The Man with the Withered Hand. 

Matthew 12:9-10 “And when He was departed thence,  He went into their synagogue: 

      And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered.   And they asked Him, saying,  Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?  That they might accuse Him.”

Jesus had been on a teaching tour through the cities of Israel.  And now He was come to their synagogue.

        In the synagogues, every Israelite could stand up,  read the scriptures, and interpret them for those gathered.   Then there would be a general discussion of the scriptures.

That day there was in the men gathered, a man with a withered hand.   He hid it in his cloak, so no one would see it….but he was known by the men gathered, and Jesus knew, of course.

The Pharisees were watching Him,…not to find out whether He was the Messiah,….or to hear the scriptures interpreted…..but….”that they might accuse Him”.

Mark 3:2 “And they watched Him whither He would heal on the Sabbath day;  that they might accuse Him.”

To have a deformity in Israel, was to be disgraced, for it meant that sin was somewhere in the family of the person.  

(They thought that this man had sinned, or someone in his family had sinned, and he was being punished for it.)

So the Pharisees asked a question, that they thought was pretty straight forward.

Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?

The Sabbath was the day of rest.  A day which should be spent in contemplating God, and His Word.   A day of fellowship with others of His people.

They were to do no work on the Sabbath, or it would be defiled.

But what is work,  and what is mercy?

Jesus points out the difference.

Matthew 12:11-12 “And He said unto them,  What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

        How much then is a man better that a sheep?  Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”

Would you save your one sheep?   Your only sheep?   Are you not commanded in the ceremonial law,  to save a sheep, even of your neighbors? (Deuteronomy 22:4)

This is interesting.    Jesus does not say one out of a hundred.  Or a thousand.

But one.

That is exactly the way He feels about us.  If He only came to save one,  He would have.

We are that one.   The man with the withered hand, was that one.

He would save us, and He would save him.

So His question to the Pharisees was really: 

would you save the one sheep you own;   would you save your  livelihood?  

Or the livelihood of your neighbor?

He said the truth:  of course they would.

Therefore, since they would save their  one sheep on the sabbath,   He would save this one man on the sabbath.

Also notice, the way He talked of the sheep:  “if it fall into a pit”.  Are we not also ready to fall into a pit, without His Salvation?

Christ’s answer showed God’s character.

The Sabbath was made for man to have rest with His God.  It is lawful, then to show mercy on the sabbath days.

Matthew 12:13 “Then saith He to the man,   Stretch forth thine hand….”

This man with the withered hand, had heard enough to know that the mercy of God was being extended to him.  Did he believe it?  

To believe Jesus and obey,….would cost him something.   He would have to stretch out his hand for all,  to see his deformity.

It would cost him embarrassment.

(And how many of us would be stopped right here?)

It could also cost him the company of these people. 

To obey Jesus might be dangerous, as these people were influential.

So, here is the choice:  Jesus, and God’s mercy;  or his normal existence, but accepted by the religious rulers.

Which would he do?

Matthew 12:13 “…And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.”

His choice was Jesus, and obedience.         For that choice,  he was healed.

But Jesus was also speaking to all,  who were there in the synagogue.   

He was  offering mercy to all those who heard Him:  including those Pharisees,…..if they would simply submit to the truth and believe in Him.

But they refused to believe Him.   They refused His healing their hearts.

Matthew 12:14 “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

God’s mercy and salvation was refused by them that day.

Their choice was to keep the life and influence they had;  not to yield to the mercy offered.  

How much they lost by their choice!

Jesus talked of saving the “one sheep”,  because each of us are that one sheep.

He came to save us:  from the guilt of sin,  the power of sin, and one day from the presence of sin.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.”

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

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,  my beloved,  as ye have always obeyed,  not as in my presence only,  but now 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?

True North on the Compass of your Life 

There is a magnetic north, which is not true north.

You can navigate with magnetic north for short trips.  It will get you in the general vicinity.

But to navigate across the vast spaces, you need true north…..for that is calculated by lines of longitude.

