Our Inheritance in Light

Colossians 1:12-13 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

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

We have an inheritance….both in heaven (1 Peter 1:4)…and here….and we can thank our Heavenly Father for it.

He ‘has made us able in Christ Jesus’ to be partners in the inheritance which Christ won for us…..along with all the saints.

This inheritance is “in light”.

(Think of all the things we have from the light of God: a knowledge of Him,…..knowledge of ourselves,….an understanding of what the scriptures say to me…light is power against the darkness of this world….all these and more we have in our inheritance!)

God has delivered us from….the power of darkness….in Christ Jesus.

……and not only so, but God has translated us into the kingdom of His Dear Son.

Translated is a Roman term……

When Rome wanted a city built along a road…..or by a sea, for shipping;….

….they would take another city near by, and move everyone in it,…..to the new site, and tell them to re-build there.

They would move them….and let the people build new lives there….under the protection and citizenship of Rome.

For when they translated a city, every person became a Roman citizen automatically, with all the rights and privileges of that.

So Paul is saying that God has done the same thing to us.

God has taken us….and moved us to a new life in Christ’s kingdom. He has given us heavenly citizenship in Him, and all the rights and privileges of being His citizens.

(Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God:”)

We are to see that we remove everything of the old life….for it we don’t….we might look back on it, causing an occasion for us to be tripped up.

(Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32)

God has told us to build our new life with Him….in His Light…

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

This is building our new life;……walking in the light….this is the path our new life takes….

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

The light dawns….you may not see the sun yet, but the darkness is turning to light.

Then the sun is up….how it brightens our senses; our hearts rejoice….our minds wake up….our bodies are nourished.

But it is not at high noon….for the sun casts it light….and as it does, it makes shadows from the things which are between it and us.

The sun can still be hid behind trees, our house, etc.;…..until…

…it comes to high noon.

Then it is straight above us…..where nothing can come between it and us.

All is light, then.

This is the plan of God for our lives….to remove all hinderances to His Light in our lives …..so that we are walking in the sunshine of His love, with nothing between He and us.

This is our inheritance, here. We have an inheritance in heaven as well,….but here, our inheritance is light…..having fellowship with God….and all that it gives…for “God is light” (1 John 1:5)

His light gives us true sight….for we can not see things in the darkness…

(and how much darkness there is in our old resentments, in anger, in fear and panic, in greed, or pride….for these things magnify “our feelings”, and block the Light He wants to give us.)

Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

His Light gives us heat…for our hearts are to be fired up for Christ.

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

All we need to be delivered from the power of the sin in our lives, is given us in Christ Jesus….

Romans 13:12, 14 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

Light purifies and cleanses….in the truth

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we are walking in the light….We have love for God and the fellow saints…

1 John 1:10 “he that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

What the sun’s light is in the natural world, God is to the spiritual….spreading HIs healthful rays out….to us.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

The closer we walk with God, the more light we have to know His Will, and the more power to do it.

1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

This is the first verse of the third section of the Song….which deals with the believer coming out the world’s influence and manifesting the influence of the Holy Spirit….to, in fact, be filled with the Spirit, for the work that is before her.

“Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness?”

She is saved, being sanctified…which is to be set aside for sacred use…and now, seeks to leave the world behind.

To be in the world, but not of it!

The wilderness! What a word to describe the vastness and howling hardness of the world in which we live! Praise God we are called to come out of it!

(Many have tried to leave the world, by an austere form of life…..but what they do not realize is….

….the world is in the mind and emotions….and if we do not “leave it” in them….no matter what hideout we seek, the inner world will claim us.)

To come out of the wilderness of this world…is first, to see it as a barren wasteland,….it bears no fruit for our good.

It is a “weary land”…..making the walk in it troublesome.

Then to see that God provides help through this world:

Isaiah 32:2 “And a Man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary land.”

What can we gain if we gain the whole world….and lose our own soul?

(Matthew 16:26)

This losing the soul is, of course, for any lost person who refuses Christ for the world’s prestige…sending their souls through the world seeking satisfaction, and not finding it….like the leech, only crying “more,more”….till death and hell swallow them.

