The Narrowness of Self

How narrow our life is, if we exist for ourselves, alone.

Or exist in our world as a “bubble”,….our family, our job, our everything…..insulating us from reality.

Christ said, (yes, this is for Christians):

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

We lose our self-life, that we might find our Christ life.

You find your Christ life, as you, by deliberate acts of the will, bring yourself into subjection to the principal of obedience, which is God’s Principal.

Let us describe what our “self-life” is:

It is all the experiences you have had in your life (those we remember and those we don’t).

It is our thinking……….this is shaped by our parents, our background, and the world we move around in: If people around us hate something, mostly likely we will, too.

It is our affections……….the things we truly love, not what we pretend to care for: You may go out for tennis, not because you love tennis,….but because there is someone you see, at tennis practice, that you “love”.

It is also your will. It is the active part of yourself. What you will to do, you will do.

All these are your self life. You can easily see how they can be influenced (as a Christian) by the world, and the devil, as well as God.

Each of these powers exerts influence in your life.

Which you choose to yield to is the most important question you face each day.

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?”

We lose our self life, little by little, until you are an expression of God’s Will, no matter where you are, or what you are doing.

This brings the life we live into reality….it is not the big decisions alone which help to mold us into the character of Christ…it is this decision before me.

Do we pray, seeking God’s guidance? Do we praise Him when He keeps us safe? Do we tell Him, as our best friend, all that we feel and think?

For He wants us to.

We will be defeated by the wiles of the Devil, in this, unless we keep before us always: “For My Sake”.

We do this for Jesus sake. This is the personal choice of our hearts, minds, and wills, for Him.

It is done, once, when we give ourselves to Christ, as Lord and King.

And it is done again and again as we walk through life, with Him.

“For Jesus sake”. It should ever be our thought and desire.

Now, let us see how we are to lose our self-life:

First, let us see how we shrink back into the narrowness of self, any time we are put into a trying position.

We are going along, denying self, when someone says something we take very personally about ourselves.

We then begin a series of steps, backing up, into the “safety” of our self.

If we back up, we start shutting doors, closing windows; keeping out as much of what is being talked about as possible.

We may smile and even agree with what is being said; but plainly we have shut ourselves up, so we will not be hurt.

We focus on something good we have done, or something bad that person has done. All the while we are smiling, and pretending we are really in the conversation.

But we are not.

This is seeking the narrowness of self. It is a mechanism that most people employ at one time or another.

What they are thinking and saying inside is entirely different, than how they are acting outside.

But this is self. And Christ says, if we are going to follow Him, we must deny self.

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.”

Will we?

It is a matter of the will, willing with Christ.

And it is effort. To find out His Will, and then to set aside our opinions about it, and do it: “for His sake”.

Will we place ourselves in His pure Light, and see Reality?

You see, our memories, attitudes, and affections all play a part in our bringing ourselves to Christ.

They are all to be sanctified, or set aside to Him; one by one, as they start to hinder our walk with Him.

This requires us to see them as they are. To stop hiding from the truth about ourselves, and bringing us….the real us, to Christ.

The old song, “Just as I am”, is true.

(It was, in fact, written because a person who felt that he could never be saved, was about to give up. In a last ditch effort to know for himself whether God would save him, he entered a church, and sat in the last row.

He listened as the preacher was giving his message; when suddenly he stopped, looked around, then said: “You come to Jesus, just as you are.” Then he went back to his message.

The person was saved, just as he was, for that was what he needed to hear.)

God can not save the pretend you. He saves you.

And salvation is four-fold.

He saves from self’s love of sin–conviction of the Holy Spirit.

He saves from our guilt of sin–being born again.

He saves from the power of sin and self–sanctification.

He saves from the presence of sin–taking us to Heaven, when we die, or are raptured.

To come out from the narrowness of self, you must want to get honest with yourself and God, tell Him the way you really feel, and listen to His reply.

If you are ready for such a personal relationship, for His sake; start talking with Him.

And expect an answer, for He will speak to all who will hear.

