A New Thing

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Of course these verses apply to Israel….but once I was praying about something, and the Lord showed me this verse.

I needed a “new thing” right about then….a “new way” in my wilderness….

(Notice….”it shall spring forth”. I love the Lord’s Words! Right when we see a wilderness, or a desert…..He shall make things “spring forth”….like the seed coming into a plant; like the blossoms on a fruit tree! All the things….the new things of life! God-given life to us!)

Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”

They are back in the past….if confessed and forgiven….forget them…

….and get on with the Lord’s Will for our lives….now.

He showed me that I should commit each day into His hand….asking His Will done in it….with me.

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

We should live each day as if it were our most important time.

I have often gone through a month….thinking of an important date, at the end of the month….when each day, should have been my concern.

The past we can do nothing about….

….the future we do not have….but we can live today for Christ Jesus, giving Him our time, and efforts….to honor Him.

And we should seek His blessing, guidance and supply, for this day.

It really is, our most important time.

How many of us seek His blessing for each day…..true we are grateful for the blessings that come…..health, encouragements, helps.

But the blessing He wants us to experience is…..the blessing of knowing His Will is done by us,…..the rest and joy it brings.

If we are to truly “apply ourselves to wisdom”….it will be on a daily basis….with the Lord.

(Wisdom is God’s Light to show us the practical use of knowledge. We may know certain facts…..even Bible facts; but are at a loss to be able to use them in my situation. Wisdom lights things up, practically,…..it shows us how to take what we know….and get the job done.

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.)

“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”. This is God speaking….He, will “make a way”….

The wilderness in scripture is a place of trials, and discipline.

When the children of Israel needed water….water was given from a Rock (Exodus 17:6)

When the children of Israel needed food….manna was given…along with instruction as how to use it. (Exodus 16:12-16)

When they needed deliverance from attack….instructions were given for Moses and Joshua. Moses to lift up the rod (prayer)….and Joshua to fight with the sword and men of Israel. (Exodus 17:10-11)

The cloud during the day….and the light at night never left them…but they were told to follow it. (Exodus 13:21-22)

The lessons varied….they were to learn that God will supply, when there is no supply…

….To learn to be a warrior and leader….

….To learn that they are not alone, or abandoned….no matter the correction.

The wilderness is often compared to our spiritual journey here:

Psalm 68:7 “O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah.

It was God’s “march”…..a ordered set of circumstances which led them through trials…..to prepare them for the step ahead….and their life ahead.

(Some failed….because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19)……

….some learned….the generation which were children when they came from Egypt…went in and took the land (Joshua 24:31)

…and those that learned, reaped the benefits of God’s training.)

But the most important thing for us to remember is……no matter the trial they went through:…..God provided.

He made a way in the wilderness….and rivers in the desert….and He will do the same for us.

Perhaps today is the time to turn your back on the past….not to look to tomorrow……but to see today….and what your God would have you to learn, to do, to see, to know, to share…with Him…..today.

1 Peter 1:6-8 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

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

Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

There is a “new thing” He wants to do,…in us…..for us…..through us…

Will we let Him give us wisdom for today, and walk in His light,….in that way He is making for us?

As many as I love…

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

Jesus Christ loves us,…..therefore He will not let us go on and drown in self-will, or be deceived by sin, without throwing us the lifeline, administered by His Holy Spirit: of His Word, messages, and testimonies.

All given to help us hear Him, and repent (turn around).

When we get to heaven, the Lord’s Word will judge us: He will bless the works we have done out of love to Him.

John 12:48 “He that rejecteth Me, and recieveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the words that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

(Remember: “..If a man love me, he will keep my words: “John 14:23)

Paul tells us plainly, it is not how much we do for Christ, but of what sort it is.

1 Corinthians 3:13 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

Only those works which were done by the Holy Spirit through you, will count for eternity.

And only those acts done for the love of Jesus, will stand the fire of the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 “If any man’s work abide which he hath built there upon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Saved. In Heaven. Yet so as by fire.

The works that we do are of two sorts (for they are all imperfect):

those that are done according to God’s Will by yielding to the Holy Spirit, out of love to the Lord Jesus.

And those that we do because we feel me must, or from our own self motives (appreciation, applause, or status).

1 Corinthians 3:11-12 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;”

You can see how the fire of God’s Word will devour up the wood, hay and stubble, of self will.

