Man, Made in the Image of God

Genesis 1:26-28 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over everything that moveth upon the earth.”

God is a Trinity: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit.

Man is made in the image of God, for we are a Triunity: Body, Spirit, and Soul.

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Body formed from the dust of the ground.

The Holy Spirit was breathed into his nostrils. (Called the breath of Life)

And man became a living soul.

No other creature was made the same way.

We are tied to God in a more personal way than any other creature. His hands made Man, personally.

His breath came into us, supplying us with His Holy Spirit.

His creative power gave us our souls, our personalities, the real us.

And let them have dominion, and subdue.

This Adam was given to do.

But it was lost to man, through the fall, when Adam and Eve sinned.

Though he tries to have dominion, yet he always fails, for he can not even subdue his own soul, without the power from God.

But, for the Christian, there is the fact that he is restored to God, and placed in a position to do what was commanded in the first place: have dominion and subdue.

He is to do it in his own circumstances; and for God’s glory.

Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

We “reign” (have dominion, and subdue) in our lives, by Jesus Christ.

And we will have as much dominion in our everyday circumstances, as we have His Image, in our lives, by the Holy Spirit.

It is not that we make others do God’s Will, but that we are doing His Will, in our lives……and then, others see Him through us.

Our lives should be a constant witness for our Lord Jesus.

When He has had the victory over us, then….

…..we are no longer at the beck and call to our lusts or desires, our anger or hate, and our attitudes or bitterness.

This means freedom of choice. Hallelujah! What a Savior, which gives us so much.

It is liberty of the Spirit, in our lives. It is freedom to be what we ought to be.

This is by His Victory over us.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.

For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

To the one we are a savor of death unto death; and to the other a savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

Isn’t the knowledge of Christ Jesus a sweet taste in our mouths?

And He makes us show that to others……..by having the Victory over us.

The victory procession Paul is writing about here is Christ having the victory over us……but it is pictured after the parade a Roman General would have when they came into Rome in victory.

First in line of march, were the incense bearers, on either side of the march. The smell of it would go out everywhere.

Then it was the banners of the legions of the General.

And then the General, himself on a great white horse.

From his horse were chains leading back to the captives he has brought to Rome.

First, there were kings, and generals he had defeated.

Then, counselors, and leaders; going back to the common people.

All these were brought for Rome’s glory. Some to live, to serve, as slaves….some to die.

But in Christ’s Victory Procession……He has had the Victory over all.

The Christians to life and service; and the lost(those who refuse His Lordship), to death, spiritual death.

Here the battle is over. But it was a battle.

He is God, and by His Spirit He knows how to bring each of us to yield to Him. For in yielding, there is joy.

It is when we throw down the weapons of our warfare against Him, that He manifests all the fullness of His grace, peace, and joy.

Once, preaching a message on Christ, standing before the congregation, my husband felt the shackle of Christ’s victory chain around his throat.

It was not strangling, as some think working for Christ Jesus to be.

He could feel the weight of it setting on my shoulders,…..but it was such a liberating feeling.

“You belong to Me”, Jesus said. “I will use you to show Me. My power over your life, My peace in your life, and My Word worked out in your life.”

And He wants the same for each believer….

That is the chains of love, which He uses to bind us to Christ.

Have Dominion, and Subdue.

It is to have dominion in our own lives….and subdue everything which hinders us…..from experiencing His freedom.

Isaiah 53

No other prophet foretold as many things about the coming Christ, as Isaiah did…..in so many details.

He tells about Christ’s birth….Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7

He tells about John the Baptist’ message…Isaiah 40:3-5

But in this chapter, Isaiah gives God’s Word about the life, and ministry of Christ Jesus….as God’s Perfect Servant.

The first thing is……Isaiah is amazed, at the rejection of the One Who comes to save them!

Isaiah 53:1 “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed?”

Here is both a question and exclamation!

What, after so many prophesies telling about the incarnation and work of the Lord Jesus…..you still do not believe what you see, right before you?

John 12:37 “But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him:”

The “Arm of the Lord” is a showing of God’s Mighty Strength….and that was shown again and again in Christ Jesus.

By the miracles He did,….but especially by the powerful “arm” of salvation, which He spoke of,…if we believe on Him.

Isaiah shows about Christ’s life:

Isaiah 53:2 “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.”

Here is the reason Israel did not at first recognize Him….He came disguised as a servant…..of the kingly line, yes…..in Bethlehem, yes…..but lowly.

