If Any Man Will

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

This always rest with our will.

(Our will is the “putting into action” of our personality. Our minds…give reason. Our hearts…give emotion. But our wills….act on what has been presented.)

If any man will? Let him deny himself. That is the key ingredient—self-denial.

If we deny ourself and take up our cross….and keep after this until we reach the place we no longer resist the Lord’s Will in anything.

(This is not instant obedience, but it is final obedience….we have determined to do God’s Will.)

Then we have acquired the power of choice.

We are now crucified, and we can begin the process of….real living.

(Before,…….we would will with God,…..but there was always something pulling us in the opposite direction……for the power of sin, and it’s influence was still there, fighting for control.

Paul speaks of this in Romans 7. But we can come to the experience that we are not resisting His Will—we may not like it…..we may be afraid….but we will do it. That is settled.)

To lose your life in yourself….is to go on and deny your self-life. This is not the will, willing….but….Whose life am I going to manifest.

When we lose our self-life, we deny ourself in our thoughts and emotions.

The reason I do this….must give way to…..”it is what He wants done.”

This is my way to deal with this…must give way to: Lord, how would you have me to deal with this.

It is to lose all those things we have formed around us to keep our true self hidden.

There are some, who when embarrassed or uncomfortable….they begin to tell a joke, or a story…..get everyone looking somewhere else, but at the real them.

There are some, who have hidden their emotions so long….they do not know how to really express themselves….but by pretense. It is easier to “hide-out”.

(I knew a woman who told me that for years, after she had become a Christian….and had decided to do whatever God said; had made a place to retreat to, in her mind, when certain things came up.

When confronted with certain people, certain things to do….she would “shut down”, withdrawing into self.

Her smile still stayed on her face….but the light went out in her eyes. She would do whatever was required….but it was mere form. Her heart was not in it.

She “hid out” till that was over with….then she would “reappear”.

When she heard my message on “losing your self-life”…..a battle began.

Would she give up to Christ, and stop retreating into the narrowness of self……or continue to hide from the Lord and Savior, which loved her and gave Himself for her?

It was a battle….one which raged for a long time….but finally victory was given; and she came out to Christ…..opening up her inner life to Him.)

A word about the narrowness of self……we are in the way, when something we do not want to face is presented…..what do we do?

We can deny ourselves and yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading…… or we can narrow the way, in our minds or hearts, and refuse to deal with this.

These bring in roots of bitterness…..which grow harder and harder to deal with…..soon the Lord’s Way, has become our way….maybe religious,….but joyless.

But when we have determined to do God’s Will, then we begin to be free from all the restraints of self….to come out to Christ, in truth…..and let Him give us His life.

Peace for fear, joy instead of selfishness…..to free us from habits….and become who He purposed us to become.

He never changes our true personality…..but frees it, to come into fellowship and friendship with Him.

Then you will begin to live….”the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.”

And faith always places Christ straight before us, to keep our eyes on Him.

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

Think of it…..to live by faith….the faith of the Son of God flowing through us,…leading us on with Him.

We are given faith when we are born again….and it shows us God, so that we know He is there with us.

Then faith delivers us from making bad decisions, and says….Keep looking to Christ.

Faith leads us on till, we live everyday…..yet not I, but Christ lives in me.

Jesus Christ said, “If any man will come after Me”……..that is the Way we must go….to follow after Him,….and let Him lead us out of self, and into true life….the life of faith.

The Joy of the Lord.

Nehemiah 8:10 “And he said unto them, Go thy way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

In other words, as they experienced this joy, and yielded to this joy; they would be strengthened in His Might.

This is to “be strong in the Lord and the power of His Might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

The need was great for Israel. They were back in the land, after the captivity.

But enemies had, and would keep trying to destroy their unity, and commitment to God’s Worship.

Here, when this verse is given,…..they had just had a service where the Law and books of Prophesy were read, and interpreted to the people.

They were excited to learn, but also saddened by the memory of their sin, which had sent them out of the land; and of the trouble they were having now, since they came back.

There is a time to repent;…..

and a time to rejoice in the goodness of God……

Now was their time to rejoice in the goodness of God.

We are called, as Christians, to have Christ’s Kingdom come with in our hearts and lives, now.

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

The inward Kingdom of God is set up in the hearts, of all who repent and believe the Gospel.

And that Kingdom is none other than:

Romans14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Now joy is a choice instrument, that God uses in a believing soul.

Joy and Peace are the true criteria to judge ourselves, spiritually.