John 7:17 (N.A.S.) “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself.”

This is the Way….Walk ye in it

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

Have you heard that Word?

Do you know this is the Way, Walk ye in it?

[Paul and Silas had come to a cross road….and been led to Philippi….someplace new…..they had not gone into Europe before…

There….they end up in prison.

“this is the way, walk ye in it.”

Beaten, and in stocks….they began to pray.

Did we do what You wanted? Or had we overstepped ourselves in dealing with the demon-possessed fortune teller? Acts 16:16-18, 22-23

And when they heard that they had done the Lord’s Will…than….Praise the Lord….this beating is for the greater glory of Jesus!

And they got to feeling so good about it,…that they broke out into song.

After the beating they had….their backs open and sore,…bleeding and stinging…..they were leaning on the strength of the Lord, and praising Him for the opportunity of suffering for His Sake.

They were in His Way….

….and being in the Lord’s Way….they were given opportunity to deal with someone….the Jailer.

Yes, there were others there that heard their prayers, singing,….and the Word to the Jailer….but it was with the Jailer….tough, efficient, seemingly uncaring….that the Spirit deals most.

Acts 16:30-32 “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him all the Word of the Lord….”

[they did not just tell him what to do…..but informed him of God’s Word, so he would know…..Who Jesus was….what He had done…and why he needed to believe on Him]

Paul and Silas heard the Word and walked right into Jail….and led a Jailer and his household to Christ.)

How many people who would gladly hear about salvation…..do we come into contact with?

If we wait for “great days”….they may never come.

What of us?

Have we listened for His Voice to guide?

Have we heard the Word….yet not used it?

[ Pilgrims Progress:

Christian and Hopeful had just come from the Shepherds in the Delectable Mountains….a place of rest and security…about in the middle of their way to the Celestial City.

As they left, the Shepherds gave them three things:

A warning….beware of the Flatterer.

A map….if they came to a place that was confusing.

A Word….Godspeed. (This is a old English word meaning….Go with God…at His time and speed.)

As they went on, rejoicing in such a beautiful place that the Lord had made for the wayfarers….they came to a place of turning…

….but the turning was in a “Y” shape.

Which way to go?

(Now I want to say….they had a map….which they should have used….but it was nicely tucked away in their pocket….)

As they looked at this turn….a man…covered from head to toe in a bright garment came up….and asked, “Where are you going?”

They said to the Celestial City….trying not to look too confused about the turn….

…..he said….”I am too, follow me”….

…so they did,…..

…..without asking him who he was….or seeking to know how he knew…..they just followed…because it was easier….and this man did seem quite confident in what he knew!

Soon, they seemed to be twisting around….the way seemed to go from straight…to curved backward….but they kept following, thinking it would probably straighten back out….

….when suddenly they were caught in a net! And the man threw off his bright cloak….to reveal an enemy of the right Way!

This man left them there, stuck in the net……and there they continued, for several hours when….

…….a “shiny one”….one of God’s messengers came by….asking them why they were in the net…..

……they told him about following the brightly clothed man….

….and the messenger said, “He was the Flatterer”……and rescued them out of the net.

God’s messenger then took them back to the Way….the same place of turning….and then chastened them for listening and following the Flatterer.

Didn’t you get a warning and a map? He asked.

Yes, they said….their heads down, realizing they had been given all they needed….but did not use it.

The messenger warned them, from now on, to use what they had….and let them go on…in the Way.)

We often think of special enlightenment, when He has already told us.

Perhaps through a message, a Bible study,….a verse the Holy Spirit brings to mind….

….there is in our everyday paths the means of the fulfillment of God’s Way for us…..

….and we need to be faithful there…..in what we have in hand….

…and faithful to God in those we come into contact with.

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

When He is Lord, there should be no problem with your answer to any.

They may be able to find a way around what we say…..but they cannot get around what He says through us!

I know the first time I lead someone to the Lord, I was full of trembling and fear….(I had “not passed this way before”)…

…I was confident in the Lord….and His salvation….

