Not to faint.

To faint in scripture is not to fall down unconscious, as we think of it today……

….but to give up,….feeling everything is lost,….and for a Christian, this is an act of our will….

….though it maybe began in our emotions or reasons.

Luke 18:1 “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

There is a definite choice here…..A choice, the Lord says, there is God’s help for.

(My husband and I knew a man once…..

He was a good man, went to our church….and knew many sound doctrines. He was always overflowing with good words about the Lord,….and if you were not around him much….he seemed so genuine.

But he never finished anything. He would begin with a rallying cry,….and struggle through for a while….and then just sit down, with the urging, “you go on, I’ll be there shortly”….but he wasn’t.

I believe that many, respect God….that do not love Him. And love, in scripture…..which is the willed tendency of our hearts….is a powerful and strengthening grace.

If we are Christians, Love is first put into our hearts by God, the Holy Spirit….it is “shed abroad in our hearts” (Romans 5:5)…

…and it changes us. It gives us a “soft” heart….one easily moved by the Holy Spirit…toward God.

Without love, we may be obedient, enthusiastic, knowledgeable…..but not devoted…to Christ, Himself.

Where there is no love, there is no worship….for worship is counting Him worthy of all of us.

Habakkuk 2:20 “But the Lord is in His Holy Temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

….it seems that many people want to “give up the fight”.

…I, too, have felt like giving up….

…there was a time….when I was a teenager, after some bad experiences, that I thought of committing suicide for a time.

Yet, the Lord has always come to me….

…..not necessarily encouraging me, for sometimes we need a jolt back into the reality of life, rather than a hug….

…..but His Presence has always made the difference….always got me up out of myself….

(I want to talk just for a moment of suicide. It is self-murder. Some may give a complicated answer why people kill themselves…and I do think that there are about as many “reasons”…as people.

But they all come down to not believing God,….and trying to destroy their biggest problem….themselves, or their circumstances.

Some are looking for a way out of problems…..

……But please, seek first the great problem Solver….Christ.

Some are looking for a way out of themselves….they are not happy with who they are, so they will destroy their “enemy”.

But God says, I have seen you in the womb….I have formed you for My sake. Again, do you believe God, or others?

Suicide is self-murder….you are not just killing your bodies, but your life as well. You are saying, “I will not live the life You, God, have given me.”

But our lives are more than this moment of pain, hurt, trial,….or worse.

They are beyond that….and Christ Jesus can be our Helper, now.

Please come to Christ Jesus. Receive Him into your heart and life.

Christ Jesus came to save you…..

….you, who He loved so much, that He bore all your sins on the cross, for you.)

Luke 18:1-8 is the parable of a widow who was being harassed by her adversary.

She had no one to speak for her….so she did what she could, and came before a Roman Judge….and cried for help.

But he paid no attention to her or her need….he did not care about a silly widow….she could do him no damage….at least this is what he thought at first.

(And how many people pay no attention to others…..even those close to us. But God sees…..and God hears.)

Now here, she could have given up…..but…

…..she kept coming to his court, and crying for help! “Avenge me of mine adversary!”

So, “though he feared not God, nor regarded man”…..he decided that she was getting too much attention in his court,….and she might ruin his reputation….others might start doing the same thing.

So, he would avenge her….give her a restraining order against her adversary….just to get rid of her, out of his court!

Luke 18:6-8 “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?

I tell you that He will avenge them speedily….”

“I tell you….”. This is the Lord saying this…..”God will avenge them speedily”

This is an amazing promise.

We should ask for a “restraining order” against our Adversary….when he is harassing us in our prayers, direction, or speaking to someone….

…God will avenge us speedily, when we do.

This widow came to a unjust Judge….

…but we come to our Heavenly Father…and will we not receive that which He has for His own child.

The Judge wanted to get rid of her…..

….but we are bidden by God to…

…”come boldly to the Throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy, and find grace to help…”(Hebrews 4:16)

…”ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9)

This widow had no advocate to help her before the Judge….

….but Christ is our Mediator, our “Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1 John 2:1)

As we are confronted by our Adversary, we may also cry unto our Heavenly Father…as the widow did to an unjust judge….”Avenge me of mine Adversary; and give me freedom and liberty to do Thy Will.”

