Bibleline Radio Show – 2013-08-02 – When God Comes To Visit
Transcription:
This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.
Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. Here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, clearly declaring the Gospel of Jesus ChristMembers through the radio and the internet. Internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bible line to continue on the air. You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the Bible line Ministries.org homepage.
We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s message will be a blessing to you in your family. The title of the day’s message is called, When God Comes to Visit. Now I know that I have been a preacher, I go by and see people and sometimes I’ve had people say, oh preaching, you don’t want to come in the house right now. You’ll see the house is just a mess. It is a mess.
And I says, well I promise not to look. And you go in there and everything speak and span, nothing’s wrong. I think they just say that so that you’re really impressed. I am. So you ought to see mine. No. My wife is not. Okay, she’s not in here. And, but a lot of times, you know, people say, Oh, my house is a messer. And sometime you hear that company’s coming. When company’s coming, what do you generally want to do?
Clean the house. Everything got to be just right because companies come because you know, if company comes and that house is a mess, they’re going to tell somebody. And you’re worried about not just the person who sees it messed up. You’re worried about the person they tell. I remember Betty invited mama Thomas and you know and some of our kids and all of the come over to the house. And you know what she made me do? I mean this is family.
Guess what she made me do? Clean up. I had to clean up the outside. The outside of a house. I mean I had stuff everywhere and it looks fine and she says, Yankie, the downstairs is a mess. Who cares? This is the downstairs. I had to go down there and sweep the down, sweep the downstairs because my family’s coming over. Family ought to stay home when you’ve got to work like that. Just joking. But the Bible says God came to visit.
Now I want you to see this in the book of Luke in chapter one looked there in verse 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he had visited and redeemed his people. In other words, he’s not only saying this at the moment about what he’s doing but what he’s going to do. And it’s written like it’s already done because he has not yet redeemed his people by his birth. That’s when he went to the cross. But it’s like it’s such a reality that it can be looked as something that’s a completed job.
But it says that God is going to visit his people. And they knew. And they understood that that child that Mary had in her womb, that was God. That is God. God is visiting the earth. And what would you do if you knew that today the Lord was going to go to your house. Is there anything in your house that you would want us straighten up? It may not be the house, but is there anything that you may say or do that you would want to impress God?
It’s amazing how we want to impress so many people in so many ways. And yet God is the one that we should be always concerned about. Now, He came and He visited the earth. That’s when Jesus was born. Now I want you to take your Bible in Luke, chapter 19. Luke, chapter 19. And notice what Jesus said. He says in verse 41 of chapter 19, and when he was come near, he beheld the city, talking about the city of Jerusalem, and he wept over the city of Jerusalem.
Now, you know what’s amazing that today that there’s people in the paper saying that the Jews have gone back to Israel and they’ve taken the land away from the Palestinians. Wait a minute. How did the Palestinians get the land? They came in there and took it away from the Jews years before. Here it is in the Bible 2000 years ago, and the Jews were in Jerusalem and it was the capital of Israel. Yes or no? Yes it was. God gave it to them.
Look what He said in verse 42, saying, if thou hath known, even thou at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now are they hid from by night. In other words, you don’t know who I am. You wish not who it was, as verse says. And He says, He wept over the city of Jerusalem because they knew not the day of God’s visitation, the day God came to the earth and he visited the earth and they didn’t recognize God.
They didn’t know who he was. They didn’t believe he was truly the Messiah, the King of Israel. And he says there in verse 44, and shall lay the even with the ground and thy children within thee and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another because, here’s why, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. In other words, God came to visit and you didn’t know who He was. He told about His coming all those years in advance, all the prophecies in advance.
And then when He came, they didn’t believe Him. And that’s why He says that John the Baptist was sent before them to prepare the hearts of the people for the Messiah. And that’s why he says, let the heels be brought low and let every crooked way be made straight. In other words, people get right with God. Why? He’s coming. Prepare. He’s going to visit with you. He’s coming to the earth. Here he is. Here’s God. If you really believe that God was in your presence all the time, really believed it.
Would it affect the way you think, the way you dress, the way you talk. Well, it would affect everything in your life if you really believe that. Take your Bible look in the book of Isaiah chapter 50, the book of Isaiah and chapter 50. And look there in verse 4, I am to live as one who is learned from yesterday. In other words, every day you live, you’re supposed to gain knowledge to make you wiser the following day. Today is the day you’re supposed to demonstrate the wisdom from what you learned yesterday.