Even the first words of the Lord we hear are that of a servant…..

(Luke 2:49) “How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

He grew up as “a tender plant”…..which is the word for a “root-sprout”. It means a sprout or sapling from the stump of a cut down tree….

…God had cut down the kingly line of David, because of their continued rebellion….

….yet now….here is a tender plant….unappreciated by most,…of the line of David……beautiful in kindness and purity…but not grand to the eyes of sight.

Yet Christ Jesus grew up “before Him”….before the eyes of His Father…under HIs care and protection.

Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.”

It is hard to understand their hatred and rejection of the Son of God.

Why did we despise Him? Was it not because He showed us our sins…..and we did not like to see them?

We did not esteem, or honor Him.

To Israel……He came to save, yet they refused to be saved.

He fed five thousand……yet was often hungry and thirsty Himself.

He came preaching the kingdom of heaven was at hand, healing the sick and blind…..yet instead of praise….He was questioned and called names.

He was a man of sorrows….for He saw and felt the sorrow of the sin of this world, as He walked here…..

(He was often grieved at the unbelief and hardness of heart of the people [Mark 3:5])

…….until He bore the penalty of the sin of this world on the cross.

(Though He knew the sorrow of the sin around Him,…..He rejoiced in spirit with the Father, fulfilling the work to remove both the sin and the sorrow of sin. Luke 10:21-22)

This was our Savior’s life here on earth…..(John 1:10-11 “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”)

Isaiah then tells of His death….yes, he foretold the Messiah would die….

Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

All sickness, sorrow, and pain are the effects of sin.

And on the cross, Christ Jesus suffered the penalty for all our sin….pain, grief, aloneness, death….all that we should have borne because I am a sinner…..He did. (Wounded, bruised, chastisement, stripes!)

Yet…..

….what a telling word.

Yet, though He did that, they misunderstood His sufferings….and mocked Him.

They cried out, at the foot of the cross (Matthew 27:42-43) “….He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, I am the Son of God.”

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Here is our guilt….we have gone astray from God.

(“Gone astray” means to vacillate…to stagger or stray because of deception, excitement, agitation, or seduction.

It is a picture of a wanderer, with no fixed destination……lost, but always moving to something else.)

We have turned from Him, and the knowledge of Him. (Romans 1:19-20)

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before His shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.”

He was the Lamb of God,….

He was very willing to speak on behalf of the faint and weak…Matthew 14:14-18

He was very willing to encourage and acknowledge faith….Matthew 8:10, 15:28,

He was very willing to speak up so that the disciples would be let go when they arrested Him…..John 18:8-9

Yet, He never spake a word in His own defense…..Matthew 26:62-63

Isaiah 53:8 “He was taken from prison and from judgement: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken.

And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich with His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.”

He had done the rulers no harm…..only spoke the truth….but they sought His life.

He was hurried from arrest, to judgement…..let us be rid of Him.

He was killed…cut off…violently put to death.

They intended His death,…….God intended salvation through His blood and sacrifice.

He was crucified between two thieves….but even there, saving one (Luke 23:39-43)

He was buried in the new tomb given by the rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. (John20:38-42)

On the cross Jesus Christ was a victim…..but in His resurrection He is Victor.

And here is His resurrection and ascension!

All the life, and power that Christ Jesus had before,….and more honor…..is given to Him.

And in the end, this is what God thinks of the life, death, and resurrection of His Son…..for this was ever His plan for the salvation of His people, as it was foretold here:

Isaiah 53:10-12 “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors: and He bear the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

These verses are very precious….for God tells of the delight in His Son, at the cross…

Delight…..because the cross….the sacrifice, was the only way for joy and redemption to come to man….for God is a God of righteousness and justice….and by Christ, God’s righteous demands for justice…..are met.

Therefore God saves us…..Christ Jesus shall see His seed….those believers which come to Him. (John 1:12, Hebrews 12:2)

God shall prolong His days…..For God raised up Christ from death and the grave….and He shall ever be our Mediator…..justifying us before God. (1Timothy 2:5)

God has promised a Kingdom to His Son,……now, in the hearts of the believers;….

….with whom He shares His grace and glory (Romans 8:14-17)…..

Ephesians 1:17-22 (condensed) “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you….in the knowledge of Him:…

…that ye may know….what is the riches of….His inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,

Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places,

And hath put all things under His feet, and have Him to the head of all things to the church,”

…..but also, one day….

