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?

God’s Light.

John 1:9 “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that come into the world.”

Every man born has light. It is called the “candle of the Lord” (Proverbs 20:27), or the spirit of man.

Some call it “conscience”….for it is natural man’s moral compass.

In natural man, it is “darkened”; for it cannot see God’s Light.

In Christians, our spirits are “enlightened” (Eph.1:18) so we can know and see God’s Light.

Light from God is truth and knowledge;…….which reveals our part in that knowledge.

Because light which comes to us, is always personal.

The very first thing God spoke into being, in His re-creation, was light.

Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

He did not need to speak, but He did,…..showing that His purpose was to be worked out by the Word. (John 1:1)

He did not need light, for He is Light;….but again God is showing the absolute need of light, by us.

With that light, He divided it from the darkness (Genesis 1:4); and then He made the first day,…..calling the division of time by the light….showing how the light was to have preeminence.

Genesis 1:5 “And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”

Then He manifested how light should “rule”….by making two lights (sun and moon):

Genesis 1:16-18 “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also.

And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth,

And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.”

(Three times God mentions a division between light and dark [Genesis 1:4,14, 18]…..and three times God uses the word “rule” in connection with these lights [Genesis 1:16,18])

The Lord spoke to Adam, giving him his ministry and the commandment, which would test his faith and subjection to God…..by His spoken Word: Genesis 2:15-17. (Again this is personal)

But Adam rejected His Word….so every person born afterward, has had to struggle with darkness.

Every man had the true light of God at one time, for all knew that God existed, and was the Creator.

Darkness came with sin,….and drew men into exceeding darkness;….so much so that when the Lord of Life and Light came to save men from their sins; they “comprehended” it not.

John 1:5 “And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

Sin has so blinded the “eyes” or understanding, of our hearts….so that we are unable to see our terrible and lost condition. We are in darkness as to our great peril, and the tragedy and emptiness of our lives, without the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ” In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

But God is Light….so He shines into the darkness of sin, by His Word:

Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.” (The “simple” here are those untaught about God)

And when we come to the Light of Christ…

He calls us out of darkness into light:

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

He gives us an inheritance, as joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17):

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

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

Light gives knowledge.

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts , to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Light gives understanding.

Ephesians 5:14, 17 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Light brings us to fellowship and cleansing:

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. “

Light gives more light:

Psalm 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

Light shows us our stand in Christ:

1 Thessalonians 5:5, 8 “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

For: “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

God is still giving light by His Word….by His Son, Jesus Christ. Will we receive Him? Will we receive His Word?

This song comes to mind:

“Come to the Light….‘tis shining for thee. Sweetly the light hath shined upon me. Once I was blind, but now I can see….the Light of the world is Jesus.”

The First Principle, Obedience.

Acts 8:1,4-5 “…And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

Jesus had told them to be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Until the persecution, they had concentrated their activities in Jerusalem.

But now they were forced to flee; and so began the spread of the gospel throughout the world.

Philip was one of the deacons appointed to see to the daily needs of the Church. (Acts 6:3-6)

But now he goes down to Samaria, to preach of Christ.

Acts 8:6-8 “And the people with one accord gave heed unto the things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

For unclean spirits crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

And there was great joy in that city. ”

Here was a real Awakening. There was great joy in that city. Surely there would be, since Jesus Christ has come into the hearts and lives of the citizens.

Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.”

Soon after this, Peter and John came from Jerusalem, to help Philip, after they heard that Samaria received the word of God.

In the midst of this Awakening, Philip is told to leave there and go down to Gaza, which is desert.

Acts 8:26 “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip saying, Arise, and go toward the south, unto the way which goeth down to Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert.”

And what was his reaction to this? Did he argue and say,……”Lord, I am in a great revival here. I can’t leave now.”

No.

Acts 8:27-29 “And he arose and went: (That is Obedience)

And behold a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had a charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”

The Holy Spirit tells Philip, Go near, and speak to this man.

And Philip runs!

And is given the opportunity to speak of Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:30-34 “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he should come up and sit with him.

The place of the Scripture which he read was this,

He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;

and like a lamb dumb before his Shearer, so opened not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgement was taken away:

and who shall declare His generation?

For his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?”

This eunuch had been to Jerusalem, to worship. Even though he had been there at the time of Pentecost;……he was untouched by all that was going on there.

(Remember, Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit was given: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,…

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together….

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:1-2,4,6,38)

And now, this eunuch was returning home, not knowing of the invitation Peter gave to all who gathered around them. He was looking to the Scriptures, but without understanding.

He felt that this particular scripture he was reading was important…..but how it was…..he was not sure.

And Philip, using that very Scripture, spoke to him, of Jesus: Who He was, and what He had done, for the saving of the soul.

Acts 8:35 “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Obedience is the first principle of all of God’s Principles.

It Honors God, because it is for the Lord.

His Presence is with the one doing it, in a real way.

He honors the one doing it.

He blesses the obedience, whether it is seen at the time or not.

(Obedience in the Greek means “willingly doing what you are told”.

You can do, because you have to, or to gain something.

But Obedience is the willing heart doing, to please our Lord Jesus Christ.)

Acts 8:36-38 “As they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.”

