Esau and Jacob

Esau is a sad character. A son of Isaac….the first born, destined to have the birth-right.

(The birth-right was not only the double portion of the possessions Isaac had……which every first born should receive……but the covenant blessing. It spoke of the fact that the Messiah would come through his line.)

Yet, he cared nothing for that part of his first-born privileges. He cared for what would show that he was above Jacob.

Esau and Jacob were twins…but were entirely different. There was a struggle with each other, for preeminence, even in the womb.

Genesis 25:22 “And the children struggled together within her;…..And she went to inquire of the Lord.”

Esau loved being over his twin brother, practically more than any thing else.

Genesis 25:24-26 “And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel, and his name was called Jacob:….”

But Jacob was also struggling….for preeminence….

…..so the difference was what they wanted.

Esau was a “cunning hunter”….a man of the field. (Genesis 25:27).

He cared for sport….

…..not planting….like his father.

He wanted to be out on his own….not held down by flocks and herds….like Abraham, his grandfather.

The boys divided their family…..their jealousy causing a problem between Isaac and Rebekah.

Isaac loved Esau best…..but only because of the venison he brought to him to eat….it was his favorite.

(A sad commentary of the older life of the promised son. How easy it is to let our spiritual life slide, when we are given everything, like Isaac was!)

Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite…..he was a gardener….and a herdsman. He loved the camp where his grandfather and mother lived (Hebrews 11:9)….and he usually stated close.

Though they are twins…..they are enemies…..sad, but true.

Again I say…..they both struggle for the preeminence……but the difference is in what they are struggling for….

And the thing which brings their desires to the forefront……is food.

Genesis 25:29-34 “And Jacob sod pottage (lentils): and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with the same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name was called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”

The Words in scripture are very telling…..

Jacob is not seen in a good light here….he is sneaky, trying to get the birthright without waiting on God.

But Esau is worse:

He sells his best things….for what? A moments satisfaction!

But then (and to me this is the worst of it), he eats, drinks….and goes on his way….

….his conscience does not even seem to bother him…..that he just treated the best of gifts, with so little value…..

…..he is not seen repenting…or moaning over his sin….

(Now, I say this is the worst….for I have failed….badly….but I always feel bad….stricken in heart… troubled till I confess it)

Neither Isaac or Rebekah, like Esau’s life style. It is pretty much….what he wants, he does…without seeking God’s blessing, or theirs.

He takes a wife of the Canaanites, which grieves both of them….for they are godless and idolatrous.

Later Jacob tricks Isaac into officially blessing him, with the covenant blessing….because he dressed up like Esau…like I said, he is sneaky.

Furious, Esau says he will kill Jacob when Isaac dies….

(You would think now would be the time for Isaac to stand up and speak of God’s will (Hebrews 11:20)……but though he recognizes that Jacob was suppose to get the covenant blessing…..he only emphasizes that he could not take back his word.)

To save Jacob,….Jacob is sent on a journey, back to Rebekah’s family, for a wife.

Now, in all of this, God seems to be silent. Neither informing, or correcting.

Why?

(God is often silent when we, ourselves are not seeking Him.

Abraham was a man of altars…five times in scripture Abraham is said to build an altar……but Isaac is said to have built only one.)

Neither do they seem to inquire as how to raise the boys…or correct their faults.

Again, a sad commentary on how life can get away from us….if we are not diligently seeking God’s Word and direction day by day….for ourselves and our family.)

But now God is going to speak. And get Jacob’s attention.

Jacob, by himself, has left the camp of his youth, and set out on a hazardous journey….which would get him the wife he went for….but at a price of almost twenty years of service.

But on the way, God speaks to him…..Jacob is the schemer……but,…who wanted the birth-right….who wanted the Messiah to come from his line….the greatest blessing.

Genesis 28:12-13,15 “And he dreamed, and a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou lies, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”

This is a promise that Jacob will need….and will use especially when he is brought back into the land…….when he is brought face to face with Esau again.

You will notice, that it is never said that God speaks to Esau….

….Esau has chosen his way….a way which does not want God…..only the worldly blessings.

So, that is what he ends up with……wealth….but without personal knowledge of God.

A life, lived…..with lots of things…..but without true meaning in the purpose of God.

After his time of serving Laban, Rebekah’s brother for his wives……Jacob again hears God.