But it is also any, who will choose the world over following Christ (for that is the tone in the verse)…..we will then lose our soul (our own personality)…..for we will take on the attitude of the world,….it’s pressures for beauty and success…..it’s motivations of putting “me” first….

…and there is nothing so deadly to a soul that Christ has died for,…than to give Christ second place (if that).

To come out of the wilderness is to travel on the highway of holiness.

Isaiah 35:8 “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

It matters not where you come out of….only that you have come to Christ to be saved….and want to go on with Him in HIs way of holiness.

Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:”

Here Paul tells us it is already done…..and of course it is spiritually, by Christ’s Victory. But we must do this ourselves practically, in the outworking of our lives….so we live in His Victory and Kingdom. (And this is everyday living)

How do we do this?

Colossians 1:12 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

It is as we deliberately will with God….and bring all that we are and have into the kingdom of His Dear Son.

We are to bring our new life….the gifts and callings, of course….

….the place we are in our spiritual life….the people to whom we are around….the way I look at things….and all that concerns “my life”.

We are to bring it to King Jesus, for His praise, for His service….we are to bring it into the Light of His Word….and let Him deal with it, and us there.

(Remember we are speaking of coming out of the world…and it’s influence over us.

There are many influences in the world….many we feel are harmless.

But what God wants us to do is come out of the world….to leave behind the good, bad, and “harmless”….

….to go on to the life of separation to Him…..which is freedom indeed!

We need not be concerned over the fashions of this world, or the attitudes toward things….

….we see Jesus and His Way of light, peace, gentleness, love….and that is liberty….and strength, for remember we are separated, not by some idea….but we are separated to Christ the Lord.)

Song of Solomon 3:6 “….like pillars of smoke…”

Here is the strength of the Holy Spirit. Here is the stability and endurance of the Spirit of God.

Isaiah 32:15-17 “Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

This is what the Lord wants us to have……will we?

Let us not fret

Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

Fret means to eat away, to chafe, to gall, vex or worry, to wear away.

Anyone who has felt the effects of fretfulness….understands how it exhausts us….makes us weary.

(Rub your hands together and they get warm….keep rubbing and they get irritated and tired….keep rubbing and usually there is a place that gets a sore on it…

…that is to fret. A little worry, a little frustration, a little irritation….that can end up causing something that needs to be healed.)

So let us consider the first part of the verse:

Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

“Cease from anger…..”

Once we get angry?…..Impossible to stop it…..without the Lord’s help.

….we can not talk ourselves out of our anger…..for our emotions or reasons have started to run away with us.

We need to stop, and deal with it. It won’t take hours and hours….we simply have to stop speaking….or complaining in our minds….

….and first ask the Lord to forgive us for being angry

(“anger” here in this verse has to do with the emotions….they are displeased….to enraged!)…..

…..then we need to ask the Lord to show us about this….and He will, and give you the feelings you should have….and how to deal with them.

When we take everything which hinders, or bothers us to the Lord, we allow the Holy Spirit to have sway in our spirits….to, in fact, work His calming influence in our hearts and minds.

(We must honestly consider how we are when we are angry! How we often fight against the very thing we are in need of!)

“And forsake wrath…”. Wrath has malicious intentions. We may never do anything….but we wish we could!

This verse is written to God’s own. This whole chapter in Psalms is written for believers….against the influence of evil workers….on our minds and hearts.

How they can irritate us! They seem to get by with so much! They mock and sneer….they provoke us! The very word “provoke”….means that we have let someone push us into a reaction!

We must let them pass….out of our minds….out of our emotions…..by letting the Lord give us our thoughts toward them…..

….let Him discipline us….to know whether what we are feeling is from the Holy Spirit….or is merely from the stress and strain of what is going on around us.

We must ever guard against worldliness creeping in….and of being tricked or caught up in snares laid by the devil.

There will be burdens laid on our hearts by the Holy Spirit, but these are never grievous to bear….

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3)

We must learn to tell if what we feel is from God, or from something or someone else.

The more we willingly do this, the better we will get at discerning what comes at us.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to work….allowing His soothing influence on us.

