Who Shall Speak for the Lord?

Matthew 28:18-20 ASV

               “And Jesus came to them and spake unto them saying,  All authority hath been given unto Me, in heaven and on earth.

                Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

                 Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

With all the authority of the Risen Son of God, Jesus gave His disciples the mandate to “Go” and “make disciples”.

To make disciples requires effort:  effort in prayer, holding them up to the Lord till Christ be formed in them. (Galatians 4:19)

And effort in teaching them the Word of God.

But if we would pass on spiritual reality, we must have it in our own experience, first.

The disciples had the instruction after three years of following the Lord.

(Even Peter, who had been restored, after he denied the Lord. John 21:15-19)

But they would also need power,  Spiritual power, and for that Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit, which would be given them:

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power,  after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem,  and in all Judea, and in Samaria,  and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

They received Him,  and did this.  Trials and persecution came;  but so did blessings and strength;  guidance and fellowship.

As Christians, we have received the Holy Spirit, but to have His fullness and the authority of speaking for Christ, we need to obey Him in our everyday lives.

We need to be in subjection to God’s authority ourselves……then He will show others what He has for them, through us…..

…..Because of the spiritual reality we have in our experience. 

It is not you or me, but the Holy Spirit, through us, influencing them for good.

It is the authority we have yielded to in our own lives, that gives force and power to our words.

When a centurion sent to Jesus to ask that his servant be healed;  he told Him that He did not need to come to his house….but say the word, and the servant would be healed!

Luke 7:8 “For I also am a man set under authority,  having under me soldiers,  and I say unto one,  Go,  and he goeth;  and to another,  Come,  and cometh;  and to my servant,   Do this,  and he doeth it.”

You will notice that the centurion did not say,   “of authority”,  or “in authority”;

But “under authority”.

This centurion was basically saying:

“For I am a man set under the authority of Rome,  all the power of Rome is behind me,  for I do as Rome commands…..so all that I command  do the same.”

This centurion knew that Christ Jesus spoke for God, even as he spoke for Rome.

We can say the same thing.   We can say that we are set under the power of God, and all God’s power is behind me,  for I do as God commands me.

And The Lord Jesus can send us out, as He did His disciples:

John 20:21 “Then said Jesus to them again,  Peace be unto you:  as My Father has sent Me,  even so send I you.”

We are first seen as children of God, being taken care of, till we grow.

Then we are seen as servants of God, obeying our Master with love.

Then we are seen as soldiers of God, standing with Him in this world.

Then we are Ambassadors of God, with authority from our King to speak for Him, to help reconcile others to Him.

(That does not mean they always listen, or react as we think;  but it does mean that the Holy Spirit uses us to open up their hearts to His Word.)

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit,  that God was in Christ,  reconciling the world unto Himself,  not imputing their trespasses unto them;  and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

                                         Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,  as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ stead,  be ye reconciled to God.”

Christ Jesus has “committed unto us” the word of reconciliation.

That means He trusts us to obey Him and carry on His work in our lives.

It is always a personal call.  For we must see our personal responsibility to God, then to the person we are talking to.

How can we answer that call?

And how can we be so commissioned?

Always it is His Word to us.   Us hearing Him for ourselves first.  And then to hear His call to a work.

Exodus 3:7-8, 10 “And the Lord said,  I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt,  and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters;  for I know their sorrows;

                               And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey;…

                               Come now therefore,  and I will send thee unto Pharaoh,  that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

This was Moses’ call.

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man,  I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:  therefore hear the word at My mouth,  and give them warning from Me.”

This was Ezekiel’s call to the captives in Babylon.

Matthew 4:18-19 “And Jesus,  walking by the Sea of Galilee saw two brethren,  Simon called Peter,  and Andrew his brother,  casting a net into the sea:  for they were fishers.

                                And He saith unto them,  Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

This was the call to Peter and Andrew to follow Him.

Acts 26:14-16, 19 “And when we were fallen to the earth,  I heard a voice speaking unto me,  and saying in the Hebrew tongue,   Saul, Saul,  why persecutest thou Me?   It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks,  

                                 And I said,  Who art Thou Lord?   And He said,  I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

                                But rise and stand upon thy feet:  for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose,  to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee.

                                Whereupon,  O king Agrippa,  I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”

This was the call Paul received to stop fighting against Jesus, and to preach Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The call to obey the Lord is different for each of us…but it is always personal, designed to bring us—you, me—to submit to Him, and enter into a personal relationship with our Risen Lord, which takes us on a path from here, to all eternity.

“And, lo, I am with you alway,  even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

An Offering of a Willing Heart. 

Exodus 35:4-5 “And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying,  This is the thing that the Lord commanded, saying,  

                            Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord:  whosoever is of a willing heart,  let him bring it,  an offering of the Lord;  gold, and silver, and brass,”

The Tabernacle of the Lord was to be made.  The very intricate pieces were to be done by those selected by God, and given the ability. (Exodus 35:30-35)

But before they could do the work,  materials had to be gathered.   And God did not require any to give;  but it was to be an offering of a “willing heart”.

