An Appointed Time

Sometimes the transliteration from the original writings to a modern-day text aren’t the best. Sometimes a word or phrase just isn’t given a proper or complete treatment. Sometimes it’s all a matter of objectivity or subjectivity of the scribe or translator. Or, as in the case that often happens with the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, the words and phrases that the original text were translated into, have changed their meanings from when first written. For example, the word “conversation” in the KJV has nothing to do with talking and everything to do with how we live our lives.

When this occurs multiple times within a verse or phrase, a little bit off with this word here and a little bit off with that word there, it can create a lot off in the overall meaning and context of the complete statement. This first verse of Job Chapter 7 is such a case. This is a very important verse. We really need to know what is being communicated here.

“Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?” (Job 7:1)

From a cursory reading of the verse, one would understand that each of us has an appointed time here on earth and that time spent here is like that of someone who has been hired. I’ve never thought of my self as an employee here on earth although I do understand that my time here is finite. But that’s not what is being said here.

Let’s break this verse down to its components and take it back to the original language. Let’s also see what some of the theologians and manuscripts from the past have to say about it.

The phrase, “Is there not an appointed time” is transliterated from the Hebrew, “tsaba”. Strong’s Concordance defines this to mean a mass of persons, especially organized for war. Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon has it as an army, a host that is going forth to war.

John Gill, the 18th century English Baptist minister and theologian writes that the word, "Enosh", here used for man, “signifies, as is commonly observed, a frail, feeble, mortal man; Mr. Broughton renders it "sorrowful man".”

“Hireling” from the Hebrew, “sakiyr” means hired laborer and sometimes mercenary.

I have rendered this verse from Job as, “Is there not a war for mortal man here on earth? Is not his time here like the time of a mercenary?”

Transliterating hireling to be mercenary doesn’t seem to be a very popular choice among the great scholars and expositors. But it does relate better to the battle of a Christian soldier.

Adam Clarke, the 19th century theologian shows us how this verse was written in some of the original manuscripts.

The Septuagint: "Is not the life of man a place of trial upon earth?"

The Vulgate: "The life of man is a warfare upon earth?"

The Chaldee: "Is there not a continual campaign ordained for mortals upon the earth?"

Clarke goes on to add, “I believe the simple sentiment which the writer wished to convey is this: Human life is a state of probation; and every day and place is a time and place of exercise, to train us up for eternal life. Here is the exercise, and here the warfare: we are enlisted in the bands of the Church militant, and must accomplish our time of service, and be honorably dismissed from the warfare, having conquered through the blood of the Lamb; and then receive the reward of the heavenly inheritance.”

This image of warfare, of being a soldier, and fighting a spiritual battle is common all throughout the New Testament. The Apostle Paul writes to this theme frequently. For example, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

To the Ephesians he writes to, “Put on the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11)

In Timothy Paul writes, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4).

If Paul isn’t writing in context of an athletic competition, then he is usually putting it in perspective of war.

What better way to demonstrate the idea of man as a soldier in a war here on earth than a couple of stanzas from the song, “Onward Christian Soldier”?

“Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle, See his banners go!

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; On, then, Christian soldiers, On to victory.

Hell's foundations quiver At the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the Saints have trod.

We are not divided; All one body we: One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.”

This leaves no question that we are in a battle, a spiritual battle that is every bit as severe and significant as any earthly battle could possibly be. In fact, spiritual battles often manifest as a physical battle, be they between nations or the spiritual battle we all fight within our self. Paul writes extensively about this inner war in Romans 7.

“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:22-23)

Our time here on earth is merely the period at the end of a sentence of the never-ending story of our existence. But the brevity of our time on earth in comparison to eternity shouldn’t diminish its importance, quite the opposite! What we do and more importantly, who we are now will determine our eternity. This is why the devil has waged war with us here. John Gill was right, we are frail and feeble mortals at war with the adversary the devil. That’s why we need the miracle of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Every knee will bow to the name of Jesus Christ. We have victory through Christ our Lord. This is such an amazing thing, that we as earthen vessels and being filled with the Holy Spirit of Christ and defeating the foe the devil, that the “principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”. (See Ephesians Chapter 3:10).

We must war to have victory. If we all had our “rathers”, we certainly would rather not to. But the devil is attacking. Please understand that “is attacking”, is very much in the present tense. The victory is peace and salvation through Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The victory is life eternal in the presence of God. The victory is a love beyond the scope of this mortal coil’s comprehension. We must fight to attain it!

Bill Hitchcock

The Effect God Has On Our Will

The workings and influence of God. We often see His workings but don’t understand it is Him that is doing it. Sometimes we forget that God is the God of nature with nature doing His bidding.  God is God of us and sometimes we don’t realize that we are doing His biddings as well. But isn’t that what we want?

The Book of Haggai, which is composed of only two, brief chapters, demonstrates both how God has influence over the elements and uses this sway to influence us. The book also shows God effecting his children in a more direct manner.

Man believes he has free will, but as we will see, it really isn’t free as he believes it to be. What man does have is a will that he uses freely, within certain confines.

The Book of Haggai is about the return of the Jews to Israel after their 70-year Babylonian captivity. The Jews began to rebuild the destroyed temple in Jerusalem, but soon lost interest in God and the task at hand. The Jews diverted their attention and energies to self-interests and the building of their own homes. But their efforts were being thwarted by God. He tells them to consider their ways.

“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:6)

Without their knowledge or realizing it, God had been thwarting their efforts. Then God tells them why.

“Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.  Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.” (Haggai 1:9-11)

Because the Jews had lost interest in God and in rebuilding His Temple and focused their attentions on building their own house, God set about creating a variety of natural adversities and stumblinblocks. These natural events, in which the people were probably praying to God to stop, were in fact caused by God due to their insolence and negligence. The Jewish people got the message.

“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord. Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God” (Haggai 1:12-14).