But the fire will just refine the gold and the silver more. And will not touch the precious stones.

These are those acts which we have let the Holy Spirit work 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.”

These are the fruits of the Holy Spirit that we allow to come through us into the circumstances of our lives.

They reveal themselves in kindness, forgiveness, and peace and faithfulness to God in adversity.

These are the things that the world is searching for. That can reach a hungry soul for Christ. And (amazingly) God uses us!

To have my Christ-life, I must deny my self-life: both cannot rule my life. We choose one or the other.

It is through the fires of my everyday trials, I am brought to see the true value of “Christ in me, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Paul says:

Colossians 1:29 “Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”

Does the Holy Spirit work in you mightily?

Well, He is waiting to give you what you need, “above all that ye ask or think”.

But it is according to the power of the Holy Spirit that works within you.

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

Let this power work in us, that it might work by us and through us, to a hungry world, for Christ Jesus our Lord.

The man with the withered hand

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

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

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

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

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

It was something to hide or keep covered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…so he stayed put, waiting….in faith.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then Jesus turned and looked at each man there….

…not in anger,…..but sadness.

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

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

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

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

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

When God asks us to cooperate with Him,….

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

….then we must obey Him.

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

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

Jesus spoke….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, He is.

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

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

We are Created in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

There are two creations: the natural creation, and the spiritual creation.

We were created in Adam; naturally he was the father of all people.

We were created in Christ Jesus; spiritually, when we were born again.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

This shows what we have as a new creation, in Christ Jesus.

First there is Wisdom:

Wisdom is that sudden light from above which illuminates our lives.

We were afraid: wisdom came, and suddenly the thing we were afraid of, is seen against the background of God.

We were without understanding: wisdom came, and suddenly the “muddle of our minds” disappears, and we know.

And with the knowledge, that wisdom gives power (grace) to do, for this wisdom is from the Lord.

Second, there is Righteousness:

There is the imputed righteousness of Christ which is given to us. But this righteousness spoken of here, is also the righteous acts of obedience which we do for His sake.

When we see what He wants us to do, with the wisdom He gives, then, we will do those acts of obedience to please Him.

(I also believe that with these righteous acts, comes a knowledge of God’s goodness and love which flows through us to others.)

Third, there is Sanctification:

Sanctification is the setting yourself aside for sacred use. To be used by God, for His glory and honor.

This sanctification is in Christ Jesus, but it is worked in us by all three of the Trinity: that is how important God thinks it is!

It is by our Heavenly Father that we are sanctified.

Jude 1: “Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

It is by the Lord Jesus Christ that we are sanctified.

1 Corinthians 1:2 ” Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

It is by the Holy Spirit we are sanctified.

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ : grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

Fourth, there is Redemption.

(Now, I would have put this first…but Paul puts it last, for here is where we fit into God’s redemptive purpose for us; and become showcases to the world of Christ’s redemption.)

Redemption is to be bought back. The ransom for our lives was paid in full by Jesus Christ. We are saved from the guilt of sin, forever.

We are redeemed in every part of our lives….spirit, soul and body.

We are redeemed in our personal lives; Our school and work lives; Our habits and our hobbies.

We are redeemed in our thought life…..Jesus Christ has redeemed us wholly.

Not any part is left out of His perfect redemption plan……are we entering into what He purchased us for?

We are His purchased possession, and now nothing in the world (unless we let it have a hold on us) owns us. We are His.

Now all these things we have in Christ Jesus….for in Christ we are a new creation…..clean, whole, alive unto God…

….do we realize what we have?

Open up your eyes to what Christ Jesus has for us……and then let us open up our lives, anew,….to have more of Him and what He has purchased for us….in us.

1 Corinthians 1:31 “That according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Be Still and Know that I am God

Ex 14:13 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more forever.”

How many times have we been told to stand still…..wait here….till God removes….or moves circumstances, to His Way for us?

Many times.

(I am a planner. Give me a problem….and I am right at it, to “fix” it.

Even if there is nothing I can do, I still try and wiggle the circumstances….or change the mind of people….to see the “right” thing done.)

Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

Like Jacob, (and I love that God uses him here,….not the God of Israel, but the God of Jacob!…..For he was a schemer….figuring out things…trying to hurry up God’s time!)…we often think we know what is best.

But what we are called to “know”…..is God.

God’s time is best…..God’s Way is best…..God’s faithfulness is seen again and again in the fact that what He works out, is right.