Genesis 31:3 “And the Lord said unto Jacob, return unto the land of thy father’s, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.”

So Jacob returns to the land given Abraham and Isaac and himself from God….but is afraid to meet Esau.

Jacob and Esau meet, but not as Jacob imagines…..for God has seen to Esau, and he does not kill him, but is glad to see him…..telling Jacob all that he owns.

Then he tries to get Jacob to follow him home…..but Jacob excuses himself….and goes another way….not trusting Esau.

Later Isaac dies, and after Esau and Jacob bury him together….they separate….never to work together, or be together…..for they have chosen separate paths….Jacob with God,…though with many failures….

…and Esau to the worldly treasures….all ending in death.

(If you read Genesis 36, you will see his offspring. Taking titles, and seeking wealth, in Mount Seir, which God gave them.

Later when the children of Israel came to claim their inheritance, the children of Esau would not let them come through their land (Numbers 20:17-21)

…..how sad that they still wanted to show superiority over Jacob’s children….which shows how jealousy and envy are easily passed to our children.

The final judgement for Esau’s children came…..hundreds of years later….with the same jealousy and strife….they joined Israel’s enemies and cut off an escape for some of the people of Judah, when Nebuchadnezzar carried Jerusalem into captivity….

Obadiah 3, 13-14, 10 “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitations is high (Mt. Seir); that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity, yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;

Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.

For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever.”)

Jacob (the Lord changes his name to Israel)…..goes on through many failures and losses to be the third patriarch…..adding his name to the line of the Christ….

…and at the end this is what he is looking toward.

Genesis 49:10, 18 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (Christ Jesus) come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.

I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord.”

He tells his children to bury him in the burial place Abraham bought (for at the time he was in Egypt)…..where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah lay….in the land that God gave them….looking forward to the promise of God….though it were years off.

The way we go…..the journey we take….the people we meet…..all comes down to the choice we make.

It all comes down to what we want…..

…..do we want God in our lives…..are we “building altars” and having communion with God….the God Who will not leave us until He does all that He has spoken to us….

Or are we seeking to settle down in this world….to get our blessings here?

Jesus said, “Follow Me”……and in order to follow Him, we must “leave” everything (our jealousies, personal strife, our relationships)…..including ourselves……in His hands:

Matthew 10:37-39 “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.”

What are we choosing?

Temperance

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

We have talked of the fruit of the Spirit before, but I wish to speak of:

Temperance.

We have heard of moderation in all things. This is a good policy for many things; but temperance here is a fruit of the blessed Holy Spirit.

It is the ability to master everything which comes to us, in our lives. (Not let them master us.)

As Christians, we face fears, tempers, passions, and opinions on all sides.

But the Holy Spirit within gives us help with all of these. He gives us God’s love, God’s joy and peace, and yes, God’s right-thinking.

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

This is temperance:

Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die:

Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty or riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

Proverbs are mostly Solomon’s sayings, and he is asking the Lord, that before he grows old and dies, he wants to learn two important things; so he asks God to “remove” or cast away from him vanity and lies.

Vanity is that nothingness that the world is full of.

The world would tell us that we should all look like this model, or that actress or athlete.

Or the world would get us to concentrate on physical, or intellectual pursuits.

Solomon did all of these:

Ecclesiastes 1:16-17 “I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart hath great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.”

Ecclesiastes 2:8-9, 11 “I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”

His conclusion from all his experiences in the goods of the world?

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.”

He wanted to be removed from vanity, “And lies”. The world is full of them. Try this toothpaste and your smile will brighten a whole room! (There are many lies, which are passed around each day; silly ones, and serious ones.)

“Give me neither poverty nor riches; Lest I be full, and deny Thee”:

I will begin to trust in my riches,…..and not in You.

“Lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

I will be angry that I do not have what others have; and try and get it in unlawful means (there are many kinds of thieves),

And blame the Lord for “making me do it.” (we often blame God for what we have gotten ourselves into)

“Feed me with food convenient for me:”. This is the same prayer as:

“Give me this day my daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

Someone has said: This is not, Give me my daily cake,…..but bread.

It means, that we are asking the Lord to provide for us, what we need. To give us enough:

Enough peace, money, food, family, friends, joy,…enough to get us through our lives; with Him.

Because I must remind you, that temperance is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Temperance is to master a thing—not it mastering you.

