That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Psalm 83:18
Most who study prophecy would agree that the next major event on the horizon might well be the Psalm 83 War. Israel will be involved in a battle with their immediate neighbors who have covenanted to wipe the Jewish race from the face of the earth. Not only will Israel win this battle, but also in the process the nation will triple is size. This will also lead to the ability to rebuild the temple that is to be one day desecrated by the infamous antichrist. However, this Psalm could well be seen as much more than a descriptor of a future event. It could also speak to each individual believer about their personal walk with Christ.
John Hyde was a missionary to India during the late 1800s and early 1900s, he became known worldwide as a mighty man of prayer. Taking Christ as His word, Praying Hyde, as he was affectionately nicknamed, trusted God to give him a burden for the lost. He prayed at a missionary convention day and night for God to allow him to win a soul a day throughout 1908. He did! This prayer was multiplied in 1909 as he prayed for two souls a day, and then believed for four a day in 1910. His prayers were again answered. However, there were days that it seemed that the request would not be honored. Rather that blame God, he asked the Holy Spirit to reveal what was in his own heart that was blocking the request from being answered. On this point he once remarked, "Self must not only be dead, but buried out of sight, for the stench of an unburied self-life will frighten souls away from Jesus." What a challenging insight. Reading such an account from a man who seemingly lived at the very foot of the cross was heart rending to say the least. It felt as if being with Isaiah before the throne and crying, "I am undone!"
John Hyde was a missionary to India during the late 1800s and early 1900s, he became known worldwide as a mighty man of prayer. Taking Christ as His word, Praying Hyde, as he was affectionately nicknamed, trusted God to give him a burden for the lost. He prayed at a missionary convention day and night for God to allow him to win a soul a day throughout 1908. He did! This prayer was multiplied in 1909 as he prayed for two souls a day, and then believed for four a day in 1910. His prayers were again answered. However, there were days that it seemed that the request would not be honored. Rather that blame God, he asked the Holy Spirit to reveal what was in his own heart that was blocking the request from being answered. On this point he once remarked, "Self must not only be dead, but buried out of sight, for the stench of an unburied self-life will frighten souls away from Jesus." What a challenging insight. Reading such an account from a man who seemingly lived at the very foot of the cross was heart rending to say the least. It felt as if being with Isaiah before the throne and crying, "I am undone!"
Many, if not all of the nations mentioned as invading Israel in this upcoming battle are also mighty examples of biblical symbolism. Esau is the father of the Edomites. This is the same Esau, brother of Jacob (Israel), who sold his birthright for a bean dinner. It is well known that this man is a shadow of those who follow the flesh. Another antagonist in the list of combatants in Psalm 83 is Amalek, Esau's grandson. It was Amalek who attacked Israel on their wilderness journey and to who God said, "Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation (Exodus 17:16)." How could God fight this long annihilated tribe of people perpetually from generation to generation? Because God is ever engaged in fighting fleshliness in each of us! While the devil and the world are formidable foes, we usually are our own worst enemies.
You see, God wants to win us! Jesus shared many paradoxical statements that prove this without a doubt. In order to live, you must die--even bearing a cross. If you seek to save your life you will lose it, but whoever loses his life shall find it. In order to be great in the Kingdom, you must humble self and be the least being even a servant to all. It is here we all need to place our lives on the altar before the Almighty and become as stubble before the wind of His holy presence (Psalm 83:13). We need to be burnt at the altar even as Psalm 83:14 suggests that fire destroys the enemies of God. To be a victorious overcomer in Christ, we must be overcome. We need a victory in our personal Psalm 83 War.
John Hyde knew the secret of an ongoing life of victory in Jesus. He knew how to assure that all men would see that the LORD was the most high over all of the earth. The secret is dying to self and being wholly buried in Christ so that all may see Christ in us, the hope of glory. My prayer for you and me is that the LORD will overcome us all so that all may know that the LORD is God and many, as a result, will willingly submit to the grace of the cross as they see lives thoroughly devoted to Jesus. May the LORD expand our borders in Him and make us all to be His visible temple among men. May all see by our submission to the LORD of Glory and that He is Soon2Come!
You see, God wants to win us! Jesus shared many paradoxical statements that prove this without a doubt. In order to live, you must die--even bearing a cross. If you seek to save your life you will lose it, but whoever loses his life shall find it. In order to be great in the Kingdom, you must humble self and be the least being even a servant to all. It is here we all need to place our lives on the altar before the Almighty and become as stubble before the wind of His holy presence (Psalm 83:13). We need to be burnt at the altar even as Psalm 83:14 suggests that fire destroys the enemies of God. To be a victorious overcomer in Christ, we must be overcome. We need a victory in our personal Psalm 83 War.
John Hyde knew the secret of an ongoing life of victory in Jesus. He knew how to assure that all men would see that the LORD was the most high over all of the earth. The secret is dying to self and being wholly buried in Christ so that all may see Christ in us, the hope of glory. My prayer for you and me is that the LORD will overcome us all so that all may know that the LORD is God and many, as a result, will willingly submit to the grace of the cross as they see lives thoroughly devoted to Jesus. May the LORD expand our borders in Him and make us all to be His visible temple among men. May all see by our submission to the LORD of Glory and that He is Soon2Come!
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19
How amazing...my prayer is to die to self. Thanks John.
ReplyDeleteBlessings John!
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