“O Wretched man that I am”

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

The wretchedness of Laodicea spills over into it’s miserableness, poverty, blindness and nakedness.

The Lord says we are wretched….which means deplorable or deserving disapproval…….for we are not zealous (boiling hot) for God’s Will (Rev.3:19)….but lukewarm.

We are ‘warm’ enough that we think we are alright….and cool enough to save ourselves from the “shame” of the gospel-way.

Wanting God’s blessing,…..but, along with friendship with the world. (1 John 2:15)

Paul writes Timothy, a young preacher, who had been a companion of his, before Paul was imprisoned:

2 Timothy 1:8 “Be thou not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.”

Yet,…..God does not require at our hand, what He does not supply grace for:

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

Paul writes of his testimony a lot in Romans (remember he was a persecutor of this gospel….till God spoke to him)…..and he begins with:

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

And he proved this,….after he was converted…by…

Acts 9:20, 22 “And straightway he (Saul/Paul) preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”

But what does Paul, the mighty Apostle, have to do with “wretchedness”?

Surely he could never be accused of this!

Well, Paul said he was wretched….giving his testimony to the Romans:

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

What does this mean?

(Under Roman law, if you killed a relative, the judge could chain that dead body on to you…..and send you away from the city. You could not remove it, till it fell off itself, after decaying.

Well, Paul felt that way….he was carrying the body of his old self, which he had “killed” when he was born again.

But he felt it’s weight, it’s noxious influence when he tried to do God’s Will….he wanted freedom from it.)

Paul describes his experience, in vibrant colors:

Romans 7:7 “…Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

He had discovered that this brilliant Pharisee, full of desires to fulfill the will of God…..good in all points….except coveting. He coveted….and that “slew” him.

He realized that even in religious things, his attitude of coveting was there.

(We think of certain sins as “bad”…..and others….well, to be overlooked. And worse, we think…..God thinks that way.

No….sin is sin. No matter how large or small…sin is rebellion against a Holy God and His Way.)

“Thou shalt not covet”, knocked him down with all the other “sinners”. He realized, if he was going to live a life to God….he needed help.

He really wanted to do God’s will…”for to will is present with me: but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Verse 18)

(Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth (fights) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other; so that ye can not do the things that ye would.”

Even after we are saved, our natural life [“old man”, “flesh”, “self”] fights against us being in subjection to God.

That is why we are given a new nature….the Holy Spirit. For our new nature helps us to yield to God, and the Holy Spirit gives us the power as we yield.

Sometimes, our battles against sin and self are relatively short….others long and hard.)

So Paul confessed and cried out: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Paul knew to continue in sin is death to fellowship with Christ….so he looked again to his Lord and Savior.

And the answer came,……Paul, you are already “dead” in Christ’s crucifixion. (Romans 6:6-7, 11)

You have to “reckon” it…….believe Me, and rely on the Holy Spirit within as the power to prove it, by living above the world, and out of sin.

Yield and obey the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”

Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:14-15 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

And again, in Rome, “sons” have authority, for they represent the family they are from.

Paul is saying that God gives us freedom, and authority in our new life with Him…..and it is all given in love; for “Abba, Father” means “Daddy”.

An affectionate, personal Name for our Father God.

That was Paul’s testimony…..he knew he was wretched…he knew he coveted, he saw the lust within himself;…..and wanted deliverance.

And got it.

What about us? Are we lukewarm…just getting by?

Do we want to get zealous? Well, it requires:

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

But the rewards are great:

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

The Lord promises those that overcome every obstacle in their lives, in the power of the Spirit,….throne authority.

To represent our King, here…..not by command or demand….but by power—real power of His Life,….in us, by us and through us.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Humbling

Daniel 4:1-3 “Nebuchadnezzar the king unto all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth, Peace be multiplied unto you.

I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the High God hath wrought toward me.

How great are His signs! And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.”

Here is the story of God against a powerful…maybe the most powerful ruler of the times.

And of course, God wins. The stories of God’s victories are all around us, but we do not get news flashes about them.

So in the Scriptures, God has set aside a record of His humbling of a heathen world-ruler.

Not by mighty armies, or by high intellect; but by the will and word of God.

Why is this important?

