Brook Cherith Ministries: News

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BROOK CHERITH MINISTRIES
The name of this ministry comes from I Kings 17: 3-6. The brook Cherith is where the man of God (Elijah) was both to receive his drink and nourishment.

We, like Elijah, need a place we can go to find nourishment in the time of this drought. We claim no special gifts or abilities, just the unadulterated Word of God and words of encouragement. We will provide tapes, short writings, CD's of our preaching and singing etc.. These tapes and CD's have been compiled for over 40 years. The focus is on giving God the glory and showing man his true position as a helpless sinner.

BROOK CHERITH MINISTRIES endeavors only to magnify the Sovereign Lord in an age when HE is mocked, ridiculed, disbelieved and disobeyed. Prayerfully, the light of this ministry can shine upon you in this darkened time.

One Voice/One Man's Opinion

We invite you to read the editorials written under the title, "ONE VOICE". These are written by Dr. Larry W. Montgomery and express his personal convictions and/or truths from the Word of God.

We pray those of you who enjoyed this One Voice/One Man's Opinion on various radio stations in the past will once again be blessed.

Sunday 14 March 2010

HOW SHALL THEY PREACH....

Sunday 14 March 2010 - 18:48:58

HOW SHALL THEY PREACH…..

“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!”
(Romans 10:15)

The art of preaching can be mastered by many, but the heart of preaching is the good gift of God. Just this week I received a letter this week from a lady it was my privilege to pastor for decades. She was expressing her thoughts and joy for the years she and her family were part of the ministry. Remorsefully, she expressed her disappointment in the direction the assembly she attends is heading.

This is not an isolated case. I am constantly made aware of the post-modernist-bent of the pulpits and churches. This is not at all surprising, but rather a fulfillment of prophecy (Rev. 3: 14-22) and exactly what we have preached for the past 50 years. It you are a Bible believer and realize how the good Holy Ghost brings men to Christ, you will be sorely displeased with the modern presentation of the gospel presented to itching ears in most Sunday gatherings, for the orations have little or no resemblance to the Gospel (note the lower and upper case letters) of Jesus Christ.

Paul speaks of “another Jesus, another spirit and another gospel” (II Corinthians 11:4). This is the message that is beguiling souls and entertaining sinners on their way to Hell. This is the root of the Sunday-hoopla taking place in cities, towns and villages everywhere. If it is not some showy expostulation of gibberish or some extoller of the virtues of water, or a promise of an influx of material gain, most would not think they have heard preaching. What happened to the “simplicity that is in Christ”?
(II Cor. 11:3)

The truth is that we have so learned the ART of preaching that we no longer desire the HEART of preaching. It is truly a sad day!

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Saturday 20 February 2010

THE TEMPORAL ASSAULT

Saturday 20 February 2010 - 10:57:16

THE TEMPORAL ASSAULT

(Temporal, because the question is settled in eternity)

“…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.” (John 14.6)

The Jacksonville Times Union (Jacksonville, Florida) on Friday, February 12, 2010 (page C5) published an interesting article which caught my eye. It seems the Presbyterian Church (USA) has revealed the results of a poll of their members. This poll finds that 36% “strongly disagree” or “disagree” with this statement, “Only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved.” Better than 1/3, that’s one out of three, disagree with our Lord’s statement in John 14:6.

This is, by no means, a surprise to me, and the results would be no less in most other denominations, including Southern and Independent Baptists if the facts were known. I’ve never been surprised to learn that great numbers of people disagree with our Lord; and if it comes as a surprise to you, you need to get out more. I tell you what would surprise me-- if a poll should show that 10% of professing Christians really agree with our Lord’s statement. Some years ago I heard an elderly black preacher reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans. After he had read a portion, he followed by saying, “To which I partially agrees”. Fearfully, that’s the mind-set of most who claim to know our Lord.

The poll (broken down according to the article) shows that 45% of pastors disagree with the statement, only 35% agree. Only one out of three pastors agree that Christ ALONE is the way of salvation. WOW! If that doesn’t scare the black off your dog, what will? No wonder the world is going to Hell in a speeding frenzy. No wonder there is no power in preaching, and no semblance of Christ anywhere near the so-called church.

I hear constantly from folks looking for a place to be fed and to worship. The report is the same….”It’s so hard to find.” Well, wonder why? How many times have I said that the greatest sin in America is that those who name the name of Christ are guilty of stealing His glory. If He is not recognized for what and who He is, He will not manifest Himself in the assembly.

