Thou art Worthy

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.”

For Thou hast created all things: Jesus as the Son of God created all things by the Word of His mouth.

He is the Word. (John 1:1-3)

And Jesus as the Son of Man brought back all that was lost at the fall to Himself; and for us.

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

So what is there for me to consider about this?

What is His personal Pleasure for me? (And “Pleasure” here, means “determination” in the Greek.)

Not just where I am to go, but how am I to get there? What am I to become along the Way?

In all my days and all the circumstances of those days, there must be a plan, and a purpose to look to.

One thing I believe our ministry is to stress: Above all else Jesus Christ requires obedience from His own.

1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

No amount of religious activity will ever take the place of Obedience.

For this act of placing yourself with Him, and doing what He says now; pleases Him most.

Human evil comes from Adam’s refusal to obey the one rule the Creator laid down. (Sin is, in all its actions, “I will not do what You say, I will not be what You want me to be.”)

This was the cause of man’s fall into sin. And the force behind it was the devil.

But now that we are redeemed;…and we are redeemed for a purpose.

And that purpose is to show forth His glory (the manifesting of His light and power) in our circumstances.

And obedience is the instrument by which this is accomplished.

Will we be children of Adam, and say no to God’s Will; refusing to obey?

Or will we be children of God, and say yes to His Purpose; now.

For it always comes down to….now.

We are to bear fruit, as branches in the Vine.

Fruit, more fruit, and much fruit.

(There are two kinds of fruit: the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian by our witnessing, praying, or soul winning)

John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.

Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit; He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

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

We are all to bear fruit to God’s glory. It is by abiding in Him, that we have His life flowing through us, to others.

But how do we “abide” in Him?

John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”

We abide by obeying His Word to us.

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

This is a great promise to those who have the “sap” (life of Christ) flowing through us.

By obeying His Word, we may ask what we will (for we will His Will), and it will be done unto us.

Not for us, or through us…..but unto us. For our personal growth in Him.

We have a lack? Ask, and it will be done unto us.

Christ created us for His pleasure: the way we are is what He intended.

(I can not tell you how many arguments I used to have with the Lord about “the way I am.” If He had only made me less anxious; or if I had a more sunny disposition, etc.)

But here is where the “unto you” , comes in.

God made me: with the parents I had, the circumstances I had to go through, all things were made for His pleasure where I was concerned.

So…and here is the great part: I can abide in Him, and ask Him for the things I need to be different, to be more like He is;…..And He will do it unto me.

He is Worthy! To be praised, for we are offered the great privilege of abiding, obeying, and receiving from our great Lord Jesus Christ, personally.

Mercy

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

This was the Lord’s exhortation through His prophet…..to try and explain to His people, that if the heart’s honor to God was not with the sacrifice….it was nothing to Him.

How often the Lord has said this.

It is always a matter of our heart’s attitude to God, and His Word to us.

Mercy here in the Hebrew is “hesed”. It is a word that speaks of brotherly affection and loyalty, for those who belong to the family of God.

We are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ,…..because we love God,….and because He loves us.

Matthew 12:7 “But if ye had known what this meaneth, I would have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.”

Jesus spoke, quoting this verse in Hosea, because of the hardness of the Pharisee’s hearts…..He knew they were just trying to prove Him wrong….their accusations about His disciples, had nothing to do with honoring God’s Word.

His disciples were going through a grain field, and plucking off ears to eat, since they were hungry.

They were not harvesting the crop, or picking and putting it in their pockets; but just eating, for hunger.

But the Pharisees, seizing upon something, accused Jesus’ disciples; thereby trying to bring rebuke upon Jesus.

They had not “profaned the Sabbath”, by working;……but a false accusation was the only way they had of trying to slander Jesus.

Mercy is the goodness of God to His sinful creatures.

There is temporal mercy:

He makes the sun to shine upon the good and the wicked.

He sends rain to nourish the crops of both. (Matthew 5:44-45). This mercy He gives to all.

But spiritual mercy has to do with Christ, and all we have in Him;….even though we are sinners. Saved sinners.

He sends us forgiveness and the cleansing of the conscience.

He sends us grace (the unmerited favor of power) for our lives. Not just special days, but grace for everyday.