Because God still rules, and “He does according to His will in the army of heaven and in the inhabitants of the earth…”

How we yield to that fact shows our subjection to the True King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

Daniel 4:4-5 “I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house and flourishing in my palace:

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.”

It seems funny that someone so powerful would feel afraid by a dream, but many believed that they were signs of things to come.

This time he was right.

So he calls for all his wise men, and astrologers; but they could not tell him what the dream meant.

Then Daniel came in and the king told him the dream.

(Daniel had made known another dream to him before.

Daniel had given all the glory to the “God in heaven that reveals the secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be…” Daniel 2:28)

So Daniel heard from the Lord, what the dream meant:

Daniel 4:20, 22-23, 25 “This tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heavens, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto the heaven, and thy dominion unto. the end of the earth.

And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him.

…till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth to whomsoever He will.”

Daniel gives the interpretation:

The tree is you. You have grown so powerful that the whole world is under some part of your influence. But….because you think that you have done all this, there will come a time that God will make you out of your mind, and you will be as a beast…..till…..”thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.” (Daniel 4:25-26)

Daniel also tries to give the king some counsel:

“Break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy days.” (Daniel 4:27)

But pride (whether of person, or of accomplishments) is a great sin.

Paul writes “Who hath made thee to differ?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Simply, is not all that we have from the Lord? If He gives beauty, or ability, or opportunity? Is it not all from Him?

[Does not God give to us, from His wealth?

What we do with what we have been given, is important—even if you do not believe in God…He takes note.]

Daniel’s counsel suggests that Nebuchadnezzar did nothing about the cruelty of the victors over the conquered people.

The lives of many destroyed, or changed at a whim.

But now the question is: would he change?

The next verse says it all.

Daniel 4:28 “All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.”

May I say here, that though many have reformed their actions; real change comes from God, within the person.

Nebuchadnezzar was given time to come to God. A year, twelve whole months…but then:

Daniel 4:29-31 “At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and the honor of my majesty?

While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; the kingdom is departed from thee.”

We must remember that Nebuchadnezzar is telling the whole world about his experience!

Pretty amazing that he would do so;…..and that he would include the details of his sin, and what God did to him:

Daniel 4:33 “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beast of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until that thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.”

He was driven out, a mad man! He ate grass… till seven times—a complete time for him to get a taste of God’s power and kingdom over all;…and repent.

But, “until”…….how great a time-word….when repentance is spoken of:

Daniel 4:34-36 “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever, Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation:

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?

At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness, returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.”

Nebuchadnezzar was a great king….but it was God’s purpose that he be so.

He was at the head of his army. He led into battle, and overpowered other great nations. He built his country into a great world power. He built a beautiful city. [Babylon’s hanging gardens was one of the world’s wonders]

So when Nebuchadnezzar was told that all he did was only because God allowed it to happen!?

He heard, but refused to submit.

It is a hard thing to submit to,…..especially when we would like to get at least part of the credit.

But when Nebuchadnezzar did submit to God, then….”I lifted up mine eyes unto heaven”….mine understanding returned unto me”….”my reason returned unto me;”.

[This is like the prodigal, “When he came to himself”. Luke 15:17-18]

Most people do not like to think of the damage sin does to our minds. The ideas it gives, or the murderous thoughts, or the imaginations it leads into: but sin destroys and corrupts every good thing it can.

We think of “bad attitudes”, or “being illogical”,….but sin twists the truth.

Only when we submit to God as we should, does the truth begin to be seen.

And when we apply that truth to our hearts and lives: we find our minds leaving anger, imaginations, and despair; to find peace, gentleness, mercy and joy…..For ourselves, and others.

Daniel 4:37 “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all Whose works are truth, and His way judgement: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.”

Here he praises God! For bringing him into submission!

May we all come to the place where we too are submitting to God, and His purpose…..and praise Him for it.

Leaving the pride of life (1 John2:16), and entering into the fullness of the Spirit.

In joy and peace, going on with Him….in praise.

Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.”

As Christians, we are here, by His appointment.

He has placed us, for His own purpose.

And of course, His first purpose is?

“They shall show forth My praise”!

But how?