Psalm 39:7, 39-40 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prosperity in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.”

How desperately we need this right now!

The Water of Life

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Whosoever will:

Drink deep of this life giving flow! That it might be in you, rivers of Living Water.

Have you ever noticed the force of flowing water? It follows the path of least resistance. It flows over fields, or roads. It comes up to dams and stops; unless the force of that flow is strong enough.

Water in scripture always speaks of the life giving influence of the Word of God, applied to my circumstances, by the Holy Spirit.

John 7:37-39 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.

He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him shall receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.)

This feast was the Feast of the Tabernacles. It was a feast of remembrance. All the males of Israel were to come to Jerusalem for it, so there would have been a large crowd gathered.

The priests in the Temple, were to go out in procession to the wells outside the city, and fill their vessels (jars),……..and bring them up the hill to the Temple.

They were singing as they went:

Isaiah 12:2-3, 6 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the well of salvation.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

Then they would come into the court, right before the steps going up to the Brazen Altar, where they sacrificed,..

….and they would pour out this water, singing this.

This they would do for six days.

The seventh day, the great day of the feast, they would gather in the court; and stand there: no procession…..no water….just standing waiting.

They would again sing this song: and wait in silence for a set time.

At that moment, (as these verses tell) Jesus moved out of the crowd, and onto the steps leading up to the Altar, and…

“…Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.”

He had offered Himself as the Bread of Life before,…..and been rejected,…….because they did not understand that “eating” this bread was believing in Him as the Son of God.

And now Jesus offers Himself as the the Way for life-giving salvation….as the water poured out.

“He that believeth on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

He was speaking here, of the Holy Spirit which would be given to all who would receive His Words and believe in Him as Lord and Savior.

He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, because He knew they would reject Him, and He would be crucified, and raised the third day.

He was saying, “I am offering you a way to have life;…..through believing in Me, the Holy Spirit will be given you.

When He comes to you, it will be as refreshing, and forceful as a river of living water within your life!”

What a commotion and conversation this caused…..some thinking He was the Messiah…”This is the Christ.”

….others refusing Him…”Shall Christ come out of Galilee?”

But talk was all there was for most of them. This was the second year of His ministry….He was showing them all He could be to them…

…if they will.

Of course, they did crucify Him,…

…but He arose the third day….by the power of God.

Forty days later, when He went back up to heaven….He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us.

The Holy Spirit within us, shows the Word, and becomes a force within us to help us, guide us, correct us, and encourage us. How much we need Him.

But are we “drinking” deeply of this life-giving flow? Or have we blocked the flow in our lives somehow?

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

You see it says, “To drink,…you must come.”

Come, as Jesus said, standing on the step. Come to Him, and receive. Stop blocking it, by unbelief, or fear, or grief, or even just hesitation. Yield to the Holy Spirit.

Just Come, hear His Word, and Drink the Water of Life, freely.

Let us not fret

Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

Fret means to eat away, to chafe, to gall, vex or worry, to wear away.

Anyone who has felt the effects of fretfulness….understands how it exhausts us….makes us weary.

(Rub your hands together and they get warm….keep rubbing and they get irritated and tired….keep rubbing and usually there is a place that gets a sore on it…

…that is to fret. A little worry, a little frustration, a little irritation….that can end up causing something that needs to be healed.)

So let us consider the first part of the verse:

Psalms 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

“Cease from anger…..”

Once we get angry?…..Impossible to stop it…..without the Lord’s help.

….we can not talk ourselves out of our anger…..for our emotions or reasons have started to run away with us.

We need to stop, and deal with it. It won’t take hours and hours….we simply have to stop speaking….or complaining in our minds….

….and first ask the Lord to forgive us for being angry

(“anger” here in this verse has to do with the emotions….they are displeased….to enraged!)…..

…..then we need to ask the Lord to show us about this….and He will, and give you the feelings you should have….and how to deal with them.

When we take everything which hinders, or bothers us to the Lord, we allow the Holy Spirit to have sway in our spirits….to, in fact, work His calming influence in our hearts and minds.

(We must honestly consider how we are when we are angry! How we often fight against the very thing we are in need of!)