Exodus 35:21-22 “And they came,  everyone whose heart stirred him up,  and everyone whom his spirit made willing,  and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the Tabernacle of the congregation,  and for all His service, and for the holy garments.

                                And they came,  both men and women,  as many as were willing-hearted,  and brought bracelets, and earring, and rings, and tablets,  all jewels of gold:  and every man that offered,  offered an earring of gold unto the Lord.”

                               

Exodus 35:29 “The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord,  every man and woman,  whose heart made them willing to bring for all the manner of work,  which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”

This was wonderful. All giving willing.

          But the example I want to speak about is:

Exodus 38:8   “And he made the laver of brass,  and the foot of it of brass,  of the looking glasses of the women assembling,  which assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation.”

These woman had given before:  bracelets, and earrings, gold and silver.   Yet they continued coming to the  door of the Tabernacle to see what else was needed.

Back in those days,  looking glasses (mirrors) were not made of glass, but of brass.   Highly polished brass.   It was an art to make them and they were very valuable.

(Actually it was flattering to the faces,  for it gave them a shine, and did not show up every flaw.  

In 1 Corinthians 13:12,  it says,  “For now we see through a glass (looking glass) darkly,  but then face to face:  for I know in part;  but then shall I know even as also I am known.”   

The apostle is saying,  “Now you see yourself a little better than you are.  You are not seeing clearly.   You are also not seeing clearly the love God has for you.  But then, when you put away “childish things”,  you will see yourself clearer,  and God’s Amazing love for you,  a lot clearer, too.)

These women had gotten these looking glasses from the Egyptians [who were scrupulous about their looks],  and had them stored in their treasures.   

To be able to pull them out after journeying through the desert, and brush the sand out of your hair.  To see how your face looks after a few years:  this would have been a real treasure!

But, they saw the need for brass for the laver.  

(the large basin with feet, which was filled with water.  It was outside the Holy Place, in the court.

This is what the priests washed at after working at the altar with the sacrifices.  They were to wash before going into the Holy Place,  and eating the bread, or lighting the Lamp,  or offering incense to God.)

These women saw the need, and brought something very personal, and very valuable to them.  Their brazen looking glasses.   Of all their treasures,  these would have been something they would want to hold on to.

They came willingly and gave something which would have made them feel beautiful.   So it was a matter of the heart, choosing God’s work, over their vanity.

      Not such an easy choice at times.

Yet it was an offering of a willing heart from all of them;  and God gave witness of their offering in His Word, as a testimony to their love.

The Lord has before Him books of all the deeds down through the centuries,  of those that do something willingly, out of love to Him.  

And here,  He has written of these willing hearts.

(Malachi 3:16 “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another:  and the Lord hearkened,  and heard it,  and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord,  and that thought upon His name.”)

Is our service to the Lord, of a willing heart?

Lukewarm Laodicea makes Me sick! 

Revelation 3:16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spur thee out of My mouth.”

Years ago, when my husband was going to write a message on Laodicea,  he received this title from the Lord:

    “Lukewarm Laodicea makes Me sick!”

And right then, he felt sick….almost like vomiting!

That is what the Lord was trying to show him.

This is the way the Lord feels about this church.

Laodicea is the last of the church age, before He comes to meet them in the air….

….and this is just the time that this church should be zealous for Christ and the saving of souls…..

….but they are neither cold or hot,  just lukewarm….sickening.

If we  were cold…..He would just judge us.

If we were hot…..He would bless us.

Instead we are just sickening to Him.

We are as Israel of old. (Jesus quoted this when He was here about those religious workers. Matthew 15:8-9)

Isaiah 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said,  Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men:”

Several things to mention:

First….they say all the right words….all the praises that they should.

Second,….notice it is “removed” their heart far from Me.   He does not just say that it is far from Him…..but that they removed it.   They chose something other than Him,    to set their heart upon.

Third,….the fear toward God is merely taught to be right.

It is something they know because it has been told them……not that they have experienced for themselves.

“Fear” here is  reverence and awe that the Lord should have because He is God….and because of the great things He has done for us.   

But they do not.

It was not that Israel could not see….for they had enough Light, they could have known their God….but it was  that they would not.

In Laodicea,  we too,  say the right things….we do the right things….but our hearts just aren’t in them.

We draw near with our lips,  but our affections are far from Him…..

 ….to what are they looking?  What do you set your affections on?

        

And we Laodiceans say we reverence God…..but if we did, we would stop congratulating ourselves on our “richness”….and see ourselves as He sees us:

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest,  I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;  and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

In this last of the Church age,  we are “poor”……without the love and fear of God…..in experience.

Head knowledge is necessary…..but heart knowledge of God by personal experience is:

     You know a certain Bible truth…..because you have experienced that truth in your life.