It begins with the fear of God. That is the cause. The effect is that Haggai, Zerubbabel, Josedech, and the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord. Although the order is written obey first then fear, we do not freely obey what we do not first revere and respect. Obedience is a result of our love and admiration for God.

Then God, after the fear and obedience of the people is established says, “I am with you”. We now have that perfect and divine bond between the Lord and His children. His will is our will. Then God stirs the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and of all the remnant of the people. This is so critical to understand. When God stirs our spirit, this is not an obvious and dramatic event like at the day of Pentecost as described in Acts. God daily stirs our spirit and affects our will, causes us to will, to desire, and to do. It is done so in a manner that we are not always aware of. God guides, directs, encourages, and influences us in specific directions. We believe it is our idea, our creation, and our motivation. It isn’t. It is a gift of God’s grace.

Unlike popular belief, man does not have free will. It would be more accurate to call it bond will. Man will’s freely but does not have free will. It’s analogous to a man in a prison cell. He can freely walk about but is still within the confines of the prison walls. For as Augustine taught, “For what shall be more free than free will, when it shall not be able to serve sin?”

Man’s will is severely and sorely affected by original sin both consciously where he is aware of his carnal self and unconsciously where he isn’t aware of the power and control sin is exerting on him. A blatant demonstration of man’s blindness to sin and its influences are the Ten Commandments. God gave us these commandments, for among other things, so that man would even know what sin was! Man was so blind to sin that he had to be told don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t covet, don’t sleep around, etc. Man was blind. The Ten Commandments enabled him to see.

Think about man’s will unfettered with the no knowledge of sin. It’s a scary proposition.

But man is sin soaked. Our view and perspective of everything is tainted. We do not realize to what degree this is true. This is why we spend our entire life in effort to stay in the path of righteousness aiming at the mark of the high calling of Jesus Christ. We dedicate our being to self-discovery through God’s word, repenting of sin and giving it to God. If all sins and righteousness were clear to us and we had complete awareness of our will then any sin committed would be a knowing and willful act. No true child of God knowingly and willfully sins against God. That’s open rebellion.

While we are unknowingly affected by original sin, the children of God are likewise affected, influenced and motivated by the spirit of God. That’s what is being demonstrated in the above passage in Haggai when the Lord, “stirred up the spirit”. Augustine said, “…in the elect the will is prepared by the Lord” (Predestination of the Saints). God will stir our will to do. He will motivate our will to do His will. After all, is not that our deepest desire? To do the will of God? “I delight to do thy will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). We even pray for God’s will in probably the most popular prayer ever prayed, the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”.

The ability to perform the basic and banal to the outrageous and monumental are all gifts of God’s grace. The will to move, breath and have our being are a gift from God. President Obama was right. We didn’t build that. God did. We built our life with the grace of God and His sway over our spirit and will to be and to do.

“What hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7b)

What have we that we did not receive from God first? The answer is nothing, literally nothing. Yes, you thought of the idea, thanks to God. Yes, you were able to somehow travel that last painful, and arduous mile, or finish that project head of schedule, but it’s thanks to God. What ever it is, it is because of God.

The prophet Isaiah said it best. “Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.” (Isaiah 10:15)

Even our faith is a gift of God. But man’s pride will always assume credit for the good and deny responsibility for the bad. Do you remember the comedian Flip Wilson? During the ‘70’s he had a very popular TV Show. On the show he had a character named Geraldine. This character became famous for saying, “The devil made me do it!”

“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith” (Romans 3:27).

God didn’t create the heaven and the earth and then back off and let what ever happens to happen. God is a very active participant in the lives of each and every one of us. He has influence over our spirit and will, making God the source of our cause and effect. And praise God that He does because we are also unwittingly influenced by sin to the point that our ability to perceive and comprehend righteousness and unrighteousness has been adversely affected.

The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. God does likewise in our lives. The goal is to acknowledge that influence, to welcome that influence and pray to the Dear Lord that He will increase it!

All the  Glory to God because All His Grace is on Us! 

Bill Hitchcock

Thus Saith The Lord

Bear with me on this one. I just had one of those, this is not a coincide moments, but it’s going to take a moment or two to fill in the backstory.

Over the past month or so, I have received several rather interesting posts and messages from a variety of folks over a range of issues that have been, shall we say, challenging. In short, there has been a few strong responses over several different things I have written about. Through prayer and meditation, I have been searching inside to discover what I have been doing, who I am, etc. that might have caused this to happen. What kept popping up in my heart, head, and soul was Solomon’s proverb, “Only by pride cometh contention” (Proverb 13:10a).

There it is. That devil called pride. The original sin. OK, now hold that thought for a moment while I switch gears.

For a couple of days it had been bothering me about what some preachers and would be preachers have been saying on the streets, in their sermons, and in general whenever on the topic of God. “Thus saith the Lord” has been rolling off the tongue in such frequency so as to become almost cliché. In of itself is fine when quoting scripture. But these preachers, teachers and self-proclaimed prophets are saying “Thus saith the Lord” when it’s not scripture they are talking about. It’s “Thus saith me”. This is a problem. A big problem. This is heresy of the highest kind when you credit God for your own words.

I wrote a short but very poignant commentary about those so inclined to spout, “Thus saith the Lord” when in it wasn’t. I sat on it for a couple of days debating on whether I should post it or not. I deleted the message yesterday. Why? Well, let’s circle back to that issue about pride and contention. Pride is an evil beast and it’s going to take time for me to do a checkup from the neck up and poke around in my heart, spirit, and soul to understand what’s going on. I deleted my commentary yesterday morning and didn’t think any more of it, until today.

This morning during my prayers, readings, and studies, the expositor Albert Barnes of whom I was reading, made reference to a particular passage in the Book of Jeremiah. So I thumbed through my Bible and found the passage. It read as follows.

“Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.” (Jeremiah 23:31)

Boom! I was not studying or researching the topic of preachers or prophets incorrectly saying “he saith” or “Thus saith the Lord”. The subject matter that I was researching had nothing to do with it. As I mentioned earlier, after 2 days of sitting on the editorial that I had written on the subject, I deleted it in suspicion that it was written out of pride. And then this morning, while reading Albert Barnes, his exposition directs me to that one passage in the Bible. There it is, in front of me, the very thing I had written about, sat on for two days, then deleted the day before.

I do not believe in coincidences. I do believe that the Dear Lord wants me to bring to light the heresy of those saying, “Thus saith the Lord” when God has not said it. There are ministers, often self-identifying as prophets that are promoting their own ideas, wishes, and their own precepts as if they were from God.

If you hear anyone saying something like that, ask them where is it in the Bible? If God said it, then we should be able to find it in scripture. More than likely they’ll say it was a vision or a prophecy so therefore it can’t be found in scripture. Let’s assume for a moment that they really are receiving messages or visions of some future event. Ask them how do they know these phantasms are from God? The devil has his miracles too. It’s a sincere question, one that should not upset the “prophet”.

Thus saith the Lord folks often foretell about a prophecy, of a strong wind blowing, of some great cathartic change that’s about to happen. Yes, Revelations is their favorite book. They are usually heavily involved in faith healing, and speaking in tongues. This leads us to the speaking in the stead of the Lord. It’s the logical next step in this world of mysticism.

Now I want to be clear. Is there legitimacy in faith healing, speaking in tongues, and prophecies? Most definitely! But we must be careful. Mystics, false teachers and false prophets, and those who are a bit too overzealous, love this realm of spiritual gifts. It’s part and parcel of the supernatural realm that they advocate, promote, and solicit. And again, you must ask, “What spirit are we dealing with here?” If the preacher/prophet is crediting God as author of things not spoken by Him, I can promise you that this angel of light is working the will of Satan.

Bill Hitchcock

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise

On the subject of climate change and sea level rise, the Bible has a few definitive comments I thought might be of interest. God said that He has, “placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it”. Interesting comment don’t you think? The Bible is peppered with similar statements as well. It’s as if God is trying to tell us something. Oh, and God tells us that we’ll always have four seasons, a time to plant and a time to harvest and in short, that He made the land and sea and has complete control over them both.

Those who disagree God calls foolish. In fact, as you’re about to read, God wants to know who it is that “darkens counsel by words without knowledge”. You know what, so do I!

God also adds “Your iniquities have turned away these things (good weather), and your sins have withholden good things from you.” (Jeremiah 5:25)

I’m kind of getting the impression that God is a tad upset with man who thinks he can control the weather and doesn’t depend on God for it. Ah, it could just be me. Anyway, Here are a few of many passages of the Bible that address a common theme.

Weather and Sea

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me….Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” (Job 38:2-3,8-11)(ESV)

“He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.” (Job 26:10)

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

“Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.” (Jeremiah 5:21-23)

“The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.” (Psalm 95:5)

“O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” (Psalm 89:8-9)

Bill Hitchcock

Great Peace

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalm 119:165)

Peace is tranquility of soul that can only be obtained through Jesus Christ as our Savior. Those who love Christ will also love the perfect law of righteousness and the royal law of loving your neighbor as yourself. But look at what else. Nothing shall interfere with the rectitude and felicity of that peace.

But on the opposite side of the coin…..

“Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:155)

Man didn’t know sin until he was given the commandments. But he didn’t know true righteousness either. The devil tempted Jesus with the word. He even twisted one of them and tried to slide it past Him. Jesus responded to the devil reciting scripture. Jesus, our peace, defeated the devil, our turmoil with God’s word, His commandments. Meditate on that for a while.

Bill Hitchcock

The Will and Perseverance

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible. It has 176 verses in total. Within the luxury of space this particular psalm provides, the Psalmist experiences just about every strife, fear, defeat, victory, dedication, resolution, sorrow, elation, and emotion that could be possibly experienced. If this had been a therapy session for the Psalmist, then he would have experienced the ultimate earth shaking and cathartic life change. Which makes it most curious that the very last verse of Psalms 119 reads as follows:

“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments” (Psalm 119:176)

How is this possible? After all the Psalmist has gone through with his life as a child of God, how could he have “gone astray”? He is spiritually (which also means emotionally) lost.

This is the plea of a cognoscente, awake, and aware soul. He hasn’t left God but has somehow wondered. And the fact that he knows this and identifies as a servant of God shows that his current condition is not what he wants. The Psalmist evidently is lost in a way that he cannot help himself and really doesn’t know anything about his status. It’s as if he was in some dark void. He asks God to “seek” after him, and even with the knowledge of God’s commandments he has still 1. Gotten lost and 2. Has no idea how to return.

What this verse demonstrates is that no one is immune to stumbling and falling out of the way. We are all susceptible to sin and its consequences. This can be very difficult for some to comprehend, particularly those who are ardent “once saved always saved” advocates, which tend to believe they have nothing to fret or fear. That’s exactly what the devil wants you to believe.

No one is immune to sin. No one is immune to adversity or the dire straits of this life. Nowhere is it written that we are to rest in your salvation. Oh no, quite the opposite.

 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

The ability to persevere in our salvation is a gift from God. Let that sink in. Just like our salvation is a gift of God’s grace, so is our ability to stay in it! And here is a reality that must be faced and understood. Not everyone will persevere to the end. Jesus said, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

God has his elect. These are His chosen people.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” (John 10:27-29)

But it has to be understood that, “many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23)

Not everyone will hear and respond to the Lord’s call. Of the ones who do respond, not all will persevere. Some will fall and never return while others will fall and come back.

