Remember Lot’s Wife

Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.”

Why would our Lord want us to remember Lot’s wife?

Because looking back is a trap we should not fall into.

The story:

Lot lived in Sodom. Sodom and Gomorrah were situated in a beautiful valley; full of lush pastures, and full rivers. They were rich cities, and Lot and his family had moved there to enjoy all they had to offer. But…

But they were also wicked places. Terrible sexual practices were carried out in the city, and all of them were allowed on any who would venture in. They were also idolatrous people; so bad that “the cry of them is great before the face of the Lord”.

God sent angels to Lot, so that he and his familxy, could escape the coming destruction.

Genesis 19:12-13 “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any beside? Son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of the place:

For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.”

Well, Lot told his family,…..but no one would listen to him; “he seemed as one that mocked”. (Genesis 19:14).

They thought he was joking.

After all, Lot lived in Sodom; had been there quite a while, surely this was not going to happen.

Beside, when was the last time Lot talked about God? He must be joking.

When the next morning came, the angels said:

Genesis 19:15 “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.”

It was time to go, but he hesitated.

Hesitation is such an easy thing for us to do.

We wait, a moment or so,…….wishing things were different;……and by doing so, lose the joy in doing the Lord’s Will, in what is next.

In mercy the Lord had His angels take hold on their hands and guide them out of the city.

Genesis 19:16-17 “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful to him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.”

Standing outside the city the angels warn them not to look back, but to keep moving forward.

God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, for their awful sin, before it corrupted more of the world.

They started to go to a little city, at the far end of the plain. And when they got there, two things happened:

The Lord did destroy the cities with fire,…utterly.

And Lot’s wife looked back.

Genesis 19:24, 26 “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;”

“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

But why did she look back at such destruction?

She did not want to leave that life. They were pretty well-to-do. They had a standing in the city, for Lot had a position of judge; for he sat in the gate, as judge.

Even though it was a wicked place, she enjoyed the life of “being somebody”…..and she did not want to leave it.

She did not want to go on, to what she did not know. She did not trust the Lord.

No! She only wanted what she had.

So she looked back, and was turned into a pillar of salt.

But why salt? As a warning….For salt is suppose to preserve.

She should have preserved her family in the belief of the true God….and kept looking forward.

But, she got wrapped up in the things of this life,…..and she began to love them too much….she expected that it would continue….so she gave herself over to them…..and it cost her, her life.

Even though she felt like this,…..(and I want to stress this!)…..if she had simply obeyed God’s Word,….she would have been delivered.

But…she didn’t.

How much our unbelief takes away from us.

How many of us have tripped and fallen here?

Wishing for…..something,…..instead of taking the next step with Jesus.

Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt hath lost it’s savor: wherewith it shall be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

Jesus says: Remember Lot’s wife.

Some times it is hard to go forward: very hard.

But we need to remember that God always has our best interests on His heart.

God does all things in mercy to His people.

We need to receive it, and go along with Him.

Paul said:

“…Forgetting what is behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

We are called to take each step with Him; that is all.

That will save us from the destruction that is in this world, all around us….

And He often takes our hand, when we hesitate, and even helps us do that.

We just need to believe and obey Him.

Remember Lot’s wife.

A New Thing

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Of course these verses apply to Israel….but once I was praying about something, and the Lord showed me this verse.

I needed a “new thing” right about then….a “new way” in my wilderness….

(Notice….”it shall spring forth”. I love the Lord’s Words! Right when we see a wilderness, or a desert…..He shall make things “spring forth”….like the seed coming into a plant; like the blossoms on a fruit tree! All the things….the new things of life! God-given life to us!)

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

They are back in the past….if confessed and forgiven….forget them…

….and get on with the Lord’s Will for our lives….now.

He showed me that I should commit each day into His hand….asking His Will done in it….with me.

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

We should live each day as if it were our most important time.

I have often gone through a month….thinking of an important date, at the end of the month….when each day, should have been my concern.

