Today's Teachings

"Watch the Eyes" part 3 by Charles Simpson

9/16/2019

Watch the Eyes

God’s Eyes
God has eyes; He is not blind. Second Chronicles 16:9 tells us that God is looking for someone whose heart is completely toward Him. He searches our hearts (see Jeremiah 17:10). Given that we were created in His image, we have eyes, and so does He. Certainly, His eyes see infinitely more than ours! We see but He sees into and beyond, and He is looking for a person whose inner motivation is to serve Him.

Psalm 32:8 says “He will guide us with His eye.” Of course, we cannot yet look into His eyes, but we can look where He is looking. The Holy Spirit is focused where God is focused. So, when the Holy Spirit leads, that is where God is looking.

Servants look to the overseer’s eyes and respond to “eye direction.” A less sensitive servant will receive verbal instruction. A rebellious servant will be guided by his hand. It is much better to be guided by his eye. Even my dog knows that…sometimes.

One of the most famous Gospel hymns is “His Eye is on the Sparrow” (by Civilla Martin and Charles Gabriel). This hymn is based upon Matthew 6:26 and Matthew 10:29. God watches even the birds and knows even the number of hairs on our heads. This gives us an amazing clue as to the acuteness of God’s vision.

Zechariah 2:8 declares that Israel is the “Apple of His Eye.” The Lord says that whoever touches Israel will be plundered. We should remember what happened to Rome, Germany, and other nations that mistreated the land and people of Israel. What God favors we should favor. How much more will the Lord regard “The Apple of His Eye” than the sparrows?

When Jesus saw and chose His disciples, He saw more than His natural eyes saw. Nathaniel asked Jesus, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you standing under the fig tree.” Nathaniel was amazed! Jesus did not simply see his appearance, He saw Nathaniel’s heart because Jesus had said, “Behold an Israelite in whom is no deceit!” (see John 1:43-50 NEV). Apparently, open and honest hearts are rare, but God looks for them.

Proverbs 4 is a wonderful chapter. Verse 23 is the first principle, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.” Verse 25 speaks directly to this letter, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” The aforementioned race car driver was saying the same thing when he said, “Don’t look at the wall.” The eyes guide the head and body.

Looking Ahead
The way of Jesus is straight not crooked (see Matthew 7:14). Hebrews 12:12-13 tells us to make straight paths, so how do we do that? We do that by looking straight ahead and not looking around or down. My friend Ern Baxter is with the Lord but I recall a story that he told many years ago:

“There was a bicycle riding contest and one challenge was to ride the bicycle over a plank. Only one boy made it all the way to the ends of the plank. When he was asked how he was able to do that he said, “The others looked down, or at the wheel, but I looked at the end of ** the plank.”
The boy looked straight ahead. That is what the race car driver was saying, but more importantly, it is what our Lord says!

I pray that we can accomplish God’s purpose by keeping a heart focused upon Him, by looking straight ahead, and moving in the direction of our calling. Don’t be distracted by the noise, what others have to say about it, or by the difficulties. As the Apostle Paul would say, “Fight the good fight and finish the race.”
During September, would you please remember us in your prayers and in your giving? We have much ahead of us in ministry, and we face some significant challenges financially. Our ministry opportunities and needs did not take a Summer vacation, but we’ve had a very lean season in terms of ministry income. Your friendship and support have meant so much to us, and will mean so much moving forward. Thanks for standing with us!

We are keeping you in our prayers also as you seek His will and strength in days ahead!
In Christ,

Brother Charles Simpson

P.S. If this letter blesses you, would you pass it on? And would you please remember CSM in your prayers and in your giving this month as we sow the Gospel seed around the world? We face significant opportunities and opposition. Thanks for standing with us!

"Watch the Eyes" part 2 by Charles Simpson

9/15/2019

Watch the Eyes

Eyes Aid Balance
Balance is better when our eyes are open. I try not to close my eyes when I am in the shower because sight gives perspective and helps my equilibrium. A lot of people fall in the shower and that is one of the leading causes of accidental death.

In a similar way, when we keep our eyes open in life, we are more likely to avoid danger or foolish missteps. We all have probably witnessed an individual crossing a street while on their cell phone. When eyes are closed or distracted, we are oblivious to the dangers around us. Sight gives perspective and balance. If we are going to close our eyes or be distracted, at least have a guide dog, but probably not in the shower!