Augustine said, “It is He therefore, who makes them to persevere in good, who makes them good. But they who fall and perish have never been in the number of the predestined….It is He Himself, therefore, that gives perseverance, who is able to establish those who stand, so that they may stand fast with the greatest perseverance; or to restore those who have fallen, for “the Lord setteth up those who are broken down” (Psalm145:8)

Remember the sower (Matthew 13). Some seed fell on stony places without much dirt, the seed sprouted and grew but soon perished when the sun came out due to the lack of depth to the dirt it was planted in. Sometimes we think too black and white. We think in terms of saint and sinner as a permanent fixture with no other option. No! There will be some who will confess Christ and will lead the life of a Christian and yet fall away. This is what Jesus is teaching us in the parable. Remember, many are called, but few are chosen. But some fall but only for a season and then return!

“When men by correction either come or return to the way of righteousness, who is it that works salvation in their hearts but he who gives the increase. Whoever it be that plants and waters? When he is pleased to save, there is no free will in man to resist.” (John Calvin/Institutes 3:23:14)

This would seem to be where the Psalmist is at. He has fallen, he knows he has, and he is pleading for God to come save him.

Sometimes we may be a little unsure of our salvation. It’s actually a pretty common feeling and question among the elect.

“But it daily happens that those who seemed to belong to Christ revolt from him and fall away: Nay, in the very passage where he declares that none of those whom the Father hath given to him have perished, he excepts the son of perdition. This, indeed, is true; but it is equally true that such persons never adhered to Christ with that heartfelt confidence by which I say that the certainty of our election is established: “They went out from us,” says John, “but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would, no doubt, have continued with us” (1 John ii. 19). I deny not that they have signs of calling similar to those given to the elect; but I do not at all admit that they have that sure confirmation of election which I desire believers to seek from the word of the gospel. Wherefore, let not examples of this kind move us away from tranquil confidence in the promise of the Lord, when he declares that all by whom he is received in true faith have been given him by the Father, and that none of them,while he is their Guardian and Shepherd, will perish (John iii. 16; vi. 39).” (John Calvin/Institutes 3:24:7)

If we are of God, of the elect, we will show it through the life we live and we will persevere in Christ to the end. We must pray for everyone at all times. We never know at what point in someone’s life they will have their eyes opened to Christ. They may be children, or they may be very old when Christ enters their life. We have no idea of those who have fallen away, who will return. We need to always pray, always preach the word and above all, always be the word.

Bill Hitchcock

Power and Capacity That Amazes The Angels

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Does not the term “earthen vessels” bring to mind the image of a clay pot? Can you not think of a better metaphor for an earthen vessel than that? Both are made from the dirt of the ground. Both are shaped and formed. Both have the function of maintaining and sustaining life. Both have strength in that they can hold an incredible amount and can weather the elements of every storm. Time and circumstance will produce cracks and chips. The dirt that made both the earthen vessel and the clay pot shall return to the earth. Whether it’s the Old Testament “ruwach” or the New Testament “pneuma” the earthen vessel and the clay pot are both spirit filled, be it breath, wind or air, or the mystical and divine 3rd person of the Triune. Which leads us back to what Paul said.

We have “this treasure” in earthen vessels. The treasure is the spirit. Our spirit. His spirit.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

In fact, both body and spirit are not our own but rather belong to God. Both have been bought and paid for by Jesus Christ at the cross.

But let’s stay on point. Think about it. Both the excellency and power of the earthen vessel, us, that clay pot, is of God. Remember when President Obama said, “You didn’t build that”? He was right. We didn’t build it, whatever “it” may be. God did. The spirit within us, the comingling of the Holy Spirit with our spirit generates the capacity and power to do, to be, to will. This enables all things to be possible through Christ who strengthens us when we ask in His name and ask according to His will.

This is such an amazing miracle, that we as clay pots, because we are filled with the Holy Spirit, are able to move mountains, go to the moon, fend off the fiery darts of the enemy, and saves us from the adversary the devil who walks the earth as a roaring lion seeking out who to devour next. This is such a miracle of extreme spiritual proportions that the angels and the divine powers and principalities desire to witness it.

“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians 3:9-10)

The power and glory that followed the suffering of Christ, the Holy Ghost, sent down from heaven and revealed in us, empowering us, “which things the angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 5:12)

Realize the power and capacity we have through Christ. Realize that this is so fantastic that the powers to be in heaven want to watch. But with great power, comes great responsibility. This is why 

Peter told us:

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 5:13-16)

OK you bunch of clay pots. You are fragile and breakable on your own. But you’re filled with the Holy Spirit. You have access to unlimited power and capacity. Ask and you will receive. Knock and that door will open. This is going to be great! The angels and all the heavenly beings are in awe of what you and our Lord, working together can do and accomplish. It’s truly amazing!

Bill Hitchcock

Thoughts On Four Verses From Psalms

One

“The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness” (Psalm 111:2,7-8).

The works of the Lord are great not just in number but in magnitude, power and capacity. This is explained in the parable of the mustard seed.

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)

Folks generally compare the small size of the mustard seed to the extremely large size of the mountain to understand that a little bit of faith can do a whole lot of things. But the parable is addressing power and capacity, not necessarily physical size. The reality of the situation is that both power and capacity are unlimited. This is what Jesus means when he adds, “nothing shall be impossible unto you”. It’s like potential and kinetic energy. Potential energy is stored energy. It is the capacity or potential of what something can do. Kinetic energy is actual output. God is unlimited so his potential and kinetic energy, (potential and power) are also unlimited. This is what we have access to by faith. This is what the Psalmist is addressing. The works of the Lord have unlimited power and capacity.

These works of the Lord are sought out by, “them that have pleasure therein”. That’s a rather interesting statement. Who wouldn’t have pleasure in such power? But a little further into the Psalm we find out what these works are that are being talked about.

“The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness” (Psalm 111:2,7-8).