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

“Foreknowledge” has to do with us….it means He saw us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Timothy 1:9)

“Predestination” has to do with the personal Will and Way we are to go….God has chosen…will we follow along?

Here, wills collide.

Your will and God’s revealed will for you. And His way of bringing His will to pass, through you.

Our battle may be short, or it may be long; but it is finished when He has had the Victory over us, and we see (with the eyes of faith, willingly):

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things,…

(Usually, we have no problem with these. We shout hallelujah!)

….and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

(But here, is where we squirm a little)

We do not like to think of ourselves as “creatures”.

It is true, we are blessed, for we were made in the image of God.

We were the only creatures that He formed, by His hands; and so an intimate bond was given us.

But we are creatures, and God is the Creator.

Therefore He has the Right to do what He wills with His own.

For the Christian, there is the double right, that He bought us with His own precious blood, from the penalty of sin.

The word “pleasure” here, is really “determination”.

God has a determined Will for each, He has created. For you and me.

And He works,…..to see that Will performed within us.

We must be brought to the place in our experience with God, that we throw down the weapons of our warfare against Him, and as the creature, yield to the Creator.

You say, What weapons?

How about the weapon of self-pity.

If we do not lose “sympathy” with ourselves; we will lose out on many joys, and blessings. They will simply be ruined, for we are too wrapped up in what “we thought” should be.

How about the weapon of “You can’t ask me to do that!”

Pride is a terrible king.

(It makes us do the stupidest things: because “I” can’t be made to look silly, or embarrassed, or wrong. “Why should I forgive? They were the ones who were wrong.”). Is it enough that Christ Jesus asks you to?

How about the weapon of “I’m sure someone else can do that,…and probably, better.”

We look for ways to get out of our duty, and one of the easiest is, giving the job to someone else.

There are many “weapons” we use against Christ and His Will for us. Little things we give in to; which hinder our joy.

Sometimes we are praying about things, we already know the answer to…..just putting them off a little while longer.

The Lord showed me once, that I was like “a certain lawyer”:

If you read Luke 10:25-37, you will hear how a certain lawyer asked Jesus, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Pretty good question,……very pious….till he got Christ’s answer. “What is written” in scripture?

He knew the answer:

“To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thy self.”

That is right….Jesus said, “This do, and you will live.”

“Whoa, wait a minute….You don’t want me to take that literally, do you?!”

(Of course those were not his words….but mine, when the Lord showed me something from the Bible)

And like this “certain lawyer” it had to do with “and thy neighbor as thy self”.

I doubt he treated his neighbor as himself”….but neither did I want to.

He was not willing to obey, but to justify himself.

[10:29] “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?”….as though, “who” he was, made a difference.

Of course, that wonderful parable of the Good Samaritan came from that conversation…..where the brotherly-kindness of a stranger (one who was not thought well of) was better than the religious people.

I doubt that “certain lawyer” learned anything….but I did.

I got Jesus’ point,….to me.

We are often not even aware we are arguing with the Lord, over this or that.

But, He reminds us…..You are My people….I have formed you for Myself. That you will show for My praise.

For me it was enough….to know this, from Him. And I stopped making excuses, and did what He wanted.

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

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

Forget all your fast failures. All those things that did not turn out the way you thought they should have.

The past, is just that: past.

So cast off the former things; and determine to face today.

To do His Will.

And let Him make a way for us in the wilderness of this world, and to see Him give rivers of living water in us and through us, because we are yielding…..to Him,…and His determination for us.

An Open Face.

An “open face” in Scripture is an honest one.

How many times God asks us to get honest with Him. To come to Him “as we are”, and not in pretending.

(Let’s face it, we often wish to be someone else….with their looks, their parents, their circumstances….etc. But God wants us. He (amazingly!) love us.)

Honesty to God is of primary importance.

(It is only the “good and honest” heart in Luke 8:15, that bears fruit, and is blessed.)

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The Lord showed me this verse once: I was standing in front of a mirror (glass), and looking at my reflection, I saw the Lord’s face superimposed upon it. So that when I saw myself, I also saw Him.

This is what this verse means. As we get honest with the Lord about ourselves, our attitudes, and our thoughts; The Spirit of God changes the inclination of these desires, and we “are changed, into the same image”.