…but fearful that I might make a mistake….and I told Him so…..

…He told me to follow in His Word, verse by verse, that she might be founded on what God’s Word said…..

…..and I followed His leading……and she became a child of God.

Joshua 3:3-4 “And they commanded the people saying, When we see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God,….then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

…..that ye may know the way by which you must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.”

There are many “side roads” which we come to, on our way to heaven…..and they must be seen for what they are. How?

Plainly we need to keep our eyes on our God…..and use the map of His Word….

….heeding every warning….and using every promise.

If we wait only on the Lord, in our everyday lives and walk….then…thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, this is the Way, Walk ye in it.

Being made Conformable

Philippians 3:10-12 ” That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, neither were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

“Being made conformable”

To be made “conformable” is to be made pliable in the Lord’s hands.

Yielding to the Holy Spirit’s impressions.

This something Paul had to learn, as he says here……and we have to learn.

The Holy Spirit does not zap us with some power which is apart from Himself.

But He fills us with Himself, and His grace (the unmerited favor of power) as we yield.

Yield in scripture is to give in, to submit, to bow our hearts, to Him.

One of the greatest Victories of the Holy Spirit in our life, is that we are made useable.

God can never use the natural man, and bless him as He wants, for the natural man is at odds with Him.

Romans 8:7″ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

The natural man won’t yield to God’s authority, except in lip service to make himself look good.

So God gives us a new nature. It is His nature implanted within us by the Holy Spirit, when we are born again.

We must yield to the new nature instead of yielding to the old habits, ways, and attitudes, in any given circumstance.

Our adversary, the devil, fights against the new nature, and uses tricks to get us to be unthankful, or discontent with the way the Lord is leading us.

To quench the Holy Spirit’s help by distrust, and worry.

Often we do not realize the subtlety of this weapon; or the extent to which it ruins our peace.

It appears quite reasonable: “You don’t really want to do that, now, do you?”

“Think of what everyone is going to think about you!”

Or, “How rude people are!”

But, Paul says he learned to be “conformable” to the Holy Spirit, in his life’s situations. And we can be, too.

We are not all the same. Some yield easily in this,……but not that. And some are just the opposite.

But if you stay at this yielding, He will make you conformable in every situation which comes up.

You will know His Will and the power to do it will come, because you will do His Will.

This is true freedom. Freedom to be what we ought to be.

Resurrection Power:

Ephesians 1:18-20 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,”

There are three things promised us:

That our understanding would be enlightened or given light to see His Will, and how we are to do it.

That we may have the confident expectation that God will do what He says where our calling is concerned. That we may know the true riches we have in Christ Jesus, and since they are our inheritance; we may get them into us here, and now.

That we may, by the knowledge of experience, have that same power working in us, by which God raised Christ from the dead.

Philippians 3:12 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Paul is saying that he had not attained or become complete in Christ Jesus, yet; …….but that he followed after Christ, so that he could have in present possession all that Christ had for him.

(That is what “apprehend” means)

Because he was Christ’s present possession; he belonged to Christ.

The Lord had empowered him, and would empower him……so he chose to follow on after the Lord, till he had fulfilled the calling Christ gave him.

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

This all begins with us knowing Christ Jesus.

We may know Him a little, or a lot; but there is always something more to learn about our Lord.

He calls us to follow Him….and become pliable in His hands….for our lives.

The First Principle we Learn, Obedience.

John 14:15 “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

As babes in Christ, we are given great joy in knowing our sins are forgiven, and we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6-7).

Then we are told to grow in grace, and the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.(2 Peter 3:18)

We are to grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:13-15), and that is by Obedience.

Acts 8:1, 4 “And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.”

Persecution for the believers, results in sending the gospel far and wide! (The Lord can always change what bad people determine to do…..into good.)

Acts 8:5-6, 8 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto the things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

And there was great joy in that city.”

Wow! The Lord has blessed His Word, and many believed, and were baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, in obedience.

This obedience to the word preached, continued;…..and word got back to the apostles at Jerusalem.

