Say So I
So Say I
I, too, speak to the wise who consider the great love of the Lord.
I, too, say so with the redeemed that great is the Lord who delivers from every adversary.
Praise the Lord for delivering me from the foulest foe of all.
The adversary called myself. how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. (Hebrews 2:3) For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)
Whether it be my sinful nature, which opposes the holiness of God, or the spiritual forces in high places, that oppose through their servants the goodness of God, He does deliver and mighty is His love!
Late Wife
My late wife Carla used to tell others from time to time, “It is like being married to a new man every 5 years.”
All praise and glory be to God that I am no longer the crude, rude, and rough-edged boy-man who set out to seek the Living God.
Early in my Christian walk a person who had not seen me for several years stated I was a testament of God’s ability to take off the rough edges.
Many years have past since that declaration, with God pressing down hard the nails of the cross and shaking things up in order to glorify His name day after day.
The heated fire of holiness has to bring the dross to the top that it might be scraped off. All the impurities, base materials, and worthless earthly matters must be exposed to hot heat if they are to be found out.
As Paul will write, so I also say, “jars of clay, hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and stuck down while carrying around in the body the death of Jesus.”
Praise be to God that as the death of Jesus is carried in very real tangible ways, so too the life of Jesus is revealed.
Though still stumbling in many ways I no longer repeat the same follies, ask the same ignorant questions, or repeat the same sins of immaturity but walk in the ever maturing grace of God. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. (James 3:2)
So I say with great joy with other cross carrying saints, “He does transform and redeem.”
Harvest of Righteousness from Obedience
There is a harvest of righteousness given by God this I too sing the song of Psalm 107.
It has been a painful walk. Still is a painful walk. Learning through suffering to obey, God will continue till the day I die. The key that makes all such pain worthwhile depends on me. If I humbly accept the word that can save me, I will be trained by the discipline. If I reject Convenient Christianity God will reward.
It is obedience from faith on my part that allows God to produce a harvest of righteousness.
After all God only gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:32)
When all deserted and many betrayed, I remained faithful.
When many turned back and no longer followed, I pressed in closer.
When despair overwhelmed, I stayed my station.
When all was taken through injustice, I counted such loss as nothing.
When vile slanders flooded in, I trusted Him.
When I had done everything for the Truth, I stood firm in all truths.
When all was taken, I gave even more.
When loneliness crashed in like an unwelcome guest, I made a place for him at the table.
When health was shattered, I waited for healing.
When He said, “Go for a walk.” I said, “Only because you say so because I just do not feel like it.”
When all was moved, by His grace I could not be shaken.
When I despaired that I could have done better, He said, “Yes, you could have.” I said, “Yes, Lord.”
When deep conviction knocks, my spirit rejoices in listening to an old friend. because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
When the help of man was cold, He heated my spirit. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. (2 Timothy 4:16)
When I wept till I could weep no more, He put a new song in my heart.
So I too say the Lord does not disappoint, He heals, He lives, and He rewards those who steadfastly, earnestly seek Him. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) So I too say do not give up those saints who walk the narrow road, He will bless.
Because I keep my eyes upon a perfect Jesus, I am tone deaf to comments about any goodness in my life. Since I have not been made perfect and am straining hard towards the goal, all I see is His goodness and my imperfections, failures, and weakness. Many moments of the day He does provide me with cringe worthy reminders, so that I might be blessed. When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3:26)
Just as I care very little how a human court views me, I think of myself with “sober judgment” only according to the faith God is working at the time. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. (1 Corinthians 4:3) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3) So it is true God has worked many a mighty transformation in my life. As the book of Hebrews puts it, “a harvest of righteousness” for those who have been “trained” by God’s strong disciplines.
Unrepentant sinners are shallow creatures repeating the same sins again and again. As time goes on they become even more shallow, until their souls wither up and face judgment. Think of the great sinners you know of through history.
They never became anything more than the sin for which they practiced and were monolithic in their thoughts and behaviors.
Since the godly have paid the price of suffering with Jesus everyday, they have the very creative power of life and love flowing through their heart, mind, and soul.
Amongst the overwhelming slander, I have been called a “renaissance man,” a “complex man,” and a “godly man.”
All such goodness is completely, 100%, His work, life, and power.
I Too Say So
Be filled with great hope, all who hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will be filled with His confidence, His life, and His love.
Several years ago I had been severely crushed and tested, but after I had suffered for a time God lifted me up and made me “strong and steadfast.” Those who know Him know what I am talking about. Those who are starting to know Him be of good courage, all the suffering God wills and works in your life is worth it – if you remain faithful throughout the trials that test your faith.
Though many tests no doubt are to come, if I had not been obedient to the Holy Spirit year after year God would not have been able to work the grace to stand. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)
It was a time when God came to see what I would do by faith. But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 32:31)
It was a Lot’s wife test. Remember Lot’s wife! (Luke 17:32)
It was the moment to prove faithful to the calling. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)
Woe unto those who failed the day, if they do not repent.
Woe still further to those who in self-righteousness, opposed the holiness of God.
Woe to those who helped, or remained silent, during the hate crime frenzy, or worse yet, who shared in the wicked work.
Woe to those who called that which was genuine an imposter.
Woe to those who blasphemed against all that was good and holy.
Finally, woe unto the many who failed to pay attention, if they do not repent.
It was hoping the stalk had a kernel for a harvesting. All by itself the soil produces grain–first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. (Mark 4:28) I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24) They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Luke 19:44)
Praise be to God, the Lord has, is, and will redeem this weak and miserable man stuck in this wicked world! For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5:4)
The wicked always forget that you can knock a righteousness man down, but he shall be given power to get up again and again. Indeed, like Stephen who was stoned to death by his fellow religious community, he got back up in a mighty way. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)
Those who walk in an obedience by faith understand the we win by losing, gain by emptying, and live by dying to self. Those who walk the narrow road following Jesus become stronger everyday through weakness, humility, and making themselves nothing. Such disciples of Jesus sing Psalm 84.
So I too say so with the chorus of redeemed saints down through history!
I too gladly join the holy choir and sing “say so” I!
T. Williams
“…to the obedience that comes from faith.” (Romans 1:5)
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