Pilate

Matthew 27:22 “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They say unto him, Let him be crucified.”

This is a question each person will answer for themselves. What will you do with Jesus who is called the Christ?

Pilate was a common politician. He cared for nothing in Israel, except political gain for himself.

His headquarters were usually in a city by the Mediterranean Sea, but because of the Passover feast and the multitudes of people which could cause problems, he came up to Jerusalem.

This put him right in the middle of Christ’s trial.

(The chief priests only brought Him to Pilate, because by Roman law they could not put any prisoner to death. Only Rome had that power. (John 18:31)

Pilate knew that for envy the chief priests had brought Jesus to him. That there was nothing in their accusations.

Mark 15:10 “For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.”

And he tried three times to back out of a judgement against Jesus.

He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against Him, but refused to stand with the truth; choosing rather to try and wiggle out of making a decision.

(And how many of us do the same….try and wiggle out of making a decision about Christ Jesus,….or His Word to us?)

1st. They brought Jesus to Pilate accusing Him of perverting the nation. They said He told them not to obey Caesar or pay taxes……and for being Christ, a king.

Luke 23:2 “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king.”

Pilate asks Jesus if He is a king. Jesus reply’s, “Thou sayest it.” And tells Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36-38)

Pilate again asks, “Art thou a king then?”

Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, ad for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.

Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.”

Pilate’s classic answer: “What is truth?”

(Certainly Pilate was not usually acquainted with the truth. Deals, flattery, and deceit were what he knew. But he was standing in front of Truth.)

But he knew Jesus was innocent, so he went out, and tells the rulers he found no fault in Him. If they wanted to take Him and beat him, they could.

But His death was what they wanted.

2nd. When Pilate hears that Jesus was from Galilee, he thinks to get out of a judgement by sending Jesus to Herod.

But Jesus would not even speak to Herod, so Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate.

Luke 23:7, 11 “And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was at Jerusalem at that time.

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”

Pilate can not get rid of Him.

Faced with a decision about Jesus, he again tries to release Him. (Even his wife tells him to “have nothing to do with that just man”. Matthew 27:19)

Luke 23:13-16 “And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him, and , lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

I will therefore chastise him, and release him.”

Jesus is then beaten, and brought again before Pilate. He thinks that if they see that Jesus was punished, they might think he had done enough.

3rd. When the chief priests see that Pilate might not put Jesus to death, they tell Pilate that Jesus made himself the Son of God. (John 19:7)

This frightens Pilate and he asks Jesus, “Whence art thou?”

Jesus refuses to speak, and Pilate speaks the words that will condemn him forever:

John 19:10 “Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?”

Yes, he had the power; but refused to use it as he knew he should.

John 19:12-13 “And from thencefore Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and set forth down in the judgement seat….”

That was the breaking point: they told him that he was not a friend of Caesar if he released Jesus,……for Jesus had made himself a king.

The politician’s heart in Pilate ruled that day.

(Did we let our position before men rule us? Or do we stand with Jesus, even when it means loss to us?)

Jesus was led out before the mob. He had been beaten and was wearing a crown of thorns and the purple robe.

Pilate cried: “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”

The chief priests had persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas, instead of Jesus. (Mark 15:11)

So Jesus was rejected one last time by a mob, crying, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”

Three times Pilate tried to get out of the judgement of Jesus Christ, when all he had to to was do the right thing: Jesus was innocent, so release Him. This he knew, but refused to act upon….

….what will we do?

Pilate tried to persuade himself that he was innocent, and he washed his hands in front of the mob (Matthew 27:24), but Jesus’s blood will be required of him for eternity.

Mark 15:15 “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.”

We all make choices according to the ruling attitudes of our hearts and minds.

That is why it is so important for us to let Christ rule in our hearts as our King.

Then He can choose for us.

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

What will we do with Jesus?

Will we acknowledge Him as our King? Even before others?

Our Inheritance in Light

Colossians 1:12-13 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

We have an inheritance….both in heaven (1 Peter 1:4)…and here….and we can thank our Heavenly Father for it.