“And forsake wrath…”. Wrath has malicious intentions. We may never do anything….but we wish we could!

This verse is written to God’s own. This whole chapter in Psalms is written for believers….against the influence of evil workers….on our minds and hearts.

How they can irritate us! They seem to get by with so much! They mock and sneer….they provoke us! The very word “provoke”….means that we have let someone push us into a reaction!

We must let them pass….out of our minds….out of our emotions…..by letting the Lord give us our thoughts toward them…..

….let Him discipline us….to know whether what we are feeling is from the Holy Spirit….or is merely from the stress and strain of what is going on around us.

We must ever guard against worldliness creeping in….and of being tricked or caught up in snares laid by the devil.

There will be burdens laid on our hearts by the Holy Spirit, but these are never grievous to bear….

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3)

We must learn to tell if what we feel is from God, or from something or someone else.

The more we willingly do this, the better we will get at discerning what comes at us.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to work….allowing His soothing influence on us.

Psalm 39:7, 39-40 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prosperity in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.”

How desperately we need this right now!

God can take care of His own Glory.

God’s usual way of working for man, is to use another man to speak, or show God’s Will. (1 Corinthians 1:21, 25)

But He does not have to do so. God can and does take care of His own glory. (though His choice is to use man, so he may share in that glory.)

1 Samuel 2:29-30. “Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation: and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

The priesthood had failed, for Eli had not rebuked and chastened his sons, who were disobedient to God’s Word.

So God had another man in the wings to lead Israel, spiritually.

(That man was Samuel, who was a picture of the Lord Jesus who would judge, and lead His people in the right way.)

But now, Israel is in a battle with the Philistines. And they are losing.

Instead of seeking God as to what to do, they go to bring out the Ark of the Covenant, like a lucky rabbit’s foot; hoping it will save them.

1 Samuel 4:4 “So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.”

Yes, it is the symbol of God’s Presence, but frankly God is not with them, in this battle; and He will not be “used”.

He will defend His Ark, but not Israel.

He actually uses the Ark to stir up the enemies of Israel, to teach them all a lesson about Himself: Who He is, and what He can do.

1 Samuel 4:5-6, 9-11. “And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord is come into the camp.”

Be strong, Quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: Quit yourselves like men and fight.

And the Philistines fought and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.”

God is the God of the whole earth, and can make Himself known to any people, at any time.

1 Samuel 5:2 “When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.”

Confident that they had beaten, not only Israel, but Israel’s God; they brought the Ark into the house of their god.

But, God is not defeated, but ready always, with power to show Himself strong.

1 Samuel 5:3-4 “And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

And when they arose on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both of the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.”

First, God just has their god fall down before the Ark. Showing that their god was nothing.

Then, God chops off the head, and hands of their god; leaving only the stump. All were down at the Ark’s feet.

1 Samuel 5:6-7 “But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with hemorrhoids, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.”

God, then began making the men of the place sore. He destroyed some, and gave others hemorrhoids so painful that they cried out for help.

But not to the true God. Instead, they gathered the lords of the Philistines and wanted relief. So they thought that they could stop God, by moving the Ark.

1 Samuel 5: 8-9 “…And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel thither.

And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had hemorrhoids in their secret parts.”

But God’s hand was against this next city, and it’s men, as well.

It was worse there, for it says, “a very great destruction”.

The Philistines were not going to give up their “trophy” from their victory over Israel (How silly pride is),……so they start to move the Ark again.

(I wonder if the Lord is not slaying the very men who fought in the battle, which took the Ark.)

1 Samuel 5:10-11 “Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron that the Ekronites cried out saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.”

But even while it was coming, the men of the place cried out against it. They thought that the lords of the Philistines had brought it, to slay them.

This would destroy the unity of the five lords of the Philistines, not to mention decimate their population.

Even as it came to the last city, it destroyed many.

After seven months of slaughter by the Lord, the Philistines finally seek a way to send it “to his place.”

They wanted to be rid of it; but just to take it back, was a sign of defeat. This, they did not want. What if the plagues remained after it went back?

So the priests of the Philistines told them:

First, make images of the hemorrhoids that were sent among the men, and images of the mice that were sent among the cities.

