Greetings again my Brethren. Let us start to look at a brand new section called, “The LORD Visits.” Now we know the Lord Jesus Christ visited us as a child, growing into manhood, began His earthly ministry, was crucified on a cross, and ended His earthly ministry by going back to Heaven to where He is seated on the right hand of the LORD today. Now it is important to know I am not talking here about the name of God, the Father or the “LORD.” Often in the Bible we will read the word “Lord” which is not in reference to God the Father, but is referring to Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Son of man (most often used by Jesus when referring to Himself) and even the Son of God. For example in Matthew 4:10-11, when Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil we see the “Lord” used signifying the evil was not tempting God the Father, but Jesus. We read, “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.11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” (Matthew 4:10-11) Here we see Jesus referring to God the Father as “the Lord” and of course Jesus could also be correct in referring to Himself as “the Lord” (God) due to Him being a part of the God- head. In Exodus we read an example of the “LORD” as God the Father, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:” (Exodus 3:16) I know the concept of the trinity can be confusing at times, but the best example I have ever heard to understand the three in one trinity God-head is a big horizontal wedge slice of Neapolitan ice cream. No matter how you wedge slice (end to end) it you will always get one slice of ice cream, but that one slice of ice cream will contain all three favours: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry; all three different in colour, taste, consistency, and structure, but still one in nature and character they all three are ice cream. Hope that helped. And here is a third use of the words “the Lord” from the Book of Acts 16:31. Here I have selected another example when Paul and Silas were in prison and the prison doors suddenly opened and the chains fell off. The jailer would have killed himself if not for Paul telling him all of the prisoners are there. Here the words “the Lord” is being used to show the person of Jesus Christ. We read, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31) Notice it is “the Lord” Jesus Christ and not “the LORD” signifying God the Father.
So from here we will begin to look at the ways of “the LORD” (the Father) and how He is seen as visiting His people. In Hebrews 2:5-6 (I believe to be Paul) Paul writes, “For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Hebrews 2:5-6) Now I like that. Paul asks the question “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?” To answer this question we must understand to who and why the Book of Hebrews was written. Hebrews was written to a group of Jews (Hebrews) who were on the fence and thinking about walking away from Christ and going back into Judaism. The entire wonderful book was Paul selling Christ being a better sacrifice than the animals the Priests butchered for their sins. I think Paul got their attention when he said, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26) WOW I think many Christians today in America needs to read and heed this verse. We just finished an election in America where 90% of black Christians voted for candidates who support and advocate for the murder of a baby in the mother’s womb while calling it healthcare, homosexuality, the LBGQT agenda the spiritual issues of our day, yet they feel they are right with God singing, preaching soulish sermons (I personally have heard them), and dancing in their (I will not call them churches) buildings acting all spiritual, but in reality they lie and the truth of the word of God is not in them. They shake their fist in the face of God exalting their deception in the light of the truth. Now not just black folks, but white folks too who voted for open rebellion to the word of God. They all will pay a huge price for their disobedience and ungodly behavior in this life. Now listen closely my friend if you consider yourself to be a Christian and voted democratic the verse says, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” This is serious business my friend you better make it right and repent now before it is too late, God will not turn His head to this. WOW okay let me get back on track. So God (the LORD) has in the past and continues today and will in the future visit man whom He loves very much even in the face of man’s open rejection of Him and His word. One thing for sure if you have had a visit from “the LORD” or “the Lord” it has changed your life and you will never forget it.
Next month we will continue looking at the ways we can say The LORD has visited us. Do you see Him draw near? Please know God is near to them who are near to Him. Do you feel His presence? Do you see His hand in your life? He is waiting on us to make our first move. Written by David Stahl
