I Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
(To me, "uncertain riches", means the money we have saved, especially in bank accounts.)
I think this is a exhortation telling us not to become "stingy".
Certainly I would not want to spend all the money I have saved, but neither would I want to become miserly and fear spending some of the money. The needed thing, for me, is to feel God has approved my spending money on that project.
In all things, pray, asking God to show you what to do, and do that word which comes down from above.
It is the Holy Spirit who knows the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians. 2
12 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
I've
found most church denominations know very little about God for so many
of them do not have the Holy Spirit in them. Even in the so called "spirit filled" churches, the Holy Spirit is often missing.
And while they speak of the Holy Spirit, I've never hear any preacher at any church teach about the work of the Holy Spirit.
Unless you are born again, the apostle Paul says you cannot know the things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We
are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because
that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of
you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So
that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience
and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which
is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be
counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all
them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that
day. 11 Wherefore
also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the
work of faith with power: 12 That
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in
him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1.Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not,
Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy WORD hath provided— Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
2.Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3.Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
(Click pause symbol, " ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)
James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. ***
Genesis 8:22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. God set all things in the solar system and they are faithful to continue in the commandment of God. We see the faithfulness of God's word day by day as the seasons continue and as the sun is visible day by day. As God is faithful in this word, we can have faith God will perform every word HE has given us.
I've often heard individuals speak of watered down messages at church.
The reason this happens is they omit some things because they know the scripture would offend some people.
For example: This scripture would offend many in the congregation.
Jesus said, to the men in the church, Matthew 5:32
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for
the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever
shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
-
If a man divorces a faithful wife and she remarries she commits
adultery and her husband who divorced that faithful wife will be the
cause of her adultery.
- The man who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.
(I've never heard this scripture spoken at any church group though this is what Jesus said and it is in the NT Bible.)
Also I've never heard the following spoken at any church group although Paul said this is a commandment of the Lord for the NT church.)
I Corinthians 7:10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
(On this Podcast, other NT scriptures I have never heard taught at either the main church service nor at a church Bible class.)
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For
when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But
let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of
faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish (warn) you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And
the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is HE that calleth you, who also will do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.
2.Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3.Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
(Click pause symbol, " ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Work of Angels: Bible examples
Angels come down from heaven as commanded by God to do various works of God according to the will of God.
* An angel of the Lord told Zacharias that
his wife Elisabeth would bear a son and they were to call his name John. Luke 1:11-15And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him,Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
***
Luke 1:39-44
Mary, who is carrying Jesus in her womb, visits her cousin,
Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist in her womb ... The baby,
John the Baptist, is filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb
as soon as Mary with the baby Jesus enter the room ...
And
Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and
saluted Elisabeth. 41And
it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the
babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
And
she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
***
Luke 1:16-17 ... concerning John the Baptist ... And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before HIM (before Jesus) in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
***
* The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary to tell her she would have a son and to call His name Jesus. Luke 1:26-38And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her,Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the
Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:
And HE shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of HIS kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her,The
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall
overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God.
And,
behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old
age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
And the angel departed from her.
***
* An angel told Joseph not to fear to take Mary for his wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 1:18-25Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was
espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child
of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for HE shall save His people from their sins.
Now
all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the
Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and
shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which
being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name Jesus.
***
* An angel of the Lord told the
shepherds that the Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born and they could
find Him in a manger in Bethlehem.
Luke 2:8-15And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
***
* An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him to take Mary and Jesus and flee into Egypt and to remain in Egypt until the angel gave him word to return.
Matthew 2:13-14And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream,saying,
Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt,
and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young
child to destroy Him.
When he arose, he took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt
***
* Later an angel told Joseph to return into the land of Israel for the ruler who wanted to kill the baby Jesus was now dead.
Matthew 2:19-21But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying,
Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of
Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
And he arose, and took the young child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
***
* When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan 40-days, angels ministered to Him.