So to navigate accurately, especially for long trips, over long distances and time;  you must be able to ascertain true north.

As Christians, we have a long journey ahead of us.   Whether we are born again as children,  or adults;  we have the rest of our lives to be guided as we are on our way to heaven.   

This is called Eternal life….for it is a condition of life…now and forever in heaven, with God.

As journeymen in this life,  we are all given a part in the Purpose of God….a personal calling and gifts, from the Lord;  who gives us His Holy Spirit to enable us to do.

He give us a “goal or prize” to head for…

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

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

All are called as witnesses….some as teachers of His Word, some as prayer warriors, some as preachers,  some as peacemakers….etc.

We are never without purpose each day.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith;  that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:

                                 Not of works,  lest any man should boast.

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

For we are His workmanship,…..and that means that we are molded into the character of Christ Jesus,…..for good works:….and He has made full provision, so we might walk in them.

(Full provision?  How?   First…The Lord has provided us with His Holy Spirit, Who gives us faith by which we can overcome the way of the world (1 John 5:4-5)

Second…There is guidance….by His Word.

Third…the Holy Spirit enables us with His “fruit” in our lives:  peace, joy, long-suffering, gentleness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Fourth…there is love…His love encouraging, and yes, empowering us to go on.)

Our purpose is to walk in those good works, He has given us to do.

This includes our words, and actions:

Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly,  that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable unto men.”

So, if we are to navigate our life through this wicked world;  from here all the way to heaven,  we need to find true north.

What is true north for each Christian?

True North for each of us is  making Jesus Christ, Lord of our lives.

And He is not Lord of us, until we determine to obey Him….in all our ways.

If we were talking about a car;  His Lordship is the power in the engine…submitting to Him gives us power in our lives to do anything……and our obedience is the wheels,….they are in the world…but going forward.

And of course He is driving.

John 7:17 “If any man will do His will,  he shall know of the doctrine,  whither it be of God,  or whither I speak of myself.”

John 7:17 (LNT) “If any of you really determines to do God’s will, then you will certainly know whether My teaching is from God or merely My own.”

I rarely use any other translation but the King James Version. But this translation in the LNT describes what I have found to be so:   We need to “really determine” to do God’s Will.   

This is a picture of digging in : “I’m going to do this no matter what it cost me” determination.

That is what making Jesus Christ our Lord  takes.

(I know some say we do not “make” Christ Jesus Lord…He is Lord.    

        And I say, “Hallelujah, He is!”   But that does not mean He rules in my life.   I make Christ Jesus, my Lord when I throw down the weapons of my warfare against Him.

Paul plainly spoke of this in                          2 Corinthians10:3-5.    Then He is not only Lord of Lord’s….but my Lord.)

We know His will by doing it.   If we do it today,  then tomorrow when we seek His Will,  it will come easier.

(And of course, if we hesitate and put it off,  tomorrow it will be harder to find it)

The world’s influence, and our old selves, and the devil are against us.

The old me will tell me,  “Well,  if I was still in charge, I would not require you to pray so much.   After all,  we’re busy.   God knows what we need.”

And the world will say,  “Why not laugh at that joke?  So what,  it was a little “bad”.    A little won’t hurt.”

But if Jesus is Lord to me,  it is not what I would do,  or what the world says is OK,  but where He leads, and how He would have me to go.

It is a process.   I believe you can commit yourself to the Lord, as Lord;  but then it is a matter of putting everything in our lives in His order.

What is first for me to see to…and sometimes it comes down to what is first today, Lord?

(I have found that the five minutes to pray at the breakfast table for my family,  places them before God, today.  Of course, He knows what is ahead for each of us….but placing them in His hands for their conversations, actions, and the influence of the Holy Spirit in their lives….is our responsibility as their mother and father.)

No, it is not a list that is handed out;  but a conviction from the Holy Spirit within which shows us the way.

This is His order:

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore my beloved,  as ye have always obeyed,  not as in my presence only,  but now 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.”