….Christ will reign here, over the whole earth.

(Psalm 110:1, Acts 2:34-36)

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 “Then cometh the end, when He shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power.

For He must reign till hath put down all enemies under His feet.”

Christ is the Victor…..because He won the victory over sin, the devil, and death.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As a Servant of God, Christ came lowly, and in humiliation….and won the greatest Victory…..that we might come to God in peace.

Believe

God has always wanted His people to believe Him…..but the stress of believe is in the New Testament….we are to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

(In the Old Testament, all together, there are 45 times….believe, believed, believeth are said.

In the New Testament believe is said 121 times; believed 92 times, believeth 41 times, believing 8 times, believest 8 times, and believers 2 times.)

John 11:26 “And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

To believe is to put the whole weight of our existence upon. Most illustrate it as a chair….to sit down and put your feet up, so that your whole weight is on it.

I have always like this definition…..the term weight is so right…..for our life is made up of all sorts of weight.

We are made of a spirit….which when we are lost is dark…..and that is great weight.

We are made of a soul which is our personality, which is usually clothed in many layers of “fashion….of the world’s fashion”. What weight is there!

And our body….the weight of which is so worried about these days!

When we believe on Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, we need to put all our weight upon Him.

We believe He will save and keep us….spiritually, personally, and physically.

To believe is not a mental exercise….

I have reasons, so I believe.

No, to believe is to see Christ Jesus….whether He is placed before you by the Bible,…or by witness;….

….we ‘see’ Him.

He is the Son of God, Who died for our sins…and was raised the third day, that we might have newness of life, in Him.

Our hearts are then drawn to Him by the Father (John 6:65)….and we believe….resting on Him….for ourselves.

John 6:40 “And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Once we are born again….we are to continue to believe Him (put the weight of our existence upon Him)….for He alone can give us the life we should have.

If we are to preach….He must not only be the message, put the power.

If we are to teach….He must be the lesson, and the give the understanding of it.

If we are to witness….we must show Him.

If we are to take care of our household, He must strengthen and guide us….hold our hands as we speak to our children….and let them go into adulthood.

(It matters not the job….My husband used to work on a boat, [much later he was called to preach]….and the Lord told him, there……”for ye serve the Lord Christ” Colossians 3:23-24.

On the boat, he was serving Christ, as well as anywhere else.)

Our believing, has a direct impact on the results of what we ask:

Matthew 8:13 “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Mark 9:24 “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

One was spoken to a Roman centurion…..

…one to His disciples,….

…..and one to a Israelite father, distraught over seemingly everyone’s inability to help his son, including himself

(The father said, “I believe, help mine unbelief”. And there is a place for this prayer: when we are in distress and at the end of ourselves.)

The answer is the same.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ….for the request given….

….for we place our weight….ourselves…..on Christ Jesus…in this.

Believe Me, Jesus said, all through HIs ministry….for I am come “to save those which are lost.” (Matthew 18:11)

The last time He spoke to the multitudes of Israel, He spoke again of the one requirement for light and life:

John 12:36-37 “While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them.

But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him:”

What of us? We have seen many things He has done. Are we believing on Him?

The last time He spoke to the chief rulers and Pharisees before His arrest, He spoke of believing on Him, and His Father God:

John 12: 42-46 “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me.

And he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent me.

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.”

And in His discourse going to Gethsemane, He spoke of believing to His own disciples….

….believing is putting our whole weight upon. They were soon going to be tested in ways they had not even considered.

They all said they would stand with Him….even in death (Mark 14:31)….but it is hard to know what is in our hearts in the hour of temptation….

….that is why “believe” is so important.

(When we believe, we place ourselves on Christ, the Rock. We often shake and tremble on the Rock, but He is stable, solid, faithful….and will recover us, strengthen us, and restore us.)

John 14:1, 10-12 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.

Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works that these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.”

After this, He spoke of abiding in His love…..and of the Holy Spirit…..but He did not speak of believing.

Now they just had to do it.

Were there failures? Yes, but they believed….and went on to abide in His love, receive the Holy Spirit in power, and show Christ Jesus to a lost world.

Where is our belief taking us? Let us follow Christ’s example, and go on in His love, by the Holy Spirit,…and show forth our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

We shall know…..if we follow on to know.

Do you want to know the Lord, more?

Isaiah 54:13 “And all Thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of Thy children.”