Acts 8:14, 25 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

This word preached by Peter and John, (as they were witnesses of Jesus’ earthly ministry…..His words and actions, crucifixion, and resurrection)…..would have been to establish these beginning believers in Christ Jesus.

For this is what is next after being born again….growing in the grace and knowledge of God.

But in the middle of this revival, Philip is called of the Lord to go somewhere else!

Acts 8:26 “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south, unto the way which goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”

Philip could have said: To the desert? Really, Lord? I’m have a revival here; shouldn’t I stay here?

But if you love the Lord, you obey Him.

Acts 8:27-28 “And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.”

And Philip arose and went.

God had sent him to Samaria; and God was sending him away from it, to a desert place.

When he got there, he saw a man in a chariot (we know who he was now, but Philip didn’t, then).

Acts 8:29-30 “Then said the Spirit unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Understandest what thou readest?”

Again, the Lord gives him direction as what to do in this situation.

The Lord always honors those who obey Him, with more: more of His Presence, more of His guidance, and certainly, more of His peace and protection.

Philip does not know who this man is, but the Lord does. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, so he believed in God.

But with all the things going on there (there had been multitudes saved, and still being saved, even under persecution), yet he had been untouched by any of them.

This man was reading Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus:

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter,

and like a lamb before his shearer, so he opened not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgement was taken away: And who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth” (Acts 8:32-33)

God knows his heart, and sees his hunger for knowledge of the truth, and fills it.

Philip runs! How wonderful when the joy of the Spirit fills us.

And asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The answer is, “No, how can I? I need help.”

So Philip asked if he could come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:34-35 “And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Philip began with Isaiah, and showed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ who was prophesied to come as the Lamb of God, and take away the sins of His people.

Acts 8:36, 38-39. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: And he went on his way rejoicing.”

Baptism is to show that you believe that Jesus Christ went down into the grave in death for us, and was raised the third day; and you are identifying yourself with Jesus, as belonging to Him.

This eunuch was empty at Jerusalem, going home empty. But Christ Jesus knew his need, and would not let that happen.

Philip’s obedience was the way this man was saved. And he went on his way rejoicing!

And what of Philip? He went on to the next calling: preaching Christ.

Acts 8:40 “But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, til he came to Caesarea.”

Obedience is the way to show Jesus Christ that we believe and trust Him.

Obedience is the way to show Jesus Christ that we love Him.

Are we made whole?

Luke 5:17 “And it came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”

This is quite a crowd of important religious men…..”and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”

In other words….if they had sought it….if they had they asked…..The Lord Jesus would have “healed” them.

He would have made them “whole”, which is what this “heal” here means.

(And how many of us are not whole…..

……not completely healed from some sin,…some resentment,…some hurt…..

…..yet the Lord Jesus has this power to do so….and is more than willing to heal us….make us whole again.)

At the same time….there were four friends of a palsied man….who were seeking healing….that their friend would be made whole.

And when they could not get in to see Jesus, because there were so many at the door of the house He was in…….they tore the tiling off the roof, and let him down, for the palsied man was still in his sick bed!

The power of the Lord was present to heal these Pharisees and doctors, sitting right under the teaching of the Lord…..

…..but they did not ask, or seek for it.

But the palsied man…..who came by the help of his friends….was made whole.

For Jesus said:

Luke 5:20 “And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”

This man was a sinner…..he needed to be wholly and completely healed….

…..from sin, from the disease, and from inability to do anything about these, himself.

The Lord Jesus healed him…….wholly.

Luke 5:24-25 “But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (He said unto the sick of the palsy,). I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed unto his own house, glorifying God.”

This sinner….healed wholly….did exactly as the Lord said….getting up! And going to his house…..glorifying God, for all He had done!

The others? What about the Pharisees and doctors?

Did they seek that same healing, then?

Luke 5:26 “And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today.”

Why didn’t they reach out for this same healing?

They glorified God….they knew that this man was healed by God….so why not come and be healed….made whole…themselves?

