The Voice of God

The Voice of God in the Hebrew…means anything you can hear that leads you to Him.

In the south, after the Civil War, an Evangelist was having a street meeting, when across the street….at a saloon….some men were standing, drinking, laughing at the people gathered [and especially the preacher].

When the preacher got to the verse:

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

Then one of the men….shouted over…..”Hey, preacher! You really believe that? You really believe that…I…that I could know the Lord..?”

The preacher stared at the men….and then looked right at the man that asked…..”Yes, son, I do.”

“How?” Came the reply….

“Just as the verse says….

Do you believe that the sun will come up tomorrow?

Well, believe God’s Word the way you believe in the sun tomorrow……come to Him, and ask to know Him….then follow what He has said to you in HIs Word.”

“What has God said to me?” The man asked, laughing.

The preacher said, “let me tell you”….and he opened his Bible and preached Jesus Christ….and salvation by Him…..telling this man what the Bible says….to him, and to all of us.

That man was saved….and went on to be a preacher in the south himself!

God’s Voice can come to us through the Word, or anything…..if it leads us to Him.

In the dark ages (1600’s) a mercenary soldier, who has killed and spoiled….turns and sees a tree stripped of it’s leaves….and meets God.

Desolation was at every turn, yet at that look,….God spoke to him.

Leaves come….and go….and yet at the appointed time (no matter what is around them)….they come again, at God’s bidding.

He could not get around it….he turns his life over to God…..he goes….and becomes a monk…Brother Lawrence….and over the years there, writes a book,…”Practicing the Presence of God.”

Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

When Noah came out of the Ark, and built an altar….

(It is always a good thing for us to do, when we are leaving one thing behind and going on to the next….

…to place ourselves on the altar….to commit our way unto the Lord…to give Him all we are and have…that the next steps might be to HIs glory….and blessing.)

When Noah built that altar….God was pleased….and promised that He would never again destroy the earth with flood.

He gave the sign of a rainbow….one of the most beautiful and amazing things….”a bow in the cloud”….

….and then God established His timeline for the earth….and His Purpose.

God would keep this old earth…..(He had merely covered it with water for a little over a year…to cleanse it)….till His Purpose would be fulfilled…..many hundreds of years latter….

….fulfilled in Christ Jesus His Son…..the great sacrifice that can cleanse our hearts from sin.

For that is the Purpose of God….to call out and save a people for the Kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:13)

….then He showed the way we can know when time is growing short for this earth….and us again: the seasons.

Romans 8:22 “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together unto now.”

Sin has marred all of creation….not just man. Even the earth feels the effects of the sin upon it. But God has plans for us…..and for this earth.

The seasons will begin to change….slightly at first….then more so as the time comes on. And when these changes begin….the earth itself will “speak” to us….if we will hear….

….”Jesus Christ is coming again, prepare to meet your Maker”.

Psalms 19:1-3 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”

There is the Voice of God in nature….showing the grandeur, the wonderful glory of our God.

And the Voice of God in time…..it keeps ticking….I grow older while I sit still or if I move around…..

…..today turns into tomorrow…..which turns into next week…and so on.

Nothing stays the same….all is aging….and decaying.

And this Voice of God is sent everywhere….not just with Christians….but in every nation….among every people….

….the Earth continues and yet, changes….will they “hear” it?

Time continues….I, you, the earth itself, grows older still….do we recognize our “end”?

Psalms 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.”

Proverbs 1:20-21, 23 “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying

Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My Words unto you.”

We must turn from the world,…it’s views, it’s opinions….to hear His reproof….His correction…

……and then, He will give us His Spirit in new measure!

There was a sad time in my life that I was wandering about searching for a “happiness”.

(I was young, and I thought that I could ignore God’s plan for me….

…how we need to instill in our children the love of God….and the Kingship of God!)

Now I want to say that the Lord wants us happy….happy in Him….but what I was searching for was not real.

I smiled a lot. I told terrible jokes. I tried to hang around the “cool kids”….but….

….I had “put aside” the Word of the Lord to me….in how I was to be…for I belonged to Him….

….looking for “happiness” instead.

The Lord sent someone to our Church, to awaken me to my attitudes and actions (Praise God)….and I got back into the Way.

It was not easy….

…..for it is never easy to “re-do” your steps, and leave some “friends”…..

……but I realized….even for all I had to do….it was easier than keeping up the act.

Instead of phony”happiness”…..God gave me forgiveness, peace, and joy.

What are you looking for?

We must understand just Who it is that is speaking to us.

