A Temple built and a Temple filled

I first want to speak of the Temple at Jerusalem.

Solomon had been given detailed instruction as how to build it from his father David.

It was an amazing building…..each piece of wood and stone made exactly as it was to be in it’s place…..somewhere else and brought.

There was so sound of hammer and tool at the site (1 Kings 6:7)…..but workers fitting each piece into it’s place…..

…..it was impressive….and beautiful.

Gold and silver were everywhere…….”So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold…”(1Kings 6:21)

…. for the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies where the Ark of God was.

As I said it was beautiful and amazing…..and just according to the plans David had made.

It took seven years to build….

Then…..

There was the day of dedication…..a day of sacrifice and prayer…..a day of praise to God….

….and beseeching Him to look to this place…..and to this people….for good.

2 Chronicles 5:1, 6-7 “Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished:…

Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen….

And the priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord unto His place, to the oracle of the house, into the most Holy Place, even under the wings of the cherubims:”

And Solomon prayed…..if they sin…..

2 Chronicles 6:19-21 “….O Lord my God…that Thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof Thou hast said that Thou wouldest put Thy name there;….

Hearken therefore unto the supplications…..which they shall make toward this place: hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when Thou hearest, forgive.”

(if you read Solomon’s prayer….it is a prophesy of the things that would happen.

And isn’t that just like God to warn, and to make provision for…..by that prayer….for a way to repent….a way to come back to God…even in foreign countries! What a Amazing God we have!)

….and when then would sin….Solomon pleaded that God would not forsake them. (2 Chronicles 6:36-39)

And then…..the beautiful Temple built just as it was planned…..

….became inhabited and filled with God.

(The cloud of glory filled the house, when the Ark was set in the Holy of Holies 2 Chronicles 5:13-14…….and God’s glory came down in fire and consumed the sacrifices and filled the house again, when Solomon’s prayer was ended.)

2 Chronicles 7:1-2 “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.”

Then, all of a sudden it was not just a beautiful and amazing building…..but a house….a dwelling place of God! “… filled the Lord’s house.”

Now I would like to speak of the Lord’s temple….now….

1 Corinthians 4:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

We are the temple of God…..we are built by Him, in Christ Jesus, for good works. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

But we are just a beautiful “building”…..(maybe we are even a little proud of what we have become, as Christians)….

….until the Holy Spirit fills us….and we become the dwelling place and manifestation….Ambassadors of God wherever we are.

Ephesians 3:16, 19 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by HIs Sprit in the inner man;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

To be filled with God…..by the Holy Spirit is a humbling thing.

When God came into the temple…..the priests could not do service or anything, because of the glory of the Lord.

When God comes into us, we realize our efforts are useless without His blessing…..

….that all we do,….should be to His glory.

When God comes into us…..we are never the same. He has given us Himself, and we must answer with more of ourselves to Him. (A life open to and receptive to Him)

When God comes into us…..there is joy. Joy is the presence of God in my life. It is not circumstances or prosperity…..but His presence which brings joy.

And when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, there is joy…..and with that joy, there is peace and more.

When God comes into us….He establishes His order. And HIs order never forgets the smallest offerings or the smallest obediences…..but establishes the blessings according to love and obedience to Him….for Christ’s sake. (John 14:15)

Solomon’s Temple at Jerusalem was a beautiful, and intricate building….shining with gold and silver….

……but until God came to fill it and show His glory….no matter how amazing…..it was just a building.

When God came…..then and now…..He shows us His glory (light and power) and gives us the blessing of His Presence with joy and peace….

….and sets us on a path of peace.

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

The Feast for Today

Today we can “feast” on Christ Jesus, all the time.

We can enjoy fellowship with Him, and have the abundance of the Holy Spirit filling us up with joy, peace, love, strength, etc.

But often He has set a feast before you, and bidden you to come and fellowship with Him, and you have not come.

Or come, and taken a sandwich, when so much more was offered.

I’m going to speak about the Feast of Tabernacles which Jesus attended.

John 7:2 “Now the Jews feast of tabernacles was at hand.”

This feast was to remember the time of the wilderness wanderings, when Israel came from Egypt to the Promised Land.

