Mightily Grew the Word and Prevailed 

Acts 19:20 “So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.”

Prevailed here, means…had a force or power in the lives of those that heard.

And how is it, that the Word grew?

Background:

Paul was in Ephesus.  He had been preaching there for about two years….”so that all they that dwell in Asia (Minor) heard the Word of the Lord Jesus…”   

He had also, by the Holy Spirit, worked miracles.

Acts 19:10-12 “And this continued by the space of two years;  so that all they that dwell in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus,  both Jews and Greeks.

             And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

             So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them,  and the evil spirits went out of them.”

When we hear the Word…it makes demands on our life;  which we either yield to, or refuse. 

All, in this area, had heard….God was making demands on their lives about His Son, Jesus Christ…

And by Paul, the Lord was healing many from spiritual and physical illness.

Paul not only preached the Word of God, concerning Jesus Christ,….but that Word had prevailed in Paul….so it could prevail,  through Paul.

But when God does a work,  then there are always those that seek to mimic it, especially for money…..some were even using the names of Jesus and Paul…

Acts 19:13, 15-16, 20 “Then certain…took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying,  We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

               And the evil spirit answered and said,  Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

               And the man in whom the evil spirit was  leaped on them and overcame them….so they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

              This was known to all….dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

              So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed.”

The Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified….for God showed that though He will honor His Name,…… He will not honor those who only seek to use It for their gain.

His Name is powerful only to those who shelter beneath Him, in believing obedience.

The Word of God is the instrument of salvation.

1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again,  not of corruptible seed,  but of incorruptible,  by the Word of God,  which liveth and abideth forever.”

Now this Word lives and abides.

      If it is not a living Word to you,  you have not heard it aright.

      If the Word does not make demands on your life, you have not heard it aright.

The gospel must wound, before it can heal.   

It wounds our pride:  for we are sinners, like everyone else.

It wounds our reason:  we can do nothing to save ourselves.

It wounds our hearts:  it points out our secret sins.

“And the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified”.   

Here was the prevailing influence.   He showed that He would honor His obedient servants…..

……but not those who did not know Him, and only wanted to use Him (Matthew 7:21)

“And fear fell on them all”….the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom….and it drew many to hear the Word…..believe on the Lord Jesus,…..

…..for it amazed them that Jesus Christ knew their heart’s  motives,   as well as their words.

Acts 19:18-19 “And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.

                  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

And many that believed came and confessed…

God requires honesty….getting right with Him….and when necessary,   your brethren.

And showed their deeds,….to know the healing power of forgiveness from these things.

Acts 19:19 “…and burned them before all men:…”

This was an act most necessary to have done with it all.

And the results?

Acts 19:20 “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

God’s Word was being shared….neighbor was telling neighbor…..and it was having the victory in the lives of these people.

Do we want to know the power of the Word of God? 

Then we must give ourselves to God….to be prevailed upon.

If we, in believing obedience act upon what I know He requires of me now….I will  know that prevailing  power for myself.

There is for each of us that believe on Christ Jesus…..that power that is “exceeding, abundantly,  above all that we ask or think….according to the power that works within us”.  (Ephesians 5:20)

Are we born again?  Are we sheltered under Him, and obedient to His Word?

Then that Word will prevail in us…..and through us.

It is in knowing His Will, and doing it.    

And as His children,……we are as responsible to know His Will,….as to do it.

In our progressive walk before the Lord, we must always leave the better…..for the best.

This must always be done if the Word of God is to prevail through me…..it must prevail in me….where I am….with the circumstances I am in now.

The Joy of Repentance 

Luke 15:7 “I say unto you,  that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,  more than over ninety and nine just persons,  which need no repentance.”

Repentance is a change in my mind, heart’s love, and direction of my life.   It effects my whole being.

And as God’s children, we are to repent, often.

This verse has to do with the sheep that was lost…..being found.

Luke 15:4-5 “What man of you,  having a hundred sheep,  if he lose one of them,  doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness,  and go after that which is lost,  until he find it?

            And when he hath found it,  he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing.”

Sheep are stubborn animals.   They can follow you like a pet….or determine to go somewhere they should not…

They are weak animals….unable to run very fast….or to save themselves from their fierce enemies.

They need a Shepherd….leading, and protecting them;  yet often, go away from the Shepherd….and get hurt.

But in this parable,  this sheep is “gone away”….is lost……and knows it.