It is as we go along with the Lord, that we leave the better that we have…..for the best that He has for us.

In the Song of Solomon, the believing maiden has come to a place of rest in the Lord…..she has come out of the wilderness…and gone on…growing in grace.

But, in this rest,…..she has stayed….thinking that this is the fulfillment of this onward call.

Till she hears the Lord’s voice “waking” her.

(Had she gone from resting to sleeping? How easy it is, when things seem right, to trust in what we have, rather than continue to seek where we should go.)

Song of Solomon 5:2 “I sleep but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My undefiled: for My head is filled with dew and My locks with the drops of the night.”

Here, the Lord comes to wake her. But look at what He calls her:

My sister—recognizing her belief in Him.

My love—showing His heart to her.

My dove—recognizing that she has come to look and rely on Him only.

My undefiled—showing that He sees her separation from the world.

All these are good….

But the Lord knocks for what is next….but she is sleeping.

He calls….open to Me….

And then shows her the next step….prayer and intercession for His Will done in His people…..the intercession that requires “waking early”…..and continuing late…that requires effort.

It was a call to be always ready to pray for, and do His Work, for others.

Her reply?

Song of Solomon 5:3 “I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?”

Basically, she was saying…..”I have come out from the world, now you want me to deal with it?”

But she knows the answer even when she asks…..if she is separated to Him, she can be in the world….but not of it.

So she rises….but He has gone on…..must He do the work without her? Does she love her “rest” more than His Presence?

Song of Solomon 5:6 “I opened to my Beloved; but my Beloved had withdrawn Himself and was gone: my soul failed when He spake: I called Him, but He gave me no answer.”

I called Him but He gave me no answer….

That is because she was seeking Him….in the confines of her own particular thoughts….of how He would call.

She wanted Him to come to her, again…….instead of her seeking Him.

I will tell you plainly, that sometimes we can call and the Lord is Present…..and sometimes….He will wait to be gracious….

….it is to instill within us a constant desire for Him….and not His gifts.

Yet the call to this maiden,…..and to all of us,….

…..is an ever onward call to “come away”…..”open to Me”…..”come, let us go”.

Are you hearing the Voice of God to you?

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

In this lukewarm Laodicean Church age…..the call is to “hear My Voice”….”open to Me”….and “sup (fellowship) with Me”.

Are we? Will we hear Him, and give Him a life open to and receptive to Him?

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear…

Matthew 13:9 “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus had just told the parable of the sower, and the four kinds of ground: wayside, stony places, among thorns, and the good ground.

Then His disciples ask: Why do you speak to them in parables?

(We must remember Jesus has preached plainly to the crowds: Matthew 5-7 is the Sermon on the Mt.; and there He speaks very plainly what they should do)

So Jesus explains:

Matthew 13:12-13 “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I unto them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”

Basically He said: exposition must have application.

When they come and hear, do they want to know what it means for them?

Or are they happy just to hear a story and go away, untouched by the meaning of My Words?

“For whosoever hath”. The crowds had been following Him, and listening.

But to truly follow Him as Christ, they would have to want to understand for themselves what He was demanding of them. What the parables meant where they were concerned.

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Did they really hear that? Then, what should they do,…….to have it?

Just follow along…..thinking everything was alright, because they listened to Him?

No,…..for to enter a kingdom…..you must submit to the King!

But to those who are His disciples, He said:

Matthew 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears for they hear.”

How?

His disciples had taken the first step and obeyed His call to them,……..whether from fishing boats, or tax collector booths…they came after Him (and that is always the first step: to leave the old life and come after Him)

Matthew 13:36 “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house; and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.”

They did not always understand at first, what the parables meant. But they wanted to know what these things really meant, and because they did, Jesus explained it to them.

That is the difference in hearing, and having hearing ears. The first one hears the words….they are lovely, and probably from God.

The hearing ears comes after for the understanding they need, to know and have what Jesus says for themselves.

When we have a Bible truth in reality; we have it in our everyday experience.

Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one (that was Adam, by his sin);

Much more they that receive abundance of grace

And of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:17 (Williams version) “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through that one (Adam, by his sin);

To a much greater degree will those who continue to receive the overflow of His unmerited favor, and His gift of right standing with Himself; reign in real life, through One, Jesus Christ.”

I like the Williams version because it explains: “receive abundance of grace”.

Jesus says in John 10:10 “…I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Abundant life comes as we continue to receive the overflow of His life and grace. He gives them to us: drop by drop;….or showers of grace.