Individually, I do not know…..but pride and the desire to “stay the course” in our spiritual life….especially if we are religious….often need to be overcome….

….and it is the same for us….don’t let pride or anything hinder your coming to Christ….for anything.

….for remember, the power was there to heal them…

….and just as much power, as before He healed the palsied man….for another time….”He…healed them all.”

Luke 6:17-19 “….and a great multitude of the people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem,….which came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases;

And they were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all.”

Plainly…..Jesus Christ has enough power to heal me….to make me whole…

….and He has enough power for you as well.

Will you come to Christ and be made whole?

Eben-ever, The stone of Help

1 Samuel 7:12 “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ever, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

The story here is:

Israel had sinned, following strange gods. Because of this, Israel had been beaten by the Philistines, and were now in a state of fear.

Samuel then told Israel that it was their sin, which had caused this……

…..but if they would put away these idols………and “prepare their hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only: and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 7:3)

So they put away their idols, and began to serve the Lord, only.

Samuel then gathered all Israel together to pray for them.

1 Samuel 7:6 “And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.”

An Awakening Meeting was going on! They were getting things right between themselves and God, and the rest of Israel.

Then the Philistines heard of the gathering, and thought they were gathering an army…..this would be a good time to attack.

And so they came up to fight with Israel.

This caused Israel to be very afraid, and so they turned to Samuel:

1 Samuel 7:8 “And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Because of their former sin, they were not only afraid of the Philistines,…..but they were also afraid that the Lord would not hear their cry for help.

They marshaled the men to fight the enemy, and went out.

(Aren’t we the same way. We have sinned, and then repented; our conscience is tender…we are afraid. We know the Lord has forgiven us, but….will He help us as He did before?

Hosea 6:1-2 “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.

After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.”

His promise is….if we will return unto the Lord…..He will heal, He will bind us up, He will revive us, He will raise us up.

Let us believe Him….and return)

Samuel then offered a lamb for a whole burnt offering, and prayed to the Lord for Israel; “and the Lord heard him”.

1 Samuel 7:10 “And as Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomforted them; and they were smitten before Israel.”

As the armies came together, the Lord thundered and caused fear among the Philistine ranks. God knows how to cause His enemies to fear, for He strikes at their hearts as well as their ears.

And they were defeated, and chased out of Israel.

1 Samuel 7:12-13 “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ever, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”

This stone was put there to remind all who would see, that the Lord is the greatest help, in all our troubles.

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”.

That means He has…..but it also looks forward…

……for as He has (and He changes not Lamentations 3:22-25, Hebrews 13:5-6, 8)…

……He surely will in the future…in what is next, and next, and next, for us.

This story shows how the prayer of the righteous, is heard.

The sacrifice of the lamb as a whole burnt offering showing forth Christ; and that we are accepted in Him.

Psalm 34:17-18 “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Israel was beaten in the first place, not by the Philistines; but by their sin.

When they repented and worshipped God again; He heard their cry for help.

And He helped.

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”

And when we return unto the Lord,…..He will help us.

The Lordship of our Lord

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

(Every song in the Bible praises the Lord.

It is interesting to note that a song is not mentioned in the Bible, until Israel is redeemed from Egypt (Exodus 15)……for it is only the redeemed that can truly sing praises to the Lord.)

But here we are talking of the Lordship of our Lord…..for there are many which say, “Lord, Lord,” with their lips….who never have the reality of His Lordship in their hearts and lives.

Luke 17:20-21 “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or Lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Jesus had come preaching the kingdom of God:

Mark 1:14-15 “….Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye , and believe the gospel.”

If they would have received His Word…..and repented…and believed the good news that the kingdom was at hand…..they would have seen, by faith…that He was the King.

Yet, the Pharisees were always looking for ways to “catch something out of His mouth, that they might accuse Him” (Luke 11:54)….

…so they demand…

….(I think this is an amazing insight into their whole attitude….and the attitude of every natural man….we “demand” of God….

…..we demand to know….now, not later.

…..we demand to be shown the how of things.

