How did we get here?

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent for His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

God’s purpose for the earth has to do with Christ and His glory….before times eternal God the Father made the Everlasting Covenant with His Son.

God the Father would draw a people to His Son, if……

……Jesus would come to earth and live a perfect life…..in this wicked world…..and if you read about the world, Jesus lived in…it was a desperate and despicable place.

It was as if the devil knew the Son of God was coming, and wanted to make it impossible to live a perfect life.

And then die a perfect sacrifice….He would receive the reward of His labors…..us. (Isaiah 53:10. Think of how marvelous a thought that is!)

In Bethlehem, He was born…..but promise concerning His birth began, right as soon as sin enter the world, through Adam. The promise of a Savior, to save us from our sin. Hallelujah!

Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Jesus Christ who came to save the world from sin, would be born of a woman.

Christ would bruise the devil’s head (on the cross when Jesus said “it is finished”, the victory over sin and death was won)

The devil would bruise Christ ‘s heel (the mocking, beatings, the betrayal)

Abraham was chosen to be the one who God spoke to next, about His beloved Son:

Genesis 17:7 “And I will establish My covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their generations for a everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee.”

Seed not seeds

Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy Seed, which is Christ.”

Under Jacob (and he was a schemer, but he really did want the spiritual blessing…..the birthright….which was to have the Christ come through his line. Genesis 25:31-33)

In Jacob’s last blessing for his sons, God made known in prophesy that Judah would be the tribe from which Christ would come.

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

This prophesy continued until David….then God added more information…..Christ would come as King through David’s line:

2 Samuel 7:25-26 “And now, O Lord God, the word that Thou has spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as Thou hast said.

And let Thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee.”

Matthew 1:1 “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

The line is set….but one more promise:

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

A virgin…..a total miracle will take place in the womb of a woman….whose known no man……and He will be the Son of God placed within her.

This was the last promise….until….

Luke 1:26-27, 31-32, 35 “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David:

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Although God had chosen Mary, it was still up to Mary to choose God.

Of course, she did….

Luke 1:38 “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to Thy Word. And the angel departed from her.”

The title of this is……How did we get here?

How did a sinful world get a Savior, and King?

It was all planned for us in eternity past…..a Savior and King…..and as the years rolled down the promise was added to,…..some believed, some did not.

It is the same to day.

Some believe the testimony of His Word, and others do not…..

But it is certain I am in the time and place that the Lord wants me…..and so for you.

Out of all the world of men, God called Abraham

Out of two brothers God chose Jacob

Out of twelve brothers God chose Judah

Out of many thousands of virgins in Israel….at the time of Roman rule….He chose Mary.

And Jesus plainly says “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you (made provision for), that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” (John 15:16)

He chose us, made provision for us, and called us……now, like Mary, we need to choose God….His Son, His Lordship, His Will and Way.

Jacob’s Wrestling with the Lord

Genesis 32:24 “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

Jacob was coming home to Canaan. He had been told of God:

Genesis 31:13 “I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointest the pillar, and where thou vowest a vow unto Me: now, arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.”

So he was coming home, with his wives, sons and substance………But also with a guilty conscience. He had tricked his father into giving him……the younger son, the blessing, instead of Esau.

God had wanted him to have it, but Jacob and his mother schemed to get it; instead of waiting for God’s way.

Now he was coming back into the land, and Esau, his brother, would surely hear of it, and seek to kill him, as he had often promised he would. (Genesis 27:41)

What could he do? When he first set foot into the land again, angels met him.

Most believe these “hosts of angels”, were positioned one in the back of his family, and one before.

(The Lord does that to us, as well. We may not see them, but:

Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.”)

Genesis 32:1-2 “And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s hosts: and he called the name of the place Mahanaim.”

Jacob took this as a sign that God would protect him, and so sent word to Esau that he was back in the land.

“…thy servant Jacob…I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.” (Genesis 32:4-5)

Perhaps time had softened his hate.

But then he got word that Esau was coming to meet him—that wasn’t bad—but with four hundred men! (Genesis 32:6)

That sounded like an army; and Jacob was fearful…very fearful.

(I use the term fearful, because fear strikes at the heart of every person. You may be scared in a moment…jump in panic; but fear is often an attack against the Word of God, as it was here.)

Jacob became so fearful, he began to rely upon his schemes again.

First, he divided the people into two bands. If Esau would destroy the first, maybe he will spare the next.

