Propitiation

It is wonderful how many titles of the sacrifice of Christ, is given in scripture.

Each with a fullness of meaning for us.

Propitiation is one of them.

It means…”the appeasing of God’s holy wrath and anger” against sinners.

How this shows us the fierceness of suffering and pain, of defilement and horror, that fell upon the Savior….for us.

Romans 3:24-25 “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

That God might be just:

….for if God allowed a sinner into heaven with their sin still on them….heaven would be defiled. He would not do so.

So for God to be just……to be true to His Holy nature….He became also the Justifier of those that believe on Christ Jesus.

How could the Most Holy God ever bring us….HIs sinful creatures….to fellowship with Him?

There is only one way: only by the removal of our sin….both in actions done….and intents of the heart;…..and in what we will do.

And there was only one way to meet this criteria…..by sending His Son to become man….a perfect man….

……who would die as a sacrifice….a perfect sacrifice for all mankind. Only His Son could take all our sin upon Himself….and appease God’s justice.

Psalms 14:2-3 “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Christ, God’s Son would be God/Man…..fulfilling all of God’s commandments and Law…..and then give Himself over to be a Lamb slain for our sin.

Imagine the force of our sin…..even one person’s anger and hate, and maliciousness and meanness…..past, present and future……put upon the shoulder’s and heart of the Lord….

….for it was not just the sin, but the wrath of God against that sin….that fell on Jesus.

And He did it……for all who would believe….this is propitiation.

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

There were three hours of darkness….not just grey, or cloudy…..but real darkness, when our sin fell upon our propitiation, Jesus Christ…..and He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Matthew 27:46 “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”

(From about eleven o’clock…the sixth hour of the day….to two o’clock in the afternoon…..what would normally be the brightest time in the day;…

…..instead of bright light….there came a darkness, like the night over the land.

Sin and God’s wrath for it, had fallen on Jesus Christ….and darkness manifested that terrible time. About the ninth hour, Jesus cries “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

The agony and pain would have been unbearable…..yet He hung on….till He yielded up the ghost.

Till all was fulfilled, he bore and bore and bore it….then He gave Himself up to die….counting on His Father to raise Him up.)

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love…..”

Here, God could talk about His strong feelings and plans for us. He could speak about the grace that will keep us…..

But what He says here, through John, the beloved Apostle….speaks of the greatest act of love…..

…..Christ taking away our sins….the great obstacle which keeps us separated from God….by placing them on Him, and Him paying the penalty for them….for us.

This is love.

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 4:19 “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

This is so true. While we were yet sinners…..turning our backs to Him, hating even the mention of God in truth…..

….even then, God set His heart on us…..and then sent His Son to become the propitiation….the appeasing of God’s holy wrath and anger against us, as sinners…..

….that we might come to Him and be saved…..have peace and joy of the Spirit…..and return that amazing love to Him.

Are Your Eyes Opened?

When Jesus came forth to do His Father’s Will; He proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

He spoke to the people, of the Father in heaven which wanted their good; and had given laws and commandments which reflected His holiness and their duty; which if they followed, would bring about their blessing.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. “(Matthew 5:3-4)

Simply, if you know that you are “poor” (without strength and power to do the law and commandments, because of your sin); and mourn over them (repent)…..

Then….because you see and know your sin, you can be saved from them and enter the kingdom of heaven, now.

(“..theirs is”, not will be. Eternal life is a condition of life, here and now; and a life in heaven, hereafter.)

I am going to use a blind man, who gained his sight by Jesus;………

….and seeing men, who refused to acknowledge Jesus……..and were blind; for an example:

John 9:1-3,5 “And Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world.”

Here was a blind man,….from birth;…….and Jesus said that he was blind so that the glory of God should be shown by him.

Notice the Name He speaks here….”I am the light of the world”.

There is no reason that any should walk in darkness….Jesus is the light of the world”!