“…and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you…” (1Samuel 6:5)

Then, they were to make a new cart.

They were to take two milking cows away from their calves, and put a yoke on their necks (they had never been used to pull anything before).

They were to tie them to the cart with the Ark in it, put the offering of gold images in a box by it, and let it go.

Then they would see if God could bring His Ark home.

1 Samuel 6:9 “And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coasts: to Bethsemesh, that he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us.”

Of course, He did take His Ark back to Israel

God always sees to His glory, whether He can use His people or not. Israel lost out; and so can we, if we are not being what we should be.

1 Samuel 6:12, 16 “And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethsemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethsemesh.

And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.”

(It is amazing, God took simple animals and made them obedient: against their nature,……for milking cows do not want to leave their calves.

But men and women, God gives a choice. Believe and obey, or Turn aside after their own way. Isaiah 53:6)

God’s honor and glory should be our highest aim.

And now let us see what God did to backsliding Israel, with Samuel’s guidance:

1 Samuel 7:3 “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

God sends Samuel to speak to Israel about what they should do.

And they did put away the gods they had secretly worshipped, and “served the Lord only.”

1 Samuel 7:4 “Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.”

God can do anything, in any way He chooses. But His Will is that we deliberately choose Him.

Will we go along in His Way? Or in our own way?

There is more to this:

Samuel calls for a time of repentance.

But when the Philistines hear of the gathering, they come looking for more victory, more slaughter.

But now God was for Israel:

The means for Victory in Israel was their repentance, Samuel’s offering and prayers, and the Lord’s thunder and lightening.

Yes, Israel fought, but this time the Lord was with them.

1 Samuel 7:8-10 “And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

And Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomforted them; and they were smitten before Israel.”

We should always thank the Lord for His Presence with us, in times of trouble, or in times of prosperity.

His Presence and Help make all the difference.

Have we learned the lesson of making sure that God is for us, because we are seeking His will, and doing it?

God can take care of His own glory, but He would rather, we shared in it, with Him.

The God of Peace

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”

At least six times in the New Testament, God is called the God of Peace.

(Romans 15:33, Romans 16:20, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 3:16 [here it is said “Lord of peace”], Hebrews 13:20)

Christ Jesus, Himself is the source of our peace.

We are not given peace by self effort….but it is given by the Holy Spirit as we “stay” ourselves on Him.

Perfect peace of mind……and freedom from the gripping hand of “cares”;….can only be known only as we learn to commit all our ways to Him.

(“Cares” grab ahold of us, and say: “You need to do something about this!”

“Mind” here is the imagination; which can think of all kinds of thoughts about the things that…will happen….could happen……the “what ifs” of the situation.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

Casting,….it is a energetic action….we are not to think of them awhile, then think about giving them to the Lord…

…no, we are to cast them upon Him….He is able….He has seen to these cares and worries already….and will see to them in us, through us, and by us…

…..for He cares for us. (this is a term for “taking care of us”)

Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and He demonstrated this so marvelously on the cross.

1 Peter 2:23 “ Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:”

The first part of the verse, is what He did before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, the soldiers, and on the cross….here was His obedience…

..He reviled not…He threatened not.

And it was because…He “committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”

He did this at Gethsemane, when the thoughts of the shame and defilement of the cross came fast and furious…each, an attack against Him.

Matthew 26:38-39 “Then saith He (Jesus) unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.

And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

But His answered these attacks on His peace, with: “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

This should be our stand, as well….when the attacks of concern, worry, doubt, and panic come against us.

We, too, should commit ourselves to God, for all that will come to us…and let the peace of God guard us….keeping our hearts and minds.

1 Peter 4:19 “Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

He created us for a purpose, we need to submit to that purpose, for today…..not my will, but thine be done…and be obedient…for this is the “way of peace”…

Isaiah 48:17-18 “Thus saith the Lord, Thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit (by My teaching), which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

Obeying His Word we will be lead into His peace.

The listening and obedient ear knows true peace….for it knows the Voice of the God of Peace….and follows Him.

The Christian walk is fellowship with the Lord

Fellowship….what is it?