Mark 1:12-13And immediately the spirit driveth Him (Jesus) into the wilderness.
And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts;and the angels ministered unto Him.
***
* An angel of God moved the great stone which sealed the tomb of Jesus.
Matthew 28:2And, behold, there was a
great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and
came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
***
* An angel of God came down from heaven to free Peter from prison.
Acts 12:1-11Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
And
when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to
four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to
bring him forth to the people.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And
when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers
before the door kept the prison.
And,
behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the
prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise
up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now
I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath
delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of
the people of the Jews.
***
* An angel delivered a message to the apostle Paul, telling Paul no harm would come to him and those on the ship.
Acts 27:18-25And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
And
when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest
lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
But
after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said,
Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete,
and to have gained this harm and loss.
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
*** Genesis 28:10-12
And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he
lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the
sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for
his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Angels descend, carrying messages from God and doing works of God.
Then angels go back to heaven where God assigns them as He wills.
***
Psalm 103:20Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.
***
(Comments
by Joan Boney ...) The night of January 10, 1980, I was asleep and
awakened by a very loud trumpet-like voice which blew 3 words into my
ear as follows: "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS" ... I believe this to have been an angel of God speaking to me.
By this and through prayer, I came to believe God was leading me to go
on radio. Within about 5 days of this word, I was broadcasting
exhortations week-days on KWJS radio. Within a year I was on radio
stations from NYC (Hartford) to Seattle.
***
Psalm 104:4 Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire:
***
Exodus 23:20-25 God says: Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for MY name (the Word) is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
For
Mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites,
and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites,
and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. Thou
shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their
works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their
images. And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and HE shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
***
Notice how angels deliver messages from God to individuals. Angels also do great works. It was an angel who moved the large stone from the front of the tomb of Jesus.
***
It is not so much delighting in the fact that an angel appeared to you but rather delighting and following that wordwhich the angel of God delivered to you.
Jesus Christ is The Word. Live in The Word, doing The Word. Walk in The Word, doing that.
An example:
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Measure everything by this: "Do I have peace about this?"
Let peace rule in all your decisions.
If you have peace, do it. If you do not have peace, don't do it and return to God in prayer concerning that which you should do.
This is how you walk in Christ. "Do the Word brought to your mind by God in the issues of this present life."
💥💥💥
When we are about to explode and tell someone off, learn to pray: "God ... don't let me say that."
It's your own flesh trying to take over and rule. Don't allow that to happen.
The apostle Paul kept his own flesh crucified (dead) with Christ (the Word.)
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ (The Word): nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ (The Word) liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
WHO loved me, and gave Himself for me.
When we read the Bible and see the word, "The LORD", learn to automatically translate "The Lord" to "The Word", as follows.
Psalm 23
The Lord (The Word) is my shepherd. I shall not want.
(I shall not want because I follow The Lord, The Word, doing what HE says.)
Example: In 1984, I lived in a rented apartment in Dallas, Texas. I decided to move to the city where my mother lived. My dad died 2 years before that and I felt she needed help. I could do my work anywhere so it didn't matter where I lived for most of my assignment from God was exhorting the church by writings.
We owned a 4 unit trailer park. My mother lived in a house trailer on that lot. I could purchase a trailer, paying cash, and live on that lot. I went to look at trailers. But I just didn't like house trailers. (They didn't feel stable to me.)
I thought maybe I could build 2 apartments on that trailer lot and sell my mother's trailer.
I found a contractor who said he thought he could build the apartments for $45,000 each. I had money to pay for one unit and the money my dad left us would pay for the second apartment. So that is what I did. The apartments were very nice. But the neighborhood was noisy!
I found a lot located on the golf course and could purchase that lot for $13,700. I had the cash and bought that lot. I figured I could either build later after saving money or sell that lot since it was a desirable location.
(God showed me in 1975, to get out of debt and stay out of debt so that has been the way I have operated. I save the money and then do the project when I can pay cash.)
