God is Nigh unto them with a Broken Heart. 

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart:  and saveth such that be of a contrite spirit.”

This is a promise from our God.

Often the broken heart thinks that God is far away….but not so.  He is near.

This broken heart is found in all places.  

We are broken in heart by our sin and many failures to such a Good God.

We are broken in heart, often, when we are in troubles and afflictions.

We are broken in heart by people’s cruelty, and circumstances which seen out of control.

We are broken in heart as we go through this weary world…..by grief, and loss.

Isaiah 32:2 “And a Man (and that man is Christ) shall be as a hiding place from the wind and a culvert from the tempest;  as rivers of water in a dry place,  as a shadow of a great rock in a weary land.”

“Broken” here means “burst,  to break in pieces.”

But we have a promise:  The Lord is near us.   I don’t know about you, but the greatest joy of my life, has been His Presence.

I’ve known it since being born again,…..and though I have failed and wavered (often),…….He has not.  

He has loved me; and helped me.

Yes, I can say it has not been always the way I wanted.   

But I can also say, it has been what I needed.

My broken heart, (by loss, by hate, by hurt feelings, by money troubles, by other troubles)  was not always miraculously healed,  but always mended. 

(And “mended” means “to fasten upon,  to strengthen, to cure, repair, make courageous”.)

Ezekiel 34:16a  “I will seek that which was lost,  and bring again that which was driven away,  and will bind up that which is broken,  and will strengthen that which was sick:..”

“And saveth such that be of a contrite spirit.”  

When we are broken in heart by our sins, and contrite (bruised)…….when we remember that we have rebelled against our Loving Lord;  then God is well pleased….and is more than ready to save us.

Our sin crucified our Lord.  He died for me.  

Psalm 51:14, 17 “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness,  O God,  thou God of my salvation:  and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

                The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:  a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,  whose name is Holy;   I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,  to revive the spirit of the humble,  and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Jeremiah 30:17a  “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds,  saith the Lord;…”

When our hearts are broken by loss, hurt, or grief;  He is not there just to comfort;……but to restore.

He supports us, so we go on through the sorrow, together;  and not be overcome.

(He never dismisses our loss;  but seeks to hold on to us,  through it.)

David felt this way, for he knew many losses, enemies, and troubles; and turned to the Lord:

Psalm 69:2, 20, 29-30 “I sink in deep mire,  where there is no standing:  I am come into deep waters,  where the floods overflow me.

                                         Reproach hath broken my heart;  and I am full of heaviness:  and I look for some to take pity,  but there was none;  and for comforters, but I found none.

                                          But I am poor and sorrowful:  let Thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

                                          I will praise the name of God with a song,  and I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.”

Christ Jesus has carried our sorrows;……so we can receive His joy and peace.  

His joy lifts us up out of the depths of despair.   

His peace surrounds us, in His arms.

Isaiah 53:4 “Surely He had borne our griefs,  and carried our sorrows:  yet we did esteem Him stricken,  smitten of God,  and afflicted.”

He did that for us.   Receive His comfort.

Jesus quoted this promise when He was here on earth:

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;  

He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,  

to preach deliverance to the captives, 

and recovering of sight to the blind, 

to set at liberty them that are bruised,

                    To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

He has promised.  He will give it.  Ask for it.  

Look to Jesus, and He will heal your broken heart;…..no matter how it got broken.

Edification, Exhortation, and Comfort.

1 Corinthians 14:3 “But he that prophetieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

Paul is speaking concerning prophesying….or preaching what is on God’s mind for His people.    

1 Corinthians 14:4 “….but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”

As preachers,  we are to bring before the people we preach to,  three things:

Edification….which is to build up.   

       We are to preach the Word of God in such a way that the people will grow in grace.   That they will grow from children…tossed to and fro in doctrine…..to grown men of God.

       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 man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

       That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

         But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things which is the head, even Christ:”

       God’s Word is full of “building blocks”….that will fortify us against this world’s tricks and allurements….for through His Word, and by HIs Spirit, we will know our God.

        Daniel 11:32 “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries:     but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

        Psalm 61:3 “For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.”

       Psalm 62:2 “He only is my rock and my salvation;  He is my defense;  I shall not be greatly moved.”  

       

To know the Lord,  and HIs Word to us….builds us up.   We are not tricked….for we know HIs Will.   

       We are not “greatly moved”….it does not say we are never moved by emotions, troubles, or adversity…..but we are not greatly moved….because Christ is our Rock and fortress.