The past we can do nothing about….

….the future we do not have….but we can live today for Christ Jesus, giving Him our time, and efforts….to honor Him.

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

It really is, our most important time.

How many of us seek His blessing for each day…..true we are grateful for the blessings that come…..health, encouragements, helps.

But the blessing He wants us to experience is…..the blessing of knowing His Will is done by us,…..the rest and joy it brings.

If we are to truly “apply ourselves to wisdom”….it will be on a daily basis….with the Lord.

(Wisdom is God’s Light to show us the practical use of knowledge. We may know certain facts…..even Bible facts; but are at a loss to be able to use them in my situation. Wisdom lights things up, practically,…..it shows us how to take what we know….and get the job done.

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.)

“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”. This is God speaking….He, will “make a way”….

The wilderness in scripture is a place of trials, and discipline.

When the children of Israel needed water….water was given from a Rock (Exodus 17:6)

When the children of Israel needed food….manna was given…along with instruction as how to use it. (Exodus 16:12-16)

When they needed deliverance from attack….instructions were given for Moses and Joshua. Moses to lift up the rod (prayer)….and Joshua to fight with the men. (Exodus 17:10-11)

The cloud during the day….and the light at night never left them…but they were told to follow it. (Exodus 13:21-22)

The lessons varied….they were to learn that God will supply, when there is no supply…

….To learn to be a warrior and leader….

….To learn that they are not alone, or abandoned….no matter the correction.

The wilderness is often compared to our spiritual journey here:

Psalm 68:7 “O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah.

It was God’s “march”…..a ordered set of circumstances which led them through trials…..to prepare them for the step ahead….and their life ahead.

(Some failed….because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19)……

….some learned….the generation which were children when they came from Egypt…went in and took the land (Joshua 24:31)

…and those that learned, reaped the benefits of God’s training.)

But the most important thing for us to remember is……no matter the trial they went through:…..God provided.

He made a way in the wilderness….and rivers in the desert….and He will do the same for us.

Perhaps today is the time to turn your back on the past….not to look to tomorrow……but to see today….and what your God would have you to learn, to do, to see, to know, to share…with Him…..today.

1 Peter 1:6-8 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

There is a “new thing” He wants to do, in us…..for us…..through us…

Will we let Him give us wisdom for today, and walk in His light, in that way He is making for us?

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. And the first step in repentance is….coming to Christ in honesty.

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 be 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 (and God helps us, if we will come to Him)….and receive Him (John 1:12)

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.

Thou Wilt

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

This peace is not the result of our self determination….trying to “be calm”,……but it is ministered to us by God.

Peace of mind is freedom from anxiety, worry, fear, and panic…

….God gives this to us, as we commit ourselves unto Him.

The word “mind” here is imagination….and how easily they can carry us away.

(A funny story: when my daughter was small (about 35 years ago)….a member of our congregation gave us a old rooster they had to get rid of. (We braised it with vegetables….very tasty. Evidently their family did not want to try and eat it.)

Well, when my daughter heard we were having rooster, she asked what it tasted like.

“Like chicken”, I said, not thinking anything about it.

“Yea, well somebody said rattlesnake taste like chicken (where she heard that, I have no idea!)….are we eating snake?”

“No, no” I said, laughing, “a rooster is a boy chicken.”

“Oh….ok”……but she sure looked at it when it came on her plate.

We still laugh about….”Is this real chicken,chicken?”)

How often we “imagine” scenarios in our minds, with the knowledge we have….when what we need to do….is trust Jesus….

…..He knows everything…and is prepared for everything…..and will guide us, if we will let Him.

Trust is to hang on to.

When our hearts are looking to Christ, and our minds are trusting Him for our lives…..we have peace.

It garrisons us…..like a fortress; we are kept from the chaos of worry and from the desire to “do something”…..when we do not know what to do.

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

For those that love God;….who are listening for His Voice,….when we are doing His Will….it brings peace to our lives, like nothing else.