Notice that we are to work out what God works in.   

We are to work out, practically,  the power to be saved from our sin that Christ Jesus works in us,  by His Holy Spirit.

We are to work out that grace God gives….putting it to use in our lives.

We are to work out that peace which should be a hallmark of “Christ in us the hope of glory”.

Then we have that true north on the compass of our lives;……His guidance will guide us for today….tomorrow….and we will surely get to our destination…..in the joy and peace He has for us.

Overthrowing the Moneychangers.  

I want to speak of two things, which all of us are influenced by:  convenience and money.

John 2:13-16 “And the Jews Passover was at hand,  and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 

               And found in the temple  those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,  and the changers of money sitting:

               And when He had made a scourge of small cords,  He drove them out of the temple,  and the sheep,  and the oxen;  and poured out the changers money,  and overthrew their tables;  

              And said unto them that sold doves,   Take these things hence;  make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.”

This is the first of three Passovers, which Jesus attends to fulfill His work, after He was baptized of John the Baptist.

He came with no fanfare,  but walked into the temple, fulfilling God’s commandment.

There He finds those men which had been allowed to go into the outer court of the temple, to sell their wares.

This would be very convenient.  

(And how many times we give into the convenient way of doing God’s Will;  not His way).  

If you had traveled from a far distance, you could not bring a proper sacrifice with you……..It would certainly be damaged by the time you got to Jerusalem. Which would make it unacceptable. (Deuteronomy 17:1)

So, you would need to buy one there……..usually, at an exorbitant rate!

The priests had an arrangement with the sellers.  

(Most likely getting some of the money they charged to the visitors.)

And so at the time of the Passover, the outer court was turned into a market place.

When Jesus came, and saw it…….He drove out the sellers, and reminded all  that the temple was God’s house.   

It was not to be a house of merchandise,….but a house of prayer.

John 2:17 “And His disciples remembered that it was written,  The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

This was the first public rebuking of the Priests, and authorities.  It was for His Father’s glory,……and they should have realized their error……if they wanted God’s glory….and repented.

But believing in God’s Law, in general…….and being personally corrected by it, are two different things.  

It requires heart submission, to God….to receive correction.

(Paul said of these religious hypocrites,  later:

Romans 2:21-23 “Thou therefore which teaches another,  teaches thou not thyself?  Thou that teaches a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

              Thou that sayest that a man should not commit adultery,  dost thou commit adultery?

              Thou that abhorrest idols,  dost thou commit sacrilege?

              Thou that makest thy boast of the law,  through breaking the law dishonorest thou God?”)

Jesus had ministered to others, and had done miracles;…but this was the first time He publicly showed His authority:

He not only demanded the removal of that which was defiling His Father’s House……He drove them out!

He spoke with Power, and used His power to cleanse His Father’s Temple!  

None had done, as He was doing.

There were three years of the ministry of Jesus:

It is not certain when the priests went back to the arrangement of selling in the temple  court;….but in the third year of His ministry, He came again to Jerusalem, for the Passover.

This time He came with fanfare….if anyone wanted to really see and receive their Messiah;  here He  was:  according to prophesy.  (Zechariah 9:9)

Matthew 21:6-11 “And His disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them,

And brought the ass,  and the colt,  and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon.

         And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way;  others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the way.

         And the multitudes that went before,  and that followed,  cried,  saying,  Hosanna to the Son of David:   Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord;  Hosanna in the highest.

         And when He was come into Jerusalem,  all the city was moved,  saying,  Who is this?

         And the multitude said,   This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

By this time He was recognized,  as the One who did many miracles, throughout the land.   

Not so long ago He had raised Lazarus from the dead.   For all these things, the crowds in Jerusalem praised Him.

There were many who believed on Him as the Messiah;  but the crowds were looking for miracles,  for healing,  for a show.  

(Were those who praised Him here,  crying “Crucify Him”,  in a few days?)

