Joy, a choice gift from God

Joy is the special Presence of God in my life. Joy, comes though the Holy Spirit……and not only comes under “good” situations….but comes to us, even when the afflictions of life, harass us.

Joy is that buoyancy of spirit, which translates to speaking and acting above the circumstances we are in….

(Faith: we can encourage, but not give faith, only God can.

Hope which also comes individually to us.

Joy……We can not pass on our joy, although we can manifest it, and draw others to Christ by it.)

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Peace and joy are often put together, for peace with God leads to a joyous knowledge of His presence, and sufficiency…..God with me, in this.

John 15:10-11 “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

“That My joy might remain in you”

Anything that hinders the joy of the Lord with you, should be dealt with immediately;……that your joy might be full.

I believe, like many things in the fullness of God…..joy is one of those things that can be easily deflated.

We are praying, and struggling with a particular sin, habit, or self-thing….and we receive light….

….we yield to it, and suddenly joy from the Presence of God is sent, right there in the situation we are in.

Receive it….it is a sweet gift from above….to encourage you.

Don’t think…..oh, I don’t deserve this….pop!…..the joy is gone….you may still have peace…..but His joy is gone.

No, we never deserve joy,…..but He give it to us….like a bouquet of flowers…..to our souls.

Example:

Nehemiah 8:1-3 “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; And they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation…….

And he read therein…..from the morning to midday,….and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.”

Here are the children of Israel, who have come back after the captivity….(the Lord sent them out of the land, because of their sin)….but they have by faith returned, when they could.

But now they are returned, and in great need of instruction as to the Law of God, and of encouragement….

…..for there are enemies about them, which seek to destroy their worship, separation, and blessing. (Sounds like the world attitude to us….)

Nehemiah 8:6, 8-9 “And Ezra blessed the Lord, the Great God, and all the people answered, Amen, amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord….

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

And Nehemiah,….and Ezra,….and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep, for all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.”

Hearing the Word, made them aware how much they had sinned against God, and so they wept.

They realized that if they and their fathers had just obeyed His Word, they could have had blessings, and not what had befallen them.

How much they had missed out on…..how many good things God had for them, they refused, for themselves and their children……so they wept.

But…..when Truth is faced…..peace, and grace is applied (John 1:17)

Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our God: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

There is a time to mourn for our sin…..and repent. (Mourning without repentance is merely feeling sorry that we got caught)

You might think, this is what God wants…mourning…..but what He wants is true repentance……which is always the first thing in coming to God,….or back to Him….

….but then…

….as Paul wrote the Corinthians, after correcting them so severely (1 Corinthians 5)……

……when they had repented…..

….2 Corinthians 7:7-11 “….when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

Now I rejoice,….that ye were made sorry after a godly manner….

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of this world worketh death.

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

But when you have repented…..it is time to get up!…and get on with God….and this should bring us renewed Purpose….and joy.

This is not the joy of good circumstances, or happenings,….but the joy of the Lord…..again, His special Presence with you.

Romans 5:10-11 “For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son: much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement.”

The atonement is our covering from our sin,….where in Christ we are given an exchanged life…..we stand in Him. God sees Him….Who is always pleasing in His sight.

Therefore rejoice…..our sins are forgiven…..repentance will turn to joy…..He covers our sin…..and makes us whole, in Himself.

This day is holy unto the Lord; Neither be ye sorry (anymore);….

….for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

The Little Foxes

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

A little background might be helpful.

When the grape vines are first in blossom….all the grapes are in that flowering blossom, in miniature.

They will grow and become grapes….small and green….then larger and ripe.

Large foxes will not be interested in the blossoms….they are not enough for them…they will wait till that blossom becomes fruit….then try and wiggle in and eat the grapes. (Though you can erect fences that will keep out most large foxes)

Though this is bad for the end harvest, yet there will be grapes they do not eat. It will not be as it should be, but there will be grapes enough to pick.

But little foxes,….those spring foxes….squeeze in the smallest holes, and eat the blossoms…..and when they do, the whole cluster, that could have made grapes….is destroyed.

These little foxes are little things which discourage, or annoy, or little troubles, or little sins, or little resentments…..

