Morning Moments

Remember Mercy - Habakkuk 3:2

"Oh Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O lord, revive thy work..remember mercy."

When we are oppressed with the stat of the world and the church as was Habakkuk, there is no resource but to turn to God. It is of no use to say to our brother, "What shall we do?" We must at once get into the presence of the Almighty. All conferences with flesh and blood are wasted breath, all services for services sake are wasted time, UNLESS there is a meeting with GOD HIMSELF. No one can do that for you - you MUST meet Him yourself - ON HIS TERMS.

In the third chapter of Habakkuk we discover a prayer song which should be written indelibly on every believer's heart. Having laid hold onto the faithfulness of God, the prophet moves from quest to conquest, from doubt to determination, from repentance to revival.

How each of us should long for that kind of experience among us, our church, community, country, civilization, and cosmos.

If we are to get what the Lord is so willing to give, we MUST put aside our pride, prejudice, and pettiness and petition our God for MERCY. The Bible says there is a wideness in God's mercy. It is God's mercy we need and it must be for mercy we plead. It was true of the prophet and true of the people then; it is true of the preacher and the people now. May our heart cry be as the phophet's - "In wrath remember mercy."

What is our text saying? Consider:

Respect for the Word of God - "Thy speech" - Ecstasy is no quarantee of orthodoxy or that Christian fruit will result. We have created a generation of "feel good" Christians as opposed to "find God" Christians. We jump high but refuse to walk straight. GOD HAS SPOKEN and we had better listen. We are in the words of Newt Gingrich, THE WORLD LAST BEST HOPE.

God has spoken regarding Purity, but we remain polluted. The Church is rich and increased with goods and has need of nothing - but to pay the mortgage - untold interest to the world - forbidden by God. The tail wags the dog who thinks he is leading under God, but violating the very principles of God.

It broke my heart recently when I preached to large congregations in India where the chuches there want to be just like the Americans - dress up, fess up, dry up, get up - all within an hour. We need to look up and get a Word from God that frees us from time as we face eternity.

Some of you may remember the time of the protracted meetings which began on a certain day, but lasted unto God came to the meeting. Sometimes it was a week, more often two or more, but when God came sinners got saved and saints got sanctified.

The sawdust trail and the hard wood unpadded benches, with no air conditioning and only a pot belly wood stove for heat, were enough. Money was scarce but preachers preach till they sweated and people prayed till they saw God.

We are far too comfortable today to need God. We live in our new mansions, drive our new cars, wear our new clothes and expect to touch the Ancient of Days.

Purity of life begins with purity of thought and how can we remain pure in thought with TV, movies, music, and life filled with obscenities and impurities? Why even the Amish have been effected by this. I was in Pennsylvania not too long ago and saw Amish boys with their horse and buggies ride up to a convenient store and buy cigarettes.

Purity of heart brings purity of body, soul, and spirit! It is progressive, but you can be sure that it is permanent. God says, "Cleanse yourselves from all the fithiness of the flesh and spirit; perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

The Church needs REVIVAL and the world needs REGENERATION, and until the Church seeks what it needs, the world will not SEE what it needs.

(to be continued)

BLESSINGS! (which only comes through brokenness).