There is a settled rest within us…..no matter what is around us.

Isaiah 48:18 “O that thou hast harkened to My commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and they righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

Our peace comes to us through Christ:

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

“Thou wilt”.

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

Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.

Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

“Stayed” has the meaning of longevity…..it is a decision to keep before our thoughts…..this one particular thought…..”I am God’s, and He is here with me”

And this is personal. “Thou wilt keep him….”

I love this verse in Psalms:

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

Chariots and war horses lined up in battle make a grand sight….and many have trusted in them, only to be broken and defeated by God.

(Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea, the five kings Joshua 10:11, the siege of Samaria 2 Kings 7:4-7, Singing instead of fighting 2 Chronicles 20:17,21-22, and others,….because they believed in God.)

But the Name of my God, if remembered (that Name suggesting all of His character and attributes)…..will stay our hearts and minds in the battles we face….today.

He will give us peace.

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

We shall know…..if we follow on to know.

Do you want to know the Lord, more?

Isaiah 54:13 “And all Thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of Thy children.”

Do you want to be taught of Him?

(God does not yield to experimentation….He does not say….”try Me, and see whether I am God.”

No, He states….”I am God,….believe Me.”

Isaiah 40:28-29 “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

To know God, is to have a more personal relationship with Him.

Let me ask you…..do you talk with Him, everyday…..bringing both your sins for confession (1 John 1:9), and your deliverances and victories to Him, in praise?)

“His going forth”

This speaks of His Purpose…….which is ever going forward….

……..though we may not see it clearly……..yet,…

His going forth in His Word (Isaiah 55:11);…..His going forth by His Spirit (Romans 8:13-15);……His going forth in battle for us (Ephesians 6:10).

“And He comes unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rains on the earth.”

Rain speaks of His temporal mercies…..for He sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45)

These latter and former rains were essential for a good harvest in Israel.

The latter rains in March-May, when the crop was coming to fruition….to give the best harvest.

The former rains in October-December, when the crops were first planted….to give them the best start.

And this was by the mercy of God.

Hosea was calling God’s people to know Him…..God was giving them a chance to rekindle the fire of zeal…but not in sacrifices…..but in fellowship and relationship.

Hosea 6:4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.”

The morning cloud and early dew promise much for the crops and vineyards…..they look real good…..but deliver little.

For as soon as the sun comes up…..they disappear…no rain then….the dew gone, and the plants drying out.

They gave no lasting benefit.

So were the changes of Ephraim (one name for Israel, the northern kingdom) and Judah.

They showed promise of repentance….they became very religious….but it was not a lasting change of the heart.

Hosea 6:5 “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth.”

The Lord sought to restore them….that is why Hosea, and other prophets were sent…..to speak His Words to them….if they will hear, and follow Him again. He sent judgements to show light on their sins.

“Then shall they know, if they follow on to know…”

The sacrifices were only as good as the hearts that brought them.”

Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

“I desired mercy”…..”mercy” here is a word which speaks of affection and loyalty under the covenant.

And this affection and love is for both God, and all the sons of the covenant.

This is what He wanted of them,…..to get their hearts right with Him…..and with their brothers.

“And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”.

For them to really know their God…..that is what He has always wanted….not just from Israel…..but down through the ages in His church.

For His people to know Him…..

……..and that can not be done without fellowship….and following after.

To worship Him in Spirit and in truth….this He wants from all His people….heart worship.

And worship is worthyship…..counting the Lord worthy of our all.

He seeks this from us, today.

And He is still calling,……all who will, to……

(Hosea 6:1-3):

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will lead us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.”

(How often He had to stand by and let their enemies hurt them….to wake them up to their sin!

Isaiah 54:7-8 “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies shall I gather thee.

In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Lord thy Redeemer.”)

“After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.”

(Some, (I do) see the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ here…and all that it gives us. Promised so many times to those who would know Him!)