John 8:24…Jesus said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am – ye shall die in your sins.” (I omitted the word HE, for it is supplied by the translators and in this case can deter from the meaning.) Remember our text, John 14: 6 “ I AM THE WAY……” Jesus identifies Himself some 48 times in the book of John as “I AM”. Those who believe not have but one end, they will die IN THEIR SINS. That sure doesn’t sound like salvation to me. So for our unbelieving pew warmers, Christ is the only way, not one of many ways.

The Presbyterian Church may have taken the poll, but be assured, those who seem to be of some persuasion otherwise are no better in their credentials. No wonder our Lord said, “…Nevertheless when the son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b) You see, it’s not a new thing. Knowledge was introduced in the Garden of Eden as another way; then Cain and his vegetable and fruit stand religion; it has avalanched since then. Is there another way? If you think so, you’ll be able to spend eternity with the best religion had to offer and the worst the world could produce. May God settle the question in your mind. Be not fearful to proclaim Jesus as the way, THE ONLY WAY!

Take a moment to read these passages:

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)

“And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6: 69)

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” ( Hebrews 7:25)

CHRISTIANITY HAS NEVER BEEN FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED!

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Wednesday 03 February 2010

A Little City....

Wednesday 03 February 2010 - 17:56:27

A Little City – Impending Disaster – Great Deliverance – No Memory

“There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.” (Ecclesiastes 9: 14-15)

This passage shows how fickle the minds of men are. How often we’ve witnessed the Lord’s deliverance in people’s lives, yet those whom the Lord used to bring deliverance are soon forgotten. How unwise and selfish, even sinful, to let time or circumstances erase from our memory those whom our Lord has used to bring joy in times of sorrow; peace in turmoil; comfort in loss, hope in despair, or a smile when a frown is deserved.

Life is not as predictable as we would like to think. Today’s blessing may give way to tomorrow’s heartache. We all need someone. There is no one to compare to Jesus, upon whom we may cast our cares, but it is good of the Holy Spirit to bring a “Noah” for his household (Hebrews 11:7) ; an “Esther” for her nation (Book of Esther); an “Ebedmelech” for God’s man (Jeremiah 38: 7-12), or a Saviour for a dying world (John 3:16). I’ve not mastered the art of non-forgetfulness by any means, but I beseech my Lord to not let slip from my memory the many who have given of themselves and their goods to bring comfort and relief in time of my need.

I seldom think of Thomas Edison when I turn on a light switch, but occasionally he does come to my mind, and at those times I breathe a thank you, not to Edison, but to the God who gave him the wisdom. The benevolent are not always thanked in person when they cross my mind, but I thank my Lord for them. It was He who put them in the right place at the right time. So, though we cannot always say thanks to the very soul who rightfully deserves it, we can say “Thank you, Lord”, and not be involved in this great vanity of which Solomon speaks.

It is a great attribute to be mindful of those whom God has used to smooth some of the rough spots in our way!

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Thursday 31 December 2009

TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR TOMORROW

Thursday 31 December 2009 - 09:56:07

TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR TOMORROW

“Take, therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)

I’ve actually thought in times gone by, that I really understood this passage. I’m not so sure anymore. I know our Lord would have us look to Him rather than tomorrow. I know we are not to be concerned of those things over which we have no control. Tomorrow is coming with its’ evil and trouble, but as the old song says, “Why worry about tomorrow…..". I’ve never been so disenchanted and bewildered going into a new year. 2010’s outlook is not bright in the realm of politics, religion, or hope. We can’t see above the horizon.

Politically, we are as bankrupt as can be. The lack of decent leadership has spent our grandchildren’s wages, and if the spending continues, our great-grandchildren’s. Reason and logic has no resting place inside the Washington, D.C. beltway. America has become a nation of “give-me’s” and instant gratification mongers and those who don’t give a rip about the outcome. There is no light, yet, at the end of the tunnel.

Religiously, we’ve become a nation of delusionary groupies, willing to follow the lies, half truths, visions and versions of false prophets and wolves in sheep’s clothing, simply because they sound religious and seem sincere. Can we, for a moment, think the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were not sincere? Or the Saducees? The Scribes? The Priest? The whole religious crowd was sincerely wrong! Were the prophets of Baal sincere on Mt. Carmel? Of course they were, and the fallen will of men followed because it seemed to be the right thing to do. What happened to trying the spirits to see if they be of God? Today’s religion is so demonic-influenced and infected that rejection of the Word and truth of God is the norm.

Hope, if based upon the visible surroundings, is hopelessness. There is, however, a bright hope for those who will remember the Words of our Lord, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” The verses before the one quoted at the beginning of this thought tell of our Lord’s care for us. Hope is brightest in the dregs of despair.