He ‘has made us able in Christ Jesus’ to be partners in the inheritance which Christ won for us…..along with all the saints.

This inheritance is “in light”.

(Think of all the things we have from the light of God: a knowledge of Him,…..knowledge of ourselves,….an understanding of what the scriptures say to me…light is power against the darkness of this world….all these and more we have in our inheritance!)

God has delivered us from….the power of darkness….in Christ Jesus.

……and not only so, but God has translated us into the kingdom of His Dear Son.

Translated is a Roman term……

When Rome wanted a city built along a road…..or by a sea, for shipping;….

….they would take another city near by, and move everyone in it,…..to the new site, and tell them to re-build there.

They would move them….and let the people build new lives there….under the protection and citizenship of Rome.

For when they translated a city, every person became a Roman citizen automatically, with all the rights and privileges of that.

So Paul is saying that God has done the same thing to us.

God has taken us….and moved us to a new life in Christ’s kingdom. He has given us heavenly citizenship in Him, and all the rights and privileges of being His citizens.

(Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God:”)

We are to see that we remove everything of the old life….for it we don’t….we might look back on it, causing an occasion for us to be tripped up.

(Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32)

God has told us to build our new life with Him….in His Light…

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.”

This is building our new life;……walking in the light….this is the path our new life takes….

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

The light dawns….you may not see the sun yet, but the darkness is turning to light.

Then the sun is up….how it brightens our senses; our hearts rejoice….our minds wake up….our bodies are nourished.

But it is not at high noon….for the sun casts it light….and as it does, it makes shadows from the things which are between it and us.

The sun can still be hid behind trees, our house, etc.;…..until…

…it comes to high noon.

Then it is straight above us…..where nothing can come between it and us.

All is light, then.

This is the plan of God for our lives….to remove all hinderances to His Light in our lives …..so that we are walking in the sunshine of His love, with nothing between He and us.

This is our inheritance, here. We have an inheritance in heaven as well,….but here, our inheritance is light…..having fellowship with God….and all that it gives…for “God is light” (1 John 1:5)

His light gives us true sight….for we can not see things in the darkness…

(and how much darkness there is in our old resentments, in anger, in fear and panic, in greed, or pride….for these things magnify “our feelings”, and block the Light He wants to give us.)

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

His Light gives us heat…for our hearts are to be fired up for Christ.

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous (boiling hot) therefore, and repent.”

All we need to be delivered from the power of the sin in our lives, is given us in Christ Jesus….

Romans 13:12, 14 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

Light purifies and cleanses….in the truth

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we are walking in the light….We have love for God and the fellow saints…

1 John 1:10 “he that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

What the sun’s light is in the natural world, God is to the spiritual….spreading HIs healthful rays out….to us.

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.”

The closer we walk with God, the more light we have to know His Will, and the more power to do it.

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

The Rainbow

Genesis 9:13-16 “I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the clouds:

And I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

Revelation 4:2-3 “And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One set on the throne.

And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald.”

The rainbow is a type of God’s grace.

The rainbow was given, in part, to show that God would keep His promise.

But, it was not only to assure man that God would not destroy the earth by flood again….but it was a gift of the new relationship between God and man.

His eye would be upon it….and man’s eye would look up for it.

The rainbow comes from both the storm and the sunshine.

The sun shines on the drops of rain still in the cloud, and the light broadens into the prism of color!

Science tells us the colors of nature…all come from the light itself….the pure ray, which is colorless to us…..but is actually made up of all colors…..

…the primary three being blue, red, and yellow.

The actual color of any object is the result of it’s capacity to absorb the rest….so, if a object absorbs the red and yellow rays….the object is blue;….if it absorbs the blue and the yellow…the object is red…and so on.

Someone has said….”light paints all nature”.

“…God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

God’s glory is beyond what we have sight for….but when He shows us one of His attributes…or His gifts to us, here and there…in HIs Word…..

…..they are broken down, so we are able to see them in their beauty.

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.”

When God shines light into our hearts….He does not turn….nor change His mind toward us.

He gives us as much of His grace, as we will use….

