Awake thou that Sleepest.

Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

When we are asleep, spiritually, our senses are dull. We don’t hear clearly. Our eyes are closed, not seeing what is going on.

That is why Paul, here, exhorts the Ephesians to “walk as children of light.”

(Ephesians 5:8)

Light is a great benefit for those who are growing sleepy in their walk as Christians.

It is like opening the curtain to let the sunshine come in, in the morning.

It makes you want to get up and get busy!

Darkness, on the other hand, tends to make us sleepy.

So with the darkness which comes to us spiritually. We are lulled to sleep. We begin to talk a great deal about “rest”, becoming discontent with the work we have been given from the Lord.

We look for ways to do God’s will quickly, or for a more “easier way” of walking with the Lord;…..for we do not want to take the action required to come to the light….for then our slothful sin will be seen.

So Paul calls on every Christian to “Awake”.

Awake, and arise; and Christ shall give you light.

Light to see what you need to do,….to get out of the darkness.

Light to see the world, as it is.

Light to see that Christ is worth the loss of everything.

Then Paul writes:

Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

Circumspectly means there will be light for the path, for we are to keep our eyes on the path, that we don’t get tripped up.

Awake, and walk wisely. For Christ shall give us light.

The Potter, and the Clay

Jeremiah 18:5-6 “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord, Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Paul says the same thing in:

Romans 9:20-21 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

This is not our bodies; yes, they are all different, but God is speaking of molding our souls. God has used every experience of our lives to shape our souls.

Our souls are that which makes us unique. They are a gift from God that no other creature has.

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.”

The soul is the apartment of self-consciousness. It is where our personality is. There, our individual character is formed, and rules our thought life, our emotions, our will, our conscience, and our social interactions.

When we are born again, we are given the blessed privilege of having the Holy Spirit come and dwell with us, for Christ said He would not leave us comfort less, He would come unto us.

John 14:16-18 “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

As Christians, Paul is saying that as God’s “clay”, we need to accept what we are,

how we are,

and even, where we are,

and then be reconciled to Him, in them.

How much of our discontent lies in this.

God wants to make us a vessel unto honor, and has given us His Spirit to enable and mold us:

2 Timothy 2:20-21 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor, and some to dishonor.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

To move forward with God, you must be in your place before Him. To know that He is there with us, because He loves us.

So many people say, “God knows best”;……yet doubt every time trouble comes.

They are anxious, burdened, and worried.

(Haven’t we all experienced this doubt?)

But we are called to “possess our souls”….our souls are our mind, heart, and will….which make up our personality.

Luke 21:19 “In your patience, possess ye your souls.”

We are to gain, by subjection to the Holy Spirit, real power over our affections:

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

Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

Our thoughts:

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

And wills:

John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whither it be of God, or whither I speak of myself.”

There is always trouble here, in this world; but as you submit to the Holy Spirit, the influence of the trouble is less, and less.

His power to help, strengthen, and encourage is more and more.

He is the Potter, we are the clay.

Submitting to Him we have liberty, and begin to have the fruit of the Spirit working in us and through us.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Let us yield; or give in; or submit; or surrender; all terms which mean that for us,…we choose Christ…..and Christ will choose for my life.

A Certain Disciple

Acts 9:10 “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.”

In the world….prestige and success is everything. Who you know….or “hang around with” is valued.

But God looks on the heart….and places each of us in our place….to do good there.

So let us look at this certain disciple that the Lord spoke to.

First, Ananias knew the Lord’s Voice. He was a believer and follower of Christ Jesus….and he knew when the Lord spoke to him.

Second, Ananias answered the Lord right away….he did not hesitate, afraid of what the Lord would ask….but said…..”I am here, Lord”…denoting that he was willing to do what his Lord said.

Ananias was a certain disciple….it does not even say the leader of the church in Damascus.

He was not one of great training, or knowledge or experience;….just a certain disciple, that obeyed the Lord.

What follows is a great lesson for each of us as how to have a conversation with the Lord….about direction.

We often think of instant obedience….without question or thought. But God looks on the heart….willingness to obey, leads to submission of reasons and attitudes….and final obedience. I will do what I am told, no matter what happens.

When we come here….we are ready.