Then, he prayed. (Genesis 32:9-12)

This should have been first…but Jacob schemes before he trusts, yet God is merciful. The Lord told him to come back to the land, would He desert him?

Jacob prays to God on the basis of the covenant God made with Abraham, and his Seed.(Christ)

(So, too, we pray on the basis of the covenant God made with Christ, for us)

Jacob reminds God of what He said to do, of His own Word, which is what we should do. Jacob tells Him he has obeyed.

He tells God, he is not worthy of the least of His mercies and of the goodness God has already shown him.

Then he prays for deliverance, reminding the Lord of His promise where his children are concerned.

This was a wonderful prayer, but it seems as though Jacob’s fears were not removed, for….

he started to think….hmmm….I can send a present to Esau. Maybe that will appease him.

So off he goes, scheming. He starts picking out this and that; sending it on to Esau with shepherds, with the words: “A present….Jacob is behind us, but here is a present for my lord Esau”. (Very flattering; at least Jacob hopes so)

Then he sends his family over the brook; so that there would be that between Esau and them.

He was alone then, on this side of the brook.

And then…..

Genesis 32:24 “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

We are not shown how this “man” came, or what they said to each other for most of the night.

Those are things between the Lord and Jacob; for this “Man” was a theophanic manifestation of the Son of God.

Genesis 32:25-26 “And when He saw that He prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as He wrestled with him.

And He said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.

And he said, I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.”

But why did the Lord wrestle with Jacob all night? Why didn’t He just touch him right away?

Because He wanted to bring Jacob to a point of recognized weakness. To a place where Jacob’s strength and schemes were seen as the Lord sees them: useless.

And this takes time.

And Jacob kept wrestling, and kept wrestling, to gain the victory.

(But, thankfully, he was not the one who gained the victory.)

When it was almost sunrise, the Lord touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh; and he fell! But Jacob kept clinging to the Lord…he did not let Him go.

Yet he still did not say anything, till the Lord said, “Let me go…”.

Here was the real test:

At the end of a battle, we might be willing for it to be over; but Jacob knew Who the “Man” was.

By now Jacob knew if he was to get what he needed for himself and for the future, he must get the Lord’s blessing.

(And do we know this for ourselves? “It is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” [Zechariah 4:6]. It is often not until we know our own powerlessness, that we seek to hang on to the Lord, for His blessing…..but this takes time.)

Jacob, still clinging, says, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.”

Genesis 32:27-28 “And He said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Isra-el: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

Jacob (supplanter, contender) who had schemed and planned; was to become Isra-el (God commands or prevails).

Jacob was to be a prince or a delegated authority of God’s Name,……but only in his recognized weakness.

(Paul wrote of the same thing: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Isra-el was to be his new name. (When the first part of a name is combined with “El” or God, then the doer in the name is always God. [Daniel…God judgeth; Gabriel…God is my strength, etc.])

So now Jacob was to stop scheming; and let God command or prevail in him and for him.

This did not always happen: read Jacob/Israel’s life and you will see from now on, the two names still apply.

But God had brought him into a new way of life, and God would prevail.

It is natural for us to work out, for ourselves, the plans of our lives. We often feel very capable to do so: God gave us a brain…right?

But God, in patience and longsuffering, deals with us (wrestles?) to bring us to the place where we are clinging to Him, alone.

Esau came (with the four hundred men) but when he saw Jacob, he ran and hugged and kissed him! (Genesis 33:4)

When God prevails in us;……He will prevail for us. His Word is ever true…we need to claim it.

His power is never limited.

His blessings are only waiting for us to cling to Him.

Bless the Lord

Psalm 103:20, 22 “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.”

And how can we bless the Lord?

Certainly with praise for all the things He has done for us.

But also by doing His commandments, as we hear the voice of His Word to us.

The Lord Jesus Christ is a King now, ruling in the circumstances of everyone’s life, whether they know it or not.

As Christians, we have the privilege of submitting to the kingdom of Christ as our king, now, and being a conductor of His power.

Obedience is required of every child of God. Believing, joyful Obedience comes easily, when He is the object of our love.

(It is only when we let another take His place in our lives, that our joy is put out)

We will never have sinless perfection. But we can will with the Lord, as we walk along with Him; and be a blessing to Him.

And He can use us to be a blessing to others.

Pray for one another.

Encourage each other.