Jesus has said, “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.”

Let us believe the Lord….cry unto Him, day and night…….and receive the love which the Holy Spirit will shed abroad in our hearts….

…..that we may be blessed….

…in our prayer times, in our work….in our lives….

….and not faint.

A Very Present Help

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

This psalm shouts confidence in God.

It does not begin with prayer, and end in praise….but begins right away with a confident exclamation of God’s power and care….of me….of you.

One of the great joys of my life has been, since I was born again,….that God has been with me, is with me, and will be with me.

God is “our” refuge and strength. God is very personal in His conversations.

(He does speak to His people as a whole, on occasion;….but it is always to those who will hear what He is saying, that He speaks most.)

Confidence in God is something we need to hang on to:

Hebrew 10:35 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.”

Someone has said, that God is often more present to His people in trials,….than the trouble itself.

He is our refuge (safe place)…..and our strength.

One speaks of present possession…..the other speaks of warfare.

Psalm 46:2-3 “Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be cast in the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with swelling thereof. Selah.”

Because He is with us….we will not fear. This is an act of our will….we will not fear.

There are plenty of things to fear in this life…..many.

But we will not give way to fear.

Fear may come and knock at the door of our minds and hearts….but we will stay ourselves on our God, our refuge.

“Though the earth be removed”. I find this wording interesting.

He is not saying “the earth be moved”…..earthquakes, and volcanoes move the earth.

They are troubling….but usually last a period of time.

But the psalmist said, “be removed”…..come to an end, somehow.

Yet the psalmist is hanging on to the Lord’s strength.

In verses Psalm 46:4-6, the psalmist speaks of grace in His people…..like a ever flowing river.

It flows on, no matter what enemies come against it.

It flows to His people, and shows that He is with us….and that His help is here.

We may think, in our impatience that He is slow to help…..but He is “on time”….His time….with the refreshing grace we need…..when we need it.

A very (for emphasis) present help.

Psalm 46:7 “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

This is repeated twice in this psalm,…..here, and at the end:

The Lord of Hosts is an amazing Name of God.

Yes, it speaks of the armies or ‘hosts” of our God…..but not just armies of His people under His banner…..

…..but also His armies of angels (2 Kings 6:15-17),……the armies of bees and hornets (Exodus 23:27-28),…….the armies of anything that He masses together,….which He brings against those that attack His own.

He is with us.

The God of Jacob shows the tenderness toward His wayward people. How much He had to teach and correct Jacob….

…..yet He was His God by covenant….and He was his refuge in all circumstances.

He is our covenant God (through Christ Jesus), and refuge.

Psalm 46:8-9:

Then the psalmist calls all believers to look at what the Lord has done in the past,….is doing now,….

……so we can, in faith, see what He will do in the future, for our deliverance….against those that would destroy our faith.

(How many deliverances has He done for the Church…..for me?)

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. Selah.”

Be still has the reference both in speech and in setting still…..till God works it out.

“Be still”….as the Israelites stayed under the blood, till the Angel of the Lord went through the land of Egypt destroying the firstborn….to free His people.

(Exodus 12:22-23)

“Be still”….as they were told at the Red Sea….when the Lord caused the sea to go back…and made the sea dry land. (Exodus 14:13-14, 21)

“ Be still”….as when the king Jehoshaphat had many nations coming against him, and Judah gathered to pray….when they were told, “stand still….fear not,…for the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

We are to quiet ourselves….and know God, as God….in this situation.

This psalm was a song of confidence in God, as God. He is sovereign….and He rules and over rules, for His people everyday….in us, and in others, and in circumstances.

It began in confidence…..and ended in confidence of our God.

And we, too, are to hold on to our confidence in Him, for ourselves…..finishing the work we have been given….expecting Him to come in deliverance….or in person.

Hebrews 10:35-37 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

He has helped us….He will help us….and He is a very present help in this time of trouble.

The Whole Duty of Man.

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.”

God is Sovereign.

Man is Responsible.

Man is the creature, before God the Creator.

Therefore we are responsible to use the means God gives…..to bring about the Creator’s foreordained ends.

Sadly, all around us, people have lost the true view of God.

And the reason, I believe, is that we don’t see ourselves as created beings before the Creator.