He gives more to those, who use what they have….and when they use that, He gives more, still.

It is like the rainbow….you can not find the end of it. The top you can see….but when it’s colors come down to us….you can try and find the end…but you can not.

The ends of the rainbow point down to earth, while the top is arched toward heaven. Like a bow, without an arrow….for when the rainbow is seen the storm has passed.

Grace was given from the sacrificial life and death of Christ…..

….all the storm of the penalty of our sins, fell on Him….

….therefore, God’s new relationship with us….is in grace.

(1 Peter 4:10 speaks of the “manifold grace of God.” And 1 Peter 5:10 tells us that God is “the God of all grace”. And grace is the unmerited favor of power to us)

As God said….”when I bring a cloud over the earth…” (Genesis 9:14)

Every storm that comes to us,….is not in penalty of sin….but in trial of faith.

It will pass,…..for it comes through His hands….with the promise of His grace being given to us with it.

Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned: neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”

This is God’s grace.

Peter

2 Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:”

Now we know Peter was an imminent Apostle. He was a good man, and from the first, Peter often did bold things….yet by it, would run into trouble.

He often spoke hurriedly, out of his heart’s emotion…and would trip himself up with his words.

He left all to follow Christ…Matthew 4:18-20…his livelihood….and his father.

He came out on the sea to walk to Jesus….during a storm….when Jesus sent them across the Sea of Galilee….Matthew14:28-31….though he became afraid as he looked at the waves…and began to sink (both in faith and in the water)…

He saw Jesus transfiguration on the mountain,……and had to say something!

He spoke of building tabernacles for Elijah, Moses and Jesus…..”for he did not know what to say..”….Mark 9:2-7

(And do we not open our mouths to say “something”, we hope is spiritual, when what we need to do is hear Jesus)

He declared in faith that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:13-17)…..

….then turned around and told the Lord that what He was saying about His death was not going to happen….Matthew 16:21-23

(And how many times we trust in the Lord…until it is something we do not like)

He swore he would never be offended because of knowing Jesus and said he would never deny Him….Matthew 26:33-35…but he did.

(Have we?)

He slept when he should have stayed awake and prayed….and is surprised when Jesus is betrayed….even though Jesus had warned him….

First, he pulls a sword and cuts off an ear, which Jesus healed (Luke 22:50-51)…..then he ran with all the disciples when Jesus let them take Him…Matthew 26:56

…..then he followed “afar off” with John, which went to the high priest’ palace to see what would happen…..but then denied the Lord three times, even before a young girl….Luke 22:55-62.

Peter is one of the first disciples, again with John, at the empty tomb (Luke 24:12)….yet a while later he says….”I go a fishing”….and goes back to fishing at Galilee….John 21:3

(What of us? After a failure, do we become despondent….and feel our witness useless?)

He was with Jesus for three full years…seeing miracles, and hearing Christ’s Words….

….he truly believed in Jesus as the Christ…

….yet, in himself, he was weak…..easily blown around by circumstances…..and emotions….

…and are not we the same, as Peter?

Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

At the Sea of Galilee, he is forgiven by the resurrected Jesus…..three times he denied the Lord….three times he told the Lord he loved Him. (John 21:15-17)

Restored, he does what he is told and waits for the Holy Spirit back at Jerusalem….where they are to stay till He empowers them (Acts 1:8)…..

….for forty days…he, and they…wait and pray…

….but then, on the day of Pentecost, after the Holy Ghost is given……it is Peter that stands up…..before the thousands gathered (yes, that could easily be a crowd to crucify him)….

….and speaks boldly of Christ Jesus….before them all….as Lord and Christ.

Acts 2:23-24, 32-33, 36, 38 “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be held of it.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Wherefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

That is laying the truth out before thousands….a crowd that could have taken and destroyed him….

…..yet under the power of God, many repented and believed.

What is the difference in Peter?

The Holy Spirit in him.

