and is able to do for you what no other can do. Trust Him. Believe on Him. You will not regret it!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 9, 2008
Luke 17:6 "And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed"
Several times in the Gospels, Christ refers to a mustard seed, and challenges us to have faith that is at least that large. Of course, we all know that a mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds of all. Yet, Christ says over and over again, that if our faith was mustard seed size, we could accomplish all sorts of great deeds.
He tells His disciples that they may move mountains or in this passage tell the "sycamine tree" to be plucked up and planted in the sea, if only they had mustard seed faith. Now most of us have to confess, that we have not move mountains or told trees to be moved and replanted. So it is obvious that we have a problem with faith.
The problem with faith is not its size. It does not take much faith to accomplish great things. It is not the size of our faith that matters. It is the size of our God that matters. Little faith in a Great God does big things. Yet, we cannot seem to experience that kind of success when it comes to our faith.
The problem with faith is not its source. All faith is God's faith. The Bible says five times "the just shall live by faith." One of those times, God goes on to say the just shall live by "his faith." Faith comes from God. When we claim the promises of His Word, we are accessing all the power that God has placed at our disposal. Yet, God's faith is not weakened not diminished. Then, why do we not see the great things that faith can do?
The problem with faith is not its supply. God's faith knows no limits. His faith is abundant and unlimited. We will never exhaust God's faith.
The problem with faith is in the servant, steward. It is our inability to believe and trust God, that limits faith. Jesus rebuked His disciples often with the phrase, "Oh ye of little faith." He wants us to have great faith. Great faith does not require great people. Simple, humble men can become men of great faith. What is great about faith is the one who is behind faith. God is the greatness of faith. It is trust in the Supreme One, the Mightly Elohim, the Deliverer, that makes faith great. The focus has to be on the greatness of God. The focus has to be on the ability of God. The focus has to be on giving all praise to God. But instead, faith is hindered when men try to magnify themselves for their "great" faith, as though it is all about them. Great faith says, what is done is because of God, and what happened, happened because of Him. It does not reflect to any degree, on the one who exercised faith, but instead the one who authored faith, and that is God.
So, if you can just mustard up a little faith, in a big God, you can see great things, if in the end, you make sure, that all glory, praise, and honor goes to the author and finisher of our faith. By the way, if you don't get it yet, it is all about Him!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 8, 2008
Isaiah 65:17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
We as Christians, have so much to look forward to in the future. God has planned for us a great future. In the future, God will create new heavens and a new earth. Everything as we know it, will be re-created. There will be a new earth, in which we will live. It will be free of sin, sickness, and disease. It will be as the Garden of Eden, in its original state. Perfect harmony between nature and man. All that man needs will be provided for him.
Now you say, will man be on the new earth? I say "Yes." As for us that are saved, we will be in our resurrected bodies in that day. But for those who come out of the millennium in their natural bodies, I believe it is possible that they will go into the new earth in their natural bodies, eating of the tree of life and never dying. There will be no sin, Satan, temptation, or sorrow. Christ and His Church will rule and reign with Him and those in their natural bodies will enjoy what God intended Adam to enjoy in the beginning.
Now for most of us, that just blows our minds! It is hard to grasp. But it does not stop there. God will also create new heavens. As we look into the heavens, all the stars will look different. The beauty of God will be revealed in such a way that all the universe will be proclaiming the glory of God. You will see the sky like never before.
Yet, for all the changes that will take place in earth, in heaven, and in our own bodies, nothing will compare to this one great blessing: "the former will not be remembered." We will forget all the past sorrows, failures, and even the judgment will be removed from our thoughts. We will not remember those who were cast into hell. We will not miss our lost loved ones. We will not have a desire to return to the former life. There will be no reflection of the past for us. That will be glorious for us. On the flipside, those in hell will never be able to forget. How terrible it must be, to live forever in a place of torments, and never be able to forget all the ugly, evil that you committed. I am glad I am on the winning side!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 7, 2008
Isaiah 59:20 "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion,"
I was reading my Bible this morning. I have been going through Isaiah for a while. I read this verse, and as I did, my mind fast-forwarded to a better day, and a better time, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall rule and reign in righteousness.
For the time being, the emphasis is on the Church. We are the focus during this Church Age. We have been given the Great Commission and it is our responsibility to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to every "creature." Operating under the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to preach the gospel, and through its transforming power, change the life and destiny of men and women everywhere.
Sad but true, many in the Church are failing in this responsibility. Worldliness, carnality, greed, and other sins of the flesh, have robbed the Church of its power and its focus. So many have lost sight of the goal of reaching the lost at any cost. Yet for those faithful servants, it drives us with a passion, for we know that our time in the field is short. We must work while it is day, for the night is upon us. We are fighting a warfare against spiritual powers, and therefore we must be filled with God's power so we can be able to stand in this evil day.
