Today's Teachings

Angelic Intervention" part1 by Charles Simpson

1/21/2021

Angelic Intervention

Dear Friends,

It is with a certain degree of both excitement and trepidation that I write this letter to you. I am excited because I believe in angelic intervention but have trepidation because I know very little about angels. I have never knowingly seen one but do believe others have and believe the biblical accounts.

Angles are messengers. The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, comes from the Hebrew word “Mal’ak” which means angel or messenger. Malachi was a prophet who promised that God would send His Messenger to prepare the way of the Lord. The Lord would come and set things right and would intervene in the affairs of men (see Daniel 4:17).

God uses many means to intervene, to change things. He uses prophets who announce His word and He sends angels to announce His word or to act on His behalf. I have read accounts of angelic visitations that had some powerful affects upon those who were addressed.

There are numerous accounts of current angelic visitations among Muslims who are turning to Christ in the Middle East. While some may doubt the reality of angels, the impact upon those who are visited is undeniable. Any so-called experience with the supernatural world which produces no dramatic change is dubious. But if the impact is undeniable, then we must give the experience credence. This is the best way to sort out the real from the false, and we need to do that.

THE EXPERIENCE

Scholars and ordinary people can debate the reality of Jesus’ birth but the impact upon world history is absolute. We date our calendar from His birth. The prophets said that He would be “God with us” and that He would bring righteousness and judgement. He did all of that and more; He gave us salvation.

So, were the experiences of Mary, Zecharias, Elizabeth, Joseph, and the shepherds real? History tells us that they were.

Great events in history are often accompanied by supernatural manifestations, divine interventions. I could give examples, such as the defeat of the Spanish Armada or the escape of the British army at Dunkirk. George Washington attributed success in the Revolutionary War to divine assistance. Most of us could give accounts of God’s intervention in our lives that made a significant impact. Such interventions usually comes at a point of crisis. We hate the crisis, but love the salvation.

It is good to remember Psalm 34:7, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him.” The entire Psalm should be studied. The world was in crisis when angels visited those in the Christmas Story, and it is now. Will angelic visitations increase once again? Will supernatural events increase? I believe so. As usual, there will be the real and the false. Remember, results will sort it all out, as was the case as the New Covenant unfolded. This is not about mysticism, curiosity, or super spirituality. It is about God’s purpose in the earth; it is His choice, not ours.

ZACHARIAS’ EXPERENCE: LUKE 1:5-25

Zacharias was an ordinary priest doing ordinary duty in the temple. He and his wife were elderly and had no children. Suddenly, an angel appeared, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Zacharias became afraid and the angel said, “Do not be afraid, your prayers have been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you will call his name, ‘John’”. The angel continued to describe the birth and life of John the Baptist who would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before He was born! John would be the forerunner of the Messiah.

Zacharias doubted, but the angel, who declared himself to be Gabriel, gave him a sign – Zacharias would be mute until the baby would be born. So it was. The angel hit the mute button. But Elizabeth became pregnant and rejoiced. From that moment, the world changed; the Messiah would soon follow. Angelic visitations were just beginning.

"Surrender to God" from Rev. Gary Lively

1/18/2021

Surrender to God
January 14, 2021
What does it mean to be defiantly joyful in this moment when I am dwelling on the ancient path of shame and disappointment in myself? Those paths are made of quicksand.
I need a Savior. 
I have one. 

God planned our rescue before we even knew we were in trouble. 
I’m in trouble. I know it now. And the temptation is to hate myself for it. Do you know this place sometimes? Did you get irritated with your spouse this morning over some silly thing and speak to them with a stinging contempt no one deserves? Did you buy that alluring thing when you had pledged to stay within your budget?
In fact, left alone, the little hard kernel of self-judgment grows like an aggressive cancer, wreaking havoc in my life. The small stone becomes a massive rock that is too large for me to move. But God—still two of my favorite words—but God is in the business of moving stones. There is no ancient, grave-sealing, love-blocking weight that He cannot overcome.
And I have a part to play. So do you. The core of my heart needs to align with the truth that judging myself harshly is neither my right nor even remotely godly. God has asked me to renounce self-judgment, so, as valid as it feels, I am obeying. Renouncing judgment breaks the painful claim of hatred I’ve imposed upon myself and allows love to come in. It allows grace to come in—both for me and for others. Rather than becoming prickly and defensive, I give up my position as judge and hand it over to the One who is the rightful Judge, Jesus Christ. If He can forgive me and love me, well then, who am I to withhold love and forgiveness?
I must choose again in this moment to surrender to God. I have to choose to believe Him and all the incredibly marvelous things He says about me and feels toward me. And with that, my heart rises. The chains of self-contempt are shattered by His never-changing grace and give way to the holy chords of singing repentance. Conviction takes the place of condemnation, and I walk into the joy of the prodigal being embraced by the Father. He has not turned His face away. He has been waiting, waiting and watching with keen eyes that have beckoned my return all along. I choose to return and raise the gaze of my soul to His ever-kind face. He has not been judging me. He has been wooing me out of my sin.