John 9:6-7 “When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

Making clay, Jesus puts it on the eyes of the blind man, and tells him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

(Notice, even mud is called “anointed” by the Holy Spirit, when Jesus does it.)

When the man obeys,……he sees,….his blindness is gone.

Now you would think, that it would be finished. But, not so.

This set in motion what Jesus had said: the works of God should be made manifest by this man.

And it all started with the neighbors: it was a back and forth about whether he was really the blind man.

‘Yes, he was.’

‘Then how did you get your sight?’

‘’A man called Jesus.’

And he told them how Jesus healed him. (John 9:8-11)

This leads to the neighbors bringing the blind man to the Pharisees.

(Now it was the Sabbath when Jesus spit upon the ground, made clay and put that on the eyes of the blind man.)

The Pharisees asked him how he got healed.

And when he shared his testimony with them….it started a argument.

Some argued that Jesus had not kept the Sabbath because He healed on him on the Sabbath……..and so He was a sinner.

And some said that He could not be a sinner, and do such miracles.

Then the Pharisees asked the blind man who now could see,……what did he think of Jesus:

and he said, “He is a prophet.”

(See how Jesus separates people? Some see Him as He is; from God. Others will not see any thing good about Him.)

Then the Pharisees called this man’s parents: who did not want anything to do with the whole thing. They were afraid of being put out of the synagogue.

So they reinterviewed the man born blind, but who now was seeing…..again.

They wanted him to say that he knew that Jesus was a sinner.

But he didn’t.

Instead he took his faith in Jesus, a step further.

(Seeing always leads to more light)

John 9:25, 30-33 “He answered and said, Whither He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, Him will He heareth.

Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

If this man was not of God He could do nothing.”

So the Pharisees excommunicated him.

But Jesus “found him”.

(Has He not said that He came to seek and to save that which was lost?)

John 9:35-38 “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?

And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him.”

“I believe.”

True spiritual sight begins with believing obedience to Jesus Word…and leads to believing on Christ Jesus, Himself.

John 9:39-41 “And Jesus said, For judgement am I come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also?

Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; Therefore your sin remaineth.”

If we truly “see” our sin, and mourn for it,……..we will obey Jesus Word and “go and wash” them away in His sacrifice.

If we truly believe His Word,…….we will come to believe on Jesus Christ, Himself as our Lord and Savior,…….and enter the kingdom.

We will be His people and servants;……..and manifest the works of God in our lives.

The Power of God unto Salvation

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

The power of God to everyone that believeth.

Are you such a one?

Do you evidence this power of God in your life?

For this power unto salvation is spiritual reality.

“For He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

This means Jesus Christ delivers us from them. In Hebrews it is said, “to the uttermost”

Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

This is not just a wiping away of the past sins, although that is true.

It is the saving from the sins of today: that is, He saves us from doing them….and yes, He saves us from wanting to do them, as well.

This is what it means by “to the uttermost”.

Our Salvation is four-fold:

From the love of sin….this is not complete,….but it is a real change in you, where your sin is concerned.

It becomes a burden….and you feel it’s weight against you, and you want to be saved from it.

From the guilt of sin…by being born again: receiving Christ Jesus into your heart and life.

Romans 10:9 “And if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

We are not condemned, but at liberty to walk with God!

From the power of sin…by obedience to His Will…by yielding to the Holy Spirit within.

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whither of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Here we get the power of God for our everyday lives….against sin and the world.

(We are “under new management”). For God empowers obedience,….

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

…..and the Holy Spirit within gives us a growing love for Christ.

From the presence of sin.

Taken into His glorious Presence in Heaven…whether by Rapture, or when we die, to be with Him forever.

Ephesians 1:3-4. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:”

He has a purpose for all He has saved. And all this was set in motion for us….you and me…before times eternal.

Think of it! God Almighty has a purpose for me. Though I rebelled against Him and His Will, yet He set His love upon me, and drew me to Himself:

John 6:37, 44 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

In the scriptures, the purpose God called me to, is spoken of as: “good works”, or “bringing forth fruit”

John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.”

