To be Drawn to Christ, HimselfSong of Solomon 1:2 “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth, for Thy love is better than wine.”(Wine is given here, for all that inebriates….all that lifts us up. But the Lord’s intimate love to me, is better than all)Here is the cry of a Christian knowing full well her lack of spirituality. She knows Jesus as Savior….and she obeys what she knows to be His Will….but……she wants closeness to the Lord……and no matter how many commitments she has made, or how many times she determines to “have more of God”,….Still she is troubled by the feeling of dryness in her personal devotions and prayers…..where can she find Him? Do we have this desire?She reads the promises of God….she wants them, and more……it has become a yearning of her whole soul after Christ, alone.She speaks honestly about how she is….she knows she is not worthy to have fellowship with Him….but if He would tell her how….she would follow after.Song of Solomon 1:7 “Tell me, O Thou Whom my soul loveth, where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of Thy companions?”So she starts praying; “How can I learn of You, Lord Jesus?Where is that personal relationship, I hear about?I am afraid to stay still and afraid to walk ahead…..yet here I am, please help me.”Song of Solomon 1:8 “If thou know not, O thou fairest among women (what a name He calls the one who wants to get closer to Him!),…go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the Shepherd’ tents.”And He does speak. He gives a slight rebuke (those who will not be corrected will never be true followers, for corrections come to all of us….to love we must obey)“Shouldn’t you know where to find me?……but since you don’t……the answer is….follow the flock and get to the Shepherd’s tent”We should not neglect the gathering together with other Christians….but when it come to fellowship and that direct expression of His love for us, ourselves….then we must find it in submission to the Shepherd, Himself.This is not submission to obey….but submission of person to Person…..character to His character….my love to His love.Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.”Jehovah-Raah: the Lord my ShepherdThe word Shepherd here means to Tend, to Feed, to Rule, to Associate with.It is a full and expressive word, which covers the actions of One Who has taken responsibility for me……wherever He leads, and whatever is ahead…Do we want this relationship of sheep to Shepherd? Do we want an intimate relationship with Christ?Psalm 23: 2-6 (condensed) “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness…Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff…comfort me.Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (here); and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”If you read this psalm, you will notice that all the praise goes to our Shepherd for His care, and protection.But there is more….notice that it is “He” and “I”. This is not the church….but me….personally.(Some say that this was written by David in his old age….after a lifetime following his Shepherd…through battles, corrections, and blessings.As a young man tending his father’s sheep, he knew what being a shepherd meant……he had defended the flock against a lion and a bear…..even taking one lamb out of the mouth of one. 1 Samuel 17:34-36)Isaiah 40:11 “He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”He carries us through many situations….in sickness, anxiety, and trouble, within and without….by enabling grace.He stops some situations from becoming worse…..He bears us up, by strength and wisdom,…..He makes us to feel His loving presence at times more strongly, to help us cope with circumstances.Yet we must will to follow where He leads….We choose where we are in His flock….following close to Him, or at a distance.Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of the sheep. There is a fullness in this title of our Lord Jesus….are we His sheep? are we resting under His gaze, following in His paths, eating at His table?Are we enjoying that relationship with Him? Are we like the one in the Song of Solomon….Song of Solomon 1:2, 1:7 “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth; for Thy love is better than wine.Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth, where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flocks to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of Thy companions?”Do we have this?If not, we can,…..for He says,…..come to Him, and He will be our Shepherd.

