Forgiving

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

When we pray “forgive us our debts”, we are not asking to be removed from our responsibilities.

We are asking that God would “acquit” us from our guilt. That is to have the punishment due our sin, removed.

It is a legal term, for God is either our Savior, or our Judge.

If He is our Savior, then He has taken our guilt, and the punishment of it on Himself, when He was offered on the cross.

His precious blood covers us and we are made “righteous”.

That means we are not just “not guilty” before God, but that Christ righteousness is applied to us.

We stand in Him, and God sees us as such.

So when we have committed sins (and we do each day: sins of omission, or of not doing right. Or sins of commission, or of doing wrong.); we may come to Him as ask forgiveness.

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 He forgives us.

Then He asks us to be like Him, and forgive our debtors; those who have wronged us.

We are not excusing their sins, only forgiving them, as we have been forgiven by God.

To forgive is to invite peace, peace with God and man, into your life.

When we forgive, we do not let things, like anger and bitterness, come between us and God.

We know He could change circumstances in my favor, if He wanted to.

But what He wants is to change us,….in the circumstances.

To show us His saving strength, and His bubbling joy, even in dark times.

To have us walk in His light.

The Bible says:

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

I had a cousin once who was the daughter of a missionary in a foreign country.

She would go with her father through the jungle paths, to visit the people of their congregation.

They always carried a lamp and a flashlight, in case it grew dark before they came home.

At night, her father would walk in front, holding the lamp, and shining the flashlight behind him on the path, so she would know how to walk safely.

She said that often as they were walking, this verse would come to her mind, and she would thank God for their safety; both spiritually and physically.

Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Eternal Life begins the moment we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior; and continues forever.

The Holy Spirit helps us forgive. We are not left to ourselves, but helped on all sides.

Forgiving others, frees us from the tangled emotions which bind us to the world,…..and lets us fly over the circumstances….and people, in peace.

Really determining to do God’s Will

John 7:17 L.N.T. “If anyone really determines to do His Will, then he will surely know of the teaching, whether it be of God or whether I speak from myself.”

John 7:17 “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, wither it be of God, or wither I speak of myself.”

I am using the term “really determining” to do God’s Will….for many are “trying” to do God’s Will….or “wanting” to do God’s Will…

…but determination has to do with the mental weighing of two or more things…

….to find out which one we will do.

And “really” is the adjective form of Reality.

When we, in reality, determine to do God’s Will….we will know what it is….and do it.

And our will is the active part of us, which does it. We do, what we will to do.

It is obedience that opens up God’s Will to our understanding. And when we really determine…..

…….have, in reality, weighed the things presented in the light of our will to do God’s will…..

……we will know by the Holy Spirit, what God’s will is.

John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

The creature must find a resting place….and that resting place is in the Will of the Creator.

Our hearts were made for fellowship with Christ…in light….in the sunshine of His love.

Jude 20-21 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

It is only when sin entered that we turned from light to darkness…..hiding our true selves, with Adam and Eve “amongst the trees of the garden”……among all the showy things, or pretenses we make to God….(Genesis 3:8, John 3:19)

But when we come to the light of the truth about ourselves…..getting honest, by the Holy Spirit’s help, with ourselves….

….grace (the unmerited favor of power) will be applied.

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

John 3:21 “But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

This is not a matter of merit…earning the forgiveness….it is a matter of the heart openly coming before God, in honesty….and getting that help….that power….from God to deal with the situation…to deal with us.

And then walking in His light:

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

This “cleanseth” is a past, present, and future term.

He did cleanse me when I came to Him and got born again. (This cleansing once for all, that I may come before His presence)

He does cleanse me when I come to Him and confess my sin that I commit. (Cleansing me from the desire, and my conscience from the defilement, all sin causes.)

He will cleanse me eternally from every evil when He takes us to heaven.

And this cleansing as Christians, is by walking with Him in the Light of His Word, in the Light of obedience to His Will.

And then standing in His light, in a world of darkness:

Romans 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

To wrap ourselves in the Light that is Christ…

….for when we see the light….we have the power of choice.

Paul writes concerning the ministry in this world,….giving his experience, for an example:

2 Corinthians 6:1-7 “We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

(For He saith, I have heard thee in the time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee:

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

By stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

By pureness, by knowledge, by longsufferings, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,”

This is to “really determine”…..to in reality choose to obey God….and you will know what His Will is.