(Acts 9:11-14)

“And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for behold he prayeth,…

Then Ananias answered, Lord I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority….to bind all that call on Thy name.”

Though Ananias was willing to do what the Lord said, that did not stop him from asking for more assurance that this was God’s Will.

“For he had heard by many of this man”….

How many times what we hear about something, affects what we hear from the Lord.

Saul had indeed come to Damascus “for evil”….to destroy everyone who proclaimed Christ as Lord….”who called on Thy name.”….

….but….

….The Lord had changed everything…..

…..for He had appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, and struck down his plans….making him see the truth.

Christ Jesus was the Son of God….He did die for our sins….He was risen, and was speaking to him.

Saul had bowed to Christ….saying, “Lord what would Thou have me to do?”

Now the Lord would use His disciple to teach Saul how important each believer was to the Lord…..

…for Saul’s instruction would come simply through a fellow believer….a brother in Christ…..obedient to Jesus.

What a lesson!

(What can be accomplished by our simple obedience, we may never know!)

(In Paul’s letters to the churches….he used the term “brethren” over seventy times! We are all part of the family of God, in Christ Jesus. What a lesson was taught for Saul, from the very first.)

Acts 9:15-16 “But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Ananias, was sent to Saul , the mighty persecutor….who became Paul the mighty Apostle….mightily persecuted…suffering many things for Christ’s sake….and he was told this, from the beginning.

Here, Saul heard the first prayer of a fellow believer for him….”Brother Saul,”

(Hallelujah! The Lord hath gotten Him the victory! And we can say the same Hallelujah! When any becomes a brother or sister in Christ.)

…the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way….hath sent me, that thou mightiest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Saul was healed, filled with the Holy Spirit because Ananias went and prayed…..and then Saul was baptized….and preached Christ, that He is the Son of God….

…which began his ministry of Apostleship.

And Ananias, a certain disciple at Damascus, was the instrument to show Saul the way to begin….and will receive a part of Paul’s reward for all he did.

Many times later, in his letters, Paul asks for prayer from his fellow believers for him….how important prayer is! (Ephesians 6:19)

How many are waiting to hear a word from us?

We may think we are no one of importance….or maybe think that the Word you have been given, or the prayers you have been told to have, should be done by someone else….more experienced.

Then learn the lesson of blinded Saul….and a certain disciple. When God choses you to speak or pray….

…talk to God about it….then be obedient.

….the blessing is waiting for both you and them.

Are You Listening?

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

If any man (person) hear My Voice.

Are we hearing what Jesus is saying to us? Each day?

Jesus said:

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and to whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

Take heed how ye hear.

If we have been born again, then we, as His children are to hear what He is telling us by His Holy Spirit through the Word, or by direct communication in our spirits.

He speaks to us.

The promise here is: If you have the Holy Spirit within you, and have heard Him; more will be given you. More light, more ability, more knowledge, more everything we need.

And this is because we hear Him.

But the promise also says: If you are one who has heard the invitation of Christ Jesus, and answered it with all the right words.

But it has been just that, an answer of words; not an answer of a life open to and receptive to Christ.

Then that which he “seems to have”, he does not.

[Not that that person can not be saved by opening their heart to Jesus Christ, but that, they have not, as yet, been.]

Remember, when Jesus Christ saves a life, He claims that life.

He will not be used as a “fire escape” from Hell; but He is a Savior, from sin.

Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

That is me, being saved from my sins……and you, being saved from your sins. We each are sinners…..with our own particular leaning toward certain sins. Each of us has a “besetting sin” (Hebrews 12:1) which gives us a lot of trouble. Yet He saves us from our sins…..all of them, by cooperating with the power of His Holy Spirit within us.

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

When we are saved; from that time on we are bought with a price and no longer our own.

Luke 8:16 “No man, when he hath lighteth a candle, cover it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.”

This is what we are to do with what we hear: light a candle.

By our obedience to what Jesus says, we are manifesting Him in this lost world. We are lighting a candle.

It is amazing when you go into a dark room…really dark. Blackness seems to surround you. Then to light a candle, there, will make the darkness flee.

True, the whole room will not be as light, as it is around the candle; but it will force the darkness into the corners, away from the light….even a small one, like a candle.

Raise that lit candle up, and more light will be shone around, for you are not blocking the light, but it shines all around.

