Truth Streams

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13-14

I know that most Christians have heard countless messages that emphasize the dangers of the broad way. You have probably heard that the broad way is a path that is filled with all sorts of danger and uncertainty. Certainly you have heard that the broad way is one that has a universal destination in the region of destruction and ruin. You have probably also heard that the broad way leads to an undesirable destination and that countless souls have pounded this pernicious pavement on their way to a Christ-less eternity. All these and many other such things are indeed true about the broad way and the wide gate.

In the interests of balance and wishing to present both sides of the story, I feel led to write about the perils of the narrow way and the strait gate. It is certainly true that each path has its own set of dangers. This article is in no way meant to be an exhaustive study of the perils of the narrow way. It is however my intention to present to you some of the main dangers you will face if you choose or have chosen to travel the narrow way.

And so I present to you the perils of the strait and narrow. The first peril of the narrow way is… Read the rest of this entry »

“Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Ps 124:6-8

The ancient hymns of Psalms 120-134 are called the songs of degrees or songs of steps. These fifteen songs are a collection that was sung by pilgrims as they made their way up the hill of Jerusalem and the hill of Mount Zion. In other words, these ancient hymns were inspired and written to prepare the people of God to enter the presence of the Lord and for worship.

So far, we have seen:

• The need for honesty and deliverance from deceit - Psa. 120
• God is our keeper - Psa. 121
• The fellowship of worship - Psa. 122
• Waiting in worship - Psa. 123
• And in Psalm 124 we find the celebration of deliverance.

One of the most important reasons to gather at the house of God is to celebrate God’s deliverance. There is nothing as uplifting as meeting at the sanctuary together with the redeemed and worshiping the God of our deliverance! God delivers us from men, from circumstances, and from Satan and his band of fowlers. We have much to be thankful for. Read the rest of this entry »

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” Ps 123:2

The psalms of degrees are songs of ascending or songs of steps. They were inspired, written, and preserved to be sung as the people of God prepared to enter the place of worship. Being prepared for worship makes what happens in worship more meaningful and effectual. It also helps us face life on the other side of worship.

From time to time fulfilling the will of God requires us to wait. In fact, more often than not, the best things that God does in our life require patience. If we learn to wait upon God in worship, we are better able to wait upon the will of God in our life. Read the rest of this entry »

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.” 1 Kings 1:5

I have attempted to show from several examples over the past few posts the danger of unsanctified vision. The fulfilling of a carnal vision depends on other people buying into the vision. Part of my purpose in pursuing this topic is to issue a warning. Many have perished or been ruined while working to achieve another’s false vision.

Every false vision must have a certain number of people who accept the vision and participate in it in their simplicity or the vision fizzles. Consider the Bible example of those controlled by false vision. Absalom began to promote his vision by gathering two hundred men out of Jerusalem that followed him in their simplicity (2 Sam 15:11), and the rebellion grew from there. Lucifer convinced a third of the angels of heaven to buy into his perverted vision. The point is for an unsanctified vision to ever get off the ground there must be a good number of simple-minded people that accept the vision and work toward the fulfillment of the same. Read the rest of this entry »

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart…” Isa 14:12-13

I would like to follow up with some more concerning the topic of unsanctified and false vision. I need to remind you that it is not enough that we are people of vision; the vision must be from God. A vision that does not come from God is still powerful indeed. Lives have been changed, nations changed, and history forever channeled by men and women of vision. But not all “vision” comes from God and is sanctified by God’s presence. A vision that is not sanctified by God can be a very dangerous thing. When coupled with other factors, the result can be devastating.

I want to introduce you to a real person of vision. He is in fact the true source of all unsanctified vision. He has placed his stamp of influence upon every person who would be king and master of his own realm. He is the original “man of vision” in the Bible. His story is older than the origin of the human race. We have much to learn about unbridled ambition from this individual.