2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

They say they are Christians…..that they do believe.

But their lives show they are “denying the power thereof”.

(I want to stress here…..”power”.    I know some people misuse this word…..I have heard it too.

But the Holy Spirit gives us grace….the unmerited favor of power in our lives….He gives us power over ourselves…..and power to face a world which hates Christ,  cheerfully…….and power to stand in the evil day.

And the Word of God gives us power…..the power to shape our thinking and our attitudes and our choices…..by our reading, praying over it, and thinking upon it….till the power of it changes us.

It is not a word to use lightly…..for real power belongs unto God only….He can give it to any He chooses….

….but it is real.   God’s power to us is to change us…..and by that,  influence and change others….toward God.)

If we are different, it is by the power of God in our life….and not by something I have done myself.

Lukewarm Laodicea is correct…..it says all the right things…..

….but our hearts are far from Him.

I believe our error is of the heart.   

The Lord Jesus when He was here, said about the hearts of those who came to hear Him…..but not to obey Him:

Matthew 13:15 “For this people’s heart is waxed gross,  and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed;  lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart,    and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

Their “hearts” are described as “waxed gross”…..so full of other things, there was no room for Him.

Their “ears” are described as “dull”….only half hearing…..nodding: “Oh, yes, that is good”….but not listening for His Word to them.

Their “eyes” are described as “closed”….they have closed….so they would not see the Truth.

If they had seen, and heard Him,  with hearts open to and receptive to Him…..

……they would have been converted (most think of this as salvation,  but  it means to “turn back again”; it is the same word Jesus used to Peter about his three denials Luke 22:32)

……their hearts would have been turned back to God,  by Christ….and they would have been healed.

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:  be zealous therefore, and repent.”

For those He loves…..He rebukes…..speaks like a Father to correct us (Hebrews 12:5-6)…

….sometimes softly…..sometimes loudly…..

….but then…

….well, must He also chasten?

His promise is understanding,  to be turned back to Him,  and healing….will we hear, and repent?

Are we staying in the middle of the Way? 

Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things have I required of Thee;  deny me them not before I die:

                Remove far from me vanity and lies;   Give me neither poverty or riches,  feed me with food convenient for me:

                Lest I be full, and deny Thee,  and say,  Who is the Lord?   Or lest I be poor, and steal,  and take the name of my God in vain.”

This “middle of the Way”, comes from my reading Pilgrims Progress.  

          It is when Christian is hurrying up the hill of Difficulty, and it is growing dark….and at the top he sees two lions;  one on either side of the Way!

          This sight frightens and stops Christian for a moment…..till the Porter of the House Beautiful (the local Church),  calls out to him:

          “Can’t you see they are chained….they can only come so far into the Way.  You will be safe….as long as you stay in the middle of the Way.”

            

And how often it is the same for us…..when circumstances frighten….because we were not prepared,….

…..or we have expected,…..since we have “climbed this hill of Difficulty”,…..that things will become easier…..

We get frightened….then stop.     

            It is good the Lord often calls out to us, through the Word, or a message, or a fellow Christian…..that we may see that the lions are chained.

(How grateful to the Lord Jesus for this!)

These verses are some I love.    They set the goal of my life on the right footing.

Giving God charge of what is in store for me….and petitioning (“required” here means “earnestly beseeching”) our Lord, that He keep us “in the middle of the Way.”

“Remove me far from vanity and lies”.      “Far from”,  is where we all should want to be, from the useless things of this world,….and that is what “vanity” is.

And from lies…..lies that I want to believe….or that are spread abroad about others,…or me.

Our Lord taught us to pray: (Matthew 6:13) “And lead us not into temptation”…..for He has made a way to escape, if we will seek it (1 Corinthians 10:13)……but when I fall into it…….

…..”but deliver us from evil”…..the evil one, the devil, and his tricks…..and the evil of coming under the influence of my fall.

Let me…

Not be rich….either in money, prestige, or success….so I won’t get proud and begin to think I do not need the Lord. (Luke 12:16-21)

Not be poor….either in money, friends, or spiritual experience….so I won’t envy others…..or be angry with You, Lord, and “take the name of my God in vain”.

This “take the name of my God in vain” (and notice is it “my God”)……does not mean swearing…..

……but in the Hebrew, means:  “accusing God of not being what His Name says He is”.    To accuse God’s mercy and love, of being false.

He is Merciful, Righteous, Glorious, Gracious, full of loving-kindness, and peace.

But when circumstances grow difficult…..trials come…..and we seem quite unable to meet them….we are poor, then….

…do we still feel the same way, toward the Lord?

My husband had taught a study on Galatians, and then began Philippians, once,……when our son….who was little at the time….

….said,  Dad, I like this study better than that other one.

….Really, why?

…..Because this one has happy people in it…the other one didn’t.

And he was right, though I had not seen it before,….like that…..

