This day is notable in English history for two great deliverances by God. First, on this day in 1605, the Catholic “Gunpowder Plot” to destroy the Houses of Parliament was discovered: While for our princes they prepare In caverns deep a burning snare, He shot from heaven a piercing ray, And the dark treachery brought to day. “A Song for the Fifth of November,” Philip Doddridge (18th century) Secondly, today is the anniversary of the landing of King William III at Torbay in 1688, by which religious liberty was secured. This day ought to be celebrated, not by the excesses of youth but by the songs of saints. Our Puritan forefathers devoted a special time to thanksgiving. There are records of the annual sermons preached by the Bible commentator Matthew Henry on this day. Our Protestant feeling and our love of liberty should make us regard November 5 with holy gratitude. Let our hearts and lips exclaim, “O God, we have heard it with our own ears—our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago” (Psalm 44:1 NLT). You have made England the home of the gospel; and when enemies have risen against her, you have shielded her. Help us to offer repeated songs for repeated deliverances. Grant us more and more a hatred of the spirit of Antichrist, and speed the day of its extinction. Until then and forever, we believe the promise, No weapon turned against you will succeed. Shouldn’t it be laid on the heart of every lover of Jesus’s gospel to plead for the overturning of false doctrines and the extension of divine truth? Wouldn’t it be good to search our own hearts, and evict any hidden beliefs and attitudes that go against God’s Word?
- C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
But wisdom is justified by all her children.
Luke 7:35
The world is full of “experts.” There are people everywhere who want to convince you of the wisdom of their opinion. Yet God says that it is not the one who declares his viewpoint the most loudly or vociferously who is the wisest, but the one who is vindicated over time.
Wisdom is not proven by argument or debate. Wisdom is proven over time. Some people adamantly proclaim that their opinion is best. Regardless of how convincingly these people defend their viewpoint, time is the best judge of their wisdom. The result of a practice proves its validity, not how loudly it is promoted. When you seek to obey what God has told you, you will sometimes meet resistance and criticism from others who disagree with the wisdom of your actions. Your immediate response may be the urge to vindicate yourself. However, if you wait patiently, time will reveal the wisdom of your actions far better than you could through argument.
Through the ages, the wisdom found in God's Word has been tested and proven true. It is critical that you measure everything you hear against the Scriptures. Trends in psychology and philosophy come and go, but God's Word is timeless. Whenever you share an opinion in counseling someone else, make sure that it comes from the Scripture and not merely from your best thinking. As long as you base your life choices on the Word of God, time will be your defender and will validate the wisdom of your choices. If, over time, you clearly see you are wrong, ask God's forgiveness and seek a fresh word from God through the Scripture. Then obey that word and watch to see God confirm His wisdom in your life. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day
A probably strange title considering what you just read from Blackaby and Spurgeon.
But put them together and you will see what I think God is leading us to.
We live in certainly uncertain times. The world of public opinion is overrun by controlling interest groups. Long gone are the days of impartial journalism. All forms of media are being influenced by political institutions. It goes farther than you think, to where it's political manipulation to try to silence the Church.
Every nation that has existed since Adam and Eve has had a set time in history ordained by God. There has been no nation formed that hasn't existed by His permission. The wages of the sins of nations is inevitably going to catch up with that nation. King Nebuchadnezzar was chosen of God to be the defacto world Leader. He brought all nations into subjection under his authority. Yet by no means was Babylon left guiltless. The Chaldeans were a chosen people by God to bring judgment against Jerusalem. In the Scriptures it is clear that in spite of that, they were judged as well.
Words are the weapons of today's world. Words are used against people daily. If you choose to defend yourself you can be shredded by your own words.
It's imperative that we choose our words.
It's imperative that we live as God intended for us regardless of what the world says.
God will always fight the battles of those who are walking with Him as the Bible directs.
It's not our opinion that needs to win the day. It's our obedience to God that needs to win the day.
We also must be careful of speculation concerning God's actions and motives. Thousands of books have been written claiming to understand what God wants to do in your life and in the events of our day.
Let this be clear as crystal: no modern day writers, none in the last 2,000 years, have been called upon to add to the Scriptures.
Their wisdom is pale in comparison to God's Word. Their views on things pertaining to end times or politics pales in comparison to the wisdom found in the Word of God.
Ephesians tells us what the whole armor of God looks like. No where in it is a library of books to carry in addition to the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. People are going to try to tell what they think about the fates of people and nations. They will tell you what they believe about the United States in Bible prophecy. Worldly people will tell you that the best is yet to come for the United States. The truth of Scripture is we are not mentioned in the Bible. Either we take ourselves out of the world picture or something takes us out. It's clear in Revelation and other places Israel stands alone. They work out a percieved treaty with a Global Leader. They. Not them and an unnamed Country.
We likely are in the death throes of the history of the world. Historically speaking when morality is thrown aside the fall isn't much later.
A peace and a hope is only to be found in Christ. Not in the promises or premise of world opinion. It isn't found in governments. If indeed you want to be situated so that no weapons formed against you will prosper, live as Jesus says for you in your life. Stop looking at myths and speculation on world events and look to God's Word for true wisdom.
As I write this...it does concern me that we could be looking at the fall of America. But my faith isn't in political parties. My faith is in Jesus Christ and His promises. No man on earth can void a promise from God. All things that reach me in this world have to go through the fingers of Jesus Christ. I am safely in His hands. That's His promise.
Prayer has been the heavy message in these posts. So has being in your Bible. Think that maybe God is trying to tell you where to be?
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