Let us consider…..”Be still”.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be still and know,….to be still that you may know…..know that He is God, still in control of all things….

….no matter what is going on with me, now.

To quiet yourself before Him….this requires discipline.

To force yourself…and all the voices within your thoughts to stop!

(1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,…” Wherefore gather your thoughts….and bind them under One thought…what is the Lord’s Will for me, now.)

Stop trying to figure out what must be done….stop planning….stop,..

…and force yourself to wait on the Lord….to honor Him in this.

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

(Wait…..but wait upon the Lord.

Not on circumstances to change, or people to change, or even our feelings to change….

…to wait upon the Lord is different for each of us….

….for me, it usually comes down to “seeing”. The things I “see” in my problems or trials or sickness is how this effects me and mine. But when I “see” the Lord, then His Will is first….and my spirit gets quiet,…then I can know God….my God.)

This He will do, if we but wait on Him.

He hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)…

…but what we have…

(they are ours, set aside for our circumstances here….count on it.)

….we need to get them in us, down here in the earthlies,…ourselves.

The means to have all these blessings is…”Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

This is true rest, this is true sight, this is true liberty.

The flow of Spiritual blessings is only stopped when we refuse His rule over our lives.

He does not bless our will…..but He does bless His Will, in us….for me to do His Will,….which is all that He is requiring at my hand, in my everyday things.

Be still, and know that I am God.

(I have been thinking a lot about how many times the Lord uses…the Lord, or God, in scripture.

He uses The Lord when He is stressing Himself as our Personal King and Guide….He leads us through all things.

He uses God when He is stressing His Purpose, which is Eternal and Unchanging…and His Might to bring it to pass.)

Here, He commands….”Be still and know that I am God”….

“Have you forgotten that I am in charge? That I will bring all My Purpose to pass….in My time?

Then quiet yourselves, and know….first in you….then in the peace I give you in this time.”

Be still and know,….to be still that you might know!

Know that He is God….our God….still in control of all things.

Amen and amen.

Take heed

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

Take heed how ye hear.

I believe the one thing that God requires to save a soul….is honesty.

He will justify the worst sinner…but not in their sin. We are to come to Christ….just as we are….to be saved (not from Hell, but from our sin. Matthew 1:21)

He justifies them, by deliverance from their sin.

And there can be no justification without obedience.

Realm 103:20 “Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word.”

The voice of His Word. Here He speaks clearly….His revelation to us, is the Word of the Creator…to His creatures.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Man, under the sun….natural man….yet God’s Word to every man….

….Fear God and keep HIs commandments. This is the whole duty of man.

After the flood, where every man was destroyed….who was not found in the Ark God had Noah build….”eight souls” were saved.

( And Noah preached the coming destruction for the years the Ark was building…so every man was without excuse.)

When Noah stepped out on a clean earth….he built an altar.

Genesis 8:20-21 “And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.”

God said, I will not do this again that I have done….for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.

But this thing I will do…

Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

In other words, look to the natural order of things….the seasons, day and night.

All things will continue until the End.

(But we hear everyday, that things tell us….in the natural order of things….that there must be a New order soon. 2 Peter 3:10-13

Romans 8:22 “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”)

God did speak…..God will certainly speak…..

….and God speaks now, to all that will hear.

Yet it is how we hear that must be considered.

Take heed how ye hear. To hear aright, requires obedience.

The truth heard, has to be taken into our lives….and it has to be lived.

(Otherwise, it might be good advice….it might be good doctrine, even….

….but Truth to have any effect must be followed,…..obeyed…..lived.

Those that heard Noah….I am sure some scoffed, some mocked or threatened him for preaching such things…

….but others just probably felt sorry for this “crazy” old man. Shaking their heads….quite confident that nothing will change.

But how wrong they were….every man, woman, and child (and yes, every parent was responsible for their child)…drown in the deluge from their sins….

….because they refused the Word of the Lord,….and refuge in His Ark of salvation.)

Take heed how ye hear.

We must first bow as creature to the Creator to His Word.

(He can do what He will with HIs Own.)

Then as His servant, we must stand with Him, and “hold out the Word of Life”….to all He sends us to.

Then we are to walk with Him…..in Him, and He in us…..in union with….as sons of God, Our Father…..through this world….by HIs Word.

He speaks to us, if we will but hear.

The Path before us is clearly marked….again by His Word.