Now are you getting wiser as you get older or are you getting dumber? Isn’t it a shame to watch older people make more foolish, idiotic mistakes and decisions than they did 10, 15, 20 years ago? You’re supposed to be wiser now smarter now more stabilized now more filled with peace and joy and purpose and all those wonderful things the older you get the more godlier you ought to be yes or no yes you are are you are you growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ here in the book of Isaiah I want you to look there in verse four the Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him, that is weary.
He awakeneth morning by morning. He awakeneth my ear to hear as the learned. Christ, when He came, He made the statement over and over again. He that hath ears to hear led Him here. That doesn’t mean that you can’t hear audible words because you can hear, but do you really hear? Do you hear what he says when you hear the word of God do you listen with the attitude that whatever I learn and I need to correct I will do so so that this service to mourn this morning is not just another church service that you attended but it’s one that you’re looking for things to change in your life so that when you leave it profited you something it affects the way you live the rest of the week because it has a power.
You heard, you really heard. Now some people were in the very presence of God and didn’t know it. And there’s Christians who go to church week after week and they hear the Bible and they even maybe read and have a devotional time and it changes absolutely nothing in their life. And you go ahead and you do the same old things you’ve always done. You never try to to correct anything, change anything. Then God says, you’re like a person who beholds their face in a mirror, and then you go your own way as though you never looked.
Like it never made a difference. Look there in Job chapter 7. Job chapter 7 is a story of an individual that we’ve talked about many times. I guess most of you here could relate to Job. You’ve had some hard times in life. But I want you to look there in Job chapter 7 and look first of all in verse 7. Did you know that the Lord visits you? with you every morning, every morning, he visits you.” He said, well, I didn’t know that.
I know. That’s the problem. He’s in your presence and you don’t know it. Did you know that also when you trusted Christ is your Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells you? Who lives within you, God, that you are in His presence. But the Bible says it’s like God comes to visit you every morning. When he’s fresh and it’s things he wants to teach you this day. Let your supposed to know that, understand that. But look what he says here in verse seven.
Oh, remember that my life is wind. Mine I shall no more see good. You know what Job was saying? It can’t get any worse than this. I mean, the bottom of them dropped out. But as he looked at life, he thought it can’t, it’ll never be any good anymore. Look what he says, my eyes shall know more. See good. Look what he says. In verse nine, as the cloud is consumed and vanishes away. So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
He shall return no more to his house neither shall his place know him anymore. Therefore I will not refrain my mouth. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” Then he says in verse 13 when I say, my bed shall comfort me, my couch, I’ll ease my complaint. In other words, when you get so down in discouraged, go to bed and sleep it off. Because you know that when you get up, everything’s gonna be changed.
Know all the problems that you went to bed with if you go to sleep, when you wake up, they’re not there anymore. Have you ever heard of people who try to drowned their problems in alcohol. Kind of like his one man. He tried to drown his problem, but he didn’t know his wife could swim. Some of y’all come along. Yeah, it’s just take your time. He says here in verse 14, “‘So I finally go to bed, to get some rest.
Oh Lord, when I’m awake, it’s bad enough. I done lost everything. My wife’s done turned against me. I got bad help. I’ve got these sewers all over my body. I done lost 10 kids, I done lost all of my money and my servants, I’ve lost everything. So I’ll go to bed. Isn’t that a wonderful way to at least get some peace and quiet and a little rest? So he goes to bed. What happens when he goes to bed? Verse 14, then thou scareth me with dreams and terrifies me through visions.
In other words, I have nightmares. So daytime ain’t no good. The nighttime’s even worse. So in verse 15, so that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than life. No, you’re talking about being down? All ye down. I loathe it. I would not live always. Let me alone, for my days are vanity. What is man that thou should have magnified him and that thou should have set thine heart upon him and that thou should have visited him and you ought to underline these two words?
Every morning, it’s in your note, he visit every morning. But notice what he says here about this. And then, try at him every what? Every moment. You see, when you got up this morning, God met with you and God is gonna try you every moment. All day long. You say, why? Because he loves you. He’s, well, I don’t need him or loving. Yes, you do. But with the trials and temptations comes the grace, the strength to bear everything that comes upon you.
But you’re supposed to believe that. But you see, if you forget who God is and what God’s doing and how He’s working in your life, then you resent everything that happens. You’ll be just like Job that loses and it’ll never get better. What a dark life. If I could, I’d strangle myself. Have you ever tried to strangle yourself? Put your hands up here and try to strengthen yourself. What would happen? Now I don’t know if you can do it or not.
I’ve never tried. It reminds me of the guy that walked into the house and loved to burn his soul’s friend hanging from the ceiling with a rope. Tired of running his risk. He said, what are you doing? He’s not committing suicide. He said, why didn’t you put around your neck? He says, I tried it, but I couldn’t breathe. Turning your Bible to the book of Lamentation. Lamentation is chapter 3. I read this verse to you once before in a different message, but it’s on page 836 in a Bible that’s loaned to you.