Hope

Hope, in the Bible, is of the Holy Spirit,….

….it is the confident expectation that God will do what He says.

If He gives us a word, or promise…..the Holy Spirit places hope within us….giving us assurance that God will fulfill all He has said.

It is not the “hope so”, which is more like a wish….but the Holy Spirit within us…implanting the roots of what will be the tree of promise,….and in the end….the fruit of the fulfillment and answer.

There is stability in this hope….for again, it is of the Holy Spirit within.

Hebrews 6:18-19 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope sent before us:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

Our example:

Jeremiah and the land he buys:

Jeremiah was in prison….the king had ordered his arrest for speaking the truth about the coming victory of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon….and the destruction of Jerusalem.

He tried to save the people……but most did not want to hear the truth.

(Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah, king of Judah….to simply go out to Nebuchadnezzar….and submit to him. Then the king and the people would be able to stay in the land.

God was trying to teach His people about submission…..giving up their proud ways of doing what they wanted….and yield.

But Zedekiah the king of Judah….was too proud and scared to do what he should….for himself or his people.)

But in prison, Jeremiah hears the word of the Lord….a very strange word, in these times:

Jeremiah 32:7 “Behold, Hanameel…..thy uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: the right of redemption is thine to buy it.”

Anathoth was Jeremiah’s hometown…..and with the siege of the country…..there was much poverty…..and little crops were being produced.

His uncle, no doubt needed the money….perhaps to save some of his family from becoming servants.

“The right of redemption” was Jeremiah’s right to buy the land of a poor relative….at a reasonable price….for himself……in order to keep it in the family.

Jeremiah 32:9-11 “And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.

And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

So I took the evidence of the purchase,….”

This is very remarkable…..an act of hope about the word of the Lord:

….Jeremiah knew that Nebuchadnezzar would take the city….that the inhabitants of the whole land would be divided into slave…and dragged away to a foreign land…

….and servant….taking care of the land so that the crops would go to Nebuchadnezzar.

There was no reason of thinking that Jeremiah would ever use that land….

…why then did he buy it?

Remember hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says.

And Jeremiah’s hope was in the Lord’s Word…..not in lands, or deeds.

Jeremiah 32:12-15 “And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch….in the sight of Hanameel….and in the presence of the witnesses….

…..and I charged Baruch before them…

…..Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences,….and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.”

Here was where Jeremiah’s hope lay…..in….”Thus saith the Lord of hosts”.

What a joyful word this was! This land will be possessed by Israel again!

Hope for a time coming….hope in the Word of the Lord.

After the purchase…..he prays….

Jeremiah 32:17, 24-25 “Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth, by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee:

Behold the mounts (places they put the machines which catapult into the city), they are come unto the city to take it;……and the city is given….that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what Thou hast spoken is come to pass;…

And Thou hast said unto me, O Lord God, buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”

Though God saw all that Israel had done…..and was chastening them for it….yet God also saw what would be…..and gave a word of hope to His servant.

During this siege, there was sword, famine, and pestilence…..

…..yet Jeremiah heard of a time….through God’s Word….that things would return to “normal”….

“…and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” (Jeremiah 32:37-38)

This purchase was to be an earnest….a down payment….on the promise to come.

The Lord showed Jeremiah that the land and the people would be desolate….for a time (seventy years)….but then:

Jeremiah 32:27, 42-44 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me?

For thus saith the Lord; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate….

….for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the Lord.”

Jeremiah knew that he, himself would not redeem this land, in this life (though certainly in the Millennial reign, that land will be his.)….

….but he was looking to the promise of God in hope.

(And in fact, among the very first of Israel to return from captivity, were men of Anathoth, Jeremiah’s hometown. Ezra 2:23)

What of us?

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says.

He has done all that He has said….

….and all that is written in the scriptures will certainly come to pass.

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.”

I do not know how Jeremiah felt about his uncle…or about the land….or about the process of redeeming the land (the deeds and witness)….

….what I do know about Jeremiah, was that he desired above all else God’s glory and honor…

….and that a deed in an earthen vessel…..symbolized hope….and that it honored God.

Are we yielding to the hope of the Holy Spirit?

It is High Time to Awake

Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

In the Greek, “awake” means to collect all our faculties, to rouse up from obscurity, sickness or death.

