CHAPLAIN’S PAGE – “CONFUSION”
Paul made a simple but profound statement in 1 Corinthians 14: 33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Everything he wrote was carefully worded.
This is not to say that it is always easy to understand! Some of his statements appear convoluted, rather like trying to untangle last year’s Christmas tree lights! The point is, however hard it may be in trying to understand Paul, it is always well worth the effort. His statement, For God is not the author of confusion is well understood by those who love Scripture. We know that everything dovetails perfectly together and that there are no contradictions as many assert. It is merely a lack of understanding of certain texts.
Returning to Paul’s statement, there is more to it than first meets the eye. Although he was having trouble with jabbering women in the congregation, that was only a minor issue. He had all manner of factions, some of them concerning major doctrinal issues. The  same things are happening today. Even worse are pastors who have little Biblical knowledge and are not feeding the sheep. Paul’s condemnation of them is expressed in Hebrews 5.
Today, in every area of life there is confusion. Even the experts cannot agree, some will tell us that we are in for colder winters, others that the world is getting hotter. Politicians will assure us that our economic growth rate is healthy, others that we are in for a lean time. As it began at Babel, so it is in 21st Century Britain. What goes around comes around. This tiny island, granted to us by our wonderful covenant keeping God, is overflowing and unable to sustain the physical needs of extra millions. All that the Lord warned us about concerning separation has been ignored. Time and time again He made the directive to His special people. The result of this disobedience has placed us in the most dangerous period of our history. In recent times past, we were able to see many of the dangers which faced us. Although we have always been slow to act, somehow at the last moment we stirred ourselves and warded off the danger.
Today, time is fast running out for confusion reigns everywhere . Isaiah was given a vision of these final days when he declared,
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)
We are witnessing the fulfilment of this prophecy today! The enemy is coming in like a flood and we are becoming overwhelmed. Take heart: The spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. This is not something that we can accomplish in our own strength. This is the promise of the Lord mighty in battle. Notice the very next verse: And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord (v20.) This is clearly an end of the age prophecy, and heralds His return in strength and glory.
We have an inheritance worth more than gold. We must follow by faith the same steps as did Abraham: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10) We too, in these momentous final days must keep our eyes on that eternal city. This is the only way we can rise above the rot, the lies, the filth, the scandal, the perversions and all the other works of Satan. Be not dismayed for Jesus, the Christ, has overcome the world.
My Grace is Sufficient for Thee
C.H. Spurgeon
The other evening I was riding home after a heavy days work; I felt very wearied, and sore depressed, when swiftly, and suddenly as a lightning flash, that text came to me: “My Grace is Sufficient for Thee.” I reached home and looked it up in the original, and at last it came to me in this way, “My Grace is Sufficient for Thee,” and I said, ‘I should think it is, Lord,’ and burst out laughing. I never fully understood what the holy laughter of Abraham was until then. It seemed to make unbelief so absurd. It was as though some little fish, being very thirsty, was troubled about drinking the river dry, and Father Thames said, ‘Drink away, little fish, my stream is sufficient for thee.’ Or, it seemed like a little mouse in the granaries of Egypt, after the seven years of plenty,fearing it might die of famine; Joseph might say,’Cheer up, little mouse, my granaries are sufficient for thee.’ Again, I imagined a man away up yonder, in a lofty mountain, saying to himself,’I breathe so many cubic feet of air every year. I fear I shall exhaust the oxygen in the atmosphere,’ but the earth might say,’Breathe away O man, and fill the lungs ever, my atmosphere is sufficient for thee.’ Oh, brethren, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls.’