When we are right with God, we have peace with God, and ourselves.

Joy follows.

Joy is particularly designed by God to be a balance against the sufferings; inward and out; of our walk of faith.

It is meant to lift up the hands which hang down, and confirm the feeble knees (Hebrews 12:12).

There is a strengthening power in the joy of the Lord.

Therefore, whatever dampens our joy in the Lord, hinders our holiness…..

(The Devil would “throw water” on our joy, so that he would spoil our enjoyment of the things God gives…and if he could,….the use of them too.)

…..when we get discouraged, or depressed,……we begin to let down our shield of faith.

The firey darts of the devil get through, when the shield is down. We are wounded.

When we get like that, we need to be exhorted to do, as Israel was told:

Nehemiah 8:10 “And he said unto them, Go thy way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy and Happiness are not the same.

Each springs from a totally different source.

Happiness comes from the situations around me. It is measured by what is happening to me. It is bound up in either the behavior of other people, to me; or the circumstances which I am in.

Joy comes directly from the Spirit of the Living God.

This joy springs from the Presence of God in my life.

It is not dependent on people, places, or the situations in which I find myself; but rather from the Presence of God with me,…..in any circumstances.

(And don’t we find it so, that knowing that the Lord is with us, is a great blessing…always.)

Joy is one of the attributes of God that He shares with us. Joy runs like a river of goodwill, through His make-up. And He wants to share that with us.

He is the God of all Joy.

He is alive. He is here. That joy was the overflowing of power in the early Church.

And that can be the experience of all who truly allow God’s peace to rule in your hearts. When it does, joy follows.

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

We have a purpose……and deep delight in the Lord. These are the characteristics of such a person.

There is direction in our duties, no matter how ordinary.

There is purpose in every area of our lives; for we are in harmony with the Holy Spirit within,…….and that lifts me from the confusion and trouble of this world,…….to rest in the arms of the Lord.

This is to know the joy of the Lord,….and it becomes a force in my life, to dispel darkness and despair; to energize my life in my walk with God.

The joy of the Lord is our strength.

We need it, and He has it for us.

The Strait Gate and the Narrow Way

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

“Strait” here means “narrow, with obstacles standing close about”.

“Narrow” is a thin path.

Is Jesus trying to discourage people?

No, He is just telling the truth….for all of us have “turned everyone to his own way”.

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Now we must turn from that way, and seek to enter into His Way, which is Life.

Isn’t He the door….by Him, if we enter in, we will be saved?

Yes! Absolutely! But getting to the door, or the “gate” as it is referenced here, is often the problem…..for we try and bring all that we are, with us.

This is not our possessions….but our old life, old habits, old way of doing things, our old way of seeing things.

Luke 18:25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

I use this verse….for it exemplifies the setting of everything aside to “enter in”.

In the old walled cities of Israel…..there were gates….wide and broad; which the caravans of camels and carts came in and out all day. There were guards, it is true….but they seldom restricted the merchandise from coming in and out.

But at night, when robbers and enemies were about….the gate was shut; and any caravan,….having missed the time…..would be stuck outside,….a easy prey for these bandits. For the guards would not come out to fight for them.

If this happened, the only other recourse, was to empty every animal, and squeeze them through a door, which was set beside the gate for travelers at night. One guard could easily hold the door if bandits or an enemy tried to come in.

This door was called the needle’s eye. For no animal could come through it, carry all they had.

(I know some people say that the Lord Jesus was telling a ridiculous joke….that He meant it for the impossible. For He goes on to say….”The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.” And it could be true….for Jesus was illustrating the impossibility of those that hold on to things, to be saved.)

So let us see, what we hold on to:

Our opinions,…..formed when we were under the influence of the world.

We often continue to see things the same way….and God wants us to see through His eyes…

Mark 6:34 “And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.”

Mark 3:5 “And when He had looked round about on them in anger(on those who did not want Him to heal on the Sabbath)….being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts…”

We often hold on to alliances,….people we had the same interests with before,….but now?….which will we choose?

2 Corinthians 6:17-18”Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

We often hold on to habits…whether games, T.V., or being fans of a particular thing……

Habits of speech, or a certain way we do things….all of these are formed when we were not born again….

And I must stress…….we should be willing to lay it aside.

Not that the Lord always asks us to…..but anything that will “weigh us down”, or burden our following Him…..you have to be willing to take off. (Hebrews 12:1)

Matthew 10:37-38 “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.”

How much do you want Him in your life? And how much of your life is yours…..and how much is His?