The Galatians were trying so hard to be superior Christians…..and had gotten tricked into thinking their own works…following the law…..would add to their value to the Lord. (Galatians 1:6-8)

The Philippians, on the other hand, 

(and I recommend, if you have not read it lately, to do so again!   Nine times, more than any other book in the New Testament, “rejoice” is used. Six times “joy” is used.)  

They were being persecuted, [Philippians 1:28-30],….yet only sought to be steadfast to the Lord Jesus Christ…..and they were joyful in it!

They were a poor church, yet sent an offering to Paul for his needs. (Philippians 4:15)

What a difference in the two books!

Listen to the epistle the Apostle wrote:

Philippians 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”

Philippians 1:25-26 “And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 

              That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ  for me by my coming to you again.”

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…..”

He tells them of the way he has walked….what the Lord has shown him:

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended;  but this one thing I do,  forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

              I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

Paul loves them dearly, writing: 

Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord,  my dearly beloved.”

And then, in this epistle,  he clearly speaks of true contentment:

Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I speak in respect of want:  for I have learned,  in whatsoever state I am,  therewith to be content.

                I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound:  everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

This is the same thing the writer of Proverbs was writing about…..but Paul adds a blessed reality of how we can do this:

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Let us take His strength in righteousness, joy and peace…..and be content.

Here is the secret of contentment…..of being neither rich or poor…..but staying in the middle of the Way……

….”through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

Our Way is before us,…..our life is always a next step with Jesus Christ.

Let us “stay in the middle of the Way”……

…..the lions are chained,  though they roar, and frighten….

…..stay with Him, and let Him give us the strength for what is ahead.

Eve, and Us 

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ,  and members in particular.”

As my daughter was giving a Sunday school lesson on Eve,  it struck me that Eve was taken out of Adam (his rib); and made a into a woman;……

……to be to him something he needed more….a partner….a helpmeet….a companion in all his life.

Genesis 2:21-22, 24 “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam,  and he slept;  and He took one of his ribs,  and closed up the flesh instead thereof.

                   And the rib,  which the Lord God had taken from man,  made He a woman,  and brought her unto the man.

                   Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,  and shall cleave unto his wife:  and they shall be one flesh.”

And as born again believers, we are put back into Christ to be His bride, and friend, and helpmeet for Him and His work.

Romans 12:5 “So we, being many,  are one body in Christ,  and everyone members one of another.”

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice,  and give honor to Him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come,  and His wife hath made herself ready.”

We become members together of His mystical body, here on earth….showing Christ Jesus wherever we go.

1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one,  and hath many members and all the members of that one body,  being many,  are one body:  so also is Christ.”

Eve was made a separate person, to show that the personalities of man and woman, could unite…..in the work God called them to do.

Adam was as responsible for Eve, as he was his own body….to take care of her, guide and direct her (if he had done this, she would have turned away from the temptation of the devil…..to get his help), and love her as he would himself.

Ephesians 5:28 “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.  He that loveth his wife  loveth himself.”

So believers (each of us personally and together)…..is put into Christ’s mystical body to show that Christ has taken responsibility for us……to take care of,  guide and direct,  and love us…..as He does Himself.

And yet, we are separate personalities,  each fitted into their place in His body….to show that we can unite with our Lord…..in the work God has called us to do.

Ephesians 5:25-27, 29-30 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,  and gave Himself for it;

                    That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

                     That He might present to Himself a glorious church,  not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

                      For no man ever yet hateth his own flesh;  but nourished and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

                      For we are members of His body,  of His flesh, and of His bones.”

There is a fullness in the Purpose of God……what Adam lost, by not fulfilling his duty, and yielding to sin….

……Christ has regained in power;  because He has paid my penalty and debt…..and has taken me into Himself in union (by faith and love)……

…..and more so…..for He has empowered me by His Holy Spirit to regain also, the place of helpmeet to Christ Jesus.

To speak for Him,…..to act for Him,…..

…..and He is the lover of my soul.   (“Set me as a seal upon Thine heart, as a seal unto Thine arm:…” Song of Solomon 8:6)

Eve was taken out of Adam, to become a different kind of support (the rib cage supports the back, and covers the inner organs).

She was to support him spiritually, by learning about and obeying God. (A faithful wife is a wonderful thing.)

She was to support him emotionally, by encouraging him to be God’s servant and friend. (Not tempting him to sin, as she had done.)

She was to support him physically, by being where she was suppose to be,…..not wandering off to look at a tree she knew was not to be eaten of.

We, believers, are put back into Christ, to become a new creature….all things should become new within us (2 Corinthians 5:17)….

That we should be to His praise and glory, in our lives….

That we should honor Him and His Word, in obedience….

That we should overcome by the faith He has placed within us….and  be one with Him.

John 17:21-23 “That they all may be one,  as Thou, Father, art in Me,  and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us:  that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

                  And the glory that Thou gavest Me  I have given unto them,  that they may be one,  even as We are one:

                 I in them,  and Thou in Me,  that they may be made perfect in one;  and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me,  and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”

  

Eve, and us.