……things which seem not big enough to take to the Lord…..things we think we can “handle” ourselves.

This is wrong. For these “little” things can destroy our fruitfulness.

We are to bring forth the fruits of love, joy and peace….(Galatians 5:22-23)

First, peace is disturbed….joy vanishes,….and our love is often overshadowed…when theses things happen…

….and we often do not do anything about it….they are such “little” things.

(You see, we often think God wants us to do things for Him,…..and obedience is required of all God’s servants)..

But what the Lord wants from us is “abiding”…..a personal relationship with Him….

…..and to bear the fruit of that relationship….”abiding in My love;….My joy might remain in you….love one another.”

(These are the blossom and fruit of every Christian….they are both seen and the fragrance of our relationship is spread abroad to others.)

John 15:8-12 “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.

As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you,: continue ye in My love.

If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

(Notice the words….”continue”, “abide”, “remain”….these are words that are express our willing with the Lord…

…following Him…

…and talking to Him…

…and helping one another…

…again that personal relationship with Him.)

Big problems often come….but we know what to do with them: we are to come to Christ…and deal with them, with Him.

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

But small irritations of life….small sins of omission or forgetting our duty to love one another…small hurts……these we should see as very dangerous.

As one preacher used to say: “A small hole will sink a boat, as well as a large hole”

What will we do with our “little foxes”?

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines.” It is “us”…..Christ Jesus and me,….Christ Jesus and you.

Take them together….and deal with them together. He will not do it alone, and you can not do it alone.

It is “Take us”….will we?

The Little Foxes

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

A little background might be helpful.

When the grape vines are first in blossom….all the grapes are in that flowering blossom, in miniature.

They will grow and become grapes….small and green….then larger and ripe.

Large foxes will not be interested in the blossoms….they are not enough for them…they will wait till that blossom becomes fruit….then try and wiggle in and eat the grapes. (Though you can erect fences that will keep out most large foxes)

Though this is bad for the end harvest, yet there will be grapes they do not eat. It will not be as it should be, but there will be grapes enough to pick.

But little foxes,….those spring foxes….squeeze in the smallest holes, and eat the blossoms…..and when they do, the whole cluster, that could have made grapes….is destroyed.

These little foxes are little things which discourage, or annoy, or little troubles, or little sins, or little resentments…..

……things which seem not big enough to take to the Lord…..things we think we can “handle” ourselves.

This is wrong. For these “little” things can destroy our fruitfulness.

We are to bring forth the fruits of love, joy and peace….(Galatians 5:22-23)

First, peace is disturbed….joy vanishes,….and our love is often overshadowed…when theses things happen…

….and we often do not do anything about it….they are such “little” things.

(You see, we often think God wants us to do things for Him,…..and obedience is required of all God’s servants)..

But what the Lord wants from us is “abiding”…..a personal relationship with Him….

…..and to bear the fruit of that relationship….”abiding in My love;….My joy might remain in you….love one another.”

(These are the blossom and fruit of every Christian….they are both seen and the fragrance of our relationship is spread abroad to others.)

John 15:8-12 “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.

As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you,: continue ye in My love.

If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

(Notice the words….”continue”, “abide”, “remain”….these are words that are express our willing with the Lord…

…following Him…

…and talking to Him…

…and helping one another…

…again that personal relationship with Him.)

Big problems often come….but we know what to do with them: we are to come to Christ…and deal with them, with Him.

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

But small irritations of life….small sins of omission or forgetting our duty to love one another…small hurts……these we should see as very dangerous.

As one preacher used to say: “A small hole will sink a boat, as well as a large hole”

What will we do with our “little foxes”?

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines.” It is “us”…..Christ Jesus and me,….Christ Jesus and you.

Take them together….and deal with them together. He will not do it alone, and you can not do it alone.

It is “Take us”….will we?

Obadiah. (This is not the prophet of the same name)

1 Kings 18:3 “And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:”

I want to speak a little about the fear of the Lord….

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding,”

This fear is reverence…you are awed by the Lord, for you see Him as High and lifted up….and you see your place before Him.