Amazing, right? The Lord Jesus uses this example for that very reason: a candle can bring a lot of light, if it is placed where “they which enter in may see the light.”

In another place, Jesus accused the religious lawyers of hindering those which would “enter in” to the kingdom of God. (Luke 11:52)

Let us not do this. Instead let us hear Him, and recieve the light He gives by His Word, and Holy Spirit; and then let us shine the light, by holding up Christ Jesus to others.

Ephesians 4:21 “If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:”

Are we hearing Him? Are we learning from what we have heard? Are we holding on to it, and sharing Christ?

(Years; yes, lots of years, ago, I was called to preach. I had recently been brought back to God; my rebellion and sin forgiven, and taken care of. I had started to go to church, and after a while I had been asked to sing a song for the church services.

I sang “Trust and Obey”.

Well, I sang it, and sat down; and the minister had his message. Then the Lord Jesus called me to be a preacher!

I could not believe it; me? The way I had been? This must be some mistake!

But the Lord spoke plainly to me: “You sang it [Trust and Obey], now, do it!”

So I went forward and committed my life to be a preacher of God’s Word.)

Jesus Christ always shows us the truth, for He is Truth.

And as we face the truth, He gives us grace.

Grace is the unmerited favor of power: the power in our lives, to bring us to the place where we willingly do what He has said…to be obedient to all His words to us.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Will we receive Christ Jesus as Savior of our sin?

Will we hear His voice, and learn of Him?

Will we answer His call to lift our lights, and shine them in this dark world?

Well, if we will, He has everything we need.

He can tell us everything we need.

He is everything we need……and He will lead us into more of Him everyday.

It is High Time to Awake

Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

In the Greek, “awake” means to collect all our faculties, to rouse up from obscurity, sickness or death.

It is when you start using all your spiritual faculties, to do God’s Will.

It is as the Prodigal, when he “came to himself”.

Luke 15:17 “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my Father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

The Prodigal was the younger son of two boys. He had lived in the Father’s House, and became restless for “something more”.

So he came and asked his Father for his portion, and his Father gave both boys their inheritance: the older, as was the custom, received two-thirds of the estate; the younger received one-third.

What is this “inheritance”?

I believe it is our wills. As God’s children (Yes, these are Christians—sons of the Father), we will use our wills to will after God, and bring forth fruit; Or we will “waste” our wills on things of this world.

Luke 15:13 “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

The “far country” seemed to be a great place, but the heart of this boy knew that it was just “wasting” time and effort, with nothing to show for it.

Luke 15:14 “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”

See God’s hand in this?

How could he spend all his will? By wasting his efforts chasing shadows: and refusing reality.

Look at Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 2:10, 6:12 “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor.

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?”

Solomon and this Prodigal spent all their effort of will “tasting” of things which they knew to be nothing, in comparison to God’s Will.

But they continued, till they were “spent” or like dead inside.

What to do? the Prodigal, deadened to spiritual feelings, went and begged a job from a pig farmer. (Swine were unclean to the Hebrews, but as I said, this poor boy is deadened to things as they should be….until…)

Luke 15:17. “And when he came unto himself, he said, How many hired servants of my Father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

Now here, thankfully, he “Awakes!”. For that is what “he came unto himself” means: he remembers, “Hey, I am a Christian. I have a Father that is good to servants, and gives them the Bread of Life.”

Then, because he is awake, he begins to use his will, for God’s Will: notice the “will” here:

Luke 15:18-19 “I will arise and go unto my Father, and will say unto Him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee,

And am no more worthy to be called Thy son: make me as one of Thy hired servants.”

We know the rest. He does what he wills, and returns: confessing all to his Father.

But instead of the lowest place in the Father’s House, the boy is given the Father’s kiss of forgiveness, the best robe, a ring of authority for his finger, and a fatted calf.

Paul in Romans is calling for these Christians to “awake out of sleep”……to realize that time is moving forward……are they?

Romans 13:11-12 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

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.”

Are we still living “riotously”in the far country?

Have we felt the “famine” of the Word of God to our souls? (Amos 8:11)

Are you ready to “awake”?

Well, wherever you are…..

….Gather your faculties, all the things you possess in Christ, to one grand end: to do the Will of God in these days.