Titus 3:4-6 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;”

Mercy for His own is “abundant mercy”……He does not hold back, but gives according to His Will, as we need it…..and receive it.

The sacrifices of the Old Testament times, were to show that the people desired to have forgiveness from God…..and a part with the Messiah to come.

But the outward sacrifice, without the inward repentance, or love to God; was worthless. How often God told them of this!

He said:

Jeremiah 7:21-23 “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel; put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.

For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

But this thing commanded I them, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”

(The first command the Lord gave them after coming out of Egypt, was:

Exodus 15:25-26 “…There He made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them.

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

He did not institute sacrifices, until making a covenant with them at Sinai.)

He was saying,

“You might as well take your sacrifices home and eat them there. They are not doing you any good, though they cost you a pretty penny.

Better, take them to the poor neighbors, and give what you pretend to sacrifice to Me, to them.

I am not seeing them. I am not accepting them. I am not accepting you.”

What He wanted, was for them to act like they should: Love God, Obey Him, and do good to their fellowman, as they could.

Jeremiah 7:2-3,5-7 “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, O ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, The God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings, if ye throughly execute judgement between a man and his neighbor; (not take bribes, or side with the rich)

If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt;

Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.”

He called upon Judah, to “amend” their ways……to change them to His Ways.

To treat each other with the love of brothers, for that is what they were.

Jesus Christ wants us to show mercy to others, as He has shown mercy to us:

As wide as our sins have been; His forgiveness and love are wider still.

So we are to manifest His mercy through us, to others,……for His sake.

Our Souls

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

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.”

Our souls are what make us, as human beings, unique.

The Bible says that God “formed” us, and breathed into us the breath of life, which was the Holy Spirit, and we became a living soul.

None other was so formed, or breathed upon. (All other creation was spoken into being.)

We are unique.

The soul is the place of our personality.

I believe our souls are the most important thing in His creation; for He paid such a high price to buy it back again for Himself.

Our personalities are naturally “formed” in the world by our parents, place we live, friends or family, and what happens to us.

But when we are born again, our souls,……our personality can be molded into the character of Christ Jesus.

They are freed from the restrains of sin, anger, fear, jealousy, etc.;……and us, the true us, under the help of the Holy Spirit can shine through.

[Our spirit is the abode of the Holy Spirit when we are born again. He dwells within us as our Comforter: guiding, instructing, and helping us.

As we yield to Him, His influence is felt through our spirits into our souls, and bodies; and we are changed (conformed) to Christ’s image (character) Romans 8:29.

Our bodies are the “time clocks” of our existence. When they fail and stop, so do we, here.]

The characteristics of the soul are many; but come down to three major faculties.

The mind: our thoughts—those which come and go quickly; and those which linger and are built upon, in our imaginations, or meditations.

The heart: our affections and emotions—desire for things, as well as true love come from here.

The will: our “action-packed” faculty. For what we will to do, we do.

We may “wish to”, or dream after; but nothing will ever get done until the will wills to do it.

God says:

Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways.”

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

Our hearts are uniquely made for the Son of God to dwell there.

They are made to love Him, and know His peaceful, powerful Presence.

Our minds are uniquely made to search Him out in the scriptures, by prayer and fellowship, and to take in His Word to us,…..understanding it by the light of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord has said:

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:26 “Ponder (think about) the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”

God is Faithful.

He has not left us as spiritual orphans; but has given us His Holy Spirit in our spirits, to help us be all we are meant to be, in Christ Jesus.

Let us yield to His influence within our hearts,……and the Word of God by our minds,…..and will to be conformed to Christ in our circumstances….for that is His saving power; here and now, and for eternity.

Yield is like giving in to the current of power.

Sometimes it feels like a rushing wave,….

….others like a hand in your hand,…..others like a look from the Lord to you: each, calling you, drawing you on with Him.

But we must yield.

Our souls (mind, heart, and will) must yield to the Holy Spirit within;…..then we are growing,…..then we are empowered,…..then we are His obedient servants.

Eve, and Us

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

As my daughter was giving a Sunday school lesson on Eve, it struck me that Eve was taken out of Adam (his rib); and made a into a woman;……

……to be to him something he needed more….a partner….a helpmeet….a companion in all his life.