As Christians, whose relationship is one of light and love to our God, we are still required to obey Him, as His creatures.

At the first, man’s only requirement to maintain Paradise, was to obey God.

Christ, our Redeemer, has redeemed us from the penalty of the Law….but not the essential duty of obedience to God’s commands.

God’s promises do not set aside His precepts; on the contrary, Jesus said plainly that we should “continue in His word” (John 8:31); for He, as our example, was obedient to His Father’s will.

John 6:38 “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

We just need to get obedient to the light we have…..what we know we should do…….the light shown us by the Scriptures.

By One man’s Obedience, we are restored to God.

Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.”

That One, Who shall make many righteous, is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul also says: Grace reigns through righteousness, not without it.

Romans 5:21 “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Grace is the unmerited favor of power. Power from the Holy Spirit within any Christian, to be obedient.

We often think that doing good for man, is what God wants us to do.

Sometimes that is true…

John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Sometimes those ideas simply get in the way of what God really wants you to do.

Acts 16:6-7 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”

Paul wanted to go into Asia, but could not. Then they thought to go into what is now the upper part of Turkey, but was told not to, by the Holy Spirit.

God had a better Way for them to go, for now…

Acts 16:9-10 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel unto them.”

This they did, “immediately”….and when they came….they waited, getting direction.

Then, going to a river where people gathered for prayer (especially women)….Paul spoke to them of Christ.

Notice he did not go to a synagogue…..but a place of prayer.

Unusual, but the obedience was blessed.

From that, Lydia, from Thyatira, was born again….”and her household”….and would have surely taken the knowledge of Christ back to her city when she left.

Also in that city, Paul and Silas were imprisoned…..yet the jailer and his household was saved (Acts 16:30-34).

Sometimes we think that the small thing that we are called to do, is not that important….but to the Lord, the Lydia’s and the jailers are very important.

The Reality of the matter for each person, is:

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

He is the Creator. He created us to be to the praise of His glory, through obedience.

Ephesians 1:11-12 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

That we should be to the praise of his glory,…”

Predestination has to do with the jobs we are called to do….big things, or small testimonies, or praying….each is “according to the Purpose” of Christ for us.

The whole duty of man is to love and obey God;

This should be a joyful duty, because it is to the One Who gave so much to save me.

What do we mean when we pray…Thy Kingdom Come?

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom Come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

This is the second petition, in what is commonly called the Lord’s prayer.

The first was (and always should be our first thought to our Father which art in heaven)…..”Hallowed be Thy name.”

We are to pray for God to be “hallowed” or to venerate.

That God, with us….and everywhere,…will be seen as Holy and Almighty….in other words, to be seen as our God.

It says “hallowed be Thy name”…..

….for the name of God, represents Him to us.

HIs name should be as in the Song of Solomon 1:3….”…Thy name is as ointment poured forth…”

…with all the beauty of smell,…and the healing of it’s application,…and the anointing unto separation to Him….

…..this is what HIs name, and our attitude (hallowed) to it, means.

Then the second petition comes from the first…..as we glorify God…as God, in our lives…then:

“Thy kingdom Come. Thy will be done in earth (in me), as it is in heaven.”

In praying “Thy kingdom Come”, we are asking that the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit….who has come to us show us the things of Christ….will open Him more to us, through the preaching of HIs Word.

His power and authority should always be in us, first….before it can be manifested by us, to others.

(And what do people see when we are under His power and authority….

….they see a servant, who loves and serves Christ….not for things….but for the privilege of fellowship with Christ Jesus.)

Then, we are looking also to the church, when we pray Thy kingdom come….that the preachers and teachers will be sent by God, and filled with the Spirit….(Ephesians 4:11-12)

When we pray this, we are asking that when we are baptized, and have the communion service….they will be a blessing….not mere doctrinal service (because I should)…

…and that the gifts and the graces of the Holy Spirit will increase in Christ’s believers….

….”Till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:13)

When we pray “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”, we are asking that His enemies may be overthrown….practically.

We are praying for a extension of His kingdom here….that all the elect may be brought into it….

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

That our hearts may not only want this….

….but that we may live, so as to lift up Christ, that the lost may be drawn to Him.

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.”

