Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

What things? The things that will happen before…..”the end times”. (Matthew 24:33-42)

Everyday we see these things happening.

And what are we, as Christians, told to do?

To grow sad, as though our hope was in this world….no!

But we are to “look up”……..we are to look above the circumstances and see the Lord working behind everything that He is allowing.

We are to “lift up our heads”…..we should rejoice in the scriptures being fulfilled right before our eyes….

….don’t let our head (thoughts) hang down,….but we should be praying,…

…”Even so, come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

And loving His appearing…for there is a crown of righteousness laid up for those who love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

But in order for us to “love His appearing”….we must be watching and praying….ready for His return…….not fainting under the weight of the Adversary’s attacks.

He might send darkness….but we are given Light….pray for light.

He might send hatred….but we are given joy and peace in believing….pray for that peace to fortify your heart.

We are not to faint….and Jesus gave us a parable to show us the Way we are to handle the enemies attacks….especially in our prayer life….which is so important now.

We are no one important to this world….but we are His child….and He hears us, and has already given us HIs Word for our case.

Luke 18:1 “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint:”

Here, we see plainly, that to be ready for Christ’s return:…..we must be a praying people.

Praying for His Will done….Praying for His kingdom come….within us and His church…..and on the earth….soon.

For Jesus speaks, here, of the closing days of the church age….just before He returns to Rapture the church….

….and how these times will be…….we will have enemies….those that think we are helpless and seek to ruin us…..and those that seek to take our blessings…….

…..and He says what we should be doing about them.

Luke 18:2-3 “There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.”

This was probably a Roman judge (for Jewish judges were in three’s)….so he would not care about the needs of a Jew….especially a widow…

….she was not someone important,….she was not rich…..she did not have important friends…..she was a nothing, a nobody to him….

….but she kept coming back.

This judge did not fear God, nor man….he was appointed by Rome.

So anything he would do, was on a personal level…..only for what affected him….or for his gain.

“Avenge me of my adversary”….was the widows cry….again and again. “She kept coming back”.

This is not a request for punishment for her enemy (she had an enemy which persecuted her….sought to take things from her…..so do we.)

……but this cry was for a decree issued from that judge……that would give her protection from her enemy’s injustice…..

…..and to keep him, from harming her…..like a restraining order, today.

She wanted protection…..not vengeance…..so she kept coming back, to someone who could give it to her…..

…..but he thought nothing of her….and ignored her….for a while.

Luke 18:4-5. “And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God, nor regard man

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest, by her continually coming she weary me.”

Because this widow kept crying unto this unjust judge….”I will avenge her”.

The reason? “Lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

The Greek, “she weary me”….literally means….”she give me a black eye”.

That means, that her continually coming there, might ruin his reputation…..

…..something he cared about….though he did not care about anything else.

People might get the wrong impression about him…….so he gave her that “restraining order” against her enemy…..just to be rid of her.

Luke 18:6 “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.”

Jesus says to listen,…..to really see what that unjust judge says…..

….”I will do it, just to get rid of her, for my reputation is on the line.”

See his motives….selfish, and proud….yet the widow got her request…

Luke 18:7 “And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?”

Then, Jesus said…..look to God…..cry unto God, Who loves you.

God is just….He will issue such degrees for us, against our Adversary…

…”Heavenly Father, Avenge me of my Adversary”.

Shall not the Judge of all the earth…..and our Heavenly Father….surely do right?

(Sometimes we act as if God was unjust…..in His dealings with us, and the men of the world.

They prosper,….and we just get by.

They lie and steal and cheat….and yet are not, seemingly, chastened…..but if we try and use these means….we are rebuked.

Why? Their rebuke is coming…..for all eternity, if they do not turn and repent.

But our rebukes….are for our good, that we might grow thereby.)

Yet Jesus uses this parable…..especially for these last days….because we are not to look to our enemies…..but to God in prayer.

We are not to look for “justice”, here, in the world’s system……but to God, the Judge of all the earth.

And we are to look to God, crying……”Avenge me of my Adversary”.

“Though He bear long with them”….we are not what we ought to be in this age…

His church has Him outside the door in Laodicea….this last of the church age. (Revelation 3:20)

….He is loving, rebuking, and chastening….that we might become all He has for us….to have the victory He has for us, in our circumstances…even in these days.

