A Call from God with Lessons from Israel’s History
Part 1 emphasized that we must not let go of this absolute reality: there is a quietness in God that He designed and desires for each of us. And just as importantly, that promise, and grace is also granted and to be seized for our surroundings. But since the prevailing winds of lifestyle in our world today are not conducive to this, many regard God’s promise either skeptically, as laughable, or virtually impossible. But again, the absolute reality is there is a quietness in God that He has designed and desires for each of us - one that not only quiets the spirit but restores the soul and will even bring wholeness to the body. Believing that revelation of the Lord, the question most often becomes ‘how do I get there from here?’
Likewise, we also noted in Part 1 that any aspect of blessing and increase in God- either natural or spiritual- will almost certainly be resisted at every point in order to prevent possessing it. And being secured, it will be strategically (& unpredictably) attacked, needing a successful defense for it to stay in place. We must always remind ourselves: advances in God are not given for relief and recreation as much as they are to prepare us for even greater dimensions that lay ahead. Therefore, they are to be hedged and protected so they can be built upon and expanded after becoming defensible. One could say that such a lifestyle defines the process of God’s restoration (in a nutshell).
But then comes the problem: the nature of man is to put the Lord aside when not immediately pressed by urgencies, even when what is important gets neglected. This is true whether one has been freshly blessed, feels powerful, has grown comfortable with a plateau or when battling against fear or strong desires. Let me explain a bit further.
Although not specifically stated in Part 1, the prevailing tendency of our sin nature impulsively drives us to hold God in reserve for times when felt needs, perplexities, unresolvable issues, or potentially catastrophic circumstances arise. Having “confidence in the flesh,” our human wisdom teaches us to either do what we want, can justify, or whatever we can before consulting God for specific assistance (Php.3:3). Rather, we should deliberately “seek first” and “trust” His desire and path, as children of the “Heavenly Father” (Pro.3:5-6; Mt.6:32-33).
The Bible clearly witnesses and examples our tendency to “wander,” whether it be in moments of false comfort or lack of self-control (Job 12:24; Psa.107:40). Throughout the Scripture, this occurred both personally and corporately as the people of God. An honest look at our own lives as well as post-biblical Christian history also bears this out. Such a tendency to “wander” in heart and life specifically plays into the nature of the enemy. Hell then reacts strategically, viciously, and unpredictably to not only our advances in the Lord, but to infiltrate steps we take apart from God, through malicious attacks designed to “steal, kill and destroy” us (Jn.10:10).
Therefore, when we consult God’s Word, we have a wealth of New Testament examples as well as parallels from Israel’s history that should speak very loudly to us. We need to rightly apply these revelations to our personal lives, the church, and our surroundings for instruction as to how to become victorious in the day find ourselves in.
The “Not So Secret” Success of Israel (15)
Contrary to what can be so often portrayed in various ways and even sensationalized to be ‘the secret’ for advancing successfully in God’s prophetic promise, there is really no secret. The key to walking forward with God- even call it “the key of David” if you want- is not so much a ‘buried treasure’ that needs to be unearthed as an unperceived revelation that needs to be received (Rev.3:7). Yes, “the secret things belong to the LORD our God” (Deut.29:29a). Yes, there are ‘key’s’ one needs to receive, then rightly discern, and also faithfully apply (Heb.4:12). But that “living and active” Word also says “He revealeth the deep and secret things” (Dan.3:22). Moreover, it says in contrast to whatever may be withheld from us by God, that “those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut.29:29b).
Therefore, we are to conduct our lives through the finished work of Christ in order that we- as unfinished products- may receive and become finished, because “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Php.1:6). Christ is within us; His Spirit is ours, His intercessory desire labors “for us-” all that we might achieve through Him that which has been accomplished for us (Col.1:27; Jn.14:17; Heb.7:25; Php.3:12). Because of this, the unchanging apostolic foundational revelation is that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Pe.1:3).
As a result, the ‘key’ to receiving, rightly discerning, and faithfully applying what “God has prepared for those who love Him” is fully set in place and available, because He “has revealed those things to us by His Spirit” (1 Cor.2:9c-10a). And He does so “that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Cor.2:12).
Foundation Leads to Building, Which Results in Expansion
In part 1 we had ended with beginning to discuss King Asa, who had followed Abijah as King of Judah. We noted how Asa had contended for God’s original order: that Israel was to be a fully unified nation- as did Abijah before him. Abijah’s initial stand had called the people back to God’s order, laying a revelational foundation to return back to God’s original plan, God’s way (2 Chron.13:4-5). When Asa then followed suit, it was not new, although the circumstances were similar. Asa also labored outnumbered, with an obvious lack of visible favor, but he saw God’s result (2Chron.14:1,15). It brought about a “quiet (shawkat) for 10 years” The word shawkat is also translated as “rest” (Strong’s H8252).
To put what took place in more New Testament terms, by standing for the kingdom, they had experienced “violence,” and then became “the violent who take it by force” (Mt.11:12). By doing so outnumbered, they had proved God’s way was not only to be sought but was attainable when surrendered to His will (Lk.14:31-32). As a result, they could be said to be those who endeavored to “labor to enter that rest,” bringing about a “rest to the people of God” (Heb.4:11, 9).
We see then that Asa built upon Abijah’s foundation. The pattern being set, it was stood upon and reaffirmed to the point where advances both could be and were made. During that time, the order of God brought about by standing and laboring for God’s original order- while contending for it when clearly outnumbered- also brought expansion.
“Asa removed the detestable idols from throughout the entire territories of Judah and Benjamin, and from the cities that he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He repaired the LORD’s altar that stood in front of the vestibule of the LORD’s Temple. Then he gathered together all of Judah, Benjamin, and people from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were living among them, since many people had defected to him from Israel when they learned that the LORD his God was with him” (2 Chron.15:8-9).
By standing on God’s original standard and will for the people and the nation, a return to God’s order was gaining momentum. You could say that their efforts were evidence of fulfillment to the Word of the LORD: “gathering together the outcasts of Israel” (Psa.147:2).
Bill Click