Do you want to be taught of Him?

God does not yield to experimentation….He does not say….”try Me, and see whether I am God.”

No, He states….”I am God,….believe Me.”

Isaiah 40:28-29 “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

To know God, is to have a more personal relationship with Him.

Let me ask you…..do you talk with Him, everyday…..bringing both your sins for confession (1 John 1:9), and your deliverances and victories to Him, in praise?

“His going forth”

This speaks of His Purpose…….which is ever going forward….

……..though we may not see it clearly……..yet,…

His going forth in His Word (Isaiah 55:11);…..His going forth by His Spirit (Romans 8:13-15);……His going forth in battle for us (Ephesians 6:10).

“And He comes unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rains on the earth.”

Rain speaks of His temporal mercies…..for He sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45)

These latter and former rains were essential for a good harvest in Israel.

The latter rains in March-May, when the crop was coming to fruition….to give the best harvest.

The former rains in October-December, when the crops were first planted….to give them the best start.

And this was by the mercy of God.

Hosea was calling God’s people to know Him…..God was giving them a chance to rekindle the fire of zeal…but not in sacrifices…..but in fellowship and relationship.

Hosea 6:4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.”

The morning cloud and early dew promise much for the crops and vineyards…..they look real good…..but deliver little.

For as soon as the sun comes up…..they disappear…no rain then….the dew gone, and the plants drying out.

They gave no lasting benefit.

So were the changes of Ephraim (one name for Israel, the northern kingdom) and Judah.

They showed promise of repentance….they became very religious….but it was not a lasting change of the heart.

Hosea 6:5 “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth.”

The Lord sought to restore them….that is why Hosea, and other prophets were sent…..to speak His Words to them, if they will hear, and follow Him again. He sent judgements to show light on their sins.

“Then shall they know, if they follow on to know…”

The sacrifices were only as good as the hearts that brought them.

Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

“I desired mercy”…..”mercy” here is a word which speaks of affection and loyalty under the covenant.

And this affection and love is for both God, and all the sons of the covenant.

This is what He wanted of them,…..to get their hearts right with Him…..and with their brothers.

“And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”.

For them to really know their God…..that is what He has always wanted….not just from Israel…..but down through the ages in His church.

For His people to know Him…..

……..and that can not be done without fellowship….and following after.

To worship Him in Spirit and in truth….this He wants from all His people….heart worship.

And worship is worthyship…..counting the Lord worthy of our all.

He seeks this from us, today.

And He is still calling,……all who will, to……

(Hosea 6:1-3):

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will lead us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.”

(How often He had to stand by and let their enemies hurt them….to wake them up to their sin!

Isaiah 54:7-8 “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies shall I gather thee.

In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Lord thy Redeemer.”)

“After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.”

(Some, (I do) see the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ here…and all that it gives us. Promised so many times to those who would know Him!)

“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning, and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain and former rain upon the earth.”

To follow on…..because He is going on…..will we go with Him?

As sure as the light in the sky tomorrow….His going forth for us, in His Purpose is prepared and ready.

And He shall…..He shall come unto us in mercy….if we follow on with Him……we will begin to have all that He has Purposed for us.

One day He will come to judge the earth….but today He still calls in mercy….

…..are we hearing Him?

Empty your Hands;

What is that in thine hand?

Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.”

Moses’ shepherd’s rod was what he had.

This rod was not the task that he was to do; but it was a means of bringing that task to pass.

Here the Lord is calling Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh, to let the Lord’s people go…..to deliver them from bondage, to go to the land, God gave Abraham their father.

But Moses is hesitant. (Isn’t this like us? We pray for the furtherance of the gospel….but when God says for us to speak…..we hesitate.)

Exodus 4:1 “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.”

Here was the reason for the Lord pointing to the rod…..Moses was to be given means to use to convince the Israelites that God had sent Moses to them.

And that was the rod. The signs were to be done by the rod….in Moses hand.

Exodus 4:17 “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.”

God would bless the means, (He always blesses the means He chooses)

But Moses would have to go and use it.

The task given to Moses, was to free the Israelites from Egypt; and to lead them to the Promised land.

(And how many times do we read that he used it, in Egypt….to the promised land.)

Let us consider this means: “this rod”…..that God chose:

Exodus 7:17 “Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.”

This was the first judgement against the oppressors; done by the means of the rod.