Jesus said about the Spirit:

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

This power, by the Holy Spirit, is what Peter received…..and went and used….being used in Jerusalem to lead the church at first….Acts 5:12-15

….he was sent down to Samaria to confirm the converts there…Acts 8:14-15

….then he went out and lead the first Gentiles to Christ….Acts 10

…..he wrote as a “servant and apostle of Jesus Christ”, that grace and peace would be multiplied unto them…”through the knowledge of God and our Savior Jesus Christ”

2 Peter 1:12-13 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;”

…ending, with his last word for Christ Jesus…

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Peter had done that….he had grown in the grace given him…..

…..weak in himself,….forgiven by Christ….he had received the Holy Spirit….and grown strong in the Lord.

More than the other Apostles….Peter is like us….(me, at least)

impetuous;

bold one moment and a coward then next;

loving of Christ, yet a failure;

full of things to say, but often “sticking his foot in his mouth”;….

…yet, his faith and love of Christ was real….and when he received the Holy Spirit….he went out, in obedience to Him….and witnessed, ministered, and encouraged his people to believe and love the Lord.

What of us? We are weak in ourselves….like Peter; forgiven by Christ, having received the Holy Spirit…

…but are we growing in grace….and in more knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord?

The Patience of God: Come, let us Reason Together

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

How patient the Lord is with us.

Talking to us, again and again.

Sometimes, He deals with an individual for a long time before there is the rebuke or the chastening.

Hebrews 12:5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:”

And it is all to get us into the way of peace.

It is very dangerous to be out of fellowship with our Lord.

This world is under the influence of our Adversary, the devil. Our only safe refuge, here, is next to Jesus.

Sometimes, He sends messages, or people to say what we are refusing to listen to,….from Him.

( I knew a lady, who had asked for some tracts from me. My ministry led me down that way, at that time. And she was interested in reading some of them.

So I brought several and gave them to her.

I had not noticed, but on the top was one on gossiping. I did not know she had this problem, and paid no attention to her reaction when I gave them to her.

Latter, she came up to me and asked me if I had given that tract to her on purpose.

I told her, No, I just brought some for you to read.

Well, she then told me that she was a gossip. And that the Lord had been dealing with her about it—but she had been trying to ignore it.

I told her I did not know that and if I had offended her, I was sorry; but if the Lord had spoken to her, that was between her and Him.

Then she smiled, and said, Yes, she would need to get it set right with Him.)

Sometimes, He makes us feel the darkness of our turning from Him; giving little hints of His light, if we would just return to Him.

However He deals with us; He does it out of love for us.

“Come, let us…”

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

This is not one-sided; it is the believer and their Lord sitting down and reasoning together.

This is a reality that must be of the Holy Spirit sinking deep within your soul.

It requires honesty, to sit still, and tell the Lord why you do not want to do what He tells you;……

…….or to tell Him of that thing that has become more important in your life than Him.

What is more important then His Will?

And as we are honest with Him, He will show us the truth about the whole thing.

(Isn’t wonderful that He is always saving us from all that would hurt us!)

We are totally dependent upon Him: His light, power, grace, mercy, peace, and joy.

But He is Almighty. The Creator and Sustainer of everything. He is able to help us in all that we come into.

He says,

“Come, let us reason together…”

Will we?

What does it mean to Overcome?

To Overcome means to subdue, have the Victory, prevail , or conqueror.

For us, as Christians, we are called to overcome everything which stands in the way of our doing the Lord’s Will.

This is a battle. We are to do battle with our lusts, our self life, and the world, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

First, Christ speaks of His Overcoming:

Luke 11:21-22 ” When a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace:

But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.”

This is speaking about Christ Jesus’ overcoming the Devil and releasing his prisoners.

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

This is speaking about His overcoming the world.

Both of these He overcame for us. On the Cross, when He said, “It is Finished”,……the Victory was won.

The Devil would have to open his prison house for those who received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The World and it’s influence, would not be able to persuade the Christian, who truly obeyed Christ; to follow it’s corruptions.

1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

The Victory is won; but we still have to enter into it, for ourselves, personally. This is the Battle.

We have to exercise the faith Christ gives us, in our lives, today.

For faith lays hold on God and His promise of Victory, and brings down from God the needed grace,…..that we can have it.