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

To follow on…..because He is going on…..will we go with Him?

As sure as the light in the sky tomorrow….His going forth for us, in His Purpose is prepared and ready.

And He shall…..He shall come unto us in mercy….if we follow on with Him……we will begin to have all that He has Purposed for us.

One day He will come to judge the earth….but today He still calls in mercy….

…..are we hearing Him?

Empty your Hands

What is that in thine hand?

Have you ever considered what hinders you from doing the work the Lord wants you to do?

Are you hanging on to something that you need to let go of?

Or are you hanging on to “the rod” , which will never be used for God, till you give it to God?

Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.”

Moses had been a prince of Egypt, a defender of his brethren, a fugitive, and a shepherd.

But now he was called of God to go and bring out the Israelites from slavery, to take them to the promised land of Canaan.

But how was he going to do this?

The Lord first called him, then showed him one of the means he was to use, to do the work….his shepherd’s rod.

Of course, this rod was not the only means, Moses used to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt.

But it was in his hand at the time God called him.

Exodus 4:3-5 “And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared into thee.”

God chose to sanctify the rod for His work: so it was given to Moses for a means of deliverance for the children of Israel.

I remember how often, as a child, a older person would tell me to “empty my hands, so you can pick up that other thing.”

Here, the Lord is telling Moses that it is time to let go of the life he had in Midian, and to do the next work….His work of deliverance.

Now we can not fill our hands with God’s work, if we will not empty them of other things.

Exodus 4:21 “And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.”

“Which I have put in thine hand.”

Only the things God puts in our hands are for His work.

Sometimes they are for a specific work and then to be laid aside. Sometimes they are for our whole life work.

The means are all at God’s disposal, not ours.

Our job is to empty our hands, and fill them with what He puts there.

One of the means we are always to use is His Word. It is always right at hand, and it is for our instruction in righteousness.

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

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Another means we are to use is grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of power.

(We think of grace as a New Testament word…but it was first used when God chose Noah to save those who would believe God, from the flood to come. Genesis 6:8)

Zechariah 4:7 “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, Grace unto it.”

(Whatever “mountains” of difficulties are before us; it is God’s grace that can overcome against them.)

Power for what we need in this circumstance. Given by God at the time we need it, as we ask for it. (Hebrews 4:16).

Grace can be strength, courage, words, and /or whatever we need at the time.

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Faith is another means we have. Faith is given to us at new birth; and increased as we follow after Christ in believing obedience. It is to be used: (“I believe, help my unbelief”. Mark 9:23-24).

The means for God’s Work, are God’s.

Our job is to empty our hands, and fill them with what He puts there.

Now According to the Faithful and True Witness

Revelation 3:14 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God.”

I will say here, that we believe that we are called to this Laodicean age. In other words we believe that we are called to Awaken the church to God’s claims on their lives.

As Christians, we are redeemed; we belong to Him, therefore His Will should be the purpose of our lives.

(Yes, we believe that these letters each represent both a real church being written to; and an age within the Church dispensation.

In each letter, the church or the true believers is the focus—not the lost. Jesus Christ is dictating these letters so they will know how He feels about their problems, their tribulations, and their failures; and the grace they need to get, to deal with them.)

Thus saith the Amen.

Now, He alone can say this: this means “Let it be, Let it happen.” He alone is the Affirmation and Confirmation of every Word of God.

We must say, “If God wills.” (James 4:13-15). But He can say Amen, and it will be.

The Faithful and True Witness. A witness just states what He sees and what He knows.

And what does Jesus see when He looks at Laodicea?

Revelation 3:15-16 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.”

(Indifference to God, after He has done so much for us; is the very worst state we can possibly be in.

And if continued in, will result in being “spued out of His mouth”.)

And the reason of our indifference?

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

Because we say, that I am rich, and increased with goods….and our attitude is

I “have need of nothing”….not even God’s direction, anymore.