These are the things He was addressing in the broad way and the strait gate….our willingness to give Him all.

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

Not that He gains by us….He is self-existent, eternal, Almighty. But that the more we love Him, the more free we become from sin, self, and the world.

The more our heart grows with love for Him, the more it expands in light, peace, and joy.

It is for our benefit He asks us, as He asked Peter by Galilee….”Lovest thou Me more than these?”

It was not just his fellow fishermen, the Lord was asking about……but fishing, the sea, the old life…..”Do you love Me, Peter, more than all of them?”

Twice in the Psalms, David says, “my heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” (Psalm 57:7, Psalm 108:1). Both times he is speaking of God’s mercy to him.

The “fixed” in these Psalms is “prepared”. David had prepared his heart to receive mercy from God….and had run straight to His God, trusting Him, to receive it.

Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpassed.”

Let me ask….are we preparing our hearts to hear Him,….to follow Him,….to love Him?

Let us Pass over to the Other Side.

Mark 4: 35 “And the same day, when the even was come, He said unto them, Let us pass over to the other side.”

The Lord Jesus had just been teaching by the sea side. He had been preaching all day, and so at eventide, He spoke to his disciples that it was time to move on.

Mark 4:36 “And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.”

Now Jesus had said “Let us pass over to the other side”,…..and there was not a fisherman there, that did not think they could do that,….with no problem.

They were experienced fishermen, what could happen?

So they began. Other boats followed along, as well.

But suddenly a storm arose, which they had not foreseen.

Mark 4:37 “And there was a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.”

This was some sudden storm! The boat was filling up, from the wind whipping up the waves! This was not the usual lake travel; not for fishermen or others.

May I ask each of us, have we not been in this situation?

Quite certain that we could do something the Lord Jesus had given us to do?

(After all, we have been saved, and know quite a bit about the Lord; and about His work for us)

But then, some sudden “storm” of words, resentment, or shaming comes up from others, and we are suddenly at a loss as how to deal with it.

Worse, it seems as if we are “sinking”, and the Lord does not seem to be helping.

And may I also ask, haven’t we felt as if the Lord should come to our rescue, immediately?

I know I have; and have felt the fear, and (yes, shamefully) the resentment toward the Lord, that He did not help me, as I thought He should.

But, as the Lord reminded me: “Didn’t I think I could handle this myself?”

You should have seen me trying to excuse myself!

“Oh no, Lord, I never think I can do something without You.” (But, of course, I had)

Soon, I confessed, instead of excusing myself. I set it right with Him first.

Then I asked Him to show me when I was going to do the same thing: Whenever I began to think I knew what I was doing!

We need guidance, His word to us;

and His Presence with us whenever we do anything for Him.

And we need faith, to see it through, no matter what comes up.

Mark 4:38-40 “And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke Him, and say unto Him, Master carest thou not that we perish?

And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

Faith sees God; and that puts everything else in it’s proper place, under Him.

Now, Jesus had said, “Let us pass over to the other side”; not go out into the sea and drown.

They should have trusted His Word, and by faith, claimed it when they were in the storm.

But as the wind and waves grew greater, their fear grew as well. His Words became just words; which they aren’t.

Guidance we need. (They had that)

His Presence we need; always. (They had that)

What then did they lack?

First, a knowledge of their own inability to see what might come up against them.

As fishermen they would have known the night sky: whether there was a storm coming. So the one that came, surprised them.

Second, they lacked a firm faith in the Word of Christ to them.

Their faith should have steadied them; then they would have been able to trust. (Hold on to what Jesus has said.)

They would have been able to say to the wind and waves: that Jesus had given them His Word, and that He was with them….

And passed over to the other side.

Not without a struggle, this is true; but faith acted on, empowers and enables to see the duty done.

Let us have faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, and trust His Word, and Presence with us.

Every storm has a lesson, let us look to Him, and learn from Him.

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

And Yet There is Room

Luke 14:22 “And the servant said, Lord, it is done as Thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ, when He was here on earth, was zealous in His Work,…..so that all that would,…..would hear the invitation to the Kingdom.

He traveled all over Judea, even ministering to the Samaritans and a Phonecian woman…..delivering from disease and oppression.

The main theme of the messages: The kingdom of heaven is at hand….in the presence of the King, Jesus Christ. “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

He healed many: the blind, saw….the lepers, cleansed….the lame, walked….and the wandering multitude were fed.

They heard again and again His Word…they praised Him for His Works…..they followed Him for what He would give….and sought Him out, for miracles.