Speak of Christ, the great Shepherd of our soul. (How much we need His care for us)

As we do these things, we bless the Lord, for He loves His children and wants to see them peaceful and joyful. (And we can’t be, when we are far from Him)

We are to seek to know and do His Will for ourselves.

John 14:15 “If ye love Me, keep my commandments.”

Titus 2:13-14 “Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Then we can, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”

Simeon, and Anna

God prepares hearts…….sometimes in years past…..to see and receive His blessed Son……leading them to worship and joy in their hearts to Him.

Luke 2:25-26 “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus had come to Jerusalem eighty days after his birth…..that they might offer Him unto the Lord through an offering by the law(Exodus 22:29)…..and give the offering of purification. (Leviticus 12:2-8)

They had come to the Temple,….and the Holy Spirit had led Simeon to be there, as well…..when he saw them….he went over and….

Luke 2:28-32 “Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word:

For mine eyes have seen Thine Salvation,

Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

How lovingly and tenderly does Simeon pick up His Lord…..”and blessed God”….

Simeon praised God’s goodness in letting him see His Son….for being faithful to His promise to him.

He praised God for His Salvation….wrapped up in this little baby.

He praised God for the Purpose of His Salvation….both to the Gentiles and Israel.

And in this praise Simeon prophesied of the Way of salvation….

…..before the face of all people”—Christ was raised between earth and heaven, outside the city….on a hill…..before all the people, from all over, which came to the Passover!

Simeon showed that Christ was presented as God’s Glory….to Israel…..

…..Luke 2:14 and the angels praise…..”Glory to God in the highest…”

Wise men coming and telling all in Jerusalem of the Star which announced the King’s birth (Matthew 2:1-3).

The miracles, again and again…how glorious they all were.

The prophesy of Christ coming in as King to Jerusalem…..and He did (Zechariah 9:9).

And Simeon showed that Christ would be presented to the Gentiles…..as Light….(Matthew 4:15-16, John 8:12, Acts 26:17-18)

And then he turned to Mary and Joseph….

Luke 2:34-35 “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

(Yea, a sword shall pass through thine own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

God sent His Beloved Son to save all who would come to the the Light….

….many will rise to be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)…

…and many will fall…rebelling against their King…and Lord….and destroy themselves in the process. (Mark 12:1-9)

“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”. It is our hearts, God wants…..will we give them?

Luke 2:36-38 “And there was one Anna, a prophetess,…..of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.

And she was a widow of about four score and four years, which departed not from the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Anna, who was at least in her nineties, came into the part of the Temple that Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and Simeon were.

Hearing what Simeon said…..she rejoiced.

How much joy the birth of Jesus gave those “who looked for redemption”…in Israel.

She had not departed from the Temple for years, after she became a widow,….but stayed…..feeling her work to serve God was to fast and pray…..night and day.

(Night is first….probably her best time to pray…..for few would be around)

But with the knowledge that Redemption, in the Person of this baby was come….she told everyone that she knew,…..that was waiting for Him.

Even as a babe, Christ Jesus separated men and women into two groups…..those who wanted their King….and His kingdom, to come to them….

….and those to whom the news of Christ made no impact….except to interfere with their lives……they did not care that the King had come (Luke 19:14, 27)

To these two, Simeon and Anna,……Christ was the One they had been praying, and looking for…..Emmanuel….God with us….

……and here He was a baby, in His mother’s arms.

How amazing!

God deserved all praise,….from all….

….yet being wise in the Holy Ghost……they told only those who were looking and waiting for Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, to come.

Christ Jesus came a baby, born in a manger…..for there was no room in the inn….

Heralded by angels….seen and recognized by shepherds,

By wise men from a far country,…

…Simeon and Anna…..

……and those unnamed, but known of God, which looked for the Christ to come.

Let us rejoice at His birth…..and what it means for us.

(Notice the names of Christ spoken here:

Consolation: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God even our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.”

Salvation: Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

Light: Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

The Glory: Psalm 24:7 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.”

Redemption: 1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Redemption is to be bought back….bought back from sin, and death, from Satan’s power, and the world.

He is all these, and more, to those who receive Him.)

“Truly God is good…”(Psalm 73:1)

Do we believe it?

In this psalm there is an inward battle against the Lord’s ways……the inward cry for knowledge…..and the answer given from the Lord, to His servant.

Some sins are quite prominent…..some, slide into our minds and hearts….and give us quite a battle.

The psalmist sees the wicked….those that should be judged for not keeping the Law…wealthy and successful.