When we pray Thy kingdom come…..we are asking for these things…

…but when we have Thy kingdom come….our lives become a sanctifying influence to those we come into contact with….that His kingdom may be seen, not just heard of.

His kingdom come is my subjection to Christ….

…and the practical yielding of my life to the Holy Spirit as His servant (Romans 12:1-2)….

…..as HIs soldier (2 Timothy 2:3-4)….

…..and as His ambassador, speaking for King and country (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

What do we mean when we pray “Thy Kingdom Come”?

We show that we mean business with Christ Jesus….that we are going to go all out….with all diligence, to do His Will; in fact to be HIs Will wherever we are.

Let us further the Kingdom of God….let us be in subjection to Christ our King, and yield to our place, by the Holy Spirit, in HIs kingdom here.

What do we mean when we pray…Thy Kingdom Come?

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom Come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

This is the second petition, in what is commonly called the Lord’s prayer.

The first was (and always should be our first thought to our Father which art in heaven)…..”Hallowed be Thy name.”

We are to pray for God to be “hallowed” or to venerate.

That God, with us….and everywhere,…will be seen as Holy and Almighty….in other words, to be seen as our God.

It says “hallowed be Thy name”…..

….for the name of God, represents Him to us.

HIs name should be as in the Song of Solomon 1:3….”…Thy name is as ointment poured forth…”

…with all the beauty of smell,…and the healing of it’s application,…and the anointing unto separation to Him….

…..this is what HIs name, and our attitude (hallowed) to it, means.

Then the second petition comes from the first…..as we glorify God…as God, in our lives…then:

“Thy kingdom Come. Thy will be done in earth (in me), as it is in heaven.”

In praying “Thy kingdom Come”, we are asking that the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit….who has come to us show us the things of Christ….will open Him more to us, through the preaching of HIs Word.

His power and authority should always be in us, first….before it can be manifested by us, to others.

(And what do people see when we are under His power and authority….

….they see a servant, who loves and serves Christ….not for things….but for the privilege of fellowship with Christ Jesus.)

Then, we are looking also to the church, when we pray Thy kingdom come….that the preachers and teachers will be sent by God, and filled with the Spirit….(Ephesians 4:11-12)

When we pray this, we are asking that when we are baptized, and have the communion service….they will be a blessing….not mere doctrinal service (because I should)…

…and that the gifts and the graces of the Holy Spirit will increase in Christ’s believers….

….”Till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:13)

When we pray “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”, we are asking that His enemies may be overthrown….practically.

We are praying for a extension of His kingdom here….that all the elect may be brought into it….

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

That our hearts may not only want this….

….but that we may live, so as to lift up Christ, that the lost may be drawn to Him.

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.”

When we pray Thy kingdom come…..we are asking for these things…

…but when we have Thy kingdom come….our lives become a sanctifying influence to those we come into contact with….that His kingdom may be seen, not just heard of.

His kingdom come is my subjection to Christ….

…and the practical yielding of my life to the Holy Spirit as His servant (Romans 12:1-2)….

…..as HIs soldier (2 Timothy 2:3-4)….

…..and as His ambassador, speaking for King and country (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

What do we mean when we pray “Thy Kingdom Come”?

We show that we mean business with Christ Jesus….that we are going to go all out….with all diligence, to do His Will; in fact to be HIs Will wherever we are.

Let us further the Kingdom of God….let us be in subjection to Christ our King, and yield to our place, by the Holy Spirit, in HIs kingdom here.

Ask, and You Will Receive.

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

The disciples have just asked. “Teach us to pray” after seeing Jesus pray.

Then Jesus tells a story:

The story of a friend who comes to his neighbor at an inconvenient time. “At Midnight.” (Luke 11:5-8)

He has company. Someone who has come from a long journey and is in need of bread. But the man has none to give.

So he goes to his neighbor and knocks.

“Forget it…it’s midnight, I am in bed, and I’m not getting up!” Is basically the word given the knocker.

But he keeps knocking.

So…..not because he is his friend (he might not be, after this);……but because he kept knocking; the neighbor opens and gives the man what he has asked for.

Then Jesus says, the way to get from God is the same:

Ask, like you really need it.

Seek, like you really want the reply.