He is “bearing long” with us….to bring us to one day stand before His throne, hearing….”Well done, My good and faithful servant”.

We should always cry unto the Lord for such restraining decrees against our Adversary.

“Heavenly Father, avenge me of my adversary”….

…this is especially helpful in prayer….when our thoughts roam, or as we are praying we suddenly become angry, or depressed…..

“Lord, Avenge me of my Adversary”

Luke 18:8 “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”

Faith gives us victory. (1 John 5:4)

Our faith is increased as we pray, going before the throne of grace….the Father’s throne….and receiving from His hand mercy and grace, especially in the face of our adversaries.

Remember this began with:

Luke 18:1. “And He (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint;”

“Faint” means to weaken in our purpose, to languish, to give up.

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

When we pray, we ought to believe that our Heavenly Father….the Just God of all the earth…. is going to hear,….

….and keep at it until He does…..and gives us these restraining orders against our Adversary……..

…..for He will avenge us speedily.

And “speedily” means that God gives Himself to our request with all His Wisdom and Might…..He answers our cry’s.

“And when these things begin to come to pass”……do not faint….but cry to the Just Judge of all the earth….He hears…and will “avenge” us speedily.

“Heavenly Father, Avenge me of my Adversary”

Are we demanding the Lord prove Himself to us?

Jesus had been performing His ministry for about the three years….it would soon lead to the cross of our salvation.

From the first, His message was that the kingdom of God is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

What does “at hand” mean? It means that it is close enough….that if you want it, you can reach out in faith and receive it.

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

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

They “demanded”…..a term that includes anger, pride, and imagined authority.

They demanded Him to speak….to say something to them, right then……about the kingdom of God, which He was calling men to.

It was not that they wanted this information to enlighten their hearts to believe….no….for their hearts were “far” from Him.

They demanded….

….because they wanted to “see” something from Him….and if He did not do as they wanted…..and show them….a time….or a place….or a action,….then they were right in rejecting Him.

Jesus Christ did, in fact, answer them….but not as they “demanded”, but as always….in truth.

“….He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation (or with outward show):

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

Notice the word, “said”.

They had demanded…..and “He answered them”….that would have been enough…

…but it was if the Holy Spirit wanted to emphasize the peace and calm that Jesus had in the face of His adversaries….”He answered them and said”.

Not shouted….not pointed out…not anything, but “said”.

“Take My Word, or leave it…..I am the Truth, and My Word is truth….

….My kingdom is not for pomp and show,…..but for righteousness, and peace and joy.

Right now, it is at hand….if you will “behold” it….

….right now, I, the king, am within your midst…

….and My kingdom is to be set up within you….

It is a kingdom which comes in power…..in your soul and life.”

God’s glory is not something that is “flash and bang”….but it is something that changes…lives, from the heart….outward.

But this they did not want….

…they could perform the outward commandment….to the letter….

…but refused the inward love and devotion to God.

Notice, also, He said….” For behold”.

This “behold” is in the imperative sense.

In order for them to “see” the kingdom….they would have to….absolutely, have to see….the King, Jesus Christ.

But instead of “beholding” Him, or understanding the kingdom of God….they demanded He prove Himself, and His Word.

Sad…..but how many of us do the same.

My question to all of us, Christians, is…..

Are we demanding an answer from the Lord about His call to His kingdom, for ourselves?

Are we saying: Prove that you will do this for me, if I give you my heart.

Have we gotten past the bargaining table (I’ll do this, if You do that, Lord)…..to just be devoted servants of the Lord Jesus Christ?

And this is of our hearts…..and in our hearts.

The kingdom of God is:

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Righteousness is, of course, right standing with God, which comes from Christ’s righteousness…..so that we may come into His Presence.

But it is also right living….a change in our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and yes, words.

For as His righteousness is applied to us….it transforms our hearts in thanksgiving.

Peace….peace with God, yes….but also a peace with ourselves, and with others.

Though the Pharisees grieved Jesus, yet He kept speaking to them….informing them of the Way to life.

This is a peace which settles down into our whole being….a peace which walks in Christ’s steps….and leads others there, by the same example.