Fellowship in the Hebrew means to join with.

Fellowship in the Greek means to partnership, a sharer with.

We often think of fellowship as talking….prayer time. This is true, as far as it goes….but fellowship is entering into, as much as possible, the things of Christ…

There is the fellowship of HIs sufferings:

As John at the last supper, leaning his head on Jesus shoulder when he heard of the betrayal…..for he shared the grief that it brought Jesus heart.

He could not be a sharer of the Passion…but he could share the grief of the heart of Jesus. (John was the only disciple at the Cross….and became the care giver of Mary, Jesus Mother. John 19:26-27)

Paul said he had fellowship with Christ’s sufferings, in the perils and trials he bore (Philippians 3:8-10)….

….for when we suffer for Christ’s sake….we are sharers with the Purpose of God for Christ and HIs children. Suffering first, glory last.

Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him , that we may be also glorified together.” ( also see: 1 Peter 4:12-13)

(And it is also true, that Christ has fellowship with us in the pain we feel, the hurt we know, and the anguish we experience.

Christ said to Saul on the road to Damascus…”Why persecutest thou Me?” It was the Christians in Jerusalem that Paul had persecuted, yet Jesus knew each blow, each pain….for we are His.)

There is the fellowship at HIs table:

The disciples experienced this even after His resurrection….when Jesus called for them at the Sea of Galilee….”Children, have ye any meat?” (John 21:5)

Here, Peter was restored….here, the disciples left off every other plans, and gave themselves to the Lord, for His next work….the work of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:2-5)

(In Laodicea, as with the disciples and Peter at Galilee…no matter our past failures;…….we are called to “come and dine” in fellowship with Him….(to sup)……and to set things right….and go on in the fullness of the work of the Holy Spirit, for these times:

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne”. Rev. 3:20-21)

There is the fellowship of life…or fellowship of being.

When Peter and Andrew were called to follow Christ Jesus, they answered (Mark 1:16-18)….

….not with words,…but by leaving all, and going after Him. They continued to go after Christ, for the next three years….

…through joyous reception….and the knowledge of the Pharisees anger.

Yet as Peter said, when some followers decided to leave Him…..”Lord, to whom should we go….Thou has the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:68-69)

There is the fellowship in prayer.

Though prayer is not the only means of fellowship, yet we are to “Pray without ceasing

Luke 11:9 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

There is more of the Holy Spirit, the Lord wants you to have….ask, seek, and knock for Him….”how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:13)

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

(This “watching” is the same as Jesus said, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:33).

We are to have union with the Lord in this….we are to stay awake, and wait….watching for Christ’s return….and also how we can help our brothers and sisters in Christ….near and far….through our prayers.)

Fellowship is partnership with Christ. As they treated Him, the world will treat us.

Yet we are not to be sad….

….or to look for trials….

…but simply to follow on after Him….and join Him in what comes.

That is our walk…..yoked with Christ (Matthew 11:29-30)…

……yet as with yoked animals, there is always one that is stronger,…one which sets the pace, and turns into the direction. This is Christ Jesus.

Our walk is over mountains, through valleys….up against enemies,….

….and helping His own.

Partnership….a sharer with Christ….this is what we are called to.

Will we come?

If Any Man Will

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 always rests with our will.

(Our will is the “putting into action” of our personality. Our minds…give reason. Our hearts…give emotion. But our wills….act on what has been presented.)

If any man will? Let him deny himself. That is the key ingredient—self-denial.

If we deny ourself and take up our cross….and keep after this until we reach the place we no longer resist the Lord’s Will in anything.

(This is not instant obedience, but it is final obedience….we have determined to do God’s Will.)

Then we have acquired the power of choice.

We are now crucified, and we can begin the process of….real living.

(Before,…….we would will with God,…..but there was always something pulling us in the opposite direction……for the power of sin, and it’s influence was still there, fighting for control.

Paul speaks of this in Romans 7. But we can come to the experience that we are not resisting His Will—we may not like it…..we may be afraid….but we will do it. That is settled.)

To lose your life in yourself….is to go on and deny your self-life. This is not the will, willing….but….Whose life am I going to manifest.

