Blessings from The Living Word,
We wanted to share an excerpt from a message by John Stevens with you that we feel is very appropriate and will help direct our focus during these days of repentance and the Day of Atonement.
We pray that the Lord bless all of you very deeply during this appointed time in His presence.
With love,
Steve Seboldt and the Living Word staff
Excerpt from A Revelation Of Ourselves:
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and His train filled the temple…Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Isaiah 6:1, 5. Isaiah was aware that he had seen the Lord – and that was wonderful – but when he saw the Lord he also saw himself. Revelation happens both ways.
In the New Testament, Peter said the same thing. The Lord told Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught…And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking; …but Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:4b, 6, 8. Because he saw an act of God, his own heart was revealed to him.
What should be your reaction to an inner revelation of yourself? An honesty of heart: Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part Thou wilt make me to know wisdom. Psalm 51:6. The inner revelation God brings has a way of shattering your own deception about yourself.
God reveals Himself to you to whatever extent you are able to bear it, as you seek for it, but the initiative is with you: Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you… James 4:8; Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God… Matthew 5:8. There is a preparation of your own spirit that enables you to see the Lord. As soon as He makes Himself real to you, repentance will come easily.
Instead of praying about your problems, pray for a revelation of the Lord. You will see your own need in the light of that revelation. Martin Luther said he wondered if there could be any revelation of sin, or conviction of sin, if there were not first an exaltation of Christ. There has to be a revelation of the Lord first, for if people are given only revelation of their sin and need, they never break out of it. They have to see the Lord in order to get the leverage. In Him they see the answer; in Him they see the righteousness.