This is to have the character of Christ in you. Worked in you by the Holy Spirit, as you get honest with Him.

This is often, not as easy as it seems. We think we are generally honest people, but the Scriptures tell us and experience shows us, that we are dishonest.

This began with Adam and Eve. Their sin separated them from God; so much so that they knew they were naked before Him.

So they sewed fig leaves together, and tried to cover their fault.

Then they tried to hide themselves, among the trees of the garden.

And lastly they blamed their sin, not on their own choice, but someone else.(Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed “the serpent”.).

They refused to come to God in honesty, confessing their sin; but tried to cover and lie about it. (Genesis 3:7-13)

We are their descendants. We are all born with sinful natures, and we are generally dishonest with ourselves (the Bible calls it being “deceitful”), as well as with others.

Thankfully, God has made a way for us to have victory here.

For without honestly coming to God, you are not coming.

The “pretend you” may be coming, the “excusing you” may be coming; but the real you is not.

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

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

If you are going to get honest with God, by the help of the Holy Spirit; He rewards you accordingly.

He will give you what the honest heart seeks: His Power and Presence in our lives, to live a life of faith and trust.

Remember the “open face” is being changed into His image, or character.

As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit within us, and He will:

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.”

He will guide us into all truth. He will take us by the hand, so to speak, and take us along in the great adventure of Eternal Life.

He will teach us the things of Christ, molding us into His image, as His face was superimposed on mine. I will still be there, but He will be seen as well, in my everyday life.

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 (complete) 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:”

This is something you acquire, as you yield to the Lord.

We begin to see that we have been covering up our hurt, bitterness,….our attitude to this, and our anger for that;….

….and when we get honest…..we can turn to Him for the victory over these things, which only He can give.

We are us. The things that have happened to us, have happened. They can not be changed.

But we can.

God gives us His life,….joy,…peace,….patience,….and contentment (Philippians 4:11-13)…

instead of hurt,…anger,…resentment,….lust,…depression,….and so many more.

We do not “deserve” His life…..He gives freely. And He even supplies the grace as we yield.

Will we, with “open face”…in honesty….come to Him, and be changed from glory to glory (one characteristic of Christ, to another)?

If you are born again, you have the Holy Spirit within you, ready to guide you into all truth; Will you have it?

For surely God will reward your yielding, many times over, in fellowship with Him.

The Leper.

Mark 1:40 “And there came a leper to Him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

The fact that Jesus healed many, was well known. He had been preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God. (Mark 1:15). Wherever He went, He healed the sick, and diseased, as well.

As He went, a leper came asking for cleansing. “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou can make me clean”.

Jesus was moved with compassion. Leprosy is a terrible disease. How far along in the disease he was, is not said here….but in:

Luke 5:8. “And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy; who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”

This man was “full of leprosy”. In other words, this man’s case was hopeless. Leprosy starts as a “rising,(swelling), a scab, or bright spot” and continues till “raw flesh” appears. (Leviticus 13:2, 14)

It destroys and eats away the flesh, until fingers fall off, etc.

Leprosy is like sin. It begins small–a “swelling”. Wherever it breaks out, it puffs up the flesh.

But it is small–something you could ignore, if you chose to. Till it needs a scab.

That means there has been a open sore. It still could be small…but open, open to the contaminants of the world…..and growing.

And so it goes on, eating up our souls, destroying us; unless it is cleansed.

1 John 1:9 ” If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Yet, this man cried for mercy from the Lord Jesus;…..and received it.

Not only the Word of Healing;…….but Jesus “put forth his hand, and touched him”.

Mark 1:41-42 “And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.”

Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it can not save; neither His ear heavy, that it can not hear:”

This was compassion only the Son of Man/the Son of God, could do:

Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus touched the leper, and gave His Word, “I will”. That cleansed him.

Jesus heart reached out and touched him,…..a leper, who should never be touched. (Most would not even let them come near them.)

Jesus willed, and spoke the word,…..and he was cleansed.

I am emphasizing this, because we feel that God’s Will, and His Word have different power…..no. What God wills, His power is already sent forth to do….in us, and by us.

What God’s Word says, is certain.

He did not need to speak….but stressed His compassion by word.