And the Holy Spirit bears that fruit within us and through us, as we yield to Him in each situation.

Wisdom from Above

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.”

Wisdom is from God and of God. Man gains knowledge, and can get very smart; but wisdom is only from God.

God says that if you don’t have the wisdom for this situation; you can ask Him. He will not rebuke you for not knowing, but will give you the wisdom you need.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

God gives light, which is knowledge, and understanding. He shines His light on a situation, and the truth is seen. The way it really is; and how it really affects us.

Wisdom is that light so we know what to do, and wisdom also empowers us to do, as we yield to Him.

(I remember a bad situation where I was getting worked up about what I thought was going to happen. I imagined all sorts of scenarios in my head about what I would say in return, and what would ultimately happen. [Not good, I can tell you that].

“Ask the Lord!” It seemed like it was shouted in my ear. When I asked, He simply told me to stop worrying; that I was to stay out of any retaliation; in word, or action! That, in fact, I was to keep my big mouth shut, no matter what the other person said.

It worked! [should I have been surprised?]. God gave me wisdom: to know, and yes, to do…..as unto Him…..and there was peace in it.)

Wisdom for that situation is what we are to do about it, and the power to do it, in peace.

This He gives liberally, or generously. He is not a miser. He wants us to know His Will, and gives us what we need to find it out, and to do it.

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.”

Remember this comes from God, to you.

Wisdom is first, pure. There is no mixture of many opinions, but truth, plain and simple.

It is peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. It seeks the good of all.

Full of mercy and good fruits. Forgives other people’s mistakes, and would help them set them right.

Without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Does not argue to win; or defraud another.

Proverbs 3:21-23, 26 “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

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

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

For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

This is wisdom; and God gives it to any of His, who want it,…..abundantly.

The Fountain of Life

Psalm 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

Have you drunk from the fountain of life?

A fountain is water, contained in some way…but still bubbling up…..

…..so is our life in Christ, contained in us…..but bubbling up by the Holy Spirit in us….

….refreshing…

….enlivening…

….and satisfying our hearts, minds and wills.

Is it? Or is it a trickle…..barely satisfying our need?

I am going to mention here….that there were twelve disciples….

Some were fishermen….one was a tax collector….most from Galilee…but not all…some older….some younger….some had followed John the Baptist….

I mention this, because all of them were different.

All heard Christ Jesus for almost three years…..but each had different reactions to what they heard.

Some believed, readily…..others were often puzzled about what He said….

Why did He speak to the Pharisees and Scribes (they were important!) the way He did?

How could He calm the storm, yet be tired….asleep in the boat?

Why did He walk and talk to the multitudes…..yet only in parables?

….and one followed for “the bag”.

All had plenty of time to change their mind…..but they stayed and followed on….each coming to the place where Jesus was their Lord…..or was only a means, to their own end.

I mention all of them, because…..like them, we are all different.

We take in the Word of God….sometimes with enthusiasm….and then turn around and fail of what we just learned.

Some are more diligent….some are doubting (remember Thomas)….

But we all must come to the place where we make Jesus Christ….Lord of our lives….or we backslide and “return” to our self-life.

(Backslide is a term used for putting in your heels, where you are, so that you will not go any further, with God.)

1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

We think of contentment as being happy in the place, or circumstances that we are in.

No, contentment has nothing to do with circumstances…..but with our attitude with the Lord of the circumstances!

Contentment is settling in with the warm mug of grace, in the comfortable lap of God….in whatever circumstances.

It is satisfaction with “my God”

….Psalm 118:27-28 “God is the Lord, which hath shown us His light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee.”

(Forty-nine times in Psalms is “my God” written….mostly when there are troubles or enemies harassing His people)

Remember Paul and Silas in jail, bent over in stocks, after being beaten….praying, then singing. (Acts 16:23-25)

They were not trying to cheer each other up…..they were praising God, for the privilege of suffering for Christ Jesus.

That is contentment.

Again, I ask, have you tasted of the fountain of life….are you drinking each day from it….and getting the contentment in Christ, He has for you.

Or…..

Jeremiah 2:13 “For My people have committed two evils, they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them our cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

“And in Thy light shall we see light.”

God is light….and in His light we see…

…for light is the glory of life.