(Isaiah 6:1-7, Luke 5:4-10. These are great verses. For both Isaiah the prophet and Peter the apostle, recognize God’s greatness and power, and righty, put themselves in their place before Him.)

How great it is to have everything in the right perspective….God’s perspective.

This fear shows us our sinfulness…..but then God meets that sinfulness, by pardon, and a call to follow Him.

Obadiah feared the Lord…greatly. He knew He was the only and true God. He was not a idol worshipper, though most of Israel was at this time.

He was a servant for king Ahab, and in a position of authority….so he must have done his job for the king, and his household, well….

…..but he believed and trusted in the Lord.

1 Kings 18:3-4 “….(Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:

For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

This took great courage….but the fear of the Lord gives wisdom and understanding, and so Obadiah knew what to do.

For he wanted to save some of God’s worshippers from Jezebel’s, killing them.

(Jezebel was Ahab’s heathen queen. When she came to power, she killed and intimidated most of the servants of the Lord, and introduced Baal (an idol) worship.)

But Obadiah hid one hundred of them; fifty in a cave…..and fed them, bread and water….and this for three years.

Now Ahab goes out with Obadiah to see if they might get some grass, to feed the animals, that they would not lose the animals of war.

How wicked a king, which does not see to the needs of his people, first!

But on his way, Obadiah sees Elijah…..the man who told king Ahab that there would be no dew or rain till he said.

(Elijah had prayed, claiming the promise of Moses….that if God would withhold the rain,…..the people might remember God’s Word,…..and the chastening by famine, might bring His people back to Him. Deuteronomy 11:16-17)

And for three years and six months…. (James 5:17-18. Elijah had prayed for six months, then was sent to notify Ahab of God’s Word)….God had not given rain….everything was in famine…and dieing; yet Israel had not turned back to God.

But Elijah came, and said that he would see Ahab. Now Ahab had tried to find Elijah for three years, to kill him…..but now, God had said the trial was over….He would send rain.

God always brings us through “measured” trials.

He knows how much to demand….and when to lift up. One is to awaken to His claims….the other is to bring them to look up, to see Him again.

So Elijah comes, and Obadiah sees him. Elijah tells him to go get Ahab and bring him.

But Obadiah was frightened…..this was not the fear of the Lord, but fear of Ahab. What if God’s Spirit would catch away Elijah….and Ahab would be furious…..then he would surely die,….and he had those godly people to see to…..

But…

Instead of remaining in fear to the world, Obadiah told Elijah his fear,…….and Elijah, respecting this servant of God,….

1 Kings 18:15 “And Elijah said, As the Lord of Hosts liveth, before Whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him today.”

In the Lord’s name, Elijah assures this man…..you are safe.

1 Kings 18:16 “So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him:…..”

Obadiah feared the Lord greatly….he served even the wicked Ahab, faithfully….and faithfully kept alive one hundred of God’s prophets.

This took courage,….but even for a faithful servant, the fear of the world can come into our thoughts….and if not stopped: into our hearts.

But Obadiah did not let it go further than his thoughts….and sought an answer from God’s servant, Elijah…and obeyed, when he got it.

We, too, need to fear the Lord….get wisdom for our walk, and understanding of His Way. In times of blessing in the Church, and in times of declension…..we need to fear the Lord, and do good to those that belong to Him.

And when the fear of the world comes in….we need to address ourselves to God and get His answer.

Obadiah is not mentioned again. There are only thirteen verses that speak of him….yet, God noticed his godly fear, and put it in His Book.

As Christians, our names are written in the Book of Life…..but there is a “book of remembrance”, which is before Him….for those that fear the Lord.

Malachi 3:16 “And 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.”

God sees our faithfulness, our diligence, and every word and thought that reaches out to Him.

There is fear of the world,….which will terrify and halt our progress.

And there is the fear of the Lord,….which brings wisdom to our situation, understanding to our minds and hearts, and courage to our lives.

Reality, is it for me?

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

This is the Path to Reality for everyone of us.

We will have spiritual reality, to the degree we walk in it.

Will you choose this path?

It must ultimately come down to “for His sake”.

God never alters our wills; our will must be exercised for Him.

We must choose to deny self, and follow Him.