One thing that should encourage and excite the Church, is the hope of the future return of the Lord to this Earth. We know that we that are saved, will be "caught up" to meet Him in the air. That is the "blessed hope" of the believer. Yet, for the Jew, God's chosen people, they too have a reason to hope. Right now, in this world, the nation of Israel is hated and despised. She is attacked from without and within. She has been scattered to the four corners of the Earth. Yet, within her is the promise that Messiah will come. When Messiah, (Jesus) comes, He will establish His kingdom on Earth. The Jews will then know peace as they have never known peace. Christ, the true Messiah and Redeemer, shall rule and reign as He sits on His throne in Jerusalem. The Church, the Bride of Christ will rule and reign with Him. That will be a glorious day. There will be no more war, but everlasting peace. There will be no more sickness, but the Healer will dwell among us. We will at last enjoy the full blessings that were given to us in Christ, when we trusted Him as Savior.
So as you walk through this ungodly world today, and as you listen to all the bad news as it comes across the airways, just remember, the story is not finished. When the last chapter is finished, we will not be in the "minority." We will not be outcasts and aliens. We will not be persecuted and ridiculed. We will not be strangers. We will not be surrounded by sin and corruption. Instead, we shall live in perfect peace with the Prince of Peace. Our labors, sorrows, suffering, pain, death, fear, tears, toils of life, burdens, uncertainties, dissappointments, and everything bad, will be all passed away. What a day that will be! So cheer up! Help is on the way!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
October 6, 2008
John 16:13b "and he will shew you things to come."
When I was in Bible College, we used a textbook by a great man named J. Dwight Pentecost. The textbook was entitled "Things to Come." It is without a doubt one of the greatest books ever written dealing with Bible prophecy, or as we in the classroom would say, "Eschatology."
Eschatology is better known as the "doctrine of last things." It covers all the events following the death of Christ and goes through eternity. When Christ was crucified, buried, and ressurected, He ushered in the last days as it relates to Bible prophecy. His coming was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. When He returned back to the Father, the disciples were told to "tarry" in Jerusalem until the "promise of the Father" had come (speaking of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost). When the promise (Holy Spirit) came on Pentecost, the Church was born. With the birth of the Church came the beginning of this age we know as the Church Age or some refer to it as the Age of Grace.
I could go on for pages dealing with this subject (by the way, it is one of my favorites). But that is not my intention in this short devotion. I would like to focus on the fact that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to teach us and reveal to us these prophetic truths.
In this passage, Jesus tells us that when the Spirit comes, he will "shew you things to come." The Spirit teaches the believer the truths as they relate to the last days. And because He is the Comforter, He does it in such a way, that it creates within us an excitement and joy that should carry us through these difficult times.
Nothing about the end times, should cause the believer to fear or be discouraged. As a matter of fact, when we see these things, as bad as they are, it should cause us to lift up our heads, and rejoice, for the Lord is coming soon! Every day, the media paints a picture of doom and gloom. Sad to say, the same thing happens in pulpits every week also. Instead, we should be shouting to the tops of our lungs, that all this means is, we are about to leave this world!
Don't fear or fret during these last days. Don't let your heart be troubled, or your mind run wild. Stay focused and planted in the Word of God. Keep your heart fixed on the things of God. Pray without ceasing. Don't become unfaithful to Church, but instead, go more and get more active. Don't let Satan side track you or discourage you with the things around you. Remind yourself often, that we are just strangers and pilgrims, passing through. Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King! It could be today! Cheer Up! Take Comfort! We have reason to Hope!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 30, 2008
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
I often wonder about the “secret things” of God. As a matter of fact, most of us probably spend more time thinking about those secret things than we do the things that are revealed. I must confess, the secret things arose my curiosity. I want to know those things that He keeps from me. I want answers to those unanswered questions. I want to know things that no one else knows. I want to discover truths that have been hidden to previous generations. That is human nature.
But the truth is, we may not benefit by knowing the secret things. For one reason, the secret things may cause us to be puffed up. If we knew what God knows, surely we would want everyone else to know it. Pride is a dangerous thing. So God may withhold secret things from us for that reason. Another fact is that the secret things may cause us unnecessary fear. If we knew what was ahead of us, or what we barely avoided, or what God had protected us from, may create fear, panic, and paranoia. So God is kind and loving to protect us from those secret things.
But look for a moment at the things that are revealed. It is those things that He shows us, that are ours and our children’s. Those revelations are for the purpose of helping us to obey the law of God. He reveals things to us to cause us to become the servants and children that He intends for us to be. In these revelations, we learn about Him and about us and what it takes to accomplish His will in this life. Sadly, we make little of what He reveals, and would rather spend time discussing those deep, secret things.
May God help us to quit trying to open up some Pandora box of super secret things, that only we and God know, and instead just walk in the light that God gives us. The secret to success, is to love God, walk in obedience, and fear God, and keep His commandments. That is enough for me.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 29, 2008
Job 1:8 “And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and eschewed evil?”
Back to this man Job again, I am amazed at how this all begin. The story of Job is more difficult to understand now than when I first read it. There are just so many themes that we see as we study this book. Yet, I cannot deal with them all. I would like to look at one point that has challenged my thinking for many years.