And knock, till the answer comes.

When we pray to God, Jesus is saying that we should come believing God will hear,……and expect that He will make known His will.

Ask, and you will receive. Ask till you receive an answer as to what and how you should ask. (How many times we think we know what we need, but as we are praying we receive what we really need to know)

Seek, till you get the means of getting your petition answered. (Sometimes there is a verse to claim, or a prayer promise to use: Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 5:14-15)

Then knock, using those means, till you get the answer that you were seeking.

Just to be clear, “means” are those parts of the promise that we must use:

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest.”

“Come unto me”, is the means; His rest is the promise.

When Jesus healed the ten lepers: (Luke 17:14) “When he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”

Jesus healed them by His word, but they were only healed, as they went to do what He said. That is the means.

Luke 11:10 “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

As Christians, our lifeline is prayer.

Paul said:

Philippians 4:6-7 ” Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

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

The promise is: you will receive, find, and have an open door set before you.

The means is: ask, seek, and knock.

By His Word

Mark 11:2-3 “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, wherein never man sat: loose him, and bring him.

And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.”

This is, of course, the colt that Jesus rode into Jerusalem with the shouts of “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”. “Hosanna in the highest”.

This is where Jesus presents Himself to all who were coming to the Passover in Jerusalem, as King, according to prophesy:

Zechariah 9:9 ” Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

As King, although unrecognized by the rulers, He goes into the temple:

Mark 11:11 “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.”

And as King, He sees all that needs to be set in order in the temple.

But He does not stay in Jerusalem….but goes out of the city.

The next day, coming into Jerusalem, to do the work that needed to be done; He was hungry.

Mark 11:12-13″And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.”

Here Jesus was hungry, and walked out of His way to have some figs.

(On fig trees, the figs come on before the leaves; and there were leaves, so there should have been figs.

It was not the time of figs, but there were leaves; so there should have been figs.)

But He found none.

So by His Word:

Mark 11:14 “And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.”

You will notice “And Jesus answered”; Why this term?

Because the tree had “spoken”.

It had no fruit for the Son of Man, for there were no figs, therefore Jesus “answered” it’s fruitlessness, and made it continually barren.

(Some say the fig tree is a figure of Israel: Religiously looking good, but without fruit unto God.

But is there any among us, that can say that the Lord has not looked for fruit from them, and found leaves, only?)

So they continue into Jerusalem, where yesterday they had praised and blessed Him.

Mark 11:15-16 ” And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.”

Yesterday it was to manifest Himself as King, today it is to do the work of His Father, for His house. Setting in order that which was wanting in the service of God.

He did this Himself, casting out those that sold animals in the Temple……and refusing entrance to those who would violate the temple.

He had done this once before at the beginning of His ministry (John 2:13-16).

Now He would do it again, as a witness against the hardness of their heart.

Then by His Word:

Mark 11:17 “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Not only did He cleanse, He spoke concerning God’s will for His house….God’s House was not for the greed or convenience of buyers or sellers; but to come and meet God in prayer.

To set in order.

Mark 11:18-19 ” And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought out how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

And when even was come, he went out of the city.”

But here again, He was rejected.

The people were amazed at Him speaking with authority the doctrine of God. Amazed but unresponsive.

And the rulers, instead of submitting to God’s Word, only sought to destroy Him….for His “interference” in their business.

The work He was to do that day, He again leaves the city.

He would not stay a night in Jerusalem, until the night of the passover feast.

By His Word the fig tree was cursed, and by His Word the temple was cleansed.

Mark 11:20-21″And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

And Peter calling to rememberance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree that thou cursedst is withered away.”

By His Word it was all done.

Then the Lord Jesus, wanting to set forth the importance of our words, showed His disciples what it was all about.

Mark 11:22 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.”

Faith is that active ingredient in our life which makes real the things of God.

God will act for you if you have faith in Him. For real faith, trusts Him.

Are you doing and saying because God wants you to?

Leaves are words……Fruit is obedient deeds.

A temple serving man……is not God’s temple.

Have faith in God….don’t just look good, or go along with everyone else. But believe God’s Word and obey Him.

Mark 11:23 “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

What a wonderful Word from our Lord Jesus!

