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”.

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.

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

There is no personal title before:  Israel, His people, His servant, but no “me, we, us”.

But now, when God’s memory is concerned, the personal “us” is used. (Psalm 136:23-24)

And then the personal “redeemed us” from our enemies, is told.

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 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 for ”us”.

This redemption which 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 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.

The Scribe Which Is Instructed Unto the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Matthew 13:52 ” Then said he unto them,  Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

We are starting this blog for Christians.  To strengthen and encourage God’s people to seek, and trust the Lord.

All given with the prayer that they meet the need of those who read them.

We believe that one of the greatest needs of this Church Age is to understand and Have Christ’s kingdom come within the heart of each of His own.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.”(KJV)

Notice it is “in earth”, not on it.

This is His Personal Kingdom coming with in your life.   When you make Him King, and He reigns there.

When we are born again (John 3:3, 7) and “ye must be born again”….we enter His kingdom as His citizens.  But it is only when we are obedient to His laws and ordinances that we make Him King in our lives.

If we are still “running the show” ;  He is not King, Personally.

“Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done.”

When this becomes a fact in our everyday lives,  we are subjects of that Kingdom, and expressions of it:

Our Wills are His, and are then empowered to do His Will.

For it is then, He sits on the Throne of our Hearts.

Not that we make others do His Will….but that we do His will.

Then His Kingdom has come, within us.

It is a great feeling to come to the place where the arguments with God end;  and the Holy Spirit–instead of correcting ,  empowers to go forward in peace, joy and faith.

And How shall His Kingdom come?

Luke 18:8 “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?”

This is “on the earth”.  

There are some who believe that His Kingdom will be brought in, when enough of His Own are praying for it.

I do not know if that is true.

But I do know that readiness for His return will be conditioned by prayer:

Luke 18:1 “And He spake a parable unto them to this end,  that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Jesus speaks here, of the closing days of the Church Age. Just before He returns.   Just how the times will be, and just what we should be doing about it .

Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.”

Everyday we hear and see more of what Jesus said would happen….happen.

And  what are we to do about it?      Hide our heads….Act out…..wring our hands in fear?

No! That is not it.

Look up!   Lift up your heads!    

1st turn your eyes away from the world-system.

2nd be actively seeking the joy and peace of God for each situation you need to go thru, till He comes.

We should rejoice in seeing these come to pass , even as Jesus said they would.

We should be praying.  “Amen.  Even so Come Lord Jesus.”

And we should be “loving His Appearing”.   For there is a Crown of Righteousness laid up for all who Love His Appearing! (2 Timothy 4:8)

Luke 18:2-7 “Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself,  Tho I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her,  lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said,  Hear what the unjust judge says.  

And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, tho He bear long with them?”

If this were a Roman Judge (the Jews were always in 3’s).   He would not care much for the needs of a Jew.    Especially one of no importance,  like a widow.   For she could do him no damage!   

But she kept coming back!   She was often in his court!

Now he feared not God nor regarded man.

So anything he did , would be on a personal level….without thought of anything or anyone else.

Not because of pressure from someone or something.

But she kept coming!  Avenge me of mine Adversary!

This is not a request for punishment of her Adversary. 

But for a Decree,  issued by this Judge,  that would give her protection from his injustices.

To keep him from harming her.

Like a restraining order issued today.

Luke 18:5 “Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

“She weary me”;  Literally means. “She give me a black eye”

Her always appearing there , in his court,  might ruin his reputation!

People might get the wrong idea about him.

This Judge acted from only self-involved motives.

From this consideration–alone–he thought it best to avenge her.

And our Lord said  “Hear what the unjust judge says”

Because the Lord Jesus wanted to show that:   the judge’s motives were personal…yet what this widow sought ;  she got.

Then our Lord Jesus contrasts the unjust judge and God.      Shall not our God surely do right?

Shall He not avenge His own elect?  From their Adversary?

And how are we to ask?

Luke18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Faint means to weaken in purpose, or spirit;  to languish;  to just give up.

When we pray,  we ought to believe that God is going to hear and keep at it until we know He does.

Luke 18:7 “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night  unto him, tho  he bear long with them?”

We are not what we ought to be in this Age;  yet He bears long with us.