Matthew 21:12-14 “And Jesus went into the temple of God,  and cast out all of them that sold and bought in the temple,  and overthrew the tables of the money changers,  and the seats of them that sold doves,

             And said unto them,  it is written,   My house shall be called a house of prayer;  but ye have made it a den of thieves.

            And the blind, and the lame, came to Him in the temple;  and He healed them.”

When He came the first time, He said, “My Father’s House”.   

Here it is called the temple of God, still. 

Later He will say, “your house is left unto you desolate”. (Matthew 23:37-38)

But here, in front of all,  He said “My house”.   Showing clearly that He is the Messiah, that was to come, and restore the hearts of Israel to God. (Isaiah 56:7)

But the leaders refused.  There was no subjection to His claims.

He did teach and heal those who came to Him,……and it is pointed,  that God wanted us to know that it was the blind and lame who came…….

….but when it was evening……He left Jerusalem.  

Matthew 21:15 “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did,  and the children crying in the temple,  and saying,   Hosanna to the Son of David;  they were sore displeased.”

After all, He was the Messiah,  that meant they would have to submit to Him.   This they had refused to do;…..even with all His miracles……and  still refused.  

Their hearts were full of themselves.   

They had a good thing going here.   They were in charge of the money,  gifts, and offerings, given to the Lord.

They had influence and power.   They had place.   

And they did not want the Messiah coming along,  and ruining it for them.

(How sad to refuse salvation because of things!  How often have we felt  the same about our plans, and position?    

I know I have.  We think,  “If we yield to God, and do His Will;  how will that effect us?”  

When the Lord pointed it out to me,  I confessed my sin;  for how awful for me to think this way, after all He has done for me!)

The next day, when He comes back into Jerusalem, to the temple to teach;  the chief priests send people to prove Him wrong.  Then,  they could accuse Him of something.

But He knew their tricks,  and confused them. 

Then He spoke to them, directly:

Matthew 21:31-32 “….Jesus saith unto them,  Verily I say unto you,  that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.   

            For John came unto you in the way of righteousness,  and ye believed him not;  but the publicans and the harlots believed him:    and ye,  when ye had seen it,  repented not afterward,  that ye might believe him.”

Here is the crux of the whole matter:  “ye repented not afterward, that ye might believe”.    

Jesus had given them time to repent,…..to come and believe Him.  

But though they heard Him many times (and acknowledged His answers),  yet their hearts would not yield.

John the Baptist had come, preaching repentance;  to prepare for the Messiah.  

The Son of God had come, preaching the kingdom of God was at hand.  

Why wouldn’t they hear and enter in?

Isaiah 65:2 “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people,  which walked in a way that was not good,  after their own thoughts;”

We seldom understand the grip that the world has on us; until we see it next to Jesus.

Repentance is changing our minds and hearts about God; then changing our actions toward Him.

Once we fought against Him:  His will and our subjection to Him.

But when we repent:  we give in.  He will be our Lord and Savior.  

He will command in this holy temple of my body (1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”),  …..and I will yield to Him.

Repentance toward God, and faith to our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)

For Christ Jesus is still saving His people.  

He cleanses us….driving out those things which defile us…..that we might be His dwelling place here on earth.

Faith, our spiritual sight

My husband used to preach a lot on “the Faith of Christ will command a man, or have nothing to do with that man.”

What does that mean? That means that faith is given us as an active principle which keeps showing us God, and His Will. It never stops….it’s whole purpose is for us to see God… in these circumstances…..and hang on to Him.

Moses in the palace of Egypt…as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter! All he had, all he did! Yet by faith….that active principal which showed him God, brought him to see the worthlessness of all there in the palace….
…and to see the worthiness of God’s people and call.

Isaiah, a prince of Israel, called to minister…..knowing that the majority of people will not hear the word from the Lord he speaks….knowing that his nation will eventually go into captivity for their sins….knowing that only a small remnant will hear and be saved….
….yet,…faith shows him God’s holiness…
….and his “unclean” tongue (perhaps he was a complainer…taking on the conversation of the times)….
…and led him to cry out in repentance….and the Lord cleansed him…and set him in his ministry.