This all began with God asking Satan, if he had ever considered Job. Imagine, God and Satan talking, and your name coming up. The setting tells us several things. Satan had come to appear before God to give an account of his actions and deeds. The angels must give an account of what they do. Even those who rebelled and fell out of heaven are still obligated to stand before God. God is still God over the rebellious angels. Herein lies my study.
God comes to Satan to hear the record of his doings. Out of the conversation, God asks Satan about Job. I often wonder what I would do, or how I would stand up, if God decided to give Satan a shot at me. I know me, and I don’t believe I would fare that well.
Nevertheless, God trusts Job’s faith enough, to give Satan the liberty to do as he pleases. There were limits to what Satan could do, but even with those limitations, it would surely be a challenge to old Job.
Now I am not about to try to understand the whys of this scenario. But I would like to point out several things that are a comfort. First, Satan cannot do anything apart from God’s permission. I am sure in the midst of Satan’s attack, that is not much comfort. But in light of eternity, it is good to know that Satan does have boundaries. Second, Satan cannot get to us, unless God drops the hedge. Now he may tempt us and try to cause our hearts to fear. But to experience the kind of temptation and suffering that Job went through, can only happen when God drops the hedge.
Last, in the end, when all the story is over, God will keep every promise He makes, and even though we may not fully understand what God is doing, we will in the end bring glory to God though our suffering.
The ways of God are difficult to understand, but all He demands of us is to trust Him. God help us to do that.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 30, 2008
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
I often wonder about the “secret things” of God. As a matter of fact, most of us probably spend more time thinking about those secret things than we do the things that are revealed. I must confess, the secret things arose my curiosity. I want to know those things that He keeps from me. I want answers to those unanswered questions. I want to know things that no one else knows. I want to discover truths that have been hidden to previous generations. That is human nature.
But the truth is, we may not benefit by knowing the secret things. For one reason, the secret things may cause us to be puffed up. If we knew what God knows, surely we would want everyone else to know it. Pride is a dangerous thing. So God may withhold secret things from us for that reason. Another fact is that the secret things may cause us unnecessary fear. If we knew what was ahead of us, or what we barely avoided, or what God had protected us from, may create fear, panic, and paranoia. So God is kind and loving to protect us from those secret things.
But look for a moment at the things that are revealed. It is those things that He shows us, that are ours and our children’s. Those revelations are for the purpose of helping us to obey the law of God. He reveals things to us to cause us to become the servants and children that He intends for us to be. In these revelations, we learn about Him and about us and what it takes to accomplish His will in this life. Sadly, we make little of what He reveals, and would rather spend time discussing those deep, secret things.
May God help us to quit trying to open up some Pandora box of super secret things, that only we and God know, and instead just walk in the light that God gives us. The secret to success, is to love God, walk in obedience, and fear God, and keep His commandments. That is enough for me.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 28, 2008
Job 1:5 “And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.”The story of Job is one that all of us stand back in awe and agree that he is surely a better man than I am. What he went through and how he responded surely challenges me to consider how weak and frail I am. Most of us never go through what he went through, at least not to the degree of suffering he experienced. Yet, he retrained his integrity.
One of the things I want to mention happened before his suffering began and is a challenge to me as a parent.His children were celebrating on their birthdays. They were feasting and have a grand ole time, shortly before destruction hit.Job was aware of the actions of his children. No doubt, they had been instructed by this man of righteousness. And no doubt, like many of our children, they at times would “push the envelope” to see how far they could go without serious repercussions.
Now possibly, these particular feast days were innocent. It could be that they were just brothers, sisters, and friends, enjoying the festive atmosphere. But Job was a wise parent. He knew within his heart, that possible some things went on, that would not only displease him, but would displease God. Sometimes children do not see the repercussions of their actions. They just live for the moment. But Job knew better. So Job decided that it would be necessary to offer sacrifices on behalf of his children, in case they had sinned against God.
Now you and I cannot offer sacrifices for our children, nor can we “confess” for them. The days of sacrifices are over. But we can and should, intercede for our children, not only in times of potential temptation, but every day of their lives. We are responsible for our children. Our role goes far beyond food, clothing, and shelter. We have a spiritual responsibility. We are to teach them, instruct them, and prepare them, not only for their future here on earth, but for their future standing before God.
Our children, like all children are not perfect. They will sin. They will be tempted. They will make some bad choices. It is our place to show them the right way and give them the tools to make the best and right decisions. Then, in our privacy, we are to petition God on their behalf, and beg His protection over them, and His conviction on them when they sin. We should also beg God to keep them tender, so when they do make those spur of the moment choices that can alter their lives, they will not go far before they correct the error of their ways. It would help if we would offer up “some sacrifices” for our children today!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 27, 2008
Matthew 4:19 "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He selected men from every walk of life, who would follow Him and share in the great work of the Gospel. As He came to those first few disciples, He used their own circumstances to illustrate the decision they would have to make. Being fishermen, they would now follow Him and become "fishers of men."
These men, who had spent their lives catching fish and selling them to support their families, would now spend their lives "catching" the souls of men, and would learn to live totally by faith. They would face some of the same obstacles that they faced as fishermen. They would face times of hard, long, difficult labor, with very little results. They would throw out the net many times, and pull it back in emtpy.
