Old Dog IV
In Due Season
April 14, 2000:
To those with ears to hear….. for the last 5-6 months we have been in “draught” conditions in South Florida and throughout much of the north American continent many have suffered from the lack of rain. What is interesting is the fact that those not facing problems of “lack” have been dealing with floods/ flooding. Spiritually I have watched the “draught” and “famine” for many months. Most people who “trust” in man never noticed the “lack”. They turned on their faucets and water was there. No need for the “average citizen” to check the ‘reservoir or measure the “well”. Water is cheap and plentiful……only it is neither. this last two weeks I have kept hearing the phrase “IN DUE SEASON” in my spirit. And each time I hear THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT speak my spirit grabs whatever THE WIND blows. over the years i have “stored up” for the time of famine that now covers this land, but was not really aware of the fact. for you see….man lives, according to KING JESUS…
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
The first witness was Matthew…the second Luke….for those who need more….
Deuteronomy 8:1-4
1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.
2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.
4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. (KJV)
The question is whether obedience to HIS COMMANDMENTS is ever noticed when we “talk” about “THE WORD” or “THE BREAD”? Amos said clearly “the famine” in the land would be of “hearing” THE VOICE OF GOD. Theoretically if you do not “hear” HIS
VOICE than you have NO WORD(S) to “feed” on. In the realm of THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT this is taking the generality of famine and taking it to the personal level of “spiritual malnutrition”. When the natural body is “starved” it’s “resistance” is down. Susceptibility to “opportunistic” infection and disease increases exponentially. We see it all over the ”church”, but no one can ”diagnose” it because it is politically incorrect to say anything about “THE CHURCH” that is not comforting, edifying, or just plain “cute” to the ears of the spiritually “deaf”.
Paul in Romans brings up this issue….if anyone would notice….by discussing “hearing” as well as “preaching/ speaking” and the twin issues of believing and faith…
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Faith comes from “hearing” THE WORD OF GOD….but who is hearing GOD during the famine?
Funny that Paul in Romans is quoting from Isaias 53 and 54….why….BECAUSE NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL….so “hearing” requires “obedience” to become faith. Without obedience there is nothing but “lip service” which a MOST HOLY GOD really hates….check HIS WORD.
Funny thing “FAITH”….HIS WORD places it with “obedience” and “condemning the world”….IT IS WRITTEN…
Hebrews 11:1-10
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (KJV)
Above are 10 well quoted verses….and a lot of WORD….STRONG MEAT FOR THE HUNGRY….faith and obedience are the requirements to “please GOD”….very simple….not at all complicated. But to begin you need to HEAR HIS WORD TO YOU….no way around it. The question that begs to be asked of “the church” is whether you really believe that sitting in your “pews”/ “seats” you have found “THE CITY
WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD”? Have you “earned” HIS REWARD HE PROMISED to those who “diligently” seek HIM? Then you must see yourself as ‘a good and faithful servant’ and feel relaxed about everything?
Funny how “IN DUE SEASON” pops up in the strangest places….LIKE MATTHEW 24…
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (KJV)
Funny how those “WORDS” jump out at me and sear my spiritman each time I read it. To give them “meat in due season” is the job of the “wise and good” type of servants. Likewise being “smited” is the reality when encountering “evil servants” who sit with drunkards. David wrote about sitting…anyone remember?
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Ugly word “scorn”, it appears 3 times in the New Testament….
Luke 8:49-56
49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done. (KJV)
Mark 5:40
40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. (KJV)
Matthew 9:24
24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. (KJV)
All three gospel accounts of the raising of the girl from the dead point out that JESUS was “LAUGHED” at to “scorn” HIM. He was mocked as a liar and a fool. Everyone knew the little girl was dead. Everyone knew nothing could be done. UNTIL HE SPOKE AND SHE HEARD AND OBEYED….even when dead……….
Even “dead” we can hear HIS VOICE and “obey” THE WORDS HE SPEAKS. THE WORDS OF LIFE….
How could anyone “mock” the KING OF GLORY?….easy, they never “heard” HIS WORDS. Jude warned us and gave sound advice…
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
So what spirit might they have? Paul tells us…
1 Timothy 4:1-4
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
Months ago I was “rebuked” by THE LORD because I had offended “many”. I was “chastened” because I had to “learn” some hard truths. It is not good to hold offense. It produces no fruit worthy of a HOLY GOD. When JESUS told Simon Peter to “FEED MY LAMBS….FEED MY SHEEP” it was to care and protect the weakest. That is the job of those called to serve. But those who “serve” must be fed…or they will start eating the sheep. That is why “good and wise servants” give meat to their fellow servants. The problem is few are servants…. few were meant to be. Because few “hear” clearly…
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
“Strong meat” is not for lambs….certainly not for infants and children.
Yet “in due season” meat portions are to be given to those who hunger for more than “the milk of the WORD”. Everything comes “in due season”…famine and sword….meat and rain. Both situations have been set forth IN THE WORD. Can’t have one without the other.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
selah
shemuel