Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

The Roman’s hobnail sandals, were for their sure footing in all kinds of terrain.

They were hard on the bottom, with little spikes to grab into the earth.

They had leather straps which tied the leather leggings….so that their ankles and legs were supported, and protected.

In the Christian life, we need sure footing, if we are to walk through this world,….and all it’s situations;

….and resist the Adversary of our souls.

That solid footing is provided by the gospel of peace. The gospel of peace, is that Word from the Lord to us about our peace….

…Judicial peace because we are born again…Hallelujah

…”Peace be still” to the storm around us.

…Hold your peace, and let Me fight for you.

We stand in His Word….on His promises to us….to uphold and keep us.

(In the world we have all sorts of things….”bombarding” us.

Not just temptations….although they are there…

….but things of our common life….bills, illness, fights with family and co-workers,….all the things with cause us to worry, and become fearful.)

But there is a place of rest, and peace of mind for every Christian.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

This peace is God’s hiding place for every believer….

Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

That “secret place” is a place of covering and protection….so is His promises to us.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”

Peace “keeps” us….

For it settles our “ruffled feathers”…..it soothes our weary minds….it keeps us from sinning with our lips…..it protects us from charging after the “pie in the sky”…..

….and mostly…..importantly….it keeps us attached to God….for He is our peace….it is His arms about us.

If we do not learn how to depend upon the promises of God for peace,……than we will not have sure footing……to be able to stand against the wiles of the Adversary.

Why is it our feet? Why not our minds, or breastplate?

Because it is in our everyday life….our everyday circumstances….that we run into strife, anger (ours or others), hurt, and worry.

It is as we are walking along in the Lord’s Way, that we are attacked…..and if we do not have sure footing in God’s promises to us….then we can be thrown off balance and knocked down.

Worry, anxiety, tension, fear….meet all of these with the Gospel of peace…a promise for you from His Word.

One that you can get a hold of…and one that can get a hold of you.

The Lord wants to garrison your walk with Him….with His peace.

This is of the Holy Spirit, not something you do…..it is not your hanging on to Him….but your yielding to Him….His Word…..His promise to you.

Then He does the guarding and protecting. And He does all things well.

(My daughter, when she was just beginning High School, was in a study room that was chaos. She could not do her work for the constant noise, and antics.

The teacher that was suppose to monitor the room, just ignored the situations.

She would enter in if there things being thrown around….but mostly, the noise she would ignore.

Finally, she became so frustrated, she began to just sit there, waiting till the time was up.

I told her, that what she needed was peace……

She said, “yes, peace and quiet, so I can get my work done.”

So I told her to pray…..right before she went in….asking for peace for herself.

A few days later, she told me that the noise was not any better….

….but that, instead, she had like a barrier to it in her mind…..she could really concentrate on her studies!

And get them done.)

God’s peace comes to us….and grounds us….in Him. We feel His presence,….we know His help,….we rest in His keeping us.

This is God’s sure footing for us.

Guidance

James 3:3 “Behold, we put bits in the horses mouth, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.”

There are two ways to break a horse. Gently, over time, getting the horse to accept you, and your weight on him; till the horse and you become partners.

He is mastered, but by love.

Or severely, which makes the horse accept you and your weight—now, by wearing down it’s resistance.

He is mastered, but by force of circumstances.

How would you like to receive your guidance from the Lord?

We can be brought to the place that we are directed by the force of circumstances; which is like the bit and bridle.

We must do, because we have no choice in the matter.

But this is not what the Lord Jesus Christ would have for us.

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.”

This is gentle guidance. Remember one look from the Lord sent Peter out weeping.

The Lord would have us, all look to Him for our guidance, if we would just see Him as He is. The Creator, and Sustainer of the Universe is our Lord and Savior.

He loves us, and wants us to enter into—with Him—all the joys of service to Him.

For in Him is glorious liberty of spirit!

True freedom is freedom from the power of our sin, and self.

The bondage of…..I have to do this (which can be any addiction),

…..and the bondage of…..I want to do this (how many “things” we want: no contentment, just want).

We can be free from these, by the liberty of the Holy Spirit’s control.

The closer to God we get, the more freedom we have.