Our duties are plain as to what we are do to….

…..and to take heed, and hear aright, is to do them as we ought.

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

I will never leave thee

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

When my daughter was small, this was her favorite promise. (Her favorite song was….”If Jesus said it, I believe it”)

Ask about a Bible verse, and she would quote this part….

….and I must admit, it is a blessing to read and hear it, for me as well.

The Lord has promised believers:

He will never leave us….therefore He is always with us, whether we “feel” like it or not.

He will never forsake us….therefore He will always stay after us, nudging us by His blessed Holy Spirit to keep coming….to keep praying….to keep taking that next step with Him. (Matthew 28:20)

Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are a people who are made for the fellowship and communion with God….for we have a light that “lighteth every man”. John 1:9. A desire for true belonging.

We have a spirit that should be filled with the Holy Spirit….

….yet by sin, man has become a solitary creature.

Full of secrets, of dark places in our minds and hearts….of anger, hate, or rebellion against good,……and we have chosen ourselves to consider,….first.

Many yearn for the comfort of “someone” caring about us…..but refuse to open their hearts to the greatest lover of our souls…..Jesus Christ.

He sees us,….He knows all about us, yet died to save us,….He cares for us….for He came to “seek and to save that which was lost”.

Luke 15:4-5 “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

(What hinders our turning to Christ Jesus?

As there are three parts to our souls….mind, heart, and will.

There are three “lusts” which keep us in bondage.

1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

I want to explain, “lust” in scripture means “I want this, and I want it now”.

It could be anything….anything which comes between God and our souls.

The lust of the flesh….something which we want to satisfy our taste, smell, touch, or sight.

The lust of the eyes….something which is pleasing or beautiful to us….we must have it, or something like it.

The pride of life….something we want that will elevate us…make us “better”…..either to ourselves or others.

These are the lusts which bind us, keep us prisoners……to this world’s influence…..and keep us wandering away from God.)

But though we are bound….God is not hindered…..He came to seek and to save that which was lost…

Matthew 18:11-12 “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?”

Notice in this, Jesus said that the sheep was “gone astray”….

…..and that this sheep had chosen the worst conditions to be wandering around in….”the mountains”.

Lions and bears had dens there,…the way is steep and slippery,….rocks and cliffs are there….and this sheep thought that this way would be better than following the Shepherd!?

Yet, the Lord does not leave this sheep to die….for that is what is out there for it….

….He goes and finds it…brings it home….rejoicing over it.

“I will never leave thee.”

The term “gone astray” describes us:

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

If there was not that last part…..which God has done in Christ….the end of us all….sadly, would be…..”his own way”. (Proverbs 1:31-32)

1 Peter 2:21, 24-25 “….because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow HIs steps:

Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

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

(It says “but are now returned”….not that we returned ourselves. How gracious God is.)

Ezekiel 34:11, 16 “For Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick:…”

God has never left us without witness to Himself—in nature and His Word;..

…..nor left us in our sins, without supplying a Way—through Christ Jesus, His Son—for salvation….

….nor left us to guide ourselves through this world—giving His born again ones His Holy Spirit.

Nor will He forsake us….in trouble, or shame, or storm, or enemy….He will never leave nor forsake us….for we are His sheep…..His flock….His people, whom He loves.

Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

“I will never leave thee.”

The Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

When we think of God’s power, we think of miracles from the Bible:

The sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14)

or time going backward as a sign for the healing of king Hezekiah. (2 Kings 20:8-11).

Indeed, there was power there….

But, when God’s power is usually seen, it is thru His Word.

(He stressed this , at the first:

Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

He did not have to speak; all He had to do was will it.

But He did speak, to show the value He places on His Word.)

To stress the real Power of His Voice, we would do back to a cave and a hiding Prophet.

1 Kings 19:9 “And he (Elijah) came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

Indeed, What was Elijah doing in that cave? How did he come to this?

Elijah was a man of Gilead, who was distressed at the low spiritual state of Israel. They were worshipping idols, and killing those who worshipped God. Yes, things were very low.

So he began to pray. God had told Israel that if they worshipped other gods , then He would withhold the rain. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

Elijah prayed God would withhold rain, to get Israel’s attention…..so they would turn back to God.

James 5:17 ” Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

For six months Elijah prayed for God to withhold the rain, and He did.