In the midst of a prophecy against the prideful king of Babylon, the prophet Isaiah pauses to address an angelic being named Lucifer, or “the day star.” Why would Isaiah be inspired by God to do this? No one can argue that the kings of Babylon were men of vision - particularly Nebuchadnezzar. Yet, what was the source of this vision? Nebuchadnezzar received his prideful, self-worshiping attitude from the original man of vision - Lucifer. Indeed the narcissistic disorder did not originate from a character in Greek mythology. Read the rest of this entry »

“And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” 2 Sam 15:6

Without a vision the people perish (Prov 29:18). But unless God cleanses the vision, the people are misled. It is one thing to desire to be used by God to promote His kingdom, it is quite another to used God to promote our own kingdom.

There is a thin line between faith and personal ambition. We must always look at the heart of an issue, for God looks much deeper than the outward gaze. What is the motivation behind our vision? Is it the glory of God, or the admiration of men? Does our vision advance God’s kingdom first, or does it promote our position? Are we motivated by a desire to prove something to the world?

Where our heart is will determine the type of vision we accept. The desire for revenge is a powerful force that motivates many. A wounded heart is a dangerous thing to have beating within your chest. A feeling that you have been wronged can quickly develop into bitterness. And bitterness drives many to seize any opportunity to promote self. A wounded heart and a determined mind is a very lethal combination and can lead many out of God’s will and to their own destruction. Read the rest of this entry »

“…they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD…For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?” Jer 23:16-18

Vision is very important and men who possess leadership character are men of vision. The subject of vision seems to be quite popular today. “Casting vision” has become an expression used to convey the act of inspiring others to receive and buy into the idea being presented. But our understanding of vision must be more discerning than simply recognizing its existence or buying into the vision presented due to the charisma of the presenter. We must learn to discern the type of vision being presented, or more specifically its source.

At issue is the fact that there is a vision that does not originate from God. Sanctified vision must come from God and not from man’s own heart. To illustrate my point I refer to Proverbs 29:19.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Prov 29:18

We often quote the first half of this two-part verse. The poetic form this verse takes is called a couplet. A couplet combines either contrasting or complimenting thoughts. In the case of Proverbs 29:18 the form is that of a complimenting couplet. The thoughts are similar. The first thought concerns the necessity of vision - “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” The second thought concerns the origin of godly vision - “…but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” In order to be beneficial to the work of the Kingdom, the vision must come from God. Without a vision the people perish, however if the vision is not from God the people are misled. Read the rest of this entry »

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” Gen 25:22-23

This article is about a promise from God. A promise is when God speaks to you about specific things that He wants to accomplish in your life. Perhaps the Lord has let you have a glimpse in the Spirit of the ultimate position of blessing He has placed before you. Some refer to this as a promise; others call it vision.

If you want to refer to this as vision, that is fine. Just understand that the vision does not originate in the heart of man. It comes from God and is communicated in whatever avenue you are accustomed to hearing God’s voice. We are not speaking about ambition, which I consider a carnal attempt to elevate self. God is not pleased nor His will served when men determine in their own hearts what they should accomplish or how high their own determination will lift them. A promise or a vision originates in the mind of God and is communicated by God to man. Read the rest of this entry »

“And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.” Gen 25:5-6

A promise is that which is spoken by God to man. It is conditional in nature. The basis of the condition is man’s consecration. Consecration is separation from and unto - from the wickedness of the world and unto God. In the covenant God made with Abraham, the father of the faithful, we see the conditional nature of God’s covenants.

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Gen 12:1-3

Verses 2 and 3 begin with “and.” As Abram performed his part of the covenant, God would perform His. That this covenant is conditional is seen by the fact that God didn’t speak to Abram again until he obeyed and began the work of consecration. This was after Abraham finally departed Haran and traveled to Canaan (Gen 12:7). Read the rest of this entry »

“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.” Gen 12:7-8

Your promise from God is tied to your altar. In fact, everything about your position in God is related to worship. God’s appearance in our life should motivate altar-building consecration.

One of the reasons that your promise is forever joined to your altar has to do with your worship. The ultimate act of worship is to offer your dream on the altar of sacrifice. Until this happens, the promise cannot take on a life of its own. Your dream will not become a reality that outlives you until you offer it up to the Lord and trust Him to give it life. Read the rest of this entry »