Having sight is a blessing, but knowing where to focus matters a lot! In Matthew 6:22, Jesus said, “If the eye is single, the whole body will be full of light.” Some translators interpret, “A good eye is full of light.” Another interprets, “A healthy eye is full of light.” In any case, what we look at will produce a result.

In Matthew 4:4 Jesus said man “lives by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Father.” In John 6:60-71, we are told that Jesus gave a hard saying and many disciples left. Jesus turned to the twelve and asked, “Do you want to go away also?” Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of life…” (see verse 68). In spite of things they did not understand, they stayed focused on what Jesus had to say. We do well to follow their example.
Do not allow things that you do not understand to cause you to focus elsewhere. If we follow on to know, we will know what we need to know. As the old hymn says, “We will understand it better by and by” (written by Charles Tindley). Staying focused upon Jesus brings life, faith, and understanding.

There is another song that says “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, I want to see you” (written by Paul Baloche and recorded by Michael W. Smith). In Second Kings 6:17-20, the Lord opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant to see what Elisha saw, and the servant saw that the heavens (mountain) were full of horses and chariots of fire that surrounded them. If we look to the Lord, He is our eye-opener to see what we did not see with natural eyes. If we are to see the whole picture, we must look to Jesus. The natural picture is incomplete and misleading.

Hebrews 12:2 is equally clear and directive as the previous story, “Looking unto Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the Throne of God.” We are to look to Him, but He is also looking at us.

"Watch the Eyes" part 1 by Charles Simpson

9/14/2019

Watch the Eyes

Dear Friend in Christ:
I hope you’ve had a wonderful Summer. I want to talk this month about eyes; our eyes, others’ eyes, and even God’s eyes. We all know that eyes give sight, but they also do much more that is vital. I want to give some thoughts about that as we prepare for a new season.

Eyes communicate with our bodies in many ways and give us perspective, a sense of security, danger, affection, or rejection. They tell us more than our consciousness often records. Our family has a very intelligent Yellow Labrador dog named Sparty. Dogs study their owners and often, they study our eyes. When I look in a direction, Sparty usually does too. He seems to know when I am happy or not and responds accordingly. I am sure that he takes other factors into account such as voice or movement, but he continually looks at my eyes. He knows if I am serious or just playing with him. His eyes are focused.

So, it is with other animals and certainly with human beings. Remember the saying, “The eyes are windows of the soul”? We say more with our eyes than we realize. Whether we realize it or not, consciously or not, people read our eyes. Our eyes project light, energy, mood, and other matters. Have you ever looked at someone who had been looking in some other direction or even conversing with someone and suddenly they turned to look at you? They responded to an invisible energy that came from your eyes. Your eyes communicated. When eyes communicate, they also direct.

Eyes Direct
I once read wise advice from a race car driver, “Don’t look at the wall; you will run into it.” The driver was explaining that our bodies follow our eyes. Turn your eyes, turn your head and adjust your position. I was recently driving in Dallas, Texas, which has numerous very high overpasses. I am not fond of heights, let alone driving high in the air. As I was driving up the incline, I recalled the race car driver’s advice, “Don’t look at the wall.” So, I focused on the lane ahead not the walks on either side of my lane or the height, and felt peace; no weaving or uncertainty.

So, where we look, our bodies will respond subconsciously. Remember that story of Abraham’s nephew, Lot? Genesis 19:28 says, “Lot looked toward Sodom.” Soon, he was in Sodom and suffered the consequences. If we continue looking, the body will follow the eyes. That is why distraction can be deadly.

Many serious accidents and fatalities are the result of distraction from cell phones, food, conversation, or other issues. Lot is not alone in distraction. I receive letters from men in prison who had a God-given purpose but became distracted by some alluring idea, passion, person and suffered the consequence. Sometimes it cost them their lives.

I have attention deficit disorder—I’m easily distracted. I have to fight the tendency to be distracted by even minor issues. I start to do something and then think of something else to do. For me, focus is a fight! I pray that A.D.D. is only mental and not spiritual, though I think that many of us suffer from a form of “spiritual A.D.D.” We began to do the will of God, then think of something else. The enemy always offers that “something else.”