Then we are to Exhort.

Exhortation is to awaken….

Hebrews 13:22 “And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation : for I have written a letter unto you in few words.”

When we exhort,  we are preaching to wake our hearers up.   It is so easy to fall asleep,  or settle down in what we consider a time of rest.

 The  Adversary of our souls, the devil, never rests….but seeks to trick or beguile us.

              So we must be watchful of our souls….and awake to hear the calling of our Lord for the next step.

Paul wrote the Ephesians in the early part of his first imprisonment….a letter of affection….reminding them of the Will of God from “before times eternal”….and the blessings He has for us.   But he exhorts them to be awake….not comfortable in their spiritual lives….but staying in the light.

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

Paul wrote the Romans about the Purpose of God….and the importance of continuing in it.

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.”

Exhortation is an important element in our growth in grace….for it we are not awake to Christ’s call and direction….we may surely take a wrong turn.

Then we are to Comfort.

How important this is to godly growth in grace!   For to comfort a Christian is to turn their eyes upward to Christ….and His love and peace.  

          Romans 8:35, 38-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?…

….For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,   Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

To see and feel the needs of others….their grief, sorrow, pain,….tiredness even.  As a Christian, we are to pray for….and speak the words of Christ which will heal, and give something to lean upon.

For God is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3)

Paul, when the Thessalonians were sorrowful about those who had died already…thinking that perhaps since they were dead,  the Lord would not raise them up when He came….wrote to them.

         1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-18 “But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

             For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

            Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

           Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter (John 14:16, 26)….for He abides with us forever.

       The scriptures are for our comfort…..

….”…that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”(Romans 15:4)

         And we are to comfort each other.    

2 Thessalonians 5:11 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

  

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,  

            Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work.”

We are called help each other grow in grace…..

Maybe you can not preach or teach…..but you can witness to God’s grace and comfort to you….and pray for His people,  that they may know Him as they should.

         

       

Real Spirituality begins when we take our place before our God, our Maker.

Romans 9:19-20 “Thou wilt say them unto Me,  Why doth He yet find fault?  For who hath resisted His Will?

       Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it,  Why hast Thou made me thus?”

“Why have You made me thus?   If You had not made me as I am,  I would not have these problems….it is Your fault, I am as I am.”

(I told this to the Lord once……I was so angry about the mess my life was in!                                Even though I had been born in a “Christian” family….had gone to church….yet there was an anger in my life….from hurts and resentments I refused to deal with.

Down through the ages,  we have wondered why God made us the way we am.

Or in this time,…..or in these circumstances.

(And are we not seeing this more and more….people refusing God’s Way of life for them?)

When that is exactly what He did….He made me for now….for the time I am in,  to manifest to this age…….our God.

That is the purpose of every man.

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.”

(This is a marvelous verse….for it pictures the Raptured church in heaven.   And what do they praise the Lord for first?    That He created all things for His pleasure.   His Will is best for all His creation…especially me!)

He has created all things, and placed them….for His glory.

All things means all things.   He says,  “…yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”   

Romans 3:19 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith,  it saith to them that are under the law:  that every mouth may be stopped,  and all the world may be come guilty before God.”

Here is the last word….that every mouth may be stopped:

No more alibis

No more excuses

No more reasons why we did…..or did not do.

But every mouth will be stopped.

Now there are two ways that this happens:

For the lost, it happens at the White Throne judgement….every knee shall bow to Christ Jesus,   at the mention of His name.    Every sin will be read, and there will be no “talking back”…no excuses…just silence….as the Judge of all the earth gives the verdict….”depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity.”

For the saved,  it happens when we realize we are sinners…..lost….without hope in this world. 

Our mouths are stopped….we see we can give no excuse for our actions…against God and others.

But once we stop….and come to Christ,  Who alone can save us….and become born again….

…….then the Lord opens our mouths to speak His Word.

When Job had this experience, he spoke plainly of it:

Job had served the purpose of God in his wealth and prosperity;….as well as in his poverty and want.

He spoken a lot of words….good words….

….until the Lord showed Himself to him….then….

Job 40:1, 4 “Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,     Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him?   He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

        The Job answered the Lord,  and said,   Behold,  I am vile;  what shall I answer Thee?  I will lay my hand upon my mouth.”

It is quite one thing to…know about God….even a great deal.

And another thing to….know God.