A Dose of Joy by Charles Simpson

1/17/2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzsxn6UqLu0&feature=youtu.be

"The Power of Humility" part 3 by Charles Simpson

1/16/2021

The Power of Humility

The Power of Humility

It pleases God who has ALL power.
It releases healing.
It positions us to hear God (see Psalm 34:2, Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 61:1-3).
It brings us to repentance and leads to sound direction.
It prevents self-justification that leads to a fall.
It keeps us in reality, vigilance, and dependence upon God.
It promotes unity and harmony that is necessary for the Holy Spirit’s work.
It prepares us for promotion (see Matthew 23:12; Psalm 75:6-7).
It passes the glory to God where glory belongs.
It demonstrates our relationship to Jesus.

I will add one other aspect of humility; we will all die if Jesus tarries, and we cannot raise ourselves from the grave; only Jesus can. Death is humbling, despite all our instincts to live and all our efforts to struggle against it. We are mortal, but eternal life is a gift—not something that we could ever earn! It behooves us to realize: sooner or later, we will face our limits and thank God for His resurrection power!

Questions for Self-Evaluation

Am I aware of my own weakness and failure?
Am I more aware of the faults of others?
Am I willing to listen to others, even critics?
Do I understand that my justification is by faith in Jesus alone?
Am I in a hurry to defend myself or do I trust Jesus as my defender?
Can I give thanks regardless of circumstance?
Am I willing to serve others, even those who may not show appreciation?

These questions are not designed to bring condemnation, but rather to position us for the grace of God and the power of God. It is about Him, not us.

New Year
Looking back over nearly 84 years of life now, I know I have often come short. I once took a personality test and “failed” because the instructor said that I had low self-esteem. I told him, “I grew up Baptist, what do you expect?” The truth is that I too often succumbed to pride—and for no good reason! Perhaps I was proud of my humility. I am so deeply and eternally grateful for so much! I am grateful to Jesus most of all, grateful for godly parents, a good family and friends, those who pray for me and grateful for you. Without the goodness of God and your response, we could not do what we love. Thank you!