Joy….a truly choice and uplifting characteristic of Jesus. Joy is not in the circumstances….but in the Presence of God, in our life.

He is with us,…amazing, powerful, and encouraging….again, no matter the circumstances.

“….He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

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

This is still His message….will we receive His kingdom….within us?

And when we do…….we will have righteousness, peace, and joy.

Today!

Hebrew 3:15 “While it is said, Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation.”

All our lives comes down to ‘Today’. Tomorrow is not yet. Yesterday, with its success and failures, is done.

But today we have. Today we have the opportunity to turn to God and do His Will.

We never know what a day will bring. We should, therefore, determine which direction our lives will go, while we have today.

So today, if you will hear His Voice.

We can hear God’s voice in nature; many have seen the changing seasons and heard God speak to them:

Psalms 74:17 “…Thou hast made summer and winter.”

If the seasons change, all over the world, surely that means that the sadness of today is not permanent; but will give way to rejoicing.

We can hear God through His Word. It is His revelation of Himself and His Ways to us. The Holy Spirit will help us understand it, when we ask Him.

And we can hear His Voice to us, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit within. He is Light, and will make known to us, HIs Will.

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

Jesus said, If we really want to know His Will, we can know.

God considers our “heart” the throne of our mind, emotions and will.

So when we hear Him, we are to “soften” our hearts by yielding to His Will.

To “harden” our hearts is when, we will not to do it; for whatever reason.

Zechariah 7:9-11 “Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying, Execute true judgement, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.”

A hardened heart is not caused by circumstances, or birth;…….but a choice of will.

When Israel hardened their heart: they first refused to listen, for they did not want to be responsible.

They thought that if they had not heard, God could not require His Word to be obeyed.

They pulled away from the work of “shouldering” the burdens of prayer, faithfulness, and love.

Finally they stopped their ears,…..or filled their ears with other voices,…..so they would not have to know God’s Voice in the circumstances.

Again, God considers our heart, the throne of our mind, emotions, and will.

But He can give us “hearts of flesh”; or tender hearts, which will return the love He gives us,….back to Him.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stoney heart out of the flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:

That they may walk in My statues, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is given to us in our hearts to make alive again, and guide. He rules, and over rules, in circumstances which affect His People.

Without Him we can do nothing.

But with His Almighty energy, the most extraordinary results can be produced.

Everything depends upon His manifesting or concealing His Power.

Are we anxious to obtain His help?

Are we watching so we will not provoke Him to be silent?

Oh how much we need Him to speak to our inner man and give us courage!

The Holy Spirit is not a temporary gift; He abides with us.

He does not weary of us (Amazing Love!).

But He waits to be gracious at times, till we really see our need, and seek Him.

It is love which makes a hard heart into a softened heart, yielding to God’s Spirit.

It is God’s love given to our hearts,……and then returned to Him, by us.

In love, He speaks of “Today”, if…..you will hear His Voice.

Turn to Christ Jesus, and yield to HIs Spirit within.

Receive His love,….and return it to Him.

He wants to bless each heart given to Him,……”Today”.

Does the “city” of our hearts, have “walls”?

Proverbs 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

This verse deals with our spirits…..

….we are to reject the will of the unholy spirit,….and yield to the the Holy Spirit within.

In the days of the Old Testament, each city was built with tall walls and gates. That was their protection.

Often houses were built right into the walls, adding stability and strength.

But, any city which did not have walls….was indefensible.

Without walls a city was subject to any and all marauding bands…which could come and loot and kill.

Without the “walls” of separation from the world,…..we are indefensible against it’s influence.

This influence comes in, at times…..like a blanket thrown over our joy…..or like a flood which drowns our light….or simply like thieves which rob us of our peace.

What are our “walls”?

First, let me explain that God has very definitely commanded us, to be separate from the world.

We are to be in the world, but not of it.

Our walk is to be through this world, but…not with it.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

(The Name Lord Almighty means Sovereign….He is in charge of everything. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He has set aside all that is needed for every situation.

This name is important…..for as He called men to be Watchmen on the city walls of old…..so He watches for us…..if we separate ourselves to Him.)

Again, what are our walls?

The Holy Spirit is a wall around us:

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.”