They were to come to Jerusalem and build booths, and camp out, so to speak;……..rejoicing in God’s goodness, in bringing them through the wilderness, with it’s trials;…..into the land.

There were ceremonies to celebrate different parts of His Salvation; and seven days were sent aside to do this.

John 7:14 “Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.”

Many people had looked for Him to come,……some to accuse and others to hear.

But now He was here, and He was teaching God’s Word in the temple.

The people were being confronted with HIs Words, His teachings, and many believed He was the Christ, who was to come.

But many did not.

Many among the authorities, wanted only to kill Him and get rid of Him.

During the feast, everyday the priests would take the temple jars and go in a procession out to the wells outside the city, and fill them up.

Then they would bring them up and into the temple area;…….a place right before the stairs which went up to the Brazen Altar,…..where the sacrifices were offered.

There, on the floor, they would pour out the water, quoting in song a prophesy from Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6):

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

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

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

This would be repeated everyday with the water for six days.

The last day, the great day of the feast, they would gather at the same spot, without water, and wait:

Jesus moves to the steps between the men……and the Brazen Altar and says:

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

He that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

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

I used to think: What an announcement! Wow!

and so it was!

But did they believe and receive Him? No.

Like so many times with us; they discussed it. Talked about Him, but did nothing about the offer of Life.

How sad. An opportunity with out the resulting Life.

Some sought to do Him harm:

John 7:44 “And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.”

The chief priests and Pharisees called the officers of the temple to go get Him, but:

John 7:45-46 “Then came the officers to the chief priest and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”

They knew His power and authority! So they did not arrest Him.

Here, Jesus was offering, to those who would believe on Him, a constant source of life from within.

His life, by the Holy Spirit, to those who would believe.

The feast of the tabernacles ended.

Jesus had called to all who will. Some thought about it….some talked about Him….others just rejected out of hand His Word, and offer.

But most, sadly, did not continue with Him.

He calls today. To come and have a constant supply of life; His life, within us.

To feast with Him every day, by the Holy Spirit within .

He offers Himself again to you, today. “If anyone thirst….are you surrounded by things, even religious things, and still not satisfied….well, I have that satisfaction for you, if you will come unto Me.”

What will you do with Jesus?

The Path to Reality

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

So many speak of these things, yet know very little of the reality they set forth.

Do you?

What is your life?

For our lives are made up of so many areas….parts, if you will. The part that prays, or the part that goes to work, or the part that “hangs out” with friends or the memories of past…..or dreams of future….

….these are all parts of us….they make up our lives.

And Christ Jesus is saying: “I do not just want to be taken along…..I want to lead and rule in all these parts.”

What is your Christ’s life?

To hear and answer the call of Christ is nothing unless somewhere along the line you have this reality,

So many say that they have surrendered to the Lord’s Will for their lives, and yet constantly reject the Lord’s Way of bringing to pass that Will.

When the reality of it all is: God’s Will is certainly His Way.

The whole objective of denying yourself and bearing your cross…..is that you might lose you life in yourself, that you might find the reality, that is your life in Christ Jesus.

We can either go back and make ourselves of no account for the kingdom of God, or we can truly lose all these things that make up our Old life, and let Jesus bring another son to glory.

This is the price of reality…..this is the path to it.

God will not empower me to bring my will to pass……but He certainly will His.

I must lose my self-life, if I am to have my Christ life.

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

The crucified life…..or the life we have, when we let our cross do it’s work….. is where we come to the place where we no longer resist His Will in anything.

It is not instant obedience…..but final obedience.

We will obey.

This is a great part of finding your Christ life…..for you come to the place where it is settled…..you will do God’s Will, no matter what.

You may not like what He commands…..you may not see how it will be as He commands…..but once you know it is His Will, you will do what He commands.

Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

Once again I ask….what is your Christ life?

Once you have come to the place that you will do God’s Will……then you begin a process of losing every area of our lives

Until self is no longer ruling our thoughts, attitudes and actions…..and Christ sits on the throne of our heart.

You can not have both…..you lose on for the other.

This losing your self-life must be very complete, covering everything: Your past, your present, your future.

Your dreams, your hopes, desires…..everything that is uniquely you.

This is, of course, very personal. It is between you and your Lord. It is not something others need intrude in.