Some sheep, try and find their own way home….but this, too, is “our own way”….and it does not work.

And some cry out….till the Shepherd who is looking for them….hears and comes to deliver.

Now we could speculate as to how that sheep got lost…..whether it wandered off, when the others were resting in pasture….wanting to see what is over there.

Or whether he was lost by staying back away from the rest of the flock…and especially from the Shepherd;….

How the sheep was lost is a matter of individual sins…….and for everyone of us, it is  different…..and yet,  the same……it is “our own way”…….for we are that sheep:

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray;  we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

1 Peter 2:25 “For ye were as sheep going astray,  but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

Psalm 119:176 “I have gone astray like a lost sheep:  seek thy servant;  for I do not forget Thy commandments.”

But we did not stay lost…..the Shepherd found us…..for He went after us….and found us.

Ezekiel 34:11 “For thus saith the Lord God;  behold,  I, even I,  will both search My sheep, and seek them out.”

The Lord is ever the One to seek for us.   

We are lost….we may know it and may cry out for it…..but it is the Lord, our Shepherd, that seeks and finds us.

Repentance is the change of mind, heart, and will.

You change your mind about sin…..and God.

Once God was your enemy (Romans 8:7)….

Someone Who seemed to make demands with out any pity (Ephesians 2:2-3)…

….but now you see that it is sin that is making the demands….and demanding more and more…..

……it is taking over your personality.   What was…”I will try it…just once”…..becomes a need….then a ruler.

Whereas, God is standing ready to deliver….if we will see the truth and repent….or change our mind 

You change your heart’s love of sin.   

And this comes as the sin gets less “something to get by with”………and becomes a burden…a weight which can not be shrugged off.  

You change your will.   

(Our will is our active part of us.   In our minds we imagine….our hearts yearn or lust….but our wills activate us.)

When we will not to sin….we are turning from it…..

John 7:17 “If any man will do His Will,  he shall know of the doctrine,  whether it be of God,  or whether I speak of Myself.”

Acts 2:37-39 “Now when they heard this,  they were pricked in their heart,  and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles,   Men and brethren,  what shall we do?

           Then Peter said unto them,   Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

           For the promise is unto you,  and to your children, and to all that are afar off,  even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,  repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Repentance leads to joy….God’s joy over your salvation….and our joy in Christ.

Romans 5:10-11 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son;  much more,  being reconciled,  we shall be saved by His life.

            And not only so,  but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  by Whom we have now received the atonement.”

We are like sheep, who have gone astray….to “my own way”…..yet Christ came to “seek and to save them that are lost” (Luke 19:10).

And when He found us….He picked us up out of our sin….placed us upon His shoulders (the place of strength)….and brought us into His fold…..where He leads us day by day.

John 10:11, 27-28 “I am the Good Shepherd:  the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

            My sheep hear My voice,  and I know them,  and they follow Me:

            And I give unto them eternal life;  and they shall never perish,  neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

As sheep, we are often wandering…..but thankfully we have our Shepherd….Who comes after us…..leading us again in repentance….

….and into joy.

And I, if I be lifted up 

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

Jesus is speaking about His coming death on the cross….lifted up, between earth and heaven….for whosoever will,  to see and believe:  

His suffering and agony,   His blood,  the title above His head (written in several languages) “the King of the Jews”,  and His death.

In apparent defeat,…..He would come into a position to draw all men unto Him by the power of His sacrifice, and resurrection.

He was the Son of God, who died to take away the sins of the world.

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

John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,  even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  

                   That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,  but have eternal life.”

“Life” is what is promised to those who turn, believing, to Christ Jesus.

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

As “Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness”…..this is when the children of Israel,  which were bitten by the “fiery servants”;…..and were cured and “lived” by looking up to the brass serpent, Moses stuck on a pole in the middle of the camp of Israel.

(The story:  Israel was nearing their journey’s end….but discouragement led them to murmur and complain.

Now to complain about the hardness of the journey,  was one thing….but they said, “…our soul loatheth this light bread.”

They brought the manna, into their arguement with God’s Ways.

Manna was that heavenly bread (it was small grain which tasted of wafers made with honey Exodus 16:31)…..sent day by day for their needs.  

But they complained of the Way…..then loathed the goodness of God; a very serious thing.

So God sent fiery serpents to bite the people and many of them died.  