Wanting us to be other than we are ….to enjoy the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit’s enablement.  To get us out from the Adversary’s injustices.  

To know the power of life (abundant life) as obedient subjects of His kingdom now.

He Loves us,   So He corrects us, and even chastens us…that we might become full sons…having His authority in our own life, and speak His Word in power.

Luke 18:8 “I tell you (and this is the Lord Jesus speaking) that he will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes,  shall he find faith on the earth?”

Yes, He will avenge us…speedily.

“Heavenly Father, Avenge me of my Adversary!”

This is like a restraining order,  remember;  against our Adversary , the Devil.

To keep him from hurting us.

And we should always ask for such decrees against our Adversary.

He will not only issue such Decrees,  He will do so speedily.

Yet , Jesus asked;  “shall he find faith on the earth?”   Not that He doesn’t know what will be….but to Awaken us to the very dangerous times in which we live.

There are temptations, cares, enemies of God, worldly pleasures, evil companions, …..

All of them can be used by our Adversary to “hurt us”. 

To keep us from entering into God’s Best for us.

The Devil seeks to defeat every child of God.

To delay or stop their Progress.

To keep them children , when they should go on to maturity in the faith.

To keep them self-centered,  instead of Christ-centered;  That will devour up a whole lifetime of works and attitudes.    

Shall He find “faith” on the earth?

This faith here is (in the Greek “pistis”).  Conviction of truth or the truthfulness of God. Reliance upon Christ for salvation  and  constancy in such profession.

Do you trust Christ for Salvation,    but not for today?

Shall we not all apprehend that for which we are apprehended of Christ Jesus?

Has the Church ever had so much riches as it has today?

With so little results?

Why is it we see so little Reality in a Christian’s Profession?

I don’t know…but I am sure it is a matter of the Heart.

I believe that today many claim the Promise; without having the corresponding experience of that Promise.

They honor the Word,  while rejecting the living Lord of that Word.

As Israel of old,  they draw near with their lips, to God;  but their hearts are far from HIM.

For I believe it is a matter of the heart.  Who or What do you love?

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

What “life” will you have?

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

He “hath given”.  Then why don’t we have it in practice?

Because the personal knowledge of Christ, costs us.   

He wants to come and reign in our lives,  with that joy and power that comes with Himself.

What takes 1st place in your life?

To what do you give final obedience….for surely this is your God.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven”

He is King.  But is He my King?  Is He your King?

Who sits on the throne of your heart?

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:  if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

He stands ready to do.  To do for you.  And Jesus has said God will issue such Decrees against our Adversary when we cry unto Him.

And just what kind of Christians ought we to be;  with so much offered?

He is King….Will you make Him your King?

I Live by the Faith of the Son of God

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

By faith I am crucified with Christ.  

Yes, when He died there on the cross, I died with Him.

But how do I work this out into my everyday experience?    Are we just to think that we are crucified?

No, thinking will not get the job done…we must die to our old way of life: our self life.  And we must live to our new way of life:  our Christ life.

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

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

As I deny myself and take up my cross (not some Roman cross) but my cross.  As the cross was the Will of the Father to Christ,  so our “cross” is God’s Will for me.    It is that which cuts across my will, and demands that I, the creature, bow before the Creator, and obey.

Then, I am following Him into His life for me.

(It is always the will, willing it.  It is not emotional following…though our hearts are present in the act.   Nor is it mental following,  though our minds must understand He is asking us.  It is the will…pushing you into it.  Then the will…taking your arm and walking with you into His Will.    For it is a process.)

He asks our willing cooperation:  siding with Him against ourselves is a great joy to Him.

I must bear my cross till I come to the place where I no longer resist the Lord’s Will in anything.

It is there, my rebellion is ended.

(There are many Christians who say that you can not rebel against God after you are  born again.  

But the experiences of all believers from the first to last show differently.  

We still have our old nature.   Our selfish ways are ingrained in us deeply.  And it is a process which requires God’s great patience to mold us into the character of Christ.)

“And the life which I now live in the flesh,   I live by the faith of the Son of God,  Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

The faith of the Son of God is a demanding, sustaining, victorious faith.   It was for Him,  it is in us.

It demands obedience.  It says that we are to move at His direction, under His banner;  leaving behind our old life.