Genesis 2:21-22, 24 “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof.

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

And as born again believers, we are put back into Christ to be His bride, and friend, and helpmeet for Him and His work.

Romans 12:5 “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another.”

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”

We become members together of His mystical body, here on earth….showing Christ Jesus wherever we go.

1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

Eve was made a separate person, to show that the personalities of man and woman, could unite…..in the work God called them to do.

Adam was as responsible for Eve, as he was his own body….to take care of her, guide and direct her (if he had done this, she would have turned away from the temptation of the devil…..to get his help), and love her as he would himself.

Ephesians 5:28 “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

So believers (each of us personally and together)…..is put into Christ’s mystical body to show that Christ has taken responsibility for us……to take care of, guide and direct, and love us…..as He does Himself.

And yet, we are separate personalities, each fitted into their place in His body….to show that we can unite with our Lord…..in the work God has called us to do.

Ephesians 5:25-27, 29-30 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

That He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

For no man ever yet hateth his own flesh; but nourished and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”

There is a fullness in the Purpose of God……what Adam lost, by not fulfilling his duty, and yielding to sin….

……Christ has regained in power; because He has paid my penalty and debt…..and has taken me into Himself in union (by faith and love)……

…..and more so…..for He has empowered me by His Holy Spirit to regain also, the place of helpmeet to Christ Jesus.

To speak for Him,…..to act for Him,…..

…..and He is the lover of my soul. (“Set me as a seal upon Thine heart, as a seal unto Thine arm:…” Song of Solomon 8:6)

Eve was taken out of Adam, to become a different kind of support (the rib cage supports the back, and covers the inner organs).

She was to support him spiritually, by learning about and obeying God. (A faithful wife is a wonderful thing.)

She was to support him emotionally, by encouraging him to be God’s servant and friend. (Not tempting him to sin, as she had done.)

She was to support him physically, by being where she was suppose to be,…..not wandering off to look at a tree she knew was not to be eaten of.

We, believers, are put back into Christ, to become a new creature….all things should become new within us (2 Corinthians 5:17)….

That we should be to His praise and glory, in our lives….

That we should honor Him and His Word, in obedience….

That we should overcome, by the faith He has placed within us….and be one with Him.

John 17:21-23 “That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

And the glory that Thou gavest Me I have given unto them, that they may be one, even as We are one:

I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”

Eve, and us, as believers:

God’s purpose lost in Eve…..and can be regained in us…..for we are in Him.

We are called to “come….in the unity of the faith”….

Ephesians 4:13, 15 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Will we come to Christ, and fulfill the work as His helpmeet?

(Let me say here, that if Adam had fulfilled his duty to Eve; she would not have been at the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil….to be tempted of the devil.

And let me also declare, that the Lord will never forsake us….nor neglect His duty to us….who He loves.

He will never will He leave us….never will He let us go……but He will:

1 Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.”)

The Rock of our Foundation 

Matthew 7:24-25 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.”

Ephesians 2:21-22 “In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple unto the Lord:

In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”

A building is laid on the foundation and attached to that foundation; then built on that attachment.

As Christians, when we are born again, we choose to build our “home” on the Foundation of Christ, as our Rock.

But we are attached to that Rock by faith, and love. We build on that.

Our “home” here, in this world, is the life we dedicate to Christ Jesus. We persevere to the end of our life in obedience to Him by exercising our wills to do His Will.

Then we are building our homes on Christ. This is hearing His Word to us, and doing it.

So let us look at our building, and see how our building stands:

Is it straight?

Have we progressed in the straight and narrow way of God, through His Word? Or have we settled unevenly?

Is our faith giving into doubt? Or is our love turning cold?

All houses settle;….in fact it is a good thing, if it settles together.

It actually firms up the house on it’s foundation.

But a house, when it settles unevenly, is (just a little) down on one side, and straight on the other.

Doorways are affected, strength is lessened.

Sometimes, it is not the winds or storms which hinder our building on Christ; but weariness in well doing, and discontent.

We feel we are not getting “ahead” like we should.