[How many times have I complained to God about something….then…things got a lot worse;……and I realized how blessed I had been, before.

How many times have I had to confess this murmuring spirit of mine.]

They confessed their sin….but there was no cure for the bites….until God told Moses:

Numbers 21:8-9 “And the Lord said unto Moses,   Make thee a fiery serpent,  and set it upon a pole:  and it shall come to pass,  that everyone that is bitten,  when he looketh upon it,  shall live.

                     And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole;  and it came to pass,  that if a serpent had bitten any man,  when he beheld the serpent of brass,  he lived.”

It required them to believe God, and look up to the provision He made.   When they did,  they were healed.

[It was a serpent of brass….taking on the form of the curse….but having no poison, no sting….which represents Christ.   He took our sin on Him, though He knew no sin, that we might be  the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21])

And if we believe God,  and look up to Christ Jesus, we are healed from sin and it’s destructive power upon us…..and are saved.

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

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

Eternal Life is a condition of life, began when we were born again…..and going on through this life, and all eternity,  with God.

And every time we murmur or complain….and are chastened for it….we can look up and believe our blessed Lord again…..for He will heal our hearts, and minds….if we look again to

But there is another “lifting up” of Christ….

and that is when we lift Him up in our lives,  by obedience and devotion to Him.

We lift Him up in our everyday lives….and others are drawn to Him!

He is what He said….He does what He promised….that is what our lives show.

We lift Him up so others can look to Him and believe.

Will we lift up Christ, and let Him get the glory?

Hear, O Lord 

Psalms 27:7-8 “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice:  have mercy also upon me and answer me.

             When Thou saidst,   Seek ye My face,   my heart said unto Thee,  Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”

I love these verses…..

They speak so clearly as how we should pray…..what we should pray.

Some people struggle with “how” we should come to God.    Should we kneel,  or bow our head,  or is it alright to pray walking or jogging.

I believe:

Reverence in our personal prayer times….kneeling, when we can.

Bowing our head (again, in reverence to Him), when praying with family, church, or friends.

Otherwise the “meeting-place” of us with God in prayer,……is in our hearts.   We can pray….anywhere.

When God shows us our need,  “seek ye My face”……then we should respond with that prayer….”Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”

When I pray, I often find a verse that the Lord has showed me, concerning what I am to pray about…….and use that as a start.   

I start with what it says to me….and move outward, claiming it for others.

(One of our “go-to” verses is:

1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His Will,  He heareth us:  

              And if we know that He hears us,  whatsoever we ask,  we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

To pray the Lord’s will is to open up, for ourselves, a lighted path…..it is to open the way to the Lord’s ear….it is to show Him how willing we are that His Will,  not mine, be done.  

It is to hear from our own lips the Will of God, and in prayer ask Him to perform it.)

Prayer is talking to God…..about our troubles,  confession of sins,  praise for mercies received,  and seeking direction,…..seeking peace…..seeking the Lord’s face….to come into His presence, in a special way or time.

“Hear, O Lord”

If we expect to be heard…..we need to come as servants, wanting to really know what to do….and how He wants us to do it.     He is Lord, and should be our Lord….in this situation.

If He is asking for us to pray….then He is asking us to agree with Him, and seek it from Him……

….Putting us in our place in the Battle which always rages between the Lord and our Adversary……

Most people do not realize that prayer is so hard, because it is so powerful.

In it, we are asking the Almighty God….to act on our behalf or for someone else…..we are asking Him to speak….to move…..people’s hearts and lives;    

To change circumstances,  which are adverse to His Will;    

To remove hinderances.

No wonder the Adversary of our souls, fights it so hard…….interfering in thoughts  from yesterday,  tomorrow,  or next year.   

(an old proverb says,   “You can’t prevent birds from flying over your head…..but you can keep them from building nests in your hair.”)

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober,  and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Daniel is our example:

Daniel had been praying for a particular promise for the people, back in Israel….one which had been shown him from the Word of God:

Daniel 9:2-3 “….I Daniel understood by books the number of the years,  whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet,  that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

           And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth,  and ashes:”

Once Daniel knew the Lord’s Will concerning the time for restoration of Israel and Jerusalem……he prayed…..earnestly seeking God to do what He said.

And what did he pray?   Confession, first….then claiming the promise, according to His righteousness and mercy.