To “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ (Be conformed to His character).

Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

Come to yourself…who you are, as Christians, in this world. Remember the Bread of Life, and put on the armor of light. His light is real protection, for in His light we see everything clearly.

The Prodigal forgot the goodness of his Father, for a while, but was awakened, and returned to Him.

We, too, often forget the mercy, and grace of God. But we can remember Him, awaken, and come to His light.

We can use our wills to do His Will.

As Paul says, “It is high time to awake out of sleep”.

The Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-3 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law,….and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”

The bush burned, yet was not consumed.
Moses had been in exile from Egypt, and had married, and was caring for the flock of his father-in-law.

Then he saw a sight that was so unusual that he left the herd, and went to see it.
It was a dry desert bush that was burning….the flame was in the “midst of the bush”……..
…….yet it was not getting burnt up….it was not being destroyed by the flame….but was manifesting the flame.

(I want to talk for just a moment about us…..as that dry wilderness bush.
We are in a wilderness of this world….but more, we are part of the landscape; as that bush was. We fit right in to this world’s scene.
There was nothing unusual about the bush……until it glowed with the Presence of God. [When the Lord manifested Himself to men in the Old Testament, He was often called “the angel of the Lord”.]
But when the Lord “enlightened” it…..it became something which drew men toward the Light.
God does not want to “burn us up”…..but rather burn within us, so we will manifest His light.)

Years earlier, in Pharaoh’s court, Moses had thought that surely he could deliver “his brethren”, the Israelites…..and tried (Exodus 2:11-14)…and failed….
……..but the years out on the desert had withered his pride and confidence in himself…..and he was like this dry bush…….waiting for God’s flame to light him,….call him,….and use him.

Exodus 3:4 “And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses, and he said, Here am I.”

As Moses was coming to see this sight, a Voice spoke to him…..it was a Voice he recognized….

…….So when he heard this Voice, he answered: “Hear I am.”
He was answering a Person….a Person Who he believed in,…..for the scriptures plainly say that:
“by faith, Moses…refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter……esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:…”(Hebrews 11:24-26)

Exodus 3:5-6 “And He said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”

Moses came forward….but not too far…….(there is that place where we must recognize the Almighty….and bow.)

Then the Lord began the process of calling Moses to do the work of deliverance.

The Lord said, “I am come down to deliver them….Come now…..and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou may bring forth My people…out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:8-10)

But Moses, instead of rejoicing…..now the time has come…..says:
“Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:11)

The wilderness had done it’s job….the confidence of Moses, the prince of Egypt was gone…..
…..but now hesitation was present.
Moses felt, that if in his earlier might and vigor he could not persuade the Israelites…..what could he do now, that he was older, and had no power?

The Lord spoke again of His Presence…..(remember Moses is standing in front of a bush burning….and hearing God)…..”Certainly I will be with thee…”

(It is amazing how many times in the Word, the Lord says the same thing to HIs people….to us!
“I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20; “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” Hebrews 13:5)

Moses then asks, Who shall I say sent me? What is Your name?

God then explains His name: I AM THAT I AM. I am from everlasting…there was no time, that I was not….And I always will be.

God explains Moses ministry, first to Israel….
…..then before Pharaoh, who, God told him, would not listen, or let them go…..at first.
But God would deal with him and his nation…

Moses is still unsure…..not of God…..but of himself, and his ability to deal with the people and Pharaoh.

So God shows him another lesson…..Moses shepherd’s rod. The rod he had been using for years, taking care of sheep.
But by God’s Word, the ordinary rod became a tool of God.

Exodus 4:2-4 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:”
(You will notice, Moses ran from the serpent, but at the Lord’s command; picked it up by the tail. It was not fear for himself which hindered Moses….but fear of failing in the deliverance of Israel.)

Then God told him to put his hand into his bosom….and it was leprous.
Then put it into his bosom again….and it was whole.
God is able….the message is clear.

….but Moses turns to his speech….he was not a man of words….he did not think he could speak well enough to talk before Pharaoh and the people.

By this time, the Lord’s anger was “kindled” against Moses: The answer God gives comes as a rebuke (to backstrike with words)….
….God was displeased with Moses lack of zeal for his calling….for letting fear, rule his will.