(And His works were prayer, preaching, calling others to the Kingdom of God, feeding, healing, and manifesting the words and works of His Father God.

All this He did before He laid down His life for us.)

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

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.”

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

Titus 2:14, 3:8 “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto all men.”

Our purpose, is to pray—for ourselves, and others; to witness of the light of God in our own life; to preach, teach, be a soul winner, as we are called.

We are to seek the good of all men (and there is no good, without God in it).

These are the obediences which are given to us to do, for the glory of Christ. Big or small in the world’s eyes….they are of great value to Jesus.

Everyone has their place in His purpose.

And it is as we are in our place, walking with Him everyday, that we fulfill our purpose.

God’s salvation is full of power. Power to save us to “the uttermost”, and power to save others.

What greatness dwells in Him….and He is, by the Holy Spirit, in us.

Let us draw out His grace for our life.

1 Chronicles 14:8 “And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.”

This is an important illustration: whenever we make the Lord Jesus, King of our lives,….then,….the Adversary stirs up problems to try and hinder us in our spiritual life….that he may accuse us.

You will notice that the Philistines did nothing….until…David was king “over all Israel”.

As long as Israel was having internal strife…..they were powerless….no threat to anyone, but themselves.

(And is not this one reason we do not have the power we should in our churches today? 1 Corinthians 1:11, 13 “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren,….that there are contentions among you. Is Christ divided?…”)

But when David united Israel under one king…..when Israel came under the power of God, for David obeyed God…..

…..then the battles came.

1 Chronicles 14:10 “And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against he Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.”

Here was direction….and promise of deliverance.

So David went up where the Philistines were camped….and there was a large force of them….they “spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.”

And David did win this battle….

1 Chronicles 14:11-12 “…And David smote them there…..

And when they (the Philistines) had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.”

After the victory God gave them, David followed the law and burnt all the images that the Philistines had left behind in the fighting. (Deuteronomy 7:25)

David honored God’s Word….and obeyed it.

Then, after their battle’s defeat, the Philistines did not give up…..they wanted to defeat and destroy David…..it was personal….

….just like the attacks the Adversary, the devil, sends to us.

“And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.” (1 Chronicles 14:13)

This time David honored God….as a servant should, and asked for direction from his Captain:

1 Chronicles 14:14-16 “Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines….”

“For God is gone forth before thee”…what sweet words to David…and us.

As our Captain in every battle, the Lord knows the enemy and his tricks….so His guidance is imperative….to keep us and deliver us.

Notice: David therefore did as God commanded him.

◦ David was king! Yet he gladly yielded allegiance, to the Lord, and obeyed….with a joyful and willing heart all that God commanded him.

Sometimes, as Christians, I think we are afraid of the phrase: God commands us….but we should not be.

We are the Lord’s servants…..and His Word is our guide.

We are God’s soldiers ….and He is in charge of our battle.

1 Chronicles 14:17 “And the fame of David went out into all the lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.”

And we are the Lord’s Ambassadors, for we are to spread the good news for our King….as David did.

Now there was a man of God on the throne of Israel….a man obedient to the Lord….a man who honored God….and who God honored in his obedience.

As Christians we are servants, soldiers and ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And God knows our battles……everyday battles, just like He knew David’s battles….

….and He is ready to give us commands through HIs Word, and guidance by His Spirit….and deliverance.

The Power of the Word of God.

Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.”

[Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is divided into 22 sections, a number according to the Hebrew Alphabet. Almost every verse has a reference to God’s Word. (Commandment, Statutes, Precepts, Testimonies, Way, Law, Judgments, and Righteousness)]

These verses (9-16) deal with the power of the word of God to cleanse, and to keep the soul from the influence of the world.

So God shows a test-case: a young man. He is just starting into the world. And there are a lot of natural attractions to draw him away from God. Things untried, which could lead him into a path, away from God.

Is the Word of God able to keep him?