1 John 5:4-5 “And whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Faith looks to God. It says that God will, with Christ, “freely give us all things.”

Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

In the letters to the seven Churches; Christ Jesus commands those who have ears to hear; to “Hear what the Spirit says”. (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28, 3:5, 12, 21-22)

From the times of the Apostles, who warned of “wolves in sheep clothing” (Acts 20:29)…….to the present age, Christ Jesus is saying:

“Follow My Holy Spirit,….by hearing what He is saying to you;…..and overcome that which stands in the Way of doing My will for your life;…..My Spirit will show you all that hinders you, and how to remove it from your life.”

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

Just as the Man Christ Jesus, overcame every obstacle that stood in the Way of His Father’s Will for Him, here on earth….

(He went to the Cross, was Resurrected, and received all power in heaven and earth for His Church. Matthew 28:18-20)

….So must we overcome everything which stands in the way of Christ’s Will for our lives

He gives the faith which overcomes,…..the light which makes the darkness in our lives flee away,…..and the grace, by the Holy Spirit within, to finish the work He has given us….

….within ourselves, and….

…and the work of the Spirit in us, by us, and through us…for others.

Hold Thou me up

Ps 119:114-117 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy Word.

Depart from me, ye evil doers: For I will keep the commandments of my God.

Uphold me according to Thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statues continually.”

This is a prayer for the keeping power of God to “uphold”, or “hold Thou me up”….in the position that I have obtained through the Holy Spirit.

“There are so many enemies….within me, and temptations in this world….hold on to me, Lord Jesus.

I do not want to fear,….hold on to my peace.

I do not want to be angry,….hold on to my love.

I do not want to go my own way….hold me up by Your Word.”

Christ Jesus taught us to pray: “Lead us not into temptation”. For temptation is dangerous…though we do not often see it’s poison…..

….but dangerous situations call for extra watchfulness and prayers to our God, that He would stretch out His right hand….and help us.

This may not be immediate deliverance;….but His hand…holding us up…out of the mire of this world….

….the attitudes and emotions…the love of money or power…the misery and sorrow of failures (and who does not have them?)…or ingratitude.

Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Psalm 17:5 “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”

He helps us “hold fast” in His paths….those that are shown us in His Word.

We can not keep from sin, unless we keep to His Word.

Psalm 17:4 “Concerning the works of men, by the Word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”

When temptations are about…when the world’s siren call comes….and the devil tricks….

…..then we must pray…..hold Thou me up in Thy Word…..

….give me understanding to know….and grace to do……so that we may hold out against these temptations…and find His “way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Word is what Jesus used, when He was tempted by the devil. (Luke 4:4, 8, 12)

He could have easily used His deity to defeat the devil….

…..but instead….showed us the weapon we should use, when under attack….”It is written”…the Word of God.

The Word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17)….for it is by His reminding us of His Word….and by His power through it…that it is effectual for us….against our enemies…now.

(A few verses that have helped me:

1). Romans 14:22 “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing that he alloweth.”

What we know we should not do…..we should not do, that our conscience stays yielding to the Holy Spirit.

2). 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort:

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Our testimonies about what God has done for us….though they seem little to us…carry a great deal of weight with the Holy Spirit….they are reality…and He blesses them.

3). Ephesians 5:16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Each day brings things we never expected….so be prepared in the Lord…by prayer, before you begin the day.

4). Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

Praise God for this….and I ask for it often….”work in me, Lord”…..it is both: to will….for I am sometimes “unwilling” in this thing. And to do….for I am often lazy in this thing.

5). Colossians 3:15-16 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts….and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;…”

We must yield and stand upon His peace,……and HIs Word must be listened to.

6). 1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

In how many scriptures does God call us to stand with Him….in light….in this world?

7). 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

We are to be before Him at all times, wherever we are….then our whole life is in an attitude to pray.

8). Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

One of my favorites…..anytime you think you are drifting from God….pull yourself back….To the one constant in your life….God’s love of us…..even when we are quite unloveable. It is like walking in the sunny side of the street!)

