Depart From Evil

Proverbs 16:6 KJV

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

When the Lord manifests Himself, His starting point is a combination of mercy and truth. He exercises His mercy, which is the root of His chesed love, because of His covenant keeping faithfulness. His merciful nature reaches out, temporarily overlooking the required judgment for sin, to present you with the truth about yourself. The fear of the Lord is the only right response: this rewards His mercy with repentance. Take a long look at the hard truth He reveals in the mirror of His Spirit, and totally depart from evil. This is the highway straight to His heart, as it is written:

Proverbs 16:17 KJV

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

See also Deep Calls Unto Deep; The True Tabernacle

Related Scriptures: Job 28:26-28; Psalm 34:1-22; Proverbs 3:1-35

Finger of God

Luke 11:20 KJV

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The works of the hands of man are barriers between the souls of men and the miracles of God. Pharoah witnessed many mighty works of God, but the Almighty knew that Pharoah's soul was wrapped up in his own vain works; therefore his heart was hardened. Even Pharoah's own magicians testified to him that he witnessed the finger of God, but still his heart was hardened.

When Moses received the law, written in stone tablets by the finger of God; impatience had already led the children of Israel astray, to go after false gods. When the Pharisees witnessed the works of Jesus in casting out devils, their souls were blinded too, as they were wrapped up in their own interpretations of the law (Torah).

Here we can trace the roots of blasphemy, for we can see that spiritual darkness cries out against the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters of broken humanity. Those whose hearts are soft and pliable to God receive the miraculous results of one brief touch of the finger of God. May the results be multiplied a hundredfold in hearts of flesh, in Jesus' name.

See also Revealed Unto Children; Through the Midst

Related Scriptures: Exodus 8:16-19; Deuteronomy 9:1-21; Matthew 12:22-37

The Coming of the Lord Draws Near

James 5:7-8

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Jesus Christ sowed His life on earth as a seed, that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. When a farmer plants his crops he knows that, with the right conditions of soil and water, patience will bring him the harvest according to the seed sown. God Almighty knows that He will reap many sons from the redemptive sacrifice that his Son made on the cross. He also is looking to us, the children that He has drawn to Him, to patiently cultivate and establish our hearts in the knowledge of His coming. Now more than ever before, we should be looking to that blessed hope moment by moment, and maturing into our position in the body of Christ. The glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ draws near.

See also Fallen Corn of Wheat; Firstborn From the Dead

Related Scriptures: John 12:23-36; Romans 8:28-39; Colossians 2:6-15; 2Thessalonians 2:13-17; Titus 2:1-15

Grace Unto the Humble

James 4:6

But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Friendship with the things of the world leads away from the things of God; ultimately it leads to self reliance, pride, and outward rebellion. The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of creation, and His example for mankind is humble submission to the Father. The mysteries of God are written into the world by the Holy Spirit, and humility is the path to His heart and the unraveling of these mysteries in the spirit. Pride turns the mind inward on itself; humility turns it outward toward God.

See also Christ: The Architect of Souls

Related Scriptures: 2Peter 1:1-11; 1John 2:15-25; Matthew 18:1-11; Mark 4:11-34

The Darkness Comprehended It Not

John 1:5

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Only the Creator can truly comprehend the vastness of creation. His being encompasses infinity, for without Him was not any thing made that was made. From the foundation of the world, He set forth His plan for Jesus Christ to be the express image of the Godhead; the face of God revealed to mankind. When God shows His face, darkness flees and those who follow Truth are drawn to the Light. Soon the Lord Jesus will appear again to mankind, to gather those who belong to the Father and redeem the earth from corruption.

See also The Candle of the LORD; The Promise of His Coming

Related Scriptures: Job 9:1-14; John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-14; Exodus 33:11-23; Titus 2:11-15

Every Good and Perfect Gift

James 1:17-18

Every 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. Of His own will begat He us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

When we confessed with our mouths that Jesus Christ is our Lord, and believed in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we were adopted by the Father of lights. This was done of His own will, our heavenly Father drew us to Himself to be partakers of His good and perfect gifts, every one of them. The Word of Truth, placed in our mouths and planted in our hearts, gave us access to the first gift immediately: the indwelling of His Holy Spirit as our personal leader, guide, and mentor. Following the promptings of the Holy Spirit help us to immediately grow in the likeness of His beloved Son and to lay hold of our inheritance. Thank you, Abba!

See also Freely Given To Us

Related Scriptures: Romans 10:4-13; John 6:37-51: John 15:26-27; Romans 8:1-39

The Fruitful Place Was A Wilderness

Jeremiah 4:25-27

I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by His fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

From Adam to Noah the descent of mankind into depravity was such an abomination to the LORD God that His fierce anger was turned against the earth and its inhabitants. Lucifer enlisted one third of the angels in support of his rebellion; they in turn took part in the corruption of mankind in a vain attempt to prevent the Holy and Anointed One, Jesus Christ the Messiah, from being born. Eight souls were saved from the flood, to preserve God’s perfect will for the ages. In redeeming the earth for the final time, the LORD God will purge it by fire until the wilderness of sin is annihilated, and the fruitful place eternally restored. The whole land will be desolate for a season, yet He will not make a full end.

See also Change Them As A Vesture; Out Of the Midst Of the Fire

Related Scriptures: Genesis 6:1-22; Revelation 12:1-17; Revelation 16:1-21