It sustains against trials, sorrows, and change, around us.

It gives a victory within us,  for this faith enlivens us when we are weary;  it orders our thoughts to see Him in all circumstances;  and it never gives up on us.

It gives a victory outside of us,  for this faith guides us through the quicksand of people’s flatteries,  or complaints;  it shows Christ to others, and draws them to Him;  and it holds us up with a power that moves heaven and earth to help us.

And it is ours in Christ Jesus.

Will we have His life?   Then we must lose our self life…..for He has it for us, if we will.

Ruth, Naomi, and Orpah 

Ruth 1:1 “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land.  And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.”

Background:

In the land of Israel, at the town of Bethlehem, there was a famine.

So a man and his wife, with their two sons, left there home there, and went into the near country of Moab.

They thought they would “sojourn” there till the famine was over.

(They could have sought the Lord, for the cause of the famine;  but instead they left that to others,  and in doing so missed a blessing.)

Their “sojourn” turned into ten years!   During that time Naomi’s husband died. Her sons married two women of Moab,  but soon also died, leaving her alone in a strange land, far from her God, and home.

She longed for her country;  and she had heard that the famine was over in Israel…”the Lord had had visited His people in giving them bread.” (Ruth 1:6)

So she “arose”,  always the first move in returning to God.   Arise from where you are, to come home to Him.

She started to leave Moab to return to Bethlehem.  

Her two daughters-in-law followed her;  and how far they went is not told…but after a while, Naomi realized it would be a hardship for them if they followed her.

They had parents they could return to,  for they would certainly take them back.

They could have new lives:  marry and have children among their own people.

If they followed her to Bethlehem, she did not know what would happen there.

For herself, she could at least die among Israelites, back home with her God; but for them…..she could not say whether there would be even a place to lay there head.

Ruth 1:8-10 “And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law,  Go, return each unto her mother’s house:  the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

                      The Lord grant that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.   Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

                       And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.”

Naomi prays for them here…using the name Jehovah (the Lord) twice.  Seeking for them kindness from the Lord, and in doing so, gives witness that all true good comes from the Lord.

Both had real affection for Naomi.   And both declared that they would continue the journey with her.

An old woman alone, is a sad thing; and they felt her kindness in so speaking to them.

“Surely we will return with thee.”

But again Naomi spoke.  Seeing them as young women, able to live full lives with other husbands, and have families.  She would not have them return with her out of duty, but out of a real determination, having seen the cost to them…and choosing this way into her nation and with the Lord.

She spoke for their benefit, not hers…for she loved them.

Ruth 1:11, 13 “And Naomi said,  Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me?   Are there yet anymore sons in my womb,  that they may be your husbands?

                        Would you tarry for them till they were grown?  Would ye stay for them from having husbands?  Nay, my daughters;  for it greiveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.”

Here Naomi confesses that the Lord had dealt with her  this way.  Her family should have stayed in Israel,  the promised land, and sought unto the Lord for removal of the famine and the reason for it.  

(Israel often followed after other gods, to their hurt. And the Lord often had to use circumstances to awaken them to His voice.  Judges 2:14-16)

Naomi told Ruth and Orpah, that she could not give them a life like they had.   

She again suggests that they go back where you can have an easier life for young women.

Now both had said that “Surely they would return with her”;  but now…..

(There comes a time in each life where we choose the thing we love most.)

For Orpah, though she had affection for Naomi, her choice was her nation, her people, her god.

She wept over the situation, but the decision became easy….she would go no further.

A life of relative ease is what her heart loved most…..and so she went back, and left Naomi.

There are many who have an affection for Christ,  because of Who He is and what He has done.

But who do not love Him enough to go on with Him in all of the sufferings and situations which come, by following Him.

Many, therefore, go back to the world.   For that is where their hearts are.

Ruth 1:14-15 “And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law;  but Ruth clave unto her.

                        And she said,   Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god’s:  return thou after thy sister-in-law.”

But Ruth hung onto her.  What ever would come, she was staying right beside her….to suffer want, or to get by;  Ruth would not leave her.

She would return with Naomi.   

Here she takes Naomi’s God as hers.

And instantly calls upon the Lord to be her witness, of her decision.