There are graces we need to just “get through”.

But peace under trial; joy in pain; strength in sickness; perseverance in times of distress; etc.

These are all abundant graces which we can receive from Him…His overflow of power to us by His Holy Spirit in us.

Him flowing through us: in us (it is always in us first), and by us.

So we can reign (that’s right, we can rule our spirits in the situation: what ever it is).

And we can reign in “real” life….our real life!

Yes, the real life we live…not the one we would like to live; or the one we read someone else lived; but our life: all the people, jobs, troubles, griefs, and happiness…our life.

If we continue to receive His abundant grace: His overflow….for He has enough and to spare of grace (the unmerited favor of power)…for us all….

Isaiah’s Call

Isaiah 6:1-2 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings, with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”

This was some sight! But it was not Isaiah’s call.

Isaiah was, most believe, a nephew of king Uzziah. He was often at court, and prophesied during the reign of four kings.

The royal family was allowed to go into the Holy Place, although they could not officiate at the golden altar.

(Isaiah writes of Christ Jesus as a suffering Savior, as well as the exalted Lord; and is quoted more often than any other prophet, in the New Testament.

He preached about a hundred years before Judah was taken into captivity for their sins;…….although he preached that it would happen, if they would not change their ways, and do as the Lord commanded them.)

Before this vision of God, Isaiah had preached against the sins of Judah.

Though they had the Temple and they were still performing the outward duties…some with great show (Isaiah 1:11-13);

…..yet it was just that…an elaborate show. (“The multitude of your sacrifices”)

The Lord had spoken to him about all of this. God wanted the people to do what the law set forth:

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings….Learn to do well; relieve the oppressed,…

(And the most important…) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:…” (Isaiah 1:16-18)

Isaiah saw the people ruined by twisting the Word of God.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness….that are wise in their own eyes,…that are mighty to drink wine,…which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!….

….because the have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 5:20-24)

Yet, Isaiah had not much success in his preaching. Some believe he was dejected by the indifference to God’s message.

(And perhaps there are some who are saddened by the lack of seeming success in their ministry….go to God, talk to Him about it, honestly….and let Him speak to you.)

Going into the temple, he sees the Lord, high and lifted up on a throne.

(This is actually a vision of Christ Jesus on the throne, as John 12:41 tells us)

He saw the seraphims, in their proper place of reverence….and he heard their cry:

Isaiah 6:3-4 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”

You might think that he would have been rejoicing to see such a vision.

But…

When this happens, Isaiah,….a spiritual man….one which wanted to honor the Lord….

…gets a good look at his own heart.

Perhaps, Isaiah saw that he too, was not without selfishness or pride….

And he cries, “Woe is me! For I am undone;”.

“I have been brought to silence….before our Holy God.

All my words, which I spoke…which were right and good…nevertheless they have brought me into judgement. I am guilty, for I am not worthy to speak for the Lord.”

And the reason he knows this? Because Isaiah was spiritual. “For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

All he has done……is nothing in front of such a King!

He saw the Lord upon a throne—a throne of glory: think of the light that was shown Isaiah….

……before which Isaiah bowed his heart.

A throne of government: kings come and go,…….but The Lord is always in charge.

A throne of grace: And Isaiah is about to find that out (remember this is the Lord Jesus, Isaiah is seeing).

Isaiah 6:6-7 “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touch thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.”

( It was said of Jesus, Matthew 3:11 “…He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”)

Depressed and discouraged, Isaiah came to the Temple, and met The Lord….and repented of his own sins.

(This is what the Lord Jesus requires of all of us…..repentance and faith…for ourselves. Getting right with God ourselves….then giving His Word…faithfully.)

He had heard God’s message to Israel,……and spoke it faithfully.

But now…under convictions from his own sins….

…..he is given the opportunity to know the Lord of Glory’s mercy and grace….for himself.

And then is empowered by that grace….to show this for his people.

Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Here is the call of Isaiah. “Who will go for us?”

And he answers. “Here, I give You myself; do as You will;…..send me.”

Then, and only then, the Lord gives Isaiah the general message of his preaching. There might be specifics which would be added, but the general message was:

Isaiah 6:9-10 “And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see indeed, but perceive not.

And make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and convert, and be healed.”

The Lord warned Isaiah what would happen when he spoke to them…..

As Isaiah would tell the people what God said,…….their eyes would glaze over,…….their ears would feel like they were going drop off,

…..their minds would quote the promises God has given…..

…..but refuse His threatenings….

The people would refuse the message, and be hardened in heart.