What an encouragement to His disciples, for soon everything was going to change. The reality of their faith would soon be shown.

There were going to be plenty of “mountains” that would need to be removed in front of them, to bring them past Jesus crucified…..to Jesus resurrected…..to Jesus ascended….to the Holy Spirit given….and onward.

Here is faith in action.

And what is the mountain that I want to see cast into the sea?

It is that “mountain” (within me, and within my circumstances) that hinders me from seeing done, what I’ve been called to do by the Lord.

I want that mountain or mountains removed!

It is according to :

“And shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass.”

Faith sees God; “shall believe” is the hearts response to God’s Word to us.

The disciples were called to put their faith in action and believe God’s Word to go on in their callings.

So are we.

Mark 11:24-26 “Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when we pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

To believe when you pray, asking God for your requests, is to place yourself at His disposal to bring them to pass.

To do this, nothing must come between you and God.

Therefore, forgive, if you have anything against another person; and God will forgive you.

Everyone is on the same level: we all need forgiveness. And Jesus was plainly teaching that sins are to be forgiven, that our prayers will not be hindered.

We need to pray…we have mountains to be removed. So have faith in God, and believe when you pray, forgiving all; that you may be forgiven.

Then those mountains will be removed!

By His Word: He has said these things that we might put them into practice.

What will we do with them?

Appointed

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:”

By God’s appointment, every life shall end in fire:

For the Christian, it is the purifying fire of the Bema of Christ,….before we enter the eternity of Heaven:

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.”

For the unsaved, it is ultimately the Lake of Fire:

Revelation 20:13, 15 “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

[Matthew 25:41 “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Notice: God made the Lake of Fire for the devil and his angels. Not man. Man chooses to rebel against his Maker, and refuses the only Savior.]

God has appointed this day: it is not for anyone to know, when it is…

Acts 1:7 “And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.”

But it is put into God’s appointment book; it will happen.

As John the Baptist warned those Pharisees and rulers that came to be seen, when John baptized in repentance:

Matthew 3:10-12 “And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat unto the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Yet they would not accept his word….or his baptism unto repentance….and so perished in their sins.

As Job said:

Job 23:14. “For He performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with Him.”

God performs the thing appointed.

For every Christian, this is a blessed fact.

Every trial, every person, every circumstance which is in the path that I am to take, following Him,……is appointed for me.

1 Thessalonians 3:3 “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereinto.”

Paul was writing them about the persecution he was facing…..and that they were going through…

….God has put in the appointment book of each of us….certain trials….and troubles….and even persecutions….

…but we should not “be moved” (to shake or be disturbed) by them….

….instead Paul was praying…

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

To the end that He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”

So because God has appointed this day of judgement for each of us….

He would have us as His born again ones to receive the reward and crown He has for us.

In that day: He will purify us with fire.

Today: He wants to purify us by trials.

Faith must be tried to show us that it is there, and how much we have. That is the way we learn what God will do for us.

Micah 6:8-9 “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

The Lord’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see Thy name: hear ye the rod, and Who hath appointed it.”

[The rod here is the same as “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23). They are given the Shepherd, both to correct the sheep…and protect them.]

Our path is one in which we deal with ourselves, and others.

We ask for mercy, and deal with others in mercy.

We ask for forgiveness, and forgive others.

We ask for help, and pray for help for others.

(Giving it in comfort, and encouragement, as we can)

Our path is one which follows our Lord,………”to walk humbly with our God”, in the many “appointments” He has made for us…

….including the appointment of the day of judgement.

We agree with Him in this path, leaning on Him and His Word to us, to see us through in safety……And in joy…

…that we might hear, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

He has appointed for me, and for you. Let us receive a full reward (2 John 8), and enter into all He has for us: both here,….and there.

Stephen, the Church’s First Martyr

Acts 6:3-5 “Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Phillip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch;”

Here we meet Stephen, born again and willing to minister as he is called…for he is chosen to “serve tables”, or as a deacon.

There had been a argument between the Grecian Christians and the Hebrew Christians about how the widows of each were being treated. Some felt that the Grecian widows were not given the same treatment and food, as the others.

(Remember that the Christians, here, had given all to the apostles for the common good. Acts 4:34-35)

If this was to be overseen as it should be, the apostles would have to leave preaching and teaching the gospel, to see to it.