God knew his heart….He knew that Moses wanted the deliverance of Israel….but Moses was letting imaginary hinderances block his sight.

Moses had “turned aside to see”…..and God had showed him that a bush can burn, and not be consumed by God’s Presence…
That a rod can be turned to a terrifying tool for God….
That disease can be given in a moment….and healed in a moment by the God of his fathers….I am that I am.

But Moses was letting his past failure blind his eyes from seeing that in all these examples…..God was saying “I am able….for you”.

God goes on to give him Aaron, his brother, who would speak to the people and Pharaoh, the words Moses would say.
“And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” (Exodus 4:17)

But God says it in such a way, that there is no “backtalk” from Moses…..”And Moses went…” (Exodus 4:18)

How often do we “see” what the Lord is trying to tell us?

Are we letting past failures, or fear blind us to what God is calling us to do?

Moses went….and as we know, he dealt with Pharaoh…….”The Lord has said, Let My people go.”……..bringing the people out of Egypt, in triumph.

That rod stayed with him to the end…..he used it many times.
(The serpent before Pharaoh, the rod turned the rivers to blood, brought frogs out of the rivers, he held it up at the Red Sea, he smote the rock for water, etc.)

It was just a plain shepherd’s rod….which, when used in God’s service, became a weapon, and a guide for those that were brought out.

The lesson God showed Moses, from the fire in the bush, is just the same for us:
Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” (It is repeated in Hebrews 12:29)

Jealous means that He is zealous of His commandments and calling….He will not let anything else take His place in our hearts and lives….
He will lead us through failures,….speaking to us, to draw us on with Him…..rebuking us, correcting us….so that we may be instruments in His hands.

For Moses,…..and for all of His servants, that He calls……
……it is not what we are at the start,…..but what we let Him make us; that makes all the difference.

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

It is God that makes the difference in any and every situation.

To be Saved Spirit, Soul, and Body

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is He that calleth you, Who will also do it.”

Now the very God of peace. What a wonderful name for our God!

This is not judicial peace….that, we get when we are born again. A not guilty verdict is given on us, for our sins….which we have committed against a Holy God.

How? Because Jesus Christ died on the cross, taking all our sins on Him, and fulfilling the penalty of our sins in His sacrifice and death. (As Son of God, His was the only worthy sacrifice which could pay such a price.)

But this title: “the very God of peace”, refers to the peace He gives us as we are His, in a world of woe.

This is, of course, as we yield to the Holy Spirit of God within us.

Peter has a verse which shows this:

2 Peter 1:5 “And besides this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;”

Add to your faith, virtue….

This virtue is the “artea” of the Spirit. It is the force of Him in our lives.

He speaks, as the cooing of a dove (Matthew 3:16-17)….distilling peace, quietness and grace, into our busy lives.

He moves in our hearts, to give purity of thought, and action.

He influences us into “…things….true,…honest,…just,…pure,…lovely,…good report,..” (Philippians 4:7-8)

Our hearts become gentle in dealing with others….for that is what He is.

And He places His love in us….for God, for the brethren, and for others. (John 13:34-35)

This is all brought about by acts of our will. As you yield your will to the Holy Spirit, you find yourself being borne along…..as the sails of a ship, which are up are filled with the wind.

This is learned….though we receive the Holy Spirit at new birth, yet we have to learn to yield to Him.

His disciples, after three years with Him, still had a lot to learn….and so do we.

But they did,….so can we:

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem…”He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,”.

(It was time for Him to go up and have the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem…whether they received Him as their King or not. Matthew 21:1-9)

As He went, He had to pass through a village of the Samaritans. But they refused His visit….because He was going up to Jerusalem, not staying with them.

(Remember He had preached and stayed at a Samaritan town, after talking to the woman at the well. John 4:6-40)

But now they refused Him….silly anger, because they thought they were being looked over. (How often our vanity leads us astray!)

And of what spirit are we? Sometimes we think the motive we have is good,……but His will is always best.

Luke 9:53-56 “…And they did not receive Him….And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?

But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not of what manner of spirit ye are of.

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

Now, I want to point out that this is James and John, two of the Lord’s closest disciples. They wanted to defend Jesus….but He needed no defense….He came to this world, to save.

Sometimes it is better to walk away, and leave the angry, to their own fumes.

