Are we staying in the middle of the Way?

Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die:

Remove far from me vanity and lies; Give me neither poverty or riches, feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

This “middle of the Way”, comes from my reading Pilgrims Progress.

It is when Christian is hurrying up the hill of Difficulty, and it is growing dark….that he sees two lions; one on either side of the Way!

This sight frightens and stops Christian for a moment…..till the Porter of the House Beautiful (the local Church), calls out to him:

“Can’t you see they are chained….they can only come so far into the Way. You will be safe….as long as you stay in the middle of the Way.”

And how often it is the same for us…..when circumstances frighten….because we were not prepared,….

…..or we have expected,…..since we have “climbed this hill of Difficulty”,…..that things will be easy…..

We get frightened….then stop.

It is good the Lord often calls out to us, through the Word, or a message, or a fellow Christian…..that we may see that the lions are chained.

(How grateful to the Lord Jesus for this!)

These verses are some I love. They set the goal of my life on the right footing.

Giving God charge of what is in store for me….and petitioning (“required” here means “earnestly beseeching”) our Lord, that He keep us “in the middle of the Way.”

“Remove me far from vanity and lies”. “Far from”, is where we all should want to be, from the useless things of this world,….and that is what “vanity” is.

And from lies…..lies that I want to believe….or that are spread abroad about others, or me.

Our Lord taught us to pray: (Matthew 6:13) “And lead us not into temptation”…..for He has made a way to escape, if we will seek it (1 Corinthians 10:13)……but when I fall into it…….

…..”but deliver us from evil”…..the evil one, the devil, and his tricks…..and the evil of coming under the influence of my fall.

Let me…

Not be rich….either in money, prestige, or success….so I won’t get proud and begin to think I do not need the Lord. (Luke 12:16-21)

Not be poor….either in money, friends, or spiritual experience….so I won’t envy others…..or be angry with You, Lord, and “take the name of my God in vain”.

This “take the name of my God in vain” (and notice is it “my God”)……does not mean swearing…..

……but in the Hebrew, means: “accusing God of not being what His Name says He is”. To accuse God’s mercy and love, of being false.

He is Merciful, Righteous, Glorious, Gracious, full of loving-kindness, and peace.

But when circumstances grow difficult…..trials come…..and we seem quite unable to meet them….we are poor, then….

…do we still feel the same way, toward the Lord?

My husband had taught a study on Galatians, and then began Philippians, once,……when our son….who was little at the time….

….said, Dad, I like this study better than that other one.

….Really, why?

…..Because this one has happy people in it…the other one didn’t.

And he was right, though I had not seen it before,….like that…..

The Galatians were trying so hard to be superior Christians…..and had gotten tricked into thinking their own works…following the law…..would add to their value to the Lord. (Galatians 1:6-8)

The Philippians, on the other hand,

(and I recommend, if you have not read it lately, to do so again! Nine times, more than any other book in the New Testament, “rejoice” is used. Six times “joy” is used.)

They were being persecuted, [Philippians 1:28-30],….yet only sought to be steadfast to the Lord Jesus Christ…..and they were joyful in it!

They were a poor church, yet sent an offering to Paul for his needs. (Philippians 4:15)

What a difference in the two books!

Listen to the epistle the Apostle wrote:

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

Philippians 1:25-26 “And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.”

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…..”

He tells them of the way he has walked….what the Lord has shown him:

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

Paul loves them dearly, writing:

Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”

And then, in this epistle, he clearly speaks of true contentment:

Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

This is the same thing the writer of Proverbs was writing about…..but Paul adds a blessed reality of how we can do this:

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Let us take His strength in righteousness, joy and peace…..and be content.

Here is the secret of contentment…..of being neither rich or poor…..but staying in the middle of the Way……

….”through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Our Way is before us,…..our life is always a next step with Jesus Christ.

Let us “stay in the middle of the Way”……

…..the lions are chained, though they roar, and frighten….

…..stay with Him, and let Him give us the strength for what is ahead.

When the fullness of the time was come…

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

The whole work of creation is for one purpose….to manifest the Son….to bring about the fulfillment of the Everlasting Covenant.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

(It is interesting that this Covenant is so explicitly set forth here in Hebrews….certainly the writer is writing the Church in Jerusalem….showing that the sacrifice of Christ was and is the means for the perfecting of the believers….both Jew and Gentile.)

1 Timothy 2:5-6 There is One God, and One Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

When the Godhead first decided to Create….They saw by their Omniscience, the rebellion of Lucifer, who became Satan, fighting against all things of God.

They saw the fall of man, and all the evil that man opens his heart to.

They saw the necessity for the flood….giving grace to Noah and saving him in the Ark.

They saw the call of Abram and the establishing of the Jewish Nation….all their obediences and failures….right up to the time of:

Luke 2:1, 3-7 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”

(God put out a decree long before this….that all these things should be!)

“And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she would be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

(Is there “room” in our lives for the Christ of God?)