He did not need to touch….but stressed His love by His hand.

But now the Lord wanted him to do what God required for the cleansing, for a testimony of God’s goodness:

Mark 1:43-44 “And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: Go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”

We can not save ourselves from our sin. We must come to Christ for that.

But we can be obedient to what He requires us, afterward, as a testimony to His Love and Word.

The leper was cleansed:

He came to the right person, and in the right way; seeking mercy.

And he was cleansed.

Then he went and did as Jesus required, as a testimony to Jesus as Lord and Savior,….and as the One who healed him.

We, too, are in need of cleansing: from small sins or large sins. We need forgiveness and cleansing.

But we can come to Jesus for His mercy……bowing down to Him, we can be cleansed of all our iniquities….receiving His grace (the unmerited favor of power).

The Leper was no longer a leper…..that is what he sought from Jesus….and what he got, by Jesus will, word, and touch.

Christ Jesus has the same, for all who will come to Him.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The Everlasting Covenant

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect (complete) in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

The Everlasting covenant was entered into by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit……before He created the world.

Before anything that is, was….God saw all that was going to happen because of sin, to this world….and made provision for the salvation of man in the Everlasting Covenant.

God the Father agreed to draw all the elect to God the Son (John 6:44, Isaiah 54:13). If……

….God the Son agreed to come to earth as man, born of a woman. (Not man and woman…but woman. God made Jesus a body Hebrews 10:5)

Live a perfect life, and die; taking all of our sins upon Himself….to save us from them, and bring us into peace with God.

His precious sacrifice and blood was the price of redemption (John 1:29, Revelation 5:6)…

…Then God the Holy Spirit agreed to come and dwell within us, when we are born again (John 14:16-17)…….molding us into the character of Christ from with in us….to bring us to spiritual liberty from sin and self.

Revelation 3:14 “Unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”

Here it plainly says that Christ Jesus when He came as a Man, (as promised in the Everlasting covenant) was the first act of Creation.

Without the promise of salvation for man, God would not have created.

But He did create…..and our salvation in Christ was “before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9)

He is the Amen. Christ alone can say, “So be it”…..and it will be.

We must say, “If God wills…”

Since He is the Amen….and He has purposed our salvation, and our life with Him, surely He will bring it to pass.

But what He asks….is our willing cooperation in the process….for He has provided the Holy Spirit to guide us, and empower us…..if we will.

He has purposed, that our wills must will with Him.

He does not force His way into our hearts….no, He stands at the door of our lives and knocks…..and speaks, for it is His Voice that we hear…”Open to Me”.

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

If is always a life, open and receptive to Him, that He claims.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not by works, lest any man should boast.”

This is how we were born again….by grace, through faith….not of works or of ourselves……lest we boast we helped God, somehow.

It was His gift, through Christ Jesus.

But then He shows us His purpose:

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

His purpose is that we, under the power of the Holy Spirit within, are molded into the character of Christ Jesus….that we might do the good works He has set aside for us to do.

And He has made full provision for them….for when God ordains something, full provision is already made for it.

We are to “walk” in these good works. That means that they are our everyday activities.

That is where He wants us to serve Him,……with Him.

For we should be a willing manifestation of His presence….a positive witness of His presence and power.

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:”

We should be able to give a reason for why we do what we do….and can’t do what He has said not to do.

(We bow our heads and give thanks over our food; whether at home, in public, or in other people’s houses…we give thanks. They may do it or not, but we do.

We are not loud or commanding others to do this….but we do, because it is what the Lord wants us to do)

(I can not cut my hair….and it was funny when I had chemo and lost my hair….all but two strands. I wore a scarf, but when it would fall off, some people asked me why I did not just cut those off. (It did look funny, as I said)

But I couldn’t. And I told people the “reason”.)

Jesus is the Amen….He will see His Will done in us:

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, 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.”

Jesus is the Faithful and True Witness….seeing how we are…”Peter, lovest thou Me?”. (John 21:15-17). Are we doing out of love for the Lord?

And He sees what we do…..are we doing the good works each day, in fellowship with Him?

Jesus is the beginning of the creation of God….because the first thing God wanted was the salvation of those He created….through the receiving of His Beloved Son.