But when you are done with this process you should be much better equipped to count for the Lord Jesus Christ, having removed a great deal of what the Adversary uses, through the old nature, to trip us up…..one way or the other.

There should be liberty in service.

God can not be honored by us, until we voluntarily submit to His Rule over us.

And this is never without a battle.

There is to be a voluntary surrender of the whole man…..body, soul and spirit to the revealed will of God, so that His Rule over us is entire.

To have your Christ life, you must lose your self-life!

Psalm 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”

One of my favorite verses, when things are looking like they are falling apart.

“From the end of the earth”……that means from any where, in any circumstances….

….I can cry unto the Lord….

….He is not too far away…even though at times it may feel like it.

….He is not deaf to my call for help….though He may not answer right away.

….He is willing, and certainly able…. to speak, and see to His Will.

I can let my voice be heard….or I can silently plead….”unto the Lord”…

….the One who loved me enough to die for me.

He is our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)….He is before the throne of God for me…

…He is Who I turn to.

“When my heart is overwhelmed:”….when I read this:

…I can feel the waters rush in….I can feel the crushing blow of bad news.

…I can feel my mind racing….I can feel myself searching for an answer.

…I can feel the loss…

….and then:

“Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”

The only safe place….the only solid emotion….the only strength….is Christ.

He is our Rock, our Foundation, our Fortress.

Psalm 61:3 “For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.”

Here is the testimony of our memories. How beautiful and comforting…

For God has been (and so will be)….a shelter for me….covering me from the storm around me.

For God has been (and so will be)….a tower of strength from my enemies.

Psalm 61:4 “I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.(pause and consider!)

Because You, Lord, have been…..I will.

This we can do….we can will with God. We can will to abide in the place He puts us……His tabernacle….

…..It is actually “tent” here.

A tent is a temporary dwelling….ready to be moved.

And we are to dwell with Him, in our place, till He calls us to do something else…….ready to be moved on with Him, forever.

I will trust….hang on….under the safety of His mighty arms.

“Under His wings” is a favorite expression of David’s (six times in the Psalms he speaks their comfort to him.). It is a place of intimate safety and comfort.

There used to be a saying…..

“I am at the end of my rope!”

Which meant that there was very little left to hang on to!

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee”…..

When we are “at the end of my rope”…….where else can we go?

Who else can we call out to?

“Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”.

Let me stand on solid ground.

Let me see from Your viewpoint, Lord.

Let me know Your guidance and protection.

This “lead” is not just pointing it out…..but guiding us into….again, personal.

“Take me by the hand, Lord, and guide me to You.

That is what I need….when the world swirls around me….and the quicksand of life is making me sink….

….take me….under Your wings, and hide me in peace.”

For their good.

Jeremiah was a prophet sent to Jerusalem to preach.

He told them, that if they wanted to stay in the land…..they could, if they would repent, and turn from their idolatry and meanness to others.

Jerusalem was more than the capital of Judah…..it was the spiritual magnet as well. What was done here, was copied and done everywhere in Judah…..and God wanted them to hear and turn.

Jeremiah had preached to them for twenty-three years! (Jeremiah 25:3)

He had shown them the commandments….and preached unto them God’s Word….but they had not “hearkened.”

Jeremiah 24:1-2, 5 “The Lord shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the Lord,….

One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe:

and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like theses good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.”

“I have sent them out…..for their good”,….the Lord said.

Just the opposite of what we would think.

We would think, if they stayed in the Promised land….those would be the ones God would bless….but no,…

….He…the Lord God….

has sent them out.

Yes. Even the ferocious Nebuchadnezzar was subject to God’s sovereignty…..for God used him to save His people, even though it was in slavery….for a while.

They would return…..He would bring their children back…seventy years later….with joy….(Jeremiah 25:12)

Jeremiah 24:6-7 “For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land:….

And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.”

And how many times has circumstances been this way with His church?

We see disaster…..yet He sees a His Way to save some. To give His people the “heart” to know Him again.

The years of captivity gave His people a hunger for that which they thought little of before….His Word….His House….His land.

What of us? Are we submitting to the correction He is sending?

Are we looking to His Way of salvation? Are we beginning to value His Word and work again?

“For I will set My eyes upon them for good”.

When God’s eyes are toward someone or something….it means that He is working His Will and Purpose out for them.