And if they chose this, God would let them be blind. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

(It was a picture of what happened when the Lord of Glory came to earth as man. Matt 13:14-15, Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10, John 12:38-41)

How sad that we forget that God is as faithful to His threatenings, as He is His promises.

Isaiah 6:11 “Then said I, Lord, how long?…”.

“How long will Your message be rejected before You act?”

In fact Isaiah was to die before it happened. For over fifty years he was to preach and prophesy tirelessly to Judah.

Most believe that Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, had him killed because of his preaching against the wickedness and idolatry that Manasseh set up.

He had seen the King, the Lord of Glory, high and lifted up,….

…..yet spoke of Him in His most humble state (Isaiah 53), in poetic beauty.

He was the one to tell of the Lord being born of a virgin.

He followed the Lord’s calling to the end; and manifested Christ’s coming again and again….both in humility, and in power.

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called….

Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.”

Isaiah 40:10, 25, 28 “Behold, the Lord will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His Work before Him.

To whom then will ye liken Me, or I shall I be equal? Saith the Holy One.

Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.”

Yet he also spoke a word to the remnant of true believers; encouraging them in to hang on and obey their God.

Isaiah 41:9-10 “Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art My servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

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

This has been a long message, and how many of us would say, “If only we could hear the Lord, as he did….then I could do anything for the Lord…”

But He is the King, the Lord of Glory…High and lifted up.

He is speaking today, not in the same way as He did to Isaiah….

…but He is still calling, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”

If you have heard His call? What is your answer?

He has a message for me, He has one for you….but are we hearing it?

God’s Substitution

1 Corinthians 5:21 “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

The substitution taught in the New Testament is two-fold.

He has made Christ Jesus to be sin for us, though He knew no sin.

He was holy in His divine Person; and He was holy and perfect in His humanity as the Man Christ Jesus.

But when He became the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice, on the cross; He took all the sin of His people onto Himself.

And because of His Holy Person, He paid the penalty for that sin.

It was completely wiped out.

Because of this, He was raised again and set at the right hand of the Father, with the new administration of power.

As our Mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5)

“That”, here is the reason Christ Jesus did this:

“That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Notice, it is “made” in both substitutions.

God “made”. It means “to establish, or make strong”.

He strengthened Christ to finish the work, by the blessed Holy Spirit, which He poured upon Him, without measure.

He strengthens us to do righteousness by the same Holy Spirit, which He gives us according to the measure we are emptied of self.

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

We find our Christ-life, as we lose our self-life, by denying ourselves.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit to the degree we are emptied of self.

And as we deny ourselves, pick up the cross of His will, willingly (for it is “if any man will”), then we are emptied of our self-life, and given more power by His Spirit.

The substitution in us is: Christ is formed in me. We are “made” into His character here. (We are not divine; never.)

But we can do righteousness, as representatives of our Lord, by His character formed in us.

HIs goodness, gentleness, forgiveness, peace, and love.

But, as He showed me (about me); I need to get out of the way, by denying myself.

So the Holy Spirit can work through me:

In words….

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer everyone.”

In actions…

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

In attitude….

Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be thankful.”

The substitution taught in the New Testament is two-fold: Christ became sin for me,

That…I may be made the righteousness of God in Christ.

Pillars of Smoke

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

Here, the believers back is turned to the world….coming out of the wilderness.

It is “cometh”…..a determined choice…..Leaving all of the wandering around in the wilderness of this world….behind.

But how is the believer traveling?

Like pillars of smoke.

Smoke is such weak stuff…a puff of air moves it here and there.

But here it is seen as a pillar….steady and strong.

This is a picture of the Holy Spirit filling us (who are weak in ourselves) which makes us strong in the Lord.

If there is smoke….then there is, or has been, fire….that is what makes the smoke.

In this pillar of smoke we see,….

…..all that speaks of “self”, “the old man”, or “the flesh” is being burnt up by our self-denial….

…..and then God is empowering us by His Holy Spirit to do.

We are filled with the Spirit of God, to the degree we are emptied of self.

(The Holy Spirit is often pictured as “fire”….which purifies, and cleanses.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit” or don’t put out the fire.)

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Joel 2:29-30 “And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.

And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”

When God poured out His Spirit on the church on the day of Pentecost,……He opened a way for us…..who are so weak in ourselves….to be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).

This “strengthened with might” is of course to have Christ’s life and character flowing through me….into the circumstances I am in, now….everyday.

The truest expression of His Will and influence is, of course, in me.

