by Joyce Rankin 

When this booklet was first written, little did I realize we would live to see Christians in the United States of America glorifying anti-Christ religions. Yet, today thousands of so called Christians are following leaders of perdition who are promoting “fellowship” between born again saints and lovers of darkness. What fellowship hath light with darkness? What fellowship hath truth with lies?

We are used to the phrase multiplied gods. We know that many of the people in Bible days served multiplied gods. Now in the twenty-first century we are once again hearing religious leaders promoting the acceptance of multiplied gods. You had best heed the warning and word of advice, “Know those who labor among you.” Believe me! You may be very surprised when evil blows across the land and draws out those who can be taken at will by satan to do his bidding. All of a sudden one close to you says, “We don’t need prophecy.” “I don’t believe that healing is for today.” or “It doesn’t matter what you call your God.” This is not the voice of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. It is time to find out just what God is to you.

Please turn with me to Psalms 115:1-20, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Isn't that marvelous? We are talking here about the one true God. The creator of all that is. He doeth whatsoever He pleases. What a mighty God we serve.

However, we know that many people in ancient days served gods they had created with their own hands and they served multiplied gods. Verse four gives us a description of these gods. “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.”

Now, if you are spiritually alert, you will know that serving multiplied gods was not just something people did thousands of years ago; but today people still serve multiplied gods. Anything people look to over and above the Lord Jesus, any supply or security in their life other than Him, is a god to them.

If I am driving down the freeway, all of a sudden  realize that my insurance has expired, and I say, “Oh, what is going to happen? What if I have a wreck or what if someone hits me. What if a policeman stops me?” and I become fearful, then I am looking to that insurance policy in my glove compartment over and above my Father in heaven.

If I am looking to the pay check I get at the end of the week for my complete supply, not knowing that God can bless me, bless that which I have, not believing that He can make another way, a supernatural provision if necessary, then I am looking to that pay check as a god rather than my Heavenly Father as my provider.

It says that their idols are silver and gold—the work of men's hands. Have you ever watched a quiz program on Television where someone has a lucky stone with them or they are wearing their lucky shirt or good luck hat or they are carrying a rabbit's foot? They believe that this THING is going to help them do well and come out a winner. They can have a little pebble, rub it in their hands, and that can be a god to them. That is allowable by the standards of our society. That is their lucky hat or their lucky stone; an old worn out, dirty shirt is their assurance of help. But if you were to say, “I am going on this program and I am trusting the Lord. My Father in heaven is going to give me wisdom,” you would be a fanatic. 

Beloved, aren't you thankful today that you know the one true God. Our Heavenly Father who can do whatsoever He pleases. I like beginning with verse thirteen; “He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.”

It is sad to see that there are some people who take the one true God, our Heavenly Father, and desire to make Him as the idols that the unbelieving peoples of the earth have served.

Our God has a mouth to speak and yet they say He does not speak to His people today. Our Father has a hand that reaches down out of heavenly places and will supply our need even in the hour when it seems it cannot be done; but they would bind up His hands and say, “No, God does not provide. You have to work hard to get what you need.” Granted, it is good to work hard. God has given us physical bodies to do all that we can do with them, to work and not be afraid of action. But it is because of His blessing that we have our health and can do as much as we are able. He has also given us a mind. He has given man a creative mind, a mind that is progressive. Yet many want to change the Lord Jesus Christ into one of these gods that is like unto man, a god that is bound and gagged, who cannot see what they are doing. They would not have Him really get involved in their lives. They don't want Him to really have feet that move and go before them and make the way. Few people really want an ever present God.

How often have we heard people say after a bad storm, “Why has God let this happen? Why has this destruction come?” Yet, how many times before the storm, even before they moved into that location, did they ever ask for His leadership? They had Him bound and gagged. They did not have Him to be as a living God in heaven who would speak, but rather they made Him into an image like unto an idol made with a man's hand.

There are times we get excited when we feel the Lord moving and we come up with some creative idea of our own. We get excited, we get all enthused, and we go after it. But after a while it is not turning out like we thought it would or it is taking too much time or it is costing too much money. We get tired of the project so we lay it aside and go on to something else. It is easy for us to get the idea that God is like man and that He is going to tire of what He has started and go on to something else. But God is NOT like man! He does not weary of His will. If He did, He would have walked off and left man long before the days of Jesus! Man had been so sinful and so corrupt that God would have deserted the human race long before Jesus ever walked the face of this earth. But He did not. His mercy and His grace came forth.