Hast thou Faith?Romans 14:22 “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which He alloweth.”When we begin to walk by faith and not by sight; we begin to deal with those things that we “condemn” ourselves with.Faith is the active ingredient of our Spiritual lives. It comes to us by the Holy Spirit, when we are born again; but it (usually) takes us a while to use it.Faith tells us to trust and stand…..and our eyes tell us that what were about to do is impossible.Faith tells us to “Get out of here, now.”…….And our eyes do not “see” anything wrong.Faith nudges us to speak to someone about Jesus;…..we wait…but then the subject is changed, the opportunity is gone.We learn (it is called “growing” in scripture: 2 Peter 3:18) to use the faith given in each situation of our lives;….and when we do, we come into Christian Liberty.Our Christian Liberty should make us free to be what we ought: to be what God’s wants us to be.1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought into the power of any.”1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”Twice in the same book, Paul warns these Christians to be careful not to let what “other people” do, or social norms, to be their rule of life.Rather, they should be fully committed to God’s Will and Way; no matter what anyone else does.Paul gives his testimony: “I will not be brought into the power of anything; even though it might be lawful (or nothing, that would seem to be wrong).”Paul said, “I will”, for we must will with God’s Will.For the Christian there are certain things we know are wrong: stealing, lying, adultery, to name a few.But for each Christians there are “convictions” of the Holy Spirit (for them) that say, “This is not for you.”(I, years ago, when I was a teenager….was dealt with, by the Lord, to give up make up. Not because I felt that the make up was sinful; but rather for me, it was wrong to wear it….because of the attachment to the world, it suggested.This is a conviction of the Holy Spirit to me….and I still do not wear it.)True Spiritual Life is following the Lord Jesus wherever He leads in my life.True liberty is freedom from the power of sin in my life.Faith is the “sight” that makes both of these possible.“Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God.”Simply, use the faith the Holy Spirit has given you, and follow the Lord Jesus into the happiness He has for you.Don’t “allow” anything that He does not want,….though it may be hard to part with at the time…………and joy and peace will be your heart’s companion.

A New Way.Joshua 3:4 “Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: Come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which you must go: For ye have not passed this way heretofore.”“You have not passed this Way, before.”The Israelites were crossing Jordan to obtain their inheritance as God’s people.They were to keep in their sight the Ark of God, which was way out front, for that would lead them right.There would be battles, some miraculous, others hard fought. (Jericho—Joshua 6:20; the forced march to Gibeon—Joshua 10:9-10)There would be failures, and repentance’s. (Achan’s theft—Joshua 7:10-11)There would be those who did not want to leave the safety of the camp, to go into their own territory. (Joshua 18:3-4)And mostly there would be God, always present, guiding and leading….first, by Joshua.Then by the Law and priests.Then by their own love of God……if they would continue in it.We have not passed this Way before. We are entering into new territory, new promises.There is new ground to walk, new heights to be gained.[Once I was taking one of my prayer walks, and I was praying about some things the Lord had been dealing with me about….when the Lord showed me that I had finally got these things into my life.(Sometimes, when you have been working at something for a while, as I had, we need to see just how far we have come….it is a great feeling to know you have got further with the Lord.)Wow! I felt on top of the heights! And the Lord let me feel that for awhile as I praised Him for bringing me through.Then it was like He nudged me, and said, “But up there is where we are going”……and as though the fog lifted before me, I saw a mountain, very high, and a pinnacle there.Yes, I had finally gotten this habit taken care of, but there was so much more to have in Christ….and He wanted me to know the….’where “we” are going’.There had been joy before, but now there was joy poured forth. I felt empowered to leap mountains.I have found, since then, the way up, is difficult….but He has been with me. And He has always been my greatest joy.]“You have not passed this Way, before.”Our inheritance is in what we become, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.And the calling and ministries He has given us.It is the fruit of the Spirit within. As we bare this fruit within, we conqueror our souls.Christ has saved them…now we are to possess them and give them back to Him, in love, joy, peace, etc.Luke 21:19 “In your patience possess ye your souls.”In other words, have your mind, heart and will under subjection to God,….so no matter what is going on around you, you will be kept and steady in the storm.The Holy Spirit uses His Word to guide us into bearing these fruits; having what the Lord has for us….within us…and then through us.Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith,Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.”Love: The Spirit first makes sure, you know, you are loved of God. (1 John 4:19)Then He implants love within you, for the Lord, and His people. He leads you into desiring Him, in all His attributes.Joy: This is a choice fruit….for it is the lifting up of our hearts and minds, no matter what is going on. It is of the Lord, and not circumstances…and it can not be “worked up”, but it is a gift from our most Joyous God.(It makes us like cream….always rising to the top)Peace: This places us firmly on the only solid ground…the Rock of Christ…and keeps us there. The wind, storm, and enemies below may threaten….but can not move us off our Rock. (Philippians 4:7)Long-suffering: This is “putting up with” people for Christ’s sake. Giving them another chance. In the Greek it means, “long enduring temper” or patience.Gentleness: Being as kind to others, as Christ has been to you.Goodness: This comes from the “good works” we are to do as His workmanship…”created in Christ Jesus unto good works…”(Ephesians 2:10).We are to be useful: to our family, our church, and others. (Romans 15:14)Faith: This is a gift from God to us, that we might know Him, and this we are to do…using our faith, we are to increase our knowledge of the Lord by believing.Matthew 9:28-29 “And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to Him: and Jesus said unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto Him, Yea, Lord.Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you.”If He said, “according to our faith, be it to us”,…..how would we be?Meekness: This is becoming humble…letting the Lord have all the glory, and letting Him exalt you, when He thinks it is good.[It is interesting to note, that as we go on with the Lord, we become more focused on giving Him all the praise…for we realize, after dealing with us so tirelessly, He deserves more than we can ever give.]James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace, wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”Temperance: Self-control, or to have the mastery over yourself.And this leads us back to:“In your patience possess ye your souls.”God wants us to obtain all the promises, all the gifts, all the fruits…..all…everything that He has for us, in and by the Holy Spirit within.He uses every situation, everyday to lead us forth to new things.Will we be lead out, and follow Him?…..”for ye have not passed this way, before”.