Only a child of God would have pleasure in and seek such works as verity (truth & faithfulness), judgment, and God’s commandments, knowing that these things are done in truth and righteousness and last for all time. No reprobate would want anything to do with these things.

We pray in the Lord’s Prayer for God’s will to be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). And we know that if we pray according to God’s will that whatever we ask, “we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15). The Psalmist explains what our desire is. It is the holy and righteous works of our Lord, the works that are for all time, for truth is always for all time.

Bill Hitchcock

Two

“Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:4,7)

Here’s what is so very fascinating about the Lord. Bad is going to happen. We know this because Jesus warned us about it. He said, “In this world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). It’s not “may have”. It is “shall have”. It’s going to happen.

The Psalmist tells us that the upright, the child of God will arise out of the darkness and not be afraid when we stay focused on the Lord in faith. The bad is going to happen. But we will find peace in Christ during every storm. We will rise above the fray and not be afraid. God doesn’t keep troubles away, he gives us the tools, the ability, the desire and will to defeat any and every foe, to see clear through every fog, and to be able to light our path through the darkest black.

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.” (Psalm 91:5-13)

Bill Hitchcock

Three

Do you ever feel like life is just one big pile of poo? So did the Psalmist.

“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.” (Psalm 113:7-8)

Hope isn’t through Jesus Christ. Hope is Jesus Christ. He is our peace, tranquility of soul, and salvation. Yes, Jesus will lift you out of the dunghill and set you with the princes. But in so doing, your thoughts about the prince changes. No longer does the seat of the earthly prince have any real value to you. Your interests will be with the Prince of Peace, our everlasting Father. We will call Him Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God and the government shall be on His shoulders.

Bill Hitchcock

Four

“Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, hast done it” (Psalm 109:26-27).

Can you think of anything better? To ask the Lord for help. To be saved by God according to His way, His will, His truth, and mercies, and for the divinity of the act to be obvious to all. This would be the greatest testimony of all, a testimony without words!

Bill Hitchcock

Redeemer

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:2)

Redeemed means restored. Brought back to original condition. The Lord our redeemer is called, “Ga’al” in the original Hebrew. A ga’al is a close relative. The Psalmist is telling us that it is family, our Father, who makes restitution on our behalf. It’s important to understand that it is restitution, a restoring back to our family condition and order.

The enemy is always at hand. Peter tells us to be sober and vigilant because the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, swallow up and destroy. (1 Peter 5:8). Being in God’s presence will keep the enemy at bay. But if we happen to stumble and fall out of the way, then we have the ultimate family member to restore us and get us back on the righteous path.

Yes, I do believe that’s something we need to talk about, don’t you? Let’s spread the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ! We have a Father that washes us clean and keeps us on the pathway to glory!

Bill Hitchcock

Election

"One says, “I am afraid I am not elect. Oh! dear souls, do not trouble yourselves about that. If you believe in Christ you are elect. Whoever puts himself on the mercy of Jesus is elect; for he would never do it if he had not been elect. Whoever comes to Christ, and looks for mercy through his blood, is elect, and he shall see that he is elect afterwards; but do not expect to read election till you have read repentance." -Charles Spurgeon

Who would argue against election? It could be the Christian not familiar with the term and concept. To you I say study the word. Election is all throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments!

The apostate or reprobate; they must deny election to justify them self. We must be careful here, for there are many wearing Christian garb who argue against election. Why? Beside ignorance, it’s due to pride and ego. These folks believe that heaven is awarded to those most meritorious. To them it’s a matter of doing, a matter of good works and deeds. This would mean that man could create a debt that God owed. This would give man charge and control of God. This is impossible. Man can not make God do or to cause our Lord to owe or to put Him in debt. 

Bill Hitchcock

Free Will

“For what shall be more free than free will, when it shall not be able to serve sin?”

-Augustine/On Rebuke and Grace

It’s a fascinating thing to consider, the effects of sin on man is. We are aware of lusts and passions that bubble and boil inside. But’s it’s the hidden influences of sin we must try to reckon with. 

Sin affects not only what we think, but subversively it affects how we think. Everything appears normal and logical and reasonable to us. But in reality, sin has painted the world in a different hue, another shade for us from what it really is. It is only by the grace of God and His word can we hope to lift this veil of sin from our spiritual eyes. This is why prayer is so important. Give it to God and let Him show you the way.

Bill Hitchcock

Note: This has been pressing hard on my mind and soul. I kept it constrained to just a few lines.

Great Concerns

I have great concerns for our nation. All too often we focus on the effect and not the cause, the arrow and not the archer. What we don’t understand is that we are the reason and the cause of our own adversity. It is by our own hand.

“Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.” (Micah 7:13)

The land is desolate because of the inhabitants. We have, do, and will suffer the fruit of our own doings. But we hyper focus on the physical domain and don’t even look at or comprehend the spiritual. We as a nation are generally clueless to the cause and effect of righteousness and unrighteousness.

This is an example of the manifestations within the spiritual domain of Godly people.

“In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy. The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.” (Isaiah 26:1-7)

The cause is spiritual in nature, but the effect is played out in the physical. A sinful nation will reap sinful consequences. Here’s an example when God used the Assyrians as a tool to punish His sinful and rebellious people.

“O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.” (Isaiah 10:5-7).

But carnal man will only see the Assyrian. He will not understand that it is God using the Assyrian as a tool to chastise them. Carnal man will just see the evil army and pray to God for defense not realizing it is God that is the attacker.

People, even the land itself can be used to chastise or punish.

“Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.” (Leviticus 20:22)

The spiritual is played out in the physical. A sinful nation can only rectify the physical consequences in the spiritual domain. We are all familiar with the what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and why. God will allow bad things to happen to His own to chastise and correct them. The reprobate and apostate God will just punish.