The Godhead saw all this, along with the obediences and failures of the church…..yet decided to create….

And the beginning of that creation, was the Everlasting Covenant.

This covenant was established on an Eternal Foundation….the saving of a people for His Name’s sake.

“Through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant”.

1 Peter 1:19-20 “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.”

Christ agreed to come as man….made of a woman….as scripture said.

He would be…”very God of very God, and very man of very man”

He would be born under the law….and fulfill that law perfectly….

….so that He would be a perfect sacrifice…”without blemish and without spot:”

He would die as a substitute for us…..taking our sin upon Him….

…and God would raise Him up….accepting His sacrifice.

God, the Father, agreed to give Him a people….draw them to Christ to be saved,….place His Holy Spirit within them to be with them…..and bring them safely home to Heaven, even through battles and failures.

Everything before Christ’s birth was in anticipation of it….preparing a people to believe and trust.

Everything after Christ’s birth was to manifest the Promise fulfilled….preparing a people to believe and trust.

What kind of love would make God the Son, come and place His whole being, as a helpless baby, in the hands of men?

What kind of trust would make the Son of God give Himself up to the hatred of the rulers, the mob of people, the mocking of soldiers, and the pain and separation of the cross….to please His Father’s Will….and give us salvation?

The fullness of the time….is not just a clever phrase…..it is Christ manifested in the flesh for us. (1 Timothy 3:16)

God fulfilled His promise of a Savior…..in His time, and His Way.

Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

And now the fullness of times has come for you.

If you have not received Him…..will you open your heart to Him now, and be born again?

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

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

As joint heirs of Christ, will you be found faithful to that which He has called you to fulfill?

Will we receive that love God has for us…..that peace which will establish us…..in order to complete the work….”make you perfect in every good work to do His will”?

God’s Will will be done…..will we yield to our part of it?

God always has a Witness to Himself….He always has a Remnant.

I have always been amazed at God’s Witness.

Even in the worst of times, He has had a sanctified witness to Himself….in the places and circumstances where they would be heard,…… if any have ears to hear,…and believe.

Samaria, the capitol of Israel, is being besieged by the king of Syria….and because no one could come in or out….there was famine:

2 Kings 6:25 “And there was a great famine in Samaria; and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver,….”

It had gotten so bad, they were eating the dead,….boiling the flesh off, rather than starve.

The situation was hopeless….as far as sight was concerned.

But, as usual, they had forgotten God….

….but not Elisha, the prophet….for he was in the city, too.

He was gathered with the (spiritual) elders of the city….waiting upon the Lord.

(This is an amazing thing….the Lord putting Elisha in the very same circumstances…..for God could have sent him away from this place, but God had him there….gathering the spiritual of the city, to pray with him.)

Now the king, becoming angry….sent a messenger to kill Elisha….and the king followed behind….wanting to see it.

The king could have gone to Elisha, before this…..and asked him to ask God to do something….

….but instead, the king blamed Elisha….because he did not do “something” without him having to come to him and ask.

(Are we this way with God, not willing to seek Him and His Will for us?

Going through things we do not need to, because we refuse to humble ourselves?)

The king did not want to humble himself and ask….therefore Elisha waited….

(This is a sad commentary on authorities which will not seek God….

….the people suffer, while they refuse to humble themselves at God’s correction)

But now the wait was over….the king’s foot is at the door where Elisha is…..

….he is finally in the right place, even though it is for the murder of the very man he needs,….. to speak to God for the city.

But before he can carry out his will….God speaks through Elisha.

It shames the king….but it is the saving of the city.

2 Kings 7:1 “Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.”

And it happens…..just as Elisha says….

(It is an interesting story….

That very night, four lepers who are outside the city….go out to the Syrian camp….”if they die by famine, or by Syrian…what is the difference”.

But they find that the Syrians have fled,….having heard noises which they thought were an army.

They were so terrified by the noice….which God has done….that they left all their food, clothes, and loot!

The lepers tell the watchman, who tells the king, who sends to see if it is true….and what God has said through Elisha, comes to pass)

2 Kings 7:16 “And the people whet out and spoiled the tents of the Syrians, so a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.”

How easy it is for God to work,…..when we seek His Will!

Many years later:

When Nebuchadnezzar had come to Jerusalem and carried away captives….the best of the young men….educated, and well spoken…

….Daniel was one of these….he was called to make this Gentile king aware of God…and His claims on all people…even monarchs.

Daniel was in the palace of Babylon.

Still, there were many left in Judah.

Jeremiah was one of these….called to make God’s people, aware of God’s claims.

If they would submit….God would keep them in the land.

But if they refused…and sought out others to deliver…..then some would surely be destroyed…and the rest, carried away captive.

Jeremiah was in Jerusalem.

And then, when Nebuchadnezzar came the second time and took the carpenters, and workman away….Ezekiel was among them….called to make God’s captive people aware of God’s claims…even in Babylon.

Ezekiel was in the work camps of Babylon.

God’s Witness was a complete one….so was the revelation to these men of the sin of Israel….