The Psalmist says:

Hold Thou me up…..and I shall be safe…

…my own learning, or experience, or skill will not help in times of temptation…..for we are only tempted by something our hearts are interested in.

James 1:14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lusts, and enticed.”

(Lust is….I want this…and I want it now….whatever this is.)

But Christ Jesus has made a way to escape temptation:

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Ps 119:114-117 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy Word.

Depart from me, ye evil doers: For I will keep the commandments of my God.

Uphold me according to Thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statues continually.”

In His hands we are safe….He holds us up….He is our hiding place….His Word guides and enlightens us….and His Holy Spirit empowers us.

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

What seest thou, Amos?

Amos 7:7-8 “Thus He showed me and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in His hand.

And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline, Then said the Lord, Behold, I set a plumbline in the midst of My people Israel: I will not again pass by them anymore.”

A plumbline is a line with a heavy pointed weight on the end of it. Held up for a wall in building……..it shows whether the wall is straight…or crooked.

No matter how high you build it….or with what you build….if the wall is not straight (though it may appear so), it is out of alignment, and hinders more building.

The Lord was standing, with a plumbline to measure Israel’s righteousness….and it was not coming out straight…

In previous visions Amos had seen judgement come upon Israel……and the Lord had listened to the pleas of His prophet for His people….for mercy….

….but now He did not permit Amos to intercede….judgement had to come for those who were “crooked”.

Israel was built on God Word……upon sacrifices which pictured Christ Jesus….upon a Law, that if followed, lead to blessings….

…but they “perverted” their way…or made them crooked.

Jeremiah 3:21 “A voice was heard upon high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their God.”

Israel was to have been a “wall”. A bulwark for God in the midst of the world’s idolatry.

Yet now, they were like a wall out of plumb,…unable to manifest His strength, and His honor against His enemies.

And here is the plumbline, with which God measured Israel:

Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

(The Lord wanted His people to come and “agree” with Him, in the ways of their lives….all the parts of their life.

He wants the same with us…..

…Life is many agreements with Him….bringing us to the place in our experience that we are fully submitted to His Will….and the way He is going to bring His Will to pass….with me.

We might be a “church goer”, or someone who is busy with serving others,….but if that is hiding something in your life that you are refusing to give to the Lord Jesus Christ….then we are out of plumb….we are not coming to the agreements with Christ that He wants.

“My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways.” Proverbs 23:26 “Observe”, here, means to maintain and obey in the Hebrew)

One of these agreements He wanted with Israel, was….they were to be His people,…..accepting His honor….

…..and they were to honor Him….

…they were to worship Him in heart and life,…not just in words.

This would have made them a wall…straight and strong….honoring HIs Name, His Word, and praising Him…and He would have strengthened them, and given them victory against their enemies. (Psalm 8:1-2)

Yet, now, God holds the plumbline to measure their straightness (Matthew 7:13-14)

Those who conform to His Word, were saved….but those who were “out of plumb” with Him, would be judged.

He had sent Amos to warn them…..to tell them, He will not pass by this….

……will they come and agree with Him?

That was for Israel,….but what about us…..His people now….His church?

Christ Jesus said that in the last days:

Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

Why shall their love wax cold? Because of iniquities.

(An iniquity is anything unequal to our high calling in Christ Jesus.)

This is not open sin…..but something which might even seem Ok…..but which we, who belong to Him,…..should not do….

(I could suggest: certain movies, certain books, making fun of people, wanting “bad things” to happen to our enemies…….any thing which puts you out of place with the convictions of the Holy Spirit, as a Christian…

…and this can be done as an individual…or a group. This is personal….for our convictions are personal from Him.)

When we commit iniquity….the Holy Spirit will convict us….He will remind us that we belong to Christ….

….soon, if we will not listen…..our love of Christ is turned into…just a duty to Christ….

….our service becomes obligations…..which makes us “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9)

Like a ship in the harbor against a pier….that is not moored properly.

The gentlest waves push it against that pier (the very place of safety) and can completely ruin it…..without it ever being in stormy seas.