There His Will will be done most perfectly…..then as we do His Will the Holy Spirit’s influence is felt through us…..

….not that we make others do His Will, but because we are yielded to the Holy Spirit, and His power is flowing through us….we are strong as pillars of smoke.

The greatest duty in our lives today, as Christians, is to stand true to Jesus Christ….and we will never be able to stand….until we take our place in subjection to His Kingdom come.

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

Myrrh speaks of death….we are to die to self, by denying ourselves in every area of our lives (Matthew 16:24)…..and following the leading of the Lord, by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:11-13 “Likewise reckon also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lust thereof.

Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments unto righteousness unto God.”

(What is our self life? Self-righteousness, self-pity, self-glory, etc. all are centered around us….our thoughts….our feelings….our hurts….our plans, etc.

What about God’s thoughts,….God’s plans,…..God’s Will?

We are often unaware of the narrowness of self….till God shows us…and calls us to enter into the fullness of His life….and it is so full.

He can see beyond today….this pain, this heart-break, this success, even….and bring us into what He has planned for us……with Him in it all.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit…He needs a vessel prepared for His filling….

We need to be emptied of the fullness of ourselves.

The Holy Spirit helps us here….we are to yield to Him.)

As Myrrh speaks of death…..it must be, for we must “die” to our self-life…..but God never leaves us there….

So Frankincense speaks of the Lord in His risen and triumphant life….the life He has for us….a life of victory….in Him, by His Holy Spirit.

And surely we can not have all Christ has for us (Ephesians 1:3)…. without the enlargement by His Spirit.

(When I say enlargement by His Spirit….think of how ‘small’ our lives are…

….they include ourselves, our family, our “world” of ideas and attitudes.

Yes, the internet has increased our viewpoint……but it has not enlarged our hearts and minds to see the reality in our world……only God, by the Holy Spirit, can give this enlargement of being.

And even more….we are to be enlarged in our attitude toward our circumstances…

….we are to look at them the way God sees them…..pretty hard, considering the narrow span of my experiences.

But God sees everything…..and everyone. He is never fooled by outward things….and as we yield to Him….He shows us the grand view of things….the way He sees.

Remember, He wants us to be pillars of smoke….strong in Him….coming out of the wilderness of this world…..into more and more intimate fellowship with Him….in our circumstances.)

Our lives are to…..increase in the knowledge of Christ, increase in goodness (Ephesians 4:32), increase in the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), increase in usefulness to God (2 Peter 1:5-8)…..we are to continue to grow in His grace as long as we are here.

Ephesians 3:19 “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

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

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

And all powders of the Merchant….Christ is this Merchant….Who sells without price….

…who does that?

Only Christ, Who paid all the price that we might come….

….and eat at His table….and drink the “water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

Isaiah 55:1-2 “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness (in fullness of Spirit).”

Are we coming out of our wilderness of this world?

Are we denying ourself, so that we might be filled with the Holy Spirit?

His promise is that He will make us Pillars of Smoke by His Spirit…..are we yielding?

Psalm 136: A psalm of praise for the Lord’s Mercy

Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.”

In this Psalm, every verse ends with the phrase, “for His mercy endureth forever”.

“Endureth” means that it is established and stands fast. God’s mercy for us has been established in eternity past….and will stand fast….immovable for us throughout eternity future.

He is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, Who alone does great wonders.

Whose wisdom made the heavens, stretched out the earth above the waters.

Who made the sun to rule by day, and the moon and stars to rule by night.

Who redeemed Israel from Egypt,…protecting under Blood, their firstborn; while slaying the firstborn of Egypt.

Who brought them through, dry shod, the Red Sea.

Yet slew Pharaoh’s army when they followed, bringing the same Sea to drown them.

Who lead them through the wilderness, bringing them into the Promised land.

All these things are the marvelous works He has done….

….but then,…. the personal memory of God for “us”….the personal pronoun.

Who remembered, and remembers “us” now (for it is in a continuing sense)…..and here it takes a personal turn.

And “hath redeemed us”….

Psalm 136:23-24 “Who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endureth forever:

And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for His mercy endureth forever.”

It is good to see and acknowledge…to praise and extoll God for Who He is, and what He has done.

But it is better to know God’s mercy personally……that He remembers me, or us. And redeems us.

How often we are in need of His mercy.

Mercy is God’s kindness to sinners.

There is temporal mercy: He sends the rain on the just and unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

And there is Spiritual mercy, which is only found in Christ Jesus, for ”us”.

This redemption is personal Salvation, guidance, and victory.