We must choose to lose our self-life, to find our Christ life.

Our wills are not free, because they are influenced by our minds and hearts.

What or Who do you love?

What influences your thinking most; God’s Word, or the World’s opinions?

As you go along with Christ, you find out these things and (if you will) deal with anything which comes between you and Jesus.

We are to go about our Father’s Will, by denying ourselves, picking up our cross, and following Christ.

But what is “my” cross?

Christ’s cross was the wooden one on which He sacrificed Himself, and shed His blood for my sins.

We can never “pick up” His cross. Nor are we called to.

We are called to pick up our cross:

Our cross is anything which God requires that cuts across our wills. It must be something you can refuse to do. Christ said, “If any man will”; therefore you may “will not.”

Sickness, your parents, or siblings (no matter how trying) are not your cross.

You can not refuse them.

(It can be something concerning them: taking care of your parents–you don’t have to, but God wants you to. That can be your cross.)

Your cross is anything which God requires that cuts across our wills; which is a matter of choice.

True Sanctification is the heart’s longing after the Lord, Himself.

Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.”

Trials

and let’s face it….some days there are many trials:

Trials of belief…..”do you trust God for this?”

Trials of hope….”How long, Lord, before this is as You said?”

Trials from friends, family, and enemies.

Trials of finances, and need…..some to overwhelming.

Psalm 61:2-4 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.”

In the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place….the curtains that covered in between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies and on top of the of the space was embroidered with cherubims wings (Psalm 26:1, 31-33)……so that when the priests entered…..and ministered there….they were covered with His wings.

The Lord said to Jerusalem….the place where one day the King of kings shall rule:

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34 says the same)

The Lord would “hide” us under His wings…..in protection, and comfort, and closeness….in our ministry and life.

They would not…..will we run to Him and be safe? (Proverbs 18:10)

Trials are of two kinds…..trials of everyday life we simply must “pass through” with Christ.

1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

The walk of a Christian is full of trials…everyday trials we overcome before the world. And my trials are not yours….nor yours, mine. They are sometimes small (wonderful) and sometimes hard….but they are meant to teach us to cling to Christ….and pass through.

(They used to say: If we would be arrested for being a Christian….would there be enough evidence against us….to convict us?

And the……there trials which test our faithfulness to Christ.

1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (Hebrews 11:36-37)

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Paul said at the end….”….I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 3:7)

(One thing I would mention here,….in all trials, but esp. those of our faithfulness…….we need to keep close to Christ.

We will never come through the trials in blessing, if we are trying to walk with the world and Christ.)

How many trials we pass through, yet the place of safety and care is offered….

Psalm 91:4 “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

Psalm 36:7 “How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.”

Psalm 17:8-9 “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings,

From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.”

(You will notice again what these “wings” give….

….A place to stand and hold: His truth.

….His lovingkindness….which draws us to trust Him.

….Protection…but it is the protection of a loved one….the apple of His eye.)

The song, “What a Friend”, says:

“What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.”

God knows and has measured the trials of our life….and He intends we walk through them (on the lonely road, and in the fire of the furnace) with Him.

Raised

We celebrate Christ’s birth….and sinless life…and honor our Lord who was sacrificed, crucified for me…..but…

…one of the great Bible facts is that:

Christ was raised the third day by the power of God, in acknowledgement of His perfect redemption.

(God’s ways are complete….He never leaves things half done. He finishes all that He begins….not always right away…not always the way we think….but He will see it finished. John 19:20)

Jesus showed His disciples what He was to suffer….but that He would be raised:

Matthew 16:21 “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised again the third day.”

And why was this the time He began to warn them, of what was coming?

Because they had just declared faith in Him as the Son of God.

Matthew 16:13-16 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?

And they said, Some say that Thou art John the Baptist, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But Whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

They had followed Him….hearing His Words, and believing His works….that He was the Messiah, the Anointed One…..but now they knew He was the Son of God…….Who had come to call a people to believe and follow Him, wherever that led.

He warned them twice more:

(Matthew 17:22-23)

Matthew 20:17-19 “And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death,

And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”

But then the arrest happens….surrounded with so much darkness and hatred……they fail Him….