God’s purpose lost in Eve…..and can be regained in us…..for we are in Him.

We are called to “come….in the unity of the faith”….

Ephesians 4:13, 15 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith,  and of the knowledge of the Son of God,  unto a perfect man,  unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

                  But speaking the truth in love,  may grow up into Him in all things,  which is the head, even Christ:”

Will we come to Christ,  and fulfill the work as His helpmeet?

(Let me say here,  that if Adam had fulfilled his duty to Eve;  she would not have been at the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil….to be tempted of the devil.

And let me also declare, that the Lord will never forsake us….nor neglect His duty to us….who He loves.

He will never will He leave us….never will He let us go……but He will:

1 Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is He that calleth you,   Who also will do it.”)

What will you give in exchange for your soul?

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited,  if he shall gain the whole world,  and lose his own soul?   Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We know this is the summary of Christ’s call to follow Him. (Matthew 16:24-26)

It is a call He gave all…(Luke 9:23-25)

Here, the Lord Jesus puts into perspective the choice we truly make….Him or the world.

If you had everything, and lost your soul,  of what value could it be?

(Let us speak for a moment of losing our soul:  it is not just going to Hell and then the Lake of Fire….although that is the end result.

No.   We are in subjection, as mankind,……..to something.    

We do not rule our destiny….we can not…..for circumstances,  people,  times and seasons, and places are all factors we can not rule.

In fact,  we can not rule ourselves…..our souls,  our personalities.

We can be phony….pretending to like or love things we do not….for “profit” or advantage in the world.

We can “learn” to like things….making ourselves over in the image of someone we want to be like….but we can never be them….but just us—like them.

We can not, at times, subdue our anger, or our affections….both fly away where they want.

But we can,  as Jesus Christ said,  come and let Him rule in us.

If you refuse this…..as many people mistakenly think,   this liberty, is bondage….then the simple answer is:

You will be ruled by the world, the flesh or the devil.

The world’s thoughts will be yours. 

You will always be frustrated,  because your way is not being done.

The devil will trick you into real bondage of some sort.

You have lost your soul…..and you are not in Hell,  yet.

There is still hope…..you can come to Christ Jesus, and let Him bring you into His kingdom.)

Jesus asked,  “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Many things in this world, say,  “Don’t worry about your soul’s well being….after all your young….or after all your intelligent….or after all you go to church.”

Matthew Henry said in his commentary on the Bible:   “If your religion is worth anything,   It is worth everything.”

Christ says we must lose….to gain Him.

We must “Come”……leave where you are…….and then,  “Follow”.

Colossians 1:10-13 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,  being fruitful unto every good work,  and increasing in the knowledge of God;

             Strengthened with all might,  according to His glorious power,  unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

             Giving thanks unto the Father,  which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

             Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,  and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

This is what is promised all who come to Christ….who are born again:

Being fruitful…..increasing in the knowledge of God….strengthened with all might….with joyfulness….partakers of the inheritance….delivered from the power of darkness….translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.

It is in the walk we have with Christ….bringing all that we are and have, step by step, and placing it under His control.

By a deliberate act of the will….placing all things at His disposal.   

Here, Lord is my anger….I am mad and feeling it worsen….But it not just the anger….it is my resentment toward these people,…..my frustration at the lack of appreciation,….my frustration to You, even.

(By this time,  when I pray,  I am usually agreeing with the Lord, and giving up the feelings….they are not worth having anything come between me and Jesus.)

Now, Lord, I am sick….I am full of grief….I am weary,  so weary….

What ever it is,  it is….

…..and must be dealt with by bringing it all….Yes,  bringing it all to Christ….to be delivered from this darkness….and no longer under the influence of the Adversary……into Light.

As Christians, we have the ability to bring ourselves into subjection, by the Holy Spirit’s power within us….by our deliberate act of our will.

(I remember my husband talking to a man who was having some difficulties,….and he said:

“I just need more of God in my life.”    

Now, he thought that sounded good….and praying for him, the Lord said to him,  “What that man needs is a whole lot less of himself.”

God showed him, that He was there for that man….and His power was there for that man….but the man was not letting Him rule……

….pray for that.

And how many times the Lord has reminded us about this….for ourselves.)

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited,  if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?   Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Jesus tells all who will follow Him…..it will be the world….or Me.

Which will it be?

Real Spirituality begins when we take our place before our God, our Maker.

Romans 9:19-20 “Thou wilt say them unto Me,  Why doth He yet find fault?  For who hath resisted His Will?

       Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it,  Why hast Thou made me thus?”

“Why have You made me thus?   If You had not made me as I am,  I would not have these problems….it is Your fault, I am as I am.”

(I told this to the Lord once……I was so angry about the mess my life was in!                                Even though I had been born in a “Christian” family….had gone to church….yet there was an anger in my life….from hurts and resentments I refused to deal with.