Troubles, Discouragements, Despair.We know that all those that name the name of Jesus, will suffer persecution.2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”Troubles.Who does not have them?Some are financial problems (2 Chronicles 25:9)….some are personal anxieties, some are illnesses,….and….…..Some are trials which we must go through….for our faith.Every trial, or trouble will actually build our faith, as we hang on to Christ and walk….through it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)If you remember the three Hebrew men which defied Nebuchadnezzar’s order to bow to his gold likeness….and got thrown into a fiery furnace.Then you will probably will also remember Who came to join them….”One like unto the Son of God” (Daniel 3:24-25).It was Christ, of course…..He did not save them from the furnace….they went in, bound,…fell down in it….surrounded by the flames….everything was finished as far as they were concerned.But He went in there with them….got them up, and walking, talking with Him.You might say, that was more than troubles….….but every trouble that comes to us, can end the same (not fiery furnaces)….but with anger from others,….being ostracized,….and losing worldly benefit.But it also yields us Christ’s Presence in a special way….getting us up, walking with us, and talking with us….in the troubles…..as we stand with Him.Some troubles come from interactions, which we should not be in?Of course, we think of Lot…and the destruction of Sodom.But there are other entanglements that can lead to our loss:2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him that hath chosen him to be a soldier:”Discouragement:One of the graces God gives us, is courage….”boldness”, it is often termed in the New Testament.Yet, as with every gift God gives us,….we can refuse it….and then we become “discouraged”….or “spiritless”………we do not feel the Holy Spirit’s power as we should…….we can feel “deserted”….tired….weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9)Paul was writing the Philippi church….to not be discouraged….because of his being in prison (bonds)….and coming before Caesar to be judged.They had been praying for his release….yet he might be killed.`So he writes to tell them what has happened....and to encourage them, to...`…… in boldness of the Spirit, “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries:…”(Phil. 1:27-28)`Because he is in prison,......some men have preached Christ.....only to stir up trouble for him....`…but others have stepped up and preached Christ out of love.Yet, Paul says:Philippians 1:19-21 “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”This is boldness or courage……and the Holy Spirit works this within us, even in circumstances which worry, and discourage us……as we pray and yield to His Spirit.Despair:Despair is to be utterly at a loss….To feel that all is over or lost….with nothing we can do about it.And when we get into this “place”…..only God can bring us out of it.Only His power can halt the waves of guilt, loss, and nothingness that we feel.(Some people say, that as Christians, we should not feel despair….….I do not believe that. I believe, that as Christians, we should not continue in despair.)Think about Peter, having denied the Lord….not once,…but three times, even in front of a maid,….….though he knew the Lord’s resurrection,…the empty tomb……he felt despair because of his failure, and said, “I go a fishing” (John 21:3).He would go back to fishing, there was nothing for him in Christ….….Jesus came and spoke to him….”lovest thou Me?”…and he was wounded….”grieved”….torn apart by the question…….and when he answered it, “yes, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee”….…he was still unsure what Jesus would do.Till Jesus called him again….anew….”Feed My lambs, feed My sheep”.Peter was then restored….in spirit….in calling….in fellowship with Christ.Peter came out of despair, and into God’s Way again.Paul writes about the many different troubles he had faced as a Christian….2 Corinthians 4:8 “We were troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we we’re perplexed, but not in despair;”Here, he is talking about spiritual life…..and in that, he was upheld from distress and despair in these situations, by the Holy Spirit2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of power may be of God, and not of us.”The “excellency of power” means that, if Paul was protected by all the Roman army…..he would not be more safe, than under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit within.On our way through this life….there are many things which come to us, tempt us, or assault us…which we cannot handle.But God can….in us, and through us….Troubles, Discouragement, and Despair…..are things that we can meet with on the way to heaven….….but we are not to be ruled by them….but by God….and His Will.That does not mean they will not attack us…..they will.But it does mean that God has a way through these attacks,….and we can have His Presence in them.Are we using all that God has given us, by His Spirit?