Proverbs 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

The cities in those days needed walls around them, or marauding bands would come through, and steal and kill indiscriminately.

So, we need to keep our spirits, so that they will be yielding to the Holy Spirit, and not the spirit of the times,

or the spirit of bitterness—looking back,

or the spirit of scorn.

Trust me, I have been corrected so many times, about feeling “insulted”,

Or thinking what others think….maybe they are smarter than I.

But…

What I need to know….is…what does my Lord think, or feel about this.

Psalms 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.”

(This “broken” here, is like a horse….you break down their independence, not destroy their spirit. They will only be able to trust and respond to you, as they are broken of their “wild” spirit.

So with us. David’s spirit of independence: he had sinned as a king, doing what he wanted…had to be “broken”; and it was.

But that had only brought him to lean on, and trust God more.)

The God of Peace offers salvation: spirit, soul, and body. Let us come to Him and yield to the Holy Spirit’s force, “artea”, within us.

Let us yield to the sweet influence of purity….the purity of the Holy Spirit within us, making us more like Christ.

Grace,…and Noah.

God, is the God of all grace

1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect (complete), stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Grace is spoken of, for the first time, in Genesis.

It is seen in Noah. “He found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

The world had become so wicked, that God saw that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was evil continually. “All flesh had corrupted his way…”

Romans 1:21, 23 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.”

Men knew God, yet they chose to worship animals..

Adam had lived nine hundred and thirty years to tell to all his children of the Eden he knew, and the sin which drove him from it. Also to tell of the promise of a coming Savior. (Genesis 3:15)

Yet….”And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8)……it was the grace of God, not the graces of Noah that God saw.

But notice it says, “Noah found grace”….as though he had been searching for it….grace is the unmerited favor of power….power, to help Noah live in, but not of, the world around him.

And he sought it from God… Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…..for only The Lord can give grace.

This was a terrible time…sin had reached a height that could not be ignored….

Noah lived around it everyday…..

Got married…..had three sons….and he felt the contamination surrounding himself and his family….

Then when the sin of man had reached it’s worst….God speaks of grace….

….grace given to Noah, for a special ministry and work.

Where grace comes, God is obeyed. For grace brings the creature to rely solely on the Creator.

Grace is the power of God to change men’s hearts…..and in the middle of the worst wickedness….Noah is just…speaking of his faith.

Genesis 6:9 “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

A walk with God, means a walk against the ways of the world….and the people of the world….and their sin.

Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

Faith and grace go together…..Faith shows us God, and keeps Him before us…..

….grace enables us to persevere…..under varying trials, mocking, and persecution.

Noah, even before he began to build the Ark….had set his heart against the opinion and actions of the rest of the world.

The ground of faith is on God’s Word….and Noah had heard Him…”being warned of God” (Hebrews 11:7)

He was going to hear and obey God….no matter what others did…..or thought about him, for doing so. That is faith.

For one hundred years, while the ark was being built,….and the animals (seven pairs of the clean animals, and the unclean animals by two….one pair) were being brought….

….Noah preached to those who would gather around, looking at this strange sight….a large boat on dry land….telling of the judgement of God to come…..and of something which had not yet happened…..rain.

(Till that time, a mist had come up and watered the ground. Genesis 2:4-6)

2 Peter 2:5 “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”

One thing I want to mention here,…..the people had turned from worship of God to the worship of animals…..

So God, had Noah, His servant…..bring all the animals,……following him….the man that follows God….toward the ark! The ark that God said would be built to save those that believed Him!

What a testimony of the worthlessness of worshipping these creatures, that should have been.

What a showing of the real power of God to them all……if they had wanted to turn and believe.

Genesis 6:22 “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”

“Faith, if it hath not works is dead, being by itself” (James 2:17).

This faith believed God…..and prepared an ark,……gathered the animals,…..preached to those all around him as he went and did these things…..

…these were hard things….expensive things….yet, Noah did these hard things, by faith…in grace…

…..and in doing so, left a witness which condemned the rest of the world….

….but also won for him the blessing of God, and the peace of God, in it all.

Seven days before the rain began, God told Noah, to begin moving in the animals (Genesis 7:9)…..it took seven days.

On the seventh day…..the rain began:

Genesis 7:11, 13 “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the dame day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.”