The Holy Spirit within leads us into truth….so we will be separated from the lies of the devil and the world.

The knowledge of God’s Word is a wall…..

….what it says….the stories that are in it….for it is a guide book in our walk through this life.

The same sort of people that we are….and that we will meet with…are there,….if we will hear what He is saying to us.

(I once heard a young man saying that the Bible was out of date. That the things contained in it….did not relate to this age!

I was a child,…we were at a family gathering….with cousins and aunts and uncles that you usually do not meet often….

…..and my grandmother asked him if he had read it.

He said, no he did not need to….he knew that what Abraham or Moses did….if they did….wasn’t any use to him.

My grandmother, was a firm believer that when God, or His Word was being challenged….you should say something. She loved the Lord, and was….(to my family)…outspoken for Him.

Well, my grandmother said….”he was probably right….the Bible would do him no good….because he was too dull to hear what it said.” (Like I said, she was pretty outspoken).

But then she said, and I will not forget it.

“What God has said, is for every age. Just because we have cars, and telephones, and TV…..does not change our hearts.

We are still lonely, greedy, angry, and discouraged.

Those are the people in the Bible. And though we may not have their names…..or situations, just like them….

…..still the basic message is to us….today.

Jesus Christ came ta save every sinner…..from the first to the last….even you.”

He walked away laughing….but….he stayed away from her all that day.

Later, he joined the Navy, and years later I heard that he had wrote home to his folks to tell grandma that he had gotten saved!)

There is also the wall of Christian fellowship. It should be in a good Bible believing Church…….and is is good to cultivate Christian friends.

They often encourage us and strengthen us….in good conversation and with their prayers for us.

Prayer is a wall.

We are rarely fooled, if we are praying about everything. If we are confessing our sins….and keeping them up-to-date….

….and we are bringing the things of our lives to Him….then we are kept from the traps of the devil…..in peace, even in storms:

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Each of these “walls” are there to help us to walk through this world, knowing our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20)…..enjoying all that the Lord gives us,….without holding on to all the world would offer us.

These “walls” separate us inside…..we do not keep distance from people as though they are lepers…..

….but we do not “join in” with them, for we belong to Christ Jesus….

We are to rule our own spirit, by rejecting the will of the unholy spirit, and yielding to the Holy Spirit in all our walk, here.

In Jerusalem, the gates were opened up to trade with all who brought goods….and before sunset, these were to go out, and the gates shut. On the Sabbath, the gates were never opened, to trade.

We are to keep a firm grasp on our spirits, yielding to the Holy Spirit,….so that all the influences that we feel from the world….are shut out from entering into our hearts.

When God says “all”…..He means “all”

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Deuteronomy 11:1 “Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His charge, and His statues, and His judgements, and His commandments, alway.”

When the Bible speaks of love….it is speaking of a willed tendency and action of the heart toward something.

Love in the Bible is not just emotion….no, it is followed by action…which moves us closer to the Person loved.

We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart….we are to open our hearts to Him, and return the love He gives us. 1 John 4:19 “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

We are to love the Lord our God with all our soul, or will….willingly obeying everything He Wills for us.

We are to love the Lord our God with all our mind….thinking as He does about things…1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him.”

When we do not do “all” for God, we get hurt, and so do others.

The example I am going to use is a very Godly king,…..this is an example of denying ourselves in some things….yet not in others….to our hurt.

Jehoshaphat came to power, and “sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in His commandments,”.

He took away the “high places and most of the groves”, which were places of great wickedness, that Judah had made (1 Kings 14:22-23)….following the worship of people around them…

….”for a long season”….My people….”hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.” (2 Chronicles 15:3)

Then he sent princes, Levites, and priests out among the cities of Judah:

2 Chronicles 17:9 “And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.”

Judah was coming back to God.

Because of Jehoshaphat’s diligence and obedience, the Lord blessed him.

2 Chronicles 17:10 “And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war with Jehoshaphat.”

But Jehoshaphat had a weakness….he believed the two nations, Judah and Israel, were brothers (which they were,…yet God had separated them)…

…..and so, when he was at rest and the law was being taught….thinking everything was established in the Lord….

…..he allowed his first born son to marry the king of Israel’s daughter (2 Kings 8:18)…which was Jezebel’s daughter….