In Christ,
Brother Charles Simpson

"The Power of Humility" part 2 by Charles Simpson

1/15/2021

The Power of Humility

Whose Responsibility?
Jesus humbled Himself. The publican humbled himself. We can get help from others in our humbling process from parents, teachers, coaches, friends, and critics, but finally we have to accept our own responsibility to humble ourselves before God and others. Circumstance and people can humiliate us, but humiliation is not humility. Humility is our acceptance of our own weakness before God and our own limitations. Yes, we can do all things through Jesus. Yes, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. But remember, it is through Him. The key to victory is humility before Him.
I love stories about Winston Churchill. He said of Clement Atlee that “he was a humble man with much to be humble about.” Yes, we all have much to be humble about! However, many are proud, but for no apparent reason. Proverbs 11:2 warns us that pride goes before destruction. So, where must humility begin?
Where God Begins
We can certainly desire that our nation, the culture, and others would be more humble, but God does not start there. Instead, 1 Peter 4:17 tells us that judgment begins at the House of the Lord. It begins with me, then moves to God’s people. We know that 2 Chronicles 7:14 has become more prominent now in these troubled times. It begins with “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then….”
Before God deals with our politics, our adversaries, or some other area, He begins with us, the House of the Lord. Jesus rarely displayed anger; but one time He did was when He drove the money changers out of the Temple that was known as the “House of the Lord.” He had to clear out the House of the Lord before He dealt with the rest of the world. God works from the inside out not outside in: individual, family, church, neighborhood, nation, world.
I love the old spiritual, “It is not my brother or my sister but it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” It is not Republicans or Democrats but it’s us, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Sure, we all are in the need of prayer, but it begins with us as His People. If we meet His condition of humility and repentance, then His power will be released. Every great revival began that way!
Philippi
I love Paul’s letter to Philippi; it is brief but powerful. Paul fathered many churches but seems to have a special relationship with the Philippians. As great a church as it was, there was a conflict between two of the leading women (see Philippians 4:2). Paul spends much of the letter talking about unity, how to think about ourselves and others. Paul offers some great promises if we obey.
When I was struggling with accepting God’s call to ministry, He gave me Philippians 4:19 and the promise to supply all my needs. When I preached my first message to the struggling church that I began to pastor, I preached from Philippians 3:13, “Forgetting those things which are behind.” It was a church of only 32 people, and yet it was divided too.
Paul addresses the subject of unity in numerous ways: He says, “Be like minded.” “Be in one accord.” “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.” “Let each esteem others better than himself.” “Look out for the interest of others.” Then he refers them to the examples of Jesus who relinquished His divine position to humble Himself, serve all, and die the humiliating death on the Cross.
There are problems, in even great churches, but most problems can be solved by humility. Our culture has heard a lot about self-esteem but not much about esteeming others. We need to hear more about esteeming others, especially those who have lost so much. Would humility heal many of our problems? Does pride cause many of our problems? I think so. How does the worldly culture see the Church? Humble? Serving? Or do they see us as “Talking down” to sinners? Would humbling ourselves send a message to the culture? There is great power in humility!

"The Power of Humility" part 1 by Charles Simpson

1/14/2021

The Power of Humility

Happy New Year! From all of us at CSM, we thank you for your love, faithfulness, and prayers in 2020. We pray the Lord will sustain, guide, and refresh you as we enter 2021.

Years ago, I learned that we would be tested on what we wrote in our magazines and letters. One staff member said, “If we ever do an issue on ‘mental illness,’ I will resign!” This letter will not be about that, but I’m sure that there will be tests on the subject of humility. Much earlier in my ministry, someone gave me a plaque which read, “It’s hard to be humble when you are so great!” I hoped that it was a joke but was never sure about the humble part. Humility is no joke; it is the key to God’s favor.

Matthew records what Jesus said in Matthew 23:12 “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Prior to that statement, Jesus tells the story of a Pharisee who prayed with self-righteous words about his own good works. Jesus said, “He prayed with himself.” Then Jesus tells of a publican (tax collector) who confessed that he was a sinner with great remorse. Jesus said of that man, “He went away justified.” Humility before God was the key to God’s justification.

Please note that humility is our task and justification is God’s task. Dealing with our own ego is a serious issue personally. This letter is not about “humility and how I achieved it.” It is about our humility as viewed by the Lord and others.

Our enemy understands the ego issue far better than we do; he was cast out of Heaven because of pride. When he was cast out of Heaven and came to earth, he seduced Adam and Eve with his own failure when he said to them, “Eat this and you will be as God.” They ate the pride trap. Centuries later, he tried the same trick on Jesus, “Bow down and worship me and I will give you all the kingdoms of this world and their glory.” Jesus *did not* eat it. If Satan dared try the pride trap on Jesus, he has no hesitation to try it on us. Humility is the key to avoiding his perilous traps.

What is Humility?
Let me first say what humility is not. It is not weakness, fear, timidity, or passivity. Jesus was humble, but not weak. Too many people see humility that way. Humility is seeing ourselves before our Sovereign God. It is understanding that He created everything, including us. It is knowing that His ways are higher than ours as the heavens are above the earth. Any encounter with God will show us the vast difference between us and Him!

When Jacob wrestled with God, he walked away with a limp (see Genesis 32:22-32). Any encounter with God will produce an awareness of our weakness, and that will continue even as we walk on before others. Jacob’s salvation, and ours, was not in himself; it was in the Lord. Every good gift comes from above. Knowing that produces humility in us.