Life in the dark is miserable…..and spiritual blindness is a curse…

….therefore, God, who is light….gives us His light….and also, enlightens us (Ephesians 1:18)

But we often think of it,…..as seeing others, or the circumstances, in truth around us….

…all of which is true…..but that is not all…

…for in His light we can be cleansed.

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”

For in His light….we see light…

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

This light is power, as well….

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

Paul’s testimony was:

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; We are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed;

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

This is life and light…..help, comfort, power….from my God….to me personally.

Are we letting His life and light shine through us?

A more excellent Way.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”

Some say there are many “ways” to God. There are not; the only way to come to God is through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life.

But once we have come to Christ and been born again; our gifts and talents are to be for the service of Jesus, to honor the One who saved us.

But it is serving out of love, that is the more excellent way.

We should love Him, for He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

1 Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”

Though I could speak in every language of this earth; proclaiming the gospel far and wide.

And if I could testify of the gospel story in angels language:

If love for Jesus is not the motivation for all that preaching…

It would be just so much noise.

Loud noise; “sounding brass” like trumpets. “How great!” man will say; but to God it would be just noise.

Soft noise; “tinkling cymbal” like the end of a orchestra piece. Empty and just noise.

1 Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

This is the one that used to shake me up. I am a preacher; and I study a lot. But all of that study and knowledge would be useless if I don’t use this knowledge, so I know Jesus, the lover of my soul, more.

And faith to remove mountains; that’s something that everyone wants….but without love to Jesus as our motive; we will be nothing.

Remember Paul was writing this; and he had great knowledge, and understood many mysteries.

But Paul also understood, that to do for God, without love to God; is really doing for a reward from God.

Which is another way of saying, you are doing it to please yourself.

1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

If I give all my possessions to God’s work of feeding the poor; and if I die a martyr’s death: burned at the stake, as many down through the ages have.

Though it cost me everything, as well as my life; if love for Jesus is not the reason; then it profits me nothing, with God.

I am none the better, for eternity, for it.

You say, surely that can not be!

But let us consider what love is. We love, when we prefer a certain One, over others.

Love is willed. We think of emotions and surely, they are there.

But love is a choice, and our choices come from our wills.

God is asking, “Will we love Jesus?”

He does not ask the world; they hate God and Christ.

But He asks Christians, those who have been saved from sin; will you love Jesus?

There is a price for love.

It is certainly, a turning away from others, to the One loved.

It is giving time and effort to please the One loved.

And most of all, it is standing with that One, even till death.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”

The “more excellent way” is to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The first and greatest commandment.

And the Holy Spirit within us gives us that fruit of love, if we will.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ” And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

To truly love God is the greatest work we can do.

Whom shall He teach knowledge?

Isaiah 28:9-10 “ Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast.

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”

If we would go on to maturity in the faith of Christ, this is the way we will go.

1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

The Lord Jesus would teach us knowledge: about Himself, and about ourselves (who can really see the way we are without His truth?), and about the world around us (the snares, and phonies there).

Teach means to point out; like the Lord saying, “Look, this is the way things really are.”

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

And the Lord “shall make us to understand doctrine”.

In other words, what we hear, we will understand with our minds:……we will not be confused about what He is saying to us.

The Holy Spirit will give us understanding.

For precept must be upon precept; line upon line.

[precepts in the Bible, are God’s prescriptions. They are like medicine which He gives us for our spiritual health.]

Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, is by steps.

Putting one foot in front of the other.

A little victory here, a larger one next.

There are falls, but He is ever ready to pick us up.

And at every forward step, He celebrates with us, giving us joy and peace;……..giving us His grace for the next step.

We can go on till our affections have reached maturity. For the walk of a Christian comes down to: Lord, what is next?

1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

Paul is talking about charity, or love here. Putting away our natural anger, and jealousy, and fear; we are to go on and yield to the love God puts in our hearts. Love to Him and others. The more we love Him, the more we trust and obey Him.

Obedience does not save us; the Lord Jesus Christ does that. But we will never know Him in power, till we obey Him.

1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

1 John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.”

We are to be children of light, and shine that light:

1 Thessalonians 5:5, 8 “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober (serious about doing God’s Will), putting on the breastplate of faith and of love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

The Lord teaches us little by little; pointing out to us:

the way to go,

how to use the means of grace He gives us,

and giving us His light and love all along the way with Him.