Yes. For the light of the Word draws the soul,….showing it the whole scene, not just what the world wants to show you.

(Psalm 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp until my feet, and a light unto my path.”)

Psalm 119:10 “With my whole heart I have sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments.”

The Word of God shows things in there true character.

It does not “sugar-coat” the darkness which the “highs”, “fun”, or “following the crowd”, can bring; but shows it plainly.

It brings God into the picture before him. The world would leave God out of everything. Saying, “He will ruin everything. He is so narrow-minded.”

(The world sees the “narrow way” [Matthew 7:13-14) as restricting, and harsh. But every child of God which walks in this way, finds it freeing. We are watched over, guided, provided for even in trials, and most of all, we are never alone.)

But God’s Word testifies that God always has His children’s best interests at heart. He draws them with the Word, which opens up everything before them….including their own souls.

The soul, when sees what God says, believes and gets freedom, or the power of choice.

(We are not able when we are first born again to be free from the besetting sins which so easily plague us. They come back again and again.

But as we deny ourselves, and follow Christ, we begin to be free from these things; for the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit enable us to master ourselves and our circumstances. At the same time we know our need of Christ more and more.

This is a blessed paradox: We are more free, yet more dependent. It really comes down to the “master” we choose.

This is sanctification, or willing to be set aside to God. This is freedom: closer to God, further from sin.)

John 8:31-32. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

And with that freedom, there is such enlargement of heart, mind, and will.

There is power in the Word, by His Spirit. And by our obedience we bring that power within our own set of circumstances.

Psalm 119:11 “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”

Since it is hid in the heart, it begins to mold and shape it. Opening it up to more of the love, and peace of God.

Praise God: Where the Word is taken in our hearts, it leads. When the Word of God is written on my heart, it brings joy.

Joy is a choice fruit of the Spirit. It lifts us, it strengthens us, it teaches us to believe and trust the Lord.

Psalm 119:14-16 “I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.

I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word.”

The young man, who was the “test-case”, and we, ourselves, can find the power of God’s Word in our circumstances, now.

Light given, sight received, and power to enable.

Listen to some of the other verses in this psalm:

Psalm 119:28 “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according unto Thy word.”

(No matter how I “feel”, Your strength is there for me. Let me see it)

Psalm 119:45 “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts.”

(His precepts, are His prescriptions for my spiritual health. He writes them, like medicine: which may not taste good going down, but heals.)

Psalm 119:114 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy word.”

(We are always “hidden” in Christ, and behind Him. In Him, and can never be forsaken. Behind Him, for as He leads, we are protected.)

Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them.”

(Have you ever met a person which could not be offended? they forgive freely, and they have great peace; for they are founded upon a solid Rock of Love.)

Psalm 119:176 “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant; for I do not forget Thy commandments.”

(We are always the sheep of His pasture. We are always cared for, lest we slip or stumble; His word is always our prop.)

Let us use the power of His Word to us, and be strong in the Lord.

Let Us Lay Aside Every Weight

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

If we were running in a race, and wanted to finish it, that we might win; we would remove every weight from our pockets, every backpack, every jacket; all that would catch the air, or hinder our running.

This is a long distance race which is being spoken of here in Hebrews; and we need all patience and endurance to finish it. Therefore, we are called upon to remove what would weight us down.

Just what are these weights?

These weights are anything and everything that hinders us spiritually.

They are external things that we can drop or “lay aside”. (Certain relationships are weights, going to certain places can hinder us, and past failures and thinking of them all the time. These are weights, which slow us down.)

To run well you should not be burdened with anything.

And we are called to run the race laid before us.

We are called to walk with God. (Colossians 2:6).

And run our race. (Philippians 2:16)

The two are different:

The walking speaks of the quiet conversation you have as you walk with a friend, day by day. This is our life.

The running speaks of our work, which we are all called to finish.

If you’re a Christian, you are in the race. God has given you a “work, or calling” to do.