This attitude is:

“I am saved, and for that I will praise You; but let me have my place in this world with all of it’s goods…..

……for I can have heaven and earth; both salvation and the world…..

and do what I want for now.”

But Jesus sees their true condition before Him, and says: And knowest not!

Is it possible to be in such a state and not know it? According to the Faithful and True Witness, it is; and we Laodiceans, are.

We do not know that we are really wretched:

This is a terrible word, but Paul used it of himself when he was testifying of his battle with himself, his “old man”.

Paul was a very religious Pharisee, but he discovered from the Spirit of God, his covetousness.

To covet is to “set the heart upon”.

(When we set our hearts upon something, it takes over our emotions, our reason, and our wills…..we even become unwilling to listen to God,…to have this thing.)

Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Why did he say this? Because he saw that even as a Christian, we have our old nature within us.

Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

Paul was having trouble with his old self. He was trying to do what God wanted, but found that his trying often failed.

Paul knew he was wretched.

So what did he do? He sought freedom from self, by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:2, 4 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Here was the answer to his wretchedness: walking in the Spirit, not in the flesh.

We Laodiceans are trying to do both: be in Christ, and in the world……for ourselves.

Christ Jesus plainly teaches that if you would be a follower of Christ you should deny yourself, pick up your cross [does that sound like something the world would like to be around?] and follow Him.

We are to lose our self-life, to have our Christ- life (Matthew 16:24-26)

That is why the Faithful and True Witness says we are also:

miserable [how many Christians today are unhappy, discontented],

and poor [not rich in God’s grace by His Spirit, but barely getting by]

and blind [someone has said, we are blind because we have our eyes shut, so we can not see ourselves as Christ sees us]

And naked [without the righteous acts which are those obediences to God, which separate us from the world, and give a “covering” of peace, and power]

Christ’s witness has been against us so far……..but our blessed Lord Jesus does not leave us (never!); but counsels us, as our Advocate, with the best advice:

Revelations 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

When we “buy” from Jesus, we are not buying salvation; that is a free gift.

But when we are His, we are to come to Him and get what we need.

He calls it “buying” here because we are to come with the attitude of getting real gain, real value.

To come with the knowledge of our lack; and seek Him for His precious grace, being obedient to His call;….this is to “buy” from Him.

He knows all and counsels us to get gold—gold always speaks of God. So we are to get the true riches of His commanding presence and power in our lives.

(Tried in the fire, is true gold with the dross or admixture burnt out, by the trials of standing with Him)

He counsels us to get white raiment, or the covering of righteous acts, so we will not be ashamed at His coming. (2 John 8-9)

He counsels us to stop being blind, by getting honest (by the Holy Spirit’s help) with Him and with ourselves.

As the Lord told me once: that if any true Christian would get a good look at their own heart, they would want to do something about it immediately.

Then Jesus says to His Laodicean church:

Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

This is fellowship…

And the power of His presence.

(Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”)

“I will come into him and will sup with him”….these two things the Lord says He will do…..if we will repent and open our lives to Him, again.

Do you hear Him today, calling you to repent of your lukewarmness to Him?

Then answer His voice:

To answer the call of Christ in this Laodicean age, requires not an answer of words at some altar;

But the answer of a life open to and receptive to Him.

None other will do.

He says, “I will”. Will you?

Raised

We celebrate Christ’s birth….and sinless life…and honor our Lord who was sacrificed, crucified for me…..but…

…one of the great Bible facts is that:

Christ was raised the third day by the power of God, in acknowledgement of His perfect redemption.

(God’s ways are complete….He never leaves things half done. He finishes all that He begins….not always right away…not always the way we think….but He will see it finished. John 19:20)

Jesus showed His disciples what He was to suffer….but that He would be raised:

Matthew 16:21 “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised again the third day.”

And why was this the time He began to warn them, of what was coming?

Because they had just declared faith in Him as the Son of God.

Matthew 16:13-16 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?