That could not be….so they told the church there to pray and see who they could choose to deal with the business and practical part of the matters of the church…they became the deacons.

Stephen was one of these. He was a man of faith and who was filled with the Holy Spirit.

He was not offended because he was given the task of seeing to the food distribution, or dealing with the strifes which come up between brethren.

Faith sees God and deals with all, in the same light: what does the Lord want done?

He looked on everything he did for the Lord as equally important.

Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

He also did miracles, whether these were of the practical nature of food, or for illness, it does not say.

But it does bring into the picture those who wanted to prove him wrong. Notice they “disputed” with him, not he with them.

But they could not, for “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”

Acts 6:11-12 “Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council.”

So here is Stephen before the council, accused falsely by jealous men.

(This council had spoken to Peter and John months earlier, and had beaten them and let them go, but now….)

He stands before them, in peace; calm. They “saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” Simply, they could tell that he was filled with the Spirit of God, that he was not a blasphemer.

This should have told them that these accusations were false….but, let’s face it, they wanted to believe the accusations.

Acts 7:1-2 “Then said the high priest, Are these things so? And he (Stephen)said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,”

In the next 52 verses, Stephen, by the wisdom of God, showed again and again God’s choice of His people by grace, not works.

God’s use of men who were not reckoned in men’s esteem, but chosen of God to go out, to lead, to save, to build…

There was:

Abraham, to go out to a land that was given in promise, but which he never possessed….

Then Isaac who was circumcised…

Jacob, the younger son, chosen, and his sons being brought into the covenant; even though they sold their own brother, Joseph, into slavery…

Yet God saved them, and their whole family by the very man they were jealous of…

Moses’ birth and his rejection when he would have helped his people. His flight into Midian and God’s call to the very one they refused:

Acts 7:35 “This Moses whom they refused saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush.”

Stephen told of when Israel, in their further refusal of God’s Words, which made a golden calf.

And even when they were brought in by Joshua, to the promised land, they turned to idols.

He told of David as king, fighting their battles, desiring to build a house for God, but God chose Solomon to do it.

Yet, Stephen shows exactly what Solomon said after he dedicated it:

1 Kings 8:23, 27 “And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee, in heaven above, or on the earth beneath, who keepest covenant in mercy with Thy servants that walk before Thee with all their heart:

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens can not contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded?”

Simply: the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands, but in the love and devotion of His people’s hearts.

Stephen wanted his brethren to remember their God, not their heritage.

He had not blasphemed Moses or the Law, but was a servant of the Lord of both, Jesus Christ.

So the conclusion of his message?

God’s grace had chosen them as His people.

God’s grace had chosen and sent men to save and lead them, into all God wanted for them.

But how did the people react?

Which of the prophets had not been persecuted by their fathers, which had told them of the Messiah to come?

All this is leading toward one goal….that Jesus was the Messiah, Who had come to show the way into the Kingdom of God, by Himself, as their King.

He was the One whom all the prophets spoke.

He was the One to whom all the other of God’s choices, pointed.

What would they do with Him now, that He was risen and manifested by the Holy Ghost among them?

Stephen wanted his brethren to see that God was even then dealing with them.

He wanted them to acknowledge God’s choice…..Jesus, Whom they betrayed and murdered…and that He is now at the right hand of God, the place of power.

The Spirit of God was leading many in Jerusalem to salvation…..God was giving them another sign of His love to them.

Would they hear it?

(How many today, hang on to tradition; even Christian tradition, rather than being gathered to the Lord God, Himself.)

Yet even as Stephen spoke, he sensed in the Spirit the hardening of their hearts….

So he openly rebukes it, and faithfully deals with them for their rebellion against the “Just One”.

The name: Just One, implies Christ Jesus’s holiness and righteousness. He did not deserve to be crucified. He deserved to be King, both of His people and the world.

He was and is the Just One, and the justifier of all who come to Him.

Romans 5:8-9 “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

The outcome?

Their history they listened to; but the rebuke, which might lead them to repentance and true salvation……they refused,…and in great anger.

Acts 7:54 “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.”