Lamentation chapter 3, look in verse 22. Our hope is supposed to be in the Lord. And you’re supposed to believe that not only does God visit me every morning, but his Compassion’s are new every morning. I’ve got something new to face every day. What I’ve got God’s compassion It doesn’t mean he eliminates the things that will cause you to need compassion Have you ever had trouble and you wish somebody would kind of give you a little compassion and She won’t a little sympathy and she won’t or he doesn’t a A little understanding, a little kindness goes a long ways.
I think women can live on flattery. Boy, you really look nice. I’ll never forget one time a person came with me. Don’t never do this, ladies. Don’t walk up to somebody and ask them unless you want an honest opinion. You like my hair? The guy has to like it or die. If he tells the truth, no, it looks like a rat nest. You should never say that. So we are sometimes forced into the corner where we have to lie or die.
And you women won’t let us tell the truth. Have you ever asked for their advice? But woe to them if it’s not correct. Here in the book of Lamitation Chapter 3, look in verse 22, it is of the Lord’s mercies that were not consumed because his compassion and you ought to underline those verses. fail not they do not fail. Verse 23 they are new every morning every morning. In other words God gives you all you need at the beginning of every day to face the day.
You’re supposed to praise the Lord at the beginning of the day before you know what the day will bring. Now what it would be neat if you knew that today you’re going to win the lottery and you didn’t even play. You’re supposed rejoice of what God has got prepared for you that day before you know what he’s got prepared. Because you know that God’s mercies and his compassion is new every morning and all that you need. And you believe that.
Don’t you believe that? You believe that. That’s why you can wear a smile. And that’s why whenever things seem to go wrong, you can still keep serving God and keep getting up. The Lord’s compassion’s anew every morning. Number three, the Lord brings his judgment to light every morning. This is awesome. Look in Zephaniah chapter three. Zephaniah chapter three page 961 and look there in verse five. Israel had disobeyed God. The temple had been destroyed. They had been in captivity.
All kind of things had gone wrong for Israel, but that’s because she rebelled against the Lord. She rebelled. She wouldn’t serve God after all that God had done for her Let’s see what I mean there in verse one whoa to her that is filthy and polluted to the oppressing city She obeyed not the voice She received not correction. She trusted not in the Lord. She drew not near to her God Now if this is a description of you you’re going to have a heavenly Father bait the Torah to you and you’re not going to enjoy your life.
But realize that like you said in verse 2, obey the voice of the Lord. Receive correction. Trust in the Lord. Draw near to God. See that’s just the opposite of rebellion. It’s called obedience. Now look in verse five. The just Lord is in the mist thereof. The just Lord is in the mist thereof. Even Jesus Christ when He came says, I am in the mist of the, I’m there. I see, I hear, I understand. He lives within you. He’ll never leave you and never forsake you.
You’re supposed to not, you’re supposed to believe that. But it’s one thing that said, well I I believe that. Now live like that is true because it is true. Some people it will change their lives and other people it will make no difference to them. But look at the last part of verse 5. He will not do iniquity because God doesn’t sin. Did you realize that God can’t Send against you. God can never do you wrong. What if he whoops the tar out of me?
That’ll be right. That will be right. God can’t sin. God can’t do you wrong. God is a just holy God. Now look at the next statement. Judgment too light. Every morning that he bring his judgment to light. In other words, the things that you judge down here, you say, well that’s not fair. That’s not fair. That’s not right. In this life, what is? Ain’t nothing fair in his life. He said, nothing’s fair. Why do you think there’s a judgment when you get to heaven?
Because things are not fair here. If everything was fair, you wouldn’t need a judgment, right? Like come on. You see what I’m saying? So God says every day is to make you aware of that so that you know you live at a time when things are not always going to happen the way you want. It should be brought to light. You should see that. that. Not every day is going to be fair to you. There’s things that are against, the devil is against you.
That ain’t fair. People are going to be against you. That ain’t fair. Your husband is going to hurt your feelings. The wife is going to hurt yours. That ain’t fair. Who said anything was? It’s not your job to make it equal. Have you ever heard somebody say, I’ll get even with them if If it’s the last thing I do, when they say get even, that means they want to make it there. He says, he fail it not. He fail if not.
Psalm 73 14 makes this statement. I want you to see this because it’s so important. Every one of us are going to be chastened. You’re chastened by the Lord. Psalm 73 verse 14. This is what the Psalmist David had to say. For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened, and here’s those two words, every morning, but God visits you every morning. His compassion is new every morning. He chastens, disciplines, corrects every morning. So you’re supposed to thank the Lord for his wonderful compassion.