(“The Lord” as a name here is very important.   It is Jehovah, the personal name of God.   Jehovah means the ever-existent, becoming One…the Almighty God becomes what we need.

 She was not just acknowledging a god of Naomi’s nation….but she was placing her whole life into the hands of The Lord, Who was Naomi’s God)

Ruth 1:16-17 “And Ruth said,  Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee:  for whither thou goest I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

                         Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: The Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Ruth instantly calls upon the Lord, now her God, to be her witness of her decision.

And the two go on together.

Was there hardship?  Yes, for they only  had food by Ruth gleaning the fields…but by doing so, she met a man who first gave her permission to continue after his reapers all the harvest, insuring food for some time. 

And then a blessing; he called upon the Lord to bless her.

Ruth 2:12 “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”

This man would become her future husband,  putting Ruth into the genealogy of Christ.   (Matthew 1:5)

She was the great-grandmother of David. (Ruth 4:17)

The lesson here is:   Who or what  do we love enough, to leave everything else for?

Affection for Christ Jesus is wonderful….but usually only leads us so far.

The real determined choice of whether we will continue with Him, in all situations, is the crossroads of our lives.

Temptation, in the form of an “easy life, or normal life”, comes.  And we must choose what we love the most.

Will we like Orpah turn back….

Or will we cling to Christ?     

If we choose the Lord; though there are hardships(and there are),  there will be blessings as well…now and for eternity.

The Brazen Laver

It is the maintaining of fellowship with Christ, that we wish to speak of.

And one of the examples of this, is:

Exodus 30:18-20 “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass,  and his foot also of brass,  to wash withal:  and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar,  and thou shalt put water therein.

                                 For Aaron and his sons shall wash there hands and there feet thereat:

                                 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation,  they shall wash with water,  that they die not;  or when they come near to the altar to minister,  to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:”

The brazen Laver was made for cleansing.   It was set just outside the door of the Holy Place, in the court of the tabernacle.  This was in the natural sunlight.  Both the priests, and people could be in this court;  but the people could not minister at the altar or the laver; only the priests could.

When Aaron and his sons were given for the service of the priesthood,  they were brought to the laver and given a bath by Moses;  once.

Exodus 29:4, 9 “And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,  and shall wash them with water.

                           And thou shalt gird them with girdles,  Aaron and his sons,  and put the bonnets on them:  and the priest office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute:  and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.”

This pictures our regeneration;  when we are born again.  It was never repeated.

They and their decedents, were priests from then on.

So with us.  When we are born again, we are forever His children.

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

But as priests, they would minister, by sacrifice, at the brazen altar.  There, the sacrifices for sin and peace would be given.

Their hands would be bloody, and their feet would be dirty from walking on the bare ground.

So, they were commanded to come to the Laver to wash both their hands and feet, before they went into the Holy Place to burn incense at the golden altar,  or light the lamp (M’nourah).    

This they were to do every time they went into the Holy Place.

The Holy Place signified fellowship with God:  

the golden altar and the burning incense showed the prayer which ascends to God (the fire to burn came from the brazen altar everyday, tying Christ sacrifice and our prayers together)

the table of shewbread showed forth the sufficiency of God for our needs;  

and the lampstand  showed forth God as the only light for our work.

All showed forth fellowship with God.

But before they could go in and have this fellowship,  they must wash at the brazen laver.

As Christians, we need daily cleansing from the defilements of the way, if we are to maintain fellowship with God.

In our walk, we constantly have dealings with those who are dead in trespasses and sins; and their influence defiles us. (You can not go very many places without hearing cursing, filthy references, or anger.  How much anger is about.)

In honesty, we are also aware of the blemishes of our service (which speak of our hands), and the failures of our walk (our feet).

We obey;   but we often hesitate. (as though we were ashamed of Christ)

Or we don’t do what God wants us to do, as He wants. (We have good reasons, we think.)

These do not interfere with our standing as Christians.  We are still born again.

But it does interfere with our communion with God.  (For every time we step back from God, we are further away from His help)

Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”

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.”

The Laver, like everything else in the Tabernacle speaks of Christ’s sufficiency to meet our every need;    for the priests could not enter the Holy Place, without washing there.

The Laver was there, but they had to wash in the water that it provided.