While the righteous are poor and often being persecuted,….or worried because of their situation.

Psalm 73:2-3 “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

This is a psalm of Asaph (1 Chronicles 16:4-7). He was a leader in the Tabernacle for the songs and praises.

This was a high office,…..yet he was troubled…..he was having a heart-battle about the Lord’s way of dealing with His people…….that is, the way he saw things….

“I was envious at the “foolish” or wicked.”

(We think of envy as a green-eyed monster…..well, it is a monster…..disturbing our thoughts, and emotions:

It says: I wish I had what you had…I wish I was like you…..I wish I was you.

It is truly a monster.)

He sees that they are confident and prosperous…..even though they are wicked,…..and that troubles him….he can not hush the questions that come to his mind.

“My steps had well nigh slipped.” He was in trouble….spiritually…he was beginning to doubt God’s righteousness.

Psalm 73:5-9 “They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression:….

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.”

Pride is the chief hardener….

For pride separates….making the proud better than others…..even if it is just a little better.

It puts everyone else beneath them.

Others rights or feelings, do not matter to them….they intend to have their way.

They slander God,….does He let them get by with it?….

Psalm 73:11 “And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the most High?”

It seems as if God is letting the wicked slide…….they think God does not see.

……while the righteous are coming to the Lord,….troubled and sorrowful.

Here is a stumbling block to faith….so…

Isaiah 57:14-15 “And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of My people.

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

Considering this, Asaph is so troubled….he wants to speak about these things…but….(Psalm 73:15) “If I say, I will speak thus;….I should offend against the generation of Thy children.”

Asaph wanted to talk about his thoughts…..after all he was accusing God of being unjust!

But he was concerned of speaking injury to the younger generation…..of letting his battle with envy spread to others.

(He was the leader of the singers….appointed under David the king.)

Psalm 73:13-14 “Verily (truth) I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.”

It would seem that all his right living, watching that he might not sin,…..had not given him any advantage….at least, the reward of this life.

(When faith is covered up by envy…..we can not see correctly.)

Everything seemed to be upside down……”Until”….

“Until” is a word expressing time,…..and experience….

Psalm 73:17 “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.”

Looking toward the mercy-seat:

The heart which had dragged with sadness, and doubts…..he lifts to God.

Chaos began to depart, and God’s light…..and order…..began to be seen.

Until….

He “saw their end”…..that changed everything.

There he saw their final destruction…..and their guilt now, clinging to them like a bad smell…

….it was if they were puffed up, weight added to them…..so if they continue to the end this way….they will sink lower in hell.

He does not envy them now….for God has showed him, by His mercy:

Instead of being placed upon the Rock…..they were sinking in the sand of time already….they just did not recognize the ruin that was coming (Matthew 7:2

Everyman owes their existence and prosperity to the goodness of God…..in a moment all can change (Psalm 73:19)….so we should use it wisely.

Psalm 73:22-22 “Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee.”

And here is the lesson learned….his confession to God…

…..”I was as a beast before Thee”.

My thoughts were only of myself….and satisfying my desires…..I am ashamed….

And then…..his praise is back in his heart….

Psalm 73:23-26 “….Thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”

Faith, again, is not hidden behind the curtain of envy….but has been released from doubt.

Faith is true sight…..getting wisdom from God. Trust and you will know.

God had upheld him…..and he praises Him for it.

With the Lord is counsel….and when we come to Him we are sure to be given light…..and to be led aright.

…”and afterward”….what a blessed word. After this life, which is so short.

After the troubles, and sorrows.

Asaph see that God is the portion of the righteous,…..

…..we are blessed in Christ, here….and with Him there.

He had been foolish….envious and doubting….but God had kept him….taken out of his way, his stumbling block…..and led him back into His light….into faith again.

Asaph had learned that natural sight is not faith.

All other things pass away; let our hearts abide in Him…..Who abides forever.

His Pleasure for me.

Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,”

The glory of having a crown in that day, will be, to cast it at the feet of Jesus.

He deserves all the honor: for He created us, saved us, sustained us, and brought us to the place of all joy: heaven and His Presence forever.

This crown is truly our own; we have “earned” it as a reward for our devotion to the Lord Jesus. We could walk around heaven with it on, if we wanted to.

[There are three crowns spoken of in scripture:

the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) to them that love His appearing;

the crown of life (James 1:12) to them that love Him;

and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) by feeding the flock of God, by being examples to the flock.]