It was against their greatest pride; the Nile and it’s tributaries. They felt they were superior, for they did not even need the rain from heaven to fall; they had the Nile.

Exodus 8:5 “And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch for thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.”

The second judgement was against their comfort, as a great and wealthy nation; by a plague of frogs.

Exodus 8:16 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”

The third judgement was against cleanness: lice on man and beast, showing them how they were unclean in God’s sight.

But the rod was also used for the Israelites escape across the Red Sea:

Exodus 14:16 “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”

The rod used by obedience, was the means; God’s Power was the force.

Then in their journey across the wilderness:

Exodus 17:6 “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

Here, Moses was to hit the rock…..by the means of the rod…..to bring forth the water that they needed,…..and God provided the water.

During the first battle Israel was called to fight….the rod was one of the means:

Exodus 17:9, 11-12 “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

Moses holding up the rod was a means to victory. Joshua was needed to fight, and do his part…..and God gave the victory.

As a shepherd in exile, Moses had a rod…..And when he was called to deliver God’s people….Moses was given the means of his rod; it was right at hand.

What is the means God wants to use, to bless us?

Is it, too, right at hand?

Or do we need to empty our hands of other things, to pick up what He has for us to do?

I started this with, “Empty your hands”.

This used to be a favorite saying of my Grandmother: “Empty your hands, you can’t carry any more, without putting down what you have.”

So what are your hands full of? Works the Lord has placed there?

Or is it time for you to follow my Grandmother’s advice, empty your hands; and get ready to be given the means of blessing, from the Lord.

Abraham and the Great Sacrifice

(This is a “picture” of God’s great sacrifice of His beloved Son.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”)

Genesis 22:2 “And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

Abraham and Sarah finally had a son by a miracle. Sarah had been enabled by God to have Isaac. They both had been past age for child bearing, and Sarah had been barren, as well.

But God had given them Isaac. And now, some years later, God calls Abraham to sacrifice this well beloved son.

The obedience of Abraham is necessary for us to see.

We often hesitate, or try and get around what God wants (and yes, this happened to Abraham, too, especially in the early life with God.), but Abraham believes God’s word: that in Isaac shall thy Seed be called….Abraham believed God’s promise to him….and so in faith,…obeyed.

We often mistake faith….as a way of thinking about God. If that was the case….by that faith, Abraham could have offered Isaac sitting at the door of his tent….in his head.

No, faith obeys; for it always sees God, and His Will….and knows God is able.

Genesis 22:3. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place which God had told him.”

Abraham gets up early. Not eager to go; but eager to return, and that would not happen without going.

He takes two servants to keep the donkey that carried the wood, and to carry the fire in a container.

He and Isaac go. It is a three days journey to Mt. Moriah, where God has told him to take Isaac.

Three days to contemplate his failures: was this in consequence for his many failures?

Three days to look at the promised son, and remember the love he and his mother have for him.

Three days to remember his first step, first word, and the strong quiet young man he had become.

Three days to consider this command, and therefore the obedience was more reasonable……and honorable.

What did they speak of? Of the promises of God, I believe, for Abraham was counting on God to fulfill His Word.

Hebrews 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

They could have talked of the promise of the land in the future. The promise God had told him of future generations. And the promise that the coming Savior would come from them.

They come to the mountain, and Abraham leaves the servants with the donkey at the foot of the mountain and says:

Genesis 22:5 “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again unto you.”

“We will come again”

To believe is to place the whole of our being upon the thing or person we say we believe in.

Abraham believed God. Isaac and he would come back down the mountain.

Abraham believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead.

So they climb up Mt. Moriah (in the New Testament, it is called Calvary), together.

Genesis 22:6-8 “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father, and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is a lamb for a burnt offering?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”

“Together”, Abraham is trusting that God will bring Isaac back to life; and Isaac is trusting that God will supply the sacrifice.

Genesis 22:9 “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.”

Abraham bound his sons hands; those that had been held out to him when he was learning to walk.

He bound his legs, and placed him on the wood. Perhaps taking a final kiss on the forehead of Isaac.

Let me mention here, that Isaac was a strong young man—not a child. If he had willed to, he could have resisted Abraham, anytime.

But he did not……which is a picture of the willingness of God’s Son, Jesus Christ to do all His Father’s Will….even unto the death of the cross.

Genesis 22:10 “And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.”

Abraham begins to do exactly what God told him….

He does not hurry, nor delay, to sacrifice his well beloved son.