Let us acknowledge Who God is, and praise Him for it.

But let us make sure we have a personal interest in Christ Jesus, that He is our Redeemer.

We are ever in His memory…ever before His eyes.

2 Timothy 1:9-10 “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”

This seal of mercy is set on all the circumstances, people, and paths that comes to “us”: “His mercy endureth forever.”

His mercy reaches us where we are.

His mercy leads us out of bondage.

His mercy delivers us and gives us the promises.

His mercy remembers us, and in Christ Jesus, our Lord, brings us before His throne to get what we need.

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.”

How much He has for us, if we will but come to Him and get it, and then with the help of the Holy Spirit within, use it.

He humbled Himself

Psalm 128:1 “Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways.”

1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.”

Jesus was the greatest teacher of how to humble ourselves.

(God calls us to “Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God”

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the High and Holy One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”)

Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

When He came to earth….He humbled Himself….it was not a change of identity, but of fashion or form……..His deity was covered, for He was a “root out of a dry ground…He had no form nor comeliness….that we should desire Him.” (Isaiah 53:2)

He took on humanity. Christ emptied Christ…for God would exalt Him.

He came to earth as a babe….not a full grown man….but a babe who was humanly helpless….and always at risk.

And so it went on….by His permitting the world to first question His Person,….then become angry at His Person,….then reject His Person,….then spit upon His Person,….and finally crucify Him.

He submitted to the Father’s Will in everything….calling all “who will hear, to hear and believe Him”…..

The One who fed five thousand with two loves and five fishes……sat by a well, hungry, and waiting for His disciples to bring Him food.

The One who could walk on water….yet, who walked (not rode in grand style) all around Galilee and Judea, saying, “the kingdom of God is at hand”.

The One who spoke in the beginning, and their was light….who shone HIs light into the darkness of the sin of this world…..

……yet gave Israel the choice of receiving or rejection His light.

He humbled Himself….at His Father’s Will…

We see Him weary, and sad…..at the unmerciful actions of the people He had given His laws to….even when some needed to be healed. (Luke 13:15-17)

We see Him stripped of clothes and put naked upon a cross…..because the people wanted Him gone….dead….buried.

And even on the cross….He did not stop the degradation and shame…..

…..for He took every sin, every iniquity, every blasphemous thought and action onto Himself….

…He let all think the worst…..pouring out His blood and life…

…that we might be saved.

(I also want to mention here, He did not just humble Himself in outward circumstances…..but in attitude and word…

He spoke the truth….rebuking gently those that should have known and wanted to know….

…..and rebuking those sharply who should have known…..yet did not want to really know.

Yet He never defended Himself….only His actions, as they were the Will of His Father.

He never hid Who He was….but let each treat Him as they would….

….going through their midst….as the Son of God/the Son of Man….

….just doing the Will of Him Who sent Him. And we are called to do the same.)

It was not just a choice He made in eternity past….to come and save us.

But it was a willed choice everyday He spent in this wicked world……among such ingratitude and plotting….

….that we might be saved from it.

Yet God exalted Him: He arose from the grave…..was given “all authority and power” over the church, the world, the devil, and death for us.

(He had all this before….without us. Now He has all this….with us. And He thought we were worth humbling Himself to acquire us! Hebrews 12:2)

He humbled Himself…..letting every dignity be stripped away…till He was naked on that cross….

…that we might be clothed with His righteousness….

…..and given the true honor of humbling ourselves for His Will.

Luke 14:11 “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be ashamed, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

This is a rule of God…..for His own.

To exalt yourself…..is to end up ashamed before HIs throne.

To humble yourself….will allow God to exalt you, here and there.

James 4:6, 10 “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

1 Peter 5:5-6 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:”

Twice it is mentioned that grace is given those that humble themselves.

Grace is the unmerited favor of power. It is given from God through His Holy Spirit to us everyday.

But how are we to humble ourselves…..

…..just as He did….allowing Him and circumstances to strip away all that does not serve God’s Purpose for us.

He might strip away the garment we put on, “to look good”.

He might strip away by circumstances, the garment of pride in ability.

He might strip away the way we are different….to different people.

One way to our friends…another to our family…another to our acquaintances…..

….being different persons….instead of just His obedient servants…..everywhere.

We are to yield….letting the process show us….us. And then we are to give ourselves to the Lord.

(Humble yourself…..

….it is opposite of what the world teaches….but God requires it.

The world would have you get all you can for yourself…..but that disregards and disobeys God’s two great commandments:

Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul…..and your neighbor as yourself.)