We must identify the sin and honestly and earnestly repent. The United States founded by Godly people on a Godly mission has so strayed from the path. We have stumbled, diverted, and missed the mark. And that my friends, is the literal New Testament definition of sin.

It’s time to repent.

Bill Hitchcock

It's A Simple Equation

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

(Romans 6:23)

You earn wages. You must work for them. Think about that for a moment. It takes effort, will, and intent to sin. And whether you like it or not, that salary is always paid in full, overtime too! And since the wage is so high (eternal death and damnation) the devil made sure that the work of sin was extremely fun, extremely pleasurable, or filled some extreme need, lust, or desire.

The original sin that’s within fallen man is attracted to the activity of sin, but is deaf, dumb, and blind to its consequences. Original sin can’t see past right now and given the choice to act on sin or not, the original sin in man will always choose to act.

Eternal life isn’t a wage paid. We can’t earn it. There is no work or deed that makes God owe us eternal life. It is a gift, freely given to God’s elect. The only decision we must make is whether to accept this free gift of Jesus Christ or not.

Bill Hitchcock

Stand

“Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Psalm 21:43).

What other country? If not us, who? What other bastion of Christianity is there?

Some of the founding fathers believed that America was designed by God as a refuge and habitation for the Pilgrims of the Protestant Reformation. The timing is too perfect just to dismiss that idea outright. But where to from here? If we lose America, where else is there to go to? What other shining light on a hill exists? What new nation can be birthed?

The answer is none. Folks, if there ever was a time for an Ephesians 6 moment it is now. It is time to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. It is time to put on the whole armour of God and to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Bill Hitchcock

To Be and to Do

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” (Psalm 103:17-18)

God’s mercy is eternal. It always has been, and it always will be. God’s mercy, like God, simply is. It is present and always in the present. In short, it’s a perpetual now.

This mercy is for the righteous children of God. It is for those who are of God and have God manifest through them. There is a distinction between being and doing. A true child of God is both. Who you are and what you do.

Now there is a distinct difference between being and doing. Doing is a natural outflow of being. But doing doesn’t necessarily equate too being. Virtually everyone does a righteousness deed in their life. The devil does all the time. But the act of righteousness doesn’t make one righteous, only an actor. Being righteous, it is next to impossible not to do or act righteously, or at least not without forethought and a degree of trepidation and misgivings. The righteous person who does unrighteousness will repent of their sin. Repenting of unrighteousness is a demonstration of righteousness. John addresses this in his third epistle.

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:8-10).

Those who are born of God, as in reborn through Christ, sin no more for the see, the spirit of Christ is still in them. Now the fleshy part of man will stumble, but man does not lose his religion when he does. He recognizes, admits, and repents of his sin thus maintaining his spiritual condition.

The dangerous person is one who is not a child of God but pretends to be when he is not by doing acts of righteousness. This would be a hypocrite, a devil or both.

Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Be! And sin no more.

Bill Hitchcock

A Very Small Thing

For all of those so quick to cry, “Judge not!” and are so concerned over the judgement of another. Here’s a lesson from Paul we all need to take to heart.

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4)

A very, “small” thing. The Greek word for small used here is, “elachistos”. It means the least of all things. That’s how much importance Paul put on what other people thought of him. Paul didn’t even put stock in his own judgment of self. The only one that Paul gave a wit about was the judgment of the Lord.

We are judged by the law. The law brings sin to the forefront. It brings sin to the forefront of man’s consciousness. The law judges the man. It also condemns him. The law never saved anyone, but the saving grace of Jesus Christ does. This is why Paul was so focused on Christ. While the law killed, Jesus brought to life. Even if someone rejects Christ and Christianity, the knowledge of the law still convicts man’s heart and consciousness. The apostate then suffers double. He suffers a hell on earth being convicted by the law then suffers actual hell for all of eternity.

Paul had a great knowledge of the law being a Pharisee, but he knew that peace, that tranquility of soul, and salvation, can only come through Christ.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Bill Hitchcock

I Will With My Own

“Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15)

How can anyone be mad at God or question our Lord and His authority if they understand that we are not our own, but a possession of God? It would only make sense if you thought yourself separate and independent of Him. After-all, what right would God have over us if we weren’t His? None. He would have power over us, but no right. That would be a very awkward and dangerous arrangement.

How can we, being soaked in original sin, be mad at the holy and righteous God?

We really need to investigate all negative and adverse feelings and thoughts towards God, for that root isn’t divine, but rather devilish.

Bill Hitchcock

An Evil Speaker

“Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” (Psalm 140:11)

The phrase, “Let not an evil speaker” is transliterated from the Hebrew, “'iysh lashown”

The Hebrew word for speaker is, “'iysh”. It means a man, a mortal man to be specific, that is endued with certain qualities and attributes. In this case the qualities are that of evil. The Hebrew word, “lashown” means tongue. This is an evil man gifted with the power of speech. A wordsmith that uses his speech better than any sword.

Many times, the Bible will use the tongue or the mouth to represent the sword and vice versa. This is done in part to highlight the power of the spoken word. Here are some examples.

“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” (Revelations 19:15)

“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” (Revelation 2:16)

“My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.” (Psalm 57:4)

“Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge (mouth) of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” (Hebrews 11:34)

The Psalmist says that we should not allow or permit this evil speaker to be established, and for due cause. The most powerful force there is, is the spoken word. Our most powerful weapon to counter the evil word is the spoken word of God. It’s how Jesus defeated the devil during the great temptation. All Jesus did was recite scripture.

You can’t recognize evil if you don’t know the good. That was one of the functions of the Ten Commandments. Man couldn’t know sin otherwise.

The best defense against an evil speaker is to know God’s word, in spirit and in truth. Know the written word and as it was made manifest in Jesus Christ. Nothing can prevail against it. Nothing!