….but God, His Father, does not.

Christ’s perfect purity, kept Him through His life.

Christ’s perfect subjection and peace, kept Him through His arrest, questions, beatings, and the cross.

(At the end, even with the horror and the weight of our sin upon Him….the agony of the pain and separation from the Father…still He “yielded up the ghost”…it was His choice to die for us….throughout it all. Matthew 27:50)

And God, the Father, raised Him up, the third day.

Matthew 28:1-2, 5-6 “In the end of the Sabbath (Saturday), as it began to dawn toward the first day (Sunday) of the week, came Mary Magdalene

and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

“He is risen.”

And because He lives, we can, too.

The resurrection was a choice part of the gospel that the Apostles told….as they traveled all over the world.

We have a living Lord and Savior!

(There are fourteen times that Acts says about Christ’s being raised, or His resurrection.

Peter preached it…

Acts 5:30-31 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

And Paul preached it…

Acts 17:30-31 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”)

In Romans, Paul takes the resurrection and explains it where we, as believers are concerned:

Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

We are to walk……in the power of His Resurrection Life.

Wonderful that our sins are put away by His death and sacrifice……but what about my life, here……without His resurrection?

I am still a sinner….and without the power of His Everlasting Life flowing in me and through me….I can not live to please Him.

But…..He is risen!

His life is now given me, when I believe and receive Him:

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Paul explains it:

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

And Peter says:

1 Peter 1:3,5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Jesus said here on earth:

John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

As Christians:

By His life on earth, we are given an example as how we should live.

By His death, our sins are forgiven and put away…so we stand righteous before God.

By His resurrection, we are given Christ’s life in us, that we have power to live unto God.

He is Risen! Hallelujah! He is Risen, indeed!

Romans 8:32-34 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.”

It is amazing to me…..the plan of Salvation:

Down through the centuries Christ waited till the time He would come forth to the world….to bring salvation to His people.

When the time came,…

….we might think He would come as a man….powerful and clothed in the royal robes of majesty….

…but instead He came as a babe, born of a virgin.

For this was God’s plan….Christ had to become man in the flesh, to save man.

He had to go through every temptation….yet without sin…that mankind is subject to. (Hebrews 4:15)

(A definition of “temptation” might be helpful here:

Jesus was “tempted”….tried, exercised by sin…but did not sin.

The moral evil in temptation is giving into it. In itself, it is but a trial.

Men are tempted (James 4:1) to sin outwardly, by their inward sinful inclinations (lusts).

But Jesus was holy and pure, as Son of God, and Son of man.

Trials and temptations came at Him from without….but they had no effect on Him. (John 14:30)

He was not tempted by sin….because of the holiness of His nature…

…nor did the trials that He passed through produce sin, because He was perfect in His obedience. Matthew 4:1-11)

He had to manifest God’s power….by being an obedient man….speaking only the Word the Father wanted.

He submitted to every test and trial which His Father in heaven gave Him…..

…..showing the Truth, mercy, forgiveness, and steadfastness to duty—even unto death.

For as the scriptures plainly show, He had to die….and be raised again (Acts 2:22-24)……that we might receive the inheritance of life in Him.

Hebrews 9:15 “And for this cause He is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

God would not justify us without the penalty of sin being paid…..He does not give up His Justice for mercy.

The penalty of our sin must be paid….

….therefore we must pay it ourselves….

….or a Substitute must receive the wages of our sin….and pay it to the full…

….that we might be justified before God, and have peace with Him.

Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God, came and did just that.

And as we receive Him as our Lord and Savior….our sins are placed on Him, and paid in full.

But our Salvation does not stop there! For He saves to the uttermost, those that come to God….by Him.

Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

“Shall He not with Him also freely give all things!”

Who is even at the right hand of God…the place of power and authority…Who also makes intercession for us.

For Christ Jesus is now at the right hand of God, as our Mediator….honoring both God’s Justice, and our mercy……through Himself….

…which entails two things:

Showing God the wounds by which He procured our redemption,….that we are covered by His blood…

….and interceding for us….

And who is able to speak about the bounty that is in His intercession for us now?

Hebrews 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”

Our High Priest is Christ Jesus, who had the victory over sin and death….