Jeremiah 2:11, 13 “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

After so many times of deliverance, so many times of power, so many times of God manifesting His Presence…..yet they “have forsaken Me”.

Again and again, these three,….in different places, under different circumstances….stood with God…and declared His Will.

Some believed….some refused. But they were faithful….in their place….to the people they were called to.

God always has a remnant of believers…..always has a witness…..because our God is Able.

When Christ came to earth….it was not to the Sanhedrin that the angels came….but to Shepherds,….who having heard….went to see…

….and having seen Jesus….

….went away rejoicing and “made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17).

God always has His remnant…..

and today……that could be me….it could be you.

Are we ready to speak His word faithfully….in the place we are called….to the people we are called to?

The Way of the Righteous

Psalm 1:6 “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Psalm 119:133 “Order my steps in Thy Word: and let not mine iniquities have dominion over me.”

This is the way of the righteous, that we should walk in it.

Hebrew 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

If we would come to God with the full realization that this is true; we would all get honest with Him more easily.

In our souls, God sees all…all our doubts, troubles, desires, plans, everything.

And He wants everyone of His beloved children to come to Him, with this full realization.

Hebrew 4:12 “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

You know how you read a verse, and it is just like God is speaking to you about what you have been thinking or praying about?

How quick it opens up to you, the Light of God!

But notice it “divides” the soul and spirit: It shows you what is the Lord’s will (spirit) and what is yours (soul).

It gets into the very “nitty gritty” of every plan (joints and marrow).

And it discerns our thoughts (those that come and go) and intentions (those that stay and are considered) of the heart.

It is the “heart” here, because to be right with God is a matter of the heart.

In all of our thoughts and intentions, how our heart is before God, is shown.

(In scripture, our hearts are the treasury of understanding…..and the source of whatever affects us.

Matthew 12:35 “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”)

As Christians, our failures and our sins are fearful; and should be overcome by the faith of Christ and the Holy Spirit’s power…..

But where the heart is concerned, it is our attitude to these that matter.

Are we repentant, or just sad because we are not as good as we thought?

Are we seeing them as the Lord sees our sin, and backsliding;…..or are we flying through our confessions to Him, with half-hearted effort?

I believe it takes the power of the Holy Spirit, working in us, for us to get honest; and see things as He sees them.

The Holy Spirit will remind us, convict us, and then lead us to Christ: Who forgives us (1 John 1:9-10)……but it is His Way of removing the defilement of the conscience, so we can feel refreshed and clean in His love.

And be ready to move on with Him in the next step of our lives.

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

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

We all need to get honest before Him, and let Him do the searching….this is important….

It is not us (for we are apt to think we know the reason for this action or that response) but it is His searching; and us listening, to His Word to us….that makes our way light.

If He shows us things….He will make it clear….this is always between the Lord and us.

Let us walk in the Light of His Word; in the way of the righteous.

The Wedding Supper of the Lamb

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”

This is the marriage between Christ and His church. It will be at the end of the Tribulation Period, and the guests will be those of Israel which will be brought in to belief in Christ, during this period.

Matthew 22:2 “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.”

The Gospel of Matthew is written especially to the Jew…..showing that Christ was the King of the Jews.

But first, they rejected His forerunner, John the Baptist, then they rejected Him.

He had come in to Jerusalem….presenting Himself as their Messiah should….”Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.” (Matthew 21:5, Zechariah 9:9)

Now, in this parable, you see Jesus speaking to those who were even at that time rejecting Him….so it is not surprising that Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven speaks of this present Church age….we are His heavenly citizens….and not that kingdom which is yet to come.

Matthew 22:3 “And sent forth His servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.”

It was common in those days, to send two invitations:

The first was sent weeks before the time, so that all would set aside that special time for the Supper.

The second was given, when the king would send a servant to each one, to escort them to the Supper.

And there are two calls to the Gospel….

….the general call which goes out to everyone. Many hear and in curiosity, agree….in principal to a Savior….but never are born again, or experience any real change in their lives…

….most of these, are like those invited to this Supper….they agree at first, but then reject the life…..acting as though Christ can not satisfy….

…..when it actually, they have never come and really had His life.

And the effectual call which is heard by the elect who are born again, and go on to a complete salvation.

For it makes demands on our life, and effects a real change in our life.

Matthew 22:4-5 “Again, He sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:”

You will notice that all these reasons are personal reasons….personal choices.

Not…”I am sick and can not come”……But…

…. I choose to go, and do this….rather than come to Your call.

We receive Christ Jesus, personally…..or reject Him personally.

Matthew 22:6 “And the remnant took His servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.”

This the Pharisees and rulers did to Jesus….and to the church after the giving of the Spirit.

But it is also what we can expect….from those who refuse to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

Matthew 22:7 “But when the King heard thereof, He was wroth: and He sent forth His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”

Surely this happened to Jerusalem under Titus, when the city was destroyed….but it will also happen when each person who has rejected Christ will stand before God,….have his life reviewed….and then they will be cast into the Lake of fire…….. for rejecting Christ Jesus, Who offered salvation to them.