The True Vine, and the Husbandman

John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”

Here is a beautiful picture of the care of our Heavenly Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessed Holy Spirit,…for us.

He is the fruitful vine nurturing the branches, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit within……while His Father prunes and cares for these branches, that they might bring forth fruit…and more fruit….and much fruit.

John 15:2 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

How does the branch bear fruit?

First, we are part of the vine….He has made us so, by being born again. Therefore the same life-giving sap which is in the Vine, runs through the branches.

Second, the branch rests in the place the Husbandman has put it.

More sun, less sun; higher on the fence, or lower; it does not matter.

It rests in the place it is put, and yields.

Our Heavenly Father may come along and purge us. This simply means “to cleanse”.

It is the pruning of excess from us….so that all the flow from the Vine will go into fruit bearing, not merely leaves, which are of no value in the harvest to come.

And how does He “clean” us?

John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

Jesus had said a lot to His disciples…some they “heard” with hearing ears. Others would be brought back to them by the Holy Spirit.

But now He is telling them of the importance of His Words.

John 15:7 “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

Are you born again….then you abide in Jesus.

Is the motive of our life, obedience to His Will……then His words abide in us.

(His Words “dwell in you richly” Colossians 3:16)

Then….and this is an amazing promise….we can ask what we will, and it will be done…….unto us.

This is not unto others….but unto us.

This is the Lord’s personal promise to each of us.

Isn’t this wonderful?

His Word is there for us…..to encourage, strengthen, and correct us.

When we read it, the Holy Spirit teaches us,……and, as with His disciples, He will bring it back to mind when we need it.

Again, it is a matter of yielding to this life giving flow, which comes from Christ, through His Word, and is applied by the Holy Spirit.

John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

We abide in Him, when we do not resist His Will in anything in our lives.

This is not sinless perfection, but rather our wills, willing after His Will; and bringing ourselves in subjection (with His help) to all His Will.

You may say: “I want His will, but not that way”

Let me explain about resisting His Will:

Resisting is:

Putting it off because you don’t want to do it.

Arguing that you have a better plan.

Complaining because of the people you are forced to work with or around.

Silently giving place to the resentment of: Why me, and not them?

If you do any of these, you are resisting the Lord’s Will for you.

These are natural reactions. But we are not to be “natural” or under the charge of our “old man” any more.

We are to place our wills, and hearts, and minds squarely at the Lord’s disposal; and deny ourselves, and yield to the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

That power is there, but we must yield to it.

Sometimes that seems harder than others, depending on how much we “want” something else; but the way of fruit bearing is the way of yielding.

Yielding, and counting on the Holy Spirit to help us.

This is abiding.

This, Jesus Christ calls His branches to do: to yield and bear fruit.

John 15:5 “I am the true vine; ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.”

He is giving us His life, by the Holy Spirit in power:

What will we do?

John 15:6 “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Notice it is our abiding, which tells our end, because that is where the power for real life is.

We abide, and yield, and live; or we do not abide, and are gathered to be burned.

(1 Corinthians 3:15 “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” This is speaking of the Judgement seat of Christ, when all Christians shall be judged.)

We can never fulfill the Purpose of God for which we are called, without abiding in Him…..and He has willed, that we should will with Him in this.

Jesus does not want robots, which are programmed to do…..but willing servants of God, which follow Him because they love Him.

With His life flowing through us, we bring forth fruit: in us by growing in grace; and through us as His servants.

John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

Here is the fruit:

Abiding brings yielding to His Word;….

Which brings the prayers we should pray for;….

Which brings the answers being done….”unto you”.

How much the Lord Jesus would do unto us to help us, if we would simply abide in Him.

Again, what will we do?

Patience

How little we think of patience as a grace!

We think of it as being polite…..”Oh, you can go first in line.” Or something like that.

We know we should be patient toward others (1 Thessalonians 5:14)…..though often we are not,…..

……and that we should patiently wait upon the Lord (Psalm 37:7, Psalm 40:1)……His Word, and His time (though, again, we often want things now).

But patience is a mile-marker of spirituality….

Is God developing your patience?

Jesus said to His disciples;…(He had just been talking of persecution for His sake, Luke 21:17-18 “And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake…..but there shall not an hair of your head perish.”)