When we lose our self-life, we deny ourself in our thoughts and emotions.

The reason I do this….must give way to…..”it is what He wants done.”

This is my way to deal with this…must give way to: Lord, how would you have me to deal with this.

It is to lose all those things we have formed around us to keep our true self hidden.

There are some, who when embarrassed or uncomfortable….they begin to tell a joke, or a story…..get everyone looking somewhere else, but at the real them.

There are some, who have hidden their emotions so long….they do not know how to really express themselves….but by pretense. It is easier to “hide-out”.

(I knew a woman who told me that for years, after she had become a Christian….and had decided to do whatever God said; had made a place to retreat to, in her mind, when certain things came up.

When confronted with certain people, certain things to do….she would “shut down”, withdrawing into self.

Her smile still stayed on her face….but the light went out in her eyes. She would do whatever was required….but it was mere form. Her heart was not in it.

She “hid out” till that was over with….then she would “reappear”.

When she heard my message on “losing your self-life”…..a battle began.

Would she give up to Christ, and stop retreating into the narrowness of self……or continue to hide from the Lord and Savior, which loved her and gave Himself for her?

It was a battle….one which raged for a long time….but finally victory was given; and she came out to Christ…..opening up her inner life to Him.)

A word about the narrowness of self……we are in the way, when something we do not want to face is presented…..what do we do?

We can deny ourselves and yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading…… or we can narrow the way, in our minds or hearts, and refuse to deal with this.

These bring in roots of bitterness…..which grow harder and harder to deal with…..soon the Lord’s Way, has become our way….maybe religious,….but joyless.

But when we have determined to do God’s Will, then we begin to be free from all the restraints of self….to come out to Christ, in truth…..and let Him give us His life.

Peace for fear, joy instead of selfishness…..to free us from habits….and become who He purposed us to become.

He never changes our true personality…..but frees it, to come into fellowship and friendship with Him.

Then you will begin to live….”the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.”

And faith always places Christ straight before us, to keep our eyes on Him.

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

Think of it…..to live by faith….the faith of the Son of God flowing through us,…leading us on with Him.

We are given faith when we are born again….and it shows us God, so that we know He is there with us.

Then faith delivers us from making bad decisions, and says….Keep looking to Christ.

Faith leads us on till, we live everyday…..yet not I, but Christ lives in me.

Jesus Christ said, “If any man will come after Me”……..that is the Way we must go….to follow after Him,….and let Him lead us out of self, and into true life….the life of faith.

Martha

Luke 10:38 “Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.”

She did not just listen as He went by….but she welcomed the Lord into her house as well.

She, Lazarus, and Mary all lived together in Bethany.

Martha was probably the one who ran the house….keeping it, and seeing to their food.

When Jesus came to Bethany; Martha welcomed Him into their home….

….this was a happy occasion, and she went about trying to get everything just right, so that she could enjoy His company.

Lazarus sat with the disciples, and Mary, Martha’s sister, came and sat at Jesus feet to listen to His Word.

Martha was trying to get things done….

It was not that she did not want to hear the Lord….but she had let the desire to serve the Lord weigh her down….

…..so that instead of enjoying the time He was there….she became “cumbered”. (This is a term that means something she is dragging around, a weight.)

Then, she began to wonder why Mary was not helping…..which led her to complain to the Lord….about His actions!

How one thing leads to another!

Luke 10:39-40 “And she had a sister called Mary, which also say at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.”

How like Martha we are!

She began by wanting fellowship with Jesus….so much so she invited Him to come to her house.

Then, she let “things” build up in her thoughts….

“I should really do something special….He is so great a person.”

“I really need to hurry….He is already speaking to the others.”

“If only Mary would help me….I could be in there too.”

“Why isn’t the Lord saying anything to her,….so I could hear what He is saying, too?”

These are the “imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Our thoughts run away….going from one thing to another….and before you know it….we are accusing the Lord of not caring about us!

Luke 10:41-42 “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful (full of care) and troubled about many things (and they are just things):

But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Notice, how Jesus gently corrects this lovely woman: “Martha, Martha”….saying her name twice to get her attention.