And they said, Some say that Thou art John the Baptist, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But Whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

They had followed Him….hearing His Words, and believing His works….that He was the Messiah, the Anointed One…..but now they knew He was the Son of God…….Who had come to call a people to believe and follow Him, wherever that led.

He warned them twice more:

(Matthew 17:22-23)

Matthew 20:17-19 “And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death,

And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”

But then the arrest happens….surrounded with so much darkness and hatred……they fail Him….

….but God, His Father, does not.

Christ’s perfect purity, kept Him through His life.

Christ’s perfect subjection and peace, kept Him through His arrest, questions, beatings, and the cross.

(At the end, even with the horror and the weight of our sin upon Him….the agony of the pain and separation from the Father…still He “yielded up the ghost”…it was His choice to die for us….throughout it all. Matthew 27:50)

And God, the Father, raised Him up, the third day.

Matthew 28:1-2, 5-6 “In the end of the Sabbath (Saturday), as it began to dawn toward the first day (Sunday) of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

“He is risen.”

And because He lives, we can, too.

The resurrection was a choice part of the gospel that the Apostles told….as they traveled all over the world.

We have a living Lord and Savior!

(There are fourteen times that Acts says about Christ’s being raised, or His resurrection.

Peter preached it…

Acts 5:30-31 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

And Paul preached it…

Acts 17:30-31 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”)

In Romans, Paul takes the resurrection and explains it where we, as believers are concerned:

Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

We are to walk……in the power of His Resurrection Life.

Wonderful that our sins are put away by His death and sacrifice……but what good would that do for my life….without His resurrection?

I am still a sinner….and without the power of His Everlasting Life flowing in me and through me….I can not live to please Him.

But…..He is risen!

His life is now given me, when I believe and receive Him:

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

Paul explains it:

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

And Peter says:

1 Peter 1:3,5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Jesus said here on earth:

John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

As Christians:

By His life on earth, we are given an example as how we should live.

By His death, our sins are forgiven and put away…so we stand righteous before God.

By His resurrection, we are given Christ’s life in us, that we have power to live unto God.

He is Risen! Hallelujah! He is Risen, indeed!

Isaiah 53

No other prophet foretold as many things about the coming Christ, as Isaiah did…..in so many details.

He tells about Christ’s birth….Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7

He tells about John the Baptist’ message…Isaiah 40:3-5

But in this chapter, Isaiah gives God’s Word about the life, and ministry of Christ Jesus….as God’s Perfect Servant.

The first thing is……Isaiah is amazed, at the rejection of the One Who comes to save them!

Isaiah 53:1 “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed?”

Here is both a question and exclamation!

What, after so many prophesies telling about the incarnation and work of the Lord Jesus…..you still do not believe what you see, right before you?

John 12:37 “But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him:”

The “Arm of the Lord” is a showing of God’s Mighty Strength….and that was shown again and again in Christ Jesus.

By the miracles He did,….but especially by the powerful “arm” of salvation, which He spoke of,…if we believe on Him.

Isaiah shows about Christ’s life:

Isaiah 53:2 “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.”

Here is the reason Israel did not at first recognize Him….He came disguised as a servant…..of the kingly line, yes…..in Bethlehem, yes…..but lowly.

Even the first words of the Lord we hear are that of a servant…..

(Luke 2:49) “How is it that ye sought Me? Wish ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

He grew up as “a tender plant”…..which is the word for a “root-sprout”. It means a sprout or sapling from the stump of a cut down tree….

…God had cut down the kingly line of David, because of their continued rebellion….

….yet now….here is a tender plant….unappreciated by most,…of the line of David……beautiful in kindness and purity…but not grand to the eyes of sight.

Yet Christ Jesus grew up “before Him”….before the eyes of His Father…under HIs care and protection.

Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.”

It is hard to understand their hatred and rejection of the Son of God.

Why did we despise Him? Was it not because He showed us our sins…..and we did not like to see them?

We did not esteem, or honor Him.