Peter, after being called and seeing so many miracles….hearing the Lord’s words everyday…yet when Christ was taken (he denied him three times) and when Christ was crucified….
…he returned to his old life in shame,….trying to piece a life together without God.
Yet….faith flamed up when he saw the Lord on the shore and he ran to Him….Who restored him, and told him to hang on in love to Him and the brethren, till the end.

2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

Plainly we can not see things in their true colors, as Christians, especially, because of the wiles of the devil against us….unless faith is active within us.

Faith is our sight. It opens the vision to the Strength of the Almighty…..to His cleansing Power and grace…..to His merciful forgiveness and restoration….
….but it also just shows us the work for today…..for in faith, facing today with God is eye-opening….knowing He knows what is ahead, even when we do not.

This is living in faith:
Habakkuk 2:4 “…but the just shall live by his faith” (Ro.1:17, Gal.3:11, Hebrews 10:38) When we see things for ourselves before God clearly (and faith makes our steps straight)....then we can speak, clearly. Our voices may seem small….perhaps they may seem like speaking into the wind.

But the Lord can use that very wind to spread them, that others may hear.

“Faith” and “Believe” are similar…..but faith is the actual seeing….and believe is the action we take because we can see.
Once you are given faith….we are commanded to believe (to act upon that sight)

Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 1:14 “….for by faith ye stand.”

We live by the sight of Him Who saved us….and loves us….and sanctifies us to His glory…
…we endure (hold on) because we…”seeing Him Who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27)….
….till one day faith will become sight.

His Pleasure for me.

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

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

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

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

[There are three crowns for us in heaven,  spoken of in scripture:  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And for His pleasure they are , and were created.  

“Pleasure” here means determination.

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

What has He determined for us?

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

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

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

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

This is to put first things,  first.   

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

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

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

May I adjust to them,…..seek Your will in them,…..and see Your will brought to pass in me, by them.  

And may I know Your joy and peace in them.”

(How many opportunities have I missed because I thought that this situation was just like before?    Too many. )

But we can be “crowned” here, by the Lord, as well:

Psalms 103:2-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

        Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;  Who healeth all they diseases;

        Who Redeemeth thy life from destruction;  Who crowned thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

         Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;  so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

The “crownest” here,  means to encircle for protection.

Here,   we are crowned with God’s lovingkindness and mercy for our protection…..crowned also suggests noticeable,  for testimony to others for our God.

In heaven,  we are given crowns to reward our devotion to Christ…..the joy of which, will be to give them back to Jesus….Who won us to Himself….by His sacrifice and life.

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

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

Let us have the crown of love and mercy encircle us now….and look forward in devotion to Christ, to be able to throw our crowns down at His feet.

Guidance 

James 3:3 “Behold, we put bits in the horses mouth, that they may obey us;  and we turn about their whole body.”

There are two ways to break a horse.  Gently, over time, getting the horse to accept you, and your weight on him;  till the horse and you become partners.

He is mastered,  but by love.

Or severely, which makes the horse accept you and your weight—now, by wearing down it’s resistance.

He is mastered, but by force of circumstances.

How would you like to receive your guidance from the Lord?

We can be brought to the place that we are directed by the force of circumstances;  which is like the bit and bridle.

We must do,  because we have no choice in the matter.  

But this is not what the Lord Jesus Christ would have for us. 

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go:  I will guide thee with Mine eye.”

This is gentle guidance.  Remember one look from the Lord sent Peter out weeping.

The Lord would have us, all look to Him for our guidance,  if we would just see Him as He is.  The Creator, and Sustainer of the Universe is our Lord and Savior.

He loves us, and wants us to enter into—with Him—all the joys of service to Him.  

For in Him is glorious liberty of spirit!

True freedom is freedom from the power of our sin, and self.  