They would also face times of unexpected storms that would cause them fear and sometimes even harm. They would find themselves in the midst of uncertain storms of life, that would challenge not only their experience and training, but also their very faith in God.
They would also face times of weariness as a "fisherman." It is a hard work. It has many obstacles. It has much opposition. It is often misunderstood. Yet, there is nothing greater than carrying the Gospel to a lost world.
There would also be times of great reward. They would see those times when the "net is full and the harvest is abundant. They would rejoice over the changed lives as a result of the message they carry. They would have many things to remind them that following Christ was worth it.
We all understand that there is a lot at stake. Following Christ is sometimes difficult for the hesitant heart agree to. Yet, it will be worth it all on that day! Don't look back! Don't ever consider going back to the old nets and fishing holes. Stay true to your call and be a faithful fisher of men, until Jesus comes. You will not regret it.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 26, 2008
Genesis 26:4 "I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."
God's promise to Abraham is one of the pivotal points in Scripture. Israel, because of that promise, is the focal point in all prophecy. Whatever happens in Israel, causes all nations to take notice. Also, how each nation treats and reacts to the nation of Israel, has the potential to change the course of history.
At this present time in history, we are literally watching history being written and the cultural climate change as a result. We are seeing the nations more divided than ever. As we face a national election, most of the issues deal with the economy, national security, and healthcare. Yet, though mentioned at times, Israel is not given the consideration of importance that it holds in our national scene.
Every nation must consider their future as it relates to the nation of Israel. God promised that Israel would be the channel through which God's blessings would be delivered. He made it clear in this passage that "in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed." If that is true, and it is, our economic welfare and national security are connected to this national relationship. Yet we must accept the fact that politians as a whole, do not understand the Scriptural truth declared in this promise.
We need to pray for our leaders that no matter what happens and who is in charge, they will be granted the wisdom of God to remember that God will bless the nation that blesses Israel. We cannot afford to anger God by wrongful politics in the area of Israel and their future and safety. It affects every area of our national interest. So it is important that we pray. It is also important that we participate in our national election and cast our vote for that leader who will follow the guidelines of eternal friendship and respect for the nation in the wilderness.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 25, 2008
Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
We are reminded often in the Word of God of those individuals who were brought to the point of decision as to who they would serve. They were challenged to make up their mind, voice their choice, and serve the one they would call Master.
God also makes it clear that it is impossible to serve two masters. You cannot decide to serve "both" nor can you serve either with only a partially committed heart. You must choose who you will serve and that one must be served totally and without anything held back. It is all or nothing.
Now you and I are also brought to the point of decision as to who we will serve. The truth is that many want to go to heaven, experience salvation, but they do not want a Master or Lord to bow down to. They want a "fire escape" from hell, but they do not want a position of servitude or discipleship.
But God again makes it clear. You cannot serve both the world and God. Nor can you serve the flesh and God. You must decide to serve God totally, or you cannot enjoy the full blessings of God. Now this is not to say that you are not save, if you are still battling. Some battle this thing of "Lordship" for many difficult years. Yet their salvation is real, but their heart is still struggling with service. You must decide if you will let God have full control of your life, or you will continue to be miserable.
God wants us to have victory. He wants us to serve Him. He wants to be able to bless us and give us so many things to enjoy and experience, but we cannot just surpress our flesh and carnal desires to hold on to the world. God help us to crucify this old flesh, and let the old man die. We can live victorious. We can have peace and joy. But the old man has to die and Jesus Christ has to sit on the throne of our hearts.
Decide you will love Jesus and hate the flesh. Decide you will please Jesus and not the flesh. Decide you will desire the things of God and not the things of the world. This is the path to spiritual prosperity. Try it! You will not regret it!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 24, 2008
Isaiah 5:14 "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure;"
Hell is a subject that make many people nervous. To discuss a place, where men and women burn in a literal, burning flame, and where there is no relief or escape, makes most peole very uncomfortable. It is easier to think about a God who loves, forgives, and overlooks man's sins. God surely is too loving and kind to send anyone to a place like this. But the fact is that men who die lost without Christ, go to this awful, terrible place.
Jesus spoke more of hell than he did heaven. He described this place in the Gospels, as a place "where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." It is a place where there is no relief from the tormenting flame. It is a place of unquenchable desire for relief. It is a place of haunting memories. It is a place of tormenting demons who never stop their mockings. It is a place of loneliness. It is a place of eternal pain. There are not words to describe this awful place.
God tells us in this passage, that hell has "enlarged itself." You would think that the warnings and descriptions given, would cause men to turn away from going to this place. Yet, the number of those who are going to hell, increases in such a large number, that hell is daily growing. Statistics tell us that every second, four people die lost and go to hell. Think about it. While you are reading this article, hundreds of people will die and go to hell. Moms, dads, and young people, will die without Christ and lift up their eyes in hell.