God’s little children are not unacquainted with trials and troubles; nor are we non-conversant with victory. While the eyes of others are upon the surroundings (though they can’t help but concern us, and we must do what we can to correct the wrong..contend for the faith) we must rely, as does the sparrow and the lily, upon Him. When our vision clears to see HIM, hope is restored and enthusiasm is regenerated. There is an end to it all, a glorious end, and that not far ahead.

So, charge enthusiastically into 2010 with hope beyond hope!

Have a victorious New Year!

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Tuesday 01 December 2009

Ezekiel 24

Tuesday 01 December 2009 - 17:21:36

“…Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves: should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” (Ezekiel 34: 2)

History repeats itself because men, in their natural state, do not change. I could pontificate long on that statement, but it is used here to train your mind to the thought at hand.

In this portion of scripture, Israel has gone into captivity and Judah, her whorish sister, is taken as well. Ezekiel writes from Babylon of the destruction of both Jerusalem and Judah. In chapter 34 the blame of the scourge is laid at the feet of the shepherds, not literal shepherds, but the leaders of the people. Kings, princes, priests, prophets, etc., they are blamed for being greedy and self-satisfying rather than doing as they should. How well the strokes of the brush paint a picture of America and the visible church!

Our leaders, politically, are deluded into thinking that we would be better served by a socialistic government, and will soon destroy our way of life, as we’ve known it, if some are not exposed and expelled from office. Mr. O is ashamed of our heritage and has set about to undermine both the constitution and our God-given freedoms, God help us! (and only HE can!) This is extremely important, but not the main thought of this writing.

The shepherds picture (or type) the pastors of our modern age. Read chapter thirty four in its entirety and see the similarities. As Jerusalem (Judah) has been led by false shepherds (hirelings), so the modern church is also. Jeremiah had labored among them before and during the assault against the land, but they would not hear. They had turned their ears to hear the false shepherds, those who were telling them the city would not fall and that Babylon would not overcome them. Few in number were these like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah. The false prophets were leading the people under false pretence and promises of no captivity. They told the people what they wanted to hear and baited their minds with false hopes. How scarce are the shepherds who value the soul more than popularity or attendance records; who will declare the facts of God’s Word over traditional dogma and delusions of men; who fear the frown of God more than the tongue of man and who will not sell their message and even their anointing (if there is any) for a mess of pottage!

Just how much responsibility do we as under-shepherds have? Not a little! People often hear what we say contrary to what we may think, and are often moved to do as we say. The Holy Ghost will move them right. The unholy ghost will move them and persuade them wrong. Do God’s people ever become confused? Yes, often in this experience-driven church age men and women are confused. The average preacher has no idea how God saves a sinner, nor does he know the immense responsibility that rests upon him in directing the steps as the under-shepherd. Most are prideful, greedy, enamored with themselves, neophytes, lazy, inapt, un-tempered, self-willed, egotistic, if not despisers they are inattentive to truth, non-studious, bloomers in their own garden, and are of no spiritual value.

Yes, those who have the responsibility for declaring and contending for truth are like no other – responsible for the demise and spiritually ‘dumbing-down’ of the sheep. Most saints know more about football, auto racing, American Idol contestants, Hollywood residents and o'possum tripe, than the things of God. We are quick to blame the teachers when our children do not do well in school – the same blame should rest upon the pastor if the church is spiritually ignorant.

God’s people are comforted with lies, delusions, visions of grandeur, old wives tales, images of Mary in bathroom windows, idols, promises of new cars, homes, possessions, etc. We revile the Moslems for the promise of 70 virgins…how different are the lies coming from the so-called Christian pulpits? God’s people are deceived, distracted, disoriented, destitute, deluded, spiritually disgruntled and even disinterested. All because the pulpit has become a place to win popularity and produce followers of men and anemic Christians.

What a great responsibility to hold a position of shepherd (under-shepherd) of our Lord’s flock! How dare we do less than feed the sheep, feed the church of God (Acts 20:28). There is a definite famine in the land and at our strongest, we are weak. We must be fed. We must feed! As Jerusalem fell to the enemy because of its shepherds, so the church (though insulated against failure by Christ Himself) will become less and less a factor in a dying world as long as we are fed artificial rations. Margarine and similac are not suitable for a saint at battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. If the sheep have scurvy it is the shepherd’s fault. If they are malnourished, it’s the shepherd’s fault. The sheep may stray and it not be chargeable to the shepherd, but if they cannot discern truth from error it just may be placed at the feet of the shepherd, especially if he has failed to declare the unadulterated Word.

So…..who is to blame for our spiritual maladies? I think we know!

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Wednesday 02 September 2009

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

Wednesday 02 September 2009 - 17:19:17

"...Earnestly Contend for the Faith...."