The bondage of…..I have to do this (which can be any addiction),  

…..and the bondage of…..I want to do this (how many “things” we want:  no contentment,  just want).

We can be free from these, by the liberty of the Holy Spirit’s control.

The closer to God we get,  the more freedom we have.

I will instruct and teach you, in the way that you shall go.

What this means, is that He will go with you in each step, showing you what to do, and helping you do it.

So often, we refuse the gentle way, for one reason or another.  

We fight with Him,……even though we want what He is leading us into.

I have found that no one likes to be told what to do….and obedience is the first lesson we must learn….obedience, without knowing the way….but knowing Christ;

Obedience, without our “two cents” being added….just bowing to His Way.

We need to understand that the Lord must lead us(or we will surely go the wrong way).  But how will He lead us?

Psalm 32:9 “Be not as the horse,  or as the mule,  which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee (or trample thee).”

The “something” which hinders, is our unbroken will.   Like the horse, or mule;  we must be broken or mastered, to be usable.

It is the method of the breaking which is spoken of here.  

He wants us to yield to Him,  which is what we do when we “look to Him”….

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.”

For the look of faith and trust,  in Christ Jesus our Lord,  is yielding.

If we are looking to Him,  we are looking away from other things.   Choosing Him.

And when we look?

Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;  that ye may know   the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

                            And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe,  according to the working of His mighty power,”

We need to know….

….and we need this mighty power in our everyday walk;   instructing us and teaching us in the way we must go.

I want that gentle instruction of His eye.    

How do you want to be guided?

Manasseh 

Manasseh was one of the Bible’s worst persons:  he was a king,  born into luxury and position.

Loved of his father,  Hezekiah, who was a Godly king.

As a matter of fact,  years before, when Hezekiah was going to die;  he prayed that he might live.  That God would extend his life.

He had no son,  and wanted to have an heir,  before he died.

Manasseh was the result.

From the first,  he departed from the ways of his father. And forsook the worship of God,  for idols.

The pleasures of this life was all he was interested in;……that, and leading others into the same sin.

2 Kings 21:1-2 “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign,…

                            And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord,  after the abominations of the heathen,  whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.”

 2 Kings 21:6 “And he made his sons pass through the fire,  and observed times,  and used enchantments,  and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards:  he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord,  to provoke Him to anger.”

He destroyed those who spoke out against him,  and became worse and worse in “having his own way”.

2 Chronicles 33:10. “And the Lord spake to Manasseh,  and to his people:  but they would not hearken.”

How often it is, that sin leads to more sin.  

We can begin by getting angry, and the next minute,  we can be thinking about getting even.

We can begin by speeding, and end up endangering others.

Sin is addictive;    that is why we need our Savior, Jesus Christ, to save us from it. (Matthew 1:21)

The blood that Manasseh shed, and the idols he worshipped,  brought the curse of God onto the nation of Judah.

(Tradition says that he killed Isaiah for preaching against him, and his sin)

2 Kings 21:16 “Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much,  till he had filled Jerusalem from one end unto another;    besides his sin where with he made Judah to sin,  in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.”

2 Kings 21:11-12 “Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations,  and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him,  and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:

                               Therefore  thus saith the Lord God of Israel,  Behold,  I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah,  that whosoever heareth of it,  both his ears shall tingle.”

Yet….

And this is amazing grace….Manasseh repented.  

2 Chronicles 33:11-12   “Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria,  which took Manasseh among the thorns,  and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

                                          And when he was in affliction,  he besought the Lord his God,  and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,”

To “humble ourselves” in the Hebrew is to “bend the knee” or submit to God.

This is what Manasseh had never done.  He had not submitted to anyone or anything.

No matter what image he had brought and set up;  there was always something else to seek after. 

For none of them satisfied Manasseh’s real desire.  

He had used power to do what he wanted,  when he wanted, as he wanted;  no matter who got hurt in the process.  (Remember he sacrificed his own children.)