She was still focused on things….

….”Look at Me, Martha….Listen to Me, Martha….you are getting all worked up about things….

…but Mary has seen that the important thing about having Me in your house….that is to hear Me….

….this I will not take away from her…..but instead invite you to come and join us.”

Jesus loved Martha. Martha was a true believer.

John 11:5 “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.”

They were true friends and disciples of the Lord.

(In fact the last week of Jesus life was spent going from their house in Bethany, to Jerusalem, during the day, to teach in the Temple….and back to their house at night.)

When Lazarus got sick….Martha and Mary could think of nothing….but taking their concern to Jesus:

John 11:1, 3 “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Therefore his sisters sent unto Him (Jesus), saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick.”

Jesus was beyond the Jordan River (where John the Baptist had begun his ministry John 10:40) in Bethabara.

But when Jesus heard of Lazarus’ illness…..He did nothing….yet.

John 11:6 “When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was.”

During these two days, Lazarus dies….then it was time to go, so Jesus says:

John 11:7 “Then after that saith to His disciples, Let us go into Judea again.”

It was a journey of several days to Bethany….so when He gets there, Lazarus is dead for four days (John 11:39)….and there is a crowd of mourners which were there to grieve with Martha and Mary.

Leaving all….Martha, as soon as she hears Jesus is coming….goes to meet Him. (John 11:20)

Notice the faith of this woman:

John 11:21-22 “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee.”

Answering this kind of faith, Jesus says, “Thy brother shall rise again.”

He was telling her what He was going to do….

She declares her faith in God’s Word….”I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

And then Jesus reveals to this dear woman one of His names: “I am the Resurrection and the Life”.

John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Jesus was speaking directly to her faith….Lazarus will be resurrected because of his belief in Me…..and you, who believe in Me will also have this everlasting life….

….do you believe, Martha?

John 11:27 “She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

This is an amazing testimony….”I believe Thou art the Christ….and I am leaving all into your hands….do as Thou wilt.”

She goes gets Mary; and she and Mary, come to see Jesus. They are followed by the mourners….

And they take Him to where Lazarus is, and He tells them to take away the stone….

Martha speaks up about how long he has been dead, and that he would stink….

…one of the laws of Moses said (Numbers 19:11-16):

Numbers 19:16 “And whosoever toucheth…..a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.”

She did not want defilement to come upon Him, or those there….

…but Jesus reminds her

(how gently He rebukes those that believe in Him, to hang on to His Word to them).

John 11:40 “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”

Then, when they remove the stone off the grave….He prays, looking up (John 11:41-42):

“Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me.

And I knew that Thou hearest Me always: but because of the people that stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me.”

Jesus could pray silently….but He prayed out loud, for a testimony for the people that were there. He was God’s Son.

(We could say grace silently, but often pray out loud for a testimony to the people around. Not to correct, but to testify that we belong to the Lord.)

Then, as God’s Son….Jesus commanded Lazarus….

John 11:43 “And when He had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”

No one had to touch him, or bring him out to Jesus…..Christ’s very voice commanded life, and it was done.

(This was a revelation, to those there, that Christ had power over death…..yet the folly of sin made the Pharisees and chief priest believe they could destroy Him and His kingdom. How sin blinds and deceives!)

And Lazarus came forth…still bound with the grave clothes of death….but very much alive. (John 11:44)

Then Jesus said, “Loose him, and let him go.”

(And isn’t this what Jesus speaks to our death and sins, for us)

Martha had great faith…..

…she sometimes let herself get burdened with “things”….but she received the gentle rebuke of her Lord, and trusted in Him as the Son of God.

(Her faith led her to be the only woman to declare that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of God”.

Peter had (Matthew 16:16), and many believed on Him…..but Martha was the only woman who scripture shows to have made this public confession.)

Jesus loved Martha….

…He had fellowship and friendship in her house,

…He corrected her gently….yet every time He did, she gladly responded with more faith, and trust.

…He gave to her one of His names.

…It was for this family, that He showed His power over death.

Are we like Martha….growing in our love and testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ, even through rebukes, and sorrow?