In Isaiah 51, the Lord delivers a powerful message to all who pursue righteousness. He declares, “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord” (Isaiah 51:1). A few verses later, he again calls to those “that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law” (51:7).
I want to make three statements to you about the touch of God. These three points are the heart of my message:
One question has been at the forefront of my mind in recent weeks. I believe it's a question every sincere believer must ask himself continually: Am I growing in grace?
To me, grace is Holy Ghost empowerment to become more like Jesus. Therefore, to grow in grace means to increase in Christ-likeness through the unmerited power of God's Spirit. Now let's rephrase my question in these terms: "Am I relying on the Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus - in my home, my ministry, my relationships?"
Multitudes of Christians get up each morning only to face indescribable problems - physical pain, emotional suffering, financial struggles. Many are so barraged by trouble after trouble, they worry, "This is all too much for me to handle. My problems are about to defeat me! I don't have the strength to fight these things anymore. How will I ever make it?"
Our ministry has received many letters from saints who endure extremely difficult circumstances daily. Recently, my wife and I spent a day reading through some of these letters:
"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven" (Luke 6:35-37).
NOT everyone who's in what is known as the ecclesiastical church is going to be in the bride of Jesus Christ. Not all who say, "Lord, Lord," will enter in. We know that from the Scriptures.
However, existing within ecclesiastical churches all over the world is a called-out body - a holy remnant - that will comprise the bride of Christ. Right now, God is preparing that bride for marriage to His Son. And He will introduce this bride to her Bridegroom at the marriage supper of the Lamb!
Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, "Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" (Matthew 16:3). Christ was saying these religious leaders could predict the weather — but they couldn't recognize the signs God sent to them!
The same is true of many believers today. All around us, the Lord is pouring out His judgments on the land and yet most Christians do not discern them!
Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid" (John 14:27). But the fact is many Christians do have troubled hearts — and they do live in fear! Many are secretly plagued with panic, turmoil and sleepless nights.
Jesus also said in the same verse, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." Yet few believers can honestly say they enjoy constant peace of mind. For many, peace comes and goes, leaving them worried, restless and battered by stress.
Jesus predicted that the last days will be a time of unprecedented fear. His very words were: "Upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken" (Luke 21:25-26).
David committed adultery with Bathsheba, "...and the thing that David had done displeased the Lord" (2 Samuel 11:27). Bathsheba became queen, and David went about his kingly duties. One day, perhaps while in a high government session with foreign ambassadors, someone approached the king and whispered, "Sir, the prophet Nathan is here. He's impatient and insists on seeing you right now. He says it's a matter of life and death!"