God, the true God,…..was to be sought, heard, and obeyed;…..not refused and rebelled against.   And there is usually a time limit to our rebellion:  either repentance….or destruction.

God knows how to bring down a person’s pride.  

And how to finally awaken the person to His claims,…….upon the life He gave us.

(For some, it comes in rebukes: to back-strike with words, to get them into the way of life.

For some, it comes in chastening:  things happen that would not have happened had we heard His rebuke….sometimes to others we love…..sometimes to ourselves.

All so that we will not continue our mad dash toward death.

For Manasseh….nothing affected him,…….until he was afflicted.)

2 Chronicles 33:13 “And prayed unto Him (the Lord):   and was entreated of him, and heard his supplication,  and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.

Then Manasseh knew that the Lord  He was God.”

The prison brought him to the place he needed to be:  alone….before God.

Repentance brought him to the place he needed to be: saved from his sins….

And brought him to his kingdom again. This time he was in subjection to God, bringing back the worship of God to Judah;  whereby saving many of his people.

2 Chronicles 33:15-16 “And he took away the strange gods,  and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord,  and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

                                        And he repaired the altar of the Lord,  and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings,  and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.”

Peace offerings!  Because he had found peace with God.  (So can we.  Romans 5:1-2)

Thank offerings!  Because he had finally found true satisfaction in God.

James writes:

James 4:6. “But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith,  God resisteth the proud,  but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Grace is the unmerited favor of power in our lives, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

He has power for us:  everyday power to live for Him, and enjoy the peace and joy,  He only can give.

And power to save and deliver us from the worst sins.

He can save to the uttermost those that call upon Him, and come to Him….He did Manasseh.

                                       

It is High Time to Awake 

Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time,  that now it is high time to awake out of sleep:  for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

In the Greek,  “awake” means to collect all our faculties, to rouse up from obscurity, sickness or death.

It is when you start using all your spiritual faculties,  to do God’s Will.

It is as the Prodigal, when he “came to himself”. 

Luke 15:17 “And when he came to himself,  he said,   How many hired servants of my Father’s have bread enough and to spare,  and I perish with hunger!”

The Prodigal was the younger son of two boys.  He had lived in the Father’s House, and became restless for “something more”.

So he came and asked his Father for his portion, and his Father gave both boys their inheritance:  the older, as was the custom, received two-thirds of the estate;  the younger received one-third.

What is this “inheritance”?  

I believe it is our wills.  As God’s children (Yes, these are Christians—sons of the Father),  we will use our wills to will after God, and bring forth fruit;   Or we will “waste” our wills on things of this world.

Luke 15:13 “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together,  and took his journey into a far country,  and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

The “far country” seemed to be a great place,  but the heart of this boy knew that it was just “wasting” time and effort, with nothing to show for it.

Luke 15:14 “And when he had spent all,  there arose a mighty famine in that land;  and he began to be in want.”

See God’s hand in this?

How could he spend all his will?     By wasting his efforts chasing shadows: and refusing reality.

Look at Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 2:10,  6:12  “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them,  I withheld not my heart from any joy;  for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor.

                                For who knoweth what is good for man in this life,  all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow?  For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?”

Solomon and this Prodigal spent all their effort of will “tasting” of things which they knew to be nothing, in comparison to God’s Will.

But they continued,  till they were “spent” or like dead inside.

What to do?  the Prodigal,  deadened to spiritual feelings, went and begged a job from a pig farmer.   (Swine were unclean to the Hebrews,  but as I said, this poor boy is deadened to things as they should be….until…)

Luke 15:17.  “And when he came unto himself,  he said,   How many hired servants of my Father’s have bread enough and to spare,  and I perish with hunger!”

Now here, thankfully,  he “Awakes!”.   For that is what “he came unto himself” means:  he remembers,  “Hey, I am a Christian.  I have a Father that is good to servants,  and gives them the Bread of Life.”