But the real glory of having a crown; is to cast it down at His feet.

He has shown me this verse, I read it everyday:

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

He created all things: By His Almighty Power He made something out of nothing.

And for His pleasure they are , and were created.

“Pleasure” here means determination.

If, indeed, we exist for His Pleasure/Determination, what is His Pleasure where we are concerned?

What has He determined for us?

It is to be reconciled to Him…..in all things.

(Is there something you are not reconciled to God, about? I wish to tell you….He comes to meet us….as we come to Him. [the prodigal])

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and have committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

This is to put first things first.

And it is in today’s situation that this must be done.

We can not wait for “better” opportunities, or a “more convenient season”.

“Lord, I am here now, by Your pleasure……In this set of circumstances.

May I adjust to them,…..seek Your will in them,…..and see Your will brought to pass in me, by them. And may I know Your joy and peace in them.”

I had a friend who worked with a person who was over her. That person “disliked” her. And my friend did not really like this person either.

The work almost became intolerable.

But praying about it (she gave a testimony in church about this), my friend knew that she was working with this person for a reason.

“It is your attitude.” The Lord told her plainly. “And when it changes, then I will make the circumstances change.”

This person was really bossy to everyone; almost nasty.

But praying for help, my friend worked at letting this person deal with people their way.

And when my friend’s attitude changed,….

…..she saw this person in a new light: God’s light.

And came to respect the person.

We are created for a purpose. Saved for a purpose. Guided into that purpose, which is His Pleasure/Determination.

Will we be reconciled to Him in all things,…..and our purpose….day by day.

Use it or Lose it?

1Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, we ask that You would give us what we should receive from this message. To Your glory, in Jesus Name Amen.

Matthew 25:14-30

Here is the parable of the man traveling into a far country. So he delivers to his servants his goods, to gain with.

Matthew 25:14 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called His own servants, and delivered unto them His goods.”

To begin this, it would seem that to stress the most important fact; we should deal with “ability”. “Each to his several ability”.

Matthew 25:15 “And unto one he gave five talents, to another, two; and to another, one. To every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey”

“Several ability”,….the plain teaching of this parable is that even the one talent person could have gained something; in as much as each had a several ability…..

…….Which means there is more than one thing they could have done.

Matthew 25:29 “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

But from “him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath”?

In other words, that which he had, but made no use of.

Luke 19:12-14 “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.”

Here in this parable we see two groups: Servants, and citizens.

Those that say they are His servants, who are entrusted to use part of the nobleman’s wealth, to gain for Him while he is gone.

And the citizens of the country are those of the world which hate him, outright.

When the nobleman returns (as Christ will one day, having been given His Kingdom here on earth [Revelation 11:15]). Then he calls for an account of his servants.

The Parable in Matthew 25 uses “talents”.

Each of us receiving a different amount to use,…..symbolizing the calling and abilities (grace) given us, by the Holy Spirit, to do God’s Will.

But here in Luke, they receive one pound each…….and are told to “Occupy till I come”.

This is a merchandise term , as used in the day of Christ.

It means to use it…..and gain with it.

(The “pound”, is the faith by the Holy Spirit. Will we yield to the Holy Spirit and show forth Christ to the world around us?)

Luke 19:16-17 “Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

And He said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.”

Faithfulness to God in what He has given you, much or little, is what He rewards.

Luke 19:18 “And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.”

And so He gave the man who had been faithful, even though with less…….authority over five cities.

He had not gained as much as the first servant, but had been faithful and gained;…..and so, was rewarded.

Now to the one who hid his talent, for selfish fear.

He did not think well of the Master, and did not care about “gaining” for Him.

So he thought he would hide his talent, to protect himself. He would give back what he was given, and be done with it.

The Nobleman couldn’t complain, he thought, because He had back, what He had given.

But that is not what the Nobleman, or our Lord Jesus, wants.

He wants His servants to use what He had given them, out of honor for Him.

We have been given faith, by the Holy Spirit, to help us.

Are we taking the help?

We have been given gifts and callings (ability). Are we using them to His glory?

Luke19:23 “Wherefore than gavest not thou My money into the bank, that at My coming I might have required mine own with usury?” (Interest)

He was responsible for his one talent,…..but he did nothing with it.

That one talent, he was given, could have gained at least one more.

And should we not use our faith,……and grow in grace?