God stills deals with man. He has a mouth and He will speak to us. He has eyes and He does see us. Not only us, but He sees what lies ahead of us. He has ears and He does hear our prayers and He will answer them (sometimes even before we utter them). He is not as those idols. He has a nose and He smells the sweet savor of your praise and worship to Him. He has hands and He will reach down and supply your needs. He has feet. He will go before you. We used to sing a song, “He goes before me, and is beside me, so I'm not afraid.” He does not change. He has not changed. He deals with men so they will come to Him.

 GOD DEALS WITH MAN

 So, how does God deal with man?

I Samuel 3:3-10 tells us, “And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”

Here we find that God is speaking audibly to a young child. It is important that we see here that Samuel was a child, did not yet know the Lord, neither was the Word of the Lord yet revealed to him. Therefore, God spoke to him in an audible voice.

Let us now look at Matthew 3:16-17: “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Here again we have a voice from heaven. Now we know that Jesus was not a child, neither chronologically nor spiritually. He knew who He was. He had been sent of the Father. He knew His purpose. Yet, for the sake of those around Him, it was necessary for this audible voice to come forth. Those who were around Him were coming out of something that was closing and they were coming into a new walk. God was bringing forth something new so those around Him were as children. No matter how old they were, no matter how learned they were in the Jew's religion, they would be as children now in this new thing that God was doing. It is important that God's people grow up together in Him.

Now let us look at the book of Acts. This is an exciting story. If you like reading literature, a good love story, a war story, stories with action, mystery, espionage and intrigue, the Bible is just full of it!

Beginning with verse one in Acts 9 we read, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.” So those with him witnessed that an audible voice had spoken to Saul.

Acts 9:10-16, “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision.”  Isn't this interesting. Saul, although well learned in the Jew's religion, was needing to do something different. He was going to come into a new place so Jesus spoke audibly to him. But here is Ananias, a certain disciple, who was more learned in the teachings of Jesus so the Lord spoke to him in a vision.

“And to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.”

Can you imagine the surprise of Ananias when he heard this direction? He might have protested. “Ho, wait a minute here! This guy is out to kill us all. He is after Christians. Why would I want to go seek him out?” But he moved in obedience to God's instruction.

Acts 9:17 “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Here are two men coming from completely opposite directions with two completely opposite goals in mind; yet, because of the Lord's dealing, His direction to Saul by an audible voice and the vision to Ananias, an obedient disciple, they are brought into one—one purpose, one place, and from there they would go on to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. This is so exciting! As you move in obedience to the Lord, these great changes can be wrought in people's lives. Just think, as you move in obedience to God and as I move in obedience to God, we are brought into one—His will. We know God desires this because He continues to speak to and deal with His people.

Let us consider VISIONS. We know that many men have seen visions. We want to look at a few of the scriptures just to make sure it is scriptural.

Ezekiel 1:1, “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.” Ezekiel saw visions. Please turn with me to chapter eight.

Ezekiel 8:3, “And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.”

I remember one day one of the little children picked up a doll by the hair and carried it off. Someone made the comment, “Don't you pity her kids.” But I remembered this scripture and knew that was scriptural. The Lord took Ezekiel, picked him up by the hair of his head and showed him a vision. The Lord is good!

Next we will read Daniel 2:19, “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Nebuchadnezzar had had a dream and he was needing to know what it was that he had dreamed. He must have had a feeling that it was significant. He was wanting to have it recalled and know the interpretation. God revealed it to Daniel in a vision.

Now we will go to Acts 10:1-5. “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:”

Then it is recorded in verses 9-11 that He deals with Peter, “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth.” God began to deal with him concerning ministry to the Gentiles.

Acts 10:17-18, “Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.” These men moved in response to their visions and God's dealing with them. As they moved in obedience, they benefited each other and bore witness to that which God was wanting to bring forth.

Now let us go on to DREAMS.

Genesis 31:11, “And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.” The angel of God had spoken to Jacob. In Genesis 37:5 we find Joseph being dealt with in a dream, “And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.” Again in Genesis 37:9, “And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” Sometimes your dreams and your visions are not going to be very popular. There may be people around you who do not understand them. That is why you must allow the Lord Jesus to convince you of the ministry to which you are called.

Please turn with me to Matthew 2:11-15. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”

Here we see God warning the wise men in a dream to return home another way. Then He spoke to Joseph in a dream to flee the country, warning him to take his family to safety. God was watching over the words He had spoken thru the prophets so many years before. The will of God would come forth, it would be fulfilled. There is a purpose when God deals with His people. Sometimes it may not be in our complete understanding, but it is very important that we are aware that God can and will deal with us in many ways. Then we are to be obedient.