Down through the ages,  we have wondered why God made us the way we am.

Or in this time,…..or in these circumstances.

(And are we not seeing this more and more….people refusing God’s Way of life for them?)

When that is exactly what He did….He made me for now….for the time I am in,  to manifest to this age…….our God.

That is the purpose of every man.

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

(This is a marvelous verse….for it pictures the Raptured church in heaven.   And what do they praise the Lord for first?    That He created all things for His pleasure.   His Will is best for all His creation…especially me!)

He has created all things, and placed them….for His glory.

All things means all things.   He says,  “…yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”   

Romans 3:19 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith,  it saith to them that are under the law:  that every mouth may be stopped,  and all the world may be come guilty before God.”

Here is the last word….that every mouth may be stopped:

No more alibis

No more excuses

No more reasons why we did…..or did not do.

But every mouth will be stopped.

Now there are two ways that this happens:

For the lost, it happens at the White Throne judgement….every knee shall bow to Christ Jesus,   at the mention of His name.    Every sin will be read, and there will be no “talking back”…no excuses…just silence….as the Judge of all the earth gives the verdict….”depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity.”

For the saved,  it happens when we realize we are sinners…..lost….without hope in this world. 

Our mouths are stopped….we see we can give no excuse for our actions…against God and others.

But once we stop….and come to Christ,  Who alone can save us….and become born again….

…….then the Lord opens our mouths to speak His Word.

When Job had this experience, he spoke plainly of it:

Job had served the purpose of God in his wealth and prosperity;….as well as in his poverty and want.

He spoken a lot of words….good words….

….until the Lord showed Himself to him….then….

Job 40:1, 4 “Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,     Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him?   He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

        The Job answered the Lord,  and said,   Behold,  I am vile;  what shall I answer Thee?  I will lay my hand upon my mouth.”

It is quite one thing to…know about God….even a great deal.

And another thing to….know God.

Job 42:5-6 “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear;  but now mine eye seeth Thee:  

          Wherefore I abhor myself,  and repent in dust and ashes.”

This is taking our place before our Maker.   

He speaks, and I listen.

He decides, and I do.

That day Job knew God as His Creator and Sustainer.    And Job repented and bowed.   

        But then Job got up, forgave his “friends”…who had criticized everything he went through…

….and went on with the life God gave him…as a witness to God.

        Every time we know God more personally,  we will see ourselves more clearly….and marvel of marvels….we will in our humbling, be exalted to a more spiritual life in Him.

Of One Accord 

Acts 5:12 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”

(Solomon’s porch was just off the main temple area.  It was where the first church often met.)

“With one accord.”  Here is the real power of this verse.

It means to be gathered to the Lord, Himself.   

         We are not come together for the  preaching,  or for the music,  or for the company….although there is nothing wrong with good preaching,  music,  or fellowship of company….

….but to be of one accord….

…..Christ has to be the reason we come together.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Gathered together in His Name,  there He is in the midst.

To be gathered together in His Name….is to be impelled of the Holy Spirit.  

You are there because He has sent you there….and you want to be no where else.

(Years ago, my husband knew a man that came every Sunday,…..but confided in my husband that he would rather be home watching the games on T.V.

        My husband looked at him….and told him that he might be better off if he did….for if the heart is not in the “coming”…..that coldness spills out into the life and service.  [Sometime we can never really see our lostness when we are hiding in a church.]

       My husband had been praying for this man,  and had wondered….after all this time,  why there seemed to be no spiritual growth.   He tried dealing with this man….showing him the wonderful things of Christ….but…

       He often said the right words….but the light of the eyes and heart did not seem to be in what he was saying.

       Several years past, and this man finally stayed home.   He went from one thing to another…..trying the “happiness” of the world.   

There are always those….like Demas….who go along awhile….yet finally leave….”having loved this present world”.   

….for they would rather leave Christ than give up their loves, or plans.)

“With one accord”

Your whole body, soul and spirit longs to be where the children of God are gathered….to be there for Christ,….and for His Purpose.  

That is God’s Purpose and it becomes your Purpose.

That is to be of one accord.

The Vulgar Latin word for “accord” meant….”to be heart to heart with”.

This was the way the first church met.

All would be heart to heart with the Lord…having HIs heart’s desire for this situation.

That gave a power to the services….for the Lord’s Will being done has real practical power in it….and when it is done with all the heart….there is blessing and power.

We say they were on fire for the Lord…. the love they felt for Him overcame every fear and concern.

They were forgiven and wanted to continue in the fellowship and joy of that peace with God….and with their fellow believers.

Love  in scripture is willed…..it is the willed tendency of the heart after Someone….Christ.

      That love is practical….and the first place it is shown is in our obedience to Him…..heart obedience.

Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him.”

With His accord you are “heart to heart” with Him…..and this is what He wants….