Sacrifice means: to place on an altar, with the intent of giving all to God.

When you place it on the altar, it is dead to you.

Genesis 22:11 “And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.”

The angel calls Abraham twice, to make sure he got Abraham’s attention.

God had wanted to test Abraham’s devotion to Him, by his obedience to Him.

Genesis 22:12-13 “And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything to him: for I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns; And Abraham went and took the ram; and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”

The test was done. God had provided the sacrifice.

Genesis 22:14. “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”

Jehovah-jireh means in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen to, or provided for.

God did provide the true sacrifice through His Son, Christ Jesus; to take away the sins of the world.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

God, the Father, sacrificed His well beloved Son that we might be provided for.

We might be provided salvation: full and free.

We might be provided His Holy Spirit: and all the power and guidance He brings us.

We might be provided a place with Him forever.

Let us praise His Holy Name for all He has given us in His Son…..even the trials He leads us through, to manifest Himself in us.

Guard your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Above all that you guard…..guard your heart; for out of it comes all the ups and downs….all the joys and griefs,….all the issues of life.

(Our natural hearts are spoken of in Mark 7:20-23, and in:

Ephesians 2:3 “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

But God has plans for our hearts…..they are to be filled with Him…..His joy and peace; His love and kindness….so we are warned:

1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”)

The “issues of life” are those things that count for eternity….for real life has it’s foundation in fellowship with God.

Our action concerning the Will of God, comes from our will….but our hearts either move our wills to run after God…..or after the world.

So God looks to see: Who or what do we love?

Proverbs 4:20-22 “My son, attend to My Words; incline thine ear unto My sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart,

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

Proverbs 4:11-13 “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”

Most believe that love is a whimsical emotion that comes unbidden.

But “agape”, is that love of God that comes from our yielding to the Holy Spirit within….for it “rejoices in the truth, bears all things, never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:6-8)

1 John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.”

Guarding our hearts for God, is our duty to Him. He claims our whole being…..for He redeemed all of us.

He then asks us to guard it for Him….and it is a “guard” or wall of separation from the world.

(In the Song of Solomon the believer is seen as a “enclosed” garden (Song of Solomon 4:12)…..one which is for the pleasure of the Lord.

“Let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits.” (Song of Solomon 4:16).

But if we guard it not….then the things of this world can enter into it….and stay there, influencing our willed actions:

lust (I want it and I want it now),

and pride (the arrogance and lifting up of self interests, over God)

1 John 2:15-16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

So, we are to guard our hearts……but how?

First we are to have that wall of separation from the world…..a wall made of:

Prayer, praise, and peace….

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (garrison) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

At the gate of our hearts, we will ask the Holy Spirit to place faith and grace as guards…..

Faith sees God….and helps establish us…

Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Grace is our support and help….

2 Timothy 2:1, 3 “Now therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Now therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Let us guard our hearts….for Him; keeping ourselves in His love……and learning to: (1 Corinthians 13)

“Suffer long, and be kind”

“Envy not”

“be not puffed up”

“Thinks no evil”

“Rejoices in the truth”

“Bears all things”

“Believes all things”

“Hopes all things”

“Endures all things”

“Never fails”

These are all the things which can come from our hearts…..when it is separated to Jesus Christ., and guarded.

How much He has for us…..will we begin to learn?

Guard your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Above all that you guard…..guard your heart; for out of it comes all the ups and downs….all the joys and griefs,….all the issues of life.

(Our natural hearts are spoken of in Mark 7:20-23, and in:

Ephesians 2:3 “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

But God has plans for our hearts…..they are to be filled with Him…..His joy and peace; His love and kindness….so we are warned:

1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”)

The “issues of life” are those things that count for eternity….for real life has it’s foundation in fellowship with God.

Our action concerning the Will of God, comes from our will….but our hearts either move our wills to run after God…..or after the world.

So God looks to see: Who or what do we love?

Proverbs 4:20-22 “My son, attend to My Words; incline thine ear unto My sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart,

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

Proverbs 4:11-13 “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”

Most believe that love is a whimsical emotion that comes unbidden.

But “agape”, is that love of God that comes from our yielding to the Holy Spirit within….for it “rejoices in the truth, bears all things, never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:6-8)

1 John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.”

Guarding our hearts for God, is our duty to Him. He claims our whole being…..for He redeemed all of us.

He then asks us to guard it for Him….and it is a “guard” or wall of separation from the world.