The very obediences to Christ, which bring joy to our hearts, and purpose to our lives….can by “small” iniquities, become “burdens”…..which can wreak our joy and peace.

But when we line up everything in our life,….with the plumbline of “For His Sake”.

When what we do, or not do…..is just that…..”For His Sake”…..then our wall is straight….and strong.

Our service takes on a lightness,….when it is a matter of love for Him.

Have we lost our joyful yielding to His Voice?

Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

Moses and the mountains

In scripture, mountains represent two things….impossible difficulties, which only God can surmount (and we all have those in our lives)….

….and places of close, personal dealing with God; where we grow intimately closer to Him.

Moses had several such experiences in the mountains.

Exodus 3:1-3 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”

Here Moses “turns aside” from his everyday routine……and meets God.

He hears His Voice in a bush which burned, without burning up….on a mountain.

This was his calling….”come close to Me, and go for Me…..and deliver My people from the bondage of Pharaoh”.

Moses is given God’s Word….and told…”return unto thy people”.

(Our calling is often among the people around us…whether in our own home or church, or town…..though it may lead elsewhere.)

Moses did that….bringing them by God’s Word, out of Egypt….and across the Red Sea, on dry ground.

Three months later:

Exodus 19:1-3 “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

….and there Israel camped before the mount.

And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying….”

Again Moses hears God’s Voice,….this time with a promise for His people….

Exodus 19:5-6 “Now therefore , if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine:

And ye shall be unto a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Those are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

Sinai was where God entered into a covenant relationship with Israel….there they became a nation, not just a family.

Four times Moses went up into the mountain:

(Exodus 19:19-20) When God came down on Mt. Sinai, Moses was called up in the mountain for instruction to the people.

(Exodus 24:12-13) God called Moses the first time to receive instruction for the Tabernacle and to get the Ten Commandments written on stone….these tablets he threw down and broke, when the people sinned, worshipping the golden calf…Exodus32:19.

(Exodus 32:30-33) Moses went up to God in the mountain to intercede for Israel, because of their sin with the golden calf.

(Exodus 34:1, 4) God called Moses up to the mountain to receive a new tablet containing the Ten Commandments….and saw His glory.

Each time God spoke to him, giving Moses His pattern for access to Him.

(And often our mountain experience is when we have new insight from God for our lives….which brings us into a closer relationship with Him.

Like Moses we have often prayed…..”I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.”

But we notice, Moses had to leave the people at the bottom of the mountain….and even Joshua, his minister….was left at a low level.

He had to travel up….alone. Most of the time, we too, need to leave the crowd, to gain closer union with God.)

The next mountain Moses climbed was about thirty nine years later….that mountain was mount Hor, for it was time for Aaron, the high priest (Moses brother)…..to die.

Numbers 20:25-26 “Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.”

All three went up the mountain, but only two: Moses and Eleazar, now as high priest, came down, to continue to minister.

It was time for Aaron to die….and that shows that there is a time for all of us…whether sickness, or accident….death will come to those we love. He was not alone….Moses and his son were there….and God, of course….to take his hand.

And they mourned for Aaron for thirty days.

(Sometimes our mountain experience is grief…..grief is one of those things that is very hard to deal with…for often we do not know how it will affect us.

I have seen solid people fall apart….in grief.

I have seen the faithful….question God for a time.

I have seen children, bewildered….because parents lack the courage to speak about these things [instead of giving hope and confidence in God to these little ones, they give vague answers….which are not answers.]

Some cry and mourn out loud….and others silently.

Some grow angry that there was not more time….thinking of things unsaid, or things undone.

But grief….is our heart’s feeling, when a loved one goes away [in the Hebrew it means “to carve”….and their loss will “carve a place for them that is empty…unfilled in us”.]

It hurts us, for we will miss them, and their voice….speaking to us.

But, like all “hurts”….there is our Beloved Physician, Jesus Christ…..who fills their loss with good: good memories, good courage, good peace….

…..and it is good, if we like Moses and Israel here….take time to mourn.

“Mourn” means to pour out your hurt (that means the hurt is gone, but not the memories)…and for us Christians….we should pour it out to God.)