God is still working His Will out for His Church…..the Lord has not forgotten us…..waiting till the time of the Rapture.

He is still sending people to us. He is still giving HIs message to us. He is waiting to be gracious….

Isaiah 30:18 “And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all that that wait for Him.”

He promises grace and mercy…..let us be obedient and receive these at His hand…..

….for He does all things….even corrections……”for our good”.

Let us go on to Perfection

Hebrews 6:1-2 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgement.”

These verses follow a correction to the Christian Jews, who had failed to “go on”.

They were still viewing Christ as their Messiah, coming back to re-establish the traditions of the Law.

They were to “leave the word of the beginning of Christ”; or the ceremonial law, which had in it a repentance which had to be repeated….sacrifices which were repeated.

Or even for the baptism of John to repentance….for he said “believe on Him that comes after”.

They had not let go of the fundamental doctrines, which linked their ceremonial law to the fulfillment in Christian teaching.

The one leads to the other, but you must let go of one, when the other comes….and they had not.

Instead they clung to the old, as well as trying to hold on to the new.

But Paul tells them to “go on to perfection”.

And this is what we will deal with: Going on to perfection.

Someone has said, that this verse pictures us as a sailing ship in the current of the sea, and the wind of the air…..being pushed along under their power.

For a sailing ship, there are two things which stabilize and move the ship along…..the ballast, and the sails.

The ballast is the weight in the bottom of the ship which keeps it from being knocked about by the waves.

Which holds it in the sea, which for us, is the Will of God.

We need that weight.

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

1 Timothy 6:18-19 “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

This ballast, then, is when we are established in the faith: we have surrendered to the Jesus as Lord of our life. It is a life open to and receptive to Him….all the time.

That gives us real weight in the storms of life…..in our troubles and in our joys. We neither ride too high, or sink too low. We are “settled” in our will….we will with God.

Then, the sails, which move the ship along,…..when they are filled with the wind.

Of course the “wind” is the Holy Spirit. He comes and blows on our sails, and we move forward….again and again.

The sails are our willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

The sails will get a breath of wind,….and at first they “flap about”,…not really doing anything to move forward…..but feeling the wind.

Then, as the sails open up to the wind….suddenly we are moving toward God’s goal.

And isn’t it true, that as we yield to the Holy Spirit’s guidance,….our lives open up in light!

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

1 John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

(Unction means anointing for consecration)

So with the “ballast” of our surrender to Christ;….and the willingness to open up and yield to the Holy Spirit, in our “sails”……we move across the waters, to our Rest.

The Captain of our vessel is Christ Jesus:

Hebrews 2:10 “For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings.”

Our Captain has laid a course for us….through many waters.

But they are measured waters (Ezekiel 47:3-5).

Waters which He has passed through before, and given grace for us to pass through, now.

The Helmsman is navigating, looking to the Captain; and relaying all that He says, to us, about our course:

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.”

Let us go on unto perfection!

Let us,…..as a ship under sail yields to the wind,….and is driven before it……..Yield to the Holy Spirit,……that He might bear us along to the accomplishing of Our Father’s Will….today.

Praising God for the privilege of being surrendered and settled; so that the storms of our life will not wreak us.

(Yes, they will get us wet….soaked at times; but not sink us.)

Psalm 17:5 “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”

Psalm 119:117 “Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statues continually.”

The writer to the Hebrews called all who had first begun to follow Christ….to go on….on to perfection, or the completing of the Will of God for them.

The call is for us, as well…..Go on with Christ….to complete all the Will of God for us.

Ask

Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

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

We have spoken of these verses before…..but I wish to point out the personal pronoun….”you”. It shall be given “you”…..it shall be opened unto “you”.

So, if you would have what the Lord has for you…..”ask”

We think of “ask” as…..beceeching the Lord for something….and sometimes that is true…

….but here it means….”to petition for something due us”.

Luke 11:9-11 “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.

For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?”

This is why we can “ask”….petition for something that is due us…..because we have a Heavenly Father that gives us the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:13 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?”

The Holy Spirit was given Christ Jesus without measure……His capacity was limitless.

Our capacity to “hold” the Holy Spirit is limited……but it is limited by our subjection and obedience.