…He knows what is best for us, and permits our trials that we might come through them with Him.

He watches for our stumbling….prays for us to be strengthened in His might…

He holds us up (one of my favorite sayings….”When it is dark, and we must descend the stairs….reach out to the handrail of God’s love…and step out.”)

He is our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) and strength….imparting faith and grace in our time of need, by His merits.

Christ won for us the privilege of the Holy Spirit to live with us continually……that we may be delivered from our sin, by His power.

How many have been bowed down with sorrow or worry, and He lifts them from the grave of tears to the comfort of His presence….as though He wiped away the tears with His own hands.

(I am going to speak of a question which is often asked…..I have asked:

If Christ is praying for me….how can I fail?

Isn’t His intercession effectual?

The answer is…..of course, His intercession is effectual!

But what He prays for each of us is that we might…..in the personalities we are….overcome our natural, personal inclinations to sin (lusts)….and give our whole hearts up to Him.

That, of course, could be done in one “zap”…..but Jesus, instead has chosen to do it by leading….

He leads us as a Shepherd leads His sheep:

Calling….so that we learn that He knows our name…and to come.

Leading us by putting us in the flock….what lessons we learn as we deal with others….who are also following Him.

Correcting us….by pulling us out of danger….that sometimes hurts;

and…by the “rod” which gets our attention that we are going where we should not.

Delivering us from our enemies….personally interceding….or giving us instruction as how to “get out of the situation.”

His leading me…for it is always personal….is the effectual working of His intercession…..which will guide me into having all that He has for me…..His Way.)

With Jesus as our High Priest, we can draw near to the Father. His throne of majesty and holiness, would keep us far from Him……

…but by HIs intercession, it becomes a “throne of grace”….opening up to us all spiritual blessings:

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

“Boldly” means “saying all”…..tell Him all your thoughts and tell Him what you feel…tell Him your fears, and confess your sins….”come”

How zealous we should be about our purpose….with the Lord Jesus making intercession to the Father for us.

Romans 8:32, 35, 37-39 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

All…..”in Christ Jesus”.

Do we have our share in Him?

The Lost Sheep

Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”

This man has one hundred sheep. But one has left the flock and gone seeking something apart from the rest.

(Perhaps a distant patch of grass. Or following a butterfly. Or just wanting to be away from everyone else.

But he left to pursue an illusion. For there was nothing out there, that would have been good for him;…..that the shepherd would not have led him into.)

Still, ninety-nine sheep is pretty good. You’re bound to lose one or two; but the Shepherd does not see it that way.

He sees it as the lost one feels: lost, unable by itself to come home. Exposed to the weather, and other animals. Away from the Shepherd’s care.

Perhaps the sheep had taken the care for granted: it would always be there.

At first, maybe, it was fine. The sun was shining, there were new things to explore. But he turns and does not see the flock anymore.

Oh, well, he thinks, I can just turn this way? Or was it that way I came?

But then he feels alone: he does not know where water is, or a safe place. He is lost.

It wanders around, now, not knowing where he is or where he should go.

So the shepherd does for the lost sheep, what the sheep can not do for himself.

The man goes after that sheep.

And how does he do it? He leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness grazing together; and retraces his steps, till he finds it.

The Shepherd finds it too weary to walk back to the flock, and rest. So he picks it up, and carries it back to it’s place in the flock…..

…..And then leads the flock home.

Luke 15:5-6 “When he hath found it, he layeth it upon his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.”

Rejoicing is a word which describes a calm, peaceful happiness. I have found what was lost. I have not lost any! (Everything is safe in the fold, as it should be.)

And the Shepherd calls His friends and neighbors to rejoice with Him.

Of course, we know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, for He gave His life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

1 Peter 2:24-25 “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto His righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed.

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

And He is still seeking and shepherding us, as Christians, today.

Christians go astray,…..too often,…..and we are in need of His seeking us again, and again….and bringing us back into our place.