Matthew 22:8-10 “Then saith He to His servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye Therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.”

Finally, the guests to honor the King’s Son are assembled….

….how?

From the highways….those that pass by.

Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not error therein.”

Matthew 22:11-13 “And when the King came in to see the guests, He saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And He saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the King to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; they shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

When you had an audience with a king, a proper garment was provided, so that the man would be without excuse….for he had refused it.

This “wedding garment” is, no doubt, the righteousness of Christ imputed to all who receive Him by faith.

This man rejected that righteousness of Christ….seeking to serve God with his own righteousness….”for all our righteousness is a filthy rags”….

….and therefore, was himself rejected.

“He was speechless” (Romans 3:19-20)

The outer darkness! We often picture Hell or the Lake of fire all lit up…..but it is darkness itself…..as Jude says, “…the blackness of darkness forever.” (Jude 13)

Imagine torment (there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth)… in complete darkness…forever.

There will yet be the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

And the church, which is His Bride….will be there….and it will be grand and glorious.

Revelation 19:6-8 “….Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

“Righteousness of saints” is righteous acts…acts of obediences to Christ.

How would we appear if we were called tonight?

What would we look like for Eternity?

The days draw close….when time for change will be over…all will be settled for time and eternity.

Now is the compelling time….the time to go out into the highways and “bid them to the marriage”.

What will we do with our opportunity for service?

Will you speak for the King?

Will you pass that tract?

Will you invite them to “sup” with Him? (Revelation 3:20)

For…unto us…

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

Twice here in this verse alone, the prophet tells all who will hear, that it is “unto us”. The message of Christ is always personal…

….first He is seen as a child….in His humiliation. Leaving heaven to come here, as a babe….placing Himself into His Father’s hands for everything….being born of a woman,…born under the law, to honor it and fulfill it…honoring His Father in it. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Then He is seen as a Son, given……”unto us”…..(Matthew 3:16-17)…..

…He was “given”…..presented unto us as the Son of God, the Son of man….coming to manifest His Father’s Will toward us: in life, and in sacrifice for our sins….(again, “given”; as a sacrifice was)

The government of all is upon His shoulder: It was always so, for He is the Creator and Sustainer of all. (Psalm 24:1-2)

But in a new way,…..after His birth, life, sacrifice, and resurrection…….

…….the government is upon His shoulder,…..for God has given all authority and power into His hands, for the accomplishing of the complete Purpose for mankind:

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power.

For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.”

And His name shall be called:

Wonderful….. “singularly marvelous”

Of course it should, for He was wonderful to do the Will of the Father, and come to earth to save me.

He is wonderful in all the long-suffering mercy and grace He pours upon us, by His merits….giving us His presence, HIs peace, and joy.

He will be wonderful in that day when He comes and takes the Kingdom of this world to Himself….making it a Kingdom of peace. (Isaiah 9:7)

And finally establishing the Eternal Kingdom for ever.

Counselor….

He knows the eternal counsels of the Godhead….and brings them to pass…..

Isaiah 46:10 “Declaring the end from the beginning; and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”

He “worketh all things after the counsel of His Will” where our salvation is concerned. (Ephesians 1:11)

And as our personal Counselor (Psalm 16:7)…..He gives us the way to overcome…(Revelation 3:18)…in these last days.

The mighty God….

Psalm 24:8 “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”

His strength of character, and His strength of purpose….for He went through everything to accomplish completely the salvation of His people….defeating sin, and death

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The everlasting Father….

He is God….the Trinity…..One with the Father, and the Holy Spirit….there is no separation, but in their offices to His people.

John 14:9 “….he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father;…”

John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”

The Prince of Peace….

He was always Peace….in Him was no strife, ever…..eternal peace was His character.

Even now He brings peace to all who receive Him…….by His salvation, and by His Spirit….

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Ephesians 2:14,17 “For He is our peace, Who hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

One day….the whole of creation will know His peace….under His Kingdom…..

Hosea 2:18 “And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely

Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion shall eat straw like the ox.”

On a night full of the light of stars…..shepherds watched over their flocks…..and saw the dazzling light from a angel…..

……then they went and saw a greater Light….born “unto you”…

Luke 2:9-11 “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:15-17 “…Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”

We think of this as the beginning…..when this was the center of all the Purpose of God.

From eternity past….God thought of us and our Salvation…..making a Covenant…a plan….a Purpose for each of us.

When we were born again,….we began our journey in that Purpose…..a Purpose which flowed from before times eternal (1 Timothy 1:9)……unto us…..through Christ Jesus.

And His Purpose flows on…..till all that He has said will be…..will be….with us….and all who will receive the Lord Jesus, Who was born….unto us.

As the multitude of heavenly hosts said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Herod Agrippa

Acts 12:1-2 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”

This is the first time that the Roman appointed king takes an interest in the believers.