In the selfsame day entered, Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;”

Everything was ready, and they had heard God say, “Come thou and all thy house into the ark;…” Genesis 7:1

There was just one door into the ark….and one window. (Genesis 6:16)

Now the door was wide open to get every thing in…..along with Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives.

It had begun to rain…..and I am sure, at the start of this, people became convinced of their judgement…..and started to run either higher in their buildings….or toward the ark….

But Noah did not shut the door…..the Lord did.

Genesis 7:16 “And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him:….

(In the beginning God had made male and female, man and woman….so now, God again stresses His Way, and has the animals go in two by two….and Noah and his wife, the sons with their wives, together, into the ark….the only place of safety, against God’s judgement.)

….and the Lord shut him in.”

The door had been opened to all who would come and repent and believe;…..but now the door was shut…..by the Lord….and would not be opened till the Lord gave the Word.

All outside became a watery grave….cries became quiet…..the rain was the only sound….till after forty days it stopped.

The ark continued to float and move at God’s Will for almost a year

But God’s grace continued on through it all.

The warning,

The work and preparation,

The moving of everything in,

The rain,

The new earth….one year later Noah and his family were told to….”Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons and thy son’s wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing…” (Genesis 8:16-17)

And the first thing done by Noah, was an altar: “And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord;…and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” (Genesis 8:20)

Genesis 9:1 “And God blessed Noah….”.

This is the first time, since Adam was in Eden, before his sin…..that God is said to bless anyone.

The flood was not Noah’s idea….but he took his place in God’s Will for it.

The ark was not Noah’s design….but he did all God’s Will for it.

The animals were not Noah’s thought….but he went to wherever they were and brought them in, according to God’s Will.

The time to return to the earth was not Noah’s time….but he went out when God said, and built an altar of worship and thanksgiving.

Faith always shows us God….and keeps Him before us.

Where grace comes….God is obeyed.

And this same grace lives within each of our hearts, if we are born again by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This is how everyone is born again….by grace (the unmerited favor of God’s power)….through faith (given by the Holy Spirit to all who come to God in Christ Jesus).

And we are “His workmanship”….for His good works.

We have no flood ahead….or ark to build…..but we all have a world around us that we are to live in….but not of;

….and God’s Will to do.

Let us receive His grace….all we can get, and be obedient….today.

How did we get here?

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent for His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

God’s purpose for the earth has to do with Christ and His glory….before times eternal God the Father made the Everlasting Covenant with His Son.

God the Father would draw a people to His Son, if……

……Jesus would come to earth and live a perfect life…..in this wicked world…..and if you read about the world, Jesus lived in…it was a desperate and despicable place.

It was as if the devil knew the Son of God was coming, and wanted to make it impossible to live a perfect life.

And then die a perfect sacrifice….He would receive the reward of His labors…..us. (Isaiah 53:10. Think of how marvelous a thought that is!)

In Bethlehem, He was born…..but promise concerning His birth began, right as soon as sin enter the world, through Adam. The promise of a Savior, to save us from our sin. Hallelujah!

Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Jesus Christ who came to save the world from sin, would be born of a woman.

Christ would bruise the devil’s head (on the cross when Jesus said “it is finished”, the victory over sin and death was won)

The devil would bruise Christ ‘s heel (the mocking, beatings, the betrayal)

Abraham was chosen to be the one who God spoke to next, about His beloved Son:

Genesis 17:7 “And I will establish My covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their generations for a everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee.”

Seed not seeds

Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy Seed, which is Christ.”

Under Jacob (and he was a schemer, but he really did want the spiritual blessing…..the birthright….which was to have the Christ come through his line. Genesis 25:31-33)

In Jacob’s last blessing for his sons, God made known in prophesy that Judah would be the tribe from which Christ would come.

Genesis 49:10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.”

This prophesy continued until David….then God added more information…..Christ would come as King through David’s line:

2 Samuel 7:25-26 “And now, O Lord God, the word that Thou has spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as Thou hast said.

And let Thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee.”

Matthew 1:1 “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

The line is set….but one more promise:

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

A virgin…..a total miracle will take place in the womb of a woman….whose known no man……and He will be the Son of God placed within her.

This was the last promise….until….