Christ Jesus humbled Himself…..

Philippians 2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

He calls us to humble ourselves….and let Him exalt us!

In the beginning….God

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

Here we meet our Creator…The Trinity…..He was in eternity past….dwelling alone,…complete….

Yet He purposed to create: angels and the universe…and He began the creation by a Covenant:

A covenant is a binding agreement made by two or more persons or parties, where one is promised some particular reward….under obligation to the other of fulfilling some particular thing.

God’s Covenant is called the Everlasting Covenant…..for it was to concern all of creation, eternally.

God the Father agreed to draw to Christ, a people down through the ages……a people to love, serve and honor Him,…

….if Christ would become the Man, Christ Jesus, born, raised, sent forth with a message concerning His kingdom, and to die as the Lamb of God, a sacrifice to atone for the sins of these people….and raised the third day.

….and the Holy Spirit agreed to come and be with these people, forever.

(I stress this covenant a lot, because it is the sole reason for God’s dealing with mankind in mercy, after the fall.

God Purposed……an amazing statement….

….therefore He will have His Savior come….even though Israel, which was to be the nation by whom Christ came, failed.

….therefore the gospel will be preached throughout the whole world as a witness for those who are saved….and as a witness against those who refuse Christ.

….therefore He will, in mercy, send HIs Holy Spirit to dwell with us…and teach us His Way.

….therefore all that He Purposed will come to pass….up to, and including the Everlasting Kingdom of God….eternity.)

All that are ever saved were thought of in the Everlasting Covenant…..saw there and provided for….for time……and eternity.

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

In the beginning God….Purposed His Will and Way for His creation….and “God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)

Ephesians 1:9-12 “Having made known unto us the mystery of His Will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:

That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.

In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the Purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own Will:

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

In the now,…..God is calling out this people by the Word (written, and preached, spoken by witness of life) and by His Holy Spirit….

….to be His people….subjects of His kingdom….sheep of His pasture.

1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praise of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

HIs call is still going forth….to all who will.

One day….in the future….all will be silent. There will be no excuses…all will be shown to be as God said it would….

Romans 3:19 “Now we know that what so things soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

Before the Judgement Seat of Christ….the born again ones will be judged according to “what sort”(1 Corinthians 3:13-15) of works we have done……

…..whether works of obedience out of love for Christ Jesus……or works we simply thought good.

Before the White Throne Judgement….the lost, down through the centuries will be brought before His Throne….made to bow before Jesus, Whom they could have received….and then judged by the works they have done….then sent into the Lake of Fire for eternity.

We are all guilty under the law. We have all broken His commandments. We have all sinned. We all will be judged according to the Purpose He had for us, in Christ Jesus….and whether we ran the race we were given….or ran away from Him.

(In Esther, there is a telling scene: Esther’s duty for her life and the life of her people [and yes, we all have a “duty” for our life and the lives we are responsible for]….

…..was to go before Ahasuerus, the king….and speak to him about a plot to kill all the Jews.

But she had not been called to see the king for thirty days! And no one could just walk in to see the king (even the queen)….unless they had been called….unless you wanted to die.

But she went….knowing that no one but the King could change the decree of death against herself and her people.

Then something remarkable happened….a miracle…yes….

…the king stretched forth the scepter in his hand….and she came and touched it….giving her clemency from getting her head chopped off…

….and giving her a way to have fellowship with him and get her petitions answered.

God has the scepter in His hand…..which is always stretched out for those who want to come into HIs presence in prayer….for fellowship and to get our petitions answered.

He is God, yet HIs Kingly scepter…….is stretched out for us….will we come?)

God was God in eternity past….

The centuries have not changed Him….He is God, now in eternity present….

…and He will be God….for ever.

Is He our God? Do we come to Him with our duty? Are we having fellowship with the KIng?

A New Thing

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness; and rivers in the desert.”

Of course these verses first apply to Israel; but the Lord gave these verses to me for our work, years ago.

He told me:

Remember not the former things….successes or failures; neither consider the things of old…they are back there in the past—forget them…

And get on with the Lord’s Will for your life now.

It is easy to get “stuck” in the past….thinking about what should have happened; or patting ourselves on the back for something that went right.

But it is spinning our tires, spiritually, when we do…just making a rut for ourselves.

We should commit each day into the Lord’s hand, asking His Will done in it.

Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”

This “commit” is “Roll thy way, works, thoughts, upon the Lord”

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

We should live each day as if it were our most important time. The past we can do nothing about.