(In the Song of Solomon the believer is seen as a “enclosed” garden (Song of Solomon 4:12)…..one which is for the pleasure of the Lord.

“Let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits.” (Song of Solomon 4:16).

But if we guard it not….then the things of this world can enter into it….and stay there, influencing our willed actions:

lust (I want it and I want it now),

and pride (the arrogance and lifting up of self interests, over God)

1 John 2:15-16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

So, we are to guard our hearts……but how?

First we are to have that wall of separation from the world…..a wall made of:

Prayer, praise, and peace….

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (garrison) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

At the gate of our hearts, we will ask the Holy Spirit to place faith and grace as guards…..

Faith sees God….and helps establish us…

Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Grace is our support and help….

2 Timothy 2:1, 3 “Now therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Now therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Let us guard our hearts….for Him; keeping ourselves in His love……and learning to: (1 Corinthians 13)

“Suffer long, and be kind”

“Envy not”

“be not puffed up”

“Thinks no evil”

“Rejoices in the truth”

“Bears all things”

“Believes all things”

“Hopes all things”

“Endures all things”

“Never fails”

These are all the things which can come from our hearts…..when it is separated to Jesus Christ., and guarded.

How much He has for us…..will we begin to learn?

The Sword of the Spirit and Prayer

Most of our armor is defensive…..for we are called to “withstand, and Stand” (Ephesians 6:13)

For the battles come to us, as we go along in our Christian walk….

….we are not called to go out and conquer. (Christ has conquered….and won the Victory)

We are to stand and “hold the ground” Christ Jesus has given us to hold.

What is this “ground”?

It is the fact that you are born again….how many times does the devil try and give us doubts concerning this?

It is the calling you have been given….God called me to preach! Me, who am frightened to stand before people and speak….yet, He did. And empowered me to get up and do just that!

It is the message you are to give…..we are all called to contend for the faith. Stand on HIs Word, and tell HIs good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It is the promises Christ Jesus has given you. How we need courage to stand here! For the devil will certainly try and put doubts for faith,…or try to add or take away what God has said!

These are the ground we are to stand on….the ground we are to hold, not to gain Victory…..but merely to hold on the Victory Christ has won!

Ephesians 6:17-18 “….and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Here are our only offensive weapons…..

…..the Word of God, spoken under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit is quite something…..

….it slays our doubts and fears…..

….. keeps the Adversary “at swords point”….keeps him from getting into our thoughts and feelings.

(We often have a hard enough time denying ourselves…..but when the devil suggests things….and we consider them….they are sliding ever closer to our hearts and minds.)

I want to say here, that the Lord can bring back a part of a verse so easily to mind. One you haven’t heard for years, even.

But He wants us to know His Word, for He speaks through it to us. And should we not want to read His Book to us?

Sometimes it is as a “hammer” which breaks the hard part of our hearts in pieces. (Jeremiah 23:29)

Sometimes it is as a warm reminder of His goodness and care. (Hebrews 4:16)

Sometimes it is a love letter to us….”come, take my hand, and walk with Me…and talk with Me…whatever it is, we can deal with it….together.” (Isaiah 1:18)

……And prayer….always.

It is interesting to note, that three times the word “all” is used in this verse about prayer….”all prayer”…..”all perseverance”…..”all saints”.

All is a small word, but inclusive to the greatest degree. It does not mean some….or half….or part. It means “all”.

“All prayer”…..prayers of intercession, prayers for needs, prayers for help, prayers for others, prayers of all kinds. But it also is shown to be “in the Spirit”.

Paul says…Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Jude says…Jude 20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”

Both stress that the Spirit of God is willing and there to help us pray….

….that the Lord wants us to pray……me…..you.

But it is also “all perseverance”….we are not to give up, because we have prayed….but “Ask, Seek, and Knock.” And we will “Receive, Find, and it will be Opened.” (Luke 11:9-10,13)

And our prayers are to be for “all saints”.

Because we belong to Christ, the world is not our friend (1 John 2:15)….we have many spiritual enemies (Ephesians 6:12-13)

Yet the support group should be huge…..we are to pray for all saints….our selves, our family, our church, our friends, our town, our country, and in the world. (If all of us are praying….the Holy Spirit will work mightily)

The Sword of the Spirit…and Prayer. Both are our offensive weapons…and both are to be used in the power of the Holy Spirit within.

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, as believers:

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.”)