For an even more clear view of humility, read Philippians chapter two. Jesus humbled Himself though He was equal with God. Jesus chose to take a lower place and become a servant. He chose to be born to a humble young virgin from a humble village, and He was placed in a feed trough in little Bethlehem. There is no way to describe or fully appreciate the humility of Jesus. He said, “The greatest among you will be the servant of all,” and He certainly was (see Matthew 23:11). Nothing better illustrates His humility than His Crucifixion between two thieves, which He endured for all of us!

January 11th, 2021

1/11/2021

In the Midst of It All Don't Forget Humility With Love

I have seen great men,
Each in pursuit of God,
Standing, yet unyielding
In the face of another

Surely, someone is wrong
But, certainly, it is the other
Like two stones, two rocks of offense
While true love is lost in the midst

I have seen great men
Each in pursuit of God
Standing, but never yielding
At the price of their brother

Surely, someone is wrong
But, certainly, it is the other
Face to face, two rocks of offense
While true love is lost in the midst

But yet...

There is a greater man
Jesus, the Son of God
Giving and yet yielding
For the sake of a brother

Humble, to the point of death
Shunning glory for the sake of another
And as Father turned, He took our offense
And there True Love died in our midst
Philippians 2:1-9

"Walk the Second Mile" by David Lindsay

1/10/2021

WALK THE SECOND MILE
Many of us LIVE as SLAVES. We are either a slave to ANGER or to FEAR and are not living truly FREE.
You can tell how TRULY FREE you are by HOW DEEPLY the actions of other people or the events of life prod you.
Jesus taught us, "Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." (Matthew 5:41)
WHAT WAS HE SAYING?
Was he telling us to be powerless?
No! Jesus in this teaching was giving us a picture of someone who is TRULY FREE!
They are not compelled by either ANGER or by FEAR. (And yes, anger is often an expression of fear.)
Instead, they make a CHOICE to walk 2 miles instead of 1!
Do you see? Someone with ANGER would rage, pick up a sword and say:
"I am not walking your #@*! mile! I demand respect!" And they would be a slave to their anger.
FEAR would silently pick up the load and walk the mile without speaking or standing. (And, that would probably be my weakness.)
But by choosing to walk two miles instead of one, they demonstrate that, "I AM in CONTROL of ME! I am the one CHOOSING my emotions, my actions and thus I choose MY DESTINY (as one submitted to Christ, whose identity is in Him.)"
And it perplexes our enemies. It is a true sign of strength.
It is ONLY as we stand in the place of true FREEDOM in CHRIST that we can turn the other cheek and TRULY LOVE our neighbor as Christ loved us.
When my identity is in Christ, He holds both my present and my future. I can then choose to walk the second mile because my identity is not threatened in this moment. I CHOOSE TO WALK NOT ONE BUT TWO, because I am powerful and because I am not compelled by either hate nor fear.
"Whom the Son sets free is free indeed."
P.S. - Yes, there is righteous anger and there is a place for standing up for ourselves, but for many ANGER has become a way of life. It is their only drawing card. It has become their only option and their protection against the fear that controls them deep inside.

"Is it Possible to Miss God's Purpose?" by David Lindsay

1/9/2021

IS IT POSSIBLE TO MISS GOD'S PURPOSE??

I don't claim to speak for God, but I believe that it is possible.

Consider this... Genesis 11:31-32 says, Terah (Abraham's father) took his son, Abram and left the city of Ur TO GO TO THE LAND OF CANAAN, and they came to city of Haran (anger - the meaning of the word in Hebrew) and dwelt there... and Terah died in Haran (anger).

Interesting facts:

1. Terah left to go to Canaan, the promised land, BUT STOPPED and parked his tent in Haran and died there. (Genesis 11:31&32)
2. Haran, THE CITY, had the same name as his youngest son, Haran. Haran means: HOT or ANGRY.
3. Haran, Terah's youngest son, died before the Lord for some unspecified reason. (Genesis 11:28)
4. Abraham, his oldest son, left Haran, the place of anger, and went to Canaan.
(Canaan interestingly enough means humility in Hebrew)

This story has stuck with me for decades and I ask myself these questions:

“Is it possible that Terah could have been the father of Israel?”