I will instruct and teach you, in the way that you shall go.

What this means, is that He will go with you in each step, showing you what to do, and helping you do it.

So often, we refuse the gentle way, for one reason or another.

We fight with Him,……even though we want what He is leading us into.

I have found that no one likes to be told what to do….and obedience is the first lesson we must learn….obedience, without knowing the way….but knowing Christ;

Obedience, without our “two cents” being added….just bowing to His Way.

We need to understand that the Lord must lead us(or we will surely go the wrong way). But how will He lead us?

Psalm 32:9 “Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee (or trample thee).”

The “something” which hinders, is our unbroken will. Like the horse, or mule; we must be broken or mastered, to be usable.

It is the method of the breaking which is spoken of here.

He wants us to yield to Him, which is what we do when we “look to Him”….

Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

For the look of faith and trust, in Christ Jesus our Lord, is yielding.

If we are looking to Him, we are looking away from other things. Choosing Him.

And when we look?

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

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,”

We need to know….

….and we need this mighty power in our everyday walk; instructing us and teaching us in the way we must go.

I want that gentle instruction of His eye.

How do you want to be guided?

Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Repentance is a wonderful gift from the Holy Spirit to us. He takes our feet from the miry clay…..from drowning in our own choices……and He sets our feet on the Rock that can not move.

He convicts us of sin (which is a great mercy, otherwise we would continue in it to our hurt)….

….and by that conviction, He works the desire within us, to leave our sin.

Repentance is a turning from our sin….we bring it out into the light before God, and confess it…..then will to turn from it, and the habit of doing it…

….turning instead, to God.

(To turn from the sin, and the turning to God,…is once for all…..

….but the battle with the Adversary, often includes the day by day refusing to yield to the temptation….and getting the grace and help from the Holy Spirit at that time….

…..till the victory is complete…for God never leaves us in sin….but His deliverance is powerful and complete.)

True repentance is sorrow over the sin……

….not sorrow for ourselves…..or for the consequences of our sin.

True repentance leads us out of sin, and into a new life of victory.

But there is the sorrow of this world….

…..a sadness for our “mistakes”.

Seeing them as “wrongs”, “faults”,……which really blames our parents, our circumstances, and God….for making us what we are.

We are here, in this mess, because of them.

And there is another sorrow of this world…..a sorrow for what might happen because of our sin….

….this is not repentance….but self-pity.

These are “sorrows of this world, which worketh death”….for they do not lead to Christ….but to despair or resentment.

Let us again state: Repentance is a choice gift from the Holy Spirit.

It is a gift….it can be received and the fruit of that, is salvation in Christ.

Or it can be rejected, and the fruit of that, is self-importance….my opinion of myself or what I want, is more important than the truth of God in my life.

An example……Simon the sorcerer:

When persecution started against the believers in Jerusalem,….many left the city,…..and went other places, preaching the gospel.

This was the beginning of…”to all the world”.

Acts 8:5-6, 12 “Then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people of one accord gave heed unto those things which Phillip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

But when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

But….

Acts 8:9, 10 “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.”

Simon was the big man of the city. He had influence, and by that influence….he had power.

The people there had thought that he had God’s power….but when the true power of God came, along with the preaching of Christ….

….then his power was shown for what it was….and many believed in the truth, and on Christ Jesus.

You might think that here was going to be the battle…

…but the battle was not outwardly….but inwardly…..in Simon.

Acts 8:13 “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Phillip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”

This sounds wonderful….and it appeared that Simon was a true believer….but was he a believer in Christ….or in the miracles?

….For you can not reach out to Christ….

….without leaving your world behind…

…that is repentance.

When we say we believe in the Lord Jesus as our Lord, and Savior……then, soon, something will come up to show that….to evidence our faith (Hebrews 11:1)

And we will choose:

Christ and His Way…..or self, (self-glory, self-esteem, self-pity,….but self, in some form).

The Apostles, Peter and John, came down to Samaria, hearing the good news that had received Christ.

They prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit,….for it had not come upon them yet.

And when Simon saw that…

Acts 8:18-19 “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

Now I would like to give Simon the benefit of the doubt…..

But this was exceedingly wicked…..