Jude 3

Not a single Bible believer can fail to be disgusted at the post-modernist theology and neo-orthodoxy parading as conservatism and fundamentalism. Let there be no mistake, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not being proclaimed from most pulpits and other avenues of communication. Truth is as scare in modern sermons as hen’s teeth. Most would add to the admonition of Jude, ‘contend, but don’t be contentious’. This is a phrase directly out of the compromiser’s handbook of oxymorons. The Gospel is contentious to a sin-craving world. It is contentious to proud pharisaical religionists who will swallow a lie as big as the average deaconess and rebel in fierce anger at an eye-dropper of truth.

The word “contend” is a strong word, meaning ‘to struggle’. It is a military term. It means to go into the trenches, foxholes and do battle for the faith once delivered to the saints. Truth is such a valuable commodity that our Lord announced Himself to be THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE (John 14:6). The faith and the truth are inseparable terms in the Word of God. Thusly, I use them interchangeably.

It is the modern day norm to hear good men call for ecumenical dialogue and interfaith fellowship, to the abandonment of truth and the faith Jude speaks of. Men can fellowship and play golf, mumbling peg, or for that matter, extricate dried mucus from their olfactory orifices and get along OK, but to try to mix a Jew, Islam and Christian in a compromise of their faith is to say to the Christian, “Forget Christ as the payment for your sins!” He can’t possibly do that and be a believer (II John 7). A far-fetched scenario? Not at all, it is the push of most religionists, “Let’s get together…”

The greatest enemy of the early church was the Jew who tried to integrate the laws of Moses into Christianity. Paul was unmistakably stern in his warning (Romans 3:20). That foolish doctrine has survived in the ranks of the Armenian, or should I say the rank Armenian. How can a Bible believer compromise the truth of salvation by grace just to fellowship with unbelievers? Don’t mistake that statement, I said “unbelievers”, for if one does not believe that Christ came for the purpose of fulfilling the Will of the Father to save His people from their sin. Not all are His people (Romans 9:8). Oh! No! We can’t fellowship if you don’t believe everyone is God’s child. You have a nice day! Enjoy your false religious system, hopefully asbestos is not outlawed for you and yours. Who can read Ephesians 1, John 17, John 6: 37-44, 65, Acts 13:48 and a multitude of other texts and not see that NOT all will come to Christ. Some will! Glory! Glory! Glory! Some WILL hear, some WILL come, believe, repent and follow, but not all.

Hell will not have to search for victims. They are rushing headlong to get there, satisfying their guilty conscience with a hopeless, Christ-less, bloodless, faithless religion that cries to a wandering world, “Let’s get together, all roads lead to Rome”. (Ain’t going there, been there, didn’t like it!) Personally, I’m bound for glory! The Only way is Christ. Now, there is the rub, there is the contention, Can you actually believe that not all believe and know the redemptive work of Christ? I know it is shocking hearing that, but it’s time to awake, You may be reading this and not know Christ (I rather doubt that you would have read this far if you are not a member of the family).   How far will one go in his religious stupor, blinded by delusions, dreams, pride, etc., and yet perish?

Delusion is a good word for the modern church, for so many of its numbers are not living by faith and embracing truth, but strong delusions. The charismatic movement thrives on delusion and make-belief. The poor soul that can come up with the most exciting and outrageous event wins and is Queen (I say Queen because it is usually a woman - Timothy 2: 11-15) for the week. She’ll soon be de-throned as long as Krystal keeps making their little square burgers. Delusions are not all they produce, but one is not far removed from the other.

Just recently a member of a delusionary group said, “I don’t care what Paul said, I know god (I used a small ‘g’ because of her denial of the true God) called me to preach. Oh, since when did God become subject to the whelms of a deluded, demented, distraught female (she was a woman), who refuses to take her proper place. Isn’t it a bit befuddling that these Holy Writ rejecters all claim to have ‘the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues’? They willingly destroy the word and supersede it by their so-called experience (delusion), while claiming all the time they are full of the Holy Ghost.

This kind of rebellion against truth and the faith once delivered to the saints is not a new thing. Jeremiah faced it when the people said they would do “whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth” (Jeremiah 44:17). The modern deluded saint could care less what the Word of God says. It is not at all important unless they can use it or abuse it to prove some far-fetched dogma. Otherwise, everything becomes subject to feelings, another good word describing the truth haters. Statements such as “Well, I feel like”….”How do you feel about this?”...”Doesn’t that give you such a good warm fuzzy feeling?”….Sounds like the media’s love affair with the delusionary President Obama. In case you haven’t learned, our feelings are subject to a myriad of things. Truth is subject to none. I may feel like I should join hands with Christ-rejecters in order to appear as though I’m for peace at ay cost….NOT! Feelings are the most shaky and shallow premise upon which to base anything. “Adam, I feel like you should eat this”…”Abraham, I feel like you should take Hagar.”….”Job, Curse God and die”…etc. The Word of God should NOT play second fiddle to feelings! NO!