Then Elijah was told to go to Ahab, king of Israel and tell him:

1 Kings 17:1 ” And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

This might seem the wrong way to go about it….for Ahab did not believe in God…he had completely become an idol worshipper.

But someone coming and saying , in effect, “The true God of Israel is listening to my prayers,….And He is going to stop the rain, all the rain and dew; until I pray again.”

That got Ahab’s attention!

Elijah was told to go and hide…for Ahab would try and kill him. He did try. But God hid him….till:

After 3 years, Israel was in famine….cattle, crops, everything withering,

Then…

Elijah was told (1 Kings 18:1). “….Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.”

How would he do that? Through Elijah’s prayer…but first, Elijah wanted to showed Ahab and all the Israelites,…..the power of God,…..when you obey Him.

So , he set up a “contest” between the priests of the idol, and him.

1 Kings 18:19 “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred which eat at Jezebel’s table.”

It was a simple contest :

1 Kings 18:23-24 “Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”

So the prophets of Baal began:

1 Kings 18:26 “And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that heard. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.”

Notice, “No voice, nor any that heard”. Tricks and show…..but no reality.

So now it was Elijah’s turn.

Remember Elijah began this, by praying that God would withhold rain, so Israel would be awakened to their sin of idolatry and come back to God.

But how would they be awakened?

By a mighty demonstration of God’s Power?

For even under famine, the people had not turned back to God.

Called to the work of making everyone know that God was not pleased with Israel’s sin.

This he did when he went to Ahab.

Everyone knew that he had gone before the king and declared “No rain or dew” till he said.

And there had been no dew or rain for 3 years!

What were the means to Awaken the hearts to God’s demands for His people?

How were they to “hear” for themselves, and return to Him?

Well, it is through His Word spoken to our hearts…..

After three years of drought and famine; Elijah was told to go back and God would send rain.

God puts HIs people through a measured chastening….It was time to send rain. He would send it through Elijah’s prayer, but…….

As for the “contest”, I believe Elijah thought (as most of us would),…..if the people could just see some mighty work, that only God could do, then that would believe.

God’s people would know….once for all–that God was God….and return to Him.

(Remember the people are standing around, watching as the priests of the idol fail…..and now their attention is turned to Elijah)

1 Kings 18:30-35 ” And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

And Elijah took twelve stones, ….And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

And he said, Do it a second time. And they did….And he said, Do it a third time. And they did it the third time.

And water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.”

(Where did he get the water? Mt. Carmel is about a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea)

He made the Altar so wet it could never burn….except by the Power of God.

Listen to the Prayer of Elijah:

1Kings 18:37-39 “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know a that thou art the Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back.

The the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.”

Two things to notice:

Elijah did not pray for rain, here.

And the people said “the Lord, he is the God”…….not our God.

The fire came down! First the burnt sacrifice was consumed, which meant God heard Elijah, and honored him before the king and the people.

Then the wood,

Then the stones of the altar, itself

Then the very dust on the ground where the altar sat.

And licked up the water in the trench.

Then the prophets and priests of Baal were slain!

This was a mighty demonstration; so….

Everything is set in order, right?

But what did it do for King Ahab, or the people?

Where was the rain?

It came, and at Elijah’s prayer, but who was noticing , then?

1 Kings 18:42-45 “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

And said to his servant, Go up now , look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand……..And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.”

The fire falling was a mighty answer to prayer, but the people’s hearts were not turned back to God.

They might have been shown the true God…….

But I believe, that to turn their hearts back , required Elijah to preach God’s Word to the people that he had prayed for,…..till their hearts said The Lord is our God…..

…..people hearing for themselves God’s requirements on their own lives….

…..comes through preaching, and teaching God’s Word, and prayers.

(We can know God is able, without ever knowing God is able for me. That is the problem here; God was real now, They had to believe in His power…but they did not believe in Him for their lives)

Then what did this mighty demonstration do for Elijah? For Ahab? For the people?

For Ahab there was no change in his heart.

1 Kings 19:1 ” And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.”

He ran home and told Jezebel; nothing changed in his life.

For the people? Some say that the worship of Baal was never the same. And the servants of God we’re not brutally killed as before.

But most did not turn back to God, even though they knew He was “The God.”

And for Elijah? That is the saddest situation of all.

Having done such a Mighty Demonstration of God’s Power….

Since the rain was given in answer to his prayer….he thought:

Surely everything is over with….Israel will now worship The Lord God , and Elijah could go and relax.