Isaiah 40:11 “He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

Christ Jesus is now our Great Shepherd. He is now “making us perfect” or complete in Himself. (Lambs grow into sheep)

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

He is leading us into all the places that are good for us (green pastures),

He is protecting us from all our enemies (wolves in sheeps clothing, things which “devour” 1 Peter 5:7-8)

He is “preparing a table before us, in the presence of our enemies” by giving Himself as an example,…..leading us:

“Follow Me, and I will hedge you about in your everyday trials,….come with Me and I will supply your needs by My grace.”

Maybe we are the lost sheep, or we have been the lost sheep.

Praise God, He has sent His Son to seek and save us (Luke 19:10)!

If you have gone astray, today…….Christ is seeking you, to save you…even now.

Ezekiel 34:12 “As a shepherd seeketh out His flock in the day that He is among His sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. ”

Romans 10:9-13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Songs

In Scripture, only the redeemed, sing. The songs that are sung, tell of the wonderful works of the Lord.

Psalm 9:1 “I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all Thy marvelous works.”

Psalm 118:14 “The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.”

The first song that is recorded, is in Exodus 15. The children of Israel have crossed the Red Sea, dry shod….with their enemies in pursuit….

…and they have seen their enemies, drowned…when they tried to cross after them. So they sing….

Exodus 15:1, 13 “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.

Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation.”

There was no singing through most of the wilderness wanderings….until the very end:

Israel sang a song for a spring to bubble up for them at the end of their wilderness wanderings (Numbers 21:17-18.)

The princes digged with their staves…not the usual means for well digging…..and not the usual well diggers….but it was God’s Way….and it was blessed….and all Israel stood around and sang.

(Right before they left the wilderness, and Joshua took them into the Promised Land…….Moses spoke to them a song to keep them in remembrance of Who God was, but he did not sing it.

They were to teach themselves and their children this song….but you never hear of it….until the end, when the song of Moses will be sung by the Tribulation martyrs….Deuteronomy 32:4, Revelation 15:3-4)

You do not hear of them singing again….until….Judges 5, where Deborah and Barak sang after a wonderful victory over the Canaanites.

Judges 5:2-3 “Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.”

Again, no singing, until David…the sweet singer of Israel.

His psalms are wonderful and instructive….and were the basis of the songs sung in the Tabernacle and the Temple, which he set up,….for instruction, witness and beauty.

Judah sang again under the godly king, Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:20-22). As they went into battle, as they sang, the Lord worked for them….giving them victory over their enemies.

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 “….he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for HIs mercy endureth forever.

And when they began to sing, and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against….which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

Hezekiah and Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:15) had the Passover….where singers were present…singing unto the Lord.

2 Chronicles 30:21 “And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priest praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord.”

Isaiah sang several songs to Israel….to open their eyes to the Lord’s Words….Isaiah 5…a song to His vineyard, Israel, which brought forth “wild grapes” and not fruit for Him…

Isaiah 12…a song that was sung in the feast of Tabernacles, when Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst come unto Me and drink. [John 7:37]…

……and prophesies of their song in the last times Isaiah 26…Isaiah 30:29, Isaiah 42:10….pretty amazing, really! Especially at such a time in their history!

Jeremiah’s song of Lamentations is sad, beautiful and prophetic to a nation whose last godly king just died. (2 Chronicles 35:25)

Lamentations 1:1, 4:1, 3:21-23 “How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! How is she become as a widow!….

How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out into the top of every street.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”

But the other songs in Scripture are personal. David and his personal songs of praise, and confession.

And Solomon….who had written 1005 songs.

In the New Testament, we are called to:

Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord:”

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

“To the Lord”. Let everything that hath breath….praise the Lord. ( Psalm 150:6)

I was exercised not too long ago about how many times I petition the Lord…yet do not give thanks. I thank Him when I receive the blessing….but when I pray, I am concerned that He hears and answers.

Now I hardly every pray, without also thanking Him for hearing me,….for the answer that will come (His will done)…..and for all He has already done.

But let us, who have experienced so much goodness and mercy at His hand, praise Him most….and praise Him often.

At the last day….when all the saints are gathered before His throne….there will be a song (how could there not be!)….

Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongues and people, and nation;…”

And for all those that had gotten the victory over the beast…they will sing!

Revelation 15:3 “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.”

Let us add our voices,…now, to His praise and glory.

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.”