Scripture

“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

Quote

Worship God in private. Then when God gives you release, the unseen life that no one saw other than God will be released.

~Oswald Chambers

Evidently, Nathanael was trying to hide. What they called a fig three would be like a huge bush to us. Nathanael has taken a secret position where he could see others, but others could not see him. Had Nathanael been on Facebook, he would be reading the post of others but never posting anything himself. Nathanael felt safe in the shadows; he had no desire to be in the spotlight. We all have private lives; it just that some are more private than others. We all carry secrets. There are certain things that we do not talk about. It is our deep-seated insecurity that causes us to fear being fully known. Nathanael discovered by providence an important truth: Jesus can see through fig leaves. Jesus can see through the shadows or even through darkness. Nathanael learned firsthand; you cannot hide from Jesus. Later he would learn you cannot hide what is on the inside from Jesus. Jesus has the ability to read minds and to know what is in the heart.

The selfish man in Luke 12 is a good example or should I say bad? Jesus was teaching and a crowd had gathered to listen…The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!…Out of the crowd comes the voice of this nameless fellow… “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” The man pretends to be seeking justice, but Jesus knows that his motivation is GREED. Jesus then tells the story of the RICH FOOL.

One of the most refreshing things about my relationship with Jesus is that I can be perfectly open with HIM. Why should I try to hide anything from HIM who sees all and knows all. I have to do some pretending and it is not that I enjoy pretending–no, the truth is–the real Jack could hurt some feelings. He has to be subdued for the sake of others. Do I desire perfect integrity? Yes, it is my ultimate goal? Am I there? Not by a long shot, a real long shot. Do I mind if you pray for my lack of integrity and character? No, I do not so have at it! I desire nothing more than to be like my Saviour: totally transparent and sin free.

Extra

It would be easy to get discouraged: stadiums across the country packed for football games and worship centers with lots of empty seats. If I had the power to reverse the trend I would. There is no evil in football, but we sure need REVIVAL in America. We had a good Bible Study lesson yesterday. There was a quote from the lesson I was going to share but I have misplaced by book. It had to do with the elite upper-class Israelites oppressing the middle and lower class. The lesson was from the book of Amos and referred to the Northern Kingdom. They were never referred to as Jews. The term Jew came during and after the Southern Kingdom fell but the tendency for the elites to take power through their wealth seems to be in all the descendants of Jacob. This is exactly what is going on in America today. The mega-corporations like Disney and Walmart get huge tax breaks. Even assuming a 40-hour week, the average Walmart worker earns less in a year than the Walton family earns in a minute just from dividends paid on the family’s stock holdings. It’s an astonishing statistic, and it happens to be correct. Their taxes are half of smaller corporations. One of our men made a statement yesterday in class that I think is spot on…The 87,000 new IRS workers that Biden has hired are there to fleece the middle class. He believes the fastest way for the government to increase their revenues is to go after the middle class. We can’t afford tax lawyers. We don’t have enough capital to fight them. We must have a change this fall. Pray for a fair election; at least one that is fairer than the last. Chicago, Illinois has not had a fair election in a century.

I think everyone got some rain. We have enough here at 1120 and we are thankful for it. I am also thankful for another good Sabbath and the opportunity to preach the gospel.

Talked to Ashley last night. Gregg has been real week since the transplant and his BP has been low. The doctors say this is normal. He was able to watch the game on Saturday, but he has not felt up to posting. Traci has been posting for him and doing a good job. Keep praying for Gregg and Traci.

BLOCK PARTY WEEK at DBC. Have a good day and week and thanks for reading the blog.