Daniel 9:16-19 “O Lord, according to Thy righteousness, I beseech Thee, let Thine anger….be turned away…:

            Now therefore,  O our God,  hear the prayer of Thy servant,  and his supplications,  and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate,  for the Lord’s sake.

            O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear;…..for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness,  but for Thy great mercies.

            O Lord, hear;   O Lord, forgive;  O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God:  for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.”

(I love Daniel’s prayer, here…..like Ezra and Nehemiah to come,  they confess as representatives of the whole nation of Israel…their sin….praising God, that in His chastening and wrath….He remembered mercy to them.   All three great prayer chapters are in the ninth chapter.   And all are for the restoration of Israel to God’s Word….in their lives, in Israel, and in Jerusalem.)

And what happened, when Daniel prayed (how long he prayed this prayer or other’s like it, it does not say…a day, a week,….but…)?

Daniel 9:21-23 “Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning,  being caused to fly swiftly,  touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

               And he informed me,  and talked with me,  and said,   O Daniel,  I am come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

               At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee;  for thou art greatly beloved:  therefore understand the matter,  and consider the vision.”

Our prayers, matter…..to God.    This is His means of bringing certain things to pass….when we ask for them.

Nothing takes the place of obedience (if you are a child of God),…..nothing…..but to pray is the first sign of an obedient heart….the seeking of His Will…..and asking Him to perform it….through you,  or others.

New Testament example:

Herod (all of which were bad), saw the church growing, and arrested James the brother of Peter….and beheaded him.

He saw that it pleased the ruling religious body, so he arrested Peter and put him in prison….to die the same sort of death.

Acts 12:5 “Peter therefore was kept in prison:  but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

They were praying day and night for God to do something to save Peter….

Acts 12:6-7 “And when Herod would have brought him forth (to behead him), the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,  bound with two chains:…..

                  And, behold,  the angel of the Lord came upon him,  and a light shined in the prison:  and he smote Peter on the side  (had to wake him up!),  and raised him up,  saying,  Arise up quickly.   And his chains fell off from his hands.”

The angel wakes him up…..the chains fall off,  and the angel guides him through the prison,  across the Romans walled fortress, to the gate, separating it from the city…..which opens before Peter.

The angel then guides him toward the right street and departed from him.

Peter then went to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark….and knocked.

(It is interesting to note that when the maid heard it was Peter, she went and told those gathered to pray inside….they did not believer her……

…..this is just like us, so many times with out prayers…..we often pray,  wanting God to hear us….but not believing, as we should, that He does.)

Acts 12:16-17 “But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door;…

               But he,  beckoning unto them with his hand to hold their peace,  declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.  And he said,  Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren.  And he departed,  and went into another place.”

Prayer is God’s means of accomplishing certain things…..

….and He blesses it.

• In these last days ….let us make sure our confessions are up-to-date….and let us seek to know His promise for the days, and months ahead….

….that we might ask for it,……and have His blessing in us…..for us…..and for the church.

               

I Will,  will you? 

This is God speaking,  and when He says, “I will”,  nothing can hinder Him,  except what He allows.

And in His people, which should know and believe Him;  He allows their unbelief to hinder His works.

And why does He allow this?

Hebrews 3:10,12 “Wherefore I was grieved with that generation,  and said,  They do always err in their hearts,  and they have not known My ways.

                               Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,  in departing from the living God.”

                                

For unbelief is departing from the living God….however that departing is….in heart,  or in life.

The example I want to talk about is in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel is an interesting prophet.  Exiled with many of Judah’s people in the second captivity under Nebuchadnezzar (there were three times people were taken away.),  Ezekiel’s ministry was:

To tell the captives the reason of their captivity.  

He tells them of their forsaking of God, and the terrible iniquity that was still going on in Judah and Jerusalem.  He tells them that God will judge Judah, destroying the Temple, and the kingdom, because of their continued wickedness.        

Ezekiel 33:28-29   “For I will lay the land most desolate,  and the pomp of her strength shall cease;  and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate,  that none shall pass through.                          Then shall they know that I am the Lord,  when I have laid the land most desolate,  because of all their abominations which they have committed.”

And he encouraged the captives to accept the chastening of the Lord, and build houses and take care of their families.  

To do the commandments of the Lord,  till God was pleased to bring them back into the land.   

For after God had chastened them,  He would remember His covenant with Abraham,  and bring them back.

Ezekiel 36:28 “And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;  and ye shall be My people,  and I will be your God.”