Job 42:5-6 “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear;  but now mine eye seeth Thee:  

          Wherefore I abhor myself,  and repent in dust and ashes.”

This is taking our place before our Maker.   

He speaks, and I listen.

He decides, and I do.

That day Job knew God as His Creator and Sustainer.    And Job repented and bowed.   

        But then Job got up, forgave his “friends”…who had criticized everything he went through…

….and went on with the life God gave him…as a witness to God.

        Every time we know God more personally,  we will see ourselves more clearly….and marvel of marvels….we will in our humbling, be exalted to a more spiritual life in Him.

Matthew 25:1 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins,  which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.”

This begins the parable of the ten virgins…..

…five which are wise…for they not only brought their lamps….but extra oil for them….”in their vessels”….trying to be prepared for every good work (Ephesians 2:10)…..while waiting for their Bridegroom.

(In scripture, wise means reverent to God and His commandments.  Only the Holy Spirit works this awe in us.)

….five which are foolish….for they brought lamps but no extra oil for them….”shining”,…..only looking forward to their reward and happiness forever.

(In scripture foolish means “heedless”….turning a deaf ear to God’s commands….as though they could bypass them.  The Lord said,  “If ye love Me, keep My commandments”.    It is not agreeing with His Will, but doing His Will that shows our love to Him.)

They were all …..full of excitement for the celebration to come….at the first.

They thought that they were all ready to light their lamps when He came!

But the bridegroom  tarried.   He did not come when expected….so they first sat down…..then they fell asleep….all of them.

But there was a shout,  to wake them up….(praise God that He sends some to wake us up!  How many awakenings and revivals have come by the voice of….”the Bridegroom cometh!”)

So they all got up….and tried to “trim their lamps”…..

       That is,  they began to be diligent in the outward forms of religion….Bible study, going to church, praying.

But the error was not in the lamps……in the outward actions……but in the oil (a picture of the Holy Spirit)…..

…..some had Him….some did not.

The wise had extra in their vessels…..for the Holy Spirit is always with us…..and when we yield to Him there is abundant power for enlightening, and courage.

It is true they were guilty…..they did not stay awake and shine for Christ as they should…..but when they were awakened…..they got themselves right with God, yielding to the Holy Spirit……and right with others…..

….standing ready for the Bridegroom’s coming.

But the foolish had none.    Why?   Did not they have lamps?  Yes….there are many which have the outward form of Christianity…..many good works are done by people who love what Jesus stands for….yet who have never given themselves to Christ Jesus the Lord.

Weren’t the foolish prepared at first?   No,  for they never had a supply of oil….or the Holy Spirit.

Many have a ‘spirit’ of enthusiasm….or a ‘spirit’ of happiness at being part of something larger than themselves….

….but only the wise had the supply of oil (Holy Spirit) that would not run out.

Matthew 25:8 “And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil;  for our lamps are gone out.”

You would think this the right thing to do…..but the wise said that they could not provide for them…..

….Only God could…and that is what these foolish refused to do from the first…they would not “go” or submit to God…….for “foolish” is heedless.  

Matthew 25:10 “ And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”

Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest is past,  the summer is ended,  and we are not saved.”

Time runs out for every person on earth.   

These foolish virgins had let their time of “seeking the Lord” go by…..without doing it….till time had run out.

Like Jeremiah, I often look at our generation and feel:

Jeremiah 8:21, 9:1 “For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt;….astonishment hath taken hold on me.

          Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears,  that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” 

How many around us need to hear the gospel?

How many we meet, can see the Light of Christ shining in us?

Jeremiah 8:22 “Is there no balm in Gilead:  is there no Physician there?  Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”

Yes, there is a balm to heal every ailment. 

Yes, there is a great Physician to mend and heal every sin…..Jesus Christ the Lord.

Let us awaken…..and…..be wise and receive Him and His Word to us…..and shine as lights in this world.

We can not give the “oil” of the Holy Spirit to others…..but we can sure lead them to the Lord Jesus Christ….before it is too late.

         

The Lame man at the gate Beautiful 

Acts 3:1-3 “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 that entered into the temple;

          Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.”

This is days after the giving of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost,….

Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray (remember the church met in the porches of the temple as well as in their houses, for prayer and preaching in the early days)

As they are about to go in,  a lame man asks alms.

Now this man, though an Israelite…one under the covenant……had never entered the temple….for from the day he was born, he was lame.   

So he begged from those who could.