The future we do not have.

But we can live for Him, today.

We should seek His blessing, guidance and His supply for this day.

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.”

“Number” here means “to weigh out”. Each day has value, as if you were weighing silver. The Lord wants us to see this day, that way.

If we are to truly apply our hearts to wisdom, it will be on a daily basis; with the Lord.

Spiritual wisdom is really practical skill to make pointed decisions.

Jesus had this wisdom, so much so, that people wondered at it. (Matthew 13:54, Mark 6:2). And we should get it from Him

Luke 2:40 “And the child (Jesus) grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

(Doesn’t this describe our Lord so well?!)

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The Lord will give us the practical skill for this day.

“Behold, I will do a new thing;”. Today is a new day,….and Jesus says,…..Come with Me in it.

“Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?” I will give the wisdom you need, it will “spring up” by My Holy Spirit within you….and make you to know My Will.

“I will even make a way in the wilderness; and rivers in the desert.”

He will make a way, today, for you…clearly marked with each step you take; and He will supply His Spirit as a river within you,…in whatever desert place you go.

We are in the world, but we are not of it….we are His, and He is ready to work within you in a new way, today.

A new thing…shall ye not know it?

He is asking you: will you know it?

If you will, it will come in constant fellowship, Divine companionship, and His overcoming wisdom in your life, as you yield to Him.

I will follow Thee, but….

Luke 9:61 “And another also said, Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go and bid them farewell which are at home at my house.”

How many times has this happened to us? The Lord has spoken to us through His Word, a Message, or our devotions….and we say, “yes, that’s what I need to do. Thank you, Lord, for showing me this.”

We mean to see to this thing,…….but first we have to do this, or that, or something….and before you know it…….the Word has been laid aside or buried.

There is always something else first. Something that must be done before we can follow the Lord,…..into the next experience.

The story line here is interesting, because Jesus is calling men to discipleship.

(discipleship means to come under the discipline of someone or some philosophy. It means to follow it and be molded by it.

Of course, for us Christians, this someone is Christ Jesus. We come and follow Him; letting Him mold us.)

Luke 9:57-58 “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.”

Jesus is setting forth very clearly that if they followed Him, there would be hardship.

Was He worth it?

He also set forth that discipleship means full surrender to Him.

There can be no conditions.

He must be first. Any consideration that places Him in second place, is wrong.

Luke 9:59-60 “And He said to another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

It was not a funeral, this young man was asking to see to;…..but as a son, he was asking to be excused from following Jesus, until his father was dead, and buried.

To a Jew, this would be a hard saying. Honor Me…above your father.

Which is more important?

That you go and do what others can do for your father?

Or that, by the preaching of My kingdom, true life would be given to the people you would preach to?

“But go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” If you read into the next chapter:

Luke 10:1 “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come.”

Jesus was about to expand His ministry into every city in Judea and Galilee. He wanted disciples that would preach the kingdom of God to them….to prepare them for His Word to these people and places…when He would come there.

He called this man to be part of this work…would he?

Luke 9:61-62 “And another also said, I will follow Thee; but let me first go and bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Again, any condition or reservation to obey Jesus’ call to follow Him…or which places Jesus second in our lives, is wrong.

And must be dealt with, before we can go on with Him.

(We think, “Before I answer You, Lord, I must study more, or I must be more spiritual.”

“No”, Jesus says, “Just follow Me, and I will tell you what to do, and give you the grace to do.”

Sometimes our reservation is: “If You will let me do this, or have this; I will do what You require.”

“No conditions; just follow Me”, is what He says.)

This “looking back” isn’t the wave of goodbye; but the longing look to be back where we were.

If you read further into the next chapter, it tells, when the seventy which followed Jesus into the work, returned:

Luke 10:17 “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.”

Pretty exciting….

But Jesus points them to the real value of following Him:

Luke 10:20 “Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

How practical our God is!

We get caught up into so many “things”. But He cuts right through them, and gives us the meaning of true life.

He cautions all who will come after Him that there will be difficulties. Jesus Christ never sugar-coats anything.

1 Peter 4:13-14 “But rejoice, in as much as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.”

He calls those who will come,……to tell of His Word and kingdom.

(1 Thessalonians 2:12) “That ye would walk worth of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”

“Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season…” (2 Timothy 4:2)

He tells all who would “look back”, that He will not take second place.

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

2 Timothy 1:7-8 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.”

The Lord has everything we need to walk the way He will lead us. He is still calling disciples to follow Him.

Will we follow Him?

Will we follow Him, now?