….not good.

(How did this happen? Jezebel was a schemer….seeing Jehoshaphat’s wealth and prosperity….she would have wanted to get her hands on it….or ruin it for Judah.)

This was terrible for the son, who began to follow the “ways” of Israel, which were idolatry…..instead of the way of the Lord…

Terrible for Jehoshaphat, for it turned blessing into judgement….for both himself and his kingdom.

2 Chronicles 19:2-3 “And….the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.

Nevertheless, there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.”

You see, there is never a time when we can sit down and say…..”I have done all….I have accomplished all….I do not have to be watchful for evil, any more.”

This son, that Jehoshaphat allowed to marry into Jezebel’s family, became king….and was a wicked one….turning all Judah back to idolatry.

2 Chronicles 21:5-6, 11 “Jehoram (Jehoshaphat’s son) was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.”

So much good, ruined…..because Jehoshaphat had not done “all” for the Lord.

Instead he had allowed what he thought was a good idea, to corrupt his godliness.

And that ruined the blessing God had for him, his family, and his nation.

His son was ruined,….and he, in turned ruined God’s people for years….with the wicked influence and direction, of Jezebel’s daughter.

Mark 12: 30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

When God says “all”….He means “all”.

We are to watch ourselves….”Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 21

“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.” 2 John 8

…and for others. “Jude 22-23 “And of some have compassion, making a difference:

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

If Jehoshaphat had done “all”……his son would not have married into one of the most wicked families….nor been turned to wickedness….which led to his ruin.

Let us watch….and love the Lord our God first….and with “all”.

The Just shall live by Faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

And just how do you live by faith? It is not I hope so, or I believe, I believe; but it is, I know…. Faith grounds you in God, and you know,….even if you do not know how you know.

Faith is an active, vibrant, force within….for it is always growing stronger….or it is becoming silent…..not gone, but still:

“….Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14)

Faith is a gift from God. When the Holy Spirit comes within our spirit, and we are born again,….we are given faith…..and we can know.

Faith is the eyesight of our spiritual lives.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith says,….I am….born again, my sins are forgiven.

I am…a child of a King….the Almighty God.

I am…the object of God’s love and light.

I am…standing on a Rock that can not move.

I am…a reciever of His promises.

Faith is the substance within us, that makes real the things of God, especially salvation. So as I have faith….I am to acquire virtue.

2 Peter 1:5 “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;”

Virtue is an old English word, and it means the ability as a virtuous soldier. One you could count on to do the job.

This ability is all of the Holy Spirit, within. When we are walking in faith….seeing God and His Word….being obedient,

…then the Holy Spirit is a force within us for good…..our good, for He “pushes” here or there, to say this or be quiet…..

….and the good of others, as we are lights to the world….

…then we gain knowledge. Knowledge, by experience, of what God will do for me, His child. (How much we will need that knowledge in the days ahead!)

The just shall live by faith.

Now whether we are talking about past sins, or present sins….if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.

But we must believe that we are forgiven….no, we must know that we are!

How much distress and discouragement comes from not knowing….what God plainly tells us to know…..

…..and we are definitely to know Him….in all the areas of our life.

2 Peter 1:3 “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness; through the knowledge of Him that hath called us unto glory and virtue.”

God does not say, “Here is your life’s work”….then go off and leave us to figure it out ourselves.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Ordained means that He has made full provision for us.

He does not leave us to struggle along…..

No,…He gives us faith…that substance that points to God in every aspect of our lives.

He gives us a Way,…..that is the path every Christians treads from being babes to full grown sons of God. (Different circumstances for each….same Way.)

He gives us a Word….His unchanging Word, that we may count on it.

He gives us His Holy Spirit….to guide, empower by grace, and teach us in the things of God.

Romans 8:28-29 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His Purpose.

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.”

All that are called, are called…..and conformed to the Image of His Son.

Now to be conformed to His Image, is to remain yourself,…..but you acquire the personality and character of the Lord Jesus.

How?

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.”

Everyday, in my life, Christ is lifted up or I am lifted up.

Is Christ being lifted up in my attitudes?

Is Christ being lifted up in my words?

Is Christ being lifted up in my thoughts?