In other words, we have more of Him…..and all that He gives,….as we trust and obey.

This is to ask aright.

We often petition the Lord for things……I do this, too.

We have a need…..so we begin there….instead of asking for more of the Holy Spirit….which gives us all the things of Christ to our soul.

For myself and others, I have been asking for contentment of late. And the Lord has showed me a great lesson:

1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

When we think of riches…..money comes to mind.

Some might think of family first. Or the love of someone or something.

(And we should be thankful for all of the things God gives us.)

But God says:

A right relationship with me…..and contentment with what I give…..is riches indeed.

These riches,….if you would be rich in God….come through the Holy Spirit. He is within us, always giving us things…..always bestowing all we have in Christ….into us.

And contentment is one of these things.

Contentment means: “I have enough, and so I am satisfied”……it is a personal thing. A thing between you and the Holy Spirit.

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

Now we are to ask for what is “due us”…..as God’s children.

And that is more of the Holy Spirit within.

What can He not do?

Guide us? He does.

Strengthen us? He does.

Give us Light to brighten our minds and hearts? He does.

Give us peace….that peace that Christ won for us on the Cross? He does.

Give us ability? Yes, He does.

Shall He withhold contentment…..or satisfaction with His Way? No, but He will surely give….surely fill us up….to our capacity.

But do we want more of Him?

Do we want His many and manifold gifts to “me”? For it is personal.

“Ask”…..and….”how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?”

The only thing Jesus cursed while here

Matthew 21:17-19 “And He left them, and went out of the city into Bethany, and He lodged there.

Now in the morning, as He returned into the city, He hungered.

And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.”

(In Mark, it was the next morning that they saw the fig tree withered…..from it’s roots, up. Mark 11:20-21)

Here is the only thing our Lord cursed while here on earth……the fruitless fig tree.

(The fig tree’s leaves, were what Adam and Eve put together to cover themselves after their sin! Genesis 3:7)

This was the last week of Jesus life here on earth, and He has been in the city of Jerusalem teaching during the day…but at night went out to Bethany.

(It is interesting to note, that the Lord never spend a night in the city, after He rode into Jerusalem as “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna to the Highest.” Matthew 21:9.

He left Jerusalem, and went out to Bethany: home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus)

In the morning, walking back into Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry,…..when He saw a fig tree that had leaves.

(Fig trees first produce the beginnings of the fruit of figs, at the same time the leaves come on….so if the tree had leaves, whether it was the time for figs or not….it should have had fruit.)

But this tree had no fruit, to satisfy the Lord.

“Fruit” is the term used by the Lord to describe what we, as His people, are to give to Him. It springs from the life He implants within us…..in obedience to His life within us.

From John the Baptist’s charge against Israel…..to prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus, which spoke about fruit:

Matthew 3:8, 10 “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

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

And Jesus’ sermon on the mount:

Matthew 7:19-20 “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

To the end when Jesus was talking to His disciples:

John 15:2, 4 “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.”

“Fruit” is how we show the life of Christ, through us. We bring forth the fruit of HIs life…..in our lives.

That is what He asks from His people…..to show that we are His.

That is how we satisfy the Lord Jesus.

And this is what the Lord was showing, in cursing the fruitless fig tree. “Let not fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.”

If there is no fruit, but leaves only….it is worthless.

The leaves cover the tree, and make it look good to those who pass by….but leaves will not satisfy the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 21:20 “And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!”

After three years with the Lord, you would think the disciples would not be amazed at the fact that everything in creation, obeys the Lord…..but it was beyond natural,….yes, it was by the command of the Son of God.

Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Jesus was not giving a formula for rearranging landscapes……but a way….by faith (which is given to us when we receive His life in us)…….to remove from ourselves, any thing which would hinder us, from showing forth His life through us.

Whether is be a “fig tree”, which needs to be destroyed…..

….or a “mountain” which needs to be removed out of our way…..each is done, by us……by the faith the Lord has given us.

1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

As Christians, we are to bring forth fruit to God….the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the fruit of a Christian…which is another Christian; by prayer, witnessing, or soul winning.

We are not all called to the same work…..but we are all called to satisfy the Lord Jesus Christ by giving Him the fruit of His life,…..lived out, through ours.