This is a great promise,  for it deals not just with the outward inheritance,  but the inward heart.

Ezekiel 36: 32-36 “Not for your sakes do I do this,  saith the Lord God,  be it known unto you:  be ashamed and confounded for your own ways,  O house of Israel.

                                 Thus saith the Lord God;  in the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities,  and the wastes shall be builded.

                                  And the desolate land shall be tilled,  whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.

                                   And they shall say,   This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden;  and the wastes and the desolate and ruined cities become fenced,  and are inhabited.

                                    Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruin places,  and plant that that was desolate:  I the Lord have spoken it,  and I will do it.”

“I have spoken it, and I will do it.”  But it would not be for their sakes.

I was not a matter of merit.  But God would do it, for His Word’s sake.

This should have caused the people to praise God, and pray and pray for it.

To get right with God, and seek the good of their brethren.

But what did they do?

Ezekiel 36:37 “Thus saith the Lord God;  I will yet for this  be inquired of  by the house of Israel,  to do it for them,…”

They did nothing. 

God had promised.  He would do it.  Great!   

And then:   

Forget about it,  till we actually see it.

Unbelief abounded:

Not the “I don’t believe in God”,  unbelief.     

But the “I will believe, only when I see it”,  unbelief.

For unbelief is departing from the living God.

Ezekiel spoke and warned them that God required righteousness from them.  To do what they, as His people,  should do, even in a foreign land.  

Not for merit, but to show their belief in Him, as their God.

(Ezekiel 33:14-15 “…if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statues of life, with out committing iniquity; he shall surely live,…”)

They could pine away, wishing for better days;   Or turn from their sins of idolatry and rebellion against God’s dealings,  and “live”.

Again, and again Ezekiel spoke to them;  but they mocked him.  Listening,  but still refusing to “hear and obey.”

Ezekiel 33:31-32 “And they come unto thee as the people cometh,  and they sit thee before thee as My people,  and they hear thy words,  but they will not do them:  for with their mouth they show much love,  but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

                               And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice,  and can play well on an instrument:    for they hear thy words,  but they do them not.”

God says, “I will”.  And nothing can hinder God, but what He allows.   And with His own people,  who should know Him;  He refuses to bless our unbelief (whatever kind it is).

He rebukes us to get our attention, so we will hear His Word to us.

He chastens us, to awaken us to the seriousness of our way.   To draw us back into the right way.

Real life is in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  It is by faith.

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

Now let me ask you:   Which really lived?  Ezekiel or the people who “pined” away in their sins?

Ezekiel’s way was hard.   But God was with him.

What do you consider “life” to you?     Life with Christ Jesus?  Or life here and now?

God says, “I will”.   Will we believe Him, and live?

Take heed 

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear:  for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

Take heed how ye hear.   

       I believe  the one thing that God requires to save a soul….is honesty.

He will justify the worst sinner…but not in their sin.  We are to come to Christ….just as we are….to be saved (not from Hell,  but from our sin.  Matthew 1:21)

He justifies them, by deliverance from their sin.

     And there can be no justification without obedience.

Realm 103:20 “Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word.”

     The voice of His Word.   Here He speaks clearly….His revelation to us, is the Word of the Creator…to His creatures.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:   Fear God, and keep His commandments:  for this is the whole duty of man.”

Man, under the sun….natural man….yet God’s Word to every man….

….Fear God and keep HIs commandments.   This is the whole duty of man.

After the flood, where every man was destroyed….who was not found in the Ark God had Noah build….”eight souls” were saved.

( And Noah preached the coming destruction for the years the Ark was building…so every man was without excuse.)

        When Noah stepped out on a clean earth….he built an altar.

Genesis 8:20-21 “And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

          And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in His heart,  I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake;  for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth;  neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.”

God said,  I will not do this again that I have done….for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.

But this thing I will do…

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.”

In other words,  look to the natural order of things….the seasons,  day and night.

          All things will continue until the End.

(But we hear everyday, that things tell us….in the natural order of things….that there must be a New order soon.   2 Peter 3:10-13

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

God did speak…..God will certainly speak…..

….and God speaks now, to all that will hear.

         Yet it is how we hear that must be considered.

Take heed how ye hear.   To hear aright, requires obedience.

          The truth heard, has to be taken into our lives….and it has to be lived.

(Otherwise, it might be good advice….it might be good doctrine, even….