The years He went to the feast of Passover:

The first …He drove out the buyer and sellers from the temple. (John 2:13-16). “And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise.”

This was a command from the King….one they refused, for two years later:

The last Passover, He drove out the buyers and sellers, again. (Matthew 21:12-13) “And He said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Having refused His authority and blessing…….this time He quotes the scripture they said they believed….to honor His Father.

Everywhere He went……and when He sent His disciples out, the message was the same: the Kingdom of God is at hand……the people were going to have to make a decision about the King.

Luke 10:1-2, 9 “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come.

Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom of God is nigh unto you.”

(During the three years of ministry, Jesus gave two parables of a great supper….one in the personal sense in Luke 14, and the other before multitudes in the temple, a few days before they took Him in Matthew 22.)

Jesus was often invited to homes….several of them, Pharisee’s homes:

In Luke, someone had said, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Which prompted Jesus to tell the parable of “a certain man” who made a great supper. The man invited many, but when it was time to come, they all made an excuse to refuse this man’s supper.

(How many times do we feel we will do anything for God,….but when it comes time to do…..do we do?)

Jesus tells that this “certain man”, after His invitation was rejected, said….”Forget these who gave an excuse…….go out and get all those who are poor, and lame, and blind”. (This certainly describes each of us without Jesus)

And yet the servant came back and said….

Luke 14:22-23 “And the servant said, Lord, it is done as Thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.”

“Compel” here means to make them come in. Now this is what the Holy Spirit will do in the individual,…..as we, the servants….go out and give out the gospel.

(Yes, I was one of those “compelled” by the Holy Spirit. In my younger days, I was not going in His Way….as a matter of fact I had made a decision to leave the church and “do my own thing”. But, Hallelujah, God had other plans. And He would not let me go, and be lost!)

And now, Jesus has given us the charge to:

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

As Christ’s followers we are to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him, personally. Growing in grace from here, to heaven.

As His disciples, we are to share our knowledge of our King, inviting all who will to enter into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Temptation.

Luke 8:13 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for awhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

Here is described some who hear the Word of God; and their hearts respond to it with joy!

They believe for awhile, for they receive the word, not just hear it.

This means that their hearts want Salvation. They understand the promise of it, as well as what it demands of them.

They will to obey it, and go along great…..until something halts their progress.

That “something” is Temptation.

To tempt is to arouse to action or anger; to induce to do something; to persuade.

Temptation comes along and knocks at the door of your life.

Life might be treating you badly. You might already be hurt, or angry, or discouraged (and this is a big one: discouragement)

So the devil, our Adversary, who is behind each temptation, sends “Complaints” to speak to us.

Complaints comes and knocks at our door. When we open to see who it is, he says, “How many times are you going to put up with their ingratitude?”

“You deserve to have that position. You work harder than anybody else!”

“They should never have said that about you. You are so much nicer than they are.”

He says exactly what we want to hear.

Should you listen? (First mistake. Eve was tripped up by listening to the devil, she should have run away at the first suggestion out of his mouth)

Should you open to see exactly what “Complaints” is offering?

Now if we are “sober (serious about standing with Christ),

and vigilant (watchful); we can refuse Complaint’s suggestions.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Because, devour is what the devil wants to do, with this Temptation. To eat up every determination to do God’s Will.

(Believe me, every temptation we yield to; weakens our faith. If you would be strong in the faith, flee temptation.)

Remember, that is what it is: it is a Temptation, no matter what name it comes knocking under.

If we listen, and consider what Temptation is offering; a foothold is made in your heart or your understanding. And once there, they are twice as hard to resist.

Christ Jesus taught His disciples to pray:

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

There are two parts to dealing with Temptation:

1. “Lord, lead us not into temptation”. Help me to keep asking for the help I need. To lean on You to say and do only what I should.

James 1:19-20 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear (God), slow to speak, slow to wrath:

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

2. “but, deliver us from evil”. For there is a way out of Temptation, once we are in it.

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts ye double-minded.”

The first is submit to God: confess your desire to listen and go along with Temptation, and confess your anger (or what ever the sin was).

This submission is a deliberate act of your will, and the real Victory is in the submission.

Then resist the devil: “The Lord rebuke thee.” (We certainly can’t in our own power, but in His name, we can.)

Then draw near to God, and He will draw near to you: This is a military movement. It is going back, to take cover in Christ Jesus, our Rock; and He will protect us, and fight for us in a special way.

Temptations are common to man.