….your heart so wrapped up in Him, that slight differences with people,  or changes in circumstances,  will not be a concern….or take our eyes off of Him.

This is, of course, between each believer and the Lord….but it is felt in the corporate ministry….and in the world. (Acts 4:13)

Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes,  the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

      

When you take care of these little foxes…those little strifes, or desires, or hinderances in your hearts affection…..then…

…you have fellowship with Him…in a new way.

And when that fellowship continues….you will begin to know His accord,…as you are removing all that hinders this from being so.

         And by many acts of the will you become heart to heart with Him…..of one accord….with the love and power that it brings.

The man with the withered hand 

I am going to speak about a poor soul….a man with a withered right hand….a man shunned in the normal life of the Israelites, yet who yields to Jesus command….even though it puts him and his infirmity,   in the spotlight….

Luke 6:6-7 “And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught:  and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

       And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against Him.

       But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand,    Rise up, and stand forth in the midst.   And he arose and stood forth.”

To have a deformity….a withered hand….in Israel, usually meant that someone in your family had sinned….you, or your parents.

       It was something to hide or keep covered.

       That this man wanted to hear the scriptures, and have fellowship with God and HIs people,  is apparent…..for though he might be looked down upon….he was gathered to the place of worship,…anyway.

       He was in the back of the men gathered….for Jesus said, “stand forth”

Jesus had come to their synagogue to teach….and He did.  

He knew what was in the heart of each man there.   Whether they were there to hear Him….or the Word….

…or merely to find an occasion to trip Him up.

“But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand,   Rise up, and stand forth in the midst.   And he arose and stood forth.”    

This would have been putting a spotlight on his deformity….

….yet he did it.   First standing,….then stepping out before everyone….”in the midst”.

This is faith.  For faith sees God, and believes Him.

Then Jesus did something unusual…..He did not speak to the man….He did nothing where he was concerned….at first…

….He just left him in the midst of everyone….a spectacle….or so it might have seemed.

But again, I must stress here…..faith sees God.   This man saw God in Christ, which separated him from many others here in this synagogue….

…so he stayed put,  waiting….in faith.

(How often we feel that Christ is going to do something for us….and we feel His love, and gladly “step forth”….but then there is a wait.   

      Do we begin to doubt His love?  Do we begin to “wobble” in our obedience?  Will we “back away” from the Lord’s command?)

….instead Jesus turned and spoke to the scribes and Pharisees.   

Luke 6:9 “Then said Jesus unto them,  I will ask you one thing;….”

Jesus broke right through to the truth.   He asked them to answer….with the truth.

“…Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil?   To save life, or to destroy it?”

Then Jesus turned and looked at each man there….

…not in anger,…..but sadness.   

     Saddened by the hardness of their hearts. There was no love of God….or man within them!

(In Matthew. 12:11-12….Jesus says,  “What man shall there be among you,  that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out?

         How much then  is a man better than a sheep?   Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”)

….then Jesus finally spoke to the man with the withered hand…”Stretch forth thy hand.”

Luke 6:10 “And looking round about upon then all, He said unto the man,  Stretch forth thy hand.   And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

         

When God asks us to cooperate with Him,….

….we must first believe Him….this man had;….

….then we must obey Him.

This is an amazing healing….and one we can have, for it was by HIs Word alone that this man was healed….both spiritually and physically.

       For Jesus did not touch him.   It does not say Jesus came close to him.

Jesus spoke….

….it was His Word,  first to the man, to give him faith in Him (Romans 10:17)…”rise up and stand forth”…making him trust in Jesus…

…then HIs Word to the man for obedience to Him….faith, if it be true faith, always leads to obedience.   For what kind of faith would believe, but not obey?

And that man’s faith and obedience was honored….his hand was made whole as the other.

Jesus speaks to us, today, as well……giving faith in Himself….and encouraging our faith in Him.

And He speaks to us, today….commanding us to obey, that we might be “a spectacle “ (1 Corinthians 4:9)……for He shows Himself strong in us….in salvation,  in healing, and in joy and peace….

….are we hearing what He is saying to us?   Are we having what He is calling us to?

What are we facing today…..and in what are we “infirm”? (Not up to the task,  not able to do.)

Well, He is.  

And His Word of faith and instruction still comes to us, today.  

Let us stand forth with Him;  and trust and obey.

     

Amos;  and our calling

Amos 7:14-15 “Then answered Amos,  and said to Amaziah,   I was no prophet,  neither was I a prophet’s son  but I was a herdsman,  and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: (wild figs)

                            And the Lord took me as I followed the flock,  and the Lord said unto me,   Go prophesy unto My people Israel.”

He was not a prophet or a prophet’s son,  but called from being a shepherd and gathering wild figs,   he was called to preach repentance to Israel, that they might remember their Shepherd, and bring forth fruit to God.

Israel and Judah had separated.   In Jerusalem was the temple.  And the king of Israel was afraid that Israel would go back to Judah to worship at the Temple.