To be a Good Steward

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

A steward is one, who under the owner, manages part of the house, or property.

As Christians we are to be good stewards, and administer or manage our part of the household of God….our gifts, those we are responsible to teach, encourage, or pray for.

We are going to consider a “good steward” of Abraham.

Genesis 24:2-4 “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.”

Abraham was old, and weakened, so that he could not go out and do the things he had before.

Sarah, his wife, was dead. Now Abraham begins to consider a wife, for Isaac.

Abraham was not to return to his land,…..so he calls for his trusted steward, and makes him swear (put your hand under my thigh),….that he will go and see about a wife for Isaac,…..from his family in Mesopotamia.

There is some question about whether the steward was to take Issac to Mesopotamia again…….

…..No, this is the land the Lord gave me after He brought me out of my homeland;……so do not take Isaac back.

And if the woman is unwilling to come……then the steward would be free from this oath.

Abraham gives a promise to the steward: “He (the Lord) shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”

So this steward sets out with ten camels laden with goods from Abraham, to give as presents to the family of the woman who would come.

(First to notice, that this steward did all this effort for someone else: his Master’s son…..not for himself.

And aren’t we to be faithful servants for our Master’s Son, Jesus Christ?)

How long this journey was, it does not say….but the steward arrives at Nahor in Mesopotamia….in the evening……” the time that women go out to draw water.”

He makes his camels kneel down by the city well,…..and waits

And he prays…

Genesis 24:12-14 “And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.

Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink,

and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also:

let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.”

(How this shows us the spiritual witness Abraham was on his household and servants: each knew God,…..and what God could do…..because of him.

Abraham wasn’t just a good man…..but a Godly man.)

Before the steward was finished praying, Rebekah, who was of Abraham’s family came to the well, with a pitcher, to draw water.

Genesis 24:17 “And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.”

She not only gave him a drink, but as he prayed,….she watered his camels, as well.

He was cautious, and waited till she was done, and then asked: “Whose daughter art thou?” Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?

As soon as he heard who she was, and who her family was:

Genesis 24:26-27 “And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.

And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth:

I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

(Abraham had been promised the land of Canaan for an inheritance….not to him but to “his seed”. Without a proper wife for Isaac, this promise would not be fulfilled.

So the steward praised God for His mercy…..not to him…..but to Abraham.

And praised God for the truth of His promise….that an angel would go before him and lead his way.)

Rebekah goes home, and her brother comes and leads the steward and the camels to their house…..for a steward from their relative Abraham, was come!

How exciting.

Then the steward tells the business of his journey, and how the promise was fulfilled concerning the Lord’s guidance; and how his prayer had been answered…..

…and he asks:

Would Rebekah come? Would she leave her family, and come and be Isaac’s wife?

The family gave permission…..but when they wanted her to stay for at least ten days….the steward said:

Genesis 24:56 “And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.”

(Part of our business as stewards of the gospel, is to deal with hinderances. To not be persuaded to “put off” till tomorrow, what should be done today.)

Rebekah is called, and she agrees to go….right away. “I will go”

(When speaking about our Master, and the gospel He gave us to tell…..we need to know that often,….delay is hinderance. “He commands all men everywhere to repent.” “Today, if you will hear His voice.”)

Genesis 24:61, 63, 66-67 “And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

And Issac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

And Isaac brought her into her mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

This is a story of a good steward…..working not for himself, or his family,…but for his mater, and his master’s son.

(This man is never named…..I believe it is because he illustrates all “good stewards”.

Those, that fulfill their duty,…..out of love and honor for their Master,….down through the ages…….which should include us)

It is a story of fulfilled promises….and promises that were to be fulfilled later, because of the obedience of the steward.

[Abraham’s children did obtain the promise of the Land….and Abraham’s Seed….Christ. Galatians 3:8-9,14,16. Came from this line.]

Yet, we too, have stories like this. We too, have been sent to deliver and bring home to our Master, God,….and His Son, Jesus Christ….those that will belong to the Church (the bride of Christ. Revelation 19:7-8)

As with Rebekah;……if they will not come,…..we are free of our duty….we have done what we could.