(Before this…..it was the Pharisees and religious leaders….which were angry against the believers of Christ.)

It is Passover time again….and crowds of people are in Jerusalem.

Herod Agrippa was an Edomite….not a Jew….but he converted to Judaism.

He was the grandson of Herod the Great, who ruled during Christ’s birth.

(Herod the great was the one who sent and killed all the children under three years old in Bethlehem, trying to kill Christ Jesus as a baby)

Herod Agrippa was a friend of Caesar….he had ruled land nearby….but then was given Judea by Caesar, as well.

He was a proud man, who ruled Judea for about five years…..always looking for a way to increase the people’s love of him….so….

…..he took and beheaded James, John’s brother.

James was one of the three of the inner circle to Jesus. He was called, along with John his brother, “sons of thunder”. Perhaps his powerful preaching had brought him to Herod’s attention.

(James along with John was also one to whom Christ had said, “…ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:…” Matthew 20:23)

The beheading was done by a sword, to inflict the most pain….and get the most praise from the religious rulers and the people.

Acts 12:3-5 “And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

And when he had apprehended him, he put him prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

I want to mention here, that pride has been the undoing of many people.

Pride is the peacock within us……unfolding it’s tail feathers, for show.

Pride is the mirror….where we often look….to see the person we want to be considered.

And Herod Agrippa is a proud man.

So he takes Peter…..but waits till all the ceremonies of the Passover are done….then he will bring Peter out before all….and kill him.

That should make him very popular….loved, even….by the people.

(This is a picture, in miniature, of the Antichrist in the last days. He will rise up, and begin a steady persecution of the believing remnant.

That will make him exceedingly popular with the world….

Pride is his great sin….Daniel 8:23-25.

He shall exalt himself:

Daniel 11:36-37 “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished:…

Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers,….for he shall magnify himself above all.”)

But as the purpose of the Antichrist will seem to be fulfilled…..so Herod Agrippa thought his killing of Peter would be a big moment…

But God had another Purpose….deliverance.

This deliverance is in answer to prayer.

The church was meeting in Mary’s house. Mary’s brother was Barnabas who was Saul/Paul’s first missionary partner. Mary’s son was John Mark….the author of the book of Mark.

Many were gathered, some coming and going as they could….so that prayer for Peter was around the clock. This continued for all the days of the Passover feast….that Herod’s designs might be thwarted….and Peter released.

And God sent an angel…

Acts 12:6-8 “And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,….

….the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side,….saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.”

Peter was perfectly at peace to die. He did not expect deliverance….especially after James death.

Gates and guards kept Peter in,….but could not keep God’s angel out.

With the angel….there was light….

….and a kick on the side to wake him up!

God made his handcuffs fall off….

Then the angel tells Peter to “gird thyself”…..the angel reminding Peter that the Lord Jesus told him…”when thou was young, you girded yourself,…..but when you shall be old, you will stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee…” (John 21:18). Peter would grow old….it was not time to die.

The angel tells Peter to “bind on thy sandals”…..prepare for a journey you are not expecting.

Acts 12:9. “And he went out, and followed him;….but thought he saw a vision.”

Peter thinks it is a vision, yet obeys and follows the angel….past the first guard post…..and the second guard post…..and then to the gate which separated the fort of the Roman soldiers, from the city….

….and it opened for him.

Acts 12:11-12 “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod,….

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary….where many were gathered together praying.”

Once Peter realizes that the Lord has delivered him….he seeks out a home where he knew a church met….

…Mary’s house.

He knocks,….but the girl who came to the gate….only asked who was there. (A church could not be too careful for night visitors….)

And when she recognized Peter’s voice….she ran and told the people who were praying inside!

She was excited and happy…..

…..but they did not believe it!

(Isn’t this just like us….we pray for something….and yet, do not really believe that God is going to give it.

We prepare for the worse…..instead of His best.)

Finally she keeps insisting that it is Peter….so they go and see….

….and when Peter comes in…..they rejoice that he is delivered.

He quiets them…..and tells all that has happened….and instructs that they are to pass it on to the rest of the church there.

Then, as the angel said, it was time to move on….and “he went to another place”

(Jesus had told them: Matthew 10:23 “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another:..”)

But what of Herod’s purpose? God overruled and fulfilled His own purpose.

(God rules and overrules.

He often allows our enemies to seem to surround, and have the victory…..but then….He overrules their plans….and sees to us….not always in deliverance….but always bearing us up, in all the things we go through.)

The next day there was a lot of excitement to find Peter gone!

Acts 12:19 “And when Herod had sought for him (Peter), and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there abode.”

Herod searched the city….but did not find him….then when his pride was wounded….

….he just had a fit about the deliverance of Peter.

If he had wanted to considered the matter, he might have seen God’s hand in it.

But he was so wrapped up in himself,……that he missed his opportunity to repent.

Peter, his prey, was gone….so he killed the guards….