So he set up two idols to worship.  He told them that these were just a representation of God;  but he lied to them.

Israel apostatized.   They had begun to worship the idols which were calves.  

 This was great sin.  God is a jealous God, and so He sent them prophets to rebuke the king, the people,  and this sin.  

But the practice stuck.  They refused to be healed of it.  And so finally, after many years;  God was going to send Israel into captivity.   

And to a terrible people: cruel and vicious;  the Assyrians.

But before He did,  He sent Amos to call them to repentance, and to tell them what was going to happen if they refused to hear,…..this last time.

Amos 3:1-2 “Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you,  O children of Israel,  against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt,  saying, 

                       You only have I known of all the families of the earth:  therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

It was because Israel knew the Lord, He was God,  that He was going to punish them for turning away from Him.  They had seen His works,  they had been given His Word,  and they knew He was the real God.

Light brings responsibility.     When we know to do good and do it not,  that is sin. (James 4:17)

(When sinners stand before God, in their judgement day….it will be what they did with the knowledge of Christ and His Word to them.

They may say we never heard…..but the knowledge of God has gone throughout the earth….in creation, in preaching, in Bibles.)

When sin is added to sin,…..it is spitting in the face of God.   

He is long-suffering, and merciful;  but He knows when enough is enough.  

He decides when drastic measures are called for.  It is to bring all who will hear His Words, to return to Him.

They knew that what they were doing was against God’s Commandments and laws;  yet they continued in them,  because they thought they could get by with it.

             

                              

                                      So Amos came up to Israel, and preached repentance to the people,…..and at Bethel. (This was one of the places where the idols were, and one of the palaces of the king.)

Amos 7:1-3 “Thus hath the Lord God showed unto me;  and,  behold,  He formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth;…

                        And it came to pass,  that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land,  then I said,  O Lord God,  forgive,  I beseech Thee: by whom shall Jacob arise?  For he is small.

                        The Lord repented for this:  It shall not be,  saith the Lord.”

                       

First, God was going to send grasshoppers to eat the grass to feed the flocks.   But at Amos prayer,  God “repented” or stopped His judgement, so that all would not be destroyed.

(This show us how important our prayers are.   The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous,  and many times it is our prayers that change a situation for good.)

Second, God sent scorching heat to lay waste the waters that they counted on.

But again Amos prayed for them, and God halted the judgement that way.

But the third time, The Lord showed Amos a plumb line. (A plumb line is a line with a weight on the bottom to hold it down straight.)

Amos 7:7-8 “Thus He showed me,  and, behold,  the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb line,  with a plumb line in His hand.

                        And the Lord said unto me,  Amos,  what seest thou?  And I said,  A plumb line,   Then said the Lord,  Behold,  I have a set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel:  I will not again pass by them any more:”

God would put a plumb line in the midst of His people.   If they would “straighten out” their lives by turning back to Him, they would be spared.

But those who refused, and remained “crooked”,  would fall as a wall which leans.

And how did God want them to repent?

First to return unto Him.

Amos 5:4 “For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel,  Seek ye Me,  and ye shall live:”

                      

Second, The Lord wanted them to treat the poor with dignity, and fairness.

Amos 8:4-6 “Hear this,  O ye that swallow the needy,  even to make the poor of the land to fail, 

                       Saying,  When will the new moon be gone,  that we may sell corn? And the sabbath,  that we may set forth wheat,  making the ephah (like a bushel) small,  and the shekel (their money) great,  and falsifying the balances by deceit?

                        That we may buy the poor for silver,  and the needy for a pair of shoes;  yea,  and sell the refuse of the wheat?”

(And do we not see this in our time, as well?)

The title of this is Amos; and our calling.

As Christians,  we too, are called to our family, our friends, our church, and our nation:  to pray for and to seek their good.   

And the greatest good we can pray for,……is for them to know and love The Lord, and to treat others as they want to be treated,  with dignity and respect.

Under the idolatry of Israel,  many were destroyed spiritually,  long before God sent them out of their land, in judgement.

He sent prophets to preach His Words,….  and chastening circumstances so they would see His hand.

Finally, He sent them out of the good land, to sift them as wheat:

Amos 9:9-10 “For, lo,  I will command,  and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations,  like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.

                         All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword,  which say,  The evil shall not over take  or prevent us.”

But even as Amos left Israel to return to being a shepherd,  he heard a promise:

God would not utterly forsake His people.   

They would have to go through terrible trouble to finally learn the lesson He would have easily taught them,  had they listened and turned to Him.

But…

“In that day will I raise up….and I will build…saith the Lord that does this.  I will bring again…and I will plant.  (Amos 9:11-15)

The Lord sent Amos to preach repentance to “all who will” hear.

And we are all called to witness to our Lord Jesus Christ.   To let our lights so shine that all may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven…..

…..and repent…..and turn to the Lord.