To Count the Cost

Luke 14:28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”

Luke 14:31 “Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?”

The Lord told His disciples that they were to count the cost of service, and following Him.

He gave two examples…..one of building,…and one of warfare.

We are to do both.

If we follow Christ, we will be in a battle against the wiles of the Devil. The Adversary will seek to dissuade us, by fear. Or seek to destroy us, if we stand with Christ.

If we follow Christ, we are to build.

First we are to build our house upon the Rock of Christ and His Word.

Then we are to add to the building of the Church. From the foundation to the roof, we are to build up His Church, by edification (teaching); exhortation (to wake up) and comfort.

1 Corinthians 3:10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

We are to count the cost, because to stand with Jesus in this world, will cause us to be mocked, hated, ridiculed, and left out of a lot of what the world has.

You sit down and count the cost. And He says to do it first.

To run after Christ emotionally, will play out. (Emotions do)

To run after Christ mentally, will lead you to reasons, and when reasons run out, so do you.

To run after Christ willfully, will lead you to count the cost for yourself, and choose.

Christ wants you to run after Him willfully; eyes wide open, to what is ahead.

He has a great life for all who follow Him:

…..here on earth: peace, and joy in Christ Jesus,….even amid the trouble this life gives,…

(and He always tells His disciples that there will be trouble).

There in Heaven: face to face with Christ; which makes heaven, heaven.

Luke 14:33 “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

“Forsaketh” here means to bid adieu, to depart from, to leave.

We are to count the cost of giving up all that we have, for the life Christ has for us.

That way you know, if there is something in your life that you refuse to give up, even for Christ’s sake.

That is what counting the cost means. Christ requires of His servants, that they should obey Him, and His words to Him.

It costs everyone the same amount: everything.

Jesus did not seek to persuade men to follow Him with false promises.

He spoke plainly, that to follow Him was the most costly of decisions, for it meant putting Him above everything and everyone else in our lives.

Luke 14:25-26 “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”

Multitudes were following Christ, but instead of encouraging them, He put a hurtle in front of them.

Why?

Because the only reason to follow Christ, was love to Him. If you love Him, no cost is too much.

He was saying:

“To follow Me, means that the affections you feel for everything else, even yourself, will be like hatred in comparison to the love you have to Me.”

Are you a disciple of Christ Jesus? Have you counted the cost?

Adam

Romans 5:18-19 “Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.”

The “corruption” (2 Peter 1:4) that we inherit from our first parents, is a great evil….for it is the source of all our personal sins.

We choose our personal sins….but the internal corruption (nature of sin) came through Adam.

Adam was made in the image of God…..and God pronounced him “very good”(Genesis 1:31).

Adam was indwelt by the Holy Spirit….and fully capable, by the Holy Spirit’s enabling to discharge his responsibility to God.

God made Adam upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29)…..which means that Adam had intelligence, and purity.

His body was strong and sound.

His soul was focused on the will of God.

His spirit was enlightened by the Spirit of God.

His circumstances were wonderful…..living in a beautiful garden….where God had made him ruler, under Him (Genesis 1:26) of all things….animals included.

He had everything he needed, and wanted…..

….and there was only one thing in which God tested his faithfulness….and obedience….

…..The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

That was the only requirement from Adam….he was not to eat of it.

Therefore the test for Adam….was whether he would change his glorious life with God….

….for a life of independence from his Creator.

To do so…..(and God told him so Genesis 2:16-17)…..would be rebellion of the worst kind….

….for it would be…..trying to be like God Himself….

…..trying to throw God off His throne….and be god over himself….to choose to have, what God said he should not have.

Would he try and be independent of God…..to puff up himself….by an act of disobedience to God?

(I am asking all of these in questions…..for, as Christians, with the Holy Spirit within us….we are presented with the same questions:

Will we throw off our subjection to Christ….to choose what God says we should not have….and lose His blessing?

Will we be faithful and obedient…..or rebel against His Word and Will?

This is our life:

We have been given the Holy Spirit….and the garden of our soul’s to “dress and keep” for Him.

We have been given dominion…..under Christ….to rule ourselves in our circumstances…..to live the life of faith, which sees God first….but are we doing so…..in practical life?

Have we sought out the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…..and thought about “tasting” it’s fruit again?)

Had Adam continued to be faithful to His Creator and God….by refusing to eat of the tree of good and evil….even though Eve offered it to him….

….he would have remained as ruler in Eden….

……instead he sentenced all future generations to sin, illness, death.

He “fell”…..it is a term used for being on a high plan……and tumbling down to the very bottom….Hell.

Adam looked at the fruit in Eve’s hand…..and was not ignorant of the consequences.

God had told him death would be his reward for such willful rebellion.

Adam knew what death was…..it was the opposite of life with God….

…but he chose to be independent of God….to close His eyes to God’s Word….

….which had always been a source of comfort, and goodness to him….

…..and when he did….he sinned….and he lost the Holy Spirit….

….and his spirit became darkened.

He lost his dominion over anything….and became a scared creature hiding in the trees….grabbing anything to cover themselves from the eyes of He Who sees everything.

Spiritual death came instantly…..physical death came years later…..but Adam died everyday he remained.

Adam was prominent in the first three chapters….but after he was driven out of Eden….he was named in only three instances….

….for the birth of Cain….so like his father…a murderer….

….and for the birth of Seth….from which Christ came…

….and to tell of the years of his life….”and he died” (Genesis 5:1-5)

Adam, though he was made upright….was given a nature that could turn from God and by choice….change his glory to shame.

Adam’s sons and daughters….all of humanity….also has a choice to make:

God, or the knowledge of good and evil?