(There are many callings: as a witness of Jesus Christ, as a prayer warrior, as a preacher of the Word, as a teacher of the Word, etc.)

Finish it, and you have the reward and honor He has waiting for you, for being devoted to Him. (Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Matthew 25:21)

But God does not save us, without giving us the Holy Spirit to enable us for anything He calls us to.

It is not: You are saved, now do something for Me.

But: You are saved, now let Me do through you. I in you, and you in Me. That is the way we will finish…together.

Paul spoke to the Galatians about this very thing:

Galatians 5:7 “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?”

Men had come to Galatia, to the established church there, saying that being Christians was O.K.,….but if you really want to be….somebody to God,….you have to follow the Mosaic Law, as well.

Then you will be super-great Christians. (Not true)

No, Paul says. You are being weighed down with old traditions, which were laid aside in Christ’s crucifixion, and resurrection.

Don’t be hindered in the race. But finish your course.

Doing the good works that God has ordained or made full provision for….for you. (Ephesians 2:10)

We should all seek the Lord that He might show us, what are the weights which hinder our running. And as He does, let us lay them aside, and go on to “finish our race”.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore, seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Anything from the Holy Spirit will not burden you down, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Let us lay aside our weights which hinder us; and look to Jesus, Who began a good work in us,……and Who will finish it.

Temptation.

Luke 8:13 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for awhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

Here is described some who hear the Word of God; and their hearts respond to it with joy!

They believe for awhile, for they receive the word, not just hear it.

This means that their hearts want Salvation. They understand the promise of it, as well as what it demands of them.

They will to obey it, and go along great…..until something halts their progress.

That “something” is Temptation.

To tempt is to arouse to action or anger; to induce to do something; to persuade.

Temptation comes along and knocks at the door of your life.

Life might be treating you badly. You might already be hurt, or angry, or discouraged (and this is a big one: discouragement)

So the devil, our Adversary, who is behind each temptation, sends “Complaints” to speak to us.

Complaints comes and knocks at our door. When we open to see who it is, he says, “How many times are you going to put up with their ingratitude?”

“You deserve to have that position. You work harder than anybody else!”

“They should never have said that about you. You are so much nicer than they are.”

He says exactly what we want to hear.

Should you listen? (First mistake. Eve was tripped up by listening to the devil, she should have run away at the first suggestion out of his mouth)

Should you open to see exactly what “Complaints” is offering?

Now if we are “sober (serious about standing with Christ),

and vigilant (watchful); we can refuse Complaint’s suggestions.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Because, devour is what the devil wants to do, with this Temptation. To eat up every determination to do God’s Will.

(Believe me, every temptation we yield to; weakens our faith. If you would be strong in the faith, flee temptation.)

Remember, that is what it is: it is a Temptation, no matter what name it comes knocking under.

If we listen, and consider what Temptation is offering; a foothold is made in your heart or your understanding. And once there, they are twice as hard to resist.

Christ Jesus taught His disciples to pray:

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

There are two parts to dealing with Temptation:

1. “Lord, lead us not into temptation”. Let me keep asking for the help I need. To lean on You to say and do only what I should.

James 1:19-20 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear (God), slow to speak, slow to wrath:

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

2. “but, deliver us from evil”. For there is a way out of Temptation, once we are in it.

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts ye double-minded.”

The first is submit to God: confess your desire to listen and go along with Temptation, and confess your anger (or what ever the sin was).

This submission is a deliberate act of your will, and the real Victory is in the submission.

Then resist the devil: “The Lord rebuke thee.” (We certainly can’t in our own power, but in His name, we can.)

Then draw near to God, and He will draw near to you: This is a military movement. It is going back, to take cover in Christ Jesus, our Rock; and He will protect us, and fight for us in a special way.

Temptations are common to man.

But we can be delivered from them:

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

And God has promised a blessing for all those who endure.

Endure means that you stand with Christ Jesus; and when the temptation is over, you are still standing with Jesus.