Now, least we become carried away with our dreams and visions, I want us to look in the book of Jeremiah, the twenty-third chapter. Many fellowships have eliminated the moving of the gifts of the Spirit. You must always be watchful. When truths of God come forth, there are always going to be counterfeits, extremes, and there are always going to be those who will want to take advantage of the benefits. They see a good thing and they work it into their lives, not for God's glory, but for their own glory. There will always be those who will capitalize off the revivals or true movements of God. But God will judge those who see a truth of God and distort it or use it to entrap God's people. Yet, nothing can take away from the many people who were honestly and sincerely blessed by the refeshing rains of revival in which many were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Their hearts faithfully following after God.

There are many churches across this land with pastors who will not allow the moving of the Holy Spirit of God in gifts because they are fearful that things will get out of hand. Why? Because they themselves are not in a spiritual place to know how to handle or rightly discern the moving of the Spirit. They say they are afraid it will hurt their people. We are going to look at some scriptures here in Jeremiah because what the Spirit of God does is good. There are honest hearts that receive of God and live for Him. It is up to us to be watchful of those who just want the benefits but do not want the responsibility for moving in the Spirit of God. Beware of those who just want to reap the fruit from around the edges.

Turn to Jeremiah 23:15-18, “Therefore thus said the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, the Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 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?” Here God is speaking to a specific people with a specific problem. He is not telling us that every prophet is speaking out of his own heart. Let us go on and receive the wisdom.

Jeremiah 23:24-32, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies?”  Notice He is talking about those who prophesy lies and those who are saying, “I dreamed, I dreamed.” and have not received their dreams from the Lord God. “Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.”

So, in all of our dreams, and we do have a lot of dreams, we must be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit. We must be able to discern which dreams, if any of them, actually come from the Lord and are quickened by the Spirit of God. I have had thousands upon thousands of dreams throughout my lifetime. There were only two or three that were quickened by the Holy Spirit. For one thing, I could remember them in the morning. Then there was something unusual about them. One was instructional and one was a warning. The Lord protected my children because of it. We have to be very careful of our imagination. We don't have to look for shadowy things that are just a figment of our imaginations. When you have a vision or dream from God, there will be a quickening of the Holy Spirit. It is not a mark of distinction to have many dreams or many visions. It is the walking in obedience to the Lord that counts.

 Next there is a PROPHECY.

Jeremiah 31:15 tells us, “Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” In Matthew 2:17 we find, “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying...”

How many times through the four recordings of the Gospel does it say “...that prophecy might be fulfilled.” or “all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet.” The Lord God was watching out for His Word. That brings us to a key scripture in the book of Deuteronomy that is a safeguard in the matters of prophecy.

Deuteronomy 18:22 plainly states, “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

It does not matter what terrible destruction has been prophesied, when it is not of the Lord, it will not come to pass. You do not need to fear it. That is a safeguard. When I got saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, prophecy was brand new to me. I remember being so amazed to find this word of wisdom so early in biblical writings. I could hardly believe God had put that safeguard into His word so long ago. False prophecy will not come to pass. True prophecy will be fulfilled. That way you will know the Word of the Lord.

 Now we will look at the SMALL STILL VOICE.

Many times we think of the people in the Bible as being holy and almost unreal people, sainted if you please. But you notice in the scripture we read about Paul, he was chosen when he was yet called Saul. It wasn't until hundreds of years later that he became Saint Paul. So you see he was a flesh and blood man walking on the face of the earth. He had to eat and drink water. He had to clothe himself. He would feel the rain and the cold and the heat. He was a man with whom God was dealing. Because of God he became a very special man. But it was because of God's dealing with him and then his obedience to God’s will. If God is dealing with you today, I would like to encourage you in being obedient to that dealing.

We find the special dealing by the still small voice in I Kings 19:9-12, “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

Perhaps this is one we are more accustomed to than the others, that still small voice of the Lord speaking within us. Sometimes we like the loud, exciting, fast moving service and the going and doing in our daily life; but the Lord is within us saying, “Hold your peace. Just wait.” Then all of a sudden you might feel, now is the time. “Now is the time.” That still small voice gives instruction and leadership helping you know what to do. Sometimes it is so slight that you almost think you are imagining it. Allow the word to build in you the confidence that God loves you and that He desires to lead and guide you. You will come to better know that leadership tomorrow than you have known it today. You will come to find that Jesus' leadership can be a very real and natural way of life. He can fine tune us through His word, prayer, and submission to the moving of the Holy Spiri so that our lives will be a sweet offering to Him.

God certainly deals with His people through the WORD.

When you are in church, you know the messages come forth and God deals with His people in a marvelous way.

Please turn with me to Matthew 4:4. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Again, in Matthew 4:7, “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

In Matthew 4:10 we find Jesus is using the Word to do battle. “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Let us look at II Timothy 3:16-17. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

 Another way God speaks to people is through circumstances.

 Moses saw the burning bush that was not consumed. It drew his attention. God was dealing with him.

Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts came before Peter and lied to the Holy Ghost that was in Peter. It was not as if Peter had just met them on the street and said, “Do you like my shirt?” and they said, “Oh, we love it.” just to keep from hurting his feelings. They could have kept all they received for their land as it was theirs to do with as they desired. But when they lied to the Holy Spirit within Peter, they greatly erred. He was not just a man as they stood there and dealt with this issue that was before the church in that day. When they lied to him, they fell dead. That speaks volumes to us. If a man lies to the Holy Spirit, we know that though he might walk out of this building, he is as a dead man. The fact that they had lied to a man who spoke to them, not of himself but with the unction of the Spirit of God, and they were slain, tells us there is death in lying to the Holy Ghost. The fact that they fell dead witnessed to those around them, and to us today, the seriousness of this new covenant, this new arrangement that God was bringing forth. It was not something to play with nor to take lightly. It was a matter of life and death. To follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in obedience is a matter of life and death for you and I today.

In John 4:48 we are told, “Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” and in Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

The disciples worked the works of God and the signs followed them confirming that the Lord was with them. God's people had a witness that He had not left them.

But there is a special importance in one of our communications with God. This is one that we cannot say is more important than the others, but we must have it in order for the others to work. That is in our personal fellowship with the Father and fellowship as believers gathering together. This is a place and way God has of dealing with us.

I want you to look in Luke the second chapter. This is a special passage to me. You may have heard me minister on it several times before and you will probably hear me minister on it many times in the future. To me this is a profound happening. We read so much about the miracles Jesus worked, the words He spoke to the Scribes, the Pharisees, the lawyers, words of correction, words of judgment-righteous judgment-as cometh from the Lord. But here in Luke the second chapter we find out how very important our fellowship with the Father is. How very important it is to be gathered together in His name.

Luke 2:25-31, “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;”

After four hundred years of silence, this man recognized the Lord Jesus as a child. He had not worked any miracles, the voice had not yet spoken, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” But this man, we are told, was a devout man, was a just man. Because of that, he was so close to the Father that he recognized the Messiah, the consolation of Israel, when he saw him as a babe in arms. I want to be that sensitive to that which God is doing. I want to be that sensitive to the truth that He is bringing in this hour, to the ministers that come through here and minister to us. I want to know the fine tuning that the Holy Spirit leads us to in recognizing when a truth is of God or when it is a falsehood, a lie, a deception. I want to recognize when a man or woman are sent of the Lord.

Let us look in verse 36 in this same chapter of Luke. “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

When we have a need, it seems to spring up suddenly sometimes. But the answer to that need may lie in the fact that you have served the Lord for many years. You have been faithful. You have proven yourself a just and devout person. Sometimes we need an answer quickly. The life that you have lived before can very much prepare you and put you in a much better place, not only to face whatever it is that comes upon you, but to have the answer, to have strength from God to know what to do. You can have that wisdom. Verse thirty-eight, “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Notice here that we had two witnesses. Simeon and then Anna. Here were two witnesses of this child. I wonder how many more of God's people may have possibly recognized their Messiah so quickly or how many people believed their report. But these two, one a just and devout man and the other had served the Lord God with fasting and prayer night and day recognized, believed, and bore witness to the Christ. Glory to God!

Beloved, if you have given your life to the Lord, it has not been a waste because you are better equipped for what you will face tomorrow by serving the Lord faithfully yesterday and today. If nothing unusual happens tomorrow, continue to serve the Lord faithfully. Be just and devout. Serve Him in prayers and fastings. Nourish the desires that you have toward the Lord because they will make you better equipped to face those things that lie around the corner, those things that might come upon you unexpectedly.

The Lord is dealing with His people in this hour for a specific purpose. We will need to be  available to help others. We will need to be unselfishly committed to a purpose greater than our own ministry, fame, or comfort. We will not be able to be in bondage to time, family, nor social or personal vanities. We will have to be able to sincerely say, “Jesus is my all in all.”

It is important that we are aware of the different ways God can deal with us. Perhaps you can think of so many more ways in which God deals with His people. It is good to listen to the testimonies that people give. As they share their experiences, you can see how God answers prayer and fulfills lives and brings forth victory in certain situations. You may find yourself in a like situation sometime and will remember how God moved for Brother --- and you can claim that victory or God may quicken Sister -----'s testimony to you and you will have an answer as to how God will move.

Remember God is desiring to speak to you, to walk with you, to reach out His hand to you. Don't try to bound and gag our Lord. There is so much life in Him that He desires to pour out to you and me that will benefit those around us. Let your Savior live through you. Look to Him over and above any supply you have in your life. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ and receive that fullness He has for you. In your life, let God be all that He is.

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