And the Very God of Peace Sanctify you….1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Faithful is He Who calleth you, Who also will do it.”Now He will do this, but not against your will.Can two walk together except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)To walk with God, you must be in your place. We are creatures…..created to please our Creator.Sin has marred that beginning way…..but not our purpose.So to walk with God, we must agree with God as to our place before Him.We each have a place to fill.But it is all according to God’s Will and plan. We can not fill someone else’s shoes…..nor can they, fill ours.But once we have our place as dependent creature before God, then we can go on.And once the creature has come to the place where they agree to be the creature before the Creator….…it is then they walk as friends.John 15:15-16 “Henceforth I call ye not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that you 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.”As friends He wants us to know what He will do…..and very especially what He does through you.He has chosen us….and ordained us….(ordained means that He has provided everything that we need to do the job)……that we should “go and bring forth fruit”.We should go into the lives He has given us, and bring forth the fruit of peace, joy, gentleness, patience, etc.That whatsoever we shall ask of the Father in Jesus Name, He may give it us!All this He has done, and seeks our willing cooperation in it all.“Now the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly”.We can not be at odds with God in anything and know this peace. This peace in not judicial, but personal peace between us and He.To start this sanctifying, we must start with subjection to the Holy Spirit in our spirit.2 Peter 1:5 “And besides this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;”Here Peter shows the road map to fruitfulness….…we are to add to the faith given us at new birth,….”virtue”…Virtue is “Arte”….or force. By giving all diligence on our part, we are to yield to the force within us by the Holy Spirit.He is there, pulling us on, pushing us out of situations, and molding us.(Diligence is giving all earnest speed to do it.)Through this virtue you will bring your spirit into subjection to the Holy Spirit.These things are all brought about by acts of the Will.And as you yield your will to the Holy Spirit, you find yourself borne along….…as a sailing ship before the wind.Our part is to hoist our sails….giving all diligence….to catch all of the wind of the Holy Spirit, we can.

The Called According to His Purpose

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

If I am one of the called, when did He call me? And for what purpose, did He call me?

He brought us into being; not to live to ourselves, or to do what we want.

We are God’s, bought with a price, and are not our own.

1 Peter 1:18-20 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

But with the precious blood of Christ; as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

It is His calling, His saving, His purpose and grace for us….we are to find for ourselves.

What is His purpose?

First, His purpose for us, is that we know Him, and keep learning more of Him.

We are to come into a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and grow in that knowledge.

He is life, and as we know Him more, we experience more His life, within our life….in our everyday situations.

His joy, His peace, His hope, His correction, and His satisfaction.

He wants fellowship with His saved, beloved ones.

Second, His purpose is for our conformity to His Will……..He is life, His Word is Truth…and we are to deal with anything that hinders our walk in HIs Will.

There is the cleansing we need,….so we can receive from Him all He has for us.

If there is unconfessed sin, that puts up a barrier between us. Therefore we are to:

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

And this on a daily basis….that no shadows come between us..

His purpose is that we should walk before Him…..as His children,…for He will look after us.

His purpose is for us to follow after Him as His disciples…learning dependence and obedience to our Master’s commands.

His purpose is for us to walk as friends with Him…

John 15:14-15 “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call ye not servants; for the servant knoweth not what His Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.”

Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Shall we not yield to His purpose for us, and honor His love for us?

It is to set yourself aside to Him, in each situation.

This takes some effort, but as someone once said, (and I like this) “It is to find out where Jesus is standing in this situation, and then go and stand with Him.”