Christ Jesus has made a way for us to come and wash, and cleanse ourselves by His precious blood,  according to His Word.

Do we want that fellowship and communion which enlivens us?    Will we go to the Word of God and judge our ways before Him?

1 Corinthians 11:31 “For if we would judge ourselves,  we should not be judged.”

Water is also to invigorate.  And the Word of God gives us comfort and refreshing. It revives our spirits.  It makes us feel whole, and clean again.  Ready for the next moment, the next day.

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say,  Come.  And let him that heareth say,  Come.   And let him that is athirst come.   And whosoever will,  let him take the water of life freely.”

He offers His life “freely”,  to us…..will we come and be cleansed and have that light and fellowship He has for us, today?

Standing before the God Who is there. 

Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

If the Lord has ever called you to a ministry or work (we call it work, because so many people feel “ministry” is only for preachers), He has not changed His mind concerning you.

Our whole existence should be:  to will to please our Lord, as His creature and servant.

As creatures, we are responsible for all He has given us.  

Who I am and what I am rests with the God before Whom I stand.

I can not make myself what I am not;  nor can I excuse myself for what I have been.

But I can give myself over to the molding of the Holy Spirit within, and do God’s Will in obedience, now.

He will work within the increase of faith, hope, peace, and joy that I need, as I yield to Him.

It is:  I stand, as His servant, before Him in each situation.

It is not as someone else,  or someone I might be someday,  but who I am, using the faith that God has given me.

Example:

Acts 3:1-2 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer,  being the ninth hour.

                     And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried,  whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,  to ask alms of them which entered into the temple;”

Peter and John,  had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

But they were still Peter and John.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit, is to be filled to the capacity in your soul at that time, to receive the rule and power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit never interferes with you being you, in your personality,  but only guides you away from sin, and into knowledge of God’s Will.

Then He gives grace or the empowerment to do God’s Will. (We still have to use it)

Peter and John were going along to prayer service,  when they see this lame man.

He sat at the gate of the temple to beg alms.

He saw Peter and John, and as usual,  he asked them for some money.  

Acts 3:4 “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John,  said,  Look on us.”

The lame man saw nothing different in them,  for he expected some small change, as others gave him.  

But Peter wanted to direct his eyes away from the coin,  to what he said.   For he knew that the Lord wanted to heal him. (“Fastening” here, means looking with a purpose in mind.)

Acts 3:6-8 “Then Peter said,   Silver and gold have I none;  but such as I have give I thee:   In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

                      And he took him by the right hand,  and lifted him up:  and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

                      And he leaping up stood,  and walked,  and entered with them into the temple,  walking,  and leaping,  and praising God.”

Notice Peter said,  “such as I have give I thee”.  What did he have?

He had the knowledge of Jesus Christ and of the power of His name. 

For Jesus Christ can change men’s lives.

And Peter knew the Lord’s Will, and used what he had to obey.

Notice also,  he took him by the hand.   Peter did not wait for the man to believe, but “lifted him up” in faith, himself.

And God did the rest:  “his feet and ankle bones received strength” to walk and leap.

Then faith in the man caught up and he did not run home;     but went into the temple to praise God.

If you read further,  you will see how God used this to enable Peter to preach about Christ to others.  Many believed.  (Acts 4:4)

(Yes, they were put in “hold” for a night, but even that gave them the opportunity to preach in Jesus Name to the rulers, elders, and scribes.

They were threatened,  but told the council,  “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”)

After such an experience,  Peter and John  went back to the company of believers and told what had happened.

All the gathered believers prayed for boldness to “speak Thy word”.  

Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed,  the place was shaken where they were assembled together;  and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,  and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Here they were filled to the greater capacity in their souls.   They had a larger capacity because of what they had done, and they needed more of His help.  

And He gave it.

Standing before the God Who is there is simply being His obedient servant; and receiving and using the faith and help He gives.  And going on in this way, is more grace and help.

Mercy

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

How often the Lord has said this.

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

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

We love our brothers and sisters in Christ, because we love God.

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

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

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

But the Pharisees, seizing upon something,  accused Jesus’ disciples;  thereby bringing rebuke upon Him.

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

Mercy is the goodness of God to His sinful creatures.

There is temporal mercy:

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

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

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

He sends us forgiveness and the cleansing of the conscience.