This terrible truth should cause God's people to wake up and get busy doing all they can to turn the sinner from the error of his way. Christians should quit playing games and instead start evangelizing their communities. Churches need to begin investing in the evangelization of their towns. Instead of building our kingdoms of pleasure and self-gratification, we need to be building up the kingdom of God with the souls of men. Yet, while you read and I write, four more just went to hell. Four more, four more, four more, four more,................
How many will have to die, and how many will perish, before you get busy doing your part? Hell needs to stop growing. There is room at the cross for many more to come. Tell someone today. Reach out to that one without hope. Don't let another one go to hell without you trying to stop them.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 23, 2008
II Chronicles 15:3-4 "Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them."
The history of Israel is that of repeated spiritual apostasy, bringing God's judgment, and followed by repentance and the return of God's presence and power. Over and over again, we see the mercy and forgiveness of God demonstrated in the life of His people.
Here is one of those times. The Bible declares that Israel had been without God. There were none who taught the Law of God. With this void, there is always lawlessness. Man without restraint equals total unrighteousness. In the midst of this spiritual chaos, God always stands ready to offer an alternative.
It is hard for us to comprehend this. For us, it would seem that God would just end it all. After constant disappointment, you would think that God would just judge the entire nation and forever free Himself of this unfaithful people. How much should God have to put up with? How long should God how to deal with such a people?
Now before we get too spiritual, let's be careful to come back down to Earth. We really don't have a right to say too much about Israel. We too have been guilty of pushing God to His own limits of longsuffering. How many times have we caused God to look toward us in longsuffering and forgiveness? How many times have we promised we would do better, and we did worse? We are no different. We are made of the same clay as was Israel.
God is just too good and kind for us to really comprehend Him. Here He says in this text, that "when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found." Imagine that this same God, will in our own case, be found when we call to Him in our trouble. Even after we have done our own thing, gone our own way, and broken God's law, we can call out to Him and He will hear us. We serve a God who can be found, when we get lost. He can be hear us, when we can't hear Him. We can find forgiveness and mercy, when we don't deserve it.
God is a good God and we can rest assured that He will always be there when we need Him. We may not be ready yet to seek Him, but I believe that day will come. Hopefully, it will be soon!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 22, 2008
Zechariah 14:4 "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst therof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley;"
The next event on the calendar of the Church, is the Rapture. The Lord shall come "as a thief in the night" and catch His Bride away. We which are alive, saved, and washed in the blood, shall be caught up in the air, and we will go with Christ to Heaven. There, we will face the Judgment Seat of Christ. We will be judged to receive or lose our rewards. We will be married to Christ at that time. While that is taking place, there will be seven years of judgement on the Earth, called the Tribulation.
Immediately following those events in Heaven and Earth, the Lord shall return to this Earth with the Church in what is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. He will return to this Earth, to establish His Kingdom, where He will rule and reign for 1000 years.
When He returns on that day, He will step foot on the Mount of Olives. When He touches down, that mount will cleave in the middle, and out of it will flow a river through Jerusalem. All the nation of Israel will look on Jesus, the one they "pierced" and they will believe and know that He is Messiah. We will enter into perfect peace, in a perfect world, with a perfect King, where Christ will rule and reign in righteousness.
That day is going to happen. If you are not ready, you will not be there to celebrate in that wonderful Kingdom. While we are worshipping Christ and reigning with Him, you will be in an eternal Hell. Don't miss out! Make sure today that you are ready for His coming. He could come today. Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 21, 2008
Daniel 6:23b "because he believed in his God."
Daniel was a young man of faith and great integrity. God had given him favor in his captivity. He was promoted time and time again because of his ability to interpret dreams. But in this passage, Daniel finds himself in the midst of a den of lions. He was placed here because of his prayer life. When a law was passed that made praying to God illegal, Daniel did as he always did. Three times a day, he bowed his head and lifted his voice and ended up in prison.
But like God has done in the past, He once again showed up and protected Daniel in the lion's den. When the king cried out to Daniel, fearing the worse, his heart was made glad at the news of Daniel's safety. The king ordered Daniel to be delivered from the lion's den. Here the Bible makes several statements about Daniel. First, it says that there was "no hurt found upon him." God had protected Daniel from any harm. God is our protection!
The Bible also makes this very important statement. It declares that the reason there was no harm brought upon Daniel "because he believed in his God." Daniel's faith in his God was well known. No one who knew Daniel, had to guess whether or not he believed in God. God was first and foremost in his life. His faith had been evident early in his life. From his arrival in Babylon, he had declared this faith by his refusal to "eat of the king's meat." He would not allow his faith to be corrupted by the sinful lifestyles of the heathen. Oh that God would give us some men and women of faith, who will stand firmly in their faith, and not allow this world to take them off course.
As people of faith, it is imperative that our faith be put in action. Not just a personal, private faith, that we practice in secret. But our faith should be common knowledge. Those who know us should know our God. They should know who and what we believe. This takes courage and committment on our part, but it is possible. If a young Jewish boy can do it, then surely, we that live in this country, who are blessed beyond measure, should be able to demonstrate our faith in Jesus Christ. God help us to be a visible, vocal, Christian.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 20, 2008
Ezekiel 33:18-20 "When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways."
