THE BEWILDERING CALL OF GOD
SABBATH & SUNDAY WEEKLY WORSHIP
AUGUST 17/18, 2024
{BL 553-33}
DECLARATION
For [we are not]
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from
faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. { Rom
1:16-17 KJV}
HOLY SCRIPTURE
Sabbath Meditations : Parasha Va'etchanan (And I pleaded)
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11, Isaiah 40:1-26, John 10:1-42
Sunday Message: "THE BEWILDERING CALL OF THE LORD"
Luke 18: 27-34
OPENING PRAYER
Lord of Lords, GOD almighty, Thank You for hearing this prayer and gathering these precious souls together in fellowship on this Holy Day, Amen. We gather with hunger for Your Word, and thirst for the divine lesson that is to come. Your presence is palpable let our ears and souls be open to receive Your Holy wisdom from on high. We pray this in the name of Jesus the Christ, AMEN.
MESSAGE
"BEWILDERED, BEWILDERING, to BEWILDER" When I hear these words my mind goes back to black & white TV Westerns, or those we enjoyed at Saturday matinees. It seems that there was always an older senior cowboy who would become "Bewildered" or, "BEFUDDLED" at some point in the picture. One character named Gabby Hayes often played the role of the camp cook in charge of the Mess Wagon as a herd of cattle was moved across vast range lands.
Poor old Gabby. His heart was golden but his planning and execution was not always well thought out. Gabby was a dreamer who ended up confused or BEWILDERED, by his own devices. Gabby would pray, and the Lord would open a door for his solution.
Young Christians, old Christians, new and very well seasoned have, had, and will continue to experience BEWILDERMENT from time to time as your walk with the Lord moves forward.
Did you know that some of the most frequently offered prayers of a growing Christian is "Lord...what is Your will for me?" "What is it that You want me to do?" "Do I Go or do I Stay?"
This prayer is one that I have pleaded in earnest on many, many occasions: O' Lord, be with me please. I have no idea of what I am doing or where I am going. I wholly rest on You as I step forward -- as you lead me, Your Will be done, Amen. Prayer works!
Luk 18:27-34 NKJV [Jesus said], "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (28) Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You." (29) So [Jesus] said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, (30) who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life."
(31) Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. (32) For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. (33) They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."
(34) But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. [The twelve were BEWILDERED, BEFUDDLED.]
Our Lord uses bewilderment as a tool of the Shepherd; herding us and directing the path to where He wants us to be. In 1st Corinthians we read: For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (22) For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; (23) but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, (24) but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ [is] the power of God and the wisdom of God. {1Co 1:21-24 NASB}
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland July 24th, 1874, Oswald Chambers lived and studied music and the Bible. His passion was teaching the "Good Book".
Chambers traveled to the U.S. in 1906 and again in 1907 teaching at God's Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Returning to London, Oswald launched The Bible Training College (B T C) and spent the balance of his life traveling and teaching. AT the start of WWI, Oswald became a military Chaplain, serving God to the troops of battle. In 1917, Chambers died from a burst Appendix.
Years after his death, Biddy, his beloved bride collected, organized, and compiled the vast majority of Oswald's daily lessons and teachings. That work is titled "MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST". It remains to this day, one of the most often used daily devotions ever printed. In the setting of BEWILDERMENT, here is what Oswald wrote:
God called Jesus Christ to what seemed absolute disaster. And Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death, leading every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. His life was an absolute failure from every standpoint except God's. But what seemed to be failure from man's standpoint was a triumph from God's standpoint, because God's purpose is never the same as man's purpose. THIS IS THE BEWILDERING CALL OF GOD!
OSWALD CONTINUES:
This bewildering call of God comes into our lives as well. The call of God can never be understood absolutely or explained externally; it is a call that can only be perceived and understood internally by our true inner-nature. The call of God is like the call of the sea- no one hears it except the person who has the "nature of the sea" in him. What God calls us to cannot be definitely stated, because His call is simply to be His friend to accomplish His own purposes. Our real test is in truly believing that God knows what He desires. The things that happen do not happen by chance- they happen entirely by the decree of God. God is sovereignly working out His own purposes.
{Oswald then adds:}
If we are in fellowship and oneness with God and recognize that He is taking us into His purposes, then we will no longer strive to find out what His purposes are. As we grow in the Christian life, it becomes simpler to us, because we are less inclined to say, "I wonder why God allowed this or that?" And we begin to see that the compelling purpose of God lies behind everything in life, and that God is divinely shaping us into oneness with that purpose.
{Oswald closes with this:} A Christian is someone who trusts and holds tightly to faith in the knowledge and the wisdom of God, not in his own abilities. If we introduce a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the calm, relaxed pace which should be characteristic of the children of God.//
SUMMARY/APPLICATION
When Jesus gave up His spirit at His last breath on that old cross, an earthquake of great violence ensued. Graves were suddenly opened, the veil separating the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom as the CALL OF GOD was sent throughout the entire world. EVERYONE ON THIS PLANET HEARD HIS CALL. EVERYONE! To this day, that call to SALVATION continues to be delivered. Offering YOU the opportunity to make a decision. Mankind can never say that he or she has never been offered the opportunity to chose HEAVEN over HELL. It is your God given decision to say YES or NO. My prayer is that you say YES to Jesus and His gift of life eternal. Say YES and call HIS name, watch your BEWILDERMENT disappear!
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, there is a great deal in today's message on which to ponder and meditate. Where we often fall short is digesting the receipt of Holy Direction and then apply it to our daily walk. I am learning that simply assuring that everything that we do or say or think must be disciplined in such a fashion that the single goal that matters is that it all brings glory to You O' Lord. Thank-You for this teaching! In Jesus we pray, AMEN
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, Ye heav'n-ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen
If you have never invited Jesus to be your Lord and savior, or, if you have in the past yet remain unsure of salvation and forgiveness of sin, Please pray with me now: Lord Jesus I need to fill a hole in my life that follows me where ever I go. I believe that You are the Lord, that you were hung on a cross and died. I believe that you were raised back to life by God, Your Father, ascended into heaven and presently sit at the right hand of Almighty God. Please come into be, clean me, take me and make me Yours and let me serve from this day forward and forever, Thank-You Jesus, AMEN
If you sincerely prayed with me, your salvation has been assured. Waste no time in finding like minded folks, to fellowship with, who also know the lord. Be introduced to a church that preaches from the BIBLE. Email me. Begin the journey that you will never tire of; the discovery of the Majesty, Beauty and loving Power of Jesus the Christ. Welcome to the family!
Chaplain Gary
BENEDICTION: Num 6:24-26 The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'AMEN
Christ go with you now...until we meet again
Christ go with you now...keep praying on till then
It really doesn't matter what the weather...
Just as long as we all are TOGETHER...
Christ go with you now...Till we meet again!
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE Luk 18:27-34, 1Cor 1:21-24, Num 6:21-24, {Excerpts from My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers, August 5 devotion}
SABBATH & SUNDAY WORSHIP MESSAGE
(Published every Friday evening)
CHRIST ETERNAL SENIOR MINISTRIES
HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?
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