…….you can not purchase God, the Holy Spirit.

You can not put Him in your pocket and draw Him out….when you want to….like a servant to you…..no!

Simon only wanted to “use” the Holy Spirit, to make himself look powerful!

Peter, looking at Simon….got right to the heart of his problem: his heart had never been given to Christ….just to the power he had seen….

…secretly wanting it…..so he could be that important man in the city again.

Acts 8:20-21 “…..Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchase with money.

Thou hast neither part or lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”

Nothing Simon had seen….the joy of people converted, the healing of the sick, the giving of the Holy Spirit….

….had drawn him away from lust of power….for himself over others….to make him the center of their lives.

What could be done?

Simon had never repented of his true life and lust….

….so Peter tells him to do so…there was hope, if he wanted it.

Acts 8:22-23. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God that perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness (a hardness of heart) and in the bond of iniquity (the lust of sin).”

Here is real mercy…..for to repent, is to clear away the old…..by confession to God……so that when we reach out to the new…..our hands are empty.

Acts 8:24 “Then answered Simon and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

I want to tell you how sad this makes me…..

…Instead of being joyful that there was still the opportunity for repentance….

….Simon merely asks Peter to pray for him.

Not for the repentance….but that he would not suffer “these things”…..

….Oh, how much we lose when we do not repent.

Again, repentance is a choice gift from God to us…..by it, He takes our feet from the miry clay….from drowning in our own choices……and leads them to the Rock of Jesus Christ.

Are we receiving the Lord’s gift of repentance?

The Godly sorrow for a time, reaps eternal rewards, if we will have it.

A New Nature

Perhaps a explanation of what the term “nature” means, would be helpful:

Nature is the inclination of the heart and mind, and the characteristics of that creature.

As man, our nature comes from Adam, our first parent.

As born again man, our new nature comes from Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Romans 5:12 “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

When Adam sinned, death passed to his children…..spiritual death, which is separation from God, and physical death…to those of his nature: to all men.

For we are all Adam’s children, and all have his nature, or characteristics.

(Mark 7:20-23)

God in all His Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, made a way for us to be justified before God, and saved from our sins; for He loved us.

1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

That way was for God’s Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth and live a perfect life; then become obedient unto death, and pay the price for our sins; be raised the third day and make a way for our eternal life.

This He did. A way, then, was opened up for life, His life (nature) to pass on to His children, to those who have received Him.

Those who are born again.

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”

Ephesians 2:1 “And you hath He quickened (gave life) who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

The Holy Spirit, Who abides with us forever, imparts Christ’s nature to us, giving us faith.

Romans 5:18-19 “Therefore as by the offense of one judgement 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.”

We are made righteous: Think of it! Sinners made righteous, or not guilty before a Holy God!

By the merits of Jesus Christ, who sought us, and saved us from our sin!

Romans 4:7 “Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.”

But this is not all. Jesus Christ gives His new nature, His inclination and character; so that we may walk in light all our days.

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.”

We were in darkness, fear, and anger; now we are in light, and can have joy and peace.

Ephesians 5:8-9 “ For we were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”

His new nature within us gives us access to come to God as our Father, receiving all the Father has for us, as His children; through the merits of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

“Spiritual blessings in Christ”……but the wonderful thing is….that we are “in Christ”….

Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

We are in Christ, and He is in us.

In Christ we have access to all the heavenly blessings God has for us

So all that the Father has set aside for us….can be in us, and for us….here and now; because we are “in Christ Jesus” and He is in us.

His new nature within us, implanted by the Holy Spirit, gives us the graces and the power to use them that we need.

To love Him.

To grow in grace.

To know His will.

To be empowered to do His will.

To obtain the many promises He has for us.

New Life is not just receiving Heaven; but receiving His new nature and becoming all we can be, to His praise and glory.

Ephesians 1:17-20 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you….

The Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;

That ye may know what is the hope of His calling,

And what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power in us-ward who believe,….

According to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,”

He has this for us…wisdom, revelation by knowing Jesus more, understanding, hope, spiritual riches, power in us….that same power that raised Jesus from the dead….working in us….

To raise us up in our everyday struggles and trials.

Let us praise our Lord for what He has for us….and more….let us use it.

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?