….but Truth to have any effect must be followed,…..obeyed…..lived.

          Those that heard Noah….I am sure some scoffed,  some mocked or threatened him for preaching such things…

….but others just probably felt sorry for this “crazy” old man.  Shaking their heads….quite confident that nothing will change.

           But how wrong they were….every man, woman, and child (and yes, every parent was responsible for their child)…drown in the deluge from their sins….

….because they refused the Word of the Lord,….and refuge in His Ark of salvation.)

Take heed how ye hear.

       We must first bow as creature to the Creator to His Word. 

(He can do what He will with HIs Own.)

       Then as His servant, we must stand with Him, and “hold out the Word of Life”….to all He sends us to.

       Then we are to walk with Him…..in Him, and He in us…..in union with….as sons of God,   Our Father…..through this world….by His Word.

He speaks to us, if we will but hear.

       The Path before us is clearly marked….again by His Word.

Our duties are plain as to what we are do to….

…..and to take heed, and hear aright,   is to do them as we ought.

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,  This is the way, walk ye in it,  when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight

Matthew 11:25-26 “At that time Jesus answered and said,  I thank thee, O Father,  Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent,  and hast revealed them unto babes.

        Even so, Father: for so it seemeth good in Thy sight.”

Jesus had just upbraided or rebuked the cities that He had done many works in….because they repented not.

(Repentance is a change of mind, heart, and direction for our lives.)

Then Jesus turns away from them….turning His eyes to the Father and His Will…and gives thanks.   In Luke 10:21, it says “…Jesus rejoiced in spirit,..”. How beautiful

      Jesus saw that His Father’s Will was being done….those that did repent and believe….were not “the wise and prudent”…..but “babes”.

“Babes” here means….not speaking, an infant, a simple minded person.   

       Most Israelites were not versed in the scriptures….they could not say,  “Well in Isaiah it speaks of exactly what Jesus is doing”….

…but they could hear, and believe on Him….and this many did.  They were the babes.

Chorazin (a city near Capernaum)….Bethsaida (many around there were healed Mark 6:45,55-56)…..and Capernaum (the place Jesus lived after leaving Nazareth Matthew 4:13)….were all great cities…..Jesus had preached and done many miracles in them….

…but the many people, though amazed at His works….repented not.

Jesus message was “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

….and He thanked the Father that His Way was being accomplished….not by the “wise”, who should have seen, heard, and known He was the Messiah…

…but by the simple people….who heard, saw and believed….and repented.

Matthew 11:27 “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

This is the way we know God….Come to Christ Jesus…and He will show you.

And here Christ Jesus gives a call…again….to come to Him….and have “rest”….”to repose,  to lay your head on His strong shoulder.”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

         Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me;  for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

        For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

All our answers are:   “Come unto Christ”.

      But He calls those that labor or are wearied because of their labors….both physically and mentally….

…and those that are laden down….”over burdened…with spiritual anxiety”….from darkness around, and confusion within.

(At this time in Palestine,  there were many who had given up the goal of life….distress and despair….was commonplace.   

      Yes, there were many who still sought God in the temple and in the sacrifices…

….but the Roman occupation, and the lack of value in their lives…along with the cruelty and greed of their own rulers….was destroying all hope.

      But Salvation came…peace came…in the person of Jesus Christ….for all who would receive Him.)

This is a spiritual call….for our sins and iniquities are real burdens.

Jesus said:

“Come unto Me….don’t stay away because of sins, illnesses, grief or despair….Come unto Me…I am the One who is salvation.   

…then,  “Take My yoke upon you”.

       I take away the yoke and burden of sin….and give you a yoke which is always connected to Me…you will have My strength….we are in this together….no matter what comes up….

….and this is real rest….to repose or lay your head on My strong shoulder.

       My yoke, unlike the one which is labor and weariness….is easy.   Union with Me makes it easy to go forward in all the steps I have for you, and learn of Me.

       My burden,…and  there will be burdens, for in this life we must be faithful….but they are lite.  They do not weigh you down….they give you purpose….that goal of God’s glory returned, with joy and peace.

       Come unto Me.  This is the call to any who recognize Who I am.   This is to all who recognize who they are….and want to repent.”

Come….get up from where you are in your thoughts, actions and life….and receive the Lord Jesus Christ….believe on Him….trust Him.

This call is still going out to all the world….and to you, who are burdened.