Then:

Luke 21:19 “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

In other words…..keep a hold of your mind’s thoughts….your emotional well-being….you will’s desire to run and do “something”…..hold on to them with patience.

And Paul wrote Timothy, his beloved son in the faith:

1 Timothy 6:11 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

Patience is a virtue that enables us to look beyond affections, and opinions….ours and other’s; and to see God behind the scenes,…..working on our behalf.

It is an attitude which says, “I can wait for this (whatever it is), even though I want it now, because I trust my God.”

It is spoken of, with many of the promises God gives us…..for we must inherit them…..obtain or get them:

Speaking of Abraham…..”And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” (Hebrews 6:15)

And the Hebrew’s writer exhorts us:

Hebrews 6:12 “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Now I often think of patience as waiting….(it often includes it)…..but here the writer says….”be not slothful”…..do not just sit around waiting for God to do.

No, the scriptures say,……patience is getting up every morning and doing our duty…for the Lord’s sake……whatever that includes….

…….while we wait for the Lord to work things out….

…either in us, so we are ready for such a blessing…

….or for us……and trusting that He will.

And here are the verses that really shows God’s heart, toward patience in us:

James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations(different trials);

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

True patience brings joy and peace to our souls…..for though we do not have what we have been promised……yet….

…..we are at rest in God,…..knowing…..He will.

Therefore we come to the place we “want” nothing….other than what God gives us….and leads us into….

Patience is a grace of comfort…God comforting our hearts in the evil day. It is a grace of strength….for while others worry and wear away…

…those that learn His patience, are at rest….even while beset by problems.

(I must admit here, that I am naturally an impatient person…..I am learning the beauty of this grace…..slowly.

I must also tell of several times, the Lord has shown me the sweetness of His patience…..the Holy Spirit teaching me…..and my yielding to it.

We learn His patience.

What a wonderful God we serve!)

Colossians 1:10-11 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work,

and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power,

unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;”

The Lord wants to teach us, by His Holy Spirit, to be patient….and to be joyful in the things that we are to be patient in.

Patience is a grace the Lord wants us to have and use (2 Peter 1:6)…that we might receive the promises with joyfulness.

Hebrews 10:36 “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

The Lord is the God of patience and consolation:

Romans 15:5-6 “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Again I ask, are you letting the Lord teach you patience?

A Very Present Help

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

This psalm shouts confidence in God.

It does not begin with prayer, and end in praise….but begins right away with a confident exclamation of God’s power and care….of me….of you.

One of the great joys of my life has been, since I was born again,….that God has been with me, is with me, and will be with me.

God is “our” refuge and strength. God is very personal in His conversations.

(He does speak to His people as a whole, on occasion;….but it is always to those who will hear what He is saying, that He speaks most.)

Confidence in God is something we need to hang on to:

Hebrew 10:35 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.”

Someone has said, that God is often more present to His people in trials, than the trouble itself.

He is our refuge (safe place)…..and our strength.

One speaks of present possession…..the other speaks of warfare.

Psalm 46:2-3 “Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be cast in the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with swelling thereof. Selah.”

Because He is with us….we will not fear. This is an act of our will….we will not fear.

There are plenty of things to fear in this life…..many.

But we will not give way to fear.

Fear may come and knock at the door of our minds and hearts….but we will stay ourselves on our God, our refuge.

“Though the earth be removed”. I find this wording interesting.

He is not saying “the earth be moved”…..earthquakes, and volcanoes move the earth.

They are troubling….but usually last a period of time.

But the psalmist said, “be removed”…..come to an end, somehow.

Yet the psalmist is hanging on to the Lord’s strength.

In verses Psalm 46:4-6, the psalmist speaks of grace in His people…..like a ever flowing river.

It flows on, no matter what enemies come against it.

It flows to His people, and shows that He is with us….and that His help is here.

We may think, in our impatience that He is slow to help…..but He is “on time”….His time….with the refreshing grace we need…..when we need it.

A very (for emphasis) present help.

Psalm 46:7 “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

This is repeated twice in this psalm,…..here, and at the end:

The Lord of Hosts is an amazing Name of God.

Yes, it speaks of the armies or ‘hosts” of our God…..but not just armies of His people under His banner…..

…..but also His armies of angels (2 Kings 6:15-17),……the armies of bees and hornets (Exodus 23:27-28),…….the armies of anything that He masses together,….which He brings against those that attack His own.