….and ashamed of being robbed something that would make him look good in the peoples eyes….he leaves Jerusalem.

His puffed up pride is put down,….God has shamed him….

…..perhaps this is the reason his death….as it was….is written of.

In Caesarea, Herod has an argument with the countries of Tyre and Sidon…..so to get on his good side (for they needed the grain from Judea)….they came desiring peace.

On the day when he was going to speak before all the people at a celebration he had in honor of Caesar…..a multitude is gathered to hear his words.

Acts 12:21-23 “And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and made an oration unto them.

And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”

History says,….he came out wearing a cape all of silver.

The timing was so….that when he came out on to the stage before the gathered multitude….his cape shown resplendent from the morning light.

They cried out that he was a god, and would henceforth consider him deity…

….when he did not deny it….he was struck with a pain in his stomach….”the angel of the Lord smote him,”……with worms, which caused his death….a few days later.

So ended the life of a man wholly taken up with himself. The world gave him honor…..but God shamed him…..gave him time to repent….and destroyed him because of his irreverence and pride.

Acts 12:24 “But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

Both the martyrship of James…..and the deliverance of Peter, increased the courage of those that were preaching…..and God blessed them, multiplying the Word spoken and the church.

(Now, for the exceptionally hard question…..Why did God allow Herod Agrippa to kill James…..but delivered Peter?

Some say it was timing…..Herod Agrippa arrested and killed James too quickly for God to work!

No! God can do anything.

James was a “son of thunder”….he was a fiery preacher. When he preached, people were effected by the Spirit….

…yet his ministry was short….

Peter lived for many years….helping to disciple John Mark (some say that Mark is actually Peter’s account of the gospel, which Mark wrote for him)….and going far to help his people, hear, and obey the gospel.

The answer to that question is that God rules and overrules in the lives of His own….and the death of a saint, is just as much God’s Will as the deliverance of another saint.

Hebrews 11:35 “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:”

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

We picture death as an ending…..not so God.

For all that belong to Him….it is simply the means that lifts the soul and spirit into His Presence.

Death, whether it is painful, slow, or sudden….if that person is born again…he is escorted by an angel into a deliverance of all pain, and sadness….into the Presence of Christ.

We all have our journey, our walk, our race to finish….let us heed what the angel of the Lord said to Peter:

“Gird thyself” In other words, “Be prepared, be watchful….be instant in season and out of season.”

“Bind on thy sandals” We have places to go….school, work, family ties, and encounters with those we have not yet met……and the Lord calls us to keep going till the end of our ministries.

Hopefully the Lord will not have to send someone to kick us in the side,…..to wake us up to what He is calling us to do,…next.)

May the God of all grace deliver each of us to do the ministry and work that He has for us.

Are There Shadows in Your Christian Life?

Song of Solomon 4:6 “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.”

When we are born again, we are given the Holy Spirit and a new nature. One that loves God, and wants to please Him.

But we are Spiritual Babes, and often fail the Lord, when called to follow on with Him.

It is the Spiritual growth of our lives that brings us, as babes, to full grown children.

Ephesians 4:13-15 “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 fullness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

To bring us to this point,……the Lord, through His Word, and by the Holy Spirit within us, will bring us to the Light again and again; till we are walking in it, with no Shadows between us. (1 John 1:7)

We fail, often, to fully realize that our own Natural Aversion to all things of God, is a clear manifestation of the ever present Old Nature within us. The old man wants his own will, and rebels at being in subjection to God.

Galatians 5:16-17 “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth (fights) against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to another; so that ye can not do the things that ye would.”

It is the flesh which “attacks” the new nature which is of God within us,….for it still seeks to rule us, with our old habits, attitudes, and affections.

Romans 8:13-14 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

The “flesh”, “old man”, is our old nature; and remains in us, even though we have become born again.

We are to choose to obey the Spirit of God within us, and walk in the Light; so that the old nature is kept in subjection to Christ.

God’s Light, when it is submitted to, yields Power within us to do His Will.

It is a process.

This is an act of the will.

“…If ye do through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

And what a life! A life with the power of the Holy Spirit in us, and helping us, to do and be His Will!

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Quicken is to make alive, active, and effective. As I said, What a life!

Mortify is to “put to death”.

That is, it is brought to the place where it has no influence in us.

Thus by an act of our wills, willing with the Holy Spirit, we do put to death the natural life, that it might become Christ’s life in us.

Song of Solomon 4:6 “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.”

Where Shadows are in our life, full Light has not come.

Shadows are cast by something between the Light source (Christ’s Life), and that which is lighted (us).

It is a mountain of myrrh (which speaks of death), because it takes a lot of denying ourselves, and yielding to the Holy Spirit.

And then it is, the hill of frankincense (which speaks of reigning authority) comes in.

For when we yield to Him, and get out of the way; it takes very little of the power of God, to empower us for His Will….in anything.

To consider these Shadows, we must go back to our very beginnings, and first consider: “Why hast Thou made me thus?”

Romans 9:20 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?”