Everything was fixed…they were God’s People again. Right?

God enables His servants….there was ample power at Elijah’s disposal.

But……God requires His servants to see the job done; and Elijah thought the job was over with.

But it wasn’t:

1 Kings 19:2 “Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time”

Now as God’s Servants, we should expect trials, and enemies in this world.

But Elijah was thrown off guard, by thinking that the work was done, that he and God had won. There would be no opposition.

But, again, that was not the case.

1 Kings 19:3 “And when he saw that , he arose, and went for his life,….”

After such a mighty demonstration,….then running for his life.

Now , I would not judge Elijah….I have been tricked up myself, thinking things were not what they actually were.

And thinking that if I could just somehow show God’s Power, too, things would be different.

What we need to come to is God’s Word, and Voice.

What was it that began Elijah’s ministry?

The Word of God spoken to Moses so many years before…a promise that God surely would; and did, bring to pass by his seeking it.

And what caused Elijah to return , to pray for rain, after three years….God’s Word to him.

So now let us consider a lesson that God used to teach His runaway prophet. (For He was not done with him, though he had run away.)

1 Kings 19:9-10 “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life , to take it away. “

Maybe he actually thought he was the only one left. A sure sign that no one seemed to stand with him. And here he was hiding inside the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13 “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by , and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind:

and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

God’s Word and Voice began his ministry; and here God teaches His prophet a lesson about His Voice in comparison to Mighty Demonstrations of Power.

God calls Elijah to come out of hiding, after showing him He was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire….but it is His Voice that brings out His real servants to Himself.

Here God gives his runaway servant some instructions, and Elijah just goes and does it. No need for anything else.

And what else does God show him? The prophet who said “I only am left”?

1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

There were seven thousand of God’s servants, throughout Israel.

The important thing here, is: Having heard the Word of the Lord again, Elijah just goes and does it.

There is no fear, no hesitation, he just does what he is told.

This is true power…God’s Voice speaking to us…..and us doing what He says.

He can do what He promises,…….and He can take care of us, through it all.

Use it or Lose it?

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

Matthew 25:14-30

Here is the parable of the man traveling into a far country. So he delivers to his servants his goods, to gain with.

Matthew 25:14 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called His own servants, and delivered unto them His goods.”

To begin this, we would stress the most important fact; we should deal with “ability”. “Each to his several ability”.

Matthew 25:15 “And unto one he gave five talents, to another, two; and to another, one. To every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey”

“Several ability”,….the plain teaching of this parable is that even the one talent person could have gained something; in as much as each had a several ability…..

…….Which means there is more than one thing they could have done.

Matthew 25:29 “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

But from “him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath”?

In other words, that which he had, but made no use of.

Luke 19:12-14 “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.”

Here in this parable we see two groups: Servants, and citizens.

Those that say they are His servants, who are entrusted to use part of the nobleman’s wealth, to gain for Him while he is gone.

And the citizens of the country, are those of the world which hate him, outright.

When the nobleman returns (as Christ will one day, having been given His Kingdom here on earth [Revelation 11:15]). Then he calls for an account of his servants.

The Parable in Matthew 25 uses “talents”.

Each of us receiving a different amount to use,…..symbolizing the calling and abilities (grace) given us, by the Holy Spirit, to do God’s Will.

But here in Luke, they receive one pound each…….and are told to “Occupy till I come”.

This is a merchandise term , as used in the day of Christ.

It means to use it…..and gain with it.

(The “pound”, is the faith by the Holy Spirit. Will we yield to the Holy Spirit and have the victory and obediences Christ has for us? Will we use our pound?)

Luke 19:16-17 “Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

And He said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.”

Faithfulness to God in what He has given you, much or little, is what He rewards.

Luke 19:18 “And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.”

And so He gave the man who had been faithful, even though with less…….authority over five cities.

He had not gained as much as the first servant, but had been faithful and gained;…..and so, was rewarded.

Now to the one who hid his talent, for selfish fear.

He did not think well of the Master, and did not care about “gaining” for Him.

So he thought he would hide his talent, to protect himself. He would give back what he was given, and be done with it.

The Nobleman couldn’t complain, he thought, because He had back, what He had given.

But that is not what the Nobleman,….or our Lord Jesus,…wants.

He wants His servants to use what He had given them, out of honor for Him,….and “gain”.