The question arises from time to time, "Is God Just? and Is God equal?" Man looks at the injustices of our day, and blames God and tries to prove that God is not fair and just. But let me say, God is equal.
God is equal in mercy. God shows mercy to the just and the unjust. God is also equal in judgment. He uses the same rule of law to judge each man by. When you look at this text, it proves that God could not be more fair than He is.
In verse 18, his fairness is revealed in the fact, that even the righteous, those who call Him by name and enjoy a special relationship with Him, when they commit inquity, they shall die. If God was unfair and unjust, His children would receive "special favors." You would think an unfair and unequal God, would let His children get by with their sins and not suffer such severe punishment. But God is so fair, that even when His children commit sins that are worthty of death, they too must suffer the consequences.
Note in verse 19, that the wicked can turn from his wickedness, and do that which is righteous, and God will allow him to live. Any man can repent of unrighteousness and obtain forgiveness. If God was unjust and unequal, the wicked would be passed by in forgiveness. No unjust God would ever consider mercy and forgiveness to the wicked. But this just and holy God loves sinners and will totally forgive all their sin and let them live, if they only turn from their wickedness, and receive Him as Lord and Savior. How much more fair can God be?
This God is fair and equal in mercy and judgment. When the righteous turn away, they die. When the wicked repent, they live. That is about as fair and kind and anyone could ever be. You and I had better thank God that He is that kind of God, or we would all be in hell today!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 19, 2008
Psalms 23:6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:"
As the Psalmist closes this Psalm, he reminds us of these two faithful companions, who will follow us all the days of our life. Their names are Goodness and Mercy. As a child of God, Mr. Goodness is one of our companions. He follows us through life. Goodness is manifested at salvation, and continues to show up all through life. We all have to say that God is surely good to us. We are blessed beyond words. Goodness is a benefit of the believer. It is that goodness that stands out to a lost world and testifies of God's eternal love. He is good to us even when we are undeserving of that goodness. That brings into view the second companion, Mr. Mercy.
Mercy is companion that we meet at salvation. We do not receive justice, but instead we get mercy. Mercy keeps God from sending us all to hell. Mercy allows God to take sinful man into His family. Mercy cleans our record and makes us to worthy to be sons. That same mercy that saves us, is the same mercy that follows us all the days of our life.
When we fail, mercy is there. When we have seasons of doubt, mercy is there. When we dissappoint God, mercy is there. This mercy will never leave us. There will never be a time when God will extend to us His wrath. No matter how much we fail Him, He will never withhold His mercy.
So imagine with me. As we walk through this life, we can look behind us and see these two companions walking closely behind us. Mr. Mercy and Mr. Goodness will always be there. God will always be good to His people and His mercy will last forever. Thank God for these faithful companions!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 18, 2008
Psalms 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;"
Here again, David describes the comfort that comes as a result of Christ being the Shepherd. This Shepherd leads and guides His sheep into the pastures of green. He watches and cares for His sheep as they feed in these pastures. He takes them besides the peaceful, still waters. He refreshes these sheep after walking through the desert heat and gives them the satisfaction of knowing that He is ever there by their side.
Now David looks forward to that place of danger, where at times the sheep must go. That valley of the shadow of death, was a place where many sheep were lost and destroyed. It is a dangerous place. It is a difficult place. It is a dark place for the shadows reside there and the sun does not shine. It is a discouraging place. It is a fearful place. None the less, all the sheep must walk through this valley at some time in their life.
But even in the face of this difficult place, the sheep takes comfort in the promise of the Shepherd. He knows that the Shepherd has promised to never leave him alone to himself. The sheep trusts the Shepherd. Therefore, the sheep can rely upon the Shepherd to protect him even through this dark valley.
The child of God can rest in the fact that our Shepherd will never leave us. Even when we face the darkest enemy of all, death, we know that our God will not leave us alone. So take comfort little sheep. Your Shepherd is near and He can walk you through your dark valley. He is there and you can rest in His presence. You will not be alone.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 17, 2008
Psalms 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
There is no picture used to describe our spiritual relationship with Christ, that is more beautiful than that of the shepherd and the sheep. Christ of course, is the Great Shepherd, and we are the sheep of His pasture.
Here, David the shepherd boy, describes his relationship with God and declares the The Lord, Jehovah, is my shepherd. This is personal. He is more than just "The Lord." He is my Shepherd. I know Him in an intimate way. That relationship took place because of the transaction that took place at salvation. When you get saved, you are born into the family. God as the Shepherd, begins to provide for you the necessary things to help you develope into the kind of Christian you need to be. He is responsible to care for you as a Shepherd does His sheep.
David went on to say that this Shepherd was all he would ever need. The Bible says "I shall not want." Because of this Shepherd, I will never find myself in a place of "want." He will see to my every need. He is all I need and will give me all I need. What a Savior!
A little boy misquoted this verse one Sunday in Church. He said, "The Lord is my shepherd; and that't all I want." That is true also. Not only is He all I need, but He is all I want! If you ever know Him like I know Him, you too will declare, He is all you want.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 16, 2008
Matthew 4:4,7,10 "It is written".