(You may fall. But He has provided His forgiveness, and cleansing power to get us up and stand again with Him.)

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Behold! I Stand!

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

(We sometimes picture this as Christ standing at the heart’s door of a sinner…..knocking and calling….so they will open their lives to Him in salvation.

But Jesus is standing at the church’s door…..knocking.

For He is outside His own church, in Laodicea……and they are not aware of it…..nor of the cause, in themselves.)

I will come into him and sup with him and he with Me.

This “sup” in the original, means fellowship.

I will fellowship with him, and he with Me.

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?…”. (Amos 3:3)

This also sets forth fellowship.

Creature before the Creator. When the creature acknowledges his creatureliness….then he is ready fo fellowship with his Creator.

(That was one of the temptations for Eve…..”you will be as gods”….

……”you won’t be a mere creature, no! you will be like God….and do what you want!”

And that temptation brought about their sin.)

Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white rainment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.”

(Many years ago, I used to read this and think that the Lord was just giving us good advice…..”I counsel thee”.

But no, Christ Jesus, is as our counselor, lawyer before the Court of Heaven. He knows the Judge and what the Judge expects….and therefore tells us what we should do, to stand in good stead with the Judge.)

Gold in scripture speaks of God….we need to get God back into our whole lives….by obedience to Him.

It is the creature (us) taking on the character of the Creator….that He might be seen in us…..instead of our own good opinion.

2 Peter 1:6 “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

Or… God-likeness. Not in HIs divinity and power….but in His character.

“White rainment”. All the garments of self-will…will be consumed at the Judgement Seat of Christ.

Nakedness was what Adam and Eve realized when they had sinned. God clothes us with the righteousness of Christ…..but are we showing His righteousness every day by our obedience to Him?

God has plainly told me to act like the person He has made me…..not like the old me, but like the new creature in Christ.

Sometimes, as Christians, I think we put off Christ and put on the old man….yet,….”but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13)

…..and Christ counsels us to put on Christ….and keep ourselves in His righteousness.

And anoint thy eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see”.

We are to buy gold from Him, We are to buy the white rainment from Him…..but it does not say that we are to buy the eye-salve.

No, we are to use it….we are to anoint our own eyes with honesty….the eye-salve of God.

Whenever we face the Truth about ourselves….as the creature, before the Creator……the Truth given us by the scriptures or by His Holy Spirit….then His grace (the unmerited favor of power) with be applied.

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

This is an act of our will….to get honest with God….and see.

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

Cleanseth is in the present tense…..which takes in past, present, and future sins.

But walking in the light implies obedience….not sinless perfection….but believing obedience.

Psalms 138:8 “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the works of Thy own hands.”

The Lord will perfect….complete…His work in me….praise God for His mercy!

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.”

He is not going to stop working in us…..that we might walk in His character through this world….doing the works He has given us to do.

He is going to keep knocking…..keep speaking…..

Do we want that fellowship with Him, which requires us

The Creator/creature Relationship.

Psalm 139:1-3 “O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsittings, and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”

Here, the All Powerful and All Seeing God is seen, in a personal sense.

You know me: how I am, how I act, what I think, and the way I like to go.

You know me when I have my fits against Your Providence. You see when I rebel, and seek my ways. You see my imaginations.

Psalm 139:5 “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.”

The psalmist sees that God has “hedged him in”,……so that he knows he is bare before a Holy God!

That all his plans, and schemes are all known to God.

And in what way do we react to this revelation of God, to our soul?

As we often do, the psalmist runs…just as hard and fast as he can. But….he finds he can not outrun God.

Psalm 139:7, 11 “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.”

Psalm 139:10 “Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.”

He ran, but he found…as we often have, that we can not run from God.

We can not escape the Holy Spirit’s conviction, or the fact that God is everywhere.

All circumstances are made by God; we can try a “climate change”, but God can make every climate as “hot” or as “cold”, as where we were before.