       Today, if you will hear Him…receive Him and believe.

Come to Jesus Christ.

        

                                   

        

Blessed 

Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.”

Blessed means twice your happiest moment!

And we are blessed the nearer we come to Christ Jesus our Lord.

But this “nearer” is of the heart and will, not just of word.

Mark 5:24 “And Jesus went with him,  and much people followed him,  and thronged him.”

Here are many who want to be “near” Jesus…..but for what reason?  Are we coming near Jesus along with the crowd….or because we know He is the Son of God?

                      

Mark 5:25-28 “And a certain woman,  which had an issue of blood twelve years,  

                     And had suffered many things of many physicians,  and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered,  but rather grew worse,

                     When she had heard of Jesus,  came in the press behind,  and touched His garment.

                      For she said,   If I may but touch His clothes,  I shall be made whole.”

Here was a woman in need.   

She had done all she could, and gone to others who did all they could;  but she was none better,  but worse.

Hearing of Jesus (all the great miracles He had done, and the many He had healed),  she came after Him.

Seeing the crowd (for they all were pushing to be around Him),  she thought she would sneak up behind Him,  and just touch His clothes.

She came, not just to see, or hear Him,….she was not curious about Jesus…..

…..but, by faith she came near…… to touch His clothes,….to be healed.

She thought that if she could just touch the hem of His garment (Matthew 9:21), she would be made whole.

        So she came,  pushed forward, and leaned down and touched the hem of His garment.  (Some say, that she was crawling through the crowd to get to Him)

Mark 5:29 “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up;  and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”

(Luke 8:44  “immediately her issue of blood stanched.”)

Finally, wellness!

She touched His garment,  and she felt the fountain of blood dry up, and that she was  made whole.  She was overcome with joy and wonder!

But then she heard Jesus say:

Mark 5:30 “And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press,  and said,    Who touched My clothes?”

I want to take a moment here, and point out exactly what the disciples are going to say:  

There are many who are “touching” Him. There is a large crowd, pushing to be around Him.

(It is an interesting point that none of them were healed.)

But the Lord knows those who really come to Him in faith…….and they will always be blessed.

Mark 5:31-32   “And His disciples said unto him,   Thou seest the multitude thronging thee,  and sayest thou,  Who touched Me?

                          And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.”

Jesus was not looking for those who follow for position,…or for curiosity,…or to see the next greatest thing.

He was looking for her,  who had come to Him,  believing that He could meet her desperate need.

That is faith.    

And faith in Jesus,….always brings us “near” in heart, and will.

And again,  faith in Jesus will always be blessed.  

Although right now she is afraid, she does not run away,  or try and hide in the crowd: but came, again, in honesty, and told Him all.

Mark 5:33 ” But the woman fearing and trembling,  knowing what was done in her,  came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.”

She did not know what He would do.   He might revoke His healing.  He might be angry at the way she had been healed.  

She does not know;  she fears and trembles:…..but she comes to Him, and tells Him all the truth.

She should not have feared the One who heals, and saves.  

The One who saves, receives us again and again,  despite our weakness.   

And so He does here.

Mark 5:34 “And He said unto her,  Daughter,  thy faith hath made thee whole;  go in peace (always a sign from God that she is saved), and be whole of thy plague.”

The Lord always rewards faith.  His first thought is, for her peace with Him (salvation);  then He doubles the healing by speaking,  “be whole of thy plague.”

He heals body, soul and spirit.   He heals mind, heart and will.

Blessed is twice happy; and she was.  Both saved and healed, because she came to Him;  first in secret faith, and then in honesty.    

Her faith was given the healing that she sought.

Her honesty was given blessing;  To be brought near to Jesus in Salvation, and to be made whole. 

(The God of peace will sanctify us wholly:  body, soul and spirit:  

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,  and who makes their hope in the Lord.

It is in our coming to Jesus Christ, that we are blessed.  We shall be satisfied as we abide with Him.

His Answer 

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.”

He was demanded of the Pharisees!

Show us some manifestation of the kingdom!……..Something we can observe.

Now did they want this, so they would believe Him?

Or did they want this so they could prepare for the coming of the kingdom?

No.   They simply demanded of Jesus, to get Him to say something He should not.

“Demanded” here means that they tried to show their authority by interrogating Him.

His answer?

“If you are really looking for the kingdom of God,  it will not come with trumpets, or solar flares.   People will not be able to tell you when or how.   Because….