Then, because he is awake,  he begins to use his will,  for God’s Will:  notice the “will” here:

Luke 15:18-19 “I will arise and go unto my Father,  and will say unto Him,  Father,  I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee,  

                           And am no more worthy to be called Thy son:  make me as one of Thy hired servants.”

We know the rest.  He does what is God’s wills, and returns:  confessing all to his Father.   

But instead of the lowest place in the Father’s House, the boy is given the Father’s kiss of forgiveness,  the best robe,  a ring of authority for his finger, and a fatted calf.

Paul in Romans is calling for these Christians to “awake out of sleep”……to realize that time is moving forward……are they?

Romans 13:11-12 “And that,  knowing the time,  that now it is high time to awake out of sleep;  for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

                              The night is far spent,  the day is at hand:  let us therefore cast off the works of darkness,  and let us put on the armor of light.”

Are we still living “riotously”in the far country?  

Have we felt the “famine” of the Word of God to our souls? (Amos 8:11)

Are you ready to “awake”?

Well, wherever you are…..

….Gather your faculties,  all the things you possess in Christ, to one grand end:  to do the Will of God in these days.

To “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ (Be conformed to His character).

Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,  and make not provision for the flesh,  to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

Come to yourself…who you are, as Christians, in this world.  Remember the Bread of Life, and put on the armor of light.  His light is real protection, for in His light we see everything clearly.

The Prodigal forgot the goodness of his Father, for a while,  but was awakened, and returned to Him.

We, too, often forget the mercy, and grace of God.  But we can remember Him, awaken, and come to His light.  

We can use our wills to do His Will.

As Paul says,  “It is high time to awake out of sleep”.

Psalm 136: A psalm of praise for the Lord’s Mercy 

Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord;  for He is good:  for His mercy endureth forever.”

In this Psalm, every verse ends with the phrase,  “for His mercy endureth forever”.

“Endureth” means that it is established and stands fast.   God’s mercy for us has been established in eternity past….and will stand fast….immovable for us throughout eternity future.

He is the God of gods, the Lord of lords,  Who alone does great wonders.

Whose wisdom made the heavens, stretched out the earth above the waters.

Who made the sun to rule by day, and the moon and stars to rule by night.

Who redeemed Israel from Egypt,…protecting under Blood, their firstborn;  while slaying the firstborn of Egypt.

Who brought them through, dry shod, the Red Sea.  

Yet slew Pharaoh’s army when they followed, bringing the same Sea to drown them.

Who lead them through the wilderness, bringing  them into the Promised land.

All these things are the marvelous works He has done….

….but then,…. the personal memory of God for “us”….the personal pronoun.

Who remembered, and remembers “us” now (for it is in a continuing sense)…..and here it takes a personal turn.

And “hath redeemed us”….

Psalm 136:23-24 “Who remembered us in our low estate:  for His mercy endureth forever:

               And hath redeemed us from our enemies:  for His mercy endureth forever.”

It is good to see and acknowledge…to praise and extoll God for Who He is, and what He has done.

But it is better to know God’s mercy personally……that He remembers me, or us.  And redeems us.

How often we are in need of His mercy.   

Mercy is God’s kindness to sinners.  

There is temporal mercy:  He sends the rain on the just and unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

And there is Spiritual mercy, which is only found in Christ Jesus,  for ”us”.

This redemption is personal Salvation, guidance, and victory.

Let us acknowledge Who God is, and praise Him for it.

But let us make sure we have a personal interest in Christ Jesus, that He is our Redeemer.

We are ever in His memory…ever before His eyes.  

2 Timothy 1:9-10 “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;

                                 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”

This seal of mercy is set on all the circumstances, people, and paths that comes to “us”:      “His mercy endureth forever.”

His mercy reaches us where we are.

His mercy leads us out of bondage.

His mercy delivers us and gives us the promises. 

His mercy remembers us, and in Christ Jesus, our Lord,  brings us before His throne to get what we need. 

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

How much He has for us, if we will but come to Him and get it,  and then with the help of the Holy Spirit within,  use it.