It is when you start using all your spiritual faculties, to do God’s Will.

It is as the Prodigal, when he “came to himself”.

Luke 15:17 “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my Father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

The Prodigal was the younger son of two boys. He had lived in the Father’s House, and became restless for “something more”.

So he came and asked his Father for his portion, and his Father gave both boys their inheritance: the older, as was the custom, received two-thirds of the estate; the younger received one-third.

What is this “inheritance”?

I believe it is our wills. As God’s children (Yes, these are Christians—sons of the Father), we will use our wills to will after God, and bring forth fruit; Or we will “waste” our wills on things of this world.

Luke 15:13 “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

The “far country” seemed to be a great place, but the heart of this boy knew that it was just “wasting” time and effort, with nothing to show for it.

Luke 15:14 “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”

See God’s hand in this?

How could he spend all his will? By wasting his efforts chasing shadows: and refusing reality.

Look at Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 2:10, 6:12 “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor.

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?”

Solomon and this Prodigal spent all their effort of will “tasting” of things which they knew to be nothing, in comparison to God’s Will.

But they continued, till they were “spent” or like dead inside.

What to do? the Prodigal, deadened to spiritual feelings, went and begged a job from a pig farmer. (Swine were unclean to the Hebrews, but as I said, this poor boy is deadened to things as they should be….until…)

Luke 15:17. “And when he came unto himself, he said, How many hired servants of my Father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

Now here, thankfully, he “Awakes!”. For that is what “he came unto himself” means: he remembers, “Hey, I am a Christian. I have a Father that is good to servants, and gives them the Bread of Life.”

Then, because he is awake, he begins to use his will, for God’s Will: notice the “will” here:

Luke 15:18-19 “I will arise and go unto my Father, and will say unto Him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee,

And am no more worthy to be called Thy son: make me as one of Thy hired servants.”

We know the rest. He does what he wills, and returns: confessing all to his Father.

But instead of the lowest place in the Father’s House, the boy is given the Father’s kiss of forgiveness, the best robe, a ring of authority for his finger, and a fatted calf.

Paul in Romans is calling for these Christians to “awake out of sleep”……to realize that time is moving forward……are they?

Romans 13:11-12 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

Are we still living “riotously”in the far country?

Have we felt the “famine” of the Word of God to our souls? (Amos 8:11)

Are you ready to “awake”?

Well, wherever you are…..

….Gather your faculties, all the things you possess in Christ, to one grand end: to do the Will of God in these days.

To “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ (Be conformed to His character).

Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

Come to yourself…who you are, as Christians, in this world. Remember the Bread of Life, and put on the armor of light. His light is real protection, for in His light we see everything clearly.

The Prodigal forgot the goodness of his Father, for a while, but was awakened, and returned to Him.

We, too, often forget the mercy, and grace of God. But we can remember Him, awaken, and come to His light.

We can use our wills to do His Will.

As Paul says, “It is high time to awake out of sleep”.

Every one in their place…

Judges 7:21 “And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the hosts ran, and cried, and fled.”

Before we deal with the historical setting…..I want to talk of the work of the church….and every Christian, “in their place”:

First, we are to grow in grace…

Philippians 1:9–11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement;

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and with out offense till the day of Christ;

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

Second, we are to pray for, and edify one another…..”till we all come”….no one that belongs to Christ, is to be left out….or “unimportant”……it is “we all”:

Ephesians 4:12-13 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullne of Christ:”

Third, we are to stand, holding the ground Christ has won and given us…..

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

And, then….we are to shine our lights, that all those that see us….can see Jesus….whether they receive Him, or not.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your lights so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which in heaven.

In all of these, we….as His children and soldiers…..are to be in the place the Lord has given us.

He has chosen you…and He wants to bless you in your place, doing your task.

John 15:16 “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 may ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”

He does all things well.

For we are ordained for the work He has called us to…..and we should all bring forth fruit to Christ.

(Ordained means that all the provision we need is set aside for us.)

Judges 7:21 “And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.”

Israel had sinned….and God was allowing them to be invaded by the Midianites….which would strip them of their crops….the bread they needed.

But God also was calling a man to lead an army to force these enemies out of Israel!

And when Gideon answered that call….thousands showed up to help…..but they were quickly sent back to their tents…

….God had a better plan.