We live in a world of distractions! We have 24-hour news, political confusion, hundreds of channels at our disposal, and a cacophony of sounds. Voices come from everywhere into our lives, not to mention the pressure of many responsibilities and incessant demands. “I don’t have time!” is a familiar refrain and focus is a fight for all of us. And, if you go out to eat at a restaurant, there is loud music to “aid your digestion.”

Crucify the Flesh by Gene Norman

9/13/2019

CRUCIFY THE FLESH

Throughout the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul helps us to see why and how we are to put off the old man of the flesh. He begins with a powerful statement by saying that he, as well as you and me, have been crucified with Christ. We were on the cross with him in the eyes of the Father. Our power of life is not of ourselves but it is actually Christ Spirit who lives in us, and we live this life by faith in Him who gave His life for us.
We are not justified by the law for it was only the tool that brought us to see our sin. Now we live by faith in Him. You see, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Yes, the law of life has set us free from the law of sin and death. Just as the law of lift overcomes the law of gravity so that an airplane can fly.
We Gentiles now walk in the blessings of Abraham because we are born again in Christ therefore we are the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.
God's people are not longer separated by Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, but now we are all one in Christ Jesus. Yes, we are all sons and daughters of this Almighty God because we have been baptized into Christ and have put Him on as we would clean new clothing. Now we are justified by faith.
Back in the days of the Bible a child was treated no different than a slave, even though he was the heir of the estate. He would remain under the guardianship of stewards to be taught until the time that was appointed by his father. At the age of 13, he would be put through a ceremony know as, 'Bar Mitzvah', then he would be considered a man. In the same sense, we remained in subjection to the world system until the, 'fullness of time', the time know only to Father God, when He sent His only Begotten Son, to be born of a woman, yes even born under the law system. The purpose was to redeem those who were under the law with the intention of bringing them into the 'adoption as sons'. Then on the fact that we are now sons, the Father has sent forth the Holy Spirit into our hearts that we might cry out, 'Abba Father!'. Acknowledging that we are no longer a slave but a son, therefore we are heirs of the Father through Christ Jesus and what He has done.
Back then, we did not know God, and we served things that by nature were not god. But now that we know Him or better yet, we are known by Him, we must stand fast and secure in the liberty by which Jesus has made us free. Do not go back to the entanglement that was a yoke of bondage to sin.
Now, we can wait eagerly by the power of the Spirit for the righteousness that we hoped for by faith. We have come to know that in Christ Jesus neither circumcision required by the law, or uncircumcision, avails anything and both amounted to nothing. But the true point is; faith works by or through love as a motive.
Hallelujah, we now have been called into liberty, but don't be foolish and use your liberty as opportunity to yield to your flesh and sin. Instead, serve one another through brotherly love. For all the law is really fulfilled in one word, it is what Jesus told His disciples in the upper room. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
On the other hand, if you use unkind, accusing words to bite and devour one another, watch out, for you may be consumed by those words against your brother. You see, the works of the flesh are all around us like: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and those like that.
And back in your old life you did many of those things, but you must realize that anyone who practices such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Instead, I say: walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. You see, the flesh always lusts against the Spirit and vice versa, but if you are truly led by the Spirit of God, then you are no longer under the law.
What the Spirit in us produces is Agape' Love and this love expresses it self in eight ways. They are joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is not law against any of these.
When we belong to Christ, then we have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we daily live in the Spirit, then we will daily walk in the Spirit.
Know this, in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but what does is a new creation. In another place Paul said, “If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things are becoming new.”
He also said, God forbid that I should boast.... except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
My desire is that Christ be formed in you.

"Dreams and Visions" by Gene Norman

9/12/2019

QUALIFYING DREAMS AND VISIONS
These are two means of communication that the Lord uses to speak His purposes and plans into our hearts and souls.
So, He told Moses to speak to the people and say, “If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord will make Myself known to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.” That is recorded in Numbers 12:6. Later, He spoke to Jeremiah in chapter 23:28, “The prophet who has a dream, let him tell it; and he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.
The Lord God does use both of these venues still today. Job 33:15, He wrote, “In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then God opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.