…..we demand to be consulted, or included in the decisions of our Purpose.)

Yes, these Pharisees demanded….

…..and the Lord Jesus could have…with immense power….proved His kingdom….then, to them.

But instead He speaks…..letting His Word sink into their souls.

“You look for the Kingdom of God with trumpets…..Here!….or There!…..for you will only “see” with the “observing” eye of sight.

….no, I have not come with pomp and pageantry…..I have come to present Myself as King….to you”

They might have accepted a King to rule the nation…..to bring prosperity and honor to them….

….but would they accept a King to rule their lives?

Well, I am here to remind all of us….that it is the same today.

Christ Jesus is Lord……He rules and reigns supreme…..there is no where in the universe above or in the earth below…that He does not rule, and overrule.

Yet today, the kingdom of God….is shown on earth only within us….me, you, us…..when we make Christ Jesus our Lord.

He will take that small kingdom of my heart and life…..and shine brightly through it.

He will show His laws by my life…..my obedience to Him.

He will show His peace like a ever flowing river amid the troubles of this world….through His kingdom….which is me.

He will make this small kingdom a fruitful land…..with pleasant and comforting influences within me…..and through me.

And He will cause me to sit with Him,…..resting in His Victory…..even though the battle is still being fought within me…..and around me in this world.

He is King…..He is Lord….

…..are we just recognizing Him with our mouths as such….or are we bowing to Him.

Paul writes of some:

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

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

How do they deny the power thereof?

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

They are never able to come to the knowledge of that truth, that gives you deliverance….that sets you free….to serve!

The Lordship of the Lord makes claims on people’s lives….and we must….if we will make Him Lord….obey.

Perhaps you say, that does not sound like freedom….

…but it is.

Think of it…..

Any time we move further from sin…..and closer to God….

….the more free we become.

The service of sin is bondage by blindness…..to what we are heading into….and how far this dark tunnel leads.

The service of sin is bondage by tying our hands…..to “the thing” we lust after….and getting pulled by it….faster and faster till we are just being dragged by it.

The service of sin is bondage by laming us….with arrows of poison, till the limbs that might have walked away from sin….are so lame, they can’t.

But the Lord Jesus Christ first saves us from the love of sin…..this is great freedom.

The Holy Spirit moves…..and gives light for darkness….

….and then cuts the cords of lust, so that we are free to receive Christ….

….and then leads us to the Great Physician….who can remove the poison from us.

But more…..the Lord Jesus Christ gives a complete salvation…”to the uttermost”(Hebrews 7:25):

1 Timothy 2:4 “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

For “the knowledge of the truth” is the key…..and that knowledge is of ourselves…

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

The law was beautiful….showing the way to live a life of honesty and holiness…….but no man could keep it.

When the Lord Jesus Christ came…..He kept it….perfectly…fulfilling all that God demanded….fully.

And because He did….we have been given grace….the unmerited favor of power…..

…..His power in us, to do…..as we face the truth of ourselves.

There is no sin Christ can not forgive…

….no muck and mire He can not pull us out of….

….no pit He can not save us from….

….but we must get honest with the Lord about our sin…..and receive His grace or power….to do what He says about it.

John 1:16 “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.”

For every grace we need…..He has it for us…..as our Lord and Savior….

Will we come to the “knowledge of the truth”?

Let us lay aside our Weights.

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore, seeing we also are 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,”

First, let us consider these weights. Just what are they?

These weights are anything, and everything, that hinders us spiritually.

External things,……that we can drop or lay aside.

To run well, you should not be burdened with anything.

Good things or bad things. For often we can be entangled in “good” things, to our loss; as well as those “bad” things, which we know are not for us.

Those duties that God requires at our hand, cannot be considered weights.

Weights are those things we have a choice in.

These weights are things in our life that are not necessary for our walk in Christ Jesus.

They do nothing to help, and even though we may not see it at the time; they do a lot to hinder.

They get our eyes off of Christ and on to a goal that He has not sanctioned.