It is a point of our rebellious old man, that we were never consulted in our being.

But just brought into being,…with the parents I had,….in these circumstances,…looking as I do;…..and then forced to deal with it.

(How many of these thoughts have we had? The sad thing: we do not bring them to the Lord and deal with them.)

Sadly, many seek meaning in things, or emotions; or in oblivion, and finding it not.

(The death wish the Psychiatrist talk about, is not just a wish to die, but a desire for non-being. To never have been; or to go into nothingness.)

But once we are, we are Eternal beings.

We will exist forever, either in Heaven with God in bliss; or in agony with the Devil.

But God has for us an “expected end”.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Our expected end is Christ, and the joy and peace He has for us, as we walk in His Light.

As the thing formed, we must be reconciled to God, Who formed us…..As we are.

This is a deep thing of the soul, and worked within us by the Holy Spirit in our spirit.

It is not just living because we have to; Or trying to find joy in “things”….but…

We can come to the place where we love who the Lord has made us…..really….and to enter into the life He has for us.

Here is where subjection is real…not just words.

Your spirit, with the Power of the Holy Spirit, by an act of your will, brings your soul (the place of your intelligence, affections, and will) into subjection to God’s Will.

And you do it on that mountain of myrrh.

He begins as soon as you are born again, to encourage you to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Christ. (Matthew 16:24-25)

Every time you do this, His power works in you; creating in you that image of Christ in you.

Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

God’s Will for you, has had it’s “beginnings” in Eternity past:

2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;”

He thought of you in Christ Jesus before He created the world. And so has made provision for your complete Salvation from sin: the guilt, penalty, and power of sin.

These shadows, are not the sin itself; but are the influences of our sin. They cast a shadow, a darkness over us.

It may be because of self pity because we have done these things: “Oh, how could I do that? How could I be so stupid?” (I have said this to myself)

It may be that the sin is gone; because you know it will cause problems, or because of God’s chastening.

But the desire for that thing, still remains.

And must be removed, before the Shadows will “flee” away.

There is still an element of darkness in your life.

He can do it, keep coming to Him.

So many of these Shadows are of our Adversary, the Devil; deeply implanted within us , down through the years.

Things done by others, to us!

To which he has whispered many angry thoughts: “God should not have let them get by with this.”

Or thoughts of revenge.

Again, let us consider Christ Jesus’ “expected end” for us: Joy and Peace in believing.

Do you have it? Are you obtaining it everyday, by denying yourself and picking up your cross, and following Him into the Light He has for you?

You don’t have to walk in Shadows. Keep coming to Him. Listen to Him, and His Word to you.

Hang on to His Love; and know He is hanging on to you.

O Give thanks unto the Lord.

Psalm 107:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.”

How can we count the mercies God has given us?

Mercy is God’s kindness to sinners.

Grace is God’s unmerited favor of power to us.

Hope is of the Holy Spirit….it is that confident expectation that God will do what He says.

Love is God’s Everlasting Arms around us, and working in us, for our good.

(There are temporal mercies: the sun, rain, and food, etc. which come on the good and the evil.

But spiritual mercies are for His elect…which have to do with Salvation…all the blessings in Christ.

The first time “merciful” is used, is when Lot is “taken by the hand” and lead out of the destruction of Sodom…..which is a picture of every man’s salvation: God takes us by the hand and saves us from the destruction of our sin.

Titus 3:4-6 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by working of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;”)

Psalm 86:3 “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily.”

The Lord shows us daily mercies…..again and again….He is there.

Psalm 106:1 “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.”

For His mercy, and all that He has done…..is doing….and certainly will ultimately do…….we should praise Him….

for without mercy we are lost….lost in our sin,…..but also lost in our many sorrows of this world.

We can become “mired” in the troubles and problems we have…

But His mercy comes along and lifts us out of all of them.

He reminds us of HIs might….is He not able? Of course.

He reminds us of His joy….is He not with us, and for us? And If He is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

He gives us peace like a fortress. (Philippians 4:7)

Psalm 94:18 “When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.”

Psalm 105:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.”

Isaiah 63:7 “I will mention the lovingkindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us,….”

Praising the Lord should always come when we receive answers to our prayers. It is His due, of course,……but it also helps us.

“I will mention the lovingkindness of the Lord”…

It is a way to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God….by the retelling of the “adventure” and the deliverance of the Lord, for us.

It encourages us now….in what ever is going on…so we will continue to trust and hold on to Him.

It helps us for tomorrow…..it nerves us for the coming storms……for we never know what a day will bring….but we can know our God.

Daniel 11:32 “….but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

Not only so……but our testimony of deliverance, comforts others who might be going through some of the same situations.

Ps 89:1 “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.”

O give thanks unto the Lord…..thanking the Lord should be as exhaling…..for as we breath in His many blessings…..and we should breath out His many praises.

Paul was eminently the Apostle of “thanks unto the Lord”….

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

“But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care in the heart of Titus for you.” (2 Corinthians 8;16)

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

1 Timothy 2:1 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”

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.”

