Dr. John Reddy

Monday, March 12, 2012

Israelites Walked on Dry Ground

Israelites Walked on Dry Ground

When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Exodus 15:19
He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot--come, let us rejoice in him [Psalm 66:6].

The LORD directed the children of Israel southward to Pi Hahiroth, somewhere west of the Red Sea. This made escape from pharaoh seem impossible, but made the miracle of dividing the Red Sea more marvelous. Pharaoh thought they were trapped and set out after them with his army. When the children of Israel raised their eyes and saw the Egyptian army marching after them they were naturally petrified, but wisely cried out to the LORD. Yet, quickly complained to Moses, saying it would have been better for them to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. This was sheer unbelief on their part. Moses told them to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.

One of the greatest miracles in all history was about to occur:
The LORD instructed Moses, ..."Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."

The Angel of God took His place as a pillar of cloud at the rear of the host of Israel, protecting them from the Egyptians. The pillar of cloud provided light for the Israelites and darkness for the Egyptians. At Moses' bidding the Red Sea parted, forming two walls of water with a path of dry land between. The Israelites passed through safely, but when Pharaoh's army tried to follow, the LORD.. troubled them and disabled their chariots so that they drove them with difficulty. Before they could retreat, the sea closed in on them at Moses' command.

The same faith that opened up the Read Sea enables us to do the impossible when we are moving forward in the will of God. May God help us to walk in faith.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

God Disciplines His Children

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. [Hebrews 12:5-8]

God Disciplines His Children

The passage distinctly states that God’s discipline is a proof of His love, and no son of His escapes chastisement. By remaining submissive to the chastening of God, we permit His discipline to m old us into His image. If we try to short-circuit His dealings with us, He may have to teach us over a longer period of time, using more instructive and consequently, more difficult methods. There are grades in the school of God, and promotion comes only when we have learned our lessons.

So when testing comes to us, we should realize that God is treating us as sons. In any normal father-son relationship, the father trains his son because he loves him and wants the best for him. God loves us too much to let us develop naturally.

In the spiritual realm, those who do not experience God’s discipline are illegitimate children, not true sons. After all, a gardener does not prune thistles, but does prune grapevines. As in the natural, so it is the same in the spiritual.

Most of us have experienced discipline from our human fathers. We did not interpret this as sign that they hated us. We realized that they were interested in our welfare, and we paid them respect.

How much more should we respect the training of the Father of spirits and live! God is the Father(or source) of all beings that are spirit or that have a spirit. Man is a spirit dwelling in a human body. By being subject to God we enjoy life in its truest sense. God’s discipline is always perfect. His love is infinite and His wisdom is infallible.

A Father Disciplines His Child

A father disciplines his child

“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. ” [Hebrews 12:9-11]

Saturday, March 10, 2012

"How shall we escape if we neglect such a GREAT SALVATION?"

"How shall we escape if we neglect such a GREAT SALVATION?"

Jews attached special importance to the ministry of angels in their history. Perhaps the leading instance of this was in the giving of the law when myriads of angelic beings were present (Deut. 33:2). It is true that the law was spoken through angels. It is true that it was valid. It is true that every infraction was punished accordingly.

If those who broke the law were punished, what will be fate of those who neglect the gospel? The law tells men what they must do and they must not do; the gospel tells men what God has done. By the law is the knowledge of sin; by the gospel is the knowledge of salvation.

To neglect so great salvation is more serious than to transgress the law. The law was given by God through angels, to Moses and then to the people. But the gospel was spoken directly by the Lord Jesus Himself. Not only so, it was confirmed to the early Christians by the apostles and by others who heard the Savior.
God Himself authenticated the message by signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of all these miracles was to attest to the truth of the gospel, especially to the Jewish people, who traditionally asked for some sign before they would believe.

When the Son of Man returns to reign over the earth, man’s dominion will be restored. Jesus, as Man, will restore what Adam lost, and more besides. So while we do not see everything under man’s control at the present time, we do see Jesus, and in Him we find the key to man’s eventual rule over the earth.

God’s gracious purpose was that Christ might taste death for everyone. The Savior died as our Representative and as our Substitute; that is, He died as man and He died for man. He bore in His body on the cross all God’s judgment against sin so that those who believe on Him will never have to bear it.

Dear friend, do you believe the gospel? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, who died as a Substitute for you? “…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

Friday, March 9, 2012

Put on the full armor of God

BE STRONG IN THE LORD

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph. 6:14-17.

The first preparatory command is that we should be continually strengthened in the Lord and in the boundless resources of His might. God's best soldiers are those who are conscious of their weakness and ineffectiveness, and who rely solely on Him.

The second instruction is concerned with the need for divine armor. The believer must put on the whole armor of God that he may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil. It is necessary to be completely armed; one or two pieces will not do.

The devil has various stratagems--discouragement, frustration, confusion, moral failure, and doctrinal error. He knows our weakest point and aims for it. If he cannot disable us by one method, he will try for another.

The first piece of armor mentioned is the belt of truth. Certainly we must be faithful in holding the truth of God's word. The second piece is the breastplate of righteousness. Every believer is clothed with the righteousness of God, but he must also manifest integrity and uprightness in his personal life. The soldier must have his feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. We must be ready to go out with the good news of peace, and therefore an invasion into enemy territory. When we relax in our tents, we are in deadly peril.

In addition, the soldier must take the shield of faith so that when the fiery darts of the wicked one come at him, they will hit the shield and fall harmlessly to the ground. Faith here is firm confidence in the Lord and in His word. The helmet God provides is salvation. If God is for us, who can be against us?

Finally, the soldier takes the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The classic illustration of this is our Lord's use of this sword in His encounter with Satan. Three times He quoted the word of God--not just random verses but the appropriate verses which the Holy Spirit gave Him for that occasion.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying. May God give you strength to overcome the devil.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

"The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me..."

"The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me.."

As a shepherd Abel sanctified his work to the glory of God, and offered a sacrifice of blood upon his altar, and the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering. This early type of our Lord is exceedingly clear and distinct. Like the first streak of light which tinges the east at sunrise, it does not reveal everything, but it clearly manifests the great fact that the sun is coming. As we see Abel, a shepherd and yet a priest, offering a sacrifice of sweet smell unto God, we discern our Lord, who brings before His Father a sacrifice to which Jehovah ever hath respect.

Abel was hated by his brother--hated without a cause; and even so was the Savior: the natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed. Abel fell, and sprinkled his altar and sacrifice with his own blood, and therein sets forth the Lord Jesus slain by the enmity of man while serving as a priest before the Lord. "The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." Let us weep over Him as we view Him slain by the hatred of mankind, staining the horns of His altar with His own blood. Abel's blood speaks. "The Lord said unto Cain, The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.'"

The blood of Jesus hath a mighty tongue, and the import of its prevailing cry is not vengeance but mercy. It is precious beyond all preciousness to stand at the altar of our good Shepherd! to see Him bleeding there as the slaughtered priest, and then to hear His blood speaking peace to all His flock, peace in our conscience, peace between Jew and Gentile, peace between man and his offended Maker, peace all down the ages of eternity for blood-washed men.

Abel is the first shepherd in order of time, but our hearts shall ever place Jesus first in order of excellence. You great Keeper of the sheep, we the people of Your pasture bless You with our whole hearts when we see You slain for us.

[Delivered By C. H. SPURGEON]