He was just outside…always just outside….but never having gone in,  to come near to God,….or worship

Acts 3:4-7 “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said,  Look on us.  

            And he gave heed unto them,  expecting to receive something of them.

            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.”

This miracle is done in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…

(Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

          That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

           And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”)

Then Peter took him by the right hand, and lifted him up….

….notice the confidence of Peter in the name of Jesus.

He does not wait for the man to obey….but reached down and grabbed him….lifting him.

When he is lifted—then his ankles and feet receive strength…..

…….it is when strength was required by standing,  that strength was given  to stand.

(How much the same way we should be:  

We should lift each other up in prayer in Jesus Name.

We should lift up each other in words of encouragement, edification, and exhortation.

How many people’s “walk” would become stronger….being helped from a crippling sin,  habit, or resentment….by our faith in Jesus Name, and lifting them up in our prayers.)

And then joy…..and abundant strength is given:

Acts 3:8 “And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

This lame man,….lame from birth…..entered…for the first time into the temple to praise God.

Acts 3:11 “ And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s ,  greatly wondering.”

This man was so joyful….so grateful….so praiseful….

….he held Peter and John…..and would not let them go!

This was quite the sight!  Joyful praise from a man,   who all knew to be lame….yet he was leaping now….and walking.

Peter takes this opportunity to preach to those gathered:

First, he tells them that it was not their own power or holiness that caused this man to walk…..

Then he tells them that God…..the God of their fathers has glorified His Son Jesus….

….who they crucified….

Acts 3:14-16 “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just,….and killed the Prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead;  whereof we are witnesses.  

      And His name,  through faith in His name, hath made this man strong,….”

This miracle is done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.   This is the name of the Lord when he was here, going about Israel,  preaching and doing good.

This is important…..for this is the name they knew Him by…..this is the name used when they cried for Him to be crucified….

And now in this  Name,…..this miracle was performed…..proving that He is not dead…..but risen, as promised…..and that He is approved of God.

Acts 3:18-19 “But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.

         Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,…”

There is such a scene that the temple guards are called….by the Sadducees.

(The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection.   They believed in being religious so God would bless them…in the now. )

They arrested Peter, John, and the lame man!  (Perhaps thinking a night in “the hold” would dampen their testimony….and cool their devotion.)

Yet many which heard Peter’s message….seeing the proof of Jesus Name….believed.

The next morning,  the council brought them out, before them…..

….and asked a question,…

Acts 4:7 “….By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”

(We say that God is in control…..and look at this question!   Amazing!  They asked them exactly what Peter needed to show the authority and power of Jesus’ Name….now…before this council!)

Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them,….”

(Jesus said, “And when they bring you unto….magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:  

       For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”

So Peter, given power by the Holy Ghost, spoke boldly)

“…….Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 

            If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man,  by what means he is made whole;

            Be it known unto you all,….that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whole ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.

            This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

            Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,  whereby we must be saved.”

What an amazing scriptural message….laying out in no uncertain terms….Jesus Christ was the Messiah…

…..they crucified Him,…even though they were given the ministry of “building” God’s nation by God’s law….

…..yet that Name is still calling all who will believe….even them….for there is no other name under heaven whereby they…..”they” could be saved.

Acts 4:13-14 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John,  and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

            And beholding the man which was healed standing with them,   they could say nothing against it.”

(When the Holy Spirit speaks through us….there is power, and authority in the words we speak.

He brings back scripture to mind, and can plant that seed in those that hear.)

Because the council could not say anything against the miracle….the man standing right there….

…..they threatened Peter and John…..and commanded them not to speak in Jesus name anymore.

But Peter and John are fixed in their determination to serve the Lord….

Acts 4:19-20 “But Peter and John answered and said unto them,  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.”

….and they speak to the conscience of the council right then, if they will hear it—it is right to serve God more than man.

“God is doing this,  listen carefully….for we will not stop speaking about what we have seen….though you threaten us…

…we will speak about….

….Jesus crucified…..and raised up….speaking to us, before He went back up to heaven….and the giving of the Holy Spirit…”

The council threatens them again….but lets them go.

And they (I believe all three, including the lame man) immediately go to the gathered church….where they told of all that had happened:

        This is a warning of maybe future persecution….and the means of going through it….by the direction and power of the Holy Spirit.

