"Running With The Horses"

Scripture Text: "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" Jeremiah 12:5 (KJV)

Friends, we're hearing the political speak spewing forth from the G8 and G20 Summit meetings in Canada, and we are all still in shock of the manhandling of this current administration with regards to secret voting and signings and keeping the Republican party out of the loop as much as possible; and even worse yet, the blatant disregard for the will of the people who have made it abundantly clear that they did not want and DO NOT want this New Health care Bill that is being IMPOSED upon us. one can't help but ask the question, "WHY God?" Why are you allowing this to happen to this country?

Jeremiah asked much the same question as we will find out in today's sing along on this old hymn Higher ground - you can find the words at the bottom of today's email we sent out to you, and right after the song, Osella will read to us the scripture I will bring you the message, "Running With The Horses". Are you ready, Let's sing...

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:1-5 (KJV)

As I said at the beginning of this broadcast today, many are all still in shock at the manhandling of this current administration here in the United States with regards to secret voting and secret signings and keeping the Republican party out of the loop as much as possible; and even worse yet, the blatant disregard for the will of the people who have made it abundantly clear that they did not want and DO NOT WANT this New Health care Bill that is being IMPOSED upon us. one can't help but ask the question, "WHY God?" Why are you allowing this to happen to this country?

Well, I think we have seen the reason at least partially for that one already. one need only read the accounts beginning in 1 Samuel Chapter 9 to find out what happened when the People went against God and cried out for a King to Judge them. King Saul, known to have bouts of madness, became a king who disregarded the prophet Samuel and indeed God himself, and his end was that of shame and what the Bible refers to as the suicide of a coward. (ref., 1 Samuel 31:4)

Many of those even reading this message today or listening to the broadcast are some who have decided to test God, and vote for a man who they knew stood behind a woman's right to choose and even accepted campaign monies from Planned Parenthood. They decided to test God, even though  they knew this man was on the side of tolerance for Gays and Lesbians at the detriment of Christian beliefs which stand for the "sanctity" of marriage between one man and one woman.

So we return to that question, "Why, Lord?" - a question asked by Jeremiah himself in today's scripture reading... to which the Creator of all men, both good and evil, minced no words nor wasted any time in responding to. Let me read these verse once again if I may for emphasis, beginning with the very first verse of Jeremiah 12:1. Jeremiah begins...

"Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end." (Jer 12:1-4 KJV)

God then responds with...

"If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" (Jer 12:5 KJV)

Allow me to translate that for you if I may for some who might be having a hard time "getting it". This is TIMELY STUFF here friends: here goes...

"Listen Jeremiah, If you got tired out while racing with men on foot, how do you expect to compete with horses?"

NOW JUST HOLD on THERE! Where'd that come from? Well how about:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa 55:8.9,11 (KJV)

You see, God may just have much Bigger and much "Higher" things planned for you than what you could have ever dreamed or imagined; and let me tell you something, If he wants you to run with the Horses... you're going to run with the Horses. BUT!!! God was saying this to get Jeremiah's attention who called himself the Prophet of God. He is saying it to the lot of us even now in this day and age who say we've had enough, and we belly-ache but don't do anything about it. Oh, the same people will send out signals for help in the Facebook games to get a renewed life... but they neglect that person down the street who's in need of renewed life, and while many will pay good hard earned money to buy "virtual coins" to get them another chance at the game their playing, they withhold their tithe money because they say they're going to need it.

To them and to me The Lord is saying, you're wearied now with just running with footmen, what are you going to do when I call you to the defining moment in your life?

Listen, Your defining moment wasn't about you alone. God was gracious and He saved your soul and he made you whole - but that was NOT your defining moment. If you've never led a person to Christ yet, you have not experienced your defining moment. If you have never laid hands on the sick  and prayed for their healing according to the WORD of God, you have not lived your defining moment. GOD IS CALLING YOU TO RUN WITH THE HORSES AND YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO RUN WITH THE HORSES DOING GREAT THINGS FOR GOD, OR standing in the shade waiting for the winter to come and the shade to fail you and the winter come in and freeze your backside to the tree you were standing under, waiting for GOD to DO SOMETHING.

God goes on... He says...

"And if you run and hide in a land of peace, where you feel secure, then what will you do when you are hunted by the lions who would desire to overcome you in the swelling and flooding of the Jordan?"

Putting it plain and simple...Jeremiah was a prophet and people from the King down didn't like prophets. They don't like them today. They're party trashers and doom-sayers. No one wants to know the WORD of God because as Saul experienced on the Road to Damascus... to meet with Christ will change your life forever. To see things HIS WAY, will captivate you and cause you to leave those things behind that you once loved - to follow Him. Hallelujah!

Friend, I don't know what the coming month will bring, but I do know that without Christ and our Faith in God, we will not even be able to run with the footmen... but will put our Lord to shame and hide away and continue things as usual - never coming to grips with His HIGH CALLING on our lives.

Are you ready to run with the Horses? Start today right where you are. You may be in a wheel chair, but Oh How God can use you. You may have cerebral palsy, but God can use you. You may be one who has been hiding out in your home for 5, 10, 15 years... and I want to tell you today... God CAN and WANTS TO USE YOU! Pray this prayer with me today will you?

Jesus, Use me, any way you see fit. You know what you have for me, and if I have defined myself by my illness, or my personal malady, I ask that you would release me today in my spirit to "run with the horses". Use me Oh Lord, In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Higher Ground

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain:

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Additional Words...

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

 

출처 : http://inthegarden.us/devo2010/itg062710.htm