(often this is caused by looking at others, and what we think is happening to them; Instead of looking to Jesus. Hebrews 12:2)

But where has the imbalance come from?

Often is comes from focusing too much on the present,……or the future:

When you get to focusing on the present

(let’s face it, things happen that gets us “out of sort”….because they are not what we intended to happen)

…..then we can, forget that there is a goal to reach out for.

When this happens, we need to heed Paul’s exhortation:

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

For you see, it is always how we deal with what happens that makes the difference: going to God for His Will in it,…..or struggling through yourself, sometimes going nowhere….fast.

There is focusing too much on the future…….the “someday things will be great” attitude…….and forget to see the work done for now.

When we do, we need to:

2 Timothy 1:6-7 “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [or disciplined mind].”

Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence [boldness], which hath great recompense of reward.

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

Our lives are a “holy habitation” where the Holy Spirit abides in us, and with us.

We are to face each day with Him, as another chance to:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)

It is when our joy gets silenced,……by doubt, hesitation, anger, guilt, or worldliness;…..then the praise becomes just words….and the emptiness we begin to feel.

Then our peace is attacked…for we feel like God has moved away from us;…….when it is actually us, backing away from Him.

Christ, as our Foundation, our Rock does not move.

Circumstances around us, and the temptations they cause…..make us feel like were in that wind storm….or rain storm;

It is how we deal with those storms; Who we cling to, in obedience to His Word;…..that makes the difference.

And we often waver….

….but He is immovable where we are concerned.

He is a Rock to us…..let us cling to Him….and stand firm.

A Kingdom must have a King

We have been made in the image of God: He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

We are spirit, soul and body…and within each of us there is place where someone rules. Who rules in the kingdom of Mansoul?

(We have often pictured it as a throne in our hearts….Who sits there?)

Psalm 24:9-10 “Lift up, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

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

A King rules…..that is His job. He is at the head of His army….He is directing circumstances for His kingdom,……He is commanding His people. That is what a King does.

He does it according to His due order, and for the good of the Kingdom and His people.

The Lord Jesus Christ is King…..is He our King?

In the beginning, Adam was put under a trial of his faith to God.

Yes, the devil’s wiles, and the temptation through Eve, was part of the trial….but, it came down to: who was Adam going to choose, to rule his life…..himself, or God?

And for each of his decedents, it is the same choice: who will we choose to rule us?

The natural man never chooses God….

Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”

Romans 8:7-8 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh shall not please God.”

The natural man fights against Him in his life, everyday. This man may be religious, go to church, or do charitable works…..but it is always them doing it, their way of doing it, and for their own praise.

But the born again man, will…..by the Holy Spirit within,….be lead into a Narrow Way,…..where trials and choices, will bring us to give our whole life over to the Lord, as King.

Psalm 11:4-5 “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.

The Lord trieth the righteous:….”

If we have faith in the Lord,…..it must be tried….to strengthen it and prove to us that it is real. For faith digs in and holds on to God….faith moves us ever closer to the Lord;…..for the object of real faith is God.

We call this life: A life open to and receptive to Him, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because we must open up our life in so many areas…..today it may be here, in our guidance.

And tomorrow, or next week, it will be in some other area,….in our friends, and family.

Next, it will be in the area of our health, our finances, our time….and it is amazing how many area’s of our life, we have never really given over to Him….

(I know this was the case with me….until He tried me there, then He said, “Is this Mine?”)

But we must “open to Him”……for we have a tendency to “close Him off” from things in our minds, and affections.

Though in the main stream, we will do His Will,…..yet our eyes look elsewhere, our minds think other plans, and our hearts can yearn after other things.

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

“Thy kingdom come.” Full stop. It is a statement all on it’s own. One which we are to pray for.

Christ’s kingdom will come one day on earth…..and we are to pray for it.

(Revelation 11:15)

But this whole prayer Jesus taught, is practical…..it is for His people, for today. In fact, it stresses the day….this day…

…..the praise and honor for the Father,

….the provision, physically and spiritually for today,

….the forgiving of our sins, and our forgiving others for today,

….the prayer for His keeping us from evil,….today,

….the reason we can pray for these things….because He is King of His kingdom, now….with power and glory….for ever.