        And it showed the love the church had for each other….for they “lifted up their voice with one accord,…” (Acts 4:24)

Their prayer was praise:  “…Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth…”

And their prayer was claiming the prophesy of the rulers of the earth standing up against Jesus Christ (Psalm 2 which includes in the last days of the Tribulation Period)…and that it was and will be…..all according to God’s plan.

“And now, Lord,….”

Acts 4:29-30 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings:   and grant unto thy servants,  that with all boldness they may speak Thy word,

               And stretching forth thine hand to heal;  and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.”

Boldness is what they wanted….(not necessarily protection from their enemies….but boldness to honor Jesus.   What love!)…

….and God’s healing….for the nation of Israel, if according to His Will….and to the individual, in salvation…

…and that in Jesus’ Name….signs and wonders would be done….to magnify His name.

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.”

The place was shaken….a sign of His Might for them:

Haggai 2:6-7 “For thus saith the Lord of hosts;  Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

              And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come;  and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.”

God had “shaken” the earth at the coming of Christ….everything changed….for God’s people, Israel,  were given the opportunity to receive their King….

….and now again, at the giving of the Holy Spirit, and the power manifested through Christ’s Name….

…..He is going to shake things up….for all the earth…

….for all people can receive His kingdom within in them….”in earth” (Matthew 6:10)….by faith in Christ Jesus.

And He will shake it again,….at the second coming of Christ to the earth to establish His Kingdom….on earth.

The lame man, is lame no more….and more, has faith Jesus…..and is filled with the Spirit with the rest of the church gathered.

He is healed….spiritually and physically…..and praising God…..

….and led into a life of power and prayer.

A Scribe which can be Instructed 

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 a householder,  which bringeth forth out of his treasure  things new and old.”

We mostly consider scribes as wicked men;  they certainly were to Jesus.  Some of them only sought to discredit, or mock Him. 

But there were others who sought to know the truth: 

Matthew 8:19  “A certain scribe, came and said unto Him, Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.”

Mark 12:28, 34 “And one of the scribes came,  and having heard them reasoning together,  and perceiving that He had answered them well,  asked Him,  Which is the first commandment of all?

                           And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly,   He said unto him,   Thou are not far from the kingdom of God.  And no man after that durst ask Him any question.”

Scribes, (they were usually Levites, the family of the priests), were assigned at the beginning of their history, for good:  They were to write out the law and teach it to the people who might not come to the Tabernacle or the Temple.   

                      All were to know God’s law, and they were assigned the job, to write and pass it out,  by teaching it.

Jeremiah was assigned this job by Josiah, the last Godly king of Judah, who led a revival there. (2 Kings 23:25)

Also Ezra was a “scribe in the law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6), and led many of his countrymen back to the land after the Babylonian captivity. 

He led a revival there (Ezra 9-10), and also helped Nehemiah with the first reading of the law to those returned (some of them had never heard it before.  Nehemiah 8:5-6, 8).

Scribes were given to make people understand what God wanted them to do, using His Word to show them.

Though some corrupted this;  yet Jesus said, “…every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like”:

                   He said that if you know the scriptures,  My words,  then you can bring out of them, things new:  that which you have discovered by the experience of them,  and share them.

                   And things old:  what others have written or testify from them.

Both are food for us, as Christians. 

We need to know what Jesus has said:

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you,  that ye love one another;  as I have loved you,  that ye also love one another.

                        By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples,  if ye love one another:”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you,  that in Me  ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer,  I have overcome the world.”

We need to know what the Word says:

1 Thessalonians 5:8 “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.”

1 Timothy 6:6-7 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.

                         For we brought nothing into this world,  and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

We need to remember the examples taught us in the Old Testament,  for they are lessons to us. (1 Corinthians 10:6)

And we need to awake to the warnings of His Word, against the enemies within us…and around us in this world:

John 7:24 “Judge not according to the appearance,  but judge righteous judgement.”

Ephesians 4:26 “Be ye angry, and sin not;  let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

Galatians 5:24-26 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.   

                        If we live in the Spirit,  let us also walk in the Spirit.  

                        Let us not be desirous of vain glory,  provoking one another,  envying one another.”

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

These are some of the verses the Lord has dealt with me about through the years (there are lots more),  and I share them with you,  letting the Holy Spirit speak to you about them, as He will.

God has given us His Word.      Let us hear what the Word says to us, and be instructed unto the kingdom of heaven…..

And pass it on.

Empty your Hands;

What is that in thine hand?

Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said unto him,  What is that in thine hand?  And he said,  A rod.”

