The Sparrow

Newsletter #258 - April 2000 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

Although David was king of Israel, he often compares himself to a sparrow in humility. Most of us feel as insignificant as a sparrow from time to time. It is at such times we must take strength and courage from our Father. He is in control, and with His guidance you can change the world. Many fear the day that they will be delivered up before the false messiah. I believe God gave me this message for those of you are fearful of this event. If you are of the elect, this event is your moment to witness for the true Messiah. God provides for the least of His creations, the sparrow. How much more do you think he cares for His elect? God takes care of His own. Let's begin our study with a Psalm of David.

Psalm 102:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto Thee. 2 Hide not Thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline Thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

When you call out to the Father, He hears you instantly. Trust Him enough to know that He will do what's in your best interest.

Psalm 102:3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. 4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

David is feeling a little low as he writes this. He has no appetite.

Psalm 102:5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. 7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

The pelican and the owl are both unclean birds. David's day has gone up in smoke, he isn't hungry, and he feels unclean. I believe David is doing this for our benefit. The housetop is for the watchman. David feels as insignificant as a sparrow as far as getting things done. Be careful when you feel this way. Get out of your rut.

Psalm 102:8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.

When you work for the Lord, your enemies will swear lies about you. Don't allow them to sting you. If you are serving God, those that lie about you are God's enemies as well.

Psalm 102:10 Because of Thine indignation and Thy wrath: for Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. 11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

David is having a real "pity-party" for himself. When God does chastise you. it is because He loves you. We should count God's chastisement as a blessing and correct that which is wrong about our behavior.

Psalm 102:12 But Thou, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and Thy remembrance unto all generations.

God is in control forever. Have faith in Him to do what is fair and right.

Psalm 102:13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Prophetically speaking, there is a set time within this verse. It refers to the 70 weeks of Daniel. The last week is the set time you will be delivered up before antichrist. Do we know that time? No. But, you can rest assured God does, and He is prepping some of His children to be ready.

Psalm 102:14 For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

There will not be left one stone standing upon another in Zion; however, His servant that rebuild the Temple will take pleasure in it.

Psalm 102:15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory. 16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.

Every Knee shall bow.

Psalm 102:17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

This is written for your generation, beloved. Zion will be restored. Will you have a part in that restoration? I hope so. Let's continue our study concerning the sparrow in Matthew. We pick it up with Jesus just having told us that some would be delivered up to the councils and hated of all men for His names sake. When you are delivered up to the synagogue of Satan, take no though what you will say. The Holy Spirit will give it to you in that very hour. Now, the reason we are going to Matthew.

Matthew 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

God touches minds and His servants gain a working knowledge of their father's plan. The name Revelation means to reveal. Nothing is hid from those who study God's Word. There is nothing to fear.

Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

What the Holy Spirit gives you in this world of darkness speak it loud and clear to bring light forth, that is to say truth.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Only God has the power to cause your soul to perish.

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

A sparrow doesn't fall to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Do you think He doesn't know your every need?

Matthew 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

God will take of you when you are delivered up. He will even tell you what to say through the Holy Spirit. What do you have to fear?

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.

This refers to the unforgivable sin. This is why you can't allow yourself to fear men. For the elect to refuse the Holy Spirit to speak through them is unpardonable. You can't afford to be afraid at that moment. Replace your fear with faith that God knows when one sparrow falls.

Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Those who are deceived by antichrist will betray the elect to the false messiah.

Matthew 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

If one of the elect gives in to a relative that has been deceived rather than witnessing against antichrist, they are not worthy of Christ.

Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.

Only the 2 witnesses will be killed; however, all of the elect should be willing to be crucified on the cross as Christ was, if that is what it takes. Don't allow anyone that threatens your flesh body to cause you to be afraid. This is the point of these verses. In conclusion, let's turn to Luke. We are going to look at a side profile of the Scripture we just covered.

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, He began to say unto His disciples first of all, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Beware of the doctrine of the religious community who are cought up in the tradtions of men. You find the doctrine you should learn in God's Word.

Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

I hope you bring light to you brothers and sisters who are in darkness.

Luke 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

Don't fear men. Revere God.

Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

God doesn't forget one sparrow. He certainly will not forget you.

Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

You are a child of the living God. When you do righteous things and make your Father proud, even the angels applaud.

Luke 12:9 But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.

It is unforgivable for one of the elect to refuse the Holy Spirit. Why? Because you know better. Do you find Satan tempting? Don't allow him or anyone to tempt you.

Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say."

Don't turn your back on the Holy Spirit, friend. Don't allow fear of men to cause you to turn away from Him. Beware of men, but don't fear men. Remember, God knows when one of His sparrows falls to the ground.

In His service,
Arnold Murray