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan himself. For forty days, Jesus did without food and water, and separated himself from all those around Him. At the end of the forty day fast, Satan came to Him to try and tempt Jesus into making a mistake. He came at Jesus in the same way that all men are tempted.
He appealed to the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." He offered Jesus anything and everything, if He would only worship him. He tried to interrupt the plan of God and hinder Christ from doing what He came to do.
Yet with each temptation, Jesus stood firm. He did not give into Satan's offer. Though He was man, and his suffering was real, He was able to resist Satan and remain the sinless Savior and Son of God.
In this passage, we see these words three times: "It is written." When Christ was tempted, he replied with these powerful words. Jesus could have used His Divine power. He was deity, God in the flesh. Being God, He could have just spoken, and Satan would have had to flee. No one is able to stand up to the powerful Son of God. But had Jesus used His Deity and divine power, we would have been without hope in this life, for we are not Divine.
Jesus could also have used his Angelic power. He could have called ten thousand angels to withstand Satan. But had Jesus used Angelic power, we would have been without hope today, for we do not have power and authority over angels.
Jesus instead used the power of the Word of God. He replied to Satan "It is written", and Satan had to flee. He did that so that you and I, two thousand years later, can use the same power to resist Satan. When we are tempted, it is the Word of God that will give us victory. Without it, we are defenseless. Thank God for the Word!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 15, 2008
Mark 11:22 "Have faith in God."
If you ever met the great Dr. Lee Roberson, and you asked him to sign your Bible, this would have been the verse that he wrote. His life's theme and message was "faith in God." When he was about to die, Dr. Clarence Sexton, Pastor of the Temple Baptist Church in Tennessee, asked Dr. Roberson what he would have done differently if he could live his life again. His answer was that he would have "had more faith."
Now you would have to have known Dr. Roberson to understand how ironic that statement is. He no doubt was one of the great heroes of the faith in our modern generation. He was used of God to build one of the greatest soul-winning churches in America. He was used to build one of the greatest Bible Colleges in America. Thousands of lives were touched by this man and his faith. Yet at the end, he felt as if his faith needed to have been stronger.
Faith is a great gift of God. Saving faith, living faith, and then in the end, dying faith. Faith to live by and faith to die by. Faith founded firmly in the Word of God is the only kind of faith that God recognizes. Yet so many are looking for some kind of "cheap faith" promised by a TV personality. Faith does not come by "laying on of hands." Faith does not come by an annointed "hankerchief." Faith does not come by agreeing with someone praying on the TV, late at night. Faith comes by hearing and "hearing by the Word of God."
We gain our faith by reading, studying, and claiming the Scriptures. It is the Bible that gives us reason to hope and trust God. God said it and that is enough. We claim the promises of His Word, and appropriate to our lives. When the Bible comes alive in our heart, and we begin to put it into practice, then our lives begin to take on the characteristics of faith. But when we look at circumstances, our own ability, and trust in our wisdom and knowledge, we will surely fail.
Learn to walk by faith (Word of God). Learn to live by faith (Word of God). Learn to pray in faith (Word of God). Learn to do everything you do, by faith(Word of God). If is it not in the Bible, then it will not work. If you do not have a principle in the Bible to go by, then don't do it. Have faith in God. That is what works.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 14, 2008
Haggai 2:19 "Is the seed yet in the barn?
Farmers every year spend long hours preparing their fields to be planted. They plow and spray and ready the ground. Then, after much preparation, they plant the seed. Thousands of man hours have gone into this day. The seed is placed in the ground in faith believing the day will come when they will gather in the harvest, the reward for their labor.
In large fields, hundreds of bushels of grain may be planted in the ground. It may seem like a great expense of seed. But the farmer knows, that if all goes well, the return will be multipled far above that which he planted. Hundreds of bushels can turn into thousands of bushels. In some cases, the amount of harvested seed is so massive, it becomes unbelievable.
But each year at the harvest, there is a certain amount of seed that is kept back to be used to plant again. The farmer never sells or uses all of his harvest. To use it all means that there will be no harvest. So a certain amount is saved for the next planting.
But what if the farmer decides to save it all? He gathers in his massive harvest, stores it in barns, and daily walks by and feels safe and secure. Now this was his biggest harvest. He is rich. There is so much seed, we will never have need again.
The next year comes and goes, and no seed is planted. The barns still house the abundant harvest of the past. Winters come and go, but no ground is prepared. The day finally comes, when the seed begins to diminish and some even begins to rot. What the farmer had hoped for, did not happen. He failed to do what was necessary to sustain his family and secure his future. He failed to plant the seed.
Haggai describes it as the "seed is yet in the barn." We cannot hoard up the seed. We must be about the planting. Year after year, we must keep planting in hope. We may never have our barns overflowing, but we can insure each year, that we will have sufficient seed to sustain and keep our families.