Five years after buying the golf course lot, I had saved enough money that I could probably build by selling the 2 apartments.
One apartment sold for $55,000. I rented the other apartment for the next 10 years and accumulated $40,000. I built the lot with the money from the one apartment and money saved by my mother, paying $100,000 cash to build on the golf course. When my mother died 10 years later, I put the golf course lot up for-sale and it sold for $227,000. I used that money to build a house in Lubbock, Texas, where I lived for 19 years. God showed me I wouldn't be able to continue to live alone as I had been doing because now I was 81-years-old. God showed me to move to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and live with a member of the body of Christ. She was currently finishing converting a downstairs room into a bedroom and had turned a downstairs bath into a full bath. It was critical to have downstairs bed/bath because I had an accident and could not walk except a little with a walker so I couldn't climb stairs to up-stairs bedroom.
She didn't want to take any "rent" from me but I insisted paying her $500 per month. When the house in Texas sold, I began paying her $1,000 per month.
The Texas house sold for $308,000. I put that money into an MMDA at the Colorado Bank.
Later that money allowed me to do many things I could not have done otherwise. God provided for me to live well by the money from the 3 building projects. This was God's plan to provide for me in old age! (Though I didn't know this at the time I was building those houses.)
But best of all I was now living with another true believer in God! God caused her to prosper through the money I was paying her monthly. And God caused me to prosper when I no longer had upkeep on housing as I did when I owned the house in Texas.
I followed after various scriptures during those years, not money ... But what I did turned into money.
The apostle Paul said, concerning women speaking in the church.
I Corinthians 14
34
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted
unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as
also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
💥💥💥
When I asked God, "What about this?"
God said to me, "Look at that which these women were doing."
I
reread the above scripture and I felt they were asking questions during
the church meeting and bringing disruption and then Paul said, "And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home."
I've seen women cause disruption at Bible classes with questions ... and once I saw a woman disrupt the pastor at church ...
I will share on this podcast scripture God gave to me on this matter.
I'm in no way in disagreement with what I believe Paul was speaking in I Corinthians 14.
Furthermore
then we beseech you, brethren, andexhort you(warn you)by the Lord Jesus (the Word), that
as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye
would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That
no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that
the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and
testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us HIS holy Spirit. 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And
indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but
we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 13 But
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 15 For
this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive
and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are
asleep (dead). 16 For
the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: 17 Then
we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1.Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, The shadow of a mighty Rock Within a weary land; A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way, From the burning of the noontide heat, And the burden of the day.
2.Oh, safe and happy shelter! Oh, refuge tried and sweet! Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love And heaven’s justice meet *. As to the holy patriarch That wondrous dream was given, So is my Savior by the cross A ladder up to heaven.
3.There lies beneath its shadow, But on the farther side, The darkness of an awful grave That gapes both deep and wide; And there between us stands the cross, Two arms outstretched to save, Like a watchman set to guard the way From that eternal grave.
4. Upon that cross of Jesus Mine eye at times can see The very dying form of One, Who suffered there for me; And from my smitten heart, with tears, Two wonders I confess, The wonders of His glorious love, And my own worthlessness. 5. I take, O cross, thy shadow For my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than The sunshine of His WORD; Content to let the world go by, To know no gain nor loss, My sinful self my only shame, My glory all the cross.
(Click pause symbol, " ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)
* where heaven’s love And heaven’s justice meet: heaven's love is shown by God's sacrifice of His Son, and Jesus' willingness to die for us. Heaven's justice requires payment for our sins for it to be just. The only payment sufficient to justify our sins is the blood of Jesus.
***
Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:
Hebrews 9:22 ... and without shedding of blood is no remission. ***
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.
The way of life and truth is The Word of God.
When we go that way, we live in HIM, doing that which HE says.
***
Psalm 119:105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:130The entrance of THY words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. *** II Timothy 3:16-17All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. *** I Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