To yield to Him. Yes, yield is to “give-in”. And that is what we are to do….give in to Christ….believing He knows best….believing He sees all that is going on with me….believing He loves me.

He is our life, let us embrace Him….and learn of Him.

He made it again.

Jeremiah 18:3-4 “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hands of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

This is Jeremiah, learning the lesson for Israel…..God could still use Israel….even after their rebellion and idolatry…

….if, they would return to Him and let Him make them again….another vessel, as seemed Him good.

And what was that?

God had allowed Nebuchadnezzar had come and put them under tribute to him, for their sin and iniquities.

But….

….if they would turn from their evil, and follow the law….

…even though they would have to pay tribute,…they would be able to stay in the land God gave them…..in peace….under their own olive trees and vineyards…with their families.

But, if they rebelled against this second chance…..they would be destroyed….they city of David and the temple burnt….and their children taken away as slaves or starved.

God was speaking bluntly…..and giving them hope….

….if they obeyed:

Jeremiah 25:5-6 “…Turn ye again now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers forever and ever.

And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke Me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.”

Second chances from the Lord, to be molded into a vessel unto honor….useful to the Lord,…..are a bounty and a blessing.

What are we doing with ours?

Perhaps you have failed in the purpose for which you were sent…or called to someone, or someplace, or to some time?

But let me tell you…..God has a second chance for any who come to Him in repentance and obedience.

The great call of Israel was to be a nation under God….with Him as their King.

Yet,….when they failed….time and time again,….

….He sent prophets and priests….He sent messages of love and correction…

…and finally, before the captivity…..

…He sent a final word:

“Return….obey….and I will give you a second chance at being My people.

It will not be with the great and grand promises that I gave your fathers….

….that will come under the Messiah, My Son…

….but you can still be a blessing….still get my blessing…

…will you have this second chance….this forming of the Potter’s hands….of Me?”

And He says the same to us…..His people….now, to any that have failed, or gone away from Him….

Hebrews 12:12-13 “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

“Lift up the hands which hang down”…..go and do what the Lord says….get up….here and now……and do it.

“And feeble knees”….have you stopped praying? Have stopped seeking His Word?…start again.

“And make straight paths for your feet”….if you know you have done wrong….correct it….go to the Lord and set it right….and get back in His Way for you.

Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Work at your relationships with others….and with the Lord.

“Holiness” here is sanctification….to be set aside in all we are, to the Lord.

His Purpose for us is to manifest His glory….His light and love.

And He gives us a second chance to do just that…..He gave Peter, who denied Him, that second chance….

….and, if we return to Him….He will do the same for us.

God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

God loveth a cheerful giver.

This giving is of our time,…..our ability….our testimony,….as well as our tithe, and offerings.

Cheerful here, means hilarious….joyfully helpful and generous.

(In 2 Corinthians, Paul is talking about the offering he was going to take to Jerusalem for the suffering brethren. There had been persecution, and then a famine….many were suffering.)

But the principle is the same for everything we do for Christ…..God loves a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 15:13, 15 “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.”

Simply, God has made our hearts to rejoice in Him…..and when they don’t…..it bends the spirit, sometime to the breaking point…..and effects our minds…makes us melancholy (a feeling of anxious sadness).

But joy…..or the hilarious giver is blessed….always.

Jesus, said five times….”Be of good cheer”…”or to have joyful courage”:

Matthew 9:2 and Mark 6:50….He spoke of this joyful courage to the man with palsy.

Matthew 14:27…..to the disciples in the storm, as He walked on the water to them.

To the disciples…before He was betrayed and taken….imagine the knowledge of the suffering to come….yet….He knew He would overcome….and the courageous joy in His heart toward His Father’ Will….was present.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

And then, to Paul, when he was first arrested….

Acts 23:11 “….the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

God does not give as a miser….He gives abundant mercy and grace…and joy.

And He requires that we should act in accordance to what He gives.

Nehemiah 8:9-10 “And Nehemiah,….and Ezra the priest…..and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God: mourn not, nor weep, for all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto your Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Here, are these Israelites gathered to hear the Word of God,….some for the first time (since they had been in captivity)…..and they realize how little they had obeyed the Lord….

….sorrow filled their hearts as the priests taught them the Word, and gave understanding in it….

…yet,….God did not want weeping….but joy in the hearing of His Word….and so commanded them to put away their sorrow, for this day…..