[A climate change is where you find yourself in trouble. You “know” that if circumstances were different, you would not have trouble. If you worked with different people, had a better house, had better neighbors, etc. But when you move, you find that the circumstances are different….but you are the same; so the results are the same.]

The right hand of God is the hand of power. The psalmist here acknowledges that God rules, even in the midst of His enemies: He draws to Himself, or pokes, or prods, and moves….till we are willing.

Psalm 110:2-3 “The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

Thy people will be willing in the day of Thy power,…”

When we begin to will, to yield as creature before the Creator, we can see ourselves as formed according to His plan.

Psalm 139:13, 16-17 “For Thou hast possessed my reins (our internal moral compass); Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”

You have possessed; or they are Yours by Your creation,…..make them Yours by redemption.

We are a masterwork: one thing formed upon another, each in it’s place.

His eyes were upon us then.

His plan and power was there for me….that plan and power I have been fighting against.

How precious are Your thoughts of me! “O God!” or as in the Hebrew, “O Master”.

Here is where we begin to bow before God, the Creator; as God, our Lord and Master.

I am finally awakened to Your Purpose: and here, I join with You to fulfill the purpose You have for me.

For now we know the way of Victory: It is in seeking after the Lord’s Way.

For as He sought me for my good, so He will continue to do so.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

(This “lead” suggests all that God does: bestow, govern, guide.)

To the psalmist (and it can be to us) Creator God has become the One help and Refuge of his soul: for he sees Him as He is…..and not as he feared He was.

Behold!

There are over a thousand “Behold”s in the Bible.

It means “Stop, Look”….or “Look and see here.”

In most of them, God is speaking to His people to “get their attention” about His Word to them.

The first “Behold” was spoken by God to Adam and Eve.

It was for their provision….their supply of good things.

Genesis 1:29 “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”

God did not just create Adam and Eve, and set them in a place and say…..

…”Here you go. Find food, and see to things, yourself….do the best you can.”

No,…..as God shows us, in the very first time He spoke to them….

….as their God, He had provided for their needs.

In the last chapter of the Bible….is the last “Behold”.

Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly: and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

To us who read it, or hear it…..Stop and look…..for I am coming again….and all must be prepared for it.

(Actually three times in the last chapter Jesus Christ says: I come quickly)

All through His Word, the Lord speaks to us….”Behold”.

“Stop and Look”. “Look and see here!”

When Jacob ran away from Esau, because he had tricked Issac into giving him the blessing….he lay his head down that first night….and “behold”. (Genesis 28:11-15)

Behold, a ladder reaching into heaven, Behold angels on it, Behold the Lord stood above it,….Behold I am with thee and will keep thee.

Over one hundred times the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, have “Behold” in each of their writings!

Isaiah 7:14 “……Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call HIs name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:”

Jeremiah 21:8 “And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.”

Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”

Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

Ezekiel 37:2,5,7,11,12. Five times in the valley of dry bones, “behold” is used……when God speaks of raising Israel again.

When Christ is come to earth, there are over one hundred and fifty “Behold”s:

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves…”

Matthew 20:18 “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed…”

Luke 17:21 “….for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Luke 24:49 “And , behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you:…”

In each of the seven church’s in Revelation He says “Behold”.

For some, it is to “behold” their sin, and seek Him for deliverance…..

….. some it is to “behold” His answer and a promise, for their obedience.

And then He shows us: “And after this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither….”(Revelation 4:1. And this speaks of the Rapture of the church)

God wants us to “Stop, look…..Look and see, here”.

One is for warning to His people for what is ahead for them.

And one is for instruction.

Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:”

Those days are upon us…..let us hear His “Behold” to us….and get about doing the work He has called us to…..

….for the light is waning….and the darkness creeps on….let us hold up our lights….and give light to them that are around us…

One man wrote: When you must descend the stairs….and the way is dark.

(And are we not going down into more and more darkness in the world?)

Then hang on to the hand-rail of God’s love, and walk on.