Perhaps, if he had only grown in faith,….he would have gained love…..love for the Master, he was to serve…..and that would have resulted in more gain.

But sadly…..he hid his talent.

What about us? Are we using what we have been given as faithful stewards of Christ Jesus?

We can and should……and gain by it.

Let us do what we can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and be blessed.

Now Unto Him

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

“That is able”….this is the first thing to consider….for without His might to do….

…..our prayers are just wishes,….

…..and His promises are just words.

But He is Almighty, Omnipotent,……Able.

When we pray, we often come before His throne with the attitude that:

He probably could, if He really wanted to…..but….

…..And there always seems to be a “but”,…..in our thoughts, if not in our words.

Able to give us just enough to squeak by?

To somehow make it?

No, that is not what this verse says….able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.

And His Word endureth forever.

1 Peter 1:23-25 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away;

But the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

Endureth…..His Word endures forever.

He meant what He said,…….whether He was speaking Himself, or speaking through another….and He said what He would and could do.

He is Able.

The scriptures prove that……the fact that He saved me, proves that….

…..the fact that each day…..yes, even the terrible days (and we have all had them)….He is with me, by His Holy Spirit…guiding, correcting, encouraging me….proves that.

“exceeding abundantly above”. No where else in the scriptures, is all three of these adjectives found together….except here….

Here, where Paul is talking to us, of coming to know Christ in a more complete and powerful way….”in our hearts”.

This is not salvation, but service he is talking about.

Ephesians 3:16 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by HIs Spirit in the inner man;”

Paul is talking of a “grant”….”That He would grant you,…”

This is not a gift…..but a grant.

A grant is a favor (money or materials) given for a particular purpose.

It is given to be used,…….just for that purpose.

(If a professor is given a grant to find the many uses of the bark of a certain tree…..he can not use the money for other research…..just the research he got the grant for.)

We are “granted” strength by the Holy Spirit so:

That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith (and remember, faith is essential in overcoming 1 John 5:4)

…..we may be rooted and grounded in love…..

……we may comprehend with all saints the breadth, length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ….

…….we might be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

There is a lot of love spoken of here…..because there can be no real power or strength for service, with out Christ’s love filling us……

……so that our love for Him is spilling over into everything we do for Him….for others….

We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. (Matthew 22:37)

When Christ is abiding in our hearts in love…..that is, when His presence is not just for guidance, or correction…..but in a love relationship…..then His Will is our foundation,…

…..and it is a arm in arm walk with the Lord….heart to heart.

“Exceeding abundantly above”,……what a declaration!……”all that we ask or think”…..

God knows our needs, even before we ask….while we are thinking of how to ask,……He knows,…..and is Able.

And what is the amount of the grant, in the Spirit, God will give us, personally….

The amount that He gives us, is: “According to the power that worketh in us,”

According as we let His power work in us…..to bring us to yield to the Holy Spirit within….that much power He will grant us in our asking…..

….”the riches of His glory” is the limit…..for it is “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”…..

We can become as rich as we want in His grace and love:

We can know more of the wideness of His purpose for us,

We can know more length of peace,

We can know more depth of the scriptures,

We can know more of the heights of glory in His fellowship, here….

Now unto Him that is Able….He is able.

Will we receive the “grant” for His purpose in us? And acquire the riches of His glorious life within us, more and more….

Then let His power, by the Holy Spirit “work” within us…..molding us by His grace….into His character……giving us wideness of life….His life, in us.

Let us make room for Christ.

(“Exceeding” is a favorite term of Paul…..for he gives His testimony of God’s exceeding abundant grace in:

1 Timothy 1:12-14 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath blessed me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy,….

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul talks of “…the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward…” (Ephesians 1:19);

“…the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)

Peter says “…..ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:13)

“….given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:….” (2 Peter 1:4)

Jude 24 says: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,”

Exceeding means “Over, superior to, to surpass”

For Paul, and for many Christians down through the ages…..what Christ has been,…and given,….and granted them….can only be described as “exceeding”.)

For…unto us…

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

Twice here in this verse alone, the prophet tells all who will hear, that it is “unto us”. The message of Christ is always personal…

….first He is seen as a child….in His humiliation. Leaving heaven to come here, as a babe….placing Himself into His Father’s hands for everything….being born of a woman,…born under the law, to honor it and fulfill it…honoring His Father in it. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Then He is seen as a Son, given……”unto us”…..(Matthew 3:16-17)…..