Philip was obedient, and the eunuch was obedient, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 8:39 “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

(Some people say that this is how the Christian Church in Ethiopia was started.)

To know about Jesus, is good.

But to truly know Him, is joy.

There was joy in Samaria,……and with the eunuch, because of Philip’s obedience.

The first principle is Obedience.

For Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)

Samuel Hears God

1 Samuel 3:1 “And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.”

Samuel is a young boy…maybe in his teens. Samuel had been “lent” to the Lord from Hannah, his mother….for the ministry the Lord had showed her. “…And he worshipped the Lord there.” (1 Samuel 1:28)

He stayed with Eli, and learned God’s word of the law. He knew the beauty of the Lord’s Tabernacle, and understood the duties Eli performed.

He was Eli’s helper; and when Eli (who was the high priest), went into the Holy Place to maintain the oil in the Lampstand, which had to be kept filled during the night,…..Samuel went with him.

Samuel slept by the Lampstand, to notice the lights flickering.

This was a sad time in Israel….the people did not know the Word of the Lord: their laws and their meaning….it was “precious”…..very rarely talked of in families and among people.

Also there was no “open vision” (Proverbs 29:18)…..the purpose and plan for Israel, under God, was also not universally known….only a few remembered that God was to be their King.

Only a few remembered that they were to be separate tribes, yet brothers in kindness.

(I want to mention something here,….about training our children in the Word of God.

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

“Train” here means to initiate and discipline. To bring into and teach.

My son had a rebellious time when he was in his teens….not terrible stuff….but he turned away from God, for a while. He was brought back, by God speaking to him, getting his attention concerning his life ahead.

God’s Word sheds light….and I believe we need to show our children what we think of His Word….how much we believe it….that is an impression they will never get around…though they certainly may try.)

Samuel was not of the priestly family….yet God had seen beforehand the perverseness and rebellion of Eli’s sons…..and provided a substitute, in Samuel, to speak to Israel about God.

But first….Samuel would have to hear, for himself, the Word of the Lord.

God was going to speak to him….and give him a task….would he obey?

1 Samuel 3:2-4 “And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the Ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.”

This sounds good….

1 Samuel 3:5 “And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou callest me. And he said, I called not, lie down again, and he went away and lay down.”

Samuel had not heard the Lord before, and mistakenly thought that Eli had called him….so he ran over to him and asked him what he needed.

Eli, half asleep, said….”I didn’t call you, go back to sleep.”

This happened two more times: “And the Lord called yet again, Samuel.” (Verse 6)

Now Samuel was hearing…..but not hearing the Lord, yet. He kept thinking Eli was calling him….and each time, in diligence, Samuel went to see what Eli wanted.

Twice Eli, told him to do back to sleep….but the third time:

1 Samuel 3:8-9 “And the Lord called Samuel again the third time; and he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.

And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if He call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth.

So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”

(I was praying once about “teach all nations/ make disciples” [Matthew 28:18-20]. And the Lord showed me these verses…..Eli pointing Samuel to hear and answer the Lord.

The Lord showed me……If we can bring those we pray for and teach, to hear the Lord for themselves….and answer Him with obedience; we have fulfilled our commission.)

1 Samuel 3:10-11a “And the Lord, came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.

Then Samuel answered, Speak; for Thy servant heareth.

And the Lord said unto Samuel,…..”

The fourth time, the Lord calls Samuel….this time standing beside the Lampstand….He said “Samuel, Samuel”.

He repeated his name, for there was an urgency now that Samuel knew it was the Lord was speaking to him.

Samuel says…..as Eli told him….”Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth”.

And the Lord told Samuel that He was going to do away with the priesthood that was in charge, including Eli….for the sin Eli refused to deal with, in his sons.

It would be a wake-up call to the nation, now…….but, later, He would make an end to the judgement on the priesthood……”when I begin, I will also make an end.”

In the interim, Samuel would minister to the nation, turning them back to know God, and His claims upon them…for each other; and other nations.

In the morning, after hearing this….Samuel got up and went about his chores; opening the doors; but he said nothing to Eli.

Eli sees Samuel’s quietness, tells him,……to speak plainly to him:

1 Samuel 3:18 “And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he (Eli) said, It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good.”

And Samuel told him everything that the Lord had said. He loved Eli, but spoke God’s Word,….faithfully.

(Eli submitted to the Lord’s Word, through Samuel.

Actually, Eli had been a good man,….but a bad father to his son’s. He had tried to correct them,….slightly. But as the high priest, he should have taken them out of the priesthood, for their sin against the nation.

And for their trespass against the Lord, ….they should have been stoned. 1Samuel 2:17, 24-25; Leviticus 24:16)

Samuel’s faithfulness was blessed.

1 Samuel 3:19, 21 “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the Word of the Lord.”

The Lord again was speaking to the nation,….through Samuel. He was telling them what God wanted of them, as His people. (How important for us, as Christians, to keep in constant touch with Him, and His will for now.)

We, too, can hear the Lord calling and speaking to us….sometimes through others, and sometimes personally through His Word to us.

This is what He wants for us…..to hear Him, and know His Will, Word, and the way we should go. It is always personal….the Lord knew Samuel’s name….He knows ours, as well..

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

When we hear Him, we should say: “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth”…….and then be faithful to what He has said to us.

“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.