Are we living our lives in faith? Faith always sees God.

It is not a Sunday faith, which praises, but does not obey the rest of the week.

It is a faith which commands me to “Look to Jesus to live”,…..everyday.

I am saved,

I am a child of the King,

I am on the Rock,

I am living by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I am receiving the promises He has given me.

This is to live by faith…..are we?

To Pray is:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing”

         Prayer is just talking to God.  It is letting Him know how things are with you…….whether by request for needs;

direction for our path…..Psalm 143:8 “Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust:  cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;  for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

and confession of sin.

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.”

 We can pour out our hearts thoughts before Him. He feels everything that we experience, and  sharing these things with Him,  is like talking to our best Friend.

Prayer is supplicating for others:  their needs, whether spiritual or material.   

And, yes,  prayer is complaining to God;   David says,  “I poured out my complaint before Him” (Psalm 142:2).

For often, as we complain, we can get a clearer seeing of the true picture of what is really going on: with us and in the situation.

Prayer is Praise.  And it is good to pray our praise;  to tell Him how wonderful we think He, and His works are.

When it says “pray without ceasing”,  it means to always have the Lord Jesus before us, so that anytime, we can send up our prayer to Him.

It also means that we are to keep praying for the requests we have made, till we receive an answer.

The Church, is to keep a prayer continually before  Him.  The dawn begins in the east,  so should the prayers of the Christians there.     And as the sun moves west,  so should the prayers of  His people begin,  till the whole earth, at every time of day and night is continuing to pray.

God loves to hear us.  His ear is not heavy.

Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save:  neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:”

He tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Prayer is an acknowledgement that we need Him.  Our dependence is shown in our prayer,  for He is our Father in Heaven (Matthew 6:9),  

He is our Friend and Lord (John 14:27),

and He is our Comforter (John 14:26).

Christ prayed often all night (Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46)…..and as the children of God, we should follow His example and come to Him with everything we do.

An excited child wants to tell the parent everything (sometimes with great detail) about what happened to them.

We, too, should stir up our affections for fellowship with Christ, and talk to Him.

For by grace are ye saved

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This is surely, the testimony of Saul, who would become Paul.

Yet he was not a man who sought out the truth….but he was an enemy….relentless in his hatred of “this Way”….who found grace from the Lord of this Way.

Saul, a self-righteous Pharisee….a man determined to seek out and destroy all who believed in Jesus of Nazareth…

…yet, his testimony was….

“Touching the righteousness of the law, blameless”.

In all things concerning his love of his religion, and his good character….his zeal for God….that God was the true God…

…he was righteous.

Yet he was fighting against God,…..and knew it not.

Saul had “made havoc of the church” (Acts 8:3), “committed them to prison”.

But their blood was not enough….”yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1)…..

….so he took his campaign of destruction to Damascus.

Till…”suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:” (Acts 9:3)

(Later, Saul/Paul would give this testimony:

1 Timothy 1:16 “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.”

Saul/Paul was really the preacher of the grace of God.

Grace is God’s uplifting and sustaining power given to sinners, through the merits of Christ. “By grace are we saved”….it is the unmerited favor of power.

Saul had made his own “light” out of his knowledge of the law, and his zeal for it….there are many instances of God as light in the scriptures….and that knowledge is light….

…but he was refusing the Light God had showed him of Jesus of Nazareth as His Son……as Lord and Christ.

….until God knocked him down by light. God made him bow….but what would he do after?

Voluntarily submit or continue in blind darkness?

(How much light do we need to see, before we acknowledge God’s Will?)

The conversation is remarkable:

Saul is on his knees, practically holding his breath,….wondering…

….and God repeats his name twice….”Saul, Saul”…showing him how hard of hearing he was…..

“Why persecutest thou Me?”

Though there is acknowledgement of a wrong (he felt it clear through him)…

……yet he did not know “Who” was judging him in His light.

“Who art Thou, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, Whom thou persecutest”…..Saul knew that name….he had caused many to blaspheme that name,…or die for it…..

…but now he is made to bow to Him….”a light above the brightness of the sun” (Acts 26:13)

In that Light, by Jesus Voice,….Saul is made to see that he had been fighting against Jesus….not just his believers.