God chose…..three hundred men….chosen, and separated for the work….(Judges 7:2, 5-7)

The number is small….so the glory to God is great!

The work itself was to follow their leader:

Judges 7:17 “And he (Gideon) said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.”

(As His church, we should follow our great example….Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:21)

They were given trumpets….to blow…to wake everyone up!

They were given lamps and pitchers…..so they could break the vessel and shine at a particular time!

We know that they were also equipped with Words….how important they were….again….at the right time.

Judges 7:20 “And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in there left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.”

(How much this is like the church’s work….for we have been chosen to be His witnesses on earth, now:

….there will be awaking to Him, by the Holy Spirit.

….there will be His light shining to others.

….there will be His Word spoken.)

Gideon’s men got into place….and when all was right….Gideon, himself blew his trumpet and shouted…..and they all did as he did…..breaking the pitchers, so their lamps might shine brightly…

….all around the camp of the Midianites….

There is no fighting yet….for God “fights” for them…..bringing panic to the enemy….

….when they hear the trumpets…..seeing the lights all around….and hearing the shouting….

….in the dark, these Midianites, fight one another….uncertain of who was who.

Then, Gideon’s men come down and fight….driving the enemy out of the land.

This battle was about bread….food for God’s people.

The Midianites would come and loot all they could take….of the grain, grown.

And take it away.

Are we ready to stand and shine and speak for God and His Word?

Christ is the Bread of Life…..and in this world people are starving….

….for Him.

Are we ready to stand in our place, that the Bread of Life would be given to His people….wherever they are?

The Lord has chosen us….and ordained us….that we might bring forth fruit…to His honor and glory!

The Lord ordains….by His Spirit….by His grace (the unmerited favor of power)….by His guidance….

….giving us all we need….when we need it.

Are we in our place?

Awake thou that Sleepest.

Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

When we are asleep, spiritually, our senses are dull. We don’t hear clearly. Our eyes are closed, not seeing what is going on.

That is why Paul, here, exhorts the Ephesians to “walk as children of light.”

(Ephesians 5:8)

Light is a great benefit for those who are growing sleepy in their walk as Christians.

It is like opening the curtain to let the sunshine come in, in the morning.

It makes you want to get up and get busy!

Darkness, on the other hand, tends to make us sleepy.

So with the darkness which comes to us spiritually. We are lulled to sleep. We begin to talk a great deal about “rest”, becoming discontent with the work we have been given from the Lord.

We look for ways to do God’s will quickly, or for a more “easier way” of walking with the Lord;…..for we do not want to take the action required to come to the light….for then our slothful sin will be seen.

So Paul calls on every Christian to “Awake”.

Awake, and arise; and Christ shall give you light.

Light to see what you need to do,….to get out of the darkness.

Light to see the world, as it is.

Light to see that Christ is worth the loss of everything.

Then Paul writes:

Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

Circumspectly means there will be light for the path, for we are to keep our eyes on the path, that we don’t get tripped up.

Awake, and walk wisely. For Christ shall give us light.

Glory to God in the Highest.

Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

When it speaks of God’s glory in scriptures it means to manifest God’s Light and character to others. That is His glory; that others may know Him and His character.

Psalm 145:11-12 “They shall speak of the glory of the kingdom, and talk of Thy power;

To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.”

It means to show God in His true beauty.

1 Chronicles 16:27, 29 “Glory and honor are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His place.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

Christ did this in preeminence, for angels heralded God’s glory when Christ was born.

Simeon, a godly man, praised God for Christ:

Luke 2:30-32 “For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

And Paul shows that Christ Jesus came to do just that. He was to manifest God’s Light and character in the world: His glory.

Hebrews 1:2-3 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, which He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high;”

Jesus, at the end of His work here, said He had shown God’s glory on the earth:

John 17:4-5 “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work that Thou gavest Me to do.

And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with thine own self with the glory that I had with Thee before the world was.”

And we, who are born again by His grace are to manifest His glory:

John 17:20-22 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; (Jesus prayed for us here)

That they may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

And the glory that Thou gavest Me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one:”

Ephesians 1:5-6, 12 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us excepted in the Beloved:

That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

And we are to use the riches of His glory (the riches of His Light and character) by yielding to His life within us.