We will insert a disclaimer here to say that not all dreams are from the Lord. Solomon said in his writings, “ for a dream comes through much activity.” Suffice it to say, sometimes it is not from God at all.
But, in this article we are looking at the authentic ones.

When Joseph was brought before the Egyptian Pharaoh to interpret his dream, Joseph said to him, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” “It is not in me, or of my own volition, bur God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” He was telling this king that the dream was to let him know what the God of heaven was about to do.
The beloved Daniel said, “for there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets.” Scripture tells that Daniel had received from the Lord, understanding in all visions and dreams. Not only that, but he had an excellent spirit of knowledge, understanding, solving riddles and explaining enigmas.

Way back there, the Lord came to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” A little later, the Angel of God spoke to Jacob in a dream where He said, “Jacob, here I AM.” Joseph, his son had two dreams showing him that his family would eventually bow down to him.

In the book of Judges, Gideon over a man of the Midianites telling his dream to a friend. He realized the dream was speaking of Gideon defeating them.

As Solomon was preparing to sit on his father David's throne as successor, he was in Gibeon and the Lord appeared to him in a dream of the night and said, “ Ask! What shall I give you?' When Solomon woke up he realized indeed it was a dream.

A young man named Joseph who was espoused to a virgin named Mary had a dream in which the angel of the Lord told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, even though she was pregnant. The angel said that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Again, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the Child she had borne, because King Herod was in the process of killing all male children under two years of age in an attempt to kill Jesus.

The Book of Acts records several dreams and visions to fulfill the Lord's will.
After Saul of Tarsus, later called Paul, met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and was miraculously converted and saved, the Lord visited a believer named Ananias in a dream and instructed him to go to a street called Straight and find Saul in the house of Judas. At the same time frame Saul received a vision in which is saw Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.

A Roman Centurion named Cornelius saw in a vision, an angel of God coming and telling him to send to Joppa for a man named Peter would come and speak words whereby he and his household would be saved.
About this same time, Peter was on the roof of Judas' house in a trance and he saw a vision of a great sheet being lowered from heaven with many unclean animals in it. The Voice told he to rise, kill and eat, but he said, “Lord, nothing unclean has ever touched my lips.” The Lord replied, “Peter, do not call common what I have cleansed.”
At a later time, Paul was attempting to go into Asia to preach the gospel but he was stopped by the Holy Spirit. After a few days, he had a vision in the night in which he saw a man of Macedonia calling to him to, “ Come over to Macedonia and help us.” The vision was later fulfilled.

Both Joel and Peter spoke the same words. In Joel it was a prophecy of what was to come, while Peter spoke that it was here. They said, “In the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, your sons and daughters will prophecy. Your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions.
Habakkuk spoke words of wisdom concerning this phenom ion by saying, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run...who reads it.”
The Apostle Paul spoke these words to King Agrippa, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”