…..and go and enjoy what His Word set forth…..a feast with Him, and their neighbors.

(This was the peace offering…which was always shared with family, neighbors, friends, and the priests. And this was to be enjoyed.)

He give us “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:7-8)….and we should give with the utter freedom of cheerfulness…..joyful courage.

Speaking of the gifts among the church….Paul wrote the Romans:

Romans 12:8 “Or he that exhorted, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence (seeing the job done); he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Anything we do for the Lord, is to be done in joy and peace.

An old preacher once said, that as far as he was concerned….the real criteria for spiritual maturity….was the hanging onto the Lord’s joy and peace.

God loves a cheerful giver.

We should give hilariously to the Lord….in all the things that He wants us to do.

Will Ye also go Away?

John 6:61-67. “When Jesus knew in Himself that his disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you?

What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before?

It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profitteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you they are spirit, and they are life.

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who would betray him.

And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto Him of My Father.

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”

We often think that Jesus had only the twelve which followed Him……but this is far short of the many that first accompanied Him.

There was at least seventy, at one time. (Luke 10:1)

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”

It is one thing to hear and respond with your ears;……..But another thing altogether to hear and respond with your spirit.

Jesus was talking to men who had heard what He preached to the multitudes,……who had walked with Him for a while,………but they became “offended”.

Would they go away?

The word “offend” here, means to scandalize.

It is one thing to follow a coming King…..and a different thing to spiritually depend on Jesus for everything! (The Bread of Life….our very sustenance)

To begin this, we must go back to the day before…..

Jesus had fed the five thousand….a very impressive miracle…..He had fed so many till they were completely satisfied…(John 6:11-13)

The multitude of people were, of course, amazed about their full bellies……they began to think that He was the Prophet that should come into the world (John 6:14)

The next day, they found Him on the other side of the Lake….for they followed Him across the Sea, the next morning.

He told them plainly that they should not run after Him for the meat that perishes, but….

John 6:27 “Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.”

So begins a conversation about the Manna……and the Bread of Life. What is the “true” bread of life?

Manna was bread the Israelites were supplied with from heaven, as they cross the desert from Egypt to Canaan….

Jesus said, “Moses did not give you the true bread from heaven, but my Father has: which gives life unto the world.” (John 6:32)

(Now, you have to wonder about their hearing: Jesus had plainly told them that the Bread of Life was unto everlasting life;

But they are still thinking of food, filled bellies, rather than filled hearts and lives)

So, they said “Lord, evermore give us this bread.

(they are not following His Words at all. They been fed,….and now wanted to be fed all the time.)

John 6:35, 40 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst.

And this is the will of the Him that sent Me, that everyone which seeth the Son (as the Son of God), and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

(Here is the everlasting life which is our bread to eat and to drink……

…..believing on Him…..

……it fills us with His presence, sustains us in troubles and joys, guides us through every day till He brings us home with Him.)

Jesus begins to explain that everyone who comes to learn of the Father, will come to Him…….because I am the Bread of Life……which the Father has sent to “feed you”…..not with food,…..but by My life, and My Word…..which is everlasting.

Therefore you have to “eat” it. Digest my Words, and believe on me.

This is to eat my flesh and drink my blood.

How can this Man give of His flesh to eat?

Some people never understand Christ’s Words, because they live in the darkness of their own thoughts (2 Corinthians 4:4).

These people wanted to eat food.

They did not want Him, but food…..bread and fish, like yesterday.

So the people turned away.

But the sad thing was:

John 6:60 “Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?”

You will notice they said “Who can hear it?”…….not “Who can understand it?”

They understood it……it was their hearts……not their minds that had a problem.

When you “hear” Jesus words aright:……they should not offend, or scandalize,…….but comfort, and enliven.

They did not like the way He said the truth.

John 6:63 “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

If you are not encouraged and quickened by My Words, then your heart is not yielding to the Spirit, in My Words.

If hearing Christ’s Words does not bring some life to you; then you have not heard aright.

John 6:66 “From that time many of his disciples when back and walked no more with him.”

There were many who would follow Jesus because of He was to be King…..

But few who wanted to hear about Jesus giving His life’s body and blood, that they might have spiritual life.

This was not the Mighty Messiah that they had expected.