Bill Hitchcock

Followers Of God

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children" (Ephesians 5:1)

The word "followers" means "imitator". But both the transliteration and the definition apply. We are to follow Christ, and we are to be imitators of Christ, or be Christ like. Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and Christ is in us and we in Him, our ways will naturally start to transition into that of Christ. As James taught, "let him shew out of a good conversation (way of life) his works with meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13b)

Christ will be made manifest in our everyday life. But notice that Paul adds that not only are we to follow Jesus, but we are to follow Jesus, “as dear children”. What does that mean?

When the disciples asked Jesus, who was the greatest in heaven, Jesus called a little child over and said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4)

Once again, we see that we are to be like little children. Except this time, it is Jesus Christ himself that is saying it. The one attribute that Jesus does mention is that we are to be humble as a little child. So, what is the humility of a small adolescent?

Humility is a reduction. Pride and ego will puff us up beyond who we really are and past what we are capable of. True humility isn’t humiliation. It is not degrading or condescension of self. Thinking of yourself as a lowlife, worthless, scum of the earth is not what humility is all about. Each of us are an individual miracle of God. God called us gods!

“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” (Psalm 82:6)

Jesus Christ repeated the statement.

“Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” (John 10:34)

Sidebar: It’s interesting to note that Jesus states, “I said” when referring to what God said in the Old Testament, just one of many “proofs” that God and Christ are one. (Read John 17).

Humility is not self-degradation. It is not to dishonor or disrespect self. Unfortunately, some religions have carried this idea of humility to the ridiculous extend of self-flagellation. This scourging of self can be very bloody and has nothing to do with humility or Christianity.

To humble our self, we are to remove any and all inflated idea of self. We are to properly estimate the gifts that God has given us. We must also understand that we cannot marvel at self when everything we have is of God. So how could we possibly overestimate our virtues?

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Sometimes a prideful person will put on a show of humility. False humility can even be a competition amongst the so called reformed as to who was worse in their pre-Christian life. Have you ever seen Christians gathered together trying to out do each other’s sins of their former life?

To truly humble our self we must rid our self of false pretense. A humble person does not compare talents, abilities, or virtues with anyone else.

Humility requires objectivity. It is a proper estimation of self. There is nothing added or subtracted from the essence, nature or being. It’s an ongoing process, one that we will spend the rest of our lives working on with God as our guide. Sin loves pride and ego. Sin loves for us to overestimate or underestimate our self. It doesn’t take much. As Paul warned, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Galatians 5:9).

But what is the humility of a little child? The very start of Matthew Chapter 18 gives us a clue as to what it is. The disciples ask Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” This type of ambition, being concerned about who is better than whom, is fertile ground for pride, haughtiness, deception, scheming, backbiting, etc. to grow. The lust and desire for a righteous and noble thing is never good.

Small children generally just want to get a long with each other and play. Sins such as racism (the belief that one's own race is superior), misogyny/ patriarchy (belittlement of women), greed, privilege, superiority and in general anything that causes harm or places one above another is just not within a child’s mindset. They are teachable, not easily offended, don’t put on airs, they don’t think they are better than anyone, and are dependent upon the parents.

“By requiring his disciples to be like them, he did not intend to express any opinion about the native moral character of children, but simply that in these respects they must become like them. They must lay aside their ambitious views and their pride, and be willing to occupy their proper station - a very lowly one.” (Adam Clarke).

Augustine said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” With that said, it is obvious that humility is tantamount to righteousness and the Christian religion.

President Reagan said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.” This hits the humility nail square on the head. The good we do is in relation to other people and is born of the basic principle of loving our neighbor.

Love is the ultimate command and wish of God. We must humble our self before we can put the interests of others first, even above our own.

Bill Hitchcock

Who Is a Wise Man?

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13)

This verse appears to contradict itself. The verse gives the impression that a wise man should talk about how meek and wise he is. Nothing could be further from what is being said!

The entire message rests on the phrase, “a good conversation”. This has nothing to do with talking, preaching, or of a dialogue of any kind. The word “conversation” comes from the Greek, “Anastrophe” and it is in reference to our behavior, manner of life, and how we live.

Actions do speak louder than words. Or, as D. L. Moody so astutely put it, “Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian”.

For in Jesus Christ do we, “live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Our very being, our essence is made manifest in everything we do and say. Both consciously and unconsciously the Christ inside of us makes itself known outside of us to the world. If He is in our heart (spirit), He will be revealed.

The wise man that is endued with knowledge need not tell anyone. It will be known.

Bill Hitchcock

I Cried Unto God

“I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.” (Psalm 77:1)

Voiced pain in prayer is like the whistling kettle. Boiling, it can be silent no more. The pressure of steam within is too much to contain, so with a shrill shriek the kettle lets the pent-up pressure of the pain out.

Agony and pain can build. Boiling about inside, the pain is birthed in vocalized tears and sorrow. In our prayers, even in our prayers does this happen. God hears. God knows.

“In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.” (Psalm 77:2-3)

An overwhelmed spirit. Fear is added to agony. Not fear, but the realization of isolation. The thought of managing this world, alone, without God.

“Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.” (Psalm 77:7-9)

The true pain and agony is the belief that God is gone, never to return. No matter what we are experiencing nothing is more frightful than life without God. No God, no hope. No escape from a world of pain and sorrow, a world of destruction and death. No redemption. No salvation, just pain in perpetuity.

David’s greatest fear was being separated from God. But separation implies a temporary condition. No God suggests a more permanent state.

“And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” (Psalm 77:10-12)

Reflection. Introspection. We can still, “be”. Why? How? God always “is”. God has always been and always will be. God is not gone, that’s impossible. We may not be in his presence, per se. But God is omnipresent. He is. He always, “is”.

What are we to do in the absence of our Lord?