"Clarifying the Anointing" by Rev. Gene Norman

9/11/2019

CLARIFYING THE ANOINTING
To begin with John tells us that God is Spirit, this is found in chapter four verse twenty four. In several places, the scriptures call it the power to accomplish God's will. You might remember the woman with the issue of blood who came into the crowd that was following Jesus. She evidently had a strong belief that the touching of His garment would do something for her. Well it did, Jesus soon spoke and said, that He perceived power or virtue exuding out from him. Then upon learning who it was that touched him, he said, 'Your faith has made you whole.' This was an example of anointing in operation.
The apostle Paul, in 1Corinthians 12:7 speaks of it as the manifestation of the Spirit, something you can literally see, which was given for the profit or benefit of all. As we are filled to the full with the Holy Spirit we become established in Him, and that anointing is deposited within us, 2Corinthians 1:21.
In 2Corinthians 3:14, Paul says that our minds were blinded when we read the Old Testament making it was difficult to understand. He compares that to a veil placed over our eyes, but when the anointing comes upon us, then that veil it taken away and our understanding in cleared up.
John writes in 1John 2:20, 27 saying that we have an anointing given to us by the Holy One, it is there to teach us the truth and to be our constant companion.
Revelation1:10, John says that he was in the spirit, actually engulphed in the presence of God, which descrbes the anointing. Then in 3:18, he gives us some examples such as buying from the Lord, pure gold that has been refined in a fire. With that we become rich, not in possessions but in spirit relationship with Him. Also, he speaks of it as white garments that we can be clothed in to cover the shame of our nakedness. This is a type of righteousness. Again, he speaks of it as salve to put on our eyes to enable us to see or discern the revelations that He wants us to know. It is by that revelation that He makes known the mystery of the kingdom.
Way back in Genesis 41:38 when Joseph had interpreted the dreams of Pharoah, the king's servants said of Joseph, 'where can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God.' They recognized the anointing upon him.
Moses was overseeing the battle of the children of Israel with Amalek, so it was when he held up his hands the Israelites prevailed and when his hands came down Amalek did. This is found in Exodus 17.
Chaper 19:9, the Lord told Moses, 'Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud.' (presence).
We see in verse 18 that Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke, actually it was the shekinah of God, His anointed presence, because the Lord descended upon it in fire.
God gave Moses the formula for making the anointing oil or ointment in chapter 30:25.
He lists the ingredents in verses 22 through 24. His instructions were to make it according to the art of the perfumer and it was not to be duplicated for any other use.
This would be used to anoint the tabernacle and it's furniture and articles.
After Solomon's workers had completed the construction of the Temple, he assembled all the singers and trumpeters for the purpose of praising the Lord and thanking Him. They were singing, 'For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.' So, when they lifted their voices and sounds along with the cymbals and other instruments of music, and they began to make one sound in perfect harmony or unity, that is when the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, the Shekinah anointing, so that the priests could not stand or continue ministering because the glory cloud of the Lord had filled the Temple. Read about it in 2Chronicles 5:13 and Psalm 133.
The word of the Lord came to Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4:6 saying, 'Not by might (of human strength) nor by power (of mankind), but by My Spirit (anointing) says the Lord of Hosts.
During the Old Testament, except for John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit did not indwell anyone, He was always said to be upon them.
Judges 13:25 The Spirit of the Lord was upon Samson;
Judges 14:19 and 15:14 it is said that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily.
1Samuel 10:6 The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, he was turned into another man.
1Samuel 16:13 When Samuel anointed David to be king, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.
Although Jesus breathed upon his disciples and said to them, 'receive the Holy Spirit.' They did not fully received the baptism of the Spirit until Acts chapter two.
Paul encouraged Timothy in chapter 4:14, to not negelect the gift that was in him. This gift is the Holy Spirit himself, not the nine listed in 1Corinthians 12. Again, in Second Timothy Paul said to him, 'I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you by the laying on of my hands.' This also is the Holy Spirit himself not the nine.

"Be of Good Courage" part 3 by Charles Simpson

9/10/2019

Be of Good Courage

WHAT TO DO
I have read and heard numerous assessments of why all of this is happening, from global warming to God’s judgment. Many people blame the President. Blame has become a big word in this season. I have read the words of some who are angry at God and blame Him. Blame is not what to do. I have no doubt that whatever the cause, the Lord is speaking to those who will seek His face and listen. And that is the primary thing to do. It is vital that we stay vertical_“Looking unto Jesus.”

When we seek the Lord, rather than running to and fro or leaning on human strength, He will speak to us. He wants to speak even more than we want to listen. Once we have heard, then obedience is “paramount.” It is life and death. Remember what Mary said concerning Jesus: “Whatever He says to you, do it” (see John 2:5).

Another response to these difficulties is to look for opportunities. The citizens of the Kingdom can hope for no better opportunity to serve than in times of stress (see Mark 9:35). If we reach out to those in distress, the Lord will not forget, even when people do.

As always, the future is a mystery. It is the unexpected that usually defines it. Likely, the same stresses and hopes will continue through the next year. I don’t see political tension or terrorism declining, but I do see the Kingdom expanding in visible ways.

I would offer this counsel: be a reconciler. When Jesus came, He came to reconcile (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-21). He did not count our trespasses, nor should we (see 2 Corinthians 5:19). Counting leads to separation.
Since reconciliation was and is Jesus’ motive, it ought to be ours. In addition, it makes good sense. Division wastes resources on strife. Reconciliation incorporates resources for purpose, and adds the multiplying blessing of God. Look for ways to prevent discord and for ways to heal it.