“Cut to the heart”

Stephen’s rebuke (rebuke means “back striking them into the right way”. It is never pleasant to be rebuked….but to those who “hear it”….it gives life.)

Stephen’s rebuke opened to them the state of their own hearts, like a knife.

And instead of letting it heal them, like a surgeon; they let it unleash the anger within…which quickly turned to hatred of God’s servant.

He was unaffected for himself; but totally immersed in the Will of God, for them.

God then blessed him with more of the Spirit of God, and a vision:

Acts 7:55-56 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.”

The council would not hear….stopping their ears, they dragged him out, and stoned him…as though that could stop his witness….No! (Remember Saul/Paul was witnessing all of this)

Acts 7:59-60 “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Stephen, with the same ruling peace (Philippians 4:7) with which he began; he ends, looking unto Jesus for himself…

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acknowledging before all, that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and risen, in heaven.

And then, in the character of Jesus, he forgives those that stoned him.

“Lay not this sin” (yes, he called it what it was; but still asks…)

“Lay not this sin to their charge.”

“He fell asleep”. You see, when Christians die, they are said to fall asleep. For they close their eyes here, and in the next second, open them in heaven.

Stephen was the first of the churches martyrs, but not the last.

Many have died, looking to Jesus the same way.

Because He is the Son of God…because He lives, we do and will, eternally, too.

Reality, or Virtual Reality; Which?

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity ever thought to the obedience of Christ;”

What is the difference? They both have reality in them, don’t they?

Reality (and we are talking about Spiritual Reality, here) is truth. It is what I have in my experience….not what I want….or even what I believe the scriptures say…..but what I have in my experience.

Spiritual Reality is to have in your experience, what you think you have.

We are born again.

We are growing in grace, and in the love of Jesus; both to Him and His people. We are denying ourselves, and picking up our cross.

We are being obedient to His Will.

Imaginations plague everyone….there are carnal imaginations we must place on the altar to God (“casting them down”, as the verse says).

And there are spiritual imaginations….

…we dream about doing great things for God….but never do them. (Or perhaps we begin, with great enthusiasm, but never finish)

We speak about doing great things; but we put them off, for “a while”.

(Hesitation is a wile of the devil that often works, because our minds say, “yes, I should think about this”…..or our hearts want to know what the reaction of others will be. Hesitation is stealing the time of power from the Holy Spirit….for doubt ever quenches Him.)

Paul is encouraging these Corinthians to finish what they started:

2 Corinthians 8:9-11 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before,…

Now therefore perform the doing of it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.”

(Here, Paul is speaking about a gift for the poor brethren; but I have had the Lord use these verses on me about a job I needed to see done. Like I spoke of: I had started, then just put the rest off. I needed to finish it.)

Virtual Reality is to believe you have something, you do not.

This is to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but never submit to His power……to bring me into obedience to His teaching.

2 Timothy 3:5, 7 “Having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

How do they “deny the power thereof”?

Certainly, it can be unbelief at work.

Many people believe in God, but not a personal God which has fellowship with His people. A God that probably is up there somewhere, but would not take any notice of things here, especially specific people, especially them.

But it can also be an deliberate choice to keep God away from “interfering” in their lives.

They sit and hear the Word of God,……and let it flow over them…..

….they hear the doctrine; but never let it take root in their hearts.

There are those who…

……let one lesson, push out the other. “Ever learning”, and yet never coming to the place that they have in their experience what the Lord Christ has for them…….what He has already said to them.

Usually this type of decision is made because the heart is “taken up” with something else.

There is no room for Christ Jesus,….for they choose to continue in this life of Virtual Reality.

(No this is not the video games; but it is the “games” people play in their minds.)

2 Timothy 3:14-17 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of Whom thou hast learned them;

and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect (complete) throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Paul wrote Timothy, encouraging him to continue in the Word of God,……because God will make it profitable to those who truly choose to follow it.

God’s Word is a Living Word….when we hear it, the Holy Spirit takes it and applies it to my situation,…..my attitude,….the people around me.

It cleanses, not just by showing me what is wrong…..but the Spirit moves in me to seek and reach out in faith, to what the Lord wants….and as soon as we do, we feel enlivened….seeking forgiveness and power.

Reality is that what we have….for then we are able to use it…for Christ’s sake.