Moses’ shepherd’s rod was what he had.

This rod was not the task that he was to do;  but it was a means of bringing that task to pass.

Here the Lord is calling Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh, to let the Lord’s people go…..to deliver them from bondage, to go to the land, God gave Abraham their father.

But Moses is hesitant.   (Isn’t this like us?  We pray for the furtherance of the gospel….but when God says for us to speak…..we hesitate.)

Exodus 4:1 “And Moses answered and said,  But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice:  for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.”

Here was the reason for the Lord pointing to the rod…..Moses was to be given means to use to convince the Israelites that God had sent Moses to them.

And that was the rod.  The signs were to be done by the rod….in Moses hand.

Exodus 4:17 “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.”

God would bless the means, (He always blesses the means He chooses)

But Moses would have to go and use it.

The task given to Moses, was to free the Israelites from Egypt; and to lead them to the Promised land.

(And how many times do we read that he used it, in Egypt….to the promised land.)

Let us consider this means: “this rod”…..that God chose:

Exodus 7:17 “Thus saith the Lord,   In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.”

This was the first judgement against the oppressors;  done by the means of the rod.

It was against their greatest pride; the Nile and it’s tributaries.   They felt they were superior, for they did not even need the rain from heaven to fall;  they had the Nile.

Exodus 8:5 “And the Lord spake unto Moses,  Say unto Aaron,  Stretch for thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.”

The second judgement was against their comfort, as a great and wealthy nation; by a plague of frogs.

Exodus 8:16 “And the Lord said unto Moses,  Say unto Aaron,  Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”

The third judgement was against cleanness: lice on man and beast, showing them how they were unclean in God’s sight.

But the rod was also used for the Israelites escape across the Red Sea:

Exodus 14:16 “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”

The rod used by obedience, was the means;   God’s Power was the force.

Then in their journey across the wilderness:

Exodus 17:6 “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.  And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

Here,  Moses was to hit the rock…..by the means of the rod…..to bring forth the water that they needed,…..and God provided the water.

During the first battle Israel was called to fight….the rod was one of the means:

Exodus 17:9, 11-12 “And Moses said unto Joshua,  Choose us out men, and go out, fight with  Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand,  Amalek prevailed. 

But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

Moses holding up the rod was a means to victory.  Joshua was needed to fight, and do his part…..and God gave the victory.

As a shepherd in exile, Moses had a rod…..And when he was called to deliver God’s people….Moses was given the means of his rod; it was right at hand.

What is the means God wants to use,  to bless us?

Is it, too, right at hand?

Or do we need to empty our hands of other things, to pick up what He has for us to do?

I started this with, “Empty your hands”.   

This used to be a favorite saying of my Grandmother:  “Empty your hands, you can’t carry any more, without putting down what you have.”

So what are your hands full of?   Works the Lord has placed there?  

Or is it time for you to follow my Grandmother’s advice, empty your hands;  and get ready to be given the means of blessing, from the Lord.

This is the Way….so walk into it. 

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

I quote this verse often,  for the Lord gave it to me years ago when I was asking concerning His Will for my life.

He was telling me, that He would not let me get “bewildered”,  or “lost” along His Way….but would guide me….by His Holy Spirit and His Word….to the right direction.

“Walk ye in it”.  To walk sets for the fact of….one step at a time.   Our everyday living.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thy heart;  and lean not to thy own understanding.

           In all thy ways acknowledge Him,  and He shall direct thy paths.”

There is in our everyday paths the means of fulfilling of His Purpose for us.

We need seek no special arrangement,…..but just to be found faithful in what we have at hand.

1 Peter 3:15 (Williams Version)

“But in your hearts be consecrated to Christ as Lord,  and always be ready to make your defense to anyone who asks a reason for the hope you have.  But you must do it in gentleness and reverence.”

This is the Way….and Peter walked right out of prison….

Acts 12:7, 9-10 “And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison:  and he smote Peter on the side,  and raised him up, saying,  Arise up quickly.  And his chains fell off from his hands.

              And he went out,  and followed him:  and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

              When they were past the first and second ward,  they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city;  which opened to them of his own accord:  and they went out, and passed on through one street;  and forthwith the angel departed from him.”

Peter had been arrested, and put in prison after Herod had killed James….for standing with Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

     He was asleep when God sent His angel to lead him out…..thinking that soon he would see the Lord Jesus face to face again.