To Israel……He came to save, yet they refused to be saved.

He fed five thousand……yet was often hungry and thirsty Himself.

He came preaching the kingdom of heaven was at hand, healing the sick and blind…..yet instead of praise….He was questioned and called names.

He was a man of sorrows….for He saw and felt the sorrow of the sin of this world, as He walked here…..

(He was often grieved at the unbelief and hardness of heart of the people [Mark 3:5])

…….until He bore the penalty of the sin of this world on the cross.

(Though He knew the sorrow of the sin around Him,…..He rejoiced in spirit with the Father, fulfilling the work to remove both the sin and the sorrow of sin. Luke 10:21-22)

This was our Savior’s life here on earth…..(John 1:10-11 “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”)

Isaiah then tells of His death….yes, he foretold the Messiah would die….

Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

All sickness, sorrow, and pain are the effects of sin.

And on the cross, Christ Jesus suffered the penalty for all our sin….pain, grief, aloneness, death….all that we should have borne because I am a sinner…..He did. (Wounded, bruised, chastisement, stripes!)

Yet…..

….what a telling word.

Yet, though He did that, they misunderstood His sufferings….and mocked Him.

They cried out, at the foot of the cross (Matthew 27:42-43) “….He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, I am the Son of God.”

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.”

Here is our guilt….we have gone astray from God.

(“Gone astray” means to vacillate…to stagger or stray because of deception, excitement, agitation, or seduction.

It is a picture of a wanderer, with no fixed destination……lost, but always moving to something else.)

We have turned from Him, and the knowledge of Him. (Romans 1:19-20)

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before His shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.”

He was the Lamb of God,….

He was very willing to speak on behalf of the faint and weak…Matthew 14:14-18

He was very willing to encourage and acknowledge faith….Matthew 8:10, 15:28,

He was very willing to speak up so that the disciples would be let go when they arrested Him…..John 18:8-9

Yet, He never spake a word in His own defense…..Matthew 26:62-63

Isaiah 53:8 “He was taken from prison and from judgement: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken.

And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich with His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.”

He had done the rulers no harm…..only spoke the truth….but they sought His life.

He was hurried from arrest, to judgement…..let us be rid of Him.

He was killed…cut off…violently put to death.

They intended His death,…….God intended salvation through His blood and sacrifice.

He was crucified between two thieves….but even there, saving one (Luke 23:39-43)

He was buried in the new tomb given by the rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. (John20:38-42)

On the cross Jesus Christ was a victim…..but in His resurrection He is Victor.

And here is His resurrection and ascension!

All the life, and power that Christ Jesus had before,….and more honor…..is given to Him.

And in the end, this is what God thinks of the life, death, and resurrection of His Son…..for this was ever His plan for the salvation of His people, as it was foretold here:

Isaiah 53:10-12 “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors: and He bear the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

These verses are very precious….for God tells of the delight in His Son, at the cross…

Delight…..because the cross….the sacrifice, was the only way for joy and redemption to come to man….for God is a God of righteousness and justice….and by Christ, God’s righteous demands for justice are met.

Therefore God saves us…..Christ Jesus shall see His seed….those believers which come to Him. (John 1:12, Hebrews 12:2)

God shall prolong His days…..For God raised up Christ from death and the grave….and He shall ever be our Mediator…..justifying us before God. (1Timothy 2:5)

God has promised a Kingdom to His Son,……now, in the hearts of the believers;….

….with whom He shares His grace and glory (Romans 8:14-17)…..

Ephesians 1:17-22 (condensed) “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you….in the knowledge of Him:…

…that ye may know….what is the riches of….His inheritance in the saints,

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

Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places,

And hath put all things under His feet, and have Him to the head of all things to the church,”

…..but also, one day….

….Christ will reign here, over the whole earth.

(Psalm 110:1, Acts 2:34-36)

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 “Then cometh the end, when He shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power.

For He must reign till hath put down all enemies under His feet.”