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name:”

(The first promise ever given in scripture is concerning the coming Christ as Man, to save us:

Genesis 3:15 [Notice the “I will”] “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it will bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”

And the last promise in scripture is concerning His coming again as King, to reign eternally in joy and peace.

Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”)

The Everlasting covenant is about our Salvation….formed before times eternal.

God’s thoughts have always been toward us,….He has given (ordained) provision for us,….let us walk with Him in all the good works He has for us to do and say.

The Voice of God: in Wisdom

Proverbs 1:20-21

“Wisdom crieth without; she uttered her voice in the streets:

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,”

God is saying here that He had sent His Wisdom in the city, into the minds of His People.

And what did Wisdom say?

Proverbs 1:23

“Turn you at My reproof: Behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.”

God’s Wisdom wants us to not only hear the words; but to “turn”.

When God reproves His people, He is trying to get their attention away from the world’s traps, and to turn it on their great calling in Christ Jesus.

He promises great power for our lives, in the promise of the Spirit; “I will pour out My Spirit unto you”.

and in understanding His Word for our lives, today.

Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”

We were formed from the dust of the ground; and the Lord breathed into man, the breath of life, and we became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

Then we were place upright, on our feet, to walk after God.

But we turned every one to his own way. (Isaiah 53:6)

So God has spoken in a clear voice of Wisdom:

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

That is pretty detailed direction, for our everyday life. He knows, and we can know for today what His will is.

God has it for us: if we will walk with Him.

And if we get out of the Way?

The He will send Wisdom to correct us:

Proverbs 1:22 “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love your simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”

The simple ones here, are those who are not taught in the Word of God. They can not prove all things.

We think simplicity is good, but it is not,…..if we are simply refusing further instruction from Him, wanting to stay where we are because of fear, or lack of trust.

But the scriptures are given for our instruction:

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

And the scriptures are given for examples for us:

1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

Maybe we think that God would never make that happen for me; what is the use of trying, or of praying?

He has promised a lot to those who want His wisdom. Shall we not believe Him?

Proverbs 2:10-11 “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul:

Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:”

Proverbs 3:21b-23 “…keep sound wisdom and discretion: so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

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

God is still sending His Wisdom to the streets, the place people gather, to the entering of cities, and in the city, itself.

He is sending it by His Word, His preachers, and by the testimony of His people.

He will not stop…His Voice will go forth.

Will we turn and walk after His Wisdom for us today?

Trust

Isaiah 26:4 “Trust ye in the Lord forever: for the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

The term “everlasting strength” is actually “the Rock of ages” in Hebrew.

(Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.”

This is the first place Rock is capitalized, spoken by Moses……signifying a Name of God.)

Psalm 84:12 “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.”

“Believe” is to rest the full weight of your existence upon Christ;….”trust” is to “hold on” to Him.

We are to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7),…..so when circumstances, people, or trials seem to interfere or hinder the work of God in us, or with others; we might doubt, or at least become faint-hearted.

Then, we are to trust:

Trust is not presumption (which runs ahead and does what it thinks best);….but trust is holding onto the Lord, and His sure Word,…..and doing what He wants, no matter how things seem.

To believe the Lord, will keep our inward life active….always looking to Him.

To trust the Lord, will keep our feet in the way He has marked out….for we are hanging on…..and by hanging on, we will receive the blessing.

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

When we are born again, we enter the straight gate, and the narrow way.

In this way, we meet with many things which will shake our belief, and try and tear us away from following Him.

There are difficulties,……trials……and failures by others……and by ourselves, which discourage us.

Yet we are to meet them in faith…..and faith always sees the Lord.

Then we are to hold on….or trust Him, for He knows, He sees, He is Able, and especially….He will for me.

By believing, we have joy in our service.

By trusting, we have peace in our walk.

This trust is based on experience….based on what the Lord has already done for us.

Have we experienced His goodness? Then why would we think He would remove it now?

Have we experienced His control over circumstances,……which we could not control? Then why question His ability to help, now?

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

(This Promise was given to me, years ago, and the Lord has reminded me of it many times since…..especially when I was becoming discouraged.