John 6:65 “And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”

To live for Jesus, you must be empowered to do so.

You cannot, of yourself, come to God, and you can not, of yourself, live for Him.

If you are not being empowered to do His Will, then something is stopping that flow of power…..for He has it….for all who will.

John 6:67 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”

Now, Jesus asked the twelve disciples…..the answer came instantly:

John 6:68-69 “Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.

And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Here is what “hearing” aright does: It brings you to believe, and trust in Christ Jesus.

So, will you also go away?

What have you heard lately, which has caused you to be offended in Christ?

Go to Him and tell Him your complaint: but tell Him you believe in Him, and He will give you life.

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

As Christians, are sins are completely and eternally forgiven at the Cross of Christ,….

….yet,…..we are to ask forgiveness for our daily sins….that the fellowship between us and the Lord will be open and full.

Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”

1 John 1:7, 9 “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.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Our sins are the great obstacle to the blessings we might receive from the Lord.

Our sins narrow the channel of blessing, so that the things the Lord wants to give us…..can not pass on to us.

Therefore, as we pray…”give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11)….

….we also need to pray….”forgive us our debts”.

The Lord wants to encourage all who pray, to go from strength to strength….

…first dealing with us about our sins, as debts.

“Debts”, as we all know are “something owed”.

We owe God our all…..as Creator, for He has given us life,….and we were made to glorify God….not to please ourselves…

….and as our Lord and Savior, for He has given us Eternal life….a life of purpose and power.

We owe God….perfect worship……..for He alone is the One worthy of our praise.

Hebrews 13:15 “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

But we daily fail in this…..we sin, we get short tempered, we get frustrated, we say words we should not, we covet.

All these, are the sins we should bring to Christ Jesus and confess….thereby learning from them….and be saved from them.

Are we letting our debts pile up?

Full atonement for all our sins was made by Christ Jesus at the Cross. There, our guilt was canceled….the penalty of sin washed away.

But, there is a very real sense in which the sins we do not confess to God….(when we find we have failed, and commit them)…

…..are still with us, in their influence and darkness….

…..because the Lord wants us to come to the light of the truth….and tell Him about them…

…to seek pardon from them.

The wrath of God cannot abide on a Christian, but it can on the sin in a Christian’s life.

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

God is ready to forgive….but He requires us to turn toward our Lord and Savior,…. and confess our sins against Him.

Like when we ask for our daily bread,…..we need to ask forgiveness for our daily sins….

….that our conscience will know the cleansing of His forgiveness for those sins.

The effects of this kind of forgiveness is peace…..and confident access to God.

When we pray for forgiveness…..it should not be a mumbling…..but a humble acknowledgement that we have sinned.

(So many go along with the world’s estimation of sin…..little sins and big sins….when every sin is a manifestation of “I will rule myself, in this”.)

We should seek God’s mercy….for Christ’s sake….realizing that only He can righteously pardon us….and make us free from this sin.

But there is more to this petition:

“…forgive us our debts,…..as we forgive our debtors.”

If we are born again, and He is our Lord….then the character of mercy found in the Lord Jesus……

….has been planted in us by His Holy Spirit…..

…in other words….we can be merciful.

If we have a drop of God’s mercy….we can forgive those who offend and hurt us…..because we can readily remember how He has forgiven us.

(And the Lord has already told us that there will always be offenses [Matthew 18:7]……and those who seek to hurt, or slander, or exclude us….for His sake.)

We need to pray for God to remove all bitterness and the desire for revenge [so prevalent in our times]….from our hearts and tongues!

Hebrews 12:14–15 “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

To fail of the grace of God, is to not use it at the time….to let the hurt, anger, or other thoughts….take hold on our heart.

Holiness is to be set aside to God…..imagine having every thought set aside to God….every spark of anger…..every wound of spirit, soul and body….set aside to God.

Well….by the Holy Spirit’s working, it can happen. Usually it happens little by little….dealing with this hurt, or anger [and the reason behind it].

But, as we stay with this….God will indeed remove all bitterness….we no longer bear any malice toward those who have wronged us.

And bitterness here means “piercing”…..it is like a horrible taste in your mouth….only it is in your heart….turning everything sweet into acid.

That is what bitterness does…..

….let us, by the Holy Spirit’s help….remove it!

And be free in the mercy God gives us….and we give others.