And you say, well, I don’t want all of that. I just want no troubles. Then you don’t understand the purpose of life. But it makes this statement, all the day long have I been played and chastened every morning. Some people say, well, I wish it was like it was in the old Bible times. Well, you think, well, they had better times than what we have. It was easier for them. It’s hard for us to date. It’s not fair. No, that’s not true.
Today I apply what I learned yesterday. Today I apply what I learned yesterday. Did you learn anything yesterday? Do you have any hard time to God teach you anything yesterday? Now some people can live and learn and some people live and never learn. Which one are you? Can you learn? And then the next statement, a football team that lost today must wait a week to try again. Aren’t you glad every moment can be a new start for believers? Because it’s moment by moment.
You walk with the Lord one step at a time. You say, well, I just stumbled and I failed. Do you have to wait until next week to correct it? No. You don’t have to wait until another hour. You can correct the very next statement, the very next decision, the very next moment. So we have an advantage. So that’s not fair. You can always correct things in your life, aren’t you glad? And that there’s a heavenly Father that will forgive you when you stumble, when you fall.
But He loves you. Number five, I want to look this in first Chronicles, first Chronicles, but in first Chronicles and chapter 23, but they’re in verse 30. The Bible tells us that David was a man of war and that God wouldn’t let him build the house of the Lord, the new tabernacle, the temple that was going to be built. But God did allow him to put the things together so that his son Solomon could build it after he left, after he died.
Well, there was the tribe of Levi. They were the ones through which Aaron came from being a brother of Moses. They were the sons of Aaron. And they had a ministry with the priesthood. And so the Bible told these priests, this is what I want you to do. In the New Testament the Bible says ye are a royal priesthood. And ye are kings and priests with God and shall rule and reign with the Lord. And you and I are supposed to be like a priest.
We intercede for other people. But look what he says to these people. They’re in verse 30. And to stand, and ye are underline these two words, and to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. And likewise at evening. But get the first part of it. Before the day reveals, it’s content. You’re supposed to stand and thank the Lord and praise the Lord before you know what the Lord will bring forth in that day. That is what helps you to prepare for a day.
Otherwise, if you don’t, you get up and you automatically expect everything’s going to work out great today. And let me hold you find that not everything works out great. And this thing goes wrong and that goes wrong and mixing all the whole day as a wreck and you’re down and discouraged and complaining and you and Uncle Job Set near in an ash heap Contemplating suicide Or you realize that this is the day God made it He’s already got all the compassion that I need for the day and I’m gonna need some Because there are going to be problems that are going to come this day.
And God says, I’ve got all the compassion you need. You may not get it from people. They may not always understand. And people will let you down. Things don’t always happen to suit you. And you wish sometimes you had power. You could change things. Everything that needs to be changed in your life, God is able to do so. And is willing to do so. But He’s more interested in you as the person than the things that happens to you or what people think about you is that you need to understand that God came to visit with me today.
And if he came to visit with you today, have you ever had some people come to visit and you can’t wait for them to leave? Ever had anybody like that? All you love to see company come and you love to see company? Go. You don’t want them to live with you. You just want them to visit. Sometimes shorter, better. But if the Lord came to visit with you today, this morning, how long do you want them to stay today?
All day? You want them to stay all day? Really? Because if he stayed all day, you realize that you really got to watch yourself all day long. You got to like entertain. You ever, you don’t mind certain people coming to visit with you because you don’t have to entertain them? Then there’s other people you feel like you always have to entertain them. Look at the bottom of the page, just three little things I want you to look at. You should praise the Lord before you know what the day will bring forth.
God has provided all you need to face tomorrow, but you won’t get it until he says grace for today is sufficient thereof. You see what breaks you down is not the burdens of today because God gives you grace to bear today. It’s because you reach into tomorrow and the next day and you bring those troubles and problems into the present and God never promised to give you the grace to bear tomorrow’s burdens in advance. And it weighs you down.
We should offer the sacrifice of praise continually found in the book of Hebrews in chapter 13. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach Bibleline and pledge your support to keep us on the air in your area by dialing toll-free 1-800-576-3771. That’s 1-800-576-3771. To listen to today’s message again or to obtain a free download of any of our Bibleline programs, just go to our homepage at BibleLineMinistries.org and click on the Radio Broadcast link.
If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Our Sunday morning services begin at 10-30 and at 6 o’clock on Sunday evening. Live broadcasts of our services may be seen by clicking on the Calvary Community Church link at BibleLineMinistries.org. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline, and now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound, and we will be changed.
Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day, believing that the Lord is coming soon, and just keep looking up.