There is little room for contending in the busy life of most. Don’t let someone ‘ding’ our door in the parking lot, tell our urchin off-spring to chill, mention the bulging hipline or the graying or balding head, suggest that we may be wrong, lazy, or ignorant. For any of these things we will contend, but we allow the Word of God to be ridiculed, wristed, blasphemed, or denied, and we have lock-jaw.

I have long ago graduated from arguing the Word of God. In confrontations (of which I seem to draw like an all-day-sucker draws ants) I simply say, “What does the Word say?” I could not possibly tell you the number of times I’ve heard, “Dr. Montgomery, how do you feel or what do you think?” I feel old, bald, wrinkled, abused, distressed, joyful, blessed, loved, exhilarated,…how about that for a mixed bag? Now, how on God’s green earth can I trust my feelings, and why would anyone else?   What I feel or think is no basis for truth, or the faith once delivered to the saints. The Word of God can not possibly be our guide when subjected to our feelings. What does the WORD OF GOD SAY?!

Contending in a time of ultra compromise is unpopular and opens one to ridicule and abuse. These things often silence the saint and cause one to believe the devil’s lie that
“we must all get along’. I ask you, did Jesus “get along” with the religionists of His day? How about Paul, Simon Peter, Steven, and we could list a number of contenders of the early church years. Why do you think the pilgrims came to the new world? Because they were ‘chummy’ with religion? Contenders will be ridiculed and extricated from society if the post-modernists have their way.

Is truth worth the conflict? Is the faith Jude speaks of worth the exclusion from modern delusionisms? I say, Yes! Yes! Yes! While mobs are filling temples of delusion and the so-called ‘spiritual media’ are distributing their delusions, Truth and Faith keep marching on in the church of the firstborn and the little flock. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Keep up the fight, The Author and Finisher of our faith awaits us at the winners circle!

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Monday 24 August 2009

STAND YE STILL

Monday 24 August 2009 - 14:23:17

“…..STAND YE STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD….”

II Chronicles 20:17

This is not the first time this phrase appears in the Scriptures. The first mention is when Israel is leaving Egypt and was in despair between the sea and Pharoah’s army (Exodus 14:13). In the portion of scripture we are dealing with (II Chronicles 20), Judah is in fear because of the numerous forces of Ammon, Moab and the hoards at Mr. Sier. Judah has long been separated from Israel, and for a period of 66 years has dwelt in relative peace because of the good kings Asa and Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat, when learning of the massive army coming upon him, makes his appeal to God. He states the facts relating to Ammon and Moab as Israel came out of Egypt. His prayer is a prayer of both faith and declaration. One great statement of his prayer is “…Our eyes are upon thee..” (Verse 12). This is a complete resignation to faith. He basically states, Lord, we are incapable of fighting this battle, so we are going to watch how You will answer this prayer.

God’s answer comes through the prophet, Jahaziel (verse 14) relating they will not have to fight, but that God will fight FOR them (V. 15-17). At this prophecy, Jehoshaphat and all Israel bows in worship as the Levites, singers and musicians begin to praise the Lord.

This seems completely backwards to us, for we would wait to see the work done before we would begin to worship and praise. Oh! How weak our faith! This is a tremendous example of faith. The next morning when they went to see this great spectacle God was going to perform, they went with singers appointed to go before the army, singing of the mercy of the Lord which endures forever (V. 19-21). The victory had not been experienced yet, but faith had believed and claimed the victory because GOD SAID IT.

I have looked carefully at this text more than once through the years and I see not one flinch of their faith. Their king believed, and encouraged the people to do the same…they followed and rejoiced in a victory yet in the future. How this should stir our spirits to claim the victory over the enemies of soul, body, mind, reputation and witness! The army against us may be just a numerous as the one in this example, yet can we cast ourselves upon the Lord and say, “We are watching you, God, to see what you will do?”

How glorious it would be if our President would fall before God, lay bare the sins of this nation, and our weakness before enemies! Oh, that he could say “God, we are looking to you, our eyes are upon Thee”!

Jehoshaphat’s faith led his people to believe and a great victory followed, without having to fight. The fight is the Lord’s. Note, not one of the enemy survived. God has never failed to complete the task. We, like Saul, would find some reason to spare the best of the sheep, oxen, and even Agag (I Samuel 15: 9), but God spared nothing of the enemy except the spoil.

Judah gathered the spoils of the battle, which took three days, and returned to Jerusalem. Their return was not without joy and praise. They had seen the salvation of the Lord. Faith had wrought victory!

