Thursday, September 17, 2009

Remember That Omnipotence Has Servants Everywhere - Apples of Gold - September 17, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 17, 2009

“Remember That Omnipotence Has Servants Everywhere”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

 

One hundred and fifty-four years ago, Thomas T. Lynch wrote:

“Say not, my soul, ‘From whence
Can God relieve my care?’
Remember that Omnipotence
Has servants everywhere.”

I know it’s hard to follow poems on the radio, so let me say it again.

“Say not, my soul, ‘From whence
Can God relieve my care?’
Remember that Omnipotence
Has servants everywhere.”

That really encourages me, to know that God has servants everywhere.  That means that wherever I go, whatever situation I’m in, God has someone nearby that can help.

Like when our washer broke down the other day.  It’s not that old, and my wife was none too pleased.  Who wants to spend a bunch of money fixing something that shouldn’t be broken in the first place?

Meanwhile, somewhere along the line, I guess one of the kids put a Wave 94 window cling on the washing machine.  You know how it is when you have a bunch of kids in the house, things end up in weird places.  So there it was, plain as day on the washer, Every Day is a Praise Day at Wave 94.

So anyway, the washer repairman showed up, and guess what?  Turns out he listens to Wave 94.

Now I’m not saying he treated us differently.  I don’t know.  But he did treat us very well.  We were very blessed to have that man work on our washer.

So that was a situation that felt like a curse, but ended up feeling like a blessing – because one of God’s servants came walking through the door.

And I can’t tell you how many times that has happened in my life, where I found myself in a jam, then all of a sudden one of God’s servants came on the scene.

“Remember that Omnipotence has servants everywhere.”

It reminds me of the story in Mark 14, when Jesus sent two disciples to prepare for the Last Supper.  He told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.  Follow him.  Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks; Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready.”

Apparently the disciples didn’t know the owner of the house, yet he had a larger upper room, furnished and ready. 

That meant that, before the disciples knew anything about it, that man was prepared for them.

“Remember that Omnipotence has servants everywhere.”

Now I’m thinking of the story in First Kings 19, when Elijah was whining to God.  “I have been very zealous for You, but the Israelites have rejected You and killed Your prophets and I am the only one left.”

And God said, “…I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal…”

Elijah thought he was all alone, but God informed him that there were actually 7,000 more like him.

“Remember that Omnipotence has servants everywhere.”

Now I’m thinking of something that Paul said at the end of the book of Philippians.  He wrote about the saints in “Caesar’s household.” 

In the household of Caesar you might not expect to find fellow Christians, and yet there they were, servants of God.

Remember the Philippian jailer, how he and his whole household were saved?  I wonder how many times after that he served other Christians at surprising points in their life.

And it’s more than just people.  Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

And remember the story in Second Kings 6, when Elisha’s servant looked out and saw an army surrounding the city?  He ran back to Elisha and said, “Oh my lord, what shall we do?”  And Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid.  Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.”  And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire.

And don’t forget Balaam’s donkey, or the fish with money in its mouth, or the fish that swallowed Jonah. 

Psalm 119:91 says of the Lord, “…for all things serve You.”

So be encouraged today, no matter what situation you find yourself in.

Just remember these lines that Thomas T. Lynch wrote so many years ago:

“Say not, my soul, ‘From whence
Can God relieve my care?’
Remember that Omnipotence
Has servants everywhere.”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


Here is that poem in its entirety:

Say not, my soul, 'From whence
'Can God relieve my care?'
Remember that Omnipotence
Has servants everywhere.

God's help is always sure,
His method seldom guessed;
Delay will make our pleasure pure,
Surprise will give it zest.

His wisdom is sublime,
His heart profoundly kind;
God never is before His time,
And never is behind.

Hast thou assumed a load,
Which few will share with thee,-
And art thou carrying it for God,
And shall He fail to see?

Be comforted at heart,
Thou art not left alone;
Now, thou the Lord's companion art;
Soon, thou wilt share His throne.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
 
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000

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