But we can be delivered from them:

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

And God has promised a blessing for all those who endure. Endure means that you stand with Christ Jesus; and when the temptation is over, you are still standing with Jesus.

(You may fall. But He has provided His forgiveness, and cleansing power to get us up and stand again with Him.)

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

All

All is a small word in itself,….yet inclusive to the greatest degree.

These three letters signify the enormity, the magnitude, the numbers, the greatness of power to accomplish….without limits…..for “all” is everything there is.

Mark 9:23 “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

This is an amazing promise….”all things are possible, to him that believeth.”

Are we believing Him in all things? Are we proving His Word in the situations of life?

I know I have failed here, often. We think of the hard, impossible things for which we need God….but “all things”…..really?

Are we looking to Him in “all” things?

Isaiah 45:22” Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

(We all know the about when Peter walked on the water. [Matthew 14:25-31]

We know that Peter was doing fine,…..until….he stopped looking to Jesus, and started looking around at the waves and wind.

Yes, those were the circumstances he was in at that time,……but the waves were high when Jesus bid Peter “Come” to Him;……and the wind was howling as Peter crawled out of the boat, and onto the sea.

It was not the wind or the waves,……but the fact that Peter stopped looking to Jesus, that got him in trouble.

Now for me, that would have told me that Peter should not have asked to come out on the water….but, the Lord did not correct him, then….but corrected his unbelief. “Wherefore didst thou doubt?”)

“All things are possible to him that believeth”

For our salvation, Christ Jesus has reconciled “all things” and made peace by His blood:

2 Corinthians 5:18 “And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

Colossians 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

“Reconciliation” means to remove all those things which hinder fellowship with God.

We cannot reconcile ourselves to God, He did that on the cross….but we can come to Him at His invitation, receiving…and continuing to receive His life….and “be made the righteousness of God in Him”:

2 Corinthians 5:17, 19, 21 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

These “all things becoming new” includes faith and light…..which gives us the “sight” we need to navigate in this world.

It includes the Holy Spirit’s ability for us to get honest with the Lord, and come with our hands emptied of excuses. (1 John 1:7, 9)

It includes peace….a peace which passes “all understanding” for both our hearts….and minds.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

For our spiritual needs, Christ Jesus has blessed us:

Ephesians 1:3, 2:6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Are we getting them into us?

Paul wrote that he had learned how to abound, and how to be abased (and if you read what happened to him: being thought a god [Acts 14:11-15]…..being stoned and left for dead [Acts 14:19-20]….a jail opened for him [Acts 16:25-26]….a shipwreck [Acts 27]…..you can see his being abased and abounding!) and he testifies:

Philippians 4:11, 13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (And that is reconciliation!)

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

That’s Paul, the mighty apostle….but he goes on to say:

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Again, I will ask, are we believing the Lord? Are we being reconciled to Him in everything….the “all” things of our life?

Well, He said “all things are becoming new”….will we let Him make this day new in our experience with Him….more peace, more joy, more of His Presence in the wind and waves we face?

The Judgement Seat of Christ

1 Corinthians 3:13 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

When we stand before Christ Jesus, in that day, the most important aspect of our service will not be how much we have done, but “of what sort it is”.

That will be our motives behind the work we have done for Christ.

So how shall our motives be seen?

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is lain, which is Christ Jesus.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

The things of God in our life, will come through as gold.

The things of Salvation which we have shown, will come through as silver.

The people we have helped win to the Lord Jesus Christ (by prayer, witnessing, or leading them to the Lord), will come through the fire as precious stones.

But the selfish, and proud, and willful actions that we have taken, even though they may seem religious, will be burnt up as wood, hay and stubble.

The motives of our work and service, is what God looks for.

He is interested in who we love.

If we love Him, in obedience to Him (whatever it is: “Whosoever give a cup of water to drink in My Name” Mark 9:41)…….that will be elevated to worship. (Which is really worthy-ship…. we count Him worthy of all.)

1 Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

Though I speak every language of this earth,….and that of angels……if I can express myself in all these languages to set forth the truth of God;…..if love to the Lord Jesus is not the reason for my action:…..I am so much noise.

1 Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.”

If I have the highest gift of the Spirit: to know the mind of God and to speak it.

And understand all mysteries: those things hidden from the ages, to be revealed now.

And all knowledge: being able to set forth these great truths, in a way all might understand.

And have all faith: so that I could remove the mountains, or anything which might stand in the way of the Gospel.

And have not love…..I am nothing.

My position before the Church counts as nothing before God, if I don’t do what I am called, out of love for Him;……but for some other reason.