We must not move away from this without a journey to the wilderness as Israel is making its way to the promised land. They were compassing Edom, the land from which came part of the army of which I just spoke. They grew weary of the way and were complaining of the manna, even saying “Our soul loatheth this light bread” (Numbers 21:9). They complained that Moses had brought them into the wilderness to die (v.5); that the Lord had sent fiery serpents among them: “And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people: and much people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:6). In their desperation, they came to Moses repenting and asked him to go before God on their behalf.

God instructed Moses to make a serpent. Moses did so, making it of brass (judgment). The people were instructed to look upon the serpent of brass, which was lifted high above them. Please note: They were to LOOK to the serpent and live. Let the words run through your mind again…. “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord”; “Our eyes are upon thee”, and now they are instructed, “That every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8). Israel was to LOOK. They looked IN BELIEF. As the dying soul lifted his eyes, in faith, to meet the eyes of the serpent of brass, or for that matter, just to see the lifted serpent, brought healing.

The people of Judah cast their gaze upon God in faith and saw His salvation. The wilderness people looked, in belief, and were healed. In John 3: 14-15 Jesus said, “…As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” Note, as the serpent, making it a type of Christ suffering the judgment of God for those who will look upon Him, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish (die from the bite of the serpent) but have eternal life” (John 3:15).

The poor dying sinner who will look to the uplifted Christ in belief will see the salvation of the Lord. Look not into the eyes of judgment, but into the eyes of One Who said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Look into the eyes of One Who has borne our sins in His own Body; One Who has satisfied the wrath of God on our account (Isaiah 53; 11) LOOK and LIVE. Look, believing and claiming victory. It’s not just for Israel, but to all who will look to the lifted-up Son of God.

LOOK AND LIVE, my brother, LOOK TO JESUS NOW AND LIVE!

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Tuesday 18 August 2009

PREVENIENT GRACE

Tuesday 18 August 2009 - 17:23:31

PREVENIENT GRACE

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

II Timothy 1:9

Take time to read this verse several times, seek its truth and illumination. God will not leave the souls of those for whom Christ died to chance concerning salvation. This great gift was given us before the world began. God’s prior work assured that we both come to Him and fulfill His purpose.

A term little known, and far less respected in modern halls of the theological elite, is PREVENIENT GRACE. It means that God is first on the scene. He is, was and shall be, prior to each and every action, thought and movement of both will and body. It is easy to remember if we realize that God can never go where He is not already there. Thusly, before the event, His grace is already sufficient. He has first sought the seeker.

Few will ever learn this lesson practically, for we view the Christian pilgrimage as one of sunshine and roses and are devastated when anything out of the expected glow and perfume is encountered. It is rare to find those who will continue their walk in faith when the unpredictable and unexpected befalls them. It has been said that we pray like Calvinists, sing like Armenians and live like Atheists. The average prayer petitions the Sovereignty of Omnipotence to provide and answer our prayers because we cannot do it ourselves. Then we clap our callous vacant hands and pat our ‘ner-tired’ foot singing with our worldly conversant lips and tongue “I’m Building a Bridge”; “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand”; or “If Anyone Makes It Surely I Will”. How shallow our knowledge of the workings of God, both to bring us to salvation and to keep us once brought!

Few of us remember songs of the church as:

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

(Am I a Soldier of the Cross).

The battle is on in modern history. The church in America stands to lose much if the trend is continued (that may not be such a bad thing…). The promise, though, is that He will not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and that NO-thing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39).

The economic down-turn has affected all our lives, my family being no exception. My son, because of the building boom implosion, had to take to the road in a “big rig”. I was awakened the other night, startled suddenly with a heavy thought to pray for him. This I promptly did and lay for a few moments in wonder if my son was OK. Then, just as suddenly as the thought to pray came, the comfort of knowing nothing could separate him from this Agape love flooded my thoughts. When our off-springs are under our roof and wings, we feel we have some control over their safety and comfort. Oh! How empty the feeling when they are hundreds, even thousands of miles away and we sense danger toward them. To grasp the truth of Prevenient Grace, shown to us from Genesis to Revelation, as well as in each day of our lives, brings great peace. Knowing we are powerless, He is all Power, and NO-thing can separate us from the love of God…. I was comforted with this marvelous text and Paul the Apostle’s words “..I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). God assured me that where Benny (my son) was, HE had been there prior. I promptly drifted back into the solace of sleep!