The more the church unifies around Jesus Christ and the Gospel, the more powerful it will become in spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom. Therefore let unity be our immediate task.

The purpose of this monthly letter is to share from my heart to yours what I am seeing and hearing and hope it strengthens you. Remember those who suffer for the name of Jesus and those who serve in difficult places.

In Christ,

Charles Simpson

"Be of Good Courage" part 2 by Charles Simpson

9/9/2019

Be of Good Courage

OPPOSITION AND OPEN DOORS
The Lord has not changed since those days. This year, 2005, has been another season of both opposition and open doors. The ministry has taken me to Siberia, Holland, England, and Belgium. In addition, it has taken me from New York to California, and from the Gulf Coast to Wisconsin. While God’s grace was evident everywhere, we have dealt with difficulty.
My wife, Carolyn, was diagnosed with cancer in February and has undergone chemotherapy, surgery, and faces the possibility of radiation. My brother, Riley, an attorney in Texas, has dealt with cancer, and our sister, Carolyn Rodman, has dealt with strokes. Then there was Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which killed more than 1,200 and destroyed several hundred thousand homes here on the central Gulf Coast. My staff and I have been heavily involved in the relief effort.
We have raised and distributed more than $170,000 so far to help support churches and families that were so devastated. Of course, the hurricane not only devastated a large area, but has had a profound effect on the regular financial receipts of Christian ministries, as so much money was needed to help our friends on the coast. Like other ministries, CSM has faced a serious financial shortfall. Our daughter and son-in-law, who are missionaries in Costa Rica, have also experienced income loss.
Our nation itself is in a struggle: inflation, fuel costs, the war, terror threats, natural disasters here and abroad, stock market losses, and other issues have taxed our national economy. Meanwhile, the national division of political forces prevents the ability to work together to solve problems. Our President has battles on many fronts. We are all indeed in a narrow place.
The hurricanes seem to symbolize our spiritual and economic predicament. They “churn up” our world and leave rubble and death.

"Be of Good Courage" part 1 by Charles Simpson

9/8/2019

Be of Good Courage

Dear Friend in Christ:
Thank you for taking time out from your schedule to read this letter. I hope that it will help you understand our times and strengthen you during these days.

I noted in an earlier letter that the Lord spoke to me one year ago, saying that 2005 would be a year of testing. Carolyn and I went forward to the altar in our local church at the beginning of 2005, to rededicate ourselves to the Lord’s will. It was indeed prophetic.

Let me share for a moment about how to respond to the Lord in the midst of tests and transitions. In the early 1990s, I began teaching on the dangers and opportunities of transitions. I looked at Joseph and Daniel as examples. Transition is a narrow place between the past and the future, much like an inlet between a smaller body of water and a larger one. As the tide rushes through the inlet and empties into the ocean, tides, currents, and winds can create dangerous conditions. A good rudder and strong power are needed to defy the forces that would capsize a boat.

Yesterday is emptying into tomorrow. A smaller world view is pouring rapidly into an expanded one. We are passing from one era to another through a narrow place beset by spiritual forces, natural disasters, and secular opposition. But the purpose is to get out into deeper waters that offer greater opportunities. The Lord’s purpose is to move us out into the world out of our small sectarian bays, lakes, and tributaries.

PSALM 27
I have been through many seasons of transitions. For example, 1970 was a transitional year for me. I was working with other trans local teachers, and moving into a broader calling. I will not catalogue all of the tests, but there were many. I had just given up my salary from the local church, when I faced storms of opposition. I encountered a “prophet” who sought to put a curse on me, “You won’t die a natural death,” he said in anger, after I confronted him.
Then two “con artists” tried to attach themselves to my ministry. One was arrested, the other escaped. I barely escaped a newspaper investigation. Then, I had a shortage of funds as I left for extensive ministry travels in New Zealand; Carolyn had meager funds to operate her budget for our family.