IS IT POSSIBLE that he let ANGER against God, because of the death of his son, Haran, keep him from entering into his promised land with his son, Abram??

IS IT POSSIBLE that he parked himself in Haran, the place of anger and unforgiveness and died there?? (Who knows, maybe he built that city of anger himself.)

(These are all just curious questions. We will never know the answers in this life.)

But the question is:

What are you holding onto that is keeping you from His promises??

What unforgiveness, anger or other sin is keeping you out of the blessings of humility?

Terah died outside of the PROMISED LAND.

Will you die outside of yours???

There is always hope! Stand up, cast aside your excuses, anger, and sins, and GET GOING!!I

"How Safe is Youe Vieyard?" by Charles Simpson

1/8/2021

How Safe is Your Vineyard?

ROBIN HOOD

Robin Hood may be a popular character, but would have been a wicked ruler. “Hood” was an appropriate name, but “Robbing Hood” is more accurate. When rulers covet the possessions of their constituents, a spirit of covetousness is released among the people. The greatness of George Washington was revealed in many ways; one such trait was that he served as General of the Army and President without pay. While I believe that public servants should be paid, covetousness is a disqualification, whether it is a king or laborer.

We should not forget that excessive taxation was a major impetus for the American Revolution, and that confiscation is the major impetus of socialism. Freedom from oppressive taxation has produced an unparalleled prosperity because it is a natural and spiritual law. Confiscation always ends in poverty because those who become “stewards”, the usurpers, have no ability to manage what they did not produce.

Some theologies are actually lenient on theft, and the cultures that they have produced have lots of it. The theory is that if one has not enough, it is somehow moral to take from one who has more than enough. The assumption is that wealth is unrighteous. There certainly is unrighteous wealth, but if individuals are left to decide based upon selfishness or covetousness, then anarchy will result.

I would add one more thought on the issue of unjust taxation and confiscation of property: the inheritance tax is a classic example of the confiscatory policy by the federal government. The taxes were paid upon earning, and then heavily taxed at death to prevent heirs from their just inheritance. Lest someone think that I have said that for personal reasons, I assure you that my estate will not face that problem.

However, be it noted that the great mission endeavors, schools, and humanitarian projects are supported by wealth. The more it is taxed, the less can be given by the rightful choice of the creator of that wealth. While some who are Christians may support a heavy tax on wealth, do not forget the effect that it will have upon missional and benevolent causes (not to mention many other unwanted results).

Whether it is the judgment of God or simply a natural law that catches up with us, coveting-or stealing just because one has the power to do so-ends in disaster. Ahab and Jezebel are classic examples. Read I Kings 21 carefully. Elijah prophesied that the dogs would eat their remains. And so it was. Apparently, God hates the disregard of another person’s life and property.

In the case of the wicked vine dressers, Jesus asks this question: “When the owner returns, what will he do to those vine dressers?” The disciples answered correctly, “He will destroy them.” Those who ignore life, liberty, and the right to own property bring judgment upon themselves. Governments or people who unjustly appropriate power or wealth are doomed to fail. Here is why, to quote W. Cleon Skousen: “They destroy incentive; they deprive the fruits of labor: They encourage confiscation among the people; they produce poverty.”

To be sure, there are those who gain wealth unrighteously, confiscated from others, as we saw in the recent financial meltdown. The government not only failed to protect wealth, it aided and abetted the criminals. Then, when trillions were lost by the public, the government borrowed our children’s future to bail out those who stole in the first place. Some of them are still in power. That is unrighteous!

What can we learn from all of these things?

There is a God-given right to own.

We answer to God as stewards for what we own.

The Golden Rule is essential to civil order.

Covetousness is the source of civil strife. When vineyards are unsafe, so are you.

Covetousness will result in judgement for anyone motivated by it.

I pray that our motives in the coming season will be to elect those officials whose desire is to serve in keeping with our nation’s founding principles and the Word of God. I pray that we can be a people worthy of God’s favor and good leaders.

Please continue to pray for CSM and remember us in your giving. This has been a very difficult year for us financially, but the mission and the needs continue. We appreciate you and remember you often in our prayers. We would love to see you May 4-6. 2011 at our annual CSM Leadership Conference (see www.csmpublishing.org for more information). Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus!

In Him,
Charles Simpson

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