(Peter, by this time had preached at Pentecost…and saw three thousand saved.   Acts 2:41

He had healed the lame man, and preached before the counsel, when they commanded them to stop preaching in Jesus’s name….”We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

And he had been sent to Cornelius house….a Roman centurion…to preach the gospel to them….and the Holy Ghost had been given to the Gentiles,  as well as to the Jews…….through his preaching. Acts 10:44-45

He had been busy for the Lord….and, laying in the prison cell….he was ready to go to see Him again.)

But God’s Way for James was to be martyred,…..to show the devotion to Christ, in front of the people…

…while God’s Way for Peter was something more,….here on earth….for some time to come…

….so He brought Peter out of prison….for His Way.

This is the Way…

…..and Paul and Silas walked right into a prison.

Paul had wanted to go into Asia to preach the gospel….but was “forbidden of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 16:6).

Then they thought to go into Bithynia (the upper part of Turkey)….but “the Spirit suffered them not.”

Then Paul had a vision in the night of a Macedonian saying,  “Come over and help us”

So they immediately went to Phillippi, one of the chief cities of Macedonia….and a Roman colony.

At first, in the city,   they were encouraged by Lydia being converted with some of her friends.   

She invited them to come into her home and have that for a base while they were in the city.

But….as they continued in the city….a girl possessed with a spirit of divination kept following them, day after day….when they went anywhere…..saying,   “These are the men of the Most High God….which show unto us the way of salvation.”

Paul being grieved…..knowing this was not the Way the gospel was to be given out….turned and said,  “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.  And he came out the same hour.”  She was free of this terrible spirit!

But her master’s were furious.

So now,….they were brought before the magistrates, and accused of “troubling our city”…..commanded to be beaten (“they laid many stripes upon them”)……and…they were thrown into the inner prison, in stocks (which meant they would have been bent, with their feet and hands in the wooden stocks).

Acts 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,  and sang praises unto God:  and the prisoners heard them.”

Paul and Silas prayed,….and I think some of their first prayers were to see if they had done the Lord’s Will….or had over-stepped themselves.  (Remember Paul had been grieved by it….was it right to deal with this situation, as he had?)

And when they heard that it was His Will….it was for the greater glory of God……then praise came from their hearts,….and into song.

It was from the Holy Spirit….for after the beating they had….and in the position they were sitting….it was not of their own strength…….He would have had to empower them.

That is victory….in the Way….but there is more…..for God’s Way often leads us to the people that need us to tell them of Christ Jesus….and often it is not as we think.

(Are we ready for it, when the opportunity comes?)

Acts 16:26 “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that that the foundation of the prison were shaken:  and immediately all the doors were opened,  and every man’s bands were loosed.”

Hallelujah!   This must mean we are to go!

But Paul and Silas were checked in the spirit….they stayed….and God put a check on all the prisoners.

The guard waking up, was going to take his own life….thinking he was to blame for the prisoners escaping….he should not have been asleep…

….but Paul was listening hard to God…and cried out…

Acts 16:28 “And Paul cried with a loud voice, saying,  Do thyself no harm:  for we are all here.”

Paul saves the guard’s life……and the guard comes in to see if this is true…..and then….is amazed at these men…..they must know some God, to leave themselves in His hands still.

And Paul leads him and his family, to the Lord.

Acts 16:29-33 “Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas.

            And brought them out,  and said,  Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

            And they said,  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,  and thou shalt be saved,  and thy house.

            And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord,  and to all that were in his house.

            And he took them the same hour of the night,  and washed their stripes;  and was baptized,  he and all his,  straightway.”

Paul and Silas were released the next day….

Acts 16:40 “And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.”

God has a Way for each of us…..it is not the same….except in the fact that He will guide and be with us……every step of it.

Will we hear Him….and so walk right into it?

The Everlasting Covenant 

Hebrews 13:20 “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,”

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.

Light versus Darkness. 

The first Word we hear from God is….

   “Let there be light”

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

Of course this was spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ….He is called the Word.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word,  and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

(How do we communicate our thoughts, our feelings, and our will?   By our words…..whatever language you use…..it is in words.

So with God….He communicated His Will from the very first,  by His Word, through HIs Son.

And His Will is……that Light overcomes darkness.)

And what is the first thing God communicates to His new creation formed in us?

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.”

When He was here on earth,  the Lord Jesus showed more of the Glory of God…..than the creation around us……although that is a very powerful witness to the Godship of God, (Psalm 19:1-3)….