We can all spend time mulling over circumstances in our lives, or we can simply rest in this truth – God is a PRIOR God. He never arrives late. John chapter eleven would seem to contradict this if we do but a surface study. Lazarus was sick when word first came to our Lord about his situation. Jesus later tells the disciples that Lazarus is dead. It was not necessary that our Lord be present in Body to heal His friend (Lazarus), He could have spoken (or by thought, for that matter) and Lazarus would have been healed. Lazarus’ death brought sorrow to family and friends. That could have been avoided; the labour and expense to bury him, the weeping of kin and friends, but no, Lazarus died. Prevenient grace is at work all the while! Jesus knew HE would raise Lazarus from death, and in doing so, He would give the disciples and other believers cause to rejoice. Their sorrow was turned to joy. This act of bringing Lazarus from the dead was, because of the circumstances surrounding the event, a great encouragement and living lesson. It teaches that death is defeated and must bow to HIS power. All this occurred before our Lord was crucified and resurrected! This occured a short time before the crucifixion, so the lesson is timely. (This came as no surprise to Christ and, rather, was planned according to verse 4 of John chapter 11. “When Jesus heard that he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”)

The account of Mephibosheth (II Samuel 9) is another marvelous example of prevenient grace. All the blessings toward Mephibosheth were procured before he came to King David’s table. The blessings toward him had been purposed by a covenant between Jonathan and David long before the wheels were set in motion to bring Mephibosheth to King David’s table. Plans were made by the king to find and bring him! The events and circumstances of life may not be to our choosing, but if we can rest in the knowledge that our Lord has been there before us and understand NO-thing can separate us from His love, this great truth will not be just a word added to our vocabulary, but an anchor in the time of storm.

Would Joseph have chosen the hardship and losses that brought him to his station in Egypt? Here is another great testimony to the fact of prevenient grace. Joseph spoke to his fearful brothers saying “….Ye thought evil against me: but God meant it unto good…” (Genesis 50:20). Would Moses have chosen the 40 years in the desert herding sheep to prepare him to lead the children of Israel out of bondage? Would blind Bartimaeus have chosen his condition before seeing Jesus? Would Paul have chosen his ‘thorn in the flesh’? John, his exile? Yet all these were practical lessons of prevenient grace!

Who of us knows tomorrow’s happenings? They are as unsure as our government. However, we can rest assured our Lord has been there and He has made accommodations for us! The circumstances may not be to our choosing, but HE has chosen them for our benefit and His glory. The early church practiced their belief in this great truth. They were persecuted, maimed, starved, slain, ridiculed, hated and refused, but their hearts were settled on the truth that God knows best and whatever the situation, it would be their gain and His glory.

Who of us would want to serve a God Who both doesn’t know, and is powerless to change or allow the circumstances of our days? NOT I…. AND HOPEFULLY NOT YOU!

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Friday 14 August 2009

WHO IS THE LORD?

Friday 14 August 2009 - 17:21:35

“…..WHO IS THE LORD….?"

Exodus 5:2

It should be readily apparent to the most elementary of students of Holy Writ that the ‘god’ most religionists know and espouse is, by no stretch of the imagination, the GOD of the BIBLE. The ‘god’ of even those who proclaim the virtues of their fundamentalism has little resemblance to the great “I AM”. Pharoah’s question, “Who is the Lord”, is not just empty words. He had no idea who Jehovah was. The same question could be formed by tongue and lip of leaders today, even though they affirm some kind of belief in God.

I contend that the ‘god’ most speak of today is a ‘god’ deduced from the vast and fertile field of evidence in the expanse before us. A ‘god’ deduced from such evidence is not the God Who is a Personal, Profound, Persistent, Present, Powerful, Predetermining, Punishing, Pitying GOD. Pharoah saw His power, but never knew Him personally. Moses knew Him personally as the GOD OF GLORY as well as all the previously mentioned attributes.

These two men, in their knowledge of God, can well be representative of all now on earth; those who know Him because they’ve seen or been made aware of His Power, and those who are acquainted with Him personally. I’m not in an ax grinding contest, but the fact is, God is a stranger to most who claim His name.   Some would quickly counter, “But to know God in power is enough”. Let’s ask Pharoah! Who, but who, was exposed to more demonstrated power than this hard-headed, hard-hearted ruler? He witnessed, first hand, the destruction of his nation and died an unbeliever; while Moses, knowing God personally, lead the children of Israel through trials and tribulations for 40 years. Moses was called the “meekest man” on the earth and was, unlike any other, buried by God Himself. (Numbers 12:3, Deut. 34: 5-6)