He will manifest His glory through us by His might:

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

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Scripture says we are to do all to the glory of God.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whither therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

The angels heralded, “Glory to God in the highest”;

And we, too, are to herald His glory by word and deed, here in our earthly lives.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Liberty of the Holy Spirit.

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

Liberty of Spirit is to have the ability and will, to do the Will of God, joyfully.

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore, by beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

After being born again, we are called to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This calling is personal, between the Lord and you, and has nothing to do with your work for Him, or your witness of Him.

It is the beginning of a relationship.

How far you take this relationship, is as far as the Liberty of the Spirit is yours; for it is based on love, not duty.

It is true, that all those that belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, are called to obey Him.

Acts 5:32. “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”

We stress obedience a lot for Christians, but this Liberty of Spirit is found in those that love Him.

When we are born again, the Spirit of God comes into our spirits and gives us light for darkness, and a love, however small, for God; not an anger toward Him.

The Spirit of God then uses the Word of God to awaken a desire within us to be holy.

There are two terms for holy in the Scriptures: Holy when it speaks of God is His Nature of Sinlessness, and Integrity.

Holy when it speaks of us as His followers, means that we are setting ourselves aside for His sacred use. He can use us as He will, for His honor and glory.

Holiness comes from the determined will of the believer, to be a vessel unto honor, meet for the Master’s use. (2 Timothy 2:21). This is not sinlessness, but constant communion with Him, who is Holiness.

This Liberty of the Spirit, is the same liberty you feel with your true friends. There is nothing you can not tell, or hear, that would effect your friendship. There is the feeling of acceptance, and power with them.

And the Holy Spirit empowers us in God’s Word, God’s Grace, and God’s Will.

Fear is dealt with.

Anger is defused.

Self-pity is turned from.

Power is given, from within us by the Holy Spirit; and received.

This is Liberty of the Spirit. And so much more; with that personal relationship with Him.

Do you want it?

The Power of the Word of God

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

This is a simple statement. Period. God does not need to prove anything….nor does He.

He simply speaks, commands, and calls.

He created the heaven and the earth.

Psalms 33:6-9 “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens formed, and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth.

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the depth in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”

The first creation was a beautiful place….but the sin of Lucifer entered and destroyed it’s beauty….it was now covered with darkness….no order..

Genesis 1:2-3 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

But God’s Voice spoke….”Let there be light”……there was light.

God purposed this earth….and us….and would not let this rebellion put an end to His purpose……”and He commanded….and it stood fast.”

His Purpose continued….there was nothing He was not prepared for.

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, His Way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in Him.”

Have we found His Word to be the purifier of our minds and hearts? For that is what “tried” means…..to be purified like silver.

Psalm 138:3 “In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”

His Word corrects and instructs…..His Word encourages and comforts us…..His Word brings knowledge, and through His Spirit, understanding.

John 1:1, 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

His Word is truth.

Ephesians 4:21 “If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:”

Have you heard Him? Has He spoken His truth into your heart?

Our example of the power of His Word, is Lazarus:

John 11:43 “And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”

This is Jesus, raising Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus had waited two days after hearing that His friend was sick…..

John 11:3 “Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick.”

He had done that,….knowing that Lazarus would die,…..so that God’s purpose would be shown…….a manifestation of the power of His Word.

John 11:14-15 “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”

He had healed the sick, cast out demons, and done many wonderful works…..so much so that even the men present said….

“Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have cause that even this man should not have died?” (John 11:37)

They believed….but only up to a point. They believed He could have done something….if Lazarus was sick….if Jesus had been there.

They called Him….”this man”…..not Christ, “the anointed”…..or the Messiah…..or even Rabbi.

They saw Him come out of obscurity…..preaching “the kingdom of God is at hand”……

……He had come in “power”…..healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, giving the blind, sight.

But now, the power of Him, through His authoritative Word, will be shown…over life and death.

All He had to do was say the Word….and it was done….Lazarus was free from death….by His Word…..”Lazarus, come forth.”

But then Jesus said,…

John 11:44 “And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”

Lazarus was raised, but not freed from the grave cloth bond……till, Jesus spoke again,…

…this time in a command to others (whether His disciples or others)..”Loose him, and let him go”.

Christ Jesus, has spoken to His church the same way:

“I have raised up all who will believe in Me…now you need to loose them and let them go, by the preaching of My word.”