…He was “given”…..presented unto us as the Son of God, the Son of man….coming to manifest His Father’s Will toward us: in life, and in sacrifice for our sins….(again, “given”; as a sacrifice was)

The government of all is upon His shoulder: It was always so, for He is the Creator and Sustainer of all. (Psalm 24:1-2)

But in a new way,…..after His birth, life, sacrifice, and resurrection…….

…….the government is upon His shoulder,…..for God has given all authority and power into His hands, for the accomplishing of the complete Purpose for mankind:

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered 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 He hath put all enemies under His feet.”

And His name shall be called:

Wonderful….. “singularly marvelous”

Of course it should, for He was wonderful to do the Will of the Father, and come to earth to save me.

He is wonderful in all the long-suffering mercy and grace He pours upon us, by His merits….giving us His presence, HIs peace, and joy.

He will be wonderful in that day when He comes and takes the Kingdom of this world to Himself….making it a Kingdom of peace. (Isaiah 9:7)

And finally establishing the Eternal Kingdom for ever.

Counselor….

He knows the eternal counsels of the Godhead….and brings them to pass…..

Isaiah 46:10 “Declaring the end from the beginning; and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”

He “worketh all things after the counsel of His Will” where our salvation is concerned. (Ephesians 1:11)

And as our personal Counselor (Psalm 16:7)…..He gives us the way to overcome…(Revelation 3:18)…in these last days.

The mighty God….

Psalm 24:8 “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”

His strength of character, and His strength of purpose….for He went through everything to accomplish completely the salvation of His people….defeating sin, 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.”

The everlasting Father….

He is God….the Trinity…..One with the Father, and the Holy Spirit….there is no separation, but in their offices to His people.

John 14:9 “….he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father;…”

John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”

The Prince of Peace….

He was always Peace….in Him was no strife, ever…..eternal peace was His character.

Even now He brings peace to all who receive Him…….by His salvation, and by His Spirit….

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

Ephesians 2:14,17 “For He is our peace, Who hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

One day….the whole of creation will know His peace….under His Kingdom…..

Hosea 2:18 “And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely

Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion shall eat straw like the ox.”

On a night full of the light of stars…..shepherds watched over their flocks…..and saw the dazzling light from a angel…..

……then they went and saw a greater Light….born “unto you”…

Luke 2:9-11 “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:15-17 “…Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”

We think of this as the beginning…..when this was the center of all the Purpose of God.

From eternity past….God thought of us and our Salvation…..making a Covenant…a plan….a Purpose for each of us.

When we were born again,….we began our journey in that Purpose…..a Purpose which flowed from before times eternal (1 Timothy 1:9)……unto us…..through Christ Jesus.

And His Purpose flows on…..till all that He has said will be…..will be….with us….and all who will receive the Lord Jesus, Who was born….unto us.

As the multitude of heavenly hosts said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

I have made thee a Watchman

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the Word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.”

Every city in Israel had several watchmen. They would walk about the walls of the city at night….when everyone was asleep, and watch outside the walls for an enemy. If they saw an enemy coming, they were to give the alarm, so that the city would awaken and prepare for the battle.

Ezekiel was taken captive the second time Nebuchadnezzar came and took captives from Jerusalem.

He was of the priestly family, and called as a prophet to the people who had gone into captivity with him.

He had seen a marvelous vision of “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of One that spake.” (Ezekiel 1:28)

God made Ezekiel a watchman to the house of Israel….to see all that the Lord showed him……and give them God’s Word….”a warning from Me”.

(I want to speak here about perseverance. It is spoken of only once in the scriptures: “….watching thereunto with all perseverance….”

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

We are to pray for our bothers and sisters in Christ…..and watch….with perseverance for them.

Perseverance means “to be earnest toward a thing, to be constantly diligent, to steadfastly attend to all the exercises, to adhere closely”

In other words…..our goal is to stick close to God and His Word to us, and stay there….watching for others in prayer.)

God had not forsaken Israel…

He gave them Jeremiah, still in Jerusalem….warning the people, there.

He gave them Daniel, in the palace….working for God’s people there…..in duty to the king, and in prayer, and testimony.

He gave them Ezekiel, among the working captives…..warning the people there.

What amazing grace to a people that were “rebellious” (Ezekiel 2:6).

(And His grace to us is no less than this….amazing)

But what was the enemy that Ezekiel was to watch for as a Watchman?