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:4-9)

We are to rejoice always, not just when God is felt. We are to be God like and to love our neighbor always, not just when we think God is looking. We are to never fear and to thankfully, gratefully go to God, even if we aren’t sure where He is. Faith never falters even when we have no cause for it, even when we have proof to the contrary.

If God removes himself from our presence there is a reason why. God will only act in our benefit. Separation is usually a matter of faith and self-reliance. We have too little of one and too much of the other.

We began this message with, ““I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice”. We then found out that God, “gave ear unto me.” Always remember that. No matter where our relationship is with God. No matter the personal hell we may be in. God is always within ear shot. Come to Him in spirit and in truth. God will hear and will make Himself known to you.

Bill Hitchcock

Both To Will And To Do

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

To “will” is capacity and potential. To “do” is the actual act, the energy output. Expressed another way to “will” is potential energy and to “do” is kinetic energy.

The word, “worketh” is transliterated from the Greek, “energeo”. It is where we get the word “energy” from. The word “do” in the verse above is also derived from the same Greek word, “energeo”.

God “worketh” on our will and our actions to do His pleasure. Since God is always good, righteous, and holy, whatever His desire is for us will always be good, righteous, and holy.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. The Greek word for power is “Dunamis”. It is used quite frequently in the Bible. For example, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Dunamis can be actual energy output, or in this case the doing. Dunamis can also be capacity and potential, or as it is also used in the verse, the willing.

What this all means is that God gives us power, His power to both will and to do his good pleasure. God’s good pleasure is His intent and benevolence. God gives us the power, capacity, desire, and the ability to do as God Himself would do. He, “daily loadeth us with (these) benefits” (Psalm 69:19).

As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Be ye followers (imitators) of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:11). 

It’s not to hard to imitate God when God is daily infusing us with His power.

Bill Hitchcock

Fulfil Ye My Joy

"If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

(Philippians 2:1-2)

It isn't the desire for singularity in unity in of itself that Paul is speaking about. For we could be like minded, have the same love, and be of one accord as Satanist, democrats/republicans, sports fans, Rotarian, etc. Uniting as one doesn’t necessarily mean with Christ.

People have a strong need for unity, for belonging, and for fellowship. And that’s the problem. God gave man this need of socialization and integration. It is part of man’s essence and nature. But sin often times misguides the effort. Sometimes it is sin itself that is the unifying body causing what may appear as a hodge-podge of strange and apparently unrelated characteristics to coalesce.

Have you ever noticed how sin attracts sin? Las Vegas is a gambling town. But prostitution, infidelity, and alcoholism run rampant there. There is a Satanist movement that is organized and growing worldwide. More than half of its membership claim to be homosexuals.

Sin attracts sin. Fortunately, Godliness attracts Godliness.

Paul’s desire is for all to be Christ like.

The phrase, “Having the same love” is the foundation of the entire verse. The love spoken of is the Greek, “agape”. This is referred to as the Godly type of love that puts the welfare and interests of our fellow man first. Agape is not an emotion or sentiment. The emotional love is fickle. It will heat up and cool down. It is self-fulfilling. God isn’t fickle and is not subject to variableness.

Agape is the care and attention dedicated to our neighbor’s well-being. These are the attributes needed to build a healthy, growing, and thriving society. This is what Paul is hoping for and what will, “Fulfil ye my joy”.

Bill Hitchcock

Daily Benefits

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.  He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death." (Psalm 68:19-20)

Let’s break this down for it is truly fascinating. This is a little different than what most folks are accustom to. We’re going back to the original Hebrew and give a literal transliteration. The message is so much more powerful when we get the English out of the way. Especially the second verse. As you will see, there’s a lot of God in that one sentence!

“who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation” has been transliterated from: “Yowm ‘amac ‘el yĕshuw`ah”

Yowm-daily

`amac-  loadeth

‘el- us with benefits, even the God

yĕshuw`ah- of our salvation or the salvation of God.

The single word, “ ‘el “ means God. And “yĕshuw`ah” means salvation by God.

What the Psalmist is saying is that God daily loads us up with the benefits of God! Now that’s exciting. This is every day. God never stops nor does He ever run out of these benefits and attributes of Him.

Think about it. What could possibly be the benefits of God? Well for starters, love. After all, as John taught, God is love (1 John 4:8,16). Paul taught, “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10). If there was anything God wants to bestow upon His children it is the love of Himself. Pure and undefiled, this love seeks the benefit of another. And you can add to this love all the fruits of His Holy Spirit which include joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Truth, holiness, and righteousness are trademark attributes of God. Most importantly, our salvation is of God. Every day we are infused with the form, essence, and nature of God. We are to be God like in our daily lives. God sees to it that we can be by filling us up with himself.

The next verse gets even more fascinating when you look at how it was originally written.

Verse 20 is “He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death" and is transliterated from, “‘el ‘el mowsha`ah Yĕhovih ‘Adonay towtsa'ah maveth”. Let’s take a look at what this means.

‘el-God

‘el-God

mowsha`ah- Salvation (of God)

‘Adonay-God. It’s a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence. (Source: Gesenius)

towtsa'ah- Out from. Escape

maveth-Realm of the dead. Death. Dying.

So the verse literally reads, “God, God, salvation of God, The title for God, escape, death”.

Yes, you can load me up every day with plenty of God and escaping out from death!

The benefits of God are God himself. God is our portion. “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him” (Lamentations 3:24).

God maintains our lot. “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot” (Psalms 16:5).

Too many think in terms of God’s benefits as “stuff”. They think in terms of worldly possessions. Prosperity theology or prosperity gospel was most prominent during the 1970-s through the year 2,000. This theology preached material wealth and gain as the benefits of God. But as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, without the benefit of God’s love, all preaching, teaching, and writings are but “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

God, “daily loadeth us with benefits”. Never forget that. God’s well never runs dry. Oh no, quite the opposite.

“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:19-20).

Bill Hitchcock