And that he was blood-guilty…..he had sinned….and what a sinner he was! A murderer.

“It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks”. Jesus shows him the many times He had “pricked” his spirit with the light of the works of the Holy Spirit….had “pricked” his mind with the truth.

And Saul trembles (Acts 9:6)…..

…he is astonished. His mind is whirling….he should have known….he should have seen…..what has he done!

How much blood is on his hands!

What will this Jesus do to him,….

What could he do,….what could he say….he was guilty…

“Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”

Grace is God’s uplifting and sustaining power given to sinners, through the merits of Christ. “By grace are we saved”

And the great change by our salvation, is worked on our will,….

….and shows (evidences) itself in the subjection of our will to Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

He has been made to bow,…..made to see the Light….made to see himself as a sinner….

….but now grace bows his heart….”Lord, What wilt Thou have me to do?”

“Lord, what can I possible do to get this terrible blood-guiltiness forgiven? What can I do to amend my life?”

What Jesus says here is amazing….and worthy to note.

The real battle was over…..Saul, bowed to Jesus Christ, now, of his own free will.

So Christ Jesus speaks now to his servant….”Arise, Go, and it will be told you.”

“Leave your life now in My hands….My grace….My light….

….I will lead you from now on.” And Saul obeys, but is blind, needing help to get there.

Grace has been offered….and received.

For three days (number of resurrection)…..in blindness, Saul prays. He is shut up unto complete dependence upon Christ to finish what He started with him on the road to Damascus.

The Lord sends a believer to him to pray for him…..the mighty persecutor, turned brother/believer in Christ,….waiting, waiting,…for a prayer by a simple fellow believer.

(No wonder Paul’s epistles exclaim the beauty of the body of Christ….each believer in their place, doing their job….for God, and for each other.)

Saul’s sight restored…..

….the grace that saved Saul…..empowers him to immediately go into the synagogue and preaches Christ….as the Son of God.

This is a title of authority, and power. And Saul preaches Him to all who would hear of the mighty grace from God’s Son to us.

Saul / Paul’s testimony, from that time on:

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or with wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

1 Timothy 1:12-15 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath enabled me, for that He counted me worthy, putting me into the ministry;

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Saul/Paul’s dependence, from that time on,…..was not on anything, or anyone…..but Christ Jesus….”Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”(Galatians 2:20)

In Christ Jesus

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

In Christ Jesus, we have all blessings. And he wants us to have them, in our circumstances, here. (Ephesians 1:3)

He has for us: wisdom.

This is special light for those times we need it. (Light in scripture is knowledge. It is showing us what is real. God turns on the light, so to speak, so we can see the truth)

Wisdom is empowering light.

Wisdom is not only seeing things as they affect ourselves, but also, as they affect others we may be responsible for, in some way. It is special light for special times.

Proverbs 3:21-23 “My son, let them not depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.”

Christ has for us: righteousness.

This is, of course, His righteousness imparted to us; giving us a right standing before God.

He also works within us righteousness which is obedience to His Will. This is good protection in this world, against the tricks of the devil.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect (living up to the light that he has been given in the Word), throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Christ has for us: sanctification.

This is when we set ourselves aside to God in thought, word, and deed, for sacred use, in our everyday living.

We deny ourselves, and yield to the Holy Spirit within us, and be obedient.

Jude 1 “Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

1 Corinthians 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified by Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace unto you, and peace be multiplied.”

All the Godhead is at work in our sanctification.

The Father chose it for us.

The Son, through His merits, won it for us.

And the Holy Spirit works it within us, everyday. It is His power within us to enable us to work it out.

Christ has for us: redemption.

This is a wonderfully complete word. For it means…”completely brought out from, by the ransomed price being paid.” (Hallelujah! What a Savior we have.)

It speaks of now,…..for we are His purchased possession;……never to have to be in bondage to anything or anyone, again.

Colossians 1:14 “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

1 Peter 1:18-19 “For as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by your tradition by your fathers;

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

And He works His redemption within us, being faithful to us.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.”

(Blameless is an interesting word: it does not mean sinless…..nor does it only mean, that the sins we commit are forgiven by Him….they all are.

But it means that the sins we commit were not “meant to”.