The enemy of……..complacency in their sin.

Ezekiel 3:11 “And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them. Thus saith the Lord God, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.”

You see, the people that were taken captive, were waiting for God to act on their behalf.

They wanted to believe, that since they were God’s chosen people, that He would have to deliver them…..no matter how they acted.

But that was a false belief……God will not act contrary to His Word….and He had warned them many times about their sin….of choosing the heathen’s ways and idols, over Him.

And so He had Ezekiel set down some basic instruction for His people. And Ezekiel was responsible to God, to tell them.

Would they hear it…..now that they were in captivity?

Or would they “forbear”…..fool themselves into believing that God will not rebuke and chasten their continuing sin.

(You see, their chief sin, was trying to be as the nations around them….in life, and in worship. Idolatry became the sin which destroyed them.

[And isn’t it the same with us…..we want to be like everyone else….want to fit in…..do not want to be different. But as Christians, we are always set apart to the Lord.]

Amos 3:1-2 “Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you….saying,

You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

God had brought them out of slavery in Egypt,….given them His law and His presence in the Tabernacle,….and brought them into a land that He had promised Abraham…..yet they turned away from Him, and toward the people and the gods of the nations around them.)

Ezekiel could not make them hear…..but he could speak God’s Words faithfully,…..and that he did.

“Give them warning…..from Me.”

To Ezekiel, God had said, there were two kinds of people: the wicked and the righteous.

Those that kept God’s statues (His Word)….the righteous.

And those that turn away from it and commit iniquity…..the wicked.

(Iniquity is doing anything unequal to the high calling given us by God.

It is knowing how to act,….what to do…..and refusing to follow that light.)

Ezekiel 18:20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”

This was something new…..Israel was still Israel….but they were going into captivity….the nation as a nation, would not be for seventy years….now God was going to judge according to what each person knew……and did…….and with that knowledge alone.

The wicked, if they would hear,….could turn away from their iniquity….and when they do….they will not be judged by the evil that they did…..but by what they turn and do,….now.

Ezekiel 18:21-22 “But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.”

But if the righteous see the wicked, and think that they could “get by with what they do”……..and begin to follow after and do iniquity?

Ezekiel 18:24 “But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he that sinned, in them shall he die.”

God did not want to chasten His people……He would rather have them obedient and blessed….that is why He sent a Watchman…..Ezekiel, to warn them…..

Ezekiel 18:23, 30-31 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways and live?”

….Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

This was the message that Ezekiel was to give to the captives in Babylon……turn and live…..”for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 18:31).

(I want to mention here that death is separation:

spiritual death is separation from God…..(Ephesians 2:1-3)

Physical death is the soul’s separation from the body….the soul going either to heaven or hell.)

Ezekiel 33:7 “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me.”

As watchman, Ezekiel was to sound the warning to those Israelites….to awaken them to the enemy of their sin…….with God’s Word.

Israel was to go into captivity for seventy years (the number of the years of rest that the land was suppose to have….but they did not give it. Every seventh year, the land was to rest)…..and Ezekiel was sent to them….and he did…..warning them again and again.

Three times he gives them this message of warning…..turn and live: Ezekiel 3, 18, 33.

This last verse, ends God’s warning to them…..they know….will they turn and live; or will they forbear?

Now it is up to them:

“And when this cometh to pass,(lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.” (Ezekiel 33:33)

Beginning at Ezekiel 34, Ezekiel stops warning them…..(they have heard…..will they live….or die?)

…..and begins to speak God’s Word to those that have been a hinderance to Israel, or an enemy…..

……..and then to tell of His promises…..afterward.

For God is looking beyond….to the end of the seventy years,….and even beyond….giving those that would turn and live……His Word, in promise.

Ezekiel 36:24-27 “For I will take you from among the heathen,…..and will bring you into your own land.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: for all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgements, and do them.”

This was God’s Word to all who would hear…..turn….and live.

God’s Word is given unto us, as well: we each are called to be a Watchman to our own souls…..

To Awaken…….we always need to wake up to our sins, and iniquities (anything unequal to our high calling in Christ Jesus).

Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

To Warn….

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

To Encourage in promise:

Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation (walk of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

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

We are to hear His Word to us…..persevere in it,…..and then we are to….pass it on; by our life, by our testimony,….

……..”watching thereunto with perseverance and supplication for all saints”

Our God has given us so much….let us hear His Word, and use it.