……and more than the personal testimonies of all His servants….Abraham,  Moses,  Joshua,  David,  the Prophets,  John the Baptist…..

……..for the glory Jesus showed of God, when He was here, was “the brightness of His glory.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 “God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, 

               Hath in these days spoken unto us by His Son,  Whom He hath appointed heir of all things,  by Whom also He made the worlds;  

              Who being the brightness of His glory,  and the express image of His person,  and upholding all things by the Word of His power,  when He had Himself purged our sins,  sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

Jesus Christ showed us God….the Light of the knowledge of God….in His person,  in His actions,  in those He called,…….and in the Word He spoke then.

John 12:46, 48-49 “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.

               He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him:  the Word that I have spoken,  the same shall judge him in the last day.

               For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment,  what I should say, and what I should speak.”

Light….He showed us Light, the Light of God, by His Word.

He came to shine light into a world of darkness.   And He came to shine light into the darkness of our souls…..by His salvation….

….. (as Paul describes it…for himself and others….”To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light…” Acts 26:18)

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.”

Walking in the Light He has given us, we have fellowship….(remember, “fellowship” means “a sharer, a partnership”……The Lord with us, and us with the Lord…..and with fellow Christians.)

And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.

This “cleanseth” is in the present tense….it is always there to cleanse away the defilement that the sin causes….and it cleanses the intention of the heart,  so we want His Will,  not ours.

The defilement of sin…..is the stain of it.

You know when you spill something on a white tablecloth….it can become stained.    You clean up the spill….but the stain remains…..and everyone sees what happened.

So it is with our sin.    

We were completely forgiven “in Christ Jesus”, the moment we were born again….

……but, the stain of the sins we commit….are there,  till we go to Him,  and confess them to the Lord.

His blood then cleanses our conscience from this stain.   

It is cleansed, so that the influence of that sin,…

is removed from our hearts [for otherwise, they can begin to grow cold toward Christ],……

our minds [as long as we do not confess our sin,  there is a draw there…that our minds goes after],…..

and our wills [Let’s face it…there is something which we have put above Christ, and we need to dethrone it].

It is in our going to Him, and getting honest about our sin, in confession, that brings the cleansing of liberty.

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin,  we deceive ourselves,  and the truth is not in us. 

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

Here is the means for that cleansing from all sin….confession to Him.

It is to know deliverance from the stain of the sin,…….and the power of the sin, in our life.

It is not ever sinless perfection…..but deliverance……

For I want to stress this….

When light comes in, the darkness is driven out.

They cannot dwell together.   It may not be completely light….but the darkness of our sin, attitude, intent….is driven back….and the Light of God begins to rule.

1 John 1:5 “This then  is the message which we have heard of Him,  and declare unto you,  that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

As Christians,  we are responsible to know God’s Will…..

Psalms 34:5 “They looked unto Him, and were lightened:  and their faces were not ashamed.”

James 1:16-17 “Do not err, my beloved brethren.

           Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,  and cometh down from the Father of Lights,  with Whom is no variableness,  neither shadow of turning.”

Commit your life in unreserved obedience to Him….you will do His Will….no matter what….

When you come to this point….you are looking ahead….and up to Him.

(I have only talked of the Light of God, here.   That is the only Light that will defeat darkness.

There is a light which is “kindled” by us…..”sparks”,  God calls this light…for it only starts fires within us….fires of doubt,  or presumption….fires of accusation or false peace….fires which bring only sorrow [worry and anguish]….not truth and peace.

Isaiah 50:10 “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servants,  that walketh in darkness and hath no light?  Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

If you seem to be walking in darkness,….in Him you will find true Light. [Remember the name of God means all that He is]

But for those who will not come to the Light of God….

Isaiah 50:11 “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire,  that compass yourselves about with sparks:  walk in the light of your fire,  and in the sparks that ye have kindled.  This shall ye have of Mine hand;  ye shall lie down in sorrow.”

It is coming to Christ Jesus, that we receive real Light…..for He manifests God’s Light as nothing else….and He is found in the scriptures.

Isaiah 61:1-3 [Jesus quoted this in Luke 4:18-19]. 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek;  He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

            To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,  and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

            To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes,  the oil of joy for mourning,   the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, was 

that He might be glorified.”

This is the reason for our existence:  that He might be glorified!

Let us come to the Light of God….and walk in that Light….and glorify Him.)