1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing.”

Though I give all that I possess to feed the poor, and my body to be burned in a martyr’s death, without love to Christ as the reason for doing it; it profits me nothing where God is concerned.

We see then that, at the Judgement Seat of Christ, where the born again ones will be judged; it will be our love to Him which comes through the fire.

Love in the work and service that He gives us;…..our love to Him will stand the fire.

All the other reasons for following Christ, and doing good works, will be burnt up:

There is the reason of getting blessed for it: a bargain of types. I do this for you, God, and You do this for me.

There is the reason of position: either in the Church or in the World. To look good before men.

There is the reason to be “someone”……..even to yourself.

And there is the reason: He told me to do it, so I have to, or else.

Where do we fit in here?

Do you love God? Is He the goal for all your works? To please Him, because you love Him?

Are you fond of remembering His love? Do you want to experience more of it?

Then consider your heart: Who sits on the throne of your heart? Is it a divided heart?

You want to please Christ Jesus, but you also want that attention, or prominence that these works gain you.

Give up that thought of “gain”, for the heart will eventually be pulled apart by it….”you can not serve God and mammon”.

Matthew 16:26 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Someone has said: God’s love is like an Ocean. It is vast and beautiful. Powerful, and wide.

You can stand on the shore and look at it.

You can step in and out of it, staying on the shore.

Or you can get out into it,….by the vessel of faith, and enjoy it.

Rain

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

Christ Jesus, when He comes to us by the influence of the Holy Spirit, is like a shower of rain, to a dry and thirsty ground.

When we are without Jesus in our lives, our hearts are hard, and nothing seems to soften them or make an impression on them.

Often when we fall into sin after becoming Christians, we can again become “hardened”. So we need to turn to Him again, and pray for showers of His mercy and grace to come to us, and soften our hearts.

Wherever Christ comes, the rain of the Holy Spirit and of grace, comes to our souls;…..and we are turned into a well watered land.

Fruitful and beautiful, for we drink Him in;…..and by His Spirit’s influence, we are changed little by little, into His character.

As rain is a free gift of God to the earth……to poor and rich alike, the rain falls.

So Christ is offered to all who will receive Him.

The rain is most necessary to all the parts of the plants: roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and blossom.

So Christ is necessary to every part of us: our understanding, our will, our emotions, and our memories.

He strengthens us in good things, and enlivens us as we grow.

He increases our peace, and love for Him and others.

He preserves us within, by His Spirit; and without, by HIs Word.

As rain sometimes comes amid thunderstorms, as well as the gentle warm rain; so Christ comes to us to warn us, as well as to encourage us.

As rain satisfies the dry earth, so Christ comes and satisfies us.

He gives us the fruit of His Spirit within us.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

If we follow on to know the Lord,…..He will come unto us as the rain, the former and latter rain, upon the dryness of our souls.

Liberty of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Liberty of Spirit is to have the ability and will, to do the Will of God, joyfully.

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore, by beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but how much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

After being born again, we are called to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This calling is personal, between the Lord and you, and has nothing to do with your work for Him, or your witness of Him.

It is the beginning of a relationship.

How far you take this relationship, is as far as the Liberty of the Spirit is yours; for it is based on love, not duty.

It is true, that all those that belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, are called to obey Him.

Acts 5:32. “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”

We stress obedience a lot for Christians, but this Liberty of Spirit is found in those that love Him.

When we are born again, the Spirit of God comes into our spirits and gives us light for darkness, and a love, however small, for God; not an anger toward Him.

The Spirit of God then uses the Word of God to awaken a desire within us to be holy.

There are two terms for holy in the Scriptures: Holy when it speaks of God is His Nature of Sinlessness, and Integrity.

Holy when it speaks of us as His followers, means that we are setting ourselves aside for His sacred use. He can use us as He will, for His honor and glory.

Holiness comes from the determined will of the believer, to be a vessel unto honor, meet for the Master’s use. (2 Timothy 2:21). This is not sinlessness, but constant communion with Him, who is Holiness.

This Liberty of the Spirit, is the same liberty you feel with your true friends. There is nothing you can not tell, or hear, that would effect your friendship. There is the feeling of acceptance, and power with them.

And the Holy Spirit empowers us in God’s Word, God’s Grace, and God’s Will.

Fear is dealt with.

Anger is defused.

Self-pity is turned from.

Power is given, from within us by the Holy Spirit; and received.

This is Liberty of the Spirit. And so much more; with that personal relationship with Him.

Do you want it?