First we “gain” grace and fellowship within, so that the love of God sheds itself abroad in us.

Second we “gain” by the “good works” we do in the power of the Holy Spirit….we gain the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of a Christian…which is another Christian.

We have been given faith, by the Holy Spirit, to help us.

Are we taking the help?

We have been given gifts and callings (ability). Are we using them to His glory?

Luke19:23 “Wherefore than gavest not thou My money into the bank, that at My coming I might have required mine own with usury?” (Interest)

He was responsible for his one talent,…..but he did nothing with it.

That one talent, he was given, could have gained at least one more.

And should we not use our faith, whether large or little…….and grow in grace?

Perhaps, if he had only grown in faith,….he would have gained love…..love for the Master, he was to serve…..and that would have resulted in more gain.

But sadly…..he hid his talent.

What about us? Are we using what we have been given as faithful stewards of Christ Jesus?

We can and should……and gain by it.

Let us do what we can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and be blessed.

Again! Use it or lose it!

As Paul said:

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

Those that are faithful in little, will be given much.

For this is the measure of Spiritual Things.

Luke 19:24-26 “And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath 10 pounds.

(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath 10 pounds.).

For I say unto you , That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.”

There it is , the Sovereign Creator says “That unto every one which hath shall be given”.

They have used what He gave them, and gained,….little or much.

We who are of the Elect, need to see God’s Purpose which was from the beginning

We were not put into this world to fulfill our own purpose, but HIs.

We were neither born, Or born again, to do our own thing.

But unto the good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

If we are faithful to God, we will gain for Him. If we are unfaithful, we will lose our reward.

Again, use it, or lose it; which will we do?

Paul’s last Message

2 Timothy 4:6 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”

Paul is in a Roman prison: he has been sentenced to death.

He has a few things to say to Timothy, who was like a son to him. Instruction, and testimony.

But notice, when Paul talks about his soon execution, he talks as if he were waiting on a train to take him away.

And it is true. The same second Paul’s body died, he was in heaven, meeting Jesus face to face. Experiencing the beauty, rest, and love of God.

Paul speaks of being offered; and he was offered on the altar of hate. They wanted to be rid of this one who preached Christ, even though he had done no wrong to the Roman state.

He had no one of importance to stand for him before Caesar. And as he testified, all men forsook him; no one stood up for him, because of fear of retaliation from the men around Caesar.

Yet Paul forgives them and asks God to forgive them, too.

2 Timothy 4:16-17 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”

Paul writes Timothy, not just to notify him of his execution, but to instruct him.

He lets him know that he is ready to go. That he has finished the Purpose of God for his life.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

Paul used these illustrations before, when talking about his life as a preacher of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.

But keep under my body, and bring it in to subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

As a runner in a race, he was to keep the goal of God in front of him, and finish what he started.

He was to preach salvation to all,…….and exhort them to grow in the grace of God.

And show them how to do it.

And he was a fighter. He had real enemies, he was not fighting the air.

His enemies were from within himself…..(We always need to resist sin.)…

And from without. Many sought to kill him, slander him, and ruin the simple gospel message; yet he withstood them,…..often face to face.

But he had fought the good fight. He had finished his course.

He had kept the faith. The word “kept” here is “to guard from loss, by keeping our eye upon”.

And he had instructed Timothy in his former letter to do the same:

1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, wherein thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Paul also looks forward to what God has promised:

2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:….”

And if he had stopped there, we would absolutely understand. Paul had done many things, suffered many things for Christ Jesus.

But he does not:

“…and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Any Christian, who loves the appearing of Christ Jesus, will receive a crown of righteousness.

It is difficult, not to get wrapped up in this world……It’s anger, greed, and vengeful spirit.

Then we forget to love Jesus……and we stop looking to Him.

When that happens……we don’t “keep” our faith active.

Paul warns all of us, to “fight the good fight of faith”. And keep our eye on,…and guard our faith,…..which will always lead us on, with the Lord.

Yet, if we do love and wait for Him, there is a crown waiting for us in heaven.

Paul’s last message, was one of instruction and testimony:

“If I, who once was an enemy of Jesus,…….can be saved…..and come to love Him through out my life; in good times, and bad: So can you.

He stood with me,……and Jesus Christ will stand with you no matter what comes.”

So ended Paul’s bodily ministry…..and so began his eternal joy with Christ!