(If you thought I was going to say: heaven or hell…..not so.

Though God tells of those as the final places of residence for all of Adam’s children…….yet, God never speaks of our chose…..in those terms.

He speaks in the terms: Life or Death?

You see, we can come to Christ Jesus, and receive His life…..Eternal life:

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Or,…..we can refuse His Word, and rebel against Christ Jesus, and die:

John 3:16,18 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed int he name of the only begotten Son of God.”)

Adam existed nine hundred and thirty years….almost a millennial…..but he never really “lived” after sinning.

He was the father of all humanity….but condemned each and everyone….

…..to sin: hurt….illness….death.

Sin is a great evil…..all humanity was damned for it.

Yet Christ’s righteousness is a great blessing….for all who believe on Him are saved for it.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

What will we choose?

God’s life through Christ Jesus the Lord?

Or….

A life of existence only, without God….and death?

Are we hiding behind our Wall, because we are afraid of the next step?

Song of Solomon 2:8-9 “The voice of my beloved! Behold, He cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, He standeth behind our wall, He looketh forth at the windows, showing Himself through the lattice.”

As we go on with God, we come to many places where we are given difficult problems to overcome….some harder than others.

Some are mountains of difficulty….impossible things for us, in our own strength, to overcome….

And some hills….not impossible, but hard going.

But, these are the experiences the Lord often calls us to. Not alone,…..but with Him. That is what is set forth in these verses.

The Lord is seen as a Roe or a Young Hart….ever vigorous, and ever victorious leaping over any obstacle for us,…..calling us…on with Him.

Seen through a window, with lattice over it. We know it is the Lord, for we heard His voice…went to the window, to see Him….but He is outside, ready to go on….but we are still behind our wall.

Song of Solomon 2:10 “My Beloved spake and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

This is personal…”said unto me”. He is not calling His church, but “His love, His fair one”; His personal call to you…..to come away.

But from what are we to come away?

We are to “come away” from “our wall”; for He has come and found that we are behind a wall.

I believe that this “wall” is our spiritual experience up-to-date. It separates us from the world….but, when we continue to stay behind it, it can also separate us from going on with the Lord.

(It is wonderful to know how far we have come with Jesus; we can rejoice in what we have! But He is calling us on,…..to keep going with Him)

It is safe, here. I know I am saved….I go to church…I love the Lord.

I see those mountains up ahead…and they are too much for me.

I see those hills,…and when I think I could, maybe, go out and walk them….I worry about….what if I fall?

But Jesus calls again.

He has already shown me that He is able to surmount any of the obstacles that stand in our way…..He leaps mountains, and skips hills…..and He is asking me to do the same….in His strength, with Him.

Song of Solomon 2:11-14 “For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle(dove) is heard in our land;

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, My love, My fair one, and come away.

O My dove, that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let Me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”

The Lord shows that the winter conditions of the soul are past (I have heard His voice)…..new life is springing up (my heart is moved to answer His call)……now is the time to arise, and leave the good that I have, for the better He calls me to…..with Him.

What is this next step He is calling us to?

I know He is calling me to come out completely…to be seen as His, even in the difficult and impossible times of my life….to trust His might.

I know He is calling me to speak to Him more,…..and of Him.

Jesus calls us:

“Arise, My love, My fair one, My dove, and come away. Don’t be afraid, but come out from behind our wall,….trust Me, and come with Me.”

Let us Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace.

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not a high priest which can not be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

This is written to Christians:

As a child of the our Heavenly Father, we are to come boldly to His Throne, that we may obtain (get into our experience) mercy, and find the grace we need to help.

Mercy shows the inclination of God to relieve the misery of fallen men and women.

His Sovereign mercy is to His elect (the born again ones).

It is reserved for the heirs of Salvation, which is passed on to them through Christ Jesus, their Mediator. He appears before God the Father for us.

These Sovereign mercies, are more than the temporal mercies He gives to all men.

Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God’s temporal mercies include, as the verse says: sun, rain, ground which produces food, and companions. These are for everyone, no matter whether they are good or evil.

But for His own children; God gives mercy which transforms the heart of the individual, and enriches their lives in spiritual blessings.

Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved);”

It is mercy that quickened us to life in Christ when they were dead in sins.

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

It is mercy that saves us.

1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

His abundant mercy gives us an inheritance, which is reserved, just for us, in heaven.

2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

Unto His own children, God is the Father of Mercies.

Time would fail us, if each Christian would tell of His preserving, supplying, pardoning, and sustaining mercy to them, for we are called the “vessels of mercy”.(Romans 9:23)

God would…..if we would yield to Him…..fill us up with His great mercy. Full and overflowing.

This is the mercy God gives from His throne of grace.

And “grace to help in time of need.”

This grace is enabling grace.

Grace to do what needs to be done. And we are to come boldly to God’s throne to receive it.

We are invited to come, on the merits of our Mediator, Christ Jesus.

And invited to bring our requests for mercy and our needs,……to be supplied by grace.

When you think of the Almighty and His Power: He can do anything.

He is Creator. He created the worlds, and heaven of heavens.

As David prays: “Create in me a clean heart, O God:”. So God creates within us, by the Holy Spirit, new desires, new hopes, new goals.

He is the Sustainer. Which means He will keep us from trouble by guidance;…….and if we fall into trouble He will lead us out, and uphold us through it.

He sustains us in His Word, and by His Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”

He is the Rock on which we should build our lives.

Our circumstances change often. But His love, mercy and grace never does.

We fall,….or fail often.

But He never fails us,….let us keep coming to Him.

Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace to obtain mercy, and find grace to help us……..in this time of need.

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.