The next mountain that Moses climbed was Pisgah.

It was on the far side of Jordon….for he could not go into the land because in his anger he disobeyed God, the second time he brought water from the Rock.

(The Rock symbolized Christ….giving life giving water to His people. Moses struck it once in Horeb (Exodus 17:6)….this showed that all the blessings we receive, are because Jesus was smitten for us.

…..the next time he was to bring water from the Rock, Moses was to speak to it…showing Christ Jesus in ascension glory, giving blessing to His people, from heaven, when we ask.

But Moses, in anger struck the Rock again….having a fit, and disobeying God.

After all God had showed Moses, his temper-tantrum barred him from Canaan. Deuteronomy 32:51)

On Pisgah, God showed Moses the land:

Deuteronomy 3:27 “Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.”

Deuteronomy 34:1, 5 “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho: and the Lord showed him all the land…

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.”

This time the mountain brought him, not just to see the Lord’s glory….but the Lord Himself in heaven.

His work was done….now his ministry he had accomplished by shepherding the second generation, would be blessed….but without him, for under Joshua (who was Moses helper. Exodus 24:13) all Israel went in to possess the Land.

(This is a great mountain….for when we die, as Christians, we are in the hands of God….our spirits and souls go with Him….but our body stays here(Deuteronomy 34:6) for a while….one day it will be raised to a glorified body, as well.

Moses work was done….and he had prepared others to go on…..are we preparing for our final journey….and for others to go on without us?)

But there is one more mountain for Moses: and this is a Hallelujah one!

Luke 9:28-31 “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He (Jesus) took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.

And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elijah:

Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.”

Jesus is praying on the mountain, and His Father sends Him Moses, representing the Law….and Elijah, representing the Prophets to talk to Him….

……about “His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem”.

Moses finally got into the Land, in his glorified body,….standing on a mountain, talking to the Son of God/ the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, face to face.

And what other subject would they have?….but the great work Christ would accomplish for Salvation at Jerusalem….what a conversation that would have been!

(And this mountain show us that, in heaven, we will be able to talk to Jesus face to face….in our glorified bodies….and with other believers.)

The “mountain” experiences of our lives are there to bring us closer to the Lord…to give us a desire to grow even more closer.

What of us? Are we “turning aside” from our everyday lives, to hear God’s voice…even on the more difficult mountains of experience?

Are we seeking a closer view of God, no matter what others feel about Him?

God has mountain experiences for us….do we want them?

Moses did….and had them….do we?

Come let us Reason together

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

This is one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament.

Think of it! The Almighty God wants us to come and give Him our reasons for our behavior.

And He will listen to them, and then, He will give us His reasons for His Way of doing things!

I have always been amazed at that much love to us!

This is reality, sinking deep within your soul. This requires honesty.

We can all blurt out feelings,….things which we may or may not really mean.

But Christ Jesus wants us to get honest, with ourselves (with the help of His Holy Spirit) about what is going on.

And then to tell Him.

“Come” , shows that we are far away from Him. So Come, now.

“Let us” means that this is not one-sided, but “us” talking.

(What a nice word, “us”, when it is the Lord and I)

“Reason together” means that we come, wanting to tell our side, but willing to be corrected, and go to His side.

This is intelligent conversation.

“Though your sins be as scarlet”: and who can say that their’s is not? Not me!

“They shall be white as snow”: by His cleansing us in His precious blood.

He died to save us; was raised to empower us; and intercedes for us in all we do.

If we are born again, He gave us His Holy Spirit, Who is with us always…..Who

helps us to get honest, for He is the God of all Truth;…….and helps us interpret our emotions, so we can see where we truly are,…..and what we truly want.

With God with us, even when we are out of the Way, He will help us.

He is the Creator,…we are His creatures. He created us, for He has a Purpose for us.

And we must come;……always we must come to Him, for all we need.

If we learn the lesson of coming before His throne, as creature before the Creator: knowing our weakness, and His Might, then we have learned a lesson which will be the corner stone of our life.

He calls: Come now, let us reason together.

He wants to hear from you.

And you to hear from Him.