Did we mean to lie? Then the sin, and it’s consequences are blameworthy. We did, what we knew should not be done….but we did it; putting our interests first.

But God brings us to the point in our lives, where we do not sin, willfully.

Yes, we will always sin….either in error, or speaking out of turn [Colossians 4:6], or anger [Ephesians 4:26]….but these are trips, not denying self,….and not willful sin against our loving Lord.)

This redemption speaks, also, of the coming transformation of our spirit, soul, and body, to heaven forever.

1 Corinthians 15:42-43 “So also is the resurrection from the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption:

It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power:”

In Christ Jesus, we have, and will have, all these things.

Are we getting them into us?

The Woman at the Well

John 4:3-4, 6-7 “He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. For he must needs go through Samaria.

Now Jacobs’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”

Why is the woman at the well important?

1. the Salvation of every person is important.

2. She became a light which brought her city to Christ, though she was an adulteress.

3. Because Jesus lets us know that it is not in a place, or because you are a particular people….but He tells that anyone must worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Jesus is passing through Samaria, and was tired, hungry and thirsty. His disciples went into the city to buy some food. And Jesus sat on the well, waiting.

She had come to the well when no one was around, because of what she was; and yet wanted the truth of God’s Word…..even though she was, what she was.

(I am stressing this, because we all begin our journey with the Lord the same way: We are sinners. Maybe we have never done what she did, but sin places us on the same plain….on the way to death.)

“Why do you a Jew ask a drink of me, a Samaritan?” (John 4:9)

It seemed a good question, for the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans,….thinking them defiled.

(The Samaritans were the descendants of the inter marriages of Hebrew and the other nations. Ezra 9:1-2,12)

But Jesus came to save all those who would believe and receive His life.

So, instead of pressing His right to a drink again;…….Jesus speaks to her about “living water”.

John 4:10, 13-14 “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knowest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosever drinkers of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall grave him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Her reply was very practical: “Give me that water so I won’t have to come and draw from this well.”

So Jesus brings her a step further toward real life, by dealing with her real problem: “Go get your husband.”

Would she tell the truth?

She replied, “I have no husband”.

John 4:17-18 “….Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said I have no husband:

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”

What would she do now? Run away? Spit on Him? Throw water on Him?

But instead she considered the truth,…….instead of her feelings,….and spoke to this man of something which was on her heart: worship,….for she knew He was a prophet.

She wanted to know, what was right, in God sight.

This is amazing…..she was being shown for what she was….yet…she is drawn out of herself….because she sees He is a prophet (she still does not see Who He is as Lord and Savior)….but she is being drawn toward more of the truth…

Let me say, that Jesus does this within us….He draws us out of ourselves….our circumstances….toward Him.

“Were they right to worship in this mountain, as their fathers did? Or were the Jews right in saying Jerusalem was the only place to worship God?”

Odd conversation for a woman who had been looking for satisfaction in sexual and romantic emotions.

John 4:21-22 “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship;…

…But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:….

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Right here, could have been a problem; if she did not really want the truth.

(Maybe this was what she had been searching for in those five husbands she’d had.

But to want the truth,….generally, and to face the truth for yourself, is two different things.)

Yet, here again, she does not back away from getting the truth,……of getting that living water;……even when it came to what He would say about herself.

John 4:25-26 “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will teach us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speaketh unto thee am He.”

Jesus had revealed Himself to very few people; but to this woman who wanted the truth, He did.

This shows us the great value the Lord Jesus puts on truth,….and those that seek it.

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

When truth is faced, grace is always given….no matter what our background)

This woman was afraid of people….and how they treated her….

Because of that she had come to the well at this time…..and met Jesus.

But hearing the Truth, and the Messiah……sent her into that same town, to tell all that she would meet, about Christ Jesus.

John 4:29 “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

By her witness, many came to believe on Jesus, too:

John 4:39-42 “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified , He told me all that ever I did.

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

And many more believed because of his own word.

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

What of us? How much do we value the truth, especially for ourselves?

Have we hidden lives we do not want to admit to?

Or are we believing in a doctrine, and that is enough?

The truth is that everyone who comes to Jesus can find the water of life……

……real satisfaction…..and know for themselves that He is Lord and Savior, for themselves….and show Him to others.