Some of our friendships may be weights.

Certainly, our failures from the past, present or future, may be weights……

…..For if we have confessed them, and forsaken them, they are to be set aside; and we are to go on with Him….we are not to be going over them in our minds, again and again.

1 John 1:7-10 “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 cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Walk in the Light, confess your sin, and stay with it till you know you are cleansed.

This ” cleanseth” is for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It is always there to be had of us. We are cleansed and made new, every time we come to the fountain of His precious blood.

Don’t try and run with the burden of your sins, for your race will be hindered.

And this is what the writer of this letter is saying to all who would be recognized in Heaven for there walk of faith.

Lay aside every weight.

Drop them, to run with patience the race that is set before you.

This race is not a hundred yard dash;…..but a long distance run.

So pace yourself, by knowing your Lord is running with you; next to you, in this race.

This is your race; not for someone else…..it is your faith He wants to increase in love, joy and peace.

It is you, He is interested in; for that is why He saved us.

It is those that complete the race, that are crowned.

He is not looking for speed, but diligent endurance. Perseverance…….going along, day after day.

Anything from the Holy Spirit will not burden you down.

If you have anything of God that is dragging you down, the devil has added to God’s will, in some way.

For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

We should all come to the Lord, and His light,….that He might show us what are the weights which hinder us.

And as He does, let us quickly lay them aside,….for they hinder our race, our fellowship with Him, and our receiving the promise of His liberty in our everyday lives.

Acts….of the Holy Spirit.

Some say that “the Acts” is for…..the Acts of the Apostles….or Acts of the beginning Church….

…but really, it is the Acts of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus ascended back to heaven, He left instruction to go to Jerusalem and wait….

….the disciples were to wait for the giving of the promise of the Father….the Holy Ghost.

He was to be their internal Guide and Instructor.

Ten days later, the Holy Spirit is given on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-2, 4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost….”

From that time onward….the Acts show the workings of the Holy Spirit within the believers.

All of the first eight chapters deals with them in Jerusalem….

…..God giving Israel a second chance to believe on Christ Jesus as the Son of God…..by the works of the Holy Spirit through the church.

And that is the amazing thing about the Holy Spirit….and the thing which infuriated the rulers….

….everyone which was saved, had the Spirit’s power….some more….some less…

….it seems like a wave of God’s presence was filling the city……and that just made them want to stop it even more…..

….for it reminded them, of their guilt in crucifying the Lord Jesus.

So they are determined to prove this Way wrong….

Finally, the rulers get their chance to try and stop this wave of power by the Holy Spirit.

And it comes…..by the stoning of Stephen, the church’s first martyr.

But instead of stopping this power of the Holy Spirit…..they simply send it out, with the believers who leave the city……into Samaria….and into the world.

Peter preaches Christ to the first gentiles….and as they believe….the Holy Spirit is given to them.

Christ Jesus, by His Spirit, is fulfilling within the believers, the great commission….

….for Jesus told them it would be a ministry to all the world:

Matthew 18:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

But there was a witness there at Stephen’s stoning…..Saul, who would become Paul the apostle to the gentiles….

At first Saul is furious at these…of “this Way” (Acts 9:1-2)….but….

….God gets Saul/Paul’s attention…..knocked down by The Light……on the way to Damascus….and spoken to by The Lord Jesus Christ…..he becomes converted……acknowledging God’s Purpose and Salvation through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

How good and gracious God is, in saving the worst sinner (his words…..1 Timothy 1:15)….and bringing him to be sent as a missionary out into the world.

Paul was diligent in his efforts, often burdened “in weakness and fear and trembling”….

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Paul set forth the real power of the life of Christ within us, by the Holy Spirit.

Paul had three missionary journey’s….

……and the more he saw of these places….the more completely he realized

……there was only One power which alone could lay hold of the minds and hearts of these souls,….

……which were so filled with terrible darkness….and the sensual appetite of the times.

Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Those to whom he preached were living as nothing…..slave or master…..rich or poor,….there was no meaning to life…..