There are things Jesus does by His Word alone…..and then there are things He commands others to do…..by His authority….with His Word.

Only Jesus Christ can free them from the death of sin, and give liberty to the captives….

….yet in this work He calls His church to join Him.

We can not bring them from death to life….He does that.

But we can loose them from he grave-clothes of the world….by His Word.

The Lord has shown us God’s heart…..for He sent His Son to seek and to save all who are lost.

Let us speak His word faithfully….

…..the Lord will save….

…..for no Word that He speaks will return to Him void.

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.

So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Simeon, and Anna

God prepares hearts…….to see and receive His blessed Son……sometimes years ahead…..leading them to worship and joy.

Luke 2:25-26 “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus had come to Jerusalem eight days after his birth…..that they might offer Him unto the Lord…..by an offering told in the law(Exodus 22:29)…..and give the offering of purification. (Leviticus 12:2-8)

They had come to the Temple,….and the Holy Spirit had led Simeon to be there, as well…..when he saw them….he went over and….

Luke 2:28-32 “Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word:

For mine eyes have seen Thine Salvation,

Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

How lovingly and tenderly does Simeon pick up His Lord…..”and blessed God”….

Simeon praised God’s goodness in letting him see His Son….for being faithful to His promise to him.

He praised God for His Salvation….wrapped up in this little baby.

He praised God for the Purpose of His Salvation….both to the Gentiles and Israel.

And in this praise Simeon prophesied of the Way of salvation….

…..”before the face of all people”….

……Christ was raised between earth and heaven, outside the city….on a hill…..before all the people, from all over, which came to the Passover!

Simeon showed that Christ was presented as God’s Glory….to Israel…..

(Luke 2:14 and the angels praise…..”Glory to God in the highest…”

Wise men coming and telling all, in Jerusalem, of the Star which announced the King’s birth Matthew 2:1-3.

The miracles, again and again…how glorious they all were.

The prophesy of Christ coming in as King to Jerusalem…..and He did. Zechariah 9:9).

And Simeon showed that Christ would be presented to the Gentiles…..as Light….(Matthew 4:15-16, John 8:12, Acts 26:17-18)

And then he turned to Mary and Joseph….

Luke 2:34-35 “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

(Yea, a sword shall pass through thine own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

God sent His Beloved Son to save all who would come to the the Light….

….many will rise to be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)…

…and many will fall…rebelling against their King…and Lord….and destroy themselves in the process. (Mark 12:1-9)

“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”. It is our hearts, God wants…..will we give them?

Luke 2:36-38 “And there was one Anna, a prophetess,…..of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.

And she was a widow of about four score and four years, which departed not from the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Anna, who was at least in her nineties, came into the part of the Temple that Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and Simeon were.

Hearing what Simeon said…..she rejoiced.

How much joy the birth of Jesus gave those “who looked for redemption”…in Israel.

She had not departed from the Temple for years, after she became a widow,….but stayed…..feeling her work to serve God was to fast and pray…..night and day.

(Night is first….probably her best time to pray…..for few would be around)

But with the knowledge that Redemption, in the Person of this baby was come….she told everyone that she knew,…..that was waiting for Him.

Even as a babe, Christ Jesus separated men and women into two groups…..those who wanted their King….and His kingdom, to come to them….

….and those to whom the news of Christ made no impact….except to interfere with their lives……they did not care that the King had come (Luke 19:14, 27)

To these two, Simeon and Anna,……Christ was the One they had been praying, and looking for…..Emmanuel….God with us….

……and here He was, a baby, in His mother’s arms.

How amazing!

God deserved all praise,….from all….

….yet being wise in the Holy Ghost……they told only those who were looking and waiting for Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, to come.

Christ Jesus came a baby, born in a manger…..for there was no room in the inn….

Heralded by angels….seen and recognized by shepherds,

By wise men from a far country,…

…Simeon and Anna…..

……and those unnamed, but known of God, which looked for the Christ to come.

Let us rejoice at His birth…..and what it means for us.

(Notice the names of Christ spoken here:

Consolation: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God even our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.”

Salvation: Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

Light: Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

The Glory: Psalm 24:7 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.”

Redemption: 1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Redemption is to be bought back….bought back from sin, and death, from Satan’s power, and the world.

He is all these, and more, to those who receive Him.)