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

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

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

                        Which He she’d on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;”

The sacrifices of the Old Testament times,  were to show a picture of part of Christ’s sacrifice (which in Christ, completely takes away the penalty, and power of sin in His people).

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

He said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As wide as our sins, has been His forgiveness, and love.

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

Trials of Faith

1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

                            But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings;  that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

There are trials of faith which we just have to go through.  They are sent to help us to grow stronger in faith;  to learn joy in trouble;  to realize the power of peace—His peace in it all.

Thank goodness,  we do not go through any trial alone.  For Christ Jesus is with us,  guiding, strengthening, and encouraging us;  as we walk through them with Him.

There are also trials which come upon us which we have brought on ourselves.

Let’s face it,  we often “stick our foot in our mouths” and say things which are wrong.  

Either in anger (and have you ever noticed how much anger is around any more?),  or we blurt our our opinion,  when discretion  would have kept us silent.

Sometimes the Lord uses these trials to remind us of these things, so they can be confessed, and taken care of.

These, of course, are to be confessed to Christ,  and if any one was injured, to the person involved;  as you can. (How many blessings come from letting people know you, too, are human, and make mistakes?)

And then there are “fiery trials” which come upon us because we are Christians—we belong to Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:14, 16 “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,  happy are ye;  for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you;    on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

                           Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed;  but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

Fiery trials?   Partakers of Christ’s sufferings?  

We do not like to think of such things. 

We like to think about what He has done for me.   Tell us about His Eternal Love for me,  His suffering in the garden of Gethsemane or on the Cross for me, or His agony of prayer for me.

All the things He did,  but I do not want to hear about what I am to do.

Doesn’t that make it a works salvation?

No,  we can never do anything for Christ to get our Salvation;  but we can work for Christ because we are saved.

And that is what He says:  Stand with me,  and go through these trials,  with Me at your side,  to show to the world that you trust Me.

That will glorify Me.

Do you remember when Jesus asked His disciples in the garden to watch with Him?  (Mark 14:33-34, 37-38)

And instead they fell asleep.

He came and asked, “Could you not stay with me one hour?”

He asks us the same thing:  Stand with me in a world that does not believe in Me,  and if that brings ridicule, or persecution;  still stand with Me, and I will stand with you, in peace, strength, and guidance.  

Stand ye in the Ways

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord,  Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.  But they said,   We will not walk therein.”

Jeremiah was called to a time,  like ours,  where much religion was going on;  but very little obedience to God.   They had all the outward trappings, but none of the devotion to God and His commandments.

Under King Josiah, who was a godly king; Jeremiah was given the job of going about Judah and instructing the people in the laws of God.

Many did not want to hear, for they had been influenced by the idolatrous nations round about them;  and refused subjection to the Lord, although they went along with the outward ceremony.

Jeremiah 2:13

“For my people have committed two evils;  they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and hewed them our cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Then he was told to go to Jerusalem and preach there…telling the people what God would do, if they would repent and turn back in obedience to Him.

He would forgive and help them:

Jeremiah 7:5-7″For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;

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

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

For what God wanted of His people was that they obey His commands.

“Stand ye in the ways”. In the Hebrew it means “Get up and do it”

Start actively seeking My ways.    If you just do this seeking, you are serving your God and honoring Him.   This I will count, and will honor you in return.

And ask for the old paths:   The path which leads you to straighten out your life, and the path of obedience to His Word.

God has made a way to return to Him…..take it.

How was it with those who came before us?  Who martyred their lives for God and his gospel?  From the apostles to our forefathers?

How did they attain to what they had?

Through the Word of God to them.

We must seek out the truth of the Scriptures for ourselves:   What does it say to us?

For now?  For our calling and ministry?

As Jeremiah said to Judah:

Jeremiah 7:23 “But this thing commanded I them, saying,  Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people:  and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”

Obey My voice….and I will be your God….and ye shall be My people.

Jesus said the same thing when  He was talking to His disciples, before He went to the cross.

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

His disciples did, and they stirred the whole world.

If we get out life in order before Him, and honor Him in this; and He will honor our obedience, in our everyday life.

God speaks through His Word:  Hear Him,  and return to the ways of peace, knowing His presence with you, and for you everyday.