Saturday, March 21, 2015

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THE MANY AND THE FEW

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 14

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

This is an Akkadian cuneiform writing clay tablet piece and is the oldest document to mention Jerusalem. It was discovered in the south wall area of the Old City of Jerusalem and is dated at 14th century BC.

 

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 14:6b

For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.

As King Saul’s son, Jonathan had probably learned from observing the interaction between his father and the prophet Samuel. Our children often learn more from being in our presence, and in the presence of our visitors, than from our efforts at direct teaching. Obviously Jonathan had come to believe in God and in His power to equip a man for victory in battle. By just two brave men, the rout of the enemy of Israel began and confusion reigned in the ranks of the Philistines. Jonathan seemed to have more common sense than his father. Saul’s foolish edict to not eat robbed the men of the energy they needed, and resulted in the eating of blood forbidden by Moses’ Law. There are those in our day who burden God’s people in ways that rob us of spiritual vitality, rather than encouraging us to partake of the “honey” that God has provided. This has been particularly true when it comes to man-made prohibitions regarding the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Those who teach that the experience of the first believers, as recorded in the book of Acts, is not for today and prohibit the exercise of the Gifts of the Spirit have done serious damage to God’s plan for His Church. Go ahead, have some honey! Be refreshed today by the life-giving sweetness found in God’s Word and in the experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Victory is ours!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, as I read these words and pause often to worship You, I’m conscious that I’m partaking of the sweetness of Your provision for me. Like Jonathan, my countenance has brightened. I pray that this energy level will continue in order that I may “fight the good fight of faith,” as I read in 1 Timothy 6:11-16. In Jesus’ conquering Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In selecting the key verse for today, I thought of God’s provision over the years for the financial well-being of the Crossroads ministry. Sometimes God has used the many and sometimes the few. Without the participation of thousands of precious partners, this ministry, that has brought many to a saving knowledge of Jesus, would have shut down years ago. But the Lord has also used the few. Our former bank manager at the TD bank in downtown Toronto (gone to be with the Lord in Heaven now) knew our need the day that our lighting package for the new TV production studios arrived. I needed cash in order to have the shipment released. A line of credit had not been authorized. One of the “few,” whose name I do not know, sent through $50,000 directly to the bank, telling the manager that he could arrange a charitable giving receipt, but that I was not to know who it was that gave this money. The only information I was given was that it was someone from Ottawa who did not know of the need to pay for the shipment that very day but felt led of God to transfer the money. There are few who could give such a gift. Perhaps you are one of the few. We should perhaps read on in 1Timothy 6:17-19. One thing I’ve learned is that God uses BOTH the MANY and the FEW to support His work. When we sold the farm in which Norma-Jean, my wife, was born, we got to be one of “the few” one time, but every month we are one of “the many” that keep the ministry winning spiritual battles every day. That monthly offering, and the offerings of many more, are absolutely essential to the great cause to which God has called Crossroads. More of “the few” and more of “the many” would also be a big help right now. God is leading the Ministry in new initiatives for the Gospel that need us all to take up the challenge of giving sacrificially. The funds are not just sitting there in the bank doing nothing for Jesus! Crossroads continues to be a faith ministry. Please pray asking God for His instructions (click here for giving instructions).

Yours to encourage us all to be “the many,” and some of us to be “the few,”

David

P.S. Yesterday’s blog featured a photo of my granddaughter Elena’s new baby. Now here is a 100 Huntley Street feature from a few years back. It is the story of Bruce & Elaine’s adoption of Elena and Alex from a Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) orphanage (click here).

 

12 thoughts on “Saturday, March 21, 2015”

  1. Beautiful children, Elena and her brother. They went through much uncertainty as did I when adopting from another culture. This study opened my understanding of the possibility of not hearing God’s direction because of hidden sin (even though Jonathan did not know about the command not to eat anything). He did own up to it and the situation changed for the good.

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  2. Great study today Rev. M.
    Bless those who have the heart to adopt another human being.
    Found this hymn on YouTube:
    Eoghan Heaslip – Be Thou my vision [with lyrics]: https://youtu.be/G2rwgfUv0qU

    Have a blessed day fellow saints.
    Praying support keeps flowing in to your blessed efforts in God’s name Rev. M. et al.

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  3. Hello Rev Mainse and bloggers

    Please continue to pray for Carole Pony Meunier as she is still in the hospital. She has been there since Friday March 13, 2015. Pray that the Lord will heal her and that her life will be a testimony to her family of the goodness of God.

    Thank you all

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    • Praying for Carole. I don’t post on this page. But I read it when I can, and I always look forward to Carole’s messages. I hope and pray she will soon be well and back home. Sincerely, Dianne

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  5. Psalm 19:7-10 “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

    The song “Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet Heavenly Dove, stay right here with me, filling me with Your Love…” I sang the rest in the Spirit..
    and refreshed my soul…Praise Jesus.

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  6. I have been one of the many through the years…and pray I am able to continue to do so…to God be all the Glory!!!

    Great story of Elena and Alex’s adoption…thank you for sharing.

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    • Thank you Rev. David for that wonderful passage in 1 Samuel 14. Years ago,- 1975, my wife and I received Jesus Christ as our own personal Saviour in a small non denominational country church in Grassie On.We thank GOD for saving us but did not really grow in CHRIST as much as we should have grown due to the many restrictions imposed on us or should I say- restrictions imposed upon the Holy Spirit. This particular church, even today,like many churches, does not believe in the FULL power in the HOLY SPIRIT, denies the baptism of the Holy Spirit, denies the gifts of the Spirit especially, speaking in tongues and because of this, has lost the POWER and the ANNOINTING and the desire to win souls. Too bad, so sad.Is it any wonder why several churches are shutting their doors because of declining attendances.
      We are currently attending another church in Grimsby-Lakemount Worship Centre which puts NO stops on GOD & HIS WORD and is “ALLOWING” GOD to add to the church daily such as should be saved and we are experiencing tremendous, consistent growth week after week. If your church is teaching only” selected” verses of the bible or is misinterpreting GOD’s HOLY WORD, COME to LAKEMOUNT WORSHIP CENTRE- YOU’LL THANK GOD YOU DID.— Rev.Terry & Rev. Marianna FELVUS.

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  7. That song actually is: “There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that its the Spirit of the Lord. There’s a sweet expression on each face and I know its the presence of the Lord. Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet Heavenly Dove, stay right here with us filling us with your Love, and for your blessings we’ll lift our voice in praise; without we’ll that we have been revived when we will leave this place.”

    Today is my birthday and I have been blessed in a special way: for my three sons spent it with me… they took the time to fly in to Edmonton…one, from Mountain View, CA: one from Pickering, ON and one from Vancouver, BC
    God has blessed me and I rejoice in Him and give Him Praise…Thank You Jesus for the many blessings you have bestowed on me and my family!!!

    Good night all …Thank you Rev. David for being faithful in presenting this blog to us…thank you bloggers for sharing your hearts…God bless you all!!

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