It was during this time that the Lord gave me Psalm 27. So many phrases stood out:
• “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear?” (verse 1).
• “One thing have I desired and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (verse 4).
• “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion…” (verse 5).
• “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face Lord I will seek’” (verse 8).
• “When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me” (verse 10).
• “Teach me your ways, O Lord…” (verse 11).
• “I would have fainted unless I believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (verse 13).
• “Wait on the Lord and be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart…” (verse 14).
I recommend this Psalm for times of testing. And, I might add, the Lord delivered me through it all during that season and every one since.

Elijah and Elisha by Gene Norman

9/7/2019

A COMPARISON OF ELIJAH AND ELISHA

Elijah means: My God is Jehovah and Elisha means; My God is Salvation
The first is a picture of the First Covenant while the second is a picture of the New Covenant.
One day Elijah was walking by the field where Elisha was plowing behind a yoke of oxen. There were twelve teams in this field that day. Elijah walked up to him and threw his mantle on him. This mantle was actually a prayer shawl that most Hebrew men wore and many still do today in the Nation of Israel. At the two ends of the mantle were knotted strings about six inches long representing the word and laws of the covenant, then at the corners were longer ones with several knots and each knot represented the descriptive names of the Lord. The whole garment spoke of the anointing. As it left the hand of Elijah and landed on Elisha a conveyance of anointing and calling was being portrayed. The question was, would he obey and follow or not. Well, he did follow, and not long after this the elder put the younger through three major tests.
When the Lord was about to take Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind the two of them went out from the town of Gilgal. This word Gilgal means circle or rolling and it is a type of the Word. Now, the first test. So, Elijah said, “Stay here please, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” This word means 'house of God'. But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as my soul lives, I will not leave you.” So, the two went down to Bethel. There was a group called the sons of the prophets there who realized what was going to happen, and they said to Elisha, ”Do you not know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” Elisha looked at them with a jeer and replied, “Yes, I know, keep silent.” The second test. Elijah then told him to, “stay here please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” This one means 'city of palms or oasis'. Again the answer was, “as the Lord lives and as your soul lives I will not leave you.” The third test. “stay here...the Lord has sent me down to the Jordan.” Meaning, 'their decent or humility.'
The revelation is: living in the Word, becoming a part of the church of the Lord, bathing in the waters of life and living in humility. The idea in type and shadow is as one is in the word he becomes part of the church or family of God, then experiences the oasis of the washing of water by the word. And that brings him to the place of humility and obedience to the Lord.
Elijah then took the mantle by the four corner strings and twirled it together and popped the water of the river with the word and the waters parted, they then walked across on dry land. Arriving on the other side, because Elisha passed all three tests, he was asked, “what do you want?” His answer was, “I want a double portion of the spirit that is upon you, Elijah.” As he saw the prophet go up, the mantle fell down and he picked it up and went to the river and took it by the four corner strings, while popping the water he said, “ where is the Lord God of Elijah?” Then the waters parted. He went across with the double anointing upon him.
Elijah was called to deal with King Ahab because he allowed his wife to rule,
while Elisha was called to deal with his wife Jezebel for her witchcraft.
Elijah did seven major miracles in First and Second Kings:
17:1, He stopped the rain with his words
17:8-16, A widow was sustained with a little flour and oil
17:17-24, A widow's son was raised from the dead
18:36-38, His sacrifice on Mt. Carmel was set on fire by God
18:41-46, He prayed and the rain came again
2Kings 1:10-15, Two captains and 50 men were slain by fire from God
2:8, He popped the waters of Jordan with his mantle and the waters parted
Elisha did fourteen major miracles in Second Kings:
2:14, He popped the water of Jordan with Elijah's mantle and the waters parted
2:19-22, He put salt in a bowl and cast it into bad water and made it sweet
2:23-25 Mocking children were mauled by a bear at his command
3:15-20, Water was supplied to the army by a miracle
4:1-7 a widow's oil fills many vessels
4:13-21 a widow's son was raised from the dead
4:38-41 he purifies a pot of stew
4:42-44 loaves multiplied to feed 100 men
5:1-19 Naaman healed of leprosy
5:20-27 Gehazi gets Naaman's leprosy
6:1-7 the floating ax head
6:8-23 His servant sees angels in chariots of fire around them
7:3-20 The Samaritan famine was stopped
13:20-21 a Moabite soldier killed in battle, was revived when his body touched Elisha's dead bones

<<Previous