I started this with….”How can we count the mercies God has given us?”

We can not….they are without number….like the stars in the night sky.

But they all center in our blessed Lord Jesus Christ…..Who is the sum and substance of our blessings.

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”

Thorns and thistles

Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard go forth, and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

“The Sower went out to sow his seed…”.

The seed is the Word of God…but it is the ground which it falls into we are talking about.

This Word falls in a heart full of thorns. Thorns represent the curse of the fall….or our “old man”…the old nature which is always present.

Jesus said, that these thorns were:

“cares”…..burdens of grief, fear, protection, supply.

“Riches”….a supply of money, houses, or lands….to make us independent of God….or so we think.

“Pleasure of this life”….we think of food, sex, drink, or drugs….but there is also putting our “fun times”, first.

I believe Jesus Christ is able to save to the uttermost,…. all who will come to Him. (Hebrews 7:25)

Therefore these thorns represent that which keeps us from completely giving ourselves to the Lord Jesus.

Something that claims this part of our life,…first.

Jeremiah 4:3 “For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.”

We are to prepare our hearts to hear His Word, when we read it….when we hear it….when it is preached.

And when it is heard….because our hearts are prepared…it will bring forth fruit….not thorns.

But where did the thorns originally come from?

There were no thorns and thistles in the garden of Eden.

But when Adam and Eve fell…

Genesis 3:17-18 “And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:

cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field:”

Thorns are actually aborted branches. Both are prickly and injurious. Both can cause infections….

…..both can only be put away…..by effort.

But thorns and thistles shall it “bring forth” unto us. They just pop up….with no effort….for they are of this world….they are of the curse of sin.

We are in a world of sin….and thorns and thistles abound…..in us, by habit or temptation…

….and around us.

They often spring up before the good seed…and if we are not careful to remove or cut them down…..they will choke the new good plant.

Hebrews 6:7-8 “For the earth which drinketh in the rain which cometh oft upon if, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, recieveth blessing from God:

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.”

We are to keep our hearts and lives for God….and use every blessing from God (the rain) to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But if we are careless….then thorns and thistles (the things under the curse…sin)….will definitely spring up in our life…and they are not so easy to deal with then.

Numbers 33:55 “But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.”

We must deal with all the things of our old man….of cares, riches, and pleasures of this life……because if we leave them, as the Israelites did the cursed inhabitants…they will be thorns in our side….giving us trouble, till we do.

(My brother bought a small plot of land….about fifteen acres…from a neighbor.

Now the neighbor told him to watch for Canadian thistles.

They have a very strong root….so cutting them down will not do any good….they will just spring back up…you have to keep at it.

He told my brother that he had had trouble with them, and if you let them flower….you have let them go too long….for the flowers will dry and spread them all over.

My brother used the ground for pasture for some special cows….so he did not want to spray it.

You guessed it,…..my brother saw them coming up….and was busy….and the next thing you know it they were grown and flowering.

Let me tell you how hard it was to deal with something that was almost as tall as I was…

Chopping them out, without getting “bit” by the prickly nettles….was a very hard job.)

So it is with us….if we are careless…

Proverbs 22:5 “Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.”

Froward means twisted, perverted, crooked. And how many crooked paths are put before us everyday….to lead us astray?

A little twist of the way…..what will it hurt?

But the thorns come up and the thistles grow large….before you know it.

Watch ye….is not just good advice for times of trouble….but times of prosperity….and…any time. We need Christ’s guiding hand to lead us away from thorns…..and to lead us in to His fruit of the Spirit.

Isaiah 32:11,13 “Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones…..gird sackcloth upon your loins.

Upon the land of My people shall come up thorns and briers;….”

To be careless….. is to put our desire for now….what ever it is over the will of the Lord….as though it was not that important.

The answer? To continue to receive the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 32:15-17 “Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high….

Then judgement shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.”

Some believe this is a prophesy concerning the giving of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost….but…

……whenever the Spirit is manifested….there is righteousness and peace…

…not thorns of self will.

Matthew 7:16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”

Nothing we can do, without the Holy Spirit’s blessing will yield any good fruit.

The best that human nature can produce for God….is thorns.

Only when we continue to receive the Holy Spirit’s fullness, will we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

And, of course, I would be remiss, if I did not mention the worst day for the manifesting of man’s the attitude toward God….

….. when our blessed Lord had a crown of thorns pushed into HIs head….when they mocked Him as a king…

….totally unaware that He is the King of kings.

John 19:2-3 “And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe,

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote Him with their hands.”

He bore all the curse for us.

Thorns and briers, thorns and thistles…..all are under the curse.

They spring up, unless you cut them out.

They spread out, and interfere with the good plants.

They are strong….not easily removed….unless you get them early.

But by watching,…..and receiving all the Holy Spirit has for us, we can cut out all that is “thorns”,….or of our old man……and bring forth fruit to Christ Jesus our Lord, in blessing.