…….they were nothing….going to nothing….spending their short time in searching for meaning in empty lives.

When Paul came……he set forth Christ crucified….and why God’s Son had to die….for the sins of the world….

…and His glorious resurrection….that we might have His life by the Holy Spirit, in us,…..now and for eternity.

Paul loved fervently each church that he ministered to and in, always leaving some spiritual helpers, if he could,….. to see to them and build them up.

There was Timothy, Titus,…..and Luke, who wrote Acts. There was Pricilla and Aquila….there was Apollos, a fiery preacher.

Yet in all….it is the Holy Spirit working….sending…..and preaching.

The last eight chapters, set forth Paul’s imprisonment….and subsequent trials….till at last he appeals to Caesar.

And that is where Acts ends….with Paul in Rome waiting for his trial….still preaching, still setting forth Christ crucified and risen as the Savior of the world.

Acts 28:30-31 “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

(Acts shows that the salvation of the world is through individuals. Wherever these Christians went….there were converts to Christ…..and persecution to Him.

“……In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The gospel was shown…..in power….to Israel [How God loves Israel]…..and then outward into the world…..even to the capital of the known world at that time….Rome…..

…..all to show us….that God saves the worst sinners….in the worst places…..

…..His power and grace by the Holy Spirit, brings men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the same time, it shows that the governments of the world will refuse subjection and salvation in Christ….because the Holy Spirit demands repentance….

“…He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:…(John 16:8)

The only time that the governments of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord….is at the end Revelation 11:15…Revelation 21:3-4)

The first generation of believers, set forth how the guidance of the Holy Spirit would lead.

He was in charge…..He was the power….in each believer….

…..and that is the message of Acts.

To have the power of the first church…..we must be filled with the Spirit, and we must have the devotion and obedience to the Holy Spirit, that they had….

….we must expect persecution…

….for we are never very far from it in any age….men will not hear the claims of Christ without a fight…(think of Saul/Paul)…

….but Christ is still the Victor….He is still giving His Holy Spirit in fullness to all who seek after Him.

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

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

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

Do you want this fullness of the Holy Spirit….

…….and the devotion and obedience to Christ, that it costs?

Rain

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

Christ Jesus, when He comes to us by the influence of the Holy Spirit, is like a shower of rain, to a dry and thirsty ground.

When we are without Jesus in our lives, our hearts are hard, and nothing seems to soften them or make an impression on them.

(We may feel many emotions….which come and go….bring thoughts to lift or depress…..but our hearts are not softened by them….only used like a sponge….fluid in and out….never becoming the fruitful garden full of beauty and usefulness to the Lord.)

When we are born again….the Holy Spirit comes within us…..like a gentle rain, He softens us…..to feel the impressions of the Word of God for our lives.

But when we fall into sin after becoming Christians,(and sadly this can happen)…..we can again become “hardened”.

So we need to turn to Him again, and pray for showers of His mercy and grace to come to us, and soften our hearts in repentance, and cleansing in His blood.

Wherever Christ comes, the rain of the Holy Spirit and of grace, comes to our souls;…..and we are turned into a well watered land.

Fruitful and beautiful, for we drink Him in;…..and by His Spirit’s influence, we are changed little by little, into His character.

As rain is a free gift of God to the earth……to poor and rich alike, the rain falls.

So Christ is offered to all who will receive Him.

The rain is most necessary to all the parts of the plants: roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and blossom.

So Christ is necessary to every part of us: our understanding, our will, our emotions, and our memories.

He strengthens us in good things, and enlivens us as we grow.

He increases our peace, and love for Him and others.

He preserves us within, by His Spirit; and without, by HIs Word.

As rain sometimes comes amid thunderstorms, as well as the gentle warm rain; so Christ comes to us to warn us, as well as to encourage us.

As rain satisfies the dry earth, so Christ comes and satisfies us.

He gives us the fruit of His Spirit within us.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

If we follow on to know the Lord,…..He will come unto us as the rain, the former and latter rain, upon the dryness of our souls.