The Church can not afford to stop planting. This is no time to let the fields go unplanted. We have to keep sowing seed. The Word must be distributed. Get the Seed out of the Barn! Don't hold on to it for a "rainy" day. Sow it on the job. Sow it at school. Sow it in your communities! Just get the seed out of the barn. You will get a harvest. But if you don't plant, you will not reap a harvest. Sow the Seed!
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 13, 2008
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,"
This verse is quoted frequently as proof to the reason we are in such a spiritual mess. Men cry out that "we need more preaching and more preachers." Some imply that it is a lack of old-time preaching, that has created a spiritual void. It is true to some extent, that there is a lack of real, spirit-filled, truth based, powerful preaching. But that is not what the prophet Hosea was saying.
Israel like the Church, always had a witness to testify to them of God's displeasure with their sin. Prophets were sent to Israel time and time again and their voices could be heard, as the sins of the people were proclaimed. We too, have not been without a witness. God has sent among us, great men of God, who have fearlessly proclaimed the unpopular message of repentance. Both Pastor and Evangelists, have been evident in every generation. We have a rich heritage of old-time preaching.
But God clarifies the real problem. It is not a lack of "preaching" that has created the problem. It is a lack of "hearing" that has caused God to be angered. Week after week, pulpits ring out the message of repentance. The Word of God is preached to congregations all around the world. Books, magazines, radio and TV, all provide teaching and preaching for believers. Yet, in spite of the availability of truth, the Church goes further away from God. What is the problem? Is it that truth is not available? No! It is that this generation is hearing, but not "hearing." They are seeing, but not "seeing." They sit and listen with their physical ears, but their hearts never receive the message. They say Amen with their lips, but they never repent in their heart.
We need a revival of "hearing of the Word of God." More than just the truth, but the "receiving of Truth." God help us to open our spiritual ears.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 12, 2008
Proverbs 31:28 "Her children arise up, and call her blessed:"
We come to the end of Proverbs, and to its most popular chapter. This passage deals with the virtuous woman. It describes in detail her characteristics, her work habits, her vision, and her relationships. The thing that I want to deal with is the fact that after all she does and is, when she comes to the end, her children rise up and called her blessed.
I think all of us as parents, desire to instruct our children and instill in them, the right kind of values. We want them to become all that God wants them to be. We desire to lead them and love them and hopefully one day, they will look back on us with fond memories and great appreciation.
We all want others to think of us in a favorable way. But as a parent, nothing thrills me more, than to think that my children one day will rise up and "bless" their mother and me. I long to see the day, that the things I have instructed them, will become part of them. My Bible, will become their Bible. My God, will become their God. My values and principles, will become their's. That should be every parent's desire.
But most of all, it is my desire to leave behind a heritage of old-time religion. I want them to know above all, that God was real to me. I want them to want to know God in the same way as I did. To be spoken of highly by your children, is a great reward.
This virtuous woman was not only spoken highly of by her children, but her husband also praised her. There is nothing more glorious than for a man to have a godly woman. It brings such joy and satisfaction, to live with a woman, who walks with God and lives her life to please Him. Then on the other hand, there is nothing more painful, than to live with the kind of woman Proverbs mentions several times-"a contentious woman." Someone who is constantly robbing you of peace, and creating an atmosphere of hostility, is definitely what a man needs.
We should strive to be godly, spiritual parents. That is the only way that our children can have the best chance of becoming the godly adults, that God would be pleased with. Give them something to desire to be. Give them something to bless you for, when you are gone.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 11,2008
Proverbs 30:24-28 "There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise,..."
"ants,...conies,...locusts,...spider,..."
These four creatures are used as illustrations for teaching spiritual truths. Each one points to a characteristics that should be present in the life of a Christian. Together, they instruct us as to how we can live, be successful, and prepare to meet God when this life is over.
First is the ants. They give us a picture of hard work and preparation. Most everyone has watched a colony of ants, working so hard to carry a bread crumb across the sidewalk. They lift more than their weight, and work constantly to lay up food for the coming days. They are a creature of preparation. We too should prepare for the days ahead, particularly the time after this life is over, when we stand before God.
The next creature are the conies. They live in the high rocks of the mountains. They dwell above the "snake line" and perch high above the world. Their characteristic is "vision." They dwell in a place where they can clearly see their surroundings and thereby maintain safety. We too should learn to live in the high ground, like Caleb, and claim our mountain. There, we can see where God is leading us and see clearly where He has delivered us from.
The next creature are locusts. Their characteristic is cooperation and unity. They work together and draw upon the strenght of numbers. By themselves, they cause very little damage. Together, they can destroy thousands of acres of crops. We as Christians, must learn to work together. The strength of numbers and unity is at our disposal, yet we choose to remain isolated and alone.
The last creature is the spider. His characteristic is determination. He is able to accomplish so much because of his constant, determination. He can dwell in the king's palace because he determines to. We need to be a people of determination. We do not need to entertain the thought of quitting, or facing difficulties. We can do all things through Christ.
We could become better Christians if we would learn from these small creatures.
Written By: Dr. David Harrison
September 10, 2008
Proverbs 30:11-14 "There is a generation that curseth t