Christ is the Victor…..because He won the victory over sin, the devil, and death.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As a Servant of God, Christ came lowly, and in humiliation….and won the greatest Victory…..that we might come to God in peace.

It is the Eleventh Hour

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

If these two verses were not put together…..we would be in a desperate state.

The “heart” in the Bible speaks about our soul…..our personality, made up of heart, mind, and will.

Our hearts are deceitful, because they lie to us….making us “feel” things that may or may not be true.

But…..the Lord will search our hearts….and try our wills (reins)….and give us according to the tenor of our choices…..do we really want His Will….

Time is important.

We all make choices in things we can not change….

So, what can we do?

Matthew 20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.”

The Kingdom of Heaven, if it is to be gained, is by One man.

The householder here;…..our Lord Jesus Christ;….and His call to come to Him….for salvation….and service.

(God’s call is always to Himself: it may be to Salvation, or it may be to a work, or it may be to get more knowledge of Himself.

But His Call is always to Himself.)

This parable is concerning the work Christ has for each of His.

Christ calls those who are part of the Kingdom of Heaven, not to sit around,…..but to labor in His Work in this World.

Will you see yourself here?

Now, within every believer, there is a “clock”, so to speak.

This clock begins to tick the moment we are born again. It is like a time clock for the Work of the Lord, for ourselves.

When Christ calls to the Work:

Some respond early, and go to work for Christ.

Matthew 20:1-2 “…a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into His vineyard.

And when He had agree with the laborers for a penny a day, He sent them into his vineyard.”

(Back then, there were twelve hour days, and a penny was a good days wage.)

Some respond later, but still go.

Matthew 20:3-5 “And He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Again He went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.”

But some stand idle all the day; they are inactive, and barren.

Matthew 20:6-7 “About the eleventh hour He went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that ye shall receive.”

Now, maybe they did not really feel that this Householder was calling them, when He had come before….after all, others went….wasn’t that enough?

But He meant,……all who would go to work for Him….should.

(We are all called as witnesses…if to nothing else. And every word of testimony for Him…..Jesus counts as fruit to His glory)

How can God’s people be idle…in a time when the world is surely dieing?

Maybe, because they are unaware that faith should lead to the total commitment of our lives to Jesus Christ as Lord.

Without any instruction that real Christian Victory, means complete abandonment or subjection of our self and person, to Jesus Christ.

So when the householder said, “Go into my vineyard”; Jesus was giving these the opportunity of doing that.

(How many times in our lives has He done so?)

Where were these “idle” ones, during the times He came before?

He accuses them of standing idle “all the day”, so they must have been there.

Yet they did not heed His call to go and work.

What about you? Has the Lord Jesus called for laborers, and you stood idle?

When others went, you were relieved that you did not “have to” go?

Yet the time (remember each of us have a clock, ticking) goes by.

Does the knowledge of our lack of fruit for Him, trouble us?

Now the day is almost gone.

Oh, if He would just call again; for the Kingdom of Heaven is wrapped up in the laborers He has called.

Then He does, rebuking us for our laziness, for our attitude of letting someone else do the work.

What will you do now?

Let this last opportunity go by again? For it is the eleventh hour…..shall we not go and work….even if it is just for this last bit of time?

Then at the end of times….when the work is done:

Matthew 20:9-10 “And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

But when the first came,……and they received every man a penny.”

Here is the “wages” of these workers.

(Not the wages of sin; Christ took those)

But in Him we receive the rewards of our obedience to His call; and our faithfulness…….even after we have been unfaithful.

Some labored longer; some a very short time.

Yet the householder, Jesus Christ, pays out the same wages to all.

Those wages are the reward for the faithful following of His call….of putting of yourself aside for Christ’s sake, and for the faithful love which follows Him.

In that day of receiving, if we have worked for Him……we will enter into His Joy, and into His courts, with praise.

Hallelujah, what a Savior! Who comes and calls again, in this eleventh hour!