Like this steward of Abraham,……we need to follow the Lord’s guidance,….pray for blessing,….and deal with any hinderances,…..that we might fulfill our duty to our Master, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Moses failing sin

Numbers 20:7-12 “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou and Aaron thy bother, and speak ye unto the Rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth His water,….

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this Rock?

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the Rock twice: and the water came out abundantly and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”

To be frank, Moseos like all of us, sinned many times…presumption when he killed an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-12)

Doubting and fear at the fiery bush (Exodus 3:11, 4:1, 10)

Losing his patience and becoming angry and breaking the first stones that contained the Ten Commandments, because of the sin in the camp (Exodus 32:19)

Unbelief for quail (Numbers 11:23)

Listening to the suggestions of the people about searching the land

(Deuteronomy 1:21-23)

But then….

…being peeved and rebellious…..and losing out of God’s best.

Moses had been leading them a long time…..surely by now he would have learned about human nature…..and trials.

They do not mix….they only bring out the worst in people’s emotions, if they do not believe God.

When we trust in God,….even in the worst of times…..it brings out the best in us….for our eyes are ever toward the Lord….and we shine as lights in the darkness and storm….

…….but, trials and troubles bring out our fears, anxieties, anger, and grumbles in our old man…..as we do not believe the Lord…..only bringing more troubles.

Perhaps it was the nearness of the wanderings finally coming to an end…..perhaps Moses let these people “wear him down”….so that he was not completely trusting in the “I Am” that sent him on his ministry….

Whatever the internal struggle…..Moses should have gathered himself together when God gave him direction…..so that he was right within himself…before the Lord….

….and made sure he followed God’s direction.

We all know that Moses should have spoken to the Rock, the second time….but he sinned and struck it again….twice.

(The first time he was to strike the Rock with his rod….symbolizing Christ smitten for us and the flowing out of life to us! Exodus 17:5-6

But the second time, he was to speak to it…..symbolizing our speaking to Him in heaven, and the flowing out of the Holy Spirit to us in our circumstances!)

Moses failing sin was in several parts (like most of our sin)…..but it began inside of him….

He was “provoked”….(Psalm 106:32-33 “They angered him also at the waters of strife……because they provoked his spirit,…”)

“Provoke” here means “to make bitter, to cause to resist.”

Now Moses did not start to resist God, but Israel’s complaining….

….but….

…..he did not deal with this. He should have gone to God and said:

“Lord, I am angry with this people because they continually want….without turning to You. They are angry with me all the time. Please help me to see things in Your way without my own murmuring.”

He should have reasoned with himself:

“God knows them….if He wants me to do this a certain way….He knows what is best…..I will honor Him, no matter what they do.”

But he did not….

….instead he became “provoked” with Israel…and then with God.

Which lead to:

Unbelieving. (Numbers 20:12) “….because ye believed Me not….”

When I first read this, years ago…..I could not believe it! Moses, not believe the Lord? But belief is an active grace…..not something we store in a drawer like a deed or a will.

And Moses did not believe God. He thought he knew what to do for this rebellious people! (And probably this was only a few minutes of reasoning…that brought terrible consequences for him)

Which lead to:

“….and spake unadvisedly with his lips…” (Psalm 106:32-33)

With bitterness in his heart (what a warning for us)…..Moses opened his mouth and let loose his unguarded feelings….”Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this Rock?”

Was that the way God spoke about this need…..no matter how the congregation spoke……how did God speak?

He did not call them “rebels”. There was only one reason Moses “must” fetch water out of this Rock…..God’s Will….

….and that is what our eyes should always look for….nothing else….or it will hinder our words and work…..like it did Moses’s

Which lead to:

He did not sanctify the Lord before the people. “To sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel”.

God did know Israel’s hearts…..He did know their need to see a Rock…..flowing with water for them…..because of words.

If Moses would have obeyed…..he would have shown them that their words, too, could bring outfrom God, a blessing.

And finally, it was called “rebellion against His commandment.” (Numbers 27:14)

Moses came to see the awfulness of letting his bitterness get in the way of God’s plan and Will….and marring a lesson that God wanted Israel to have.

What of us?

In a world filled with anger, bitterness, strife, hatred…..where do we fit in?

Will we let it “get to us” and respond in kind?

Or will we deal with those provocations which come up…..before the Lord,…

….and go out into the world….with His Word….and in His peace?