So the prayer for His kingdom to come, is for today…..”in earth”…..in us.

We are to be expressions of His kingdom, here, today……because His kingdom has come with in us…..and He reigns as King of my life….remember, a life open to Him,……and receptive to Him, in all that He says.

Luke 11:2-4 “And He said unto them, When ye pray, say,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(Let me honor Your name and character)

Thy kingdom come. (In me and let it be shown by me to the sphere of my influence, today.)

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

(With the joy that all the angels do Your will, let me do it….in me and by me)

Give us day by day, our daily bread.

(Supply my needs, spiritually, and physically)

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.

(Forgive me, Lord, for my sins this day. And as You have forgiven me, I forgive everyone who has injured and sinned against me.)

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”

(Help me, Lord, to know the Way to go, this day….keep my steps from slipping, and me from falling….for their is so much to trip me in my walk.)

He calls us to have a life open to and receptive to Him…..will we?

When Jesus is our King, we are always behind Him….protected in His guidance,…..and He is always in us….helping us, cheering us,….and calming our minds….for He is always in charge, where I am concerned.

The Fruitless Fig Tree

Matthew 21:17-19 “And He left them, and went out of the city into Bethany, and He lodged there.

Now in the morning, as He returned into the city, He hungered.

And when He say a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.”

(In Mark, it was the next morning that they saw the fig tree withered…..from it’s roots, up. Mark 11:20-21)

Here is the only thing our Lord cursed while here on earth……the fruitless fig tree.

(The fig tree’s leaves, were what Adam and Eve put together to cover themselves after their sin! Genesis 3:7)

This was the last week of Jesus life here on earth, and He has been in the city of Jerusalem teaching during the day…but at night went out to Bethany.

(It is interesting to note, that the Lord never spend a night in the city, after He rode into Jerusalem as “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna to the Highest.” Matthew 21:9.

He left Jerusalem, and went out to Bethany: home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus)

In the morning, walking back into Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry,…..when He saw a fig tree that had leaves.

(Fig trees first produce the beginnings of the fruit of figs, at the same time the leaves come on….so if the tree had leaves, whether it was the time for figs or not….it should have had fruit.)

But this tree had no fruit, to satisfy the Lord.

“Fruit” is the term used by the Lord to describe what we, as His people, are to give to Him. It springs from the life He implants within us…..in obedience to His life within us.

From John the Baptist’s charge against Israel…..to prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus, which spoke about fruit:

Matthew 3:8, 10 “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

And Jesus’ sermon on the mount:

Matthew 7:19-20 “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

To the end when Jesus was talking to His disciples:

John 15:2, 4 “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.”

“Fruit” is how we show the life of Christ, through us. We bring forth the fruit of HIs life…..in our lives.

That is what He asks from His people…..to show that we are His.

That is how we satisfy the Lord Jesus.

And this is what the Lord was showing, in cursing the fruitless fig tree. “Let not fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.”

If there is no fruit, but leaves only….it is worthless.

The leaves cover the tree, and make it look good to those who pass by….but leaves will not satisfy the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 21:20 “And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!”

After three years with the Lord, you would think the disciples would not be amazed at the fact that everything in creation, obeys the Lord…..but it was beyond natural,….yes, it was by the command of the Son of God.

Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Jesus was not giving a formula for rearranging landscapes……but a way….by faith (which is given to us when we receive His life in us)…….to remove from ourselves, any thing which would hinder us, from showing forth His life through us.

Whether is be a “fig tree”, which needs to be destroyed…..

….or a “mountain” which needs to be removed out of our way…..each is done, by us……by the faith the Lord has given us.

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.”

As Christians, we are to bring forth fruit to God….the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the fruit of a Christian…which is another Christian; by prayer, witnessing, or soul winning.

We are not all called to the same work…..but we are all called to satisfy the Lord Jesus Christ by giving Him the fruit of His life,…..lived out through ours.

According to His Purpose.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.”

The called according to His purpose, are those who are born again.

Everyone has “purpose”……

But God, through Christ, has opened up the way for us, as His, to know His purpose. To be included in it, by a subjection of our will……”to them that love God”

John 15:14-16 “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what His Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things have I heard of My Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, 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.”

So when Paul says “the called according to His purpose”; he is showing that we should know His Purpose…..and he goes on to explain what our purpose is:

Romans 8:29 “For whom He did foreknow, He did also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren:”

This is the purpose I am called to: to be conformed to the image of His Son, in His character.

(There are two things here, we are to know about our purpose:

1.) He foreknew us. Foreknowledge has to do with people, not things. So when He says “He did foreknow”; He means that He saw us in Christ Jesus before the world began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

2.). He predestinated us. Predestination means that God “marked out and set limits, beforehand”.

Predestination has to do with our works….the circumstances we are to pass through, and the work we are to do for Him.

He “marked out and set limits, beforehand”……for the things which would come into our lives…..and He set aside the things we need to do them.

Ephesians 1:4-5 “According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”)

Then Paul continues to tell of our Purpose:

Romans 8:30 “Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”

As Christians, we are to walk in the reality of this verse….

Called….making our calling and election sure…

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

1 Thessalonians 2:12 “That ye should walk worthy of God, Who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”

Our calling: We are His servants. We belong to Him. We are each given a part of His ministry, for now…..here, where we are.

Justified…..legally made free from condemnation;….and walking justly (rightly) before Him.

Titus 3:7-8 “That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

Our justification is to free us from the law and death,…..to live unto God.

Glorified…..one day in heaven, certainly;….but also tasting of that glory of God now.

(Glory is “making apparent the dignity and honor”, “splendor”)

One day we will see God’s glory face to face; and then it will be seen our honor and dignity…..in Him.

But now, He wants us to taste of that glory,….walking and knowing His Victory in our circumstances.

The honor of His Will being done….where we personally are concerned…..

….this is our glory.

2 Peter 1:3 “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us unto glory and virtue.”

The glory of God and our taste of it here, is to raise our thoughts and affections upward,….knowing the honor that being His child, is….even here.

According to His Purpose…….”the intention of God for our lives”……is that we be conformed to His Son….in character;…..and praise Him for the honor of doing His Will.

Ephesians 1:11-12 “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the Purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own Will:

That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

The Lord is My Shepherd

John 10:11 “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

In the Psalms, we are called the “sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3), denoting His ownership of us. We belong to Him, and by this…..are under His protection.

It is a good thing that we are; for the Lord Jesus warns us of the enemies which are against us:

Thieves and robbers…wolves…and those that are not sheep:

John 10:1 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and hi a robber.”

John 10:12 “But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, see the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.”

John 10:26 “But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.”

The true flock of God, hear His voice and follow where He leads:

John 10:3-4 “To Him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.”

Do you think Jesus doesn’t know you? Certainly He does.

He calls you by name—your name; that you may follow Him.

He does not drive the sheep before…..but leads them.

Anything that is waiting for the sheep, will first be faced by Him.

He has prepared the way, we are to go.

He measures every temptation, and trial….and makes a way through it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

Rightly has Matthew Henry said:

“I shall be supplied with what I need. And if I do not have everything I desire, I may conclude that it is not good for me; Or I shall have it in due time.”

Psalm 23:2-3 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.”

His leading us is essential; for He knows where and how we are to get the safe grasses that we need…..and where to safely rest.

He restores me in His redemption, to God;…..in His forgiveness, to peace;….in His fellowship, to joy and love.

And we walk and rest, under the banner of His Name. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

Even in the darkest times…times of shadows between us…..and times when things are not so clear….

Thy rod….Your Word of correction, and instruction comfort me….for in the trials, it is so easy for me to become discouraged….and begin to “look around”.

But Your “rod” awakens me to who I am…..I am Yours; and that You are here, with me….now.

Your Staff….the Holy Spirit….nudges me along….rescuing me from dangers.

They both are used on me, to keep me safe behind You….and on the enemies which wait for my soul.

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

We walk through this wilderness world…..with temptations, anger, and even hate, all around us…..Yet, He has supplied a feast….in Himself…..for us.

We can come to Him anytime, getting protection….and guidance through this maze of life.

The Holy Spirit gives us His “anointing”:

“But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth,….”. (1 John 2:27)

So that I may testify to others of Your overflow in my life.

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

In this life of troubles, and trials, and joys……I will praise Your goodness to me. And praise Your mercy in my weaknesses, my doubts, my backsliding, my failures, and my discouragement under them all.

I praise You for all You have done….and I am confident it will continue forever, with You, in Your heavenly home.

The Good Shepherd is Jesus Christ….is He your Shepherd?

Perhaps you have said you would follow….but your confidence is wavering…

You know your calling….but, you are feeling anxious…

He has always known the way, and delivered you….but time has passed….

Then, read again Psalm 23…..and put your name there. For if you are born again, then He is “my shepherd”……

Call out to Him, and hear again His voice….and follow Him.

(Throughout this whole psalm, we are pointed again and again to “the Lord” (at the beginning and the ending verses); “He”, “Thou”, “Thy”…..it is saying: all our satisfaction and contentment is in Him.

Praise God for what He gives…..double praise for Him being mine.)

The Beauty of Holiness.

Isaiah 6:1-3 “….I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims:….

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Revelation 4:8 “….Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Holiness in Scripture is the Sinlessness, and perfection of the character of God:

which is Light…..not darkness…(James 1:17)

is Mercy,

is Peace,

is Grace,

is Love,

is Supreme Goodness, and our Refuge,

Is Wisdom, and Judgement, and so much more.

We think of Holiness, and sometimes tremble……because we are sinful…..even with our sins confessed, and cleansed…..we can remember the terrible things we have done against Him,….and that is when “Holiness” puts weakness into our hearts….

Isaiah when he heard the “Holy, holy, holy”……..

Isaiah 6:5 “Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

When Peter saw the “great multitude of fishes” the Lord gave, after a night of catching nothing……

Luke 5:8 “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

In scripture the Lord is called Holy, seventy times. Twenty-eight times in Isaiah, alone. Sixteen times in the Psalms.

(If God were not Holy, there would be unspeakable horror for consequences: He could not save sinners….nor could He have power over the unrighteous works of darkness. There would be no Heaven….where every tear shall be wiped away, and no unclean thing, will enter. Chaos, not order, would rule.)

But in this, we are going to speak of the Beauty of Holiness…..for surely God’s Holiness is beautiful.

It is an attribute of splendor….spreading out like a rainbow, unto abundant goodness.

And, that He would plan a Way for us to share in His goodness, by Jesus Christ….is blessing….twice blessed for us.

That He has made a Way to come to Him;……..we as sinful creatures, to come to the Most Holy God,……by the expiation of our sins…..has not changed His Holiness;…

…..but rather enhanced it; showing to us, by the abundant sacrifice of His Son, how Holy He is.

When we think of the price Jesus paid, that we might “be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)…..

…….we again tremble at the Holiness of our God, Who would allow His Son to die to wipe away our sin,…….and not allow any, but those who receive Christ Jesus, as Lord and Savior,……to come near to His throne, and dwell with Him.

Isaiah 33:15-17 “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shuteth his eyes from seeing evil;

He shall dwell on high; his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty, they shall behold the land that is very far off.”

God’s Holiness is worthy of all our praise. For as He is lifted up above all things, so He raises us up, in Christ….to sit in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 2:6)

But for what purpose, are we raised to newness of life?

To be to the praise of His glory. To find our satisfaction in Him.

(Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth.”)

1 Chronicles 16:29 “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His Name: bring an offering and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

2 Chronicles 20:21 “……..he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for His mercy endureth forever.”

God’s Holiness is beautiful,…..and He calls us to worship Him for it…..and to set ourselves aside to Him,…..to be “partakers of” it.

Hebrews 12:10 “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.”

“Partakers” here, means to accept and use.

In Christ, we are made righteous; given a new nature. And we are to accept our new life and “use” it…..we are to bring forth the fruit of His holiness within us…..the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

We are to spread out within us the manifold goodness of God, by the fruit of His Spirit, and use it, to have joy, peace, love, gentleness, etc.

Psalm 29:2 “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto HIs Name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

Psalm 96:9 “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him all the earth.”

God is Holy, holy, holy…..in the Trinity. And praise God, that He is.