How many in our pews profess to know our Lord, yet they know only a God who exists because they see the sun, moon, stars, oceans, land, trees, birds, etc. They reason that He must be there because these things would not be possible without Him. They sing to, worship, give their tithes, witness for, and pray to a God that is as impersonal to them as the Jolly Green Giant – or maybe the giant is more personal to them. This kind of abstract God is exactly what most people want. They can know Him afar off, and never follow on to know Him. (Hosea 6:3)Moses knew little of God. His people were in bondage; they had only the history of God handed down from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Many years had passed without a record of any open vision of God, until Moses met God at the burning bush (Exodus 3: 1-5). Moses heard the Voice of God from the bush and believed, as God revealed Himself as the great “I AM”. (That, by the way, is the true meaning of Romans 10:17…”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” The word “WORD” here is RHEMA, which means GOD SPEAKING, not just someone reading the Word, but GOD speaking.)   Moses heard God, believed Him, and developed a relationship to the point that God honored him by letting him appear with Christ and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17: 1-4). Moses’ ministry was nothing short of a day-to-day learning experience. From the bush to the view of the promised land, he learned of a personal God!

The New Testament has vivid examples also. John and Judas were such. One had seen His miracles, heard His words, and witnessed His walk, as had the other. John knew a personal Savior, Judas knew one of whom to make merchandise .   I ask you, “Is that not the norm for today’s religionist?” They know a Saviour that they can sell in the ‘religious flea market’ Sunday after Sunday, meeting after meeting, and find nothing wrong in selling their putrid, pitiful, half-truths to an unsuspecting public who will only perish, as Judas, for their lack of knowing a personal Saviour. Judas knew the man, teacher, miracle worker; John knew Him as the Living Word, the Comforter, the True Vine, the Good Shepherd, the Living Bread, the Light of the World, the Door to the Sheepfold, the Way, the Truth, the Resurrection and the Life. John knew a revealed Lord and Saviour. He was exiled and slain for his faith, yet he would cry “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)   Judas died in his wickedness for willfully making merchandise of our Lord.

Oh! The millions who will do the same! For their “god” is a “god” of their own making, deduced from physical evidence rather than a spiritual experience. If your “god” is one for whom you have only evidence rather than experience, you will sell him for the cheap drawing of sin in a New-York-minute. The shallow faith of most will not bear up in the raging white waters of this sinful world.

How would you answer this age-old-question….”Who is the Lord?” To most, He is not even worth thirty pieces of silver! How can we blame Judas?

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

Wednesday 05 August 2009

WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH

Wednesday 05 August 2009 - 14:32:58

WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?

How often we have been in a religious gathering, hearing the voices of many congregates saying such things as: “Boy, God is really here, It’s been a while since He came like this”, and our own spirit is grieved because it is evident that the participates are ignorant of the fact that the Manifest Presence of God is not at all present, especially the Merciful Presence of His glory.

Woefully, so many equate the Omnipresence of our Lord with His Manifest Presence. No group of believers will assemble without our Lord being there, “for where two or three are gathered…..”(Matthew 18:20) – You know the quote. That is not at all a promise of His Manifested Presence. God was with the children of Israel in the wilderness, evidenced by the cloud and pillar of fire. When He would manifest His Presence, He spoke from the mount, the cloud, caused the earth to open and swallow the rebels, etc. They were aware of the cloud and pillar of fire, but when God SPOKE, opened the sea, caused the rock to spew forth water, He was manifesting His Presence.

I hear the empty, even ignorant, prayer of many saying, “God, come and meet with us.” Is He not already present? The prayer should rightly be, “God, manifest Yourself among us”. Oh that our Lord would be seen as He really is! God will manifest Himself if we but believe. To the woman at the well our Lord said, “ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Worship is hindered by a myriad of things. To many our Lord is an interference rather than an Influence. “Religion” never wanted Him around and thought it had erased Him, and with great effort tried to seal the tomb. But, the Manifest Glory of God cannot be withheld by walls of stone and religious hatred!

Jesus was with all the disciples, yet only manifested Himself before Peter, James and John. He was revealed in His glory. Why these….. why there? The answer is because He chose them to see, beforehand, His Glory. They saw Him as a resurrected Saviour, but they had seen Him (before) on the mount in His glory. These were common men, as we. I know of no qualifying quality that gave them this privilege, but they experienced His Manifest Presence. The other disciples could say that they had been with the Lord, but these three saw His glory. The sons of the prophets saw Elijah taken into heaven, but Elisha picked up the mantel and smote the water, saying, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” 2 Kings 2:14 Elisha experienced a manifestation, the others only looked on.

Many are but on-lookers, substituting His Omnipresence for His Manifested Presence. Oh how much we miss by short-changing our own minds and hearts in this deception. If God were to actually manifest His Presence, as so many declare, this would be a different world.

Oh! To be among the few who experience His Manifest Presence! No wonder Paul said, “...having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ...” (Philippians 1:23)

Where is the Lord God of Elijah?

Dr. Larry W. Montgomery

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