He is with us.

The God of Jacob shows the tenderness toward His wayward people. How much He had to teach and correct Jacob….

…..yet He was His God by covenant….and He was his refuge in all circumstances.

He is our covenant God (through Christ Jesus), and refuge.

Psalm 46:8-9:

Then the psalmist calls all believers to look at what the Lord has done in the past,….is doing now,….

……so we can in faith, see what He will do in the future, for our deliverance….against those that would destroy our faith.

(How many deliverances has He done for the Church…..for me?)

Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

Be still has the reference both in speech and in setting still…..till God works it out.

“Be still”….as the Israelites stayed under the blood, till the Angel of the Lord went through the land of Egypt destroying the firstborn….to free His people.

(Exodus 12:22-23)

“Be still”….as they were told at the Red Sea….when the Lord caused the sea to go back…and made the sea dry land. (Exodus 14:13-14, 21)

“ Be still”….as when the king Jehoshaphat had many nations coming against him, and Judah gathered to pray….when they were told, “stand still….fear not,…for the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

We are to quiet ourselves….and know God, as God….in this situation.

This psalm was a song of confidence in God, as God. He is sovereign….and He rules and over rules, for His people everyday….in us, and in others, and in circumstances.

It began in confidence…..and ended in confidence of our God.

And we, too, are to hold on to our confidence in Him, for ourselves…..finishing the work we have been given….expecting Him to come in deliverance….or in person.

Hebrews 10:35-37 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

He has helped us….He will help us….and He is a very present help in this time of trouble.

Haggai

Ezra 5:1 “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.”

Haggai was an old man, and Zechariah was a young man.

Both were told to talk to the leaders of the returned remnant (they had been seventy years in captivity in Babylon, for their sins, but had come back after the opportunity came to return.)

Zechariah spoke mostly in visions, telling the people that they had returned for a purpose: which they should continue in, and finish.

His was a message to encourage and build up.

But before they could be built up; they needed to Awaken! To God’s claims on their lives. This Haggai did.

Haggai was a man who got right to the point.

Haggai 1:3-5 “Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house (God’s temple they were to rebuild) lie waste?

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”

You see, the people who had returned to Israel, had started building the temple with great enthusiasm.

As soon as God’s work was started: enemies came.

They said, Let us “help” you.

They wanted to stop God’s people from being separate from them and their ways. (The world always wants to interfere in God’s Will and work.)

But when the remnant refused, saying they alone would build God’s house. Then trouble began. (Ezra 4:4-6).

The enemies accused the remnant of rebellion to the king of Persia, (Ezra 4:12-16)……and he believed them, and commanded that they stop what they were doing!

What should the remnant do? (What they should have done was send their own letters to the king, reminding him of what the former king had promised and decreed for the house at Jerusalem! Ezra 6:1-7)

This was their purpose: To rebuild the temple, so that the first thing (and the Lord is always to be first in our lives), would be His people in a right relationship to Him, by sacrifice.

(We must remember that the sacrifices of the temple were looking forward to the Great, and Only True Sacrifice for sins: Jesus Christ, our Savior.)

When they had stopped building the temple; they started working on their own houses, and estates. They built very elaborate houses for themselves.

But God would not let them forget their purpose, so:

Haggai 1:7-9 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? Saith the Lord of hosts.

Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.”

This fierce and serious message was heard (thankfully), and obeyed.

Haggai 1:12 “Then Zerubbabel…,and Joshua…,the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.”

And the Lord encouraged them:

Haggai 1:13-14 “Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.

And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel….,governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua…., the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,”

When the Lord is “with us”, we are in a very secure place, for His power is at work for us.

For the Lord also made Darius the king find a decree, which had not been found before. By that decree, the Israelites were to be funded, and encouraged! (Ezra 6:2-3, 6-7)

And the Lord gave them a very great promise:

Haggai 2:7, 9 “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with (the)glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Part of the temple they were finishing, would be there when God sends His Son, Jesus Christ. (It was; for Herod built his temple around part of this original building. Jesus walked on the stones they laid.)

And, when they obeyed; The Lord blessed them in all the other things:

Haggai 2:19 “Is the seed yet in the barn? Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.”

The Lord has said to us:

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

We are to concentrate on His Purpose for us: to do His Will.

And He will be “with you” today, tomorrow, and so on.