Luke 1:26-27, 31-32, 35 “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David:

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Although God had chosen Mary, it was still up to Mary to choose God.

Of course, she did….

Luke 1:38 “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to Thy Word. And the angel departed from her.”

The title of this is……How did we get here?

How did a sinful world get a Savior, and King?

It was all planned for us in eternity past…..a Savior and King…..and as the years rolled down the promise was added to,…..some believed, some did not.

It is the same to day.

Some believe the testimony of His Word, and others do not…..

But it is certain I am in the time and place that the Lord wants me…..and so for you.

Out of all the world of men, God called Abraham

Out of two brothers God chose Jacob

Out of twelve brothers God chose Judah

Out of many thousands of virgins in Israel….at the time of Roman rule….He chose Mary.

And Jesus plainly says “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you (made provision for), that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” (John 15:16)

He chose us, made provision for us, and called us……now, like Mary, we need to choose God….His Son, His Lordship, His Will and Way.

Make Room For Christ, by Repentance

Luke 3:2-6 “…the word of God came unto John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

And he came into all the country about Jordon, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Baptism was done to proselytes (Gentiles who wanted to be admitted into the worship of God). Then they could go into the Temple. (There was a court of the Gentiles)

But here, John the Baptist comes to Israel, God’s chosen people; and preaches repentance from their sins, as he was told to do…..by baptism.

Prepare yourselves: for the Lord is coming.

If you want to be in the kingdom of God, prepare your hearts by repentance, and bring forth fruit in your life that shows that you have repented.

Luke 3:8-9 “Bring forth therefore fruits of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn (cut) down, and cast into the fire.”

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” But how? Bring all who would hear, to the place that they know that the Christ is coming to set all things in order…..

Malachi 4:4-6 “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant….

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

“To turn the hearts”…..that is repentance. To remember who we are….the called of the Lord,….and what should first….in our lives.

Luke 3:10-11 “And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”

These were simple things which were written in the Law. But the poor state of most of the people, had caused them to think only of themselves.

Luke 3:12-13 “Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

And he said unto them, Exact no more then that which is appointed you.”

Publicans were tax collectors, and were most often cheats.

They demanded extra taxes to be paid, and kept the extra. The people could not say anything about it, for they were under the authority of Rome.

Luke 3:14 “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”

Again, these would have been things which were written in the Law. Things which they should have already been doing.

But everyone had stopped paying any attention to God’s Word: going, instead, after their own way, or the way of the times (everyone else is doing it, so I can too.).

The “valleys to be filled”, were those who had given up: depressed, despondent; they were to be given joy in the Lord.

The mountains and hills to be “brought low”, were the proud and rich, with the attitude of piling up riches, to gain power or influence. Not caring about their responsibility in caring for their brethren. They were to come to a new understanding about mercy. (Matthew 9:11-13)

The “crooked” were the flagrant sinners; those who everyone knew to be sinners.

They were to be saved and “sin no more”. (John 8:11)

The “rough ways” were the practices of the scribes and Pharisees, which instructed the people in the traditions; yet did not practice them, themselves.

All needed repentance. To change their hearts and lives. To live according to the Word they had already received. To make room for Christ.

Isaiah said, “…make straight in the desert a highway for our God….And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh see it together ; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

A highway is a road built up; set up above the ground around. It is a road that all can see, for it is higher than the fields and streams.

John the Baptist came building up a way that all could see and follow.

It would be straight;….and all who would repent and come,….could walk in it.

Isaiah 35:8 “And a 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.”

“Wayfaring men” are those whose whole lives are moving from one thing to another. Yet even though they are just passing by, they will know God’s Will for them.

John the Baptist came preaching and baptizing all who wanted to have the reality of true worship of the Lord.

The people who knew they were not right, and wanted to be. Maybe they were called the “down-and-out”……

Maybe they were so far from God, they thought they would never be able to come back…..

But John preached to all: and whosoever will, may come.

Then Jesus came.

“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

John 1:29 “The next day John seeing Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!”

Matthew 3:16-17 “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lightening upon Him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

He was the Son of God, having come to take away the sins of the world.

And when He had done that by the sacrifice of Himself, and after His resurrection:…..the message to all His disciples was:

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

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

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

May I ask you: what will we do with His Word?