The kingdom of God is within you.”

Jesus Christ the King, was standing within their midst….representing His kingdom to them…..if they would have Him.

But also He was telling them;  that God’s kingdom would come within their hearts first;  before it would come to them in any outward manner.

The answer is the same to us:  The kingdom of God will come first within our hearts:   He must reign within us.

The place and power of His Presence is manifested within me.

It is always;  first in me, before it can be through me.

He is to reign within my heart, and life.  Guiding, Comforting, Correcting, and Commanding:  that is what the Lord Jesus does, by His Holy Spirit within me. (How can we make it through this life,  with all the pitfalls all around us,   without His commanding Presence?)

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,  according to the power that worketh in us.”

That power that works within me, bringing me into subjection to God’s Word and Will;  will then be an influence through my life, on the lives of others.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit, to the amount that we are emptied of our self-will.   God will never empowers me to see my will done (thank goodness!), but He will empower me to see His will done in me, by me and through me.

Matthew 7:28-29 “And it came to pass,  when Jesus had ended these sayings,  the people were astonished at His doctrine:

                                 For He taught them as one having authority,  and not as the scribes.”

He taught as one having authority;  not like their scribes,  which told them how to act,  but did not do it for themselves.

This is the difference between one who is in subjection to God for himself; and one who just talks well.  

(Of course, Jesus, the Son of God, was obedient in all things—“He did always those things that pleased Him.” John 8:29)

We, too, can be empowered to do God’s Will, as we let His kingdom come within us……for it is within us first….

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

……When we are obedient to our King;  it influences others, for good.

The enemies of our wills

We all know that when we become a Christian, our wills (which were under bondage to the devil)…are now freed. They become a power for God. (Romans 6:13-14) We can will to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and….follow the Lord!

1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love tht world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

But we also know, as Christians, we often have a battle in our wills. (Paul shows this in Ro. 7)

The enemies of our wills are:
…. the world….and it’s influence on us in fashion, in speech, in attitudes.
….the flesh….and it’s inclination to our old sins, and having our own way.
…..and the devil….who works through the world and the flesh to try and bring us under his influence again.

Sin is the means for each of these enemies. To sin is “whatsoever is not of faith, is sin”…..and “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

One is having to do with our use of the faith given us. Unbelief is sin, doubt is sinful, anger is sin, an unloving attitude is sin…..all having to do with the fact that we are not using our faith.
Faith sees God and works within us to bring all that we see in HIm….into us.
To reject or ignore faith….is sin. For it is the Light we need to lead us to Heaven, through a world of traps.

The other definition of sin has to do with our believing obedience. Doing….or not doing, what we know to do.

Our enemies are not only around us….but in us. The flesh is something we are going to have to deny all the way to Heaven.
Paul said, “I die daily.”(2 Cor. 15:31) His life was one of dying to self, wanting to be alive to Christ…in everything.

1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

We know all this began in Eve, in the temptation of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil.
To consider what he was saying, instead of believing God.
To see the fruit as good for food….though she had all the other trees to eat from.
To think of being as God, knowing good and evil.

The devil knew how to tempt her….and tempted Adam because of her….and we sinned.

We sin the same way….when we doubt God…..when we look for something other than His Way for us….and when we think we know at least as much as God does about this situation.

When we are born again, our wills turn toward God….but through temptation, they can be “turned out of the way”.

The will, willing is a beautiful thing…..for it leads us to come boldly before our Father in time of need….it calls to the Lord and learns of Him….and it hearkens to the voice of the Holy Spirit in His Word.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Such a simple sentence….yet it sets forth the power of a spirit-filled life.

When Christ reigns within, we are not only enabled to do His Will, willingly…..
…but we become His Will in all our every day activities.

Battles we will have….always have. And they may be hard and long. But victory through the faith of Christ overcomes.

1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Luke 9:23 “And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

We have enemies….but we have our God, Who has given us His Way and Word to lead us and bring us to Heaven in peace.

His Way is to love Him.
Let us love God….and not the world….and stand with the Lord in the battle ahead.

His Way is to trust and hold on to His Word.
Let us…”Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.” (Isa. 26:3)

His Way is obedience.
Even when the storm arises, and the light seems to fade,….to go on and do what the Lord says…in believing obedience to….and for Him.

Our wills will propel us on…..let us bring them into subjection to our loving Lord, and go in His Way.