The promise is “perfect peace”—complete peace, of mind and heart. And I get it….by clinging to Him….and holding on to Him….to see to me,…through the trouble, trial, fear, sickness, etc.

And He has,…not that my trust has been complete. I have failed Him, and not had the peace He offered….though His Word was completed.

But He has never failed me,….though I have often been surprised by His way of dealing with things. [It is always amazing how God works things out!])

“Hang on to Me and My Word to you.” Jesus tells us.

How important it is for us to know His Word…..how precious is the Word we have stored in our hearts.

Times of distress will come, and then…praise the Lord…that Word comes back to us….grounding us firmly against the storms of life.

Hebrews 10:22-23, 35 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.”

Hanging onto Him is not a stubborn refusal to admit we are wrong….but the clinging to the Rock which is higher than I.

For we know Him, and have Eternal life…….and believe Him and have joy…….and will trust Him and have the stability of peace.

Psalm 61:2-4 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I;

For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of

Thy wings. Selah.(pause and consider)

Psalm 62:7-8 “In God is my salvation and my glory: the Rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.”

1 Timothy 4:10 “For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the Living God, Who is the savior of all men, especially of those that believe.”

Are we trusting in the Rock of Ages? Today?

All things work together for good to them that love God.

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

Do you love God?

Have you been called according to His purpose?

Then all the things of your life (yes, even the bad things) will work together, as one large mass for good. It is God’s good, for your life, and it is God’s Purpose.

I’ve never understood this verse. How can the terrible things in my life (a lot I have done, and some which has been done to me) work for good; even God’s good?

It is explained in the next few verses.

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

Foreknowledge is always about people. God foreknew you, me, every Christian, by His choice of us, in Christ Jesus. He knew who we would be, what we felt, our own particular besetting sin, and yet He chose us; for His Purpose.

Predestination is about the calling and good works, we are to do. He has given us a destiny before we were even born, which leads us in the way we are to go.

And the way we are to go is: through the circumstances chosen for me, by hearing His Word to me.

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Be not afraid, He has made provision for us. That is what is meant by “God hath before ordained” in Ephesians 2:10.

“Ordained” means that full provision…everything we need has been made for us…not in general, but in specific; for God is very specific.

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.”

And here is the way we become conformed to Him; for we, as Christians, are to walk in the Reality of this verse.

Called; making sure of our calling and election, by doing what we have been called to do: whether ministry, witnessing, praying.

Justified; knowing that our standing before God is in Christ. Therefore we are made new in spirit, and nature. As He walked here on earth, so we should.

Glorified; tasting even of that glory of God, which is yet future.

Walking in Christ’s Triumph; experiencing His Victory by the faith He has given us, in our circumstances.

Seeing His Will being done where we personally are concerned. Enjoying the blessing of His Presence, everywhere He leads.

Romans 8:31-32 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

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

He freely gives us all things; with Him. In Christ we have our life, in His Word we have His purpose, in His Spirit we have His guidance and power….what do we lack?

And this is how all things work together for good: it is God’s good, and it is God’s Purpose; for us.

His is an eternal love.

A love which knows us, and our sin; and wraps His arms around the whole of us; to forgive, and cleanse us.

He shows us His love in purifying every area of our lives, to the praise of His glory.

He has seen us in eternity past, loved us in Christ Jesus, and made a way that we might be as close to Him as we can.

We can be conformed to the image of His Son: His character and determination.

We can enjoy fellowship in Him, and feel the power of His glory and strength for us in the everyday circumstances of our lives.

Power to do. Power to be. Power to stand, in the world we live in.

We can know that all things work together for His good, and praise Him for it.

We can know that all things work together for His Purpose, and embrace it.

We can love God, in life and works.

Joshua

Joshua was a young man when they left Egypt, and he quickly became a close friend and defender of Moses.

He was the one, when there was a battle to be fought, was chosen to lead the men into battle. (Exodus 17:9-13)

Exodus 17:9 “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.”

He was also the one….the only one interested in being as close to the Lord as Moses….for he was given the privilege to be on Mt. Sinai when Moses went up for forty days to get the Ten Commandments the first time. (Everyone else was afraid. Exodus 20:18-19)

Exodus 24:12-13 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.”

He and Caleb were the ones which tried to persuade the people to go into the Land the first time, after they spied the Land, and saw it was all that God had promised.

When the others spoke of giants,…..they spoke of the Lord’s promise and goodness. (Numbers 14:6-9)

Numbers 14:9 “Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us (will only make us stronger): their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.”

He was chosen to lead Israel in, and was given enablement by the Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 34:9 “And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel harkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Courage was going to be needed…and strength, and a knowledge of God’s Word…..(Deuteronomy 31:7-8, 23-24)

Joshua 1:5-9 (condensed) “…I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Be strong and of good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land….

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law….turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,….for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and than thou shalt have good success.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Several times (five times in all: twice in Deuteronomy and three times in Joshua) the attributes of strength, courage, and knowing the Word; are spoken of and stressed, by the Lord….

…..for though He would give them….Joshua would have to use them.

He had a large job to do.

He was to bring Israel into the Land, conqueror it, and divide it among the tribes; and see to the tribes until the land had been completely conquered.

He was to remind them of the Law—the blessing and the cursing—and then set up the place for worship.

He was to lead them in all of this…..lead them as a shepherd-warrior.

They were going in to possess a land held by very strong forces….and Israel, themselves, had often proved rebellious…..things were not always what they seemed……and guidance from the Word, was very important.

So was using the courage and strength God was going to give him.

To finish his course, Joshua was going to need every help God would give him, over and over again.

But there was also the promise: “I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

And in the end, he testified:

Joshua 23:14 “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you, all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”

In Joshua’s career, he had only three failures, which is an amazing testimony to God’s provision and care for him.

First:

In Achan’s sin of stealing what was consecrated to God from Jericho.

Joshua did not deal with it immediately, which put Israel under God’s displeasure; because he did not ask direction, but relied on the suggestion of others.

Joshua 7:11-12 “Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for thy have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies but turned their back before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

Joshua’s failure was in not asking guidance, before sending men to the next battle. Thirty-six men died because Joshua became over confident from the victory they just had;………and did not ask God, first. (Joshua 7:5)

Second:

The league with the Gibeonites.

The Gibeonites were inhabitants of the land….they should have been destroyed, but they thought of a trick……they would look like they came from a very far country….old and moldy bread, old clothes, and old wine bottles, etc. to convince the Israelites to make a league with them. Here again, Joshua failed, because he did not seek the Lord’s Word about them.

Joshua 9:14-15 “And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. “

And because they made this league, God required that they honor it.

Joshua and Israel had to defend them, after a forced march all night, into a battle with five kings and their armies! (Joshua 10:6-10). One of the worst and longest battles they were in.

Third:

The land was not fully conquered. After many of the larger kings and territories were conquered…..Joshua divided the land among the tribes; and thought that they would be eager to go in and possess their inheritance……many did….but others seemed to wait for someone to guide them…..instead of turning to the Lord, themselves.

Joshua 13:1 “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed .”

Joshua 18:3-4 “And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?

Give out from among you three men for each tribe and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.”

Many of the tribes, getting lazy,…first stayed together in the camp like they had been in their journey there……then they began living among the people who were there, when they should have been destroyed, along with their idols.

Because they were not….many began to turn from God to idols. (Joshua 16:10, 17:12…which was why there were the Judges)

Joshua failed in not seeing to each tribe’s inheritance….and in not teaching them to follow the Lord, personally, themselves.

These three failures were serious, and could have easily been prevented….but in the end, Joshua said to Israel….

Joshua 23:6, 8, 10-11 “Be therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.

One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, He it is that fighteth for you, as He has promised you,

Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.”

And he exhorted them, leaving them with his determination:

Joshua 24:14-15 “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your father’s served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whither the gods which your father’s served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

For all of us, in our Christian walk; we, too, are call upon to be strong, and of good courage, and to rely on His Word…..all the time.

We will have failures, that is certain, but we can continue on with Him, seeing our course complete….serving the Lord,……witnessing of His faithfulness.

Paul said at the end of his course:

2 Timothy 4:6-7 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Peter said:

2 Peter 3:17-18 “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

John said:

1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

